Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lossless multi-way power combining and outphasing for radio frequency power amplifiers

For applications requiring the use of power amplifiers (PAs) operating at high frequencies and power levels, it is often preferable to construct multiple low power PAs and combine their output powers to form a highpower PA. Moreover, such PAs must often be able to provide dynamic control of their output power over a wide range, and maintain high efficiency across their operating range. This research work describes a new power combining and outphasing system that provides both high efficiency and dynamic output power control. The introduced system combines power from four or more PAs, and overcomes the loss and reactive loading problems of previous outphasing systems. It provides ideally lossless power combining, along with nearly-resistive loading of the individual power amplifiers over a very wide output power range. The theoretical fundamentals underlying the behavior and operation of this new combining system are thoroughly developed. Additionally, a straight-forward combiner design methodology is provided. The prototype design of a 27.12 MHz, four-way power combining and outphasing system is presented, implemented, and its performance is experimentally validated over a 1OW-1OOW (10:1) output power range. Thesis Supervisor: David J. Perreault Title: Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Seismic response analyses of an asymmetric base‐isolated building during the 2011 Great East Japan (Tohoku) Earthquake

Analysis of strong motion recordings of a base‐isolated building during the March 11, 2011, Great East Japan (Tohoku) Earthquake is reported in this paper. The building, located in Tokyo Bay area, is an asymmetric L‐shaped structure consisting of seven‐story and 14‐story building with vertical opening. Vibration monitoring system was installed on the building in 2010, and seismic responses were recorded including the strongest shaking (peak ground acceleration 0.80–1.40 m/s2) experienced during the main shock of March 11, 2011, Great East Japan Earthquake. The building survived the earthquake without structural damage. The study in this paper includes response analysis, system identification, and seismic performance evaluation of the structure, especially performance of base‐isolation system. The study shows that despite considerable shift in effective frequency of the building due to the increase in flexibility of isolation system during the main shock, large acceleration was recorded on the superstructure with the peak floor accelerations of nearly 300 cm/s2. Two factors contribute to this cause: one is the characteristics of the building where torsional modes dominate the seismic response of upper stories and the other is resonance, where dominant frequencies of ground motions coincide with the natural frequencies of torsional modes. Moreover, analysis shows that torsional modes were not significantly influenced by performance of base isolation, so that even though the base isolation has functioned properly, the upper stories still experienced large floor accelerations. The paper also discusses long‐term observation of seismic responses during aftershocks and various levels of earthquakes between 2010 and 2012. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
DEEDSP: Deadline‐aware and energy‐efficient dynamic service placement in integrated Internet of Things and fog computing environments

Fog computing has become adaptable and also as a promising infrastructure for providing elastic resources at the edge of the network. Fog computing reduces the transmission latency and consumption of bandwidth while processing the incoming requests from various Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Moreover, fog computing can support and facilitate geographically distributed applications with low and predictable latency. However, this technology also has significant research issues in its current stage such as successful implementation of service location models. In this article, we propose a deadline‐aware and energy‐efficient dynamic service placement (DEEDSP) technique for fog computing that supports the placement of IoT based services. Further, hyper‐heuristic algorithm based energy‐efficient service placement technique is proposed to balance the energy‐delay trade‐off based on different service placement decision criteria (eg, minimum response time or energy consumption). The proposed algorithm is able to dynamically minimize the energy consumption of the system while ensuring that the response time satisfies a given time constraint. Finally, the proposed technique is evaluated in simulated fog computing environment and experimental results show that this technique performs better than state‐of‐the‐art placement techniques in terms of energy and latency.
Real-time path-planning using mixed-integer linear programming and global cost-to-go maps

With the advance in the fields of computer science, control and optimization, it is now possible to build aerial vehicles which do not need pilots. An important capability for such autonomous vehicles is to be able to generate their own path to navigate in a constrained environment and accomplish mission objectives, such as reaching waypoints in minimal time. To account for dynamic changes in the environment, perturbations, modeling errors and modifications in the mission scenario, the trajectory needs to be continuously re-optimized online based on the latest available updates. However, to allow for high update rates, the trajectory optimization problem needs to be simple enough to be solved quickly. Optimizing for a continuous trajectory of a dynamically-constrained vehicle in the presence of obstacles is an infinite-dimension nonlinear optimal control problem. Such a problem is intractable in real-time and simplifications need to be made. In this thesis, the author presents the mechanisms used to design a path-planner with real-time and long-range capabilities. The approach relies on converting the optimal control problem into a parameter optimization one whose horizon can be reduced by using a global cost-to-go function to provide an approximate cost for the tail of the trajectory. Thus only the short-term trajectory is being constantly optimized online based on a mixed integer linear programming formulation that accounts for the vehicle’s performance. The cost-to-go function presented in this thesis has the feature to be tailored to both the environment and the vehicle’s maneuvering capabilities. The author then implements and demonstrates a path-planner software based on the presented approach for a real unmanned helicopter, the Renegade, that flew within the DARPA SEC program. A full description of the capabilities and functions supported by the planner software are provided. Hardware-in-the-loop simulation results are provided to illustrate the performance of the system. Thesis Supervisor: Eric Feron Title: Visiting Professor
Laser fringe anemometry for aero engine components

Advances in flow measurement techniques in turbomachinery continue to be paced by the need to obtain detailed data for use in validating numerical predictions of the flowfield and for use in the development of empirical models for those flow features which cannot be readily modelled numerically. The use of laser anemometry in turbomachinery research has grown over the last 14 years in response to these needs. Based on past applications and current developments, this paper reviews the key issues which are involved when considering the application of laser anemometry to the measurement of turbomachinery flowfields. Aspects of laser fringe anemometer optical design which are applicable to turbomachinery research are briefly reviewed. Application problems which are common to both laser fringe anemometry (LFA) and laser transit anemometry (LTA) such as seed particle injection, optical access to the flowfield, and measurement of rotor rotational position are covered. The efficiency of various data acquisition schemes is analyzed and issues related to data integrity and error estimation are addressed. Real-time data analysis techniques aimed at capturing flow physics in real time are discussed. Finally, data reduction and analysis techniques are discussed and illustrated using examples taken from several LFA turbomachinery applications.
Mortality among medical radiation workers in the United States, 1965–2016

Abstract Background Estimates of radiation risks following prolonged exposures at low doses and low-dose rates are uncertain. Medical radiation workers are a major component of the Million Person Study (MPS) of low-dose health effects. Annual personal dose equivalents, H P(10), for individual workers are available to facilitate dose-response analyses for lung cancer, leukemia, ischemic heart disease (IHD) and other causes of death. Materials and methods The Landauer, Inc. dosimetry database identified 109,019 medical and associated radiation workers first monitored 1965–1994. Vital status and cause of death were determined through 2016. Mean absorbed doses to red bone marrow (RBM), lung, heart, and other organs were estimated by adjusting the recorded H P(10) for each worker by scaling factors, accounting for exposure geometry, the energy of the incident photon radiation, sex of the worker and whether an apron was worn. There were 4 exposure scenarios: general radiology characterized by low-energy x-ray exposure with no lead apron use, interventional radiologists/cardiologists who wore aprons, nuclear medicine personnel and radiation oncologists exposed to high-energy photon radiation, and other workers. Standardized mortality ratio (SMR) analyses were performed. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate organ-specific radiation risks. Results Overall, 11,433 deaths occurred (SMR 0.60; 95%CI 0.59,0.61), 126 from leukemia other than chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), 850 from lung cancer, and 1654 from IHD. The mean duration of monitoring was 23.7 y. The excess relative rate (ERR) per 100 mGy was estimated as 0.10 (95% CI −0.34, 0.54) for leukemia other than CLL, 0.15 (0.02, 0.27) for lung cancer, and −0.10 (–0.27, 0.06) for IHD. The ERR for lung cancer was 0.16 (0.01, 0.32) among the 55,218 male workers and 0.09 (–0.19, 0.36) among the 53,801 female workers; a difference that was not statistically significant (p-value = 0.23). Conclusions Medical radiation workers were at increased risk for lung cancer that was higher among men than women, although this difference was not statistically significant. In contrast, the study of Japanese atomic bomb survivors exposed briefly to radiation in 1945 found females to be nearly 3 times the radiation risk of lung cancer compared with males on a relative scale. For medical workers, there were no statistically significant radiation associations with leukemia excluding CLL, IHD or other specific causes of death. Combining these data with other cohorts within the MPS, such as nuclear power plant workers and nuclear submariners, will enable more precise estimates of radiation risks at relatively low cumulative doses.
Right ventricular systolic and diastolic function assessed by two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common comorbidity in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), and can induce various changes in the right heart, such as right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy, dilatation, and dysfunction. We hypothesized that RV function, not only systolic function but also diastolic function, could be worsened with PH progression. We aimed to compare RV systolic and diastolic function in dogs with MMVD. Twenty healthy dogs and sixty-eight dogs with MMVD were enrolled. Dogs with MMVD were classified into the probability of PH. Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic indices for right heart and two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography indices were measured. The morphological indicators of the right heart were significantly higher only in the high probability of PH group. The RV strain, early-diastolic and systolic strain rates were significantly lower in the high probability of PH group than those in the low and intermediate probability of PH groups. Multivariate analysis showed that increased RV internal dimension normalized by body weight and RV myocardial performance index were significantly associated with the presence of right-sided congestive heart failure. Speckle tracking echocardiography-derived RV systolic and diastolic function were activated in the low and intermediate probability of PH groups. However, dogs with high probability of PH showed RV myocardial dysfunction and dilatation. Increased RV myocardial performance index and end-diastolic RV internal dimension normalized by body weight were significantly associated with the presence of right-sided congestive heart failure in dogs with MMVD.
EMPLOYING SENSOR NETWORK TO GUIDE FIREFIGHTERS IN DANGEROUS AREA

In this paper, we intend to focus on the sensor network applications in firefighting. A distributed algorithm is developed for the sensor network to guide firefighters through a burning area. The sensor network models the danger of the area under coverage as obstacles, and has the property to adapt itself against possible changes. The protocol developed, will integrate the artificial potential field of the sensors with the information of the intended place of moving firefighter so that it guides the firefighter step by step through the sensor network by choosing the safest path in dangerous zones. This protocol is simulated by Visual-Sense and the simulation results are available.
Mastering Audio: The Art and the Science

From the Publisher: Mastering Audio provides leading-edge audio concepts in an easy-to-grasp, holistic manner, including an ear-opening investigation of the mysteries of jitter, dither and wordlengths, high sample rates, distortion, headroom, monitor calibration, metering, depth perception, compression and expansion, equipment interconnection and much more. Mastering Audio is for everyone who wants to increase their mastery of digital and analog audio: musicians, producers, A&R, mastering, recording and mixing engineers, and students. KEY FEATURES: *Outlines the steps taken in producing a compact disc, from creation to final pressing *Provides insights to equipment, training, and the business of mastering engineer/studio owner *Answers questions most frequently asked by audio engineers Author Biography: Bob Katz played the B flat clarinet from the age of 10, and his lifelong love of sound and music led him to become a professional recording, mixing and mastering engineer (since 1971). Three of his recordings have garnered the Grammy(tm) award and many others have been lauded in publications such as Stereo Review, Audio, and Stereophile. He has written over one hundred articles for audio and computer publications, and is an inventor and manufacturer with processors and support gear in use at mastering studios worldwide. His most recent patent-pending inventions, the K-Stereo and K-Surround Processors, fill a missing link in the mastering and post- production pantheon. He has been a workshops, facilities and section chairman of the AES and has given lectures in several countries. Currently, Bob runs Digital Domain Studios just north of Orlando, Florida.
Heuristic Evaluation of a Top-Rated Diabetes Self-Management App

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usability of a top-rated diabetes app. Such apps are intended to markedly support the achievement of optimal health and financial outcomes by providing patients with substantive and continual support for self-management of their disease between periodic clinician visits. Poor usability can deter use which is especially concerning in patients with diabetes due to prevalence of the disease and impact of self-management on long-term prognosis. Methods A diabetes app was selected due to the prevalence and seriousness of the disease. A heuristic evaluation was then performed to collect and analyze data on the usability of the app based on Nielsen's heuristics. Pareto analysis was used to illustrate the contribution of each type of heuristic violation, augmented by a stacked bar chart illuminating associated severity. Results There were 51 heuristic violations on the opening screen, violating 6 of Nielsen's 10 heuristics. Pareto analysis revealed 29 (57%) of the heuristic violations involved a match between system and real world and 8 (16%) aesthetic and minimalist design. Severity ratings ranged from 1.0 to 4.0 (mean: 3.01) with 80% comprising a major usability problem and 6% a usability catastrophe. Conclusion Studies show that people with diabetes are more likely to receive greater benefit from a diabetes app if they are easy to use. The number and severity of heuristic violations in this study suggest that the commercialization of mobile health apps may play a factor in bypassing experts in clinical informatics during the design phase of development. Usability and associated benefits received from mobile health apps can be enhanced by debugging the user interface of identified heuristic violations during design. Waiting to correct ongoing usability issues while apps are in production can result in patients disengaging from use of digital health tools engendering poorer outcomes.
Arthroscopic and Endoscopic Treatment of Proximal Rectus Femoris Avulsion.

Proximal rectus femoris avulsion (PRFA) is an uncommon injury that is poorly reported in the literature. Historically, these injuries have been treated nonoperatively or with open techniques. This is the first study showing endoscopic treatment of this injury. We present a systematic review of PRFA treatment and a case report of a patient whose injury was treated endoscopically. Sixty-four injuries were reported across several sports. Patients underwent nonoperative management, suture repair, suture anchor repair, or excision of the tendon stump. Surgical complications included lateral femoral cutaneous nerve injury and wound complications. The patient who underwent arthroscopic treatment had a good outcome. [Orthopedics. 202x;xx(x):xx-xx. ].
On Information Rank Deficiency in Phenotypic Covariance Matrices

Abstract This article investigates a form of rank deficiency in phenotypic covariance matrices derived from geometric morphometric data, and its impact on measures of phenotypic integration. We first define a type of rank deficiency based on information theory then demonstrate that this deficiency impairs the performance of phenotypic integration metrics in a model system. Lastly, we propose methods to treat for this information rank deficiency. Our first goal is to establish how the rank of a typical geometric morphometric covariance matrix relates to the information entropy of its eigenvalue spectrum. This requires clear definitions of matrix rank, of which we define three: the full matrix rank (equal to the number of input variables), the mathematical rank (the number of nonzero eigenvalues), and the information rank or “effective rank” (equal to the number of nonredundant eigenvalues). We demonstrate that effective rank deficiency arises from a combination of methodological factors—Generalized Procrustes analysis, use of the correlation matrix, and insufficient sample size—as well as phenotypic covariance. Secondly, we use dire wolf jaws to document how differences in effective rank deficiency bias two metrics used to measure phenotypic integration. The eigenvalue variance characterizes the integration change incorrectly, and the standardized generalized variance lacks the sensitivity needed to detect subtle changes in integration. Both metrics are impacted by the inclusion of many small, but nonzero, eigenvalues arising from a lack of information in the covariance matrix, a problem that usually becomes more pronounced as the number of landmarks increases. We propose a new metric for phenotypic integration that combines the standardized generalized variance with information entropy. This metric is equivalent to the standardized generalized variance but calculated only from those eigenvalues that carry nonredundant information. It is the standardized generalized variance scaled to the effective rank of the eigenvalue spectrum. We demonstrate that this metric successfully detects the shift of integration in our dire wolf sample. Our third goal is to generalize the new metric to compare data sets with different sample sizes and numbers of variables. We develop a standardization for matrix information based on data permutation then demonstrate that Smilodon jaws are more integrated than dire wolf jaws. Finally, we describe how our information entropy-based measure allows phenotypic integration to be compared in dense semilandmark data sets without bias, allowing characterization of the information content of any given shape, a quantity we term “latent dispersion”. [Canis dirus; Dire wolf; effective dispersion; effective rank; geometric morphometrics; information entropy; latent dispersion; modularity and integration; phenotypic integration; relative dispersion. ]
Numerical Investigation of Resistance Reduction of Fishing Boat by Improving Stern Part

In recent years, to achieve a goal of reducing greenhouse gas, a fishing boat which is very economical on gas should be needed. Over the last two decades, improvements of bow part in fishing boat have been researched to reduce water resistance. Moreover, stern End Bulb research took place mostly in Japan. No one finds universal knowledge for reducing drag resistance because many fishing boats run with individual catching styles for each fish. It is also difficult to appropriate some techniques in cruise ship and tanker for fishing boat. In this study, to reduce drag resistance, improvement of body line and addition product at stern part were examined. All of the cases proposed in this study could reduce water resistance. The maximum reduction rate was around 15 to 20% comparing with the basic form (original case). Some useful improvements were found based on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) works and flow visualization by Particle Image velocimetry (PIV) technique. KeywordsFishing boat; Stern; Resistance reduction; CFD
Complete Genome Sequence of Bacillus velezensis GMEKP1, Isolated from a Natural Bamboo Hive of Stingless Bees

We report the complete genome sequence and annotation of Bacillus velezensis GMEKP1, which was isolated from a hive of stingless bees (Trigona laeviceps). This bacterium has a circular 4,014,839-nucleotide chromosome and two circular plasmids. Genome-mining analysis of the whole-genome sequence revealed that GMEKP1 has 12 biosynthetic gene clusters, dominated by genes encoding polyketide synthase hybrids. ABSTRACT We report the complete genome sequence and annotation of Bacillus velezensis GMEKP1, which was isolated from a hive of stingless bees (Trigona laeviceps). This bacterium has a circular 4,014,839-nucleotide chromosome and two circular plasmids. Genome-mining analysis of the whole-genome sequence revealed that GMEKP1 has 12 biosynthetic gene clusters, dominated by genes encoding polyketide synthase hybrids.
Spanish adaptation and validation of the Social Attribution Task-Multiple choice (SAT-MC) versions I and II for children and adolescents

Social cognition is progressively acquired from childhood to early adulthood. Nevertheless there is a shortage of social cognition scales with normative data for Spanish children and adolescents. Social Attribution Task-Multiple Choice (SAT-MC) and its alternate version SAT-MC-II are social cognition instruments that measure mentalization skills in adults with psychosis. This study aimed to report psycho- metric characteristics and normative data of the Spanish version of SAT-MC and SAT-MC-II in a sample of minors.