Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Technology refreshment strategy and plan for application in military systems a "How-to systems development process" and linkage with CAIV

Most customers demand the maximum performance for the minimum acquisition cost, thus the old adage, "I want the most bang for my buck. " The US Military has historically paid high and even exorbitant prices in order to have a specific set of requirements met. Certainly not the "most" bang for the buck. In fact, frequently a system was obsolete the day it was fielded! However, the repercussions from Acquisition Reform have forced a new way of thinking such as performance-based requirements, open systems architectures, leveraging commercial-based products (such as fielding unmodified commercial laptop computers into battle-ready situations) and even migrating away from ADA requirements for software development. With the use of open standards, commercial technologies and commercial products, how is the Operation and Support Phase of these new age systems affected? What can be done with the existing Legacy and Non-developmental Item (NDI) systems? COTS seems hard to manage and impossible to control, how can the system stay operationally effective and viable? This paper addresses a tangible "How-to" process for creating a Technology Refreshment Strategy (applicable to Legacy, NDI and COTS-based systems), then the development of a evolutionary Technology Refreshment Plan that sets a vision for the Operation and Support of a fielded system solution. This Technology Refreshment Plan then feeds a Cost As an Independent Variable (CAIV) process that will be able to yield an accurate and manageable Total Ownership Cost (TOC) calculation. The focus today is on TOC, not just acquisition (or even production) cost. Here is where the feedback to the Systems Design and Development Process occurs. Once this model is set and tailored for a given set of customer requirements and reality, then the model can support trade study analyses in a consistent manner, and truly drive affordability, thus maximizing the biggest 'performance bang' for the 'development buck'.
Optimized Multi-Carrier PWM Strategy and Topology Review for Multi-Cell Series-Parallel Medium-Voltage Rectifier

Solid-state transformer (SST) acting as a medium-voltage (MV) rectifier is a viable solution to supply low-voltage DC (LVDC) loads directly from the MV ac grid. Different from a classical boost-derived power-factor-correction (PFC) topology, the multicell series-parallel (MCSP) converter steps down and distributes the input ac voltage by multiple switching cells while providing the PFC function. We propose an optimized multicarrier pulsewidth modulation (PWM) strategy to avoid unwanted modes by modified multicarrier waveforms for ensuring frequent parallel connectivity to improve balancing effect while preserving simple current control implementation. Compared with conventional phase-shifted (PS) PWM and other modified multilevel carrier methods, the proposed method has no adverse effect on the input current distortion and optimizes the balancing effect on the capacitor voltages resulting suppressed circulating currents. Effectively reduced current stresses on the switch devices could lead a reduction of conduction loss on the device. Topology discussion, circulating currents, digital implementation, and loss analysis are provided. Finally, the superiority of the proposed PWM method is validated by thermal-based simulation presenting a power loss breakdown and comparing with other PWM methods. A full-scale prototype is developed, and the experimental outcomes verify the remarkable performance of proposed PWM scheme in balanced and even suppressed switch currents with improved system efficiency.
Honokiol and Magnolol: Insights into Their Antidermatophytic Effects

Dermatophyte infections represent a significant public health concern, with an alarming negative impact caused by unsuccessful therapeutic regimens. Natural products have been highlighted as a promising alternative, due to their long-standing traditional use and increasing scientific recognition. In this study, honokiol and magnolol, the main bioactives from Magnolia spp. bark, were investigated for their antidermatophytic activity. The antifungal screening was performed using dermatophyte standard strains and clinical isolates. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) were determined in accordance with EUCAST-AFST guidelines, with minor modifications. The effects on ergosterol biosynthesis were assessed in Trichophyton rubrum cells by HPLC-DAD. Putative interactions with terbinafine against T. rubrum were evaluated by the checkerboard method. Their impact on cells’ viability and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-8 and TNF-α) was shown using an ex vivo human neutrophils model. Honokiol and magnolol were highly active against tested dermatophytes, with MIC and MFC values of 8 and 16 mg/L, respectively. The mechanism of action involved the inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis, with accumulation of squalene in T. rubrum cells. Synergy was assessed for binary mixtures of magnolol with terbinafine (FICI = 0.50), while honokiol-terbinafine combinations displayed only additive effects (FICI = 0.56). In addition, magnolol displayed inhibitory effects towards IL-1β, IL-8 and TNF-α released from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human neutrophils, while honokiol only decreased IL-1β secretion, compared to the untreated control. Overall, honokiol and magnolol acted as fungicidal agents against dermatophytes, with impairment of ergosterol biosynthesis.
Evaluation of the Use of Blood Products in ICU Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

(1) Background: The COVID-19 pandemic tested the public health system’s readiness for crises and highlighted the importance of knowing the demand for blood products and the maintenance of the blood supply chain. The aim of this study was to evaluate blood product usage in a series of patients that were hospitalized due to COVID-19 and to analyze their demographics and clinical characteristics. (2) Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed data from transfused COVID-19 patients that were treated in the University Hospital Medical Center Bezanijska Kosa in Belgrade, Serbia during the second wave of the epidemic. (3) Results: This study included 90 patients. The median age of the patients was 72 (range 23–95) years. The median time of hospitalization was 23 days (range 3–73 days). In intensive care units (ICUs) the median time of hospitalization was 9 days (range 0–73). One or more comorbidities were observed in 86 individuals (95.6%). The total number of transfused red blood cell concetrates (RBC) was 304 (139 in ICU, 165 in other wards), with a mean of 3 units/patient (range 1–14). Comorbidities, severity of illness and hospital duration in the ICU were statistically significant predictors of higher RBC use. (4) Conclusion: Knowledge of the transfusion profile of COVID-19 patients allowed better management of the hospital’s blood stocks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
FDTD treatment of partially magnetized ferrites with a new permeability tensor model

This paper outlines the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) treatment of partially magnetized ferrites characterized by a permeability tensor model, which was recently published. Its causal aspect makes this tensor well adapted to time-domain simulations. Validation is demonstrated for a resonant ferrite structure, Numerical and analytical results are compared, showing good agreement.
A Review on Development of Bio-Inspired Implants Using 3D Printing

Biomimetics is an emerging field of science that adapts the working principles from nature to fine-tune the engineering design aspects to mimic biological structure and functions. The application mainly focuses on the development of medical implants for hard and soft tissue replacements. Additive manufacturing or 3D printing is an established processing norm with a superior resolution and control over process parameters than conventional methods and has allowed the incessant amalgamation of biomimetics into material manufacturing, thereby improving the adaptation of biomaterials and implants into the human body. The conventional manufacturing practices had design restrictions that prevented mimicking the natural architecture of human tissues into material manufacturing. However, with additive manufacturing, the material construction happens layer-by-layer over multiple axes simultaneously, thus enabling finer control over material placement, thereby overcoming the design challenge that prevented developing complex human architectures. This review substantiates the dexterity of additive manufacturing in utilizing biomimetics to 3D print ceramic, polymer, and metal implants with excellent resemblance to natural tissue. It also cites some clinical references of experimental and commercial approaches employing biomimetic 3D printing of implants.
A preliminary study on the distribution of necrophagous flies on Hainan Island, China

To date, there have been no studies on necrophagous fly populations on Hainan Island in China. Thus, we investigated the species composition of necrophagous flies as well as their geographic distribution on Hainan Island for the first time. Ten sites in different climatic regions across the island were sampled for 7 days per location from November 1, 2018 to February 28, 2019 and from July 1, 2019 to October 31, 2019. Bottle traps made of 1.5 L soft plastic bottles were used to trap necrophagous flies. The collected individuals were identified to species. The specimens represented 5 families and 28 species. Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) was the most dominant species, followed by Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart, 1843), Hemipyrellia ligurriens (Wiedemann, 1830), Boettcherisca peregrine (Robineau‐Desvoidy, 1830), Parasarcophaga dux (Thomson, 1868), Parasarcophaga misera (Walker, 1849), Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Wulp, 1883), and Ophyra chalcogaster (Wiedemann, 1924). The largest collection of flies was obtained in the semiarid region. Species richness was highest in the subhumid region and was higher in summer than in winter, but there were exceptions, such as L. hainanensis (Fan,1965), Boettcherisca formosensis (Lopes, 1961), and Muscina stabulans (Fallen, 1817). Fannia pusio (Wiedemann, 1830), and Boettcherisca formosensis (Lopes, 1961) were newly recorded species on Hainan Island. Of the necrophagous flies collected during the study, we propose several predominant species based on the criteria of distribution, occurrence frequency, and resource preference. Our results not only investigate necrophagous flies on Hainan Island but also accumulate data for criminal investigations in the region.
Pressure Adaptations in Deep-Sea Moritella Dihydrofolate Reductases: Compressibility versus Stability

Simple Summary Deep-sea organisms must have proteins that function under high hydrostatic pressure to survive. Adaptations used in proteins from “pressure-loving” piezophiles may include greater compressibility or greater stability against pressure-induced destabilization. However, while greater compressibility can be accomplished by greater void volume, larger cavities in a protein have been associated with greater destabilization and even unfolding as pressure is increased. Here, computer simulations of dihydrofolate reductase from a moderate piezophile and a hyperpiezophile were performed to understand the balance between adaptations for greater compressibility and those against pressure destabilization and unfolding. The results indicate that while compressibility appears to be important for deep-sea microbes, adaptation for the greatest depths may be to prevent water penetration into the interior. Abstract Proteins from “pressure-loving” piezophiles appear to adapt by greater compressibility via larger total cavity volume. However, larger cavities in proteins have been associated with lower unfolding pressures. Here, dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) from a moderate piezophile Moritella profunda (Mp) isolated at ~2.9 km in depth and from a hyperpiezophile Moritella yayanosii (My) isolated at ~11 km in depth were compared using molecular dynamics simulations. Although previous simulations indicate that MpDHFR is more compressible than a mesophile DHFR, here the average properties and a quasiharmonic analysis indicate that MpDHFR and MyDHFR have similar compressibilities. A cavity analysis also indicates that the three unique mutations in MyDHFR are near cavities, although the cavities are generally similar in size in both. However, while a cleft overlaps an internal cavity, thus forming a pathway from the surface to the interior in MpDHFR, the unique residue Tyr103 found in MyDHFR forms a hydrogen bond with Leu78, and the sidechain separates the cleft from the cavity. Thus, while Moritella DHFR may generally be well suited to high-pressure environments because of their greater compressibility, adaptation for greater depths may be to prevent water entry into the interior cavities.
Low power considerations and design for CMOS VCOs applied for direct conversion receivers at 5GHz

Low power design often requires direct conversion architectures, such as low-IF or zero-IF. Any of these two possibilities needs a low power, low phase noise voltage control oscillator (VCO) in the frequency synthesizer. This work is focused on low power considerations applied to the practical modern conception of this device. Fulfilling the standard specifications (output power, phase noise, frequency range) should be completed with this deeper step. A conscious design leads moreover to an improvement in the results obtained by the classical considerations. The increase of the quality factor of the passive elements is one of the key points, followed by an accurate design of the architecture scheme. Furthermore, lower current consumption provides higher oscillation frequencies and facilitates higher frequency ranges, which follow the trends of modern wireless and wideband communication standards. In order to validate the aforementioned assumptions, a CMOS VCO has been implemented in UMC 0. 18μm 1P6M technology, with power consumption down to 3.4mW.
Sibelius as a Tool to Improve Student's Ability of Making Counterpoint Melody

As a subject for music students, counterpoint contributes to the ability to create a melody. The melody in counterpoint usually consists of two or more layers. In order to make a counterpoint melody, students must acknowledge the rules to construct the counterpoint melody. A good counterpoint melody involves two important things: the flow of the melody in a vertical and horizontal in vertical line (interval) and the musical texture of the melody. As a beginner in learning counterpoint, writing a counterpoint melody might be difficult at first. Learning counterpoint investigation was found that students spent a lot of their time following the counterpoint rules. They particularly did not focus on the musical sense of the counterpoint melody causing the melody loses its musical senses. Sibelius was used here as a tool to solve the problem. Sibelius is a music software which commonly used in writing musical scores. This study examined Sibelius in making a counterpoint melody in learning counterpoint. The data were gathered through observation and interviews with students during learning counterpoint course. The result showed that by using Sibelius, making counterpoint melody more efficient, and it helped student not only focused on the counterpoint rules but also the musical senses of the counterpoint melody. Furthermore, students also showed the improvement of their skills in making a counterpoint melody.
The Study of Mine Cyber-Physical Systems

Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) is integration of information systems and physical systems, so as to achieve real-time perception, dynamic control and information services of large-scale engineering systems, but the research is still in infancy. Based on the wide applications and good prospects of CPS in the future, this paper has introduced CPS briefly, described its structure and characteristics. Furthermore, this paper combines the CPS with the mine, proposes the basic framework of the mine CPS and introduces its key technologies and challenges, striving the technical service to mine.
Fatigue Test on a Full Scale Panel

Fatigue test on a full scale panel with complex loading and geometry has been carried out by using a tri-axial test machine located in the laboratory of the University of Naples. The aeronautical test panel was designed and manufactured by Alenia. The demonstrator is made up of two parts which are linked by a transversal joint that is parallel to the stringer direction. A fatigue load was applied in the normal direction to the longitudinal joint, while a constant load was applied in the joint direction. The full scale panel was equipped with strain gauges for deformation state measurements. Preliminary static load tests were performed in order to provide deformation measurements for numerical correlation. The outcomes confirmed that the applied load level is consistent with a linear elastic material behaviour. Three intermediate failures occurred before the final one: the first two under a clip, while in the third case a panel frame failed. Finally after about 177,000 cycles the demonstrator broke down. A non linear finite element analysis was also carried out in order to correlate failure events that occurred during the demonstrator testing.
The development of intestinal lactic acid bacteria in piglets as determined by high-throughput sequencing

Abstract The present study investigated the development of intestinal lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in piglets by high-throughput sequencing. Fresh feces from newborn piglets were collected at the ages of 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 21, 24, 35 and 42 days. Sequencing of DNA amplicons of bacteria in feces amplified with LAB-specific primers showed that Lactobacillus was the predominant genus with an abundance higher than 70%, but tended to decrease after weaning (p = 0.059). The abundance of Streptococcus was the second predominant genus on day 1, then decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Facklamia, Bacillus and Aerosphaera increased significantly after weaning (p < 0.05). At the species level, Lactobacillus reuteri, Uncultured Lactobacillus sp. and Lactobacillus mucosae dominated on day 3. Lactobacillus reuteri was the predominant bacteria at 7, 21, 24 and 35 days of age, and Lactobacillus sp. MWBPC 1-3-1 dominated on day 42. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus vaginalis, Lactobacillus johnsonii and Lactobacillus gasseri on day 24 was significantly higher than other ages (p < 0.05). These results indicate that the structure and predominant species of LAB changed dramatically from birth to weaning, which is of great significance to explore the LAB for the health of piglets.
Bio-Analytical Stability Studies of Nadolol Material

The best practices of Bio-analytical stability studies on drug samples are very crucial and essential for the drugs development process as it specify the acceptancy, purity, efficacy, prediction of strength and quality of the drugs. The main objective of this stability studies on Nadolol the proposed approach of chromatographic separation was administered in isocratic way by using asymmetric C18 column of 40:60 percent of acetonitrile and 0.1% OPA at a flow rate of 1 ml/min is a quantitative measure for drug analysis in biological matrix for more reliable, selective, reproducible and sensitive. This stability study constituents several methods like Bench-Top, Auto-sampler, Freeze-Thaw, Dry-extract, Wet-extract, Short-term, long-Term stability studies at various intervals gave the complete stability information about these drugs. The results of these stability studies are accepted based on ICH guidelines represents this drug has a good stability under the present experimental conditions.
A reliability analysis of railway switches

Switches and crossings (S&C) are critical elements on railway networks. Any failure of S&C usually leads to train delays and cancelations having a negative impact on the quality of service delivered, railway safety and also operating costs. S&C is a multi-component system and to enable proactive prevention of S&C unit faults, with their undesirable consequences, the ability to predict problems at component level is needed. This paper describes the derivation of lifetime distributions of individual S&C components based on field data collected. Maintenance was identified as a potential contributor towards increased frequency of reported S&C faults. The outcomes of the analysis and lifetime distributions for the elements of the switch units provide a means of predicting the expected number of maintenance activities, and associated costs for these units over any specified period of time. They provide an essential input to the optimisation of maintenance in developing an asset management strategy.
A reduced-order model for electrically actuated clamped circular plates

We present an analytical reduced-order model (macromodel) for an electrically actuated clamped circular plate. After establishing the equations governing the plate, we discretize the system by using a Galerkin approach. The distributed-parameter equations are then reduced to a finite system of ordinary-differential equations in time. We solve these equations for the equilibrium states due to a general electric potential and determine the natural frequencies of the axisymmetric modes for the stable deflected position. Finally, we attempt to validate the model by using data from experiments performed on silicon-based microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). The reduced-order model accounts for both geometric nonlinear hardening and residual stress, allows for general design variables and is also robust up to the pull-in instability. Consequently, our macromodel is general and computationally strong enough to be an effective design tool.
Hierarchical Scheduling of an SDF/L Graph onto Multiple Processors

Although dataflow models are known to thrive at exploiting task-level parallelism of an application, it is difficult to exploit the parallelism of data, represented well with loop structures, since these structures are not explicitly specified in existing dataflow models. SDF/L model overcomes this shortcoming by specifying the loop structures explicitly in a hierarchical fashion. We introduce a scheduling technique of an application represented by the SDF/L model onto heterogeneous processors. In the proposed method, we explore the mapping of tasks using an evolutionary meta-heuristic and schedule hierarchically in a bottom-up fashion, creating parallel loop schedules at lower levels first and then re-using them when constructing the schedule at a higher level. The efficiency of the proposed scheduling methodology is verified with benchmark examples and randomly generated SDF/L graphs.
The Recording and Interpretation of Geological Conditions in the Foundations of the Roseires, Kariba, and Latiyan Dams

Synopsis The investigation of foundation conditions is an essential preliminary to the design of any dam. However, the results of such exploratory works are rarely published. In consequence, comparatively few systematic methods of describing and interpreting rock for engineering purposes have been developed and this has contributed to the problem of predicting foundation conditions. Various techniques of recording information from borehole cores, excavations and natural outcrops are reviewed. This introduction is associated with a discussion of the type of geological information which is required for engineering purposes. The geological conditions at three dams—Roseires (Sudan), Kariba (Rhodesia), and Latiyan (Iran)— are described with particular relation to the manner in which the exploratory work was carried out. At the Roseires and Latiyan dams, rock grade classifications were developed in order to provide an engineering assessment of rock quality in situ. La recherche sur les conditions des fondations.