Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Future power sources for mobile communications

As the encroachment of portable electronics into everyday life continues, the demand for improved power sources is continuing to increase. New technologies such as nickel metal hydride and lithium ion batteries have largely replaced nickel cadmium systems because of their superior performance. The paper reviews the developments in battery technology and looks ahead to the future of portable power sources. In doing so it aims to advise the reader on the possible future technologies that they may one day be using.
A New Triangle: Fractional Calculus, Renormalization Group, and Machine Learning

The emergence of the systematic study of complexity as a science has resulted from the growing recognition that the fundamental assumptions upon which Newtonian physics is based are not satisfied throughout most of science, e.g., time is not necessarily uniformly flowing in one direction, nor is space homogeneous. Herein we discuss how the fractional calculus (FC), renormalization group (RG) theory and machine learning (ML) have each developed independently in the study of distinct phenomena in which one or more of the underlying assumptions of Newtonian formalism is violated. FC has been shown to help us better understand complex systems, improve the processing of complex signals, enhance the control of complex networks, increase optimization performance, and even extend the enabling of the potential for creativity. RG allows one to investigate the changes of a dynamical system at different scales. For example, in quantum field theory, divergent parts of a calculation can lead to nonsensical infinite results. However, by applying RG, the divergent parts can be adsorbed into fewer measurable quantities, yielding finite results. To date, ML is a fashionable research topic and will probably remain so into the foreseeable future. How a model can learn efficiently (optimally) is always essential. The key to learnability is designing efficient optimization methods. Although extensive research has been carried out on the three topics separately, few studies have investigated the association triangle between the FC, RG, and ML. To initiate the study of their interdependence, herein the authors discuss the critical connections between them (Fig. 1). In the FC and RG, scaling laws reveal the complexity of the phenomena discussed. The authors emphasize that the FC’s and RG’s critical connection is the form of inverse power laws (IPL), and the IPL index provides a measure of the level of complexity. For FC and ML, the critical connections in big data, wherein variability, optimization, and non-local models are described. The authors introduce the derivative-free and gradient-based optimization methods and explain how the FC could contribute to these study areas. In the end, the association between the RG and ML is also explained. The mutual information, feature extraction, and locality are also discussed. Many of the cross-sectional studies suggest a connection between the RG and ML. The RG has a superficial similarity to deep neural networks (DNNs) structure in which one marginalizes over hidden degrees of freedom. The authors remark in the conclusions that the association triangle between FC, RG, and ML, form a stool on which the foundation to complexity science might comfortably sit for a wide range of future research topics.
Racial discrimination and depressive symptoms mediated by conversations about race among students of color

Abstract Racial discrimination is associated with adverse mental health outcomes among Students of Color. In order to address racial tensions, it is important to consider students’ dialogues about race. The current study tested whether having positive and negative conversations about one’s ethnic-racial group mediated the relation between racial discrimination at T1 and depressive symptoms 5 months later at T2 among 94 college Students of Color. Findings indicated that greater racial discrimination at T1 was associated with more frequent negative conversations about race at T2 (b = .38, p = .00), which was, in turn, associated with greater depressive symptoms at T2 (b = 2.73, p = .04); this pathway demonstrated significant mediation. However, positive conversations about race was not a significant mediator in this association. The current study highlights the importance of focusing on racial conversations after racial discrimination in order to minimize adverse effects on mental health among Students of Color.
SLNR-Based Beamspace Precoding and Beam Selection for Wideband mmWave Massive MIMO

Beamspace multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems leverage the lens antenna array to reduce their hardware cost, which is a promising technology in millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency bands. This letter proposes a novel signal-to-leakage-plus-noise ratio (SLNR)-based beamspace precoding and beam selection scheme to improve the downlink sum rate (SR) of the beamspace mmWave massive MIMO channels. First, for a given beam subset, a SLNR maximization-based beamspace precoder is designed to mitigate the inter-user interference caused by leakage power, thus enhancing the SR. Then, an approximated expression of the SR is formulated, based on which an iterative radio frequency (RF) precoding and beam selection method is designed to further improve the system SR. Numerical results demonstrate a superior SR performance of the proposed scheme over state-of-the-art methods.
A Canadian Study of Cisplatin Metabolomics and Nephrotoxicity (ACCENT): A Clinical Research Protocol

Background: Cisplatin, a chemotherapy used to treat solid tumors, causes acute kidney injury (AKI), a known risk factor for chronic kidney disease and mortality. AKI diagnosis relies on biomarkers which are only measurable after kidney damage has occurred and functional impairment is apparent; this prevents timely AKI diagnosis and treatment. Metabolomics seeks to identify metabolite patterns involved in cell tissue metabolism related to disease or patient factors. The A Canadian study of Cisplatin mEtabolomics and NephroToxicity (ACCENT) team was established to harness the power of metabolomics to identify novel biomarkers that predict risk and discriminate for presence of cisplatin nephrotoxicity, so that early intervention strategies to mitigate onset and severity of AKI can be implemented. Objective: Describe the design and methods of the ACCENT study which aims to identify and validate metabolomic profiles in urine and serum associated with risk for cisplatin-mediated nephrotoxicity in children and adults. Design: Observational prospective cohort study. Setting: Six Canadian oncology centers (3 pediatric, 1 adult and 2 both). Patients: Three hundred adults and 300 children planned to receive cisplatin therapy. Measurements: During two cisplatin infusion cycles, serum and urine will be measured for creatinine and electrolytes to ascertain AKI. Many patient and disease variables will be collected prospectively at baseline and throughout therapy. Metabolomic analyses of serum and urine will be done using mass spectrometry. An untargeted metabolomics approach will be used to analyze serum and urine samples before and after cisplatin infusions to identify candidate biomarkers of cisplatin AKI. Candidate metabolites will be validated using an independent cohort. Methods: Patients will be recruited before their first cycle of cisplatin. Blood and urine will be collected at specified time points before and after cisplatin during the first infusion and an infusion later during cancer treatment. The primary outcome is AKI, defined using a traditional serum creatinine-based definition and an electrolyte abnormality-based definition. Chart review 3 months after cisplatin therapy end will be conducted to document kidney health and survival. Limitations: It may not be possible to adjust for all measured and unmeasured confounders when evaluating prediction of AKI using metabolite profiles. Collection of data across multiple sites will be a challenge. Conclusions: ACCENT is the largest study of children and adults treated with cisplatin and aims to reimagine the current model for AKI diagnoses using metabolomics. The identification of biomarkers predicting and detecting AKI in children and adults treated with cisplatin can greatly inform future clinical investigations and practices.
The Development on Software Testing Platform of Huaian City

In order to support the requirements of enterprises for testing services, and promote Huaian software industry rapid and development healthy, a software testing platform is built for Huaian public software testing service. ASP.NET, C# programming language and the database of SQL Server 2008 are opted to develop the proposed system. Furthermore, the MVC layered design pattern is applied to improve the maintainability and extensibility. The proposed system is composed of testing talents training module, technical support module, enterprise information module and expert consulting module. It provides a good service platform including software products, product testing and software information resource sharing for enterprises of Huaian city.
Theory of Direct-Coupled-Cavity Filters

A new theory is presented for the design of direct-coupled-cavity filters in transmission line or waveguide. It is shown that for a specified range of parameters the insertion-loss characteristic of these filters in the case of Chebyshev equal-ripple characteristic is given very accurately by the formula P/sub 0/ / /P/sub L/ = 1+h/sup 2/T/sub n//sup 2/[/spl omega//sub 0/ / /spl omega/ sin(/spl pi/ /spl omega/ / /spl omega//sub 0/) / sin/spl theta//sub 0/'] where h defines the ripple level, T/sub n/ is the first-kind Chebyshev polynomial of degree n, /spl omega/ / /spl omega//sub 0/ is normalized frequency, and /spl theta//sub 0/' is an angle proportional to the bandwidth of a distributed lowpass prototype filter. The element values of the direct-coupled filter are related directly to the step impedances of the prototype whose values have been tabulated. The theory gives close agreement with computed data over a range of parameters as specified by a very simple formula. The design technique is convenient for practical applications.
Crosslink slot assignment in LEO networks

The problem of crosslink time slot assignment in low Earth orbiting (LEO) satellite networks is addressed. A crosslink channel connects two neighboring satellites through half-duplexed directional antennas. Coordination among the crosslinks between a satellite and all its neighbors in a dynamic LEO network is a delicate problem and rarely addressed in the literature. The problem is solved here using bipartite graphs. Two versions of slot assignment algorithm are given: distributed and centralized.
Advanced hybrid BOFDA/FBG sensor system for simultaneously point-wise and distributed temperature/strain measurements

We propose and experimentally demonstrate for the first time to the best of our knowledge the feasibility of an integrated hybrid optical fiber sensing system that efficiently combines distributed Brillouin optical frequency-domain analysis (BOFDA) technique with FBG-based quasi-distributed approach offering the possibility for simultaneous distributed and point-wise measurements. The highly integrated proposed scheme employs Gaussian shaped, broadband and low reflectivity apodized FBGs with a common narrow-band optical source and shared receiving unit over the same sensing fiber. A single mode optical fiber is used for distributed sensing and a pair of FBGs is employed for simultaneous pointwise measurements.
Experimental validation of Volterra series nonlinear modelling for microwave subcarrier optical systems

A detailed comparative experimental and theoretical study of nonlinear distortion in laser diodes is undertaken to provide practical proving of the effectiveness and utility of the Volterra series method. The observed harmonic and intermodulation distortion levels are compared with the results given by the Volterra series nonlinear laser model using intrinsic parameters extracted from reflection and small-signal frequency response measurements. Second-harmonic, two-tone and three-tone intermodulation distortion data are all found to be in good agreement with the theoretical results, providing endorsement of the Volterra series approach for the study of distortion in microwave subcarrier optical systems.
Attitude Controller Design of Multiple Independently Targeted Reentry Vehicle Based on Internal Model Control

A Multiple Independently Targeted Reentry Vehicle (MIRV) is a ballistic missile payload containing several warheads each capable of hitting one of a group of targets. In the process of missile flight control, the release of warheads brings about coupling to the missile attitude control system which will lower the flight stability. In order to solve this problem, a missile attitude controller, which combined the α-order integral inverse system with internal model principle, was presented. Firstly, determine the Post Boost Vehicle (PBV) attitude dynamics model. Then, combine the linearization of attitude dynamics equation with feed-forward decoupling method to implement the attitude decoupling. Finally, a two-degree of freedom (TOF) multivariable internal model controller was set up to optimize the control system performance. Simulation results show that the coupling of attitude control system has been eliminated. Compared with the original system, the internal model controller provides the control system better input-tracking performance, robust stability and interference suppression capacity.
Digital identification of voltage sag in distribution system

Voltage sags in distribution system occur more frequently and devastatingly than other power quality problems. Voltage sags due to line faults, transformer energizing and induction motor starting are the main interference sources. The reasons leading to these sags are analyzed and simulation result are presented by an EMTP model in this paper. A new identification method to sag waveforms is presented in this paper, since B-spline wavelet transform is good at the analysis of singularity. The characteristics of sag waveform are extracted easily and accurately by using the B-spline wavelet transform.
Alba - Development of High-Efficiency Multi-Crystalline Si EWT Solar Cells for Industrial Fabrication at Q-Cells

The goal of the project Alba is the development and fabrication of EWT solar cells on multi-crystalline silicon with a clearly increased cell efficiency compared to standard industrial Si cells. The project lays special focus on the development of industrially applicable processes. Exemplary realisation of advanced process steps for the fabrication of EWT cells which are suitable for mass production of high efficiency solar cells is shown in this paper. First results of the successful demonstration of the cell design on a laboratory scale are presented while the introduction of the cell concept into pilot production at Q-Cells's new Reiner Lemoine Research Centre is announced.
An ICA-Based Method for Improving Cross-Correlation Performance in Estimating Stress Wave Propagation Time

This paper presented a new propagation time estimation method based on ICA-domain filter. The technique consists of two steps. Firstly, denoising in ICA domain by sparse code shrinkage was applied to each received signal to recover the original waveform. In the process, a new shrinkage function was designed to make the filter more adaptive. Then, the propagation time was found by locating the peak of the cross-correlation function. The propagation time estimations under several conditions were simulated to evaluate the performance of the method. The experiment results show that the proposed method performs better than classic correlation methods, which makes it an efficient method in wood nondestructive evaluation.
3D Thermal Analysis of a Power Supply Busbar Structure

Busbar technology is more and more used to realize connections within power supply systems in answer to the need of compactness. The integrated problem on heat conduction and radiation-convective heat exchange describes the temperature regime in current conductors and current carrying busbars of power electrical apparatus such as circuit breakers or high breaking capacity fuses. Beside steady-state conditions, the transient thermal regime of busbar has an important influence upon whole power supply system from thermal behaviour point of view. Hence, a 3D thermal analysis of a power system including fuse, low voltage circuit breaker and busbars connections, using a specific software package based on Finite Element Method, has been done. From 3D thermal modelling and simulations, the thermal transient impedance for the busbar has been computed. This allows a better correlation between protection characteristics of the fuse and circuit breaker and busbar design.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Peer-to-peer botnets: A case study on Waledac

Botnets are networks of compromised computer systems used to perform various criminal activities on the Internet. This thesis gives a detailed analysis of the well-knownWaledac botnet, based on results from reverse code engineering and sandboxed execution. The analysis results in methods to detect Waledac bots on a network, and an effective attack aimed at overtaking the entire botnet. In light of the analysis and a overview of the current situation in botnet defence the future of botnets are discussed.
How can assistive technology and telecare support the independence and employment prospects for adults with learning disabilities

This paper looks at some case studies from the TATE [Through Assistive Technology to Employment] Project. Funded through the second round of the Equal Community Programme (ESF) the TATE Project has looked at how assistive technology and telecare can be implemented to enhance the quality of life for adults with learning disabilities. Using a series of case studies, the paper illustrates some of the advantages of both innovative and traditional assistive technology and telecare to the service user, formal and family carers.
On the structure dynamic response of a coastal structure subject to the dam break induced surge impact pressure

ABSTRACT Detailed laboratory datasets of the dam break-induced surge impact pressures measured by Lobovský et al. are analyzed, upon which the dynamic amplification factors (DAF) of the single degree of freedom structures with different natural periods are calculated to quantify the dynamic responses of the measured total pressure series, the decomposed impulsive and quasi-steady pressure series based on the Hilbert-Huang transform algorithm. The maximum DAFs of the measured total and decomposed impulsive pressure series increase with the decrease of structure natural periods, while those of the decomposed quasi-steady pressure series show no relation with structure natural periods. The impulsive pressure is more influential to structures with small natural periods, whereas the quasi-steady pressure plays a predominant role regarding structures with large natural periods. Due to the resonance effect, the oscillatory pressure can significantly increase the maximum DAFs and delay its occurrence time of the measured total pressure series for structures with small natural periods. Nevertheless, the damping effect can generally decrease the DAFs of structures and therefore the resonance effect. Considering the damping coefficient varies from 0 to 0.1 in reality, increase of the maximum DAF induced by resonance is non-negligible for structures with small damping and short natural period.
Smart card information and operations using biometrics

Nowadays many systems need a portable media to store some sensible data, such as smart cards. The information can be protected by the user with his Personal Identification Number (PIN), or through biometrics. Unfortunately, there is not a smart card today that can verify the biometric template inside it, performing this task in the terminal. The author has developed the algorithms and data structures needed to solve this problem. Therefore, he has created a smart card with user biometric authentication, based on an Open Platform smart card (in this case, a JavaCard). To achieve these results, different biometric techniques have been studied: speaker verification, hand geometry and iris recognition. Experimental results are given to show the viability of the prototype developed.
Design of an interdigital hairpin bandpass filter utilizing a model of coupled slots

A design methodology of an interdigital hairpin filter based on a full-wave model of coupled slots is developed and discussed. It is applied to design a five-pole bandpass filter centered at 1.7 GHz; with 1.75% relative bandwidth. A low level of in-band insertion loss is achieved using high-temperature superconductor electrodes. Experimental data are presented and compared with the simulated response. A model of coupled slots embedded in a layered lossy media is developed on the basis of the spectral-domain approach. The multiport admittance (impedance) matrix of the coupled slots is formulated using the E-H duality principle. It is successfully applied in the design of the filter.
Wavelets and electromagnetic power system transients

The wavelet transform is introduced as a method for analyzing electromagnetic transients associated with power system faults and switching. This method, like the Fourier transform, provides information related to the frequency composition of a waveform, but it is more appropriate than the familiar Fourier methods for the nonperiodic, wide-band signals associated with electromagnetic transients. It appears that the frequency domain data produced by the wavelet transform may be useful for analyzing the sources of transients through manual or automated feature detection schemes. The basic principles of wavelet analysis are set forth, and examples showing the application of the wavelet transform to actual power system transients are presented.
Experimental Studies on the Backbone Curves of Reinforced Concrete Columns with Light Transverse Reinforcement

This paper presents the investigations carried out on the backbone curves of reinforced concrete (RC) columns with light transverse reinforcement. An experimental program consisting of five half-scale RC columns with light transverse reinforcement was carried out. The specimens are tested to the point of axial failure to obtain the backbone curves of such columns. Quasi-static cyclic loading simulating earthquake actions is applied. The backbone curves obtained from the tested specimens are then compared with the existing seismic assessment guidelines. The test results indicate that the initial column stiffness and ultimate displacements (displacements at axial failure) are overestimated and underestimated by some guidelines and provisions. The existing initial stiffness and ultimate displacement models are briefly reviewed and compared with the experimental results. The results show that the existing initial stiffness and ultimate displacement models produced better results than the existing seismic assessment guidelines.