Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The “CO2 Tool”: CO2 emissions & energy consumption of existing & breakthrough steelmaking routes

An important task in the structure of the ULCOS program has been to provide a fair and homogeneous comparison among the elements of the initial and the short lists of processes, which are candidates to become the ultimate ULCOS, carbon-lean breathrough steel production processes of the future. Eventually, that information is being used to provide the rationale for moving forward in the selection of the future best technologies. The CO2 tool, developed within SP9, the subproject devoted to measuring the sustainability of the proposed ULCOS processes, is one of the key tools worked out but also used to carry out this essential part of the ULCOS program. The CO2 tool is a mass and energy balance model of a complete steel mill, i.e. a steel mill simulator, which focuses on estimating energy consumption and GHG emissions of a hot mill site. It applies a standard analysis to all the process routes proposed in the course of the ULCOS program, by normalizing the size of the site (4 Mt/y), the nature of the raw materials it uses, the scrap input in the steel shop and a number of other parameters. The tool is fed by process data of the various plants lined up in the steel mil, whihc have been generated by more detailed models and also arise from experimental data, when they are available. The tool is meant to feed a further tool that compares the production and investment costs in various scenarios extending until 2050, with a series of mild to strong carbon constraints. The structure of the tool as well as the results it brought about are presented here. The major conclusion is that several solutions offer the possibility to cut steel mill emission by more than 50% compared to the baseline “best technology” steel mill, provided that breakthrough solutions are taken into account, based on the uncoupling of energy savings and CO2 mitigation targets.
A structural approach to synthesizing soft switching PWM converters

This paper presents a structural approach to synthesizing soft switching PWM converters based on the concept of basic converter units (BCUs). With a proper reconfiguration, several families of passive and active soft switching PWM converters can be synthesized from either buck BCU or boost BCU plus certain linear networks. These typical soft switching converters include the well known topologies of buck, buck-boost, Zeta, boost, 'Cuk and Sepic. It has been shown that analysis of the converters can be conveniently performed from the derived general configurations, reducing the complexity significantly. Therefore, using the structural approach not only can explore more physical insights into the converters in a family, but can reveal more relationships among these soft switching converters over conventional approaches. These merits have made the proposed approach become uniquely valuable.
Applying a Systems Model to Enterprise Risk Management

Abstract: Enterprise risk management (ERM) has emerged as the new paradigm in risk management with the goal of holistically managing all risks facing an enterprise. Yet organizations still manage risks in a piece-meal fashion and struggle to effectively implement ERM and manage complex strategic risks. This article proposes a solution to this problem: ERM implementation using a system dynamics approach, which enables integrating risks in a causal modeling environment that includes feedback and delays. The methodology is then described using the ISO 31000 Risk Management Standard and illustrated using an example.
Enhanced Proportional-Resonant Current Controller for Unbalanced Stand-alone DFIG-based Wind Turbines

An enhanced control strategy for variable-speed unbalanced stand-alone doubly-fed induction generator-based wind energy conversion systems is proposed in this paper. The control scheme is applied to the rotor-side converter to eliminate stator voltage imbalance. The proposed current controller is developed based on the proportional-resonant regulator, which is implemented in the stator stationary reference frame. The resonant controller is tuned at the stator synchronous frequency to achieve zero steady-state errors in rotor currents without decomposing the positive and negative sequence components. The computational complexity of the proposed control algorithm is greatly simplified, and control performance is significantly improved. Finally, simulations and experimental results are presented to verify the feasibility and the robustness of the proposed control scheme.
Study of the Basis for Toxicity and Specificity of Bacillus thuringiensis d-Endotoxins

The report contains three parts which summarizes the three years achievements of the three participating research groups; The Weizmann group, Tel-Aviv group and Purdue group. The firs part describes the achievements obtained by Shai's group toward the elucidation of the mechanism of membrane insertion and the structural organization of the pores formed by the Cry3A and Cry1Ac B. thuringiensis d-endotoxins. For that purpose Shai's group synthesized, fluorescently labeled and structurally and functionally characterized peptides corresponding to the seven helices that compose the pore-forming domain of Cry3A toxin, including mutants peptides and the hairpin a4G-a5 of both Cry3A and Cry 1Ac toxins composed of a4, a5 and the loop connecting a4-a5. Among the synthesized peptides were three mutated a4 helices based on site directed mutagenesis done at Aronson's group that decreased or increased Cry 1Ac toxicity. The results of these studies are consistent with a situation in which only helices a4 anda5 insert into the membrane as a helical hairpin in an antiparallel manner, while the other helices lie on the membrane surface like ribs of an umbrella (the "umbrella model"). In order to test this model Shai's group synthesized the helical hairpin a4<-->a5 of both Cry3A and Cry 1 Ac toxins, as well. Initial functional and structural studies showed direct correlation between the properties of the mutated helices and the mutated Cry1Ac. Based on Shai's findings that a4 is the second helix besides a5 that insert into the membrane, Aronson and colleagues performed extensive mutation on this helix in the CrylAc toxin, as well as in the loop connecting helices 4 and 5, and helix 3 (part two of the report). In addition, Aronson performed studies on the effect of mutations or type of insect which influence the oligomerization either the Cry 1Ab or Cry 1Ac toxins with vesicles prepared from BBMV. In the third part of the report Zilberstein's and Sneh's groups describe their studies on the three domains of Cry 1C, Cry 1E and crylAc and their interaction with the epithelial membrane of the larval midgut. In these studies they cloned all three domains and combinations of two domains, as well as cloning of the pore forming domain alone and studying its interaction with BBMV. In addition they investigated binding of Cry1E toxin and Cry1E domains to BBMV prepared from resistant (R) or sensitive larvae. Finally they initiated expression of the loop a4G<-->a5 Cry3A in E. coli to be compared with the synthetic one done by Shai's group as a basis to develop a system to express all possible pairs for structural and functional studies by Shai's group (together with Y. Shai).
Malicious Code Variant Identification Based on Multiscale Feature Fusion CNNs

The increasing volume and types of malwares bring a great threat to network security. The malware binary detection with deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs) has been proved to be an effective method. However, the existing malware classification methods based on CNNs are unsatisfactory to this day because of their poor extraction ability, insufficient accuracy of malware classification, and high cost of detection time. To solve these problems, a novel approach, namely, multiscale feature fusion convolutional neural networks (MFFCs), was proposed to achieve an effective classification of malware based on malware visualization utilizing deep learning, which can defend against malware variants and confusing malwares. The approach firstly converts malware code binaries into grayscale images, and then, these images will be normalized in size by utilizing the MFFC model to identify malware families. Comparative experiments were carried out to verify the performance of the proposed method. The results indicate that the MFFC stands out among the recent advanced methods with an accuracy of 98.72% and an average cost of 5.34 milliseconds on the Malimg dataset. Our method can effectively identify malware and detect variants of malware families, which has excellent feature extraction capability and higher accuracy with lower detection time.
E-band (71-76 ghz) wireless link using compact modules

Wireless links using carrier waves in the millimetre-wave spectrum above 70 GHz provide a cost-effective solution to increase the data rate. Reported is the development of a photonically enabled link, based on two compact modules, both operated uncooled, transmitting a 1 Gbit/s data signal over several metres. The first module includes an optimised high-speed photodiode, delivering an output RF power exceeding 0 dBm (1 mW). Also reported is the development of a direct envelope receiver based on a quasi-optical Schottky barrier diode (SBD) module. Over the carrier frequency range, the broadband log-periodic antenna impedance has been optimised to match the SBD, while at the baseband frequency, the receiver was optimised to a 50 Ω output through an impedance transition. These have been key issues for the excellent performance of the compact receiver module over the entire E-band.
Metamaterial‐based phased array for directional beam steering

Ultracompact metamaterial‐based cavity (thickness λ/15) is proposed to realize a low secondary lobes level and highly directive phased array antenna. The cavity is fed by an array of four patch antennas designed to operate at around 9.5 GHz. The radiation patterns of the phased arrays are compared with those of their respective metamaterial‐based cavity antennas. The latter structures have lower secondary lobes and provide higher gain and directivity. Moreover, the cavities enhance the beam steering of the phased arrays. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 2653–2656, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24709
Fabrication and characterization of a low frequency electromagnetic energy harvester

This paper presents the fabrication and characterization of an AA size electromagnetic energy transducer based on vibration. A magnetic spring technique is used to scavenge energy from low frequency external vibration. The output of the harvester is maximized by optimizing the mass of moving and fixed magnets, coil width, coil position and load resistance through a comprehensive experimental analysis. The prototype can generate an open circuit voltage of 3.961 V and 1.18 mW average power at a load resistance of 97 Ω with 9 Hz resonance frequency and 0.5 mm displacement.
Characterization of Type 1 Angiotensin II Receptor Activation Induced Dual-Specificity MAPK Phosphatase Gene Expression Changes in Rat Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Activation of the type I angiotensin receptor (AT1-R) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays a crucial role in the regulation of blood pressure; however, it is also responsible for the development of pathological conditions such as vascular remodeling, hypertension and atherosclerosis. Stimulation of the VSMC by angiotensin II (AngII) promotes a broad variety of biological effects, including gene expression changes. In this paper, we have taken an integrated approach in which an analysis of AngII-induced gene expression changes has been combined with the use of small-molecule inhibitors and lentiviral-based gene silencing, to characterize the mechanism of signal transduction in response to AngII stimulation in primary rat VSMCs. We carried out Affymetrix GeneChip experiments to analyze the effects of AngII stimulation on gene expression; several genes, including DUSP5, DUSP6, and DUSP10, were identified as upregulated genes in response to stimulation. Since various dual-specificity MAPK phosphatase (DUSP) enzymes are important in the regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, these genes have been selected for further analysis. We investigated the kinetics of gene-expression changes and the possible signal transduction processes that lead to altered expression changes after AngII stimulation. Our data shows that the upregulated genes can be stimulated through multiple and synergistic signal transduction pathways. We have also found in our gene-silencing experiments that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) transactivation is not critical in the AngII-induced expression changes of the investigated genes. Our data can help us understand the details of AngII-induced long-term effects and the pathophysiology of AT1-R. Moreover, it can help to develop potential interventions for those symptoms that are induced by the over-functioning of this receptor, such as vascular remodeling, cardiac hypertrophy or atherosclerosis.
Exploration of the Online Practical Teaching Model Based on Project-Driven and Twi-Flipped—Taking the Course “Web Front-End Technology Foundation” as Example

Internet + education is the trend of future education, which establishes an intelligent learning environment of “everyone can learn, everywhere and every moment”. There are numerous uncontrollable factors of trans-time-and-space online teaching, especially for the practical application and innovative design of engineering practical courses. In order to solve the students’ problem of “Know but can’t apply; Apply but can’t innovate” in online computer practice courses, the team builds “the online practical teaching model based on Project-driven and twi-flipped”, to achieve the effective integration of “learn-ing, thinking, researching, practicing and creating”. Through the online teaching test, this model has reached the “High-order, innovative and challenging” goal of the Gold Class, and received satisfactory results of the online practical teaching.
Associations between health-risk behaviours and non-condom use among 28,620 Danish students: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Purpose Investigations into the associations between health-risk behaviours and non-condom use are important for planning effective preventive interventions targeted sexually transmitted infections. To date, there are no such studies on the Danish general population. The aim of this study was to examine associations between health-risk behaviours (including daily smoking, frequent binge-drinking, cannabis use within the last month and illicit drug use) and non-condom use among Danish students. Material and method Cross-sectional data from 28,620 sexually active students aged 15–25 years from the Danish National Youth Study 2014 were analysed using multilevel logistic regression. Results Health-risk behaviours (daily smoking, frequent binge-drinking, cannabis use within the last month and illicit drug use) were significantly associated with higher odds for non-condom use among Danish students, even after adjustment for age, gender, education, religion, and geographical region. The associations remained significant after adjusting for the remaining health-risk behaviours. Conclusion Overall, the study showed a clear association between health-risk behaviours and non-condom use among Danish students. The findings of this study have important implications for future planning of more targeted health promotion intervention programmes aimed to increase condom use among young people as a means to reduce sexually transmitted infections.
RGB luminescence from passive-matrix organic LED'S

We fabricated an 8/spl times/9 (3RGB) passive matrix of organic light-emitting diodes (OLED's) and operated it at a video-rate to simulate NTSC signals. The color purity of red emission was improved by controlling the depth distribution of DCM in the Alq/sub 3/ layer. A newly synthesized binuclear metal complex compound was incorporated for blue emission and provided good chromaticity. We found that the rectification property of the OLED is important to drive a passive matrix and about 10/sup 5/ OLED pixels can be driven when aluminum is used as the cathode material.
Virtual Forensics: Social Network Security Solutions

The usage of Social Network Sites has increased rapidly in recent years. The area of Social Networking currently has many security issues. Since the success of a Social Network Site depends on the number of users it attracts, there is pressure on providers of Social Network sites to design systems that encourage behavior which increases both the number of users and their connections. However, like any fast-growing technology, security has not been a high priority in the development of Social Network Sites. As a result, along with the benefits of Social Network Sites, significant security risks have resulted. Providing Social Network Site users with tools which will help protect them is ideal. Making tools available to users which can provide the ability to retrieve other online user information via chat, website, along other tools which can be installed on the user’s computer will be ideal in helping to tackle such issues. These will be the tools addressed in the paper.
Designing an organisational rule set: experiences of using second-order organisational design in healthcare

One of the biggest challenges of organisational design is moving toward a less formal organisational structure as the artefact to be designed. We find inspiration in computer game design for a way to address this problem: second-order design. Second-order design means designing rules that give rise to certain behaviour. In this article we present our study of an organisational intervention in a hospital using second-order design principles. The study highlights the role of rules and game structures, the inclusion of stakeholders in the design process and the importance of prototyping organisational designs. The implications for future empirical work are discussed.
Two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide artificial synapse with high sensitivity

This paper reports the fabrication of an artificial synapse (AS) based on two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) film. The AS emulates important synaptic functions such as paired-pulse facilitation, spike-rate dependent plasticity, spike-duration dependent plasticity and spike-number dependent plasticity. The spike voltage can mediate ion migration in the ion gel to regulate the conductance of MoS2 channel, thereby realizing the emulation of synaptic plasticity. More importantly, the AS stably exhibits high sensitivity in response to spike stimuli (100 mV) and low-energy consumption (∼33.5 fJ per spike). In addition, the device emulates some synaptic functions and realizes the synaptic expression of Morse code. The development of this device represents an important step toward constructing high-performance and multifunctional neuromorphic system.
From grasping to manipulation with gecko-inspired adhesives on a multifinger gripper

Description A multifingered robotic hand deploys gecko-inspired adhesives efficiently to enhance grasping and manipulation capabilities. Anthropomorphic robotic manipulators have high grasp mobility and task flexibility but struggle to match the practical strength of parallel jaw grippers. Gecko-inspired adhesives are a promising technology to span that gap in performance, but three key principles must be maintained for their efficient usage: high contact area, shear load sharing, and evenly distributed normal stress. This work presents an anthropomorphic end effector that combines those adhesive principles with the mobility and stiffness of a multiphalange, multifinger design. Adhesive suspensions use buckling ribs to deliver shear load sharing and normal compliance in a deployable form factor. We use an elastic foundation model and fundamentals of grasping theory to motivate kinematic changes when shifting from Coulomb friction to adhesive manipulation. These design considerations integrate with the necessary control infrastructure in a prototype called farmHand, on which we perform tests to confirm shear load sharing and demonstrate adhesive use in manipulation beyond pick and place grasping.
Eliminate of the Nonlinearity in Heterodyne Interferometer

A new approach is found to eliminate the nonlinearity of heterodyne interferometer. It uses a simple phase compensation system by rotating a polarizer which is set up before the detector in the interferometer. This method can be used in most science researches and the industry precision nanometer measurement, and it is valid for all nonlinearity errors whether it is a first-order or a higher-order error, or caused by any reasons.
HET Scaling Methodology: Improvement and Assessment

The HET scaling method is an important tool to predict Hall thruster performance in a preliminary design phase. In this paper we present the recent development of the HET scaling model. The model has been further refined in order to take into account the presence of doubly ionized particles and to attempt a prediction of what happens when a thruster works off the design point. Then the model has been extensively tested, comparing its predictions with the experimental data for eight different HETs. A wide power range is covered by the sample thrusters, allowing us to understand if the applicability of our model can be extended both to low and high power levels. Further investigation has been dedicated to the off-design behaviour of scaled HETs and to assess the accuracy of the model when predicting the performance for different HET configurations, such as TAL.
Wideband digital receivers for multi-standard software radios

Multi-standard software-definable radios which are capable of operation according to a variety of different mobile radio standards represent an extremely powerful tool for evolution towards future third-generation cellular systems. This is particularly the case in Europe where the emergence of advanced UMTS air-interfaces needs to be accompanied with some degree of backward compatibility with the well-established GSM/DCS systems. This paper examines a number of the architectural issues and trade-offs involved in the design of wideband multi-standard GSM/UMTS digital radios and presents an examination of the filtering and ADC technology requirements for their implementation. This work has been undertaken in the context of the FIRST project (Flexible Integrated Radio System Technology) as part of the ACTS mobile line.
Transport vulnerabilities and critical industries: experiences from a Finnish stevedore strike

Transport system is one of the critical systems in all societies. Despite growing interest towards supply chain vulnerabilities and the meaning of critical infrastructures to societies, analysis on vulnerabilities related to maritime transports in a security of supply context has not gained much interest. However, any failure in transports can have very disruptive consequences not only to companies' supply chains but also to national supply security and daily life of people. With this paper, we contribute to analysis on mitigation strategies of critical industries towards transport disruptions. Our case study concentrates on impacts of a port closure due to a strike in Finland in 2010 and companies' strategies to manage their operations during the strike, and we draw conclusions to the general structure of mitigation strategies towards logistic vulnerability.