Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lagrangian analysis of vector and tensor fields: Algorithmic foundations and applications in medical imaging and computational fluid dynamics

Ding, Zi’ang Ph.D., Purdue University, December 2016. Lagrangian Analysis of Vector and Tensor Fields: Algorithmic Foundations and Applications in Medical Imaging and Computational Fluid Dynamics. Major Professor: Xavier M. Tricoche. Both vector and tensor fields are important mathematical tools used to describe the physics of many phenomena in science and engineering. Effective vector and tensor field visualization techniques are therefore needed to interpret and analyze the corresponding data and achieve new insight into the considered problem. This dissertation is concerned with the extraction of important structural properties from vector and tensor datasets. Specifically, we present a unified approach for the characterization of distinguished manifolds that form the skeleton of vector and tensor fields and play a key role in understanding their properties. This dissertation makes several important contributions in this context. First, we propose a versatile model of geometric structure applicable to vector and tensor fields across a wide range of applications. Next, we present an application of this model to the robust characterization of edges in both symmetric second-order and higher-order tensor fields. Then, we introduce a space-varying time-scale concept that improves upon the structure characterization capabilities of existing methods. In addition, we propose a new model that combines generalized notions of Eulerian and Lagrangian perspectives for the structural analysis of multi-field datasets. Overall, we present a set of methods that apply a generalized notion of Lagrangian description, originally developed in fluid dynamics, to the analysis of vector and tensor fields. We evaluate them and study their performance in the context of problems spanning computational fluid dynamics and medical imaging applications.
Fine-Grained Two-Factor Access Control for Web-Based Cloud Computing Services

In this paper, we introduce a new fine-grained two-factor authentication (2FA) access control system for web-based cloud computing services. Specifically, in our proposed 2FA access control system, an attribute-based access control mechanism is implemented with the necessity of both a user secret key and a lightweight security device. As a user cannot access the system if they do not hold both, the mechanism can enhance the security of the system, especially in those scenarios where many users share the same computer for web-based cloud services. In addition, attribute-based control in the system also enables the cloud server to restrict the access to those users with the same set of attributes while preserving user privacy, i.e., the cloud server only knows that the user fulfills the required predicate, but has no idea on the exact identity of the user. Finally, we also carry out a simulation to demonstrate the practicability of our proposed 2FA system.
Organ-specific context-sensitive CT image reconstruction and display

In this work, we present a novel method to combine mutually exclusive CT image properties that emerge from different reconstruction kernels and display settings into a single organ-specific image reconstruction and display. We propose a context-sensitive reconstruction that locally emphasizes desired image properties by exploiting prior anatomical knowledge. Furthermore, we introduce an organ-specific windowing and display method that aims at providing a superior image visualization. Using a coarse-to-fine hierarchical 3D fully convolutional network (3D U-Net), the CT data set is segmented and classified into different organs, e.g. the heart, vasculature, liver, kidney, spleen and lung, as well as into the tissue types bone, fat, soft tissue and vessels. Reconstruction and display parameters most suitable for the organ, tissue type, and clinical indication are chosen automatically from a predefined set of reconstruction parameters on a per-voxel basis. The approach is evaluated using patient data acquired with a dual source CT system. The final context-sensitive images simultaneously link the indication-specific advantages of different parameter settings and result in images joining tissue-related desired image properties. A comparison with conventionally reconstructed and displayed images reveals an improved spatial resolution in highly attenuating objects and air while maintaining a low noise level in soft tissue in the compound image. The images present significantly more information to the reader simultaneously and dealing with multiple volumes may no longer be necessary. The presented method is useful for the clinical workflow and bears the potential to increase the rate of incidental findings.
Validation and Verification Flight Testing of UAS Morphing Potential Field Collision Avoidance Algorithms

This work presents validation and verification for a novel collision avoidance algorithm designed for fixed-wing unmanned aerial systems with high speed and high inertia. The generic potential field formulation is reformulated to better navigate fixed-wing aircraft in complex scenarios and in unstructured environments in the presence of external disturbances. In this approach, the potential field is adaptively morphed to account for approach angles and relative velocities. To avoid violating aircraft dynamic constraints, the morphing potential field considers aircraft six degrees of freedom dynamic constraints. LQ guidance path planning with multi-scale moving point guidance algorithms were designed and implemented, and their tracking performance and was assessed through flight testing. Several successful flight tests involving two UASs in head-on collision scenarios were successfully conducted.
Developing effective classroom groups: A practical guide for teachers

Stanford has evolved, as many intelligent and sensitive educators do. He started at the intuitive level, randomly dealt with the group process and its development, and was positively rewarded. This led to a search for theoretical backing, experimentation, a systematization of his intuitions, and finally, the development of a theory which he has translated into practical implications for the classroom teacher. This is the appeal of the book. It has the potential to raise the level of consciousness of classroom teachers regarding group development, without becoming "theory bound. " It provides many very specifie examples.
Secure Virtual Network Configuration for Virtual Machine (VM) Protection

Virtual machines (VMs) are key resources to be protected since they are the compute engines hosting mission-critical applications. Since VMs are end nodes of a virtual network, the configuration of the virtual network is an important element in the security of the VMs and their hosted applications. The virtual network configuration areas discussed in this document are network segmentation, network path redundancy, traffic control using firewalls, and VM traffic monitoring. This document analyzes the configuration options under these areas and presents a corresponding set of recommendations for secure virtual network configuration for VM protection.
Multiple View Interactive Environment to Analyze Software Product Line Tools

Software Product Line (SPL) relies on the development of a collection of information systems from a shared set of software assets. In this context, the adoption of SPL in the industry relies heavily on tool support. This paper presents ViSPLatform, a visualization environment aimed at portraying data related to experiments focusing on SPL tools. We conducted a preliminary evaluation to analyze to which extent the platform is effective to support the understanding of characteristics of the SPL tools. The results of this study show that ViSPLatform can somehow indicate strengths and improvement opportunities in the analyzed SPL tools. For instance, they show that Automatic Analysis is a strength of the SPLOT tool and that Interface is an improvement opportunity
Bolsonarian discourse in multimodal metaphors about the flexibilization of gun ownership laws : a dialectical analysis-in relational cartoon

In this study, we seek to critically check which discourses of ideological domination, in the application of the stages of dialectic-relational analysis (CHOULIARAKI; FAIRCLOUGH, 1999; FAIRCLOUGH, 2009), in multimodal metaphors (FORCEVILLE, 2009; SPERANDIO, 2014; 2015) are not just a matter of language, but of thought and action, thus occurring in ways other than verbal. In this sense, we are guided by the understanding that multimodal metaphors are operated by verbal-visual representation in cartoons about the flexibilization of possession of weapons in the Bolsonaro Government, transmitted and replicated in social networks in 2018 to 2019 and made available on specialized websites and Journalism blogs, including Humor Político, Tijolaço and A Charge Online. Based on the categories of interdiscursivity and hybridism with a focus on the studies of Critical Discourse Analysis, we analyzed the dialectical relationships between semiosis (including language) and other elements of social practices (FAIRCLOUGH, 2012), in the discursive materiality of the five cartoons collected. The results of the analysis of the discourses of ideological domination present in this hybrid genre allowed us to understand the semioses inserted in social practices, acting, above all, in the reflexive representations resulting from the activities of the social actors (BESSA, SATO, 2018). Thus, new relations of power, discourses and practices that became naturalized and spread during and after the elections of 2018, helped us to understand the metaphoric processes embodied in language, thought and action.
Design and Analysis of a Meander Line Cornered Microstrip Patch Antenna with Square Slotted EBG Structure for ISM/WLAN Applications

This paper presents the design and mathematical analysis of a fully efficient meander line edged microstrip patch antenna with square slotted Electromagnetic Bandgap (EBG) structure in Advance Design System-2016(ADS-2016). The proposed antenna is designed to have gain, directivity of 9.7dBi and cross polarization of -50dB at 17.92GHz which indeed makes it suitable for ISM/WLAN applications. Moreover, the simulation and mathematical results are in good agreement.
XES Software Telemetry Extension

During the execution of software, execution data can be recorded. With the development of process mining techniques on the one hand, and the growing availability of software execution data on the other hand, a new form of software analytics comes into reach. That is, applying process mining techniques to analyze software execution data. To enable process mining for software, event logs should be capable of capturing software-specific data. When analyzing the performance of software applications, not only timing, but also resource utilization is of importance. The Software Telemetry extension supports the recording of basic performance profile related resource utilizations commonly used in many software profiler tools. The resource utilizations covered in this extension are: CPU usage, thread usage and memory usage.
Emulation of Wireless Multi-Hop Topologies with Online Mobility Simulation

Communication in wireless networks is affected by uncontrollable disturbances in the channel. Effects of these disturbances are exacerbated in networks with dynamic topologies and multiple hops. Lack of control of the channel complicates testing applications in such networks as test conditions are hard, or impossible, to reproduce. This paper describes a test-bed to create reproducible test conditions for applications by emulating the wireless links. Emulation is performed by a topology emulator to which end-nodes are connected using wired links. In real-time, the emulator drops or delays packets in traffic between endnodes. These imposed link properties are based on simulations of node mobility, loss and delay models. Two versions for performing the simulations are described; an offline version in which the mobility traces and link properties are calculated beforehand, and an online version where geographic trajectories are depending on the outcome of the communicating applications. Evaluation confirms that both versions of the test-bed are capable of emulating links in real-time and transparently to upper layer protocols. Additional delays from packet processing and bandwidth limitations introduced by using the emulator are shown meet the transparency requirements, also when the emulator is heavily loaded with packet flows. Keywords-topology emulation; real-time; scalability; online simulation;
Hybrid radio frequency/free space optical communications for energy-efficient wireless sensor networks

﻿ A wireless sensor network (WSN) consists of a large number of networked sensor nodes deployed to sense and report a particular phenomenon to a base station. Currently, most WSNs use radio frequency (RF) communications, and this accounts for a significant amount of energy expended. Free space optical (FSO) communications using modulating retroreflectors is potentially attractive for WSNs, due to the lower communications energy required. However, for FSO communications, line of sight (LOS) is required between the transmitter and the receiver. In this thesis, a hybrid Radio Frequency/Free Space Optical (RF/FSO) WSN is proposed. FSO links are used for communications, with RF links providing backup in the absence of LOS. This network has the potential to lower the overall energy consumption of a traditional RF-only WSN. Chapter 1 introduces the WSN and outlines the motivation for the RF/FSO WSN. Chapters 2 and 3 describe the RF and FSO link models used for the RF/FSO WSN. Chapter 4 describes how the WSN networks are configured. The energy model for the sensor node is discussed in Chapter 5. Chapter 6 discusses how network traffic and energy consumption are modelled. The results of the RF/FSO WSN simulations are presented in Chapter 7. Chapter 8 discusses the conclusions from the thesis and suggests areas for future work. Simulations show that for the wide range of scenarios considered, the RF/FSO WSN consumes less energy and has a lifetime at least twice as long as the RF-only WSN. For low and average optical blocking conditions, the RF/FSO WSN is also able to offer at least the same level of network coverage as the RF-only WSN.
Speed-dependent coordinated control of differential and assisted steering for in-wheel motor driven electric vehicles

In this paper, we present a coordinated control system of differential and assisted steering for in-wheel motor driven (IMD) electric vehicles (EVs) with two independent front-wheel drives. An electric differential (ED) control strategy is proposed to track the expected yaw rate based on sliding mode control (SMC). Meanwhile, to realize differential drive assisted steering (DDAS), a variable speed integral PID controller is used to follow the ideal steering wheel torque. The impacts of the coupling with the ED and DDAS systems on EVs are analyzed, and a coordinated control system with adaptive weighting dependent on vehicle speed is designed. Results of the simulation on the CarSim-Simulink joint platform for IMD EVs model show that the proposed coordinated control approach can effectively reduce the torque of a steering wheel while ensuring the vehicle’s stability. Finally, road testing results of IMD EVs are demonstrated to be comparable with joint simulations, indicating the correctness of this solution.
Light emitting fabrics for PDT: technology and results of clinical studies

A homogeneous and reproducible fluence rate delivery during clinical PDT plays a determinant role in preventing underor overtreatment. In Dermatology, topical PDT has been carried out with a wide variety of light sources delivering a broad range of light doses. However, these light sources do not deliver a uniform light distribution on the skin due to their structure and morphology and the complexities of the human anatomy. The development of a flexible light source able to generate uniform light on all its surface would considerably improve the homogeneity of light delivery. The integration of plastic optical fibers (POF) into textile structures offers an interesting alternative. The homogeneous light side-emission from the fabric is obtained by controlling the bending angles of POF inside the LEF due to specific architecture generated by knitting of textile structure. LEF of different surfaces can be easily manufactured (up to 500cm2 The LEF thickness is less than 1 mm. The mean irradiance is typically 2.5 mW.cm-2. W-1 with heterogeneity of 12.5% at any point of the LEF. The temperature elevation remains below 1°C. These LEF were evaluated in Dermatology for the treatment of Actinic Keratosis. Two clinical evaluation were performed. The first one was a monocentric, randomized, controlled, phase II clinical study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03076918). Twenty five (25) patients with grade I-II actinic keratosis (AK) of the forehead and scalp were treated with methyl aminolevulinate photodynamic therapy in two symmetrical areas. One area was treated with the conventional LED panel (154 AK), whereas the other area was treated with the LEF device (156 AK). The second clinical was performed in 2 centers. This new LEF device was a more ergonomic and compact version of the original system developed for FLEXIPDT. In this clinical study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03076892), the irradiance has been reduced from 12.3 mW/cm2 to 1.3 mW/cm2 and the light dose from 37 J/cm2 to 12 J/cm2 . Compared to Conventional PDT, the 2 protocols clearly shown that LEF are equivalent and even superior in terms of efficacy for treating AK of the forehead and scalp. However, the use of LEF resulted in much lower pain scores and fewer adverse effects. In conclusion, thanks to LEF, PDT of AK can be conducted in all weather conditions, in any geographic location, year-round and benefits from the optimal adaptability of the flexible, light-emitting, fabrics to the treatment area. At last, LEF can be easily can be easily manufactured in large series.
Productive Performance of Lactating Buffaloes Fed Rations Containing some Feed Additives under Summer Season in Egypt.

This study was conducted to compare the effect of supplementing yeast combined with chromium methionine (Cr-Met) or niacin or their mixture into rations of lactating buffaloes on their productive performance over 120 days of an experimental period under summer season conditions. Twelve lactating buffalos with an average 550 Kg live body weight and in their 4 or 5 seasons at midlactation, were divided randomly into four similar groups (three buffaloes per group) according to their live body weight and milk yield. Dietary treatments (on DM) were as follows: (T1) control ration that free from feed additives, T2: control ration plus 10g yeast + 5g CrMet, T3: control ration plus 10g yeast + 5g niacin and T4: control ration plus 10g yeast + 5g Cr-Met + 5g niacin. The experimental rations were formulated to cover maintenance and production allowance according to Kearl (1982) for dairy cattle. Results indicated that supplementing lactating buffalo rations with different feed additives (T2, T3 and T4) improved the digestibility of most nutrients and feeding values as TDN and DCP than those of control one (T1). No significant differences were found respecting most blood serum constituents among all groups of lactating buffaloes, except globulin concentration was significantly (P<0.05) lower with those fed tested rations compared with that of control group. The 7% FCM yield was significantly (P<0.05) higher for all tested rations (T2, T3 and T4) than that of control one (T1). Also, 7% FCM yield of both tested rations (T3 and T4) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that in tested one (T2), being the highest value was recorded with T4 ration that supplemented with the mixture of additives (yeast Cr-Met niacin). The daily 7% FCM yield was increased by (11.18%) for T2, (15.91%) for T3 and (18.43%) for T4 supplemented rations compared with unsupplemented ration (T1). Milk composition was not affected by any treatments except lactose percentage which was significantly (P<0.05) decreased with those fed T2 – ration compared with those fed other experimental rations (T1, T3 and T4). Likewise, feed conversion was significantly (P<0.05) improved with all animals fed tested rations (containing feed additives) being the best improvement was occurred with mixture of supplements (yeast plus Cr-Met and niacin). Meanwhile, relative economic efficiency was 5.3, 6.5 and 7.8 % for tested rations T2, T3 and T4, respectively being better than that of control one (T1). Generally, from the obtained results indicated that the supplementation of different feed additives to lactating buffalo rations had positive effects on digestibility, feeding value, some blood serum parameter, milk yield and economic efficiency.
Improving Students’ Paragraph Writing Skill through Task-Based Approach

The main objective of this study was to improving students’ paragraph writing skill through task-based approach teaching methodology. To this end, the researcher made a quantitative research design to investigate the issue. To collect the necessary data for the study, experiment was employed as the main data collecting tool. Then, the data was analyzed using quantitative approaches. Accordingly, the researcher used different tables which shows the students’ pre-test and post-test results and changed into percentage. The study revealed that the students’ paragraph writing skill can develop by using task-based approach teaching methodology.
Learning SPARQL

Get hands-on experience with SPARQL, the RDF query language that's become a key component of the semantic web. With this concise book, you will learn how to use the latest version of this W3C standard to retrieve and manipulate the increasing amount of public and private data available via SPARQL endpoints. Several open source and commercial tools already support SPARQL, and this introduction gets you started right away.Begin with how to write and run simple SPARQL 1.1 queries, then dive into the language's powerful features and capabilities for manipulating the data you retrieve. Learn what you need to know to add to, update, and delete data in RDF datasets, and give web applications access to this data.Understand SPARQLs connection with RDF, the semantic web, and related specifications Query and combine data from local and remote sources Copy, convert, and create new RDF data Learn how datatype metadata, standardized functions, and extension functions contribute to your queries Incorporate SPARQL queries into web-based applications