Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multidimensional image analysis of cardiac function in MRI

Cardiac morphology is a key indicator of cardiac health. Important metrics that are currently in clinical use are left-ventricle cardiac ejection fraction, cardiac muscle (myocardium) mass, myocardium thickness and myocardium thickening over the cardiac cycle. Advances in imaging technologies have led to an increase in temporal and spatial resolution. Such an increase in data presents a laborious task for medical practitioners to analyse. In this thesis, measurement of the cardiac left-ventricle function is achieved by developing novel methods for the automatic segmentation of the left-ventricle blood-pool and the left ventricle myocardium boundaries. A preliminary challenge faced in this task is the removal of noise from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data, which is addressed by using advanced data filtering procedures. Two mechanisms for left-ventricle segmentation are employed. Firstly segmentation of the left ventricle blood-pool for the measurement of ejection fraction is undertaken in the signal intensity domain. Utilising the high discrimination between blood and tissue, a novel methodology based on a statistical partitioning method offers success in localising and segmenting the blood pool of the left ventricle. From this initialisation, the estimation of the outer wall (epi-cardium) of the left ventricle can be achieved using gradient information and prior knowledge. Secondly, a more involved method for extracting the myocardium of the leftventricle is developed, that can better perform segmentation in higher dimensions. Spatial information is incorporated in the segmentation by employing a gradient-based boundary evolution. A level-set scheme is implemented and a novel formulation for the extraction of the cardiac muscle is introduced. Two surfaces, representing the inner and the outer boundaries of the left-ventricle, are simultaneously evolved using a coupling function and supervised with a probabilistic model of expertly assisted manual segmentations.
Building Systems Diagnostics and Predictive Maintenance

There has been an increasing interest in the development of methods and tools for automated fault detection and diagnostics (FDD) of building systems and components in the 1990s. This chapter, written for the CRC Handbook for HVAC&R Engineering, will describe the status of these methods and and methodologies as applied to HVAC&R and building systems and present certain illustrative case studies.
Regulation of TGF-B1-induced apoptosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition by matrix rigidity

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) plays an important role in several diseases that characteristically involve changes in tissue rigidity, such as cancer and tissue fibrosis. To determine whether matrix rigidity regulates the effects of TGF-β, we examined NMuMG and MDCK epithelial cells cultured on polyacrylamide gels with varying rigidity and treated with TGF-β1. Decreasing matrix rigidity reduced cell spreading and increased TGF-β1-induced apoptosis, while increasing matrix rigidity resulted in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). To more carefully control cell spreading, microcontact printing was used to restrict ECM area and revealed that reducing cell spreading also increased apoptosis. Apoptosis on compliant substrates was associated with decreased FAK expression, and FAK overexpression rescued cell survival but not EMT. Further investigation revealed manipulations of FAK activity, using pharmacological inhibitors or expression of FAK mutants, did not affect apoptosis or EMT, suggesting that FAK regulates apoptosis through expression but not activity. Additional investigation into the signaling pathways regulated by rigidity revealed a role for PI3K/Akt. We observed increased Akt activity with increasing rigidity, and that PI3K/Akt activity was necessary for cell survival and EMT on rigid substrates. These findings demonstrate that matrix rigidity regulates a switch in TGF-β-induced cell functions through rigidity-dependent regulation of FAK and PI3K, and suggest that changes in tissue mechanics during disease contribute to the cellular response to TGF-β. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Bioengineering First Advisor Christopher S. Chen
EMD-Based Semantic User Similarity Using Past Travel Histories

The cost-effective and easy availability of handheld mobile devices and ubiquity of location acquisition services such as GPS and GSM networks has helped expedient logging and sharing of location histories of mobile users. This work aims to find semantic user similarity using their past travel histories. Application of the semantic similarity measure can be found in tourism-related recommender systems and information retrieval. The paper presents Earth Mover’s Distance (EMD) based semantic user similarity measure using users' GPS logs. The similarity measure is applied and evaluated on the GPS dataset of 182 users collected from April 2007 to August 2012 by Microsoft's GeoLife project. The proposed similarity measure is compared with conventional similarity measures used in literature such as Jaccard, Dice, and Pearsons’ Correlation. The percentage improvement of EMD based approach over existing approaches in terms of average RMSE is 10.70%, and average MAE is 5.73%.
Post-CMOS Micromachining of Surface and Bulk Structures

Abstract : This thesis describes fabrication of the micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) through post Complementary-Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) micromachining. It focuses on device fabrication instead of device designs. The reactive-ion-etch (RIE) and deep-reactive-ion-etch (DRIE) are key technologies in this process flow. Surface micromachining of the thin-film dielectric material and bulk micromachining of the Si substrate are discussed in detail. Fundamentals of the RIE and DRIE dry etch, the methodology to characterize these process techniques and the design of experiments (DOE) to discover processing windows for post-CMOS micromachining are illustrated. Experimental results of the processing characterization are translated to MEMS design rules. These rules serve as a protocol to qualify the process as a common platform and to verify MEMS device designs to be build on this platform. Migrations of post-CMOS micromachining have been demonstrated with advances of CMOS fabrication: from a 0.5 mm process to a 0.18 mm process, from an aluminum(Al) interconnect silicon-dioxide (SiO2) dielectric process to a copper (Cu) interconnect low-K dielectric process. Different CMOS foundry services in the United States, Europe, and Asia, have been selected to successfully fabricate MEMS devices. Starting with small chips at the size of 2 mm x 2 mm, post-CMOS micromachining can be performed at the wafer scale with an add-on low resolution photoresist mask layer. An integrated dicing scheme into the post-CMOS process flow has been documented. A wet chemical cleaning step can be inserted into the process flow to remove etch by-products in RIE therefore improves the quality of the process. The application in areas of the high-performance inertial sensor and high-quality passive radio-frequency (RF) components are demonstrated.
An Analytic Investigation of Accuracy Requirements for Onboard Instrumentation and Film Data for Dynamically Scaled Wind Tunnel Drop Models

Abstract : An analytic study was conducted to evaluate anticipated ranges and required accuracies for onboard linear acceleration and angular rate (or acceleration) measurement equipment to be mounted within dynamically scaled wind tunnel drop models. Generic simulations of the separation motion of a tumbling fuel tank both at full scale and at 1/15th wind tunnel model scale were generated using an analytic trajectory simulation program coupled with a prescribed aerodynamic database. The simulations provide a basis for sizing the required instrumentation for proof of concept demonstrations of telemetry techniques in the wind tunnel. The simulations were also used as test cases to demonstrate extraction of aerodynamic information from drop data positions and orientations as read from film records via an inverse solution of the store equations of motion. The studies also aid identification and evaluation of inaccuracies associated with the basic dynamic scaling laws and standard film based data reduction techniques.
Media Use, Race and the Environment: The Converging of Environmental Attitudes Based on Self-Reported News Use

Using a purposive sample with an even distribution of 299 non-Hispanic Whites, 294 African Americans, 292 Asian Americans and 295 Hispanics, we test a moderated mediation model that examines the relationship between self-reported news media consumption (e.g., non-conservative and conservative) and environmental behavioural intentions. Our study found evidence supporting the mainstreaming hypothesis (converging attitudes) across key variables within the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). Our results also reveal non-conservative outlets to be associated with more favourable environmental attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control, while conservative outlets are associated with less favourable levels for two of these three variables. Results also indicate conditional indirect relationships between non-conservative news use on behavioural intentions through our TPB variables, which vary by race/ethnicity.
Upgrading General Chemistry Laboratory Equipment and Laboratory Procedures for Improved Efficiencies and Savings

In 2008, we purchased modern laboratory equipment (dataloggers, sensors and autopipettors) and began an ongoing overhaul of our entry-level chemistry laboratory program. Our goal was to take advantage of the superior sensitivity and automated data recording and analysis afforded by the new equipment, to improve pedagogy and to save time and money. We share some of our experiences in this communication.
Developing and Deploying Innovative Technologies in a Liberalized European Railway System

In a network industry like railways, major systemic innovations and new technological trajectories are tightly connected to national institutional frameworks and policies. The major transformation occurring in Europe brought by the liberalization and harmonization of railways since a decade provides a fertile ground to study the link between innovation and institutions. The aim of this paper is to provide a structured framework to look at the innovation process in the railway sector. The paper focuses on institutional and innovation models before and after the railway sector’s reorganization. The paper is based on the case study of the European Train Management System (ERTMS), whose development spans over a period of 15 years and offers an exceptional foundation to look at the evolution of innovation models. The emergence of different innovation models underline the deep changes that occurred within the rail sector. The study of ERTMS allows drawing some lessons on how to better manage the development and deployment of key innovative technologies in the railway sector. The study of ERTMS also raises questions on how institutions shall adapt in order to cope with fundamental technological transformations.
CWGSCAT - SCATTERING MATRIX PROGRAM FOR CIRCULAR WAVEGUIDE JUNCTIONS

Accurate computer modeling of passive circular waveguide components is often required during the design phase for optimizing frequency response and/or determining the tolerance required on components in order to meet radio frequency specifications. Many circular waveguide devices can be represented either exactly or approximately as a series of circular waveguide sections which have a common center. In addition, smooth tapers and horns of arbitrary profile may be approximated by a series of small steps. The Scattering Matrix Program for Circular Waveguide Junctions, CWGSCAT, computes the scattering matrix for a series of circular waveguide sections. These sections must possess the same center, but the radius and length of each section is completely arbitrary. Devices that may be analyzed include a simple waveguide step discontinuity, such as that used in a dual mode horn, a stepped matching section, or a corrugated waveguide section with constant varying slot depth. Certain types of corrugated horns may also be analyzed with this program. The model used will accurately predict the reflection and transmission characteristics of such devices, taking into account higher order mode excitation if it occurs as well as multiple reflections and stored energy at each discontinuity. For large devices, with respect to a wavelength where many modes may propagate, the reflection and transmission properties may be required for a higher order mode or series of modes exciting the device. Such interactions are represented best by defining a scattering matrix for the device. The matrix can be determined by using mode matching at each discontinuity present. The results for individual discontinuities are then cascaded to get the matrix for the entire device. CWGSCAT is written in FORTRAN to run on IBM PC series computers and compatibles running MS-DOS. It requires 355K of RAM. The standard distribution medium is a 5.25 inch 360K MS-DOS format diskette. CWGSCAT was developed in 1987, and this version was released in 1991. This program is a copyrighted work with all copyright vested in NASA. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines. MS-DOS is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Investigating QoE in a Cloud-Based Classroom Response System: A Real-Life Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional Study of Kahoot!

The goal of this thesis work is to investigate the user-perceived QoE of Kahoot! , a cloud gaming learning platform, designed to be used in classrooms. The general objective of this thesis is to investigate to what extent a specific QoS parameter (delay), affects the QoE perceived by users of such a cloud based application. More specifically the following research questions have been set: To which degree does delay impact QoE and how does the presence of others influence the experience of fairness?
RELEVANCE OF SYSTEMIC BROKERS IN INNOVATION PROCESSES OF RURAL PRODUCERS IN MEXICO CITY

Small rural producers of Mexico City have had to adapt to current economic growth models, as well as to the social restructuring derived from the expansion of the urban area that has brought about a geographical, economic and social imbalance generating problems among them due to the lack of bonds and information flows. Thus, small rural producers have difficulties in their interaction with other economic agents, which affects the innovation processes that originate competitiveness. Therefore the objective of this research was to understand the innovation processes of small rural producers of Mexico City through a systematic approach identifying the relations that arise between system agents and highlighting the role of systemic brokers of innovation. The methodology used is the Soft Systems Methodology. The results show the significance of the intervention of systemic brokers in innovation processes of rural producers to integrate them, to take into account the different perspectives and to establish linkages between the participating actors, in addition to promoting the dialogue and cooperation required for innovations to succeed, and increase their competitiveness.
An exploratory study of open source software based on public project archives

This thesis conducts an exploratory study of Open Source Software (OSS) from various perspectives in order to discover and demonstrate fertile research areas in OSS that can benefit from the public archives of OSS projects. It follows a horizontal research method which combines theoretical model building with empirical data analysis. On the theoretical side, it classifies existing quantitative OSS studies and categorizes the public archives. It defines the concept of an OSS project by delineating its four critical components--community, methodology, products, and services. It specifies the roles in OSS communities, examines the speed, cost, and quality of OSS development, and reveals the impacts of programming languages on software projects. Most importantly, it originates a new approach to OSS adoption research which comprises strategic level study of OSS adoption and an assessment framework for OSS projects. A rich set of propositions are formulated for future study. On the empirical side, it analyzes summary statistics of 48,331 OSS projects and more detailed attributes of 1,907 projects which use Python as one of their programming languages. It depicts the portraits of OSS projects in general, and Python projects in specific. Caveats, for pitfalls and weaknesses of OSS projects discovered from the analysis, such as small development teams and competing projects, are announced with suggestions for improvements. Inspiring original ideas into a burgeoning research domain, this thesis contributes to both comprehension and practice of OSS.
463L Pallet and Dunnage System Evaluation

Abstract : This report provides details and results of the pallet system study performed by Battelle Memorial Institute under the guidance and sponsorship of Armstrong Laboratory, Logistics Research Division. The six-month study focused on the 463L pallet system, which is the core component of the air cargo mobility system. The study concluded that the current 463L pallet has been effective at moving large amounts of cargo for decades. Despite this effectiveness, the pallet is susceptible to damage and, thus, frequent and costly repair. As a possible remedy to this problem, an improved pallet design could greatly reduce damage and subsequent costly repair. As a major subtask to this effort, recycled plastic lumber was examined as a substitute for wooden dunnage. The evaluation of plastic lumber determined it to be a technically and functionally appropriate replacement for wood.
Prioritizing Humane Minimum-Stress Methods in Swine Facility & Protocol Design

The housing, care and handling of animals in a laboratory/research setting presents a wide variety of challenges to researchers, veterinarians and animal care staff. With that in mind, there are certain fundamental components of both facility design and procedural techniques which should always be considered. Some of the initial considerations should be the potential value of the research being proposed along with ethical aspects of the protocol design. The selected species should be appropriate for the study and essential needs of that species addressed with regard to their 24/7 environment. In addition, the equipment and expertise needed to humanely conduct restraint and other procedures should be available. At times, the goals of the science are moved ahead of the basic well-being of the subjects being studied. This can be problematic, especially for animals that are maintained long term. This review of facilities, animal care enrichment strategies and methodologies for swine will highlight some of the more effective and practical approaches to minimizing stress and enhancing the value of the research conducted.
Exploring Dual-Camera-Based Augmented Reality for Cultural Heritage Sites

Context: Augmented Reality (AR) provides a novel approach for presenting cultural heritage content. Recent advances in AR research and the uptake of powerful mobile devices means AR is a viable option for heritage institutions, but there are challenges that must be overcome before high-quality AR is commonplace. Aims: This project details the development of an AR “magic camera” system featuring novel dual-camera marker-based tracking, allowing users to take AR photos at outdoor heritage sites using a tablet computer. The aims of the project were to assess the feasibility of the tracking method, evaluate the usability of the AR system, and explore implications for the heritage sector. Method: A prototype system was developed. A user study was designed, where participants had to recreate reference images as closely as possible using an iPad and the AR system around the University grounds. Data, such as completion time and error rates, were collected for analysis. The images produced were rated for quality by three experts. Results: Participants responded positively to the system, and the new tracking method was used successfully. The usability study uncovered a number of issues, most of which are solvable in future software versions. However, some issues, such as difficulty orientating objects, rely on improving hardware and software before they can be fixed, but these problems did not affect the quality of the images produced. Participants completed each task more quickly after initial slowness, and while the system was frustrating for some, most found the experience enjoyable. Conclusion: The study successfully uncovered usability problems. The dual-camera tracking element was successful, but the marker-based element encountered lighting problems and high false-positive rates. Orientating objects using inertial sensors was not intuitive; more research in this area would be beneficial. The heritage sector must consider development, maintenance and training costs, and site modification issues.
Development of a manufacturability analysis system for reinforced plastics components

This thesis describes the research and development of a systematic and consistent methodology to perform manufacturability analysis of Reinforced Plastic Parts (RPP). The proposed methodology evaluates the part model in the early stages of the product development process considering the capabilities and constraints of available manufacturing processes, materials and tooling required in standard RPP production. Critical Manufacturing Part Features (CMPF) are identified and the relationship between the model's geometrical information, the expert's geometric reasoning, and the knowledge about the involved manufacturing processes are clarified and set together in an efficient feature-rule-based manufacturability analysis system. The prototype system named 'FEBAMAPP', combines solid modelling (SM), automatic feature recognition (AFR), object oriented programming (OOP), and a rule-based system (RBS) in order to assess the manufacturability of the proposed design. The novelty of this research is based in the use of a Face Vector (FVector) concept to transform geometrical and topological information of the solid model into a suitable input data to be used in the Neural Network Feature Recognition System. Further novelty arises from the fact that this is the first attempt to use neural networks in the recognition of 3-D features in hollow parts including the presence of fillets along the edges of the part. The manufacturability evaluation can be performed considering different combinations of materials along with different manufacturing processes giving the designer the opportunity of selecting an appropriate combination for any specific application. Promising results have been obtained during the test of the system, where 100 % recognition of trained features with 90% confidence has been achieved. Also, good results have been obtained in the recognition of non-trained features such as the Cross-Slot feature, which is recognised as a Slot feature. After automatic feature recognition, Manufacturability Analysis is focused on internal and external characteristics of the model's features, where potential manufacturing difficulties are identified and feedback in terms of design suggestions is then used to advise the design process and improve the overall manufacturability of the part. This manufacturability evaluation in terms of internal and external characteristics of the features has proved to be efficient in detecting detailed design errors that can be costly in further manufacturing stages in the product development process.