Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Tactical Framework for Cyberspace Situational Awareness

Abstract : We are increasingly dependent on computers, networks, and cyberspace resources to accomplish military missions. Manifested via email, the web, databases, applications, command and control messages, and myriad other forms, the health and status of cyberspace affects everyone. Information technology is a strategic asset driving the Air Force towards a culture change such that we are all "operators" in cyberspace. As operators, each of us must maintain an appropriate level of situational awareness (SA) in cyberspace. In an airplane, the crew maintains SA through visual and instrument scan, radio, intercom and audible queues, and by operator interaction with mission systems. Unfortunately, cyberspace situational awareness tools are not as mature or clearly defined as those of an aircraft and its crew or other traditional weapons systems. Insight into confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information as well as what constitutes fully mission capable, partially mission capable, or non-mission capable for cyberspace highlight the need for improved situational awareness in cyberspace. This paper will explore situational awareness in the context of cyberspace, evaluate one existing implementation of a cyberspace situational awareness tool, and present an alternative scalable concept model for identifying and linking cyberspace resources to mission impacts at the tactical level.
Developing a modular approach to music

The commentary deals with the two principal areas of my compositional work from 1996- 2003: short pieces and modularity. Taking a survey of compositional durations as a starting point, assumptions related to duration are discussed in the context of extremely long and short pieces by Feldman, Jliat, Webern and Werder. The effect of duration on form, structure, listening and the practicalities of performance is considered in relation to memory and our perception of duration, suggesting a range of possible solutions to the problem of composing short pieces. These issues are examined in the context of my own work in composing short pieces (1996-2000), leading to a consideration of an effective performance practice and the transition to the use of short pieces as modules in a larger compositional framework. The consequent development of a fully modular approach to music is contextualised through an examination of modular theory in a manufacturing context, leading to analysis of a range of examples of modular and open form work in literature, visual art and music. Differences between open and closed forms of modularity are explored along with the effect of a modular approach on creative work. These theoretical and practical issues are discussed in relation to my modular composition #[unassigned] (2000- ), surveying its development from groups of short pieces. The compositional method is explained, examining the creation of a modular interface and types of modules and their re-use, through examples of existing versions.
Influences of Green Supply Chain Management Practices on Organizational Sustainable Performance

This research discusses Taiwan’s electrical and electronic industries by considering the European Union Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS), Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), Eco-design of End Use Equipment (EuE), etc., which are regarded as the green standards for green supply chain managerial practices for the sustainable organizations. The research adopts literature survey, in-depth interviews, and questionnaire surveys. The research uses the software “Statistics Package for Social Science” (SPSS) to analyze the materials and to verify the hypotheses, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) of the pathway analysis model to confirm the constructs. The empirical study’s results demonstrated that European Union RoHS, WEEE, EuE, and other related environmental protection standards. Their strategies for green design, green innovation, green manufacturing, green purchasing, green services practices are Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) practiced by Taiwan’s electrical and electronic manufacturers and will positively affect the economic, environmental, and social performances of a certain organization
Current Trends in Media and Information Literacy in Research and Scientific Publications of the early 21st century

This review article presents the current trends in media and information literacy in scientific publications of the early 21st century based on the content analysis of Russian and foreign researches: – major function of media and information literacy is to provide access to information and knowledge and promote free, independent and pluralistic mediated social environments (UNESCO); – media literacy as a vital, survival skill for an individual; – minimizing online risks and expanding online opportunities in media literacy education; – information or digital literacy in the educational and professional contexts; – focus on studying human behaviour in social computer-mediated interactions and challenges of global cross-cultural communication; – promoting people’s media and information literacy for active social change; – media literacy and digital literacy as critical instruments against various online risks and manipulations; – media and information literacy integrated into the school curriculum and university syllabus; – media literacy education aimed at students’ applying their critical thinking skills to media messages and creating media texts; – focus on media language and representation analysis in media and film studies; – national peculiarities of promoting media and information literacy in different countries; – international media literacy based on the effective strategies used in different cultures. Besides, the authors emphasize the following problem zones in media literacy education for further research and development: training and education programs for media studies for all levels of education; teacher training courses in media education; increasing media awareness of all stakeholders and organizations in the social sphere; international collaboration and research in media education and a wide exchange of research findings; practical application of media literacy education for various social groups.
Pneumatic artificial muscle actuators for compliant robotic manipulators

Title of dissertation: PNEUMATIC ARTIFICIAL MUSCLE ACTUATORS FOR COMPLIANT ROBOTIC MANIPULATORS Ryan M. Robinson Doctor of Philosophy, 2014 Dissertation directed by: Professor Norman M. Wereley Department of Aerospace Engineering Robotic systems are increasingly being utilized in applications that require interaction with humans. In order to enable safe physical human-robot interaction, light weight and compliant manipulation are desirable. These requirements are problematic for many conventional actuation systems, which are often heavy, and typically use high stiffness to achieve high performance, leading to large impact forces upon collision. However, pneumatic artificial muscles (PAMs) are actuators that can satisfy these safety requirements while offering power-to-weight ratios comparable to those of conventional actuators. PAMs are extremely lightweight actuators that produce force in response to pressurization. These muscles demonstrate natural compliance, but have a nonlinear force-contraction profile that complicates modeling and control. This body of research presents solutions to the challenges associated with the implementation of PAMs as actuators in robotic manipulators, particularly with regard to modeling, design, and control. An existing PAM force balance model was modified to incorporate elliptic end geometry and a hyper-elastic constitutive relationship, dramatically improving predictions of PAM behavior at high contraction. Utilizing this improved model, two proof-of-concept PAM-driven manipulators were designed and constructed; design features included parallel placement of actuators and a tendon-link joint design. Genetic algorithm search heuristics were employed to determine an optimal joint geometry; allowing a manipulator to achieve a desired torque profile while minimizing the required PAM pressure. Performance of the manipulators was evaluated in both simulation and experiment employing various linear and nonlinear control strategies. These included output feedback techniques, such as proportional-integral-derivative (PID) and fuzzy logic, a model-based control for computed torque, and more advanced controllers, such as sliding mode, adaptive sliding mode, and adaptive neural network control. Results demonstrated the benefits of an accurate model in model-based control, and the advantages of adaptive neural network control when a model is unavailable or variations in payload are expected. Lastly, a variable recruitment strategy was applied to a group of parallel muscles actuating a common joint. Increased manipulator efficiency was observed when fewer PAMs were activated, justifying the use of variable recruitment strategies. Overall, this research demonstrates the benefits of pneumatic artificial muscles as actuators in robotics applications. It demonstrates that PAM-based manipulators can be well-modeled and can achieve high tracking accuracy over a wide range of payloads and inputs while maintaining natural compliance. PNEUMATIC ARTIFICIAL MUSCLE ACTUATORS FOR COMPLIANT ROBOTIC MANIPULATORS
Enhancing academic practice through the use of video : a longitudinal case study of professional development in higher education

This thesis offers an overarching case study of academic staff development as it relates to the ten-year period following the publication of the UK Government White Paper: The future of higher education (DfES, 2003). The publication of the White Paper (ibid.) was a prelude to considerable sector-wide investment being made to support the enhancement of learning and teaching practice in higher education. Using a case-study research method, I reflect on my own critical case of professional development and link the impact of the White Paper (ibid.) to the opportunities I have had to use video as an enabling technology for teaching, for research and for stakeholder engagement in curriculum design. Accounts of these three facets of practice are embedded, as dedicated ‘context-cases’, within an overarching case study of professional development. The case study approach I have taken is theory generating, with the act of thesis construction having led to the creation of new theories as models. These models, as research outputs in their own right, are offered in parallel with the conventional research findings presented through the three embedded ‘context-cases’.
Architecture for a Truly Integrated Defense Network

Abstract : The National Capital Region (NCR) of the United States of America (U.S.) is a microcosm of all that is difficult in creating a regional, integrated defense against terrorism: multiple civil jurisdictions, target-rich environment, and the requirement to involve many organizations in any decision. The Region's current defense lacks a truly Integrated Defense System (IDS). Through the use of a demonstrated and available Network-Centric Warfare (NCW) solution, there can be significant improvement in the timeline and quality of decision makers' response to threats. Regional radar systems have an effective data path to military fighter aircraft and missile batteries in the NCR; however, there are other governmental, non-military systems generating data that could also contribute to the real-time picture. This nonmilitary data cannot always flow to decision makers, and when it does, inconsistencies between the disparate systems require human input to resolve. An NCW application would allow these stovepipe systems to share data, thus producing a common picture of the Region. The Tactical Component Network (TCN(Registered) provides an architecture that is successfully deployed by the U.S. military today and can be implemented immediately. The more complete and common picture provided by TCN reduces the threat response timeline.
The safety and efficiency of low-dose mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists in dialysis patients: a meta-analysis

Background: Our aim was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of low-dose mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) in dialysis patients.Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane libraries for clinical trials on the use of MRAs in dialysis patients. Review Manager 5.3 software was used to analyze relevant data and evaluate the quality of evidence.Results: We identified nine randomized controlled trials including 1128 chronic dialysis patients. In terms of safety, when hyperkalemia was defined as serum potassium level ≥5.5 mmol/L, low-dose MRAs were significantly associated with hyperkalemia (relative risk [RR] 1.76, 95% CI 1.07–2.89, P = 0.02); however, when hyperkalemia was defined as serum potassium level ≥6.0 mmol/L or serum potassium level ≥6.5 mmol/L, no significant association was observed between low-dose MRAs and hyperkalemia (RR 1.40, 95% CI 0.83–2.37, P = 0.20; RR 1.98, 95% CI 0.91–4.30, P = 0.09, respectively). Use of low-dose MRAs can reduce CV mortality by 57% compared with the control group (RR 0.43, 95% CI 0.25–0.75, P = 0.003). Similarly, the RR of all-cause mortality for the low-dose MRAs group was 0.44 (95% CI 0.28–0.68, P = 0.0003). Conclusion: Low-dose MRAs may benefit dialysis patients without significantly increasing moderate to severe hyperkalemia.
Enhanced two level EBG Antenna for a high F/D Multibeam Reflector Antenna In KA Band : design and characterization

This paper deals with the design of an EBG antenna dedicated to feed a side front offset Cassegrain antenna (SFOCA) for a multibeam coverage of Europe in Ka band. Indeed, the EBG structure which permit to interlace equivalent radiating apertures, represents a new passive technology to realize multi beam coverage with only one reflector at an attractive cost compared to usual systems with beam forming networks or with several reflector antennas. The telecommunication mission studied requires on the one hand a multibeam reflector antenna with large F/D ratio to decrease the parasitic defocusing effects for high scanned beams and on the other hand, a circular polarization concept which reduces the price of the subscriber terminals assembly. These characteristics induce some focal structure specifications which cannot be reached with a classical EBG antenna. Also, the first step has been to improve the EBG antenna performances thanks to a more efficient feed which is a conical horn. The replacement of the patch by the horn permits to double the radiation bandwidth and to decrease the side lobes (-15 dB) of a 24 dB EBG antenna. The second job has been to reduce the parasitic interferences which occur in a multifeed EBG antenna especially that no polarization decoupling is achievable. Consequently, a multihorn two level EBG antenna with corrugations which permit to emplace the feeds outside the EBG cavity has been designed. As the performances of this structure are as well as those obtained with an EBG antenna fed by only one feed, we have study the whole system composed of the SFOCA and the multihorn two level EBG structure. The results obtained agree with the specifications because a EOC gain higher than 43 dB and sideslobes lower than -20 dB have been obtained for 90% of the beams. (7 pages)
Isolating and Discriminating Overlapping Signatures in Cluttered Environments

Abstract : SERDP project MR-1664 entitled "Isolating and Discriminating Overlapping Signatures in Cluttered Environments" is approximately halfway complete. Significant progress has been made in working toward the original objectives of the project. Three new methods for localizing multiple sources in close proximity using EMI data have been developed and tested. Specifically, these methods are: A multiple dipole search method based on a gradient search algorithm utilizing an analytical Jacobian (see Sec. 4.2) A combined Joint Diagonalization (JD) and Orthonormalized Volume Magnetic Source (ONVMS) method (see Sec. 4.3) Source localization based MUSIC algorithm applied to EMI data (see [1]) Canonical targets of various shapes, sizes and material parameters have been fabricated (see Sec. 4.1. Data acquired from these targets as well as standard UXO targets has been acquired by the TEMTADS and MPV2 instruments in many multitarget configurations (see Sec. 4.1). The methods developed to date under this MR-1664 have been able to isolate and discriminate up to six targets simultaneously in the case of lab data (see Sec. 5). The JD method is able to almost instantaneously provide a good estimate for the number of distinct targets in the EMI data. After this estimate is obtained, the first or second methods delineated above (and described below) are used to invert for the parameters of the N identified targets. Benjamin Barrowes,
Buried Mine Detection and Classification (Research Summary 1996-1999)

Abstract : The applicability of low-frequency sonar (2-16 kHz) to buried mine detection has been investigated. Experiments were performed on sound penetration into sediment, buried target detection and broadband multiple aspect classification. The results of the experiments are given in this report and compared with modelled results. One of the main results is our success in understanding the physical mechanisms contributing to subcritical penetration into sediment. It has been demonstrated that the evanescent wave was dominant in the lower frequencies 2-5 KHz of our bandwidth of interest 2-16 KHz. Roughness scattering dominates at higher frequencies (above 5 kHz) for our bottom type (RMS roughness 1.5 cm, cross-ripple correlation length 25 cm). Although roughness scattering has been shown to be one mechanism for explaining "anomalous" penetration into sediment, its potential for detection and classification of buried objects is unclear due to the low level and the lack of coherence of the received signals. It is demonstrated that sound speed variation with frequency, and therefore variation of the critical angle versus frequency, could exist for permeable sandy bottoms, which could influence the design of a buried mine sonar. The detection of buried targets is shown to be very effective at above the critical angle. At subcritical angles, detection becomes difficult. Significant gains in signal-to-reverberation ratio below critical angle were obtained either by emphasizing a relatively narrow band of frequencies at the lower end of the transmitted bandwidth (below 3 kHz) or by using a larger physical array or synthetic array processing which improve the sonar resolution. Simulations have shown that lower frequencies (of the order of 0.5-1 kHz) are essential to the detection of buried targets at low grazing angles and that the detection at those frequencies will only be effective for shallow buried targets.
Genesis: A Framework for Achieving Software Component Diversity

Abstract : The Genesis project sought to provide security through the diversification of software. A major weakness with current information systems is that they use software applications that are clones of each other; a major exploitable flaw in one implies a flaw in all other similarly configured software packages. Breaking this software monoculture was the goal of the bio-inspired diversity area of DARPA's self-regenerative systems program. The Genesis project exceeded the program's goal of producing 100 functionally equivalent versions of software such that no more than 33 exhibited the same deficiency. This report presents an overview of the Genesis project, the current status of the Genesis Diversity Toolkit, and future opportunities for technical transfer and research.
Computational Contributions Towards Scalable and Efficient Genome-wide Association Methodology

Genome-wide association studies are experiments designed to find the genetic bases of physical traits: for example, markers correlated with disease status by comparing the DNA of healthy individuals to the DNA of affecteds. Over the past two decades, an exponential increase in the resolution of DNA-testing technology coupled with a substantial drop in their cost have allowed us to amass huge and potentially invaluable datasets to conduct such comparative studies. For many common diseases, datasets as large as a hundred thousand individuals exist, each tested at million(s) of markers (called SNPs) across the genome. Despite this treasure trove, so far only a small fraction of the genetic markers underlying most common diseases have been identified. Simply stated—our ability to predict phenotype (disease status) from a person's genetic constitution is still very limited today, even for traits that we know to be heritable from one's parents (e.g. height, diabetes, cardiac health). As a result, genetics today often lags far behind conventional indicators like family history of disease in terms of its predictive power. To borrow a popular metaphor from astronomy, this veritable "dark matter" of perceivable but un-locatable genetic signal has come to be known as missing heritability. This thesis will present my research contributions in two hotly pursued scientific hypotheses that aim to close this gap: (1) gene-gene interactions, and (2) ultra-rare genetic variants—both of which are not yet widely tested. First, I will discuss the challenges that have made interaction testing difficult, and present a novel approximate statistic to measure interaction. This statistic can be exploited in a Monte-Carlo like randomization scheme, making an exhaustive search through trillions of potential interactions tractable using ordinary desktop computers. A software implementation of our algorithm found a reproducible interaction between SNPs in two calcium channel genes in Bipolar Disorder. Next, I will discuss the functional enrichment pipeline we subsequently developed to identify sets of interacting genes underlying this disease. Lastly, I will talk about the application of coding theory to cost-efficient measurement of ultra-rare genetic variation (sometimes, as rare as just one individual carrying the mutation in the entire population).
Removal of Noise from a Voice Signal by Synthesis

Abstract : This report describes research into the problem of rectification of sound recordings made under adverse conditions and communicated and recorded with a great deal of noise. In the course of this research, a number of refinements have been made to the process of digital speech synthesis through new vocoder techniques. The particular case under investigation was that of old, noisy recordings of a singing voice and the immediate goal was the separation of that voice from wide band noise, orchestral accompaniment and recording noise. This has been accomplished by the development and refinement of the homomorphic vocoder as a filtering device.