Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Integrated Design and Manufacturing for the Navy FBM Program

Abstract : The Integrated Design and Manufacturing (IDAM) project is bringing modern design, manufacturing, analysis, and test engineering methods to an established operational weapon system, the Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM). The philosophy, methods, and constraints associated with technology application to enhance near term support and preserve long term engineering capability are presented. Background. The current Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM) C4 and D5 systems were developed with engineering software tools and methodologies over a 40 year period. These tools and methods were often specifically tuned (tailored) to a specific missile configuration and to the available ground and flight test data. Specific expertise and knowledge is required to employ these empirical tools and methods, particularly for hardware or environments that lie outside what was originally tested. A decade has passed since the last FBM development program. The lack of opportunity to exercise core FBM design engineering competencies threatens skill and knowledge preservation in certain key areas. The problem of expertise retention is compounded by the fact that, in some cases, software and methods do not formally exist, have been lost, or reside as knowledge and experience of certain key FBM experts, most of whom have retired or are close to retirement.
Investigating Markers of the NLRP3 Inflammasome Pathway in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Human Post-Mortem Study

Neuroinflammatory mechanisms with glial cell activation have been implicated in the pathogenic process of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is an essential component of the neuroinflammatory response. A role for NLRP3 activation in AD is supported by both in vitro and in vivo preclinical studies with little direct investigation of AD brain tissue. RNA expression of genes of three glial cell markers, HLA-DRA, AIF-1 and GFAP; the components of the NLRP3 inflammasome NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1; and downstream pre-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 β and IL-18, were investigated in the temporal cortex of AD patients and age- and sex-matched controls. Protein expression of GFAP was also assessed. Increases in both mRNA and protein expression were observed for GFAP in AD. There were no significant changes in other NLRP3 activation markers between groups. Our results indicate the involvement of astrocyte activation in AD, particularly in more severe patients. We found no evidence for the specific involvement of the NLRP3 inflammasome.
Evaluation of Drilled and Grouted-in-Place Dowels for Load Transfer of Portland Cement Concrete, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.

Abstract : This study utilizes the results of measured strains under static loadings and measured deflections under nondestructive vibratory loadings of the portland cement concrete at three instrumented test locations to determine the adequacy of dowels installed by the drill-and-grout method in longitudinal joints as load transfer devices. Two test procedures are used to evaluate the instrumented joints, and then the test results are compared. The computed load transfer of these joints determined from the strain measurements were compared with the results of the same type of testing performed in the 1950's on drilled and grouted-in-place doweled joints and with a theoretical analysis of this type of joint construction. Nondestructive test results performed on joints of different construction from the instrumented joints are also presented for comparison purposes. (Author)
First whole-genome analysis of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) obtained from COVID-19 patients from five districts in Western Serbia

Abstract This study was endeavoured to contribute in furthering our understanding of the molecular epidemiology of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by sequencing and analysing the first full-length genome sequences obtained from 48 coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients in five districts in Western Serbia in the period April 2020–July 2020. SARS-CoV-2 sequences in Western Serbia distinguished from the Wuhan sequence in 128 SNPs in total. The phylogenetic structure of local SARS-CoV-2 isolates suggested the existence of at least four distinct groups of SARS-CoV-2 strains in Western Serbia. The first group is the most similar to the strain from Italy. These isolates included two 20A sequences and 15−30 20B sequences that displayed a newly occurring set of four conjoined mutations. The second group is the most similar to the strain from France, carrying two mutations and belonged to 20A clade. The third group is the most similar to the strain from Switzerland carrying four co-occurring mutations and belonging to 20B clade. The fourth group is the most similar to another strain from France, displaying one mutation that gave rise to a single local isolate that belonged to 20A clade.
UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository) Qualitative Representations for Systems Thinking in Secondary Education Qualitative Representations for Systems Thinking in Secondary Education

Systems thinking is a complex skill for learners in secondary education. We argue that qualitative representations can be valuable tools to actively engage in learning this skill. However, the effectiveness of these tools is currently hampered by complexity and the lack of instructional embedding. In this contri-bution, we present our developments on scaffolds for learning, instructional formats, and automated support in order to unleash the potential of qualitative representations for secondary education.
Understanding Public Attention towards the Beautiful Village Initiative in China and Exploring the Influencing Factors: An Empirical Analysis Based on the Baidu Index

The implementation of China’s Beautiful Village Initiative was an extraordinary achievement and aroused extensive public attention. However, existing research mostly focuses on the construction and seldom on public attention towards the Beautiful Village Initiative. For this reason, this paper investigated the spatiotemporal characteristics of public attention based on the Baidu index using time-constrained clustering and the spatial autocorrelation test. Our results showed that the evolutionary process can be divided into three stages: very little national attention (2011–2012), injection of a strong impetus (2013–2015), and rooted in the people’s minds (2016–2020). Spatially, provincial public attention demonstrated obvious spatial differentiation and stable spatial autocorrelation, with Low–Low clusters in Northwest China and High–High Clusters in East, Central, and North China. Spatial econometric models were further utilized to quantify the effects of socioeconomic factors on public attention. The results of the SEM model proved the existence of spatial spillover effects and indicated that the urbanization rate, population density, education level, and network popularity rate all positively affected public attention. The relationship between Beautiful Village construction and public attention was uncoordinated and, in most provinces, advances in public attention were ahead of the construction level. Our findings contribute to the understanding of public attention towards the Beautiful Village Initiative, and policy suggestions we proposed would be applied to increasing public awareness and participation.
The Influence of Virtual Forest Walk on Physiological and Psychological Responses

The authors of this paper sought to investigate the impact of virtual forest therapy based on realistic versus dreamlike environments on reducing stress levels. Today, people are facing an increase in stress levels in everyday life, which may be due to personal life, work environment, or urban area expansion. Previous studies have reported that urban environments demand more attention and mental workload than natural environments. However, evidence for the effects of natural environments as virtual forest therapy on stress levels has not yet been fully explored. In this study, a total of 20 healthy participants completed a letter-detection test to increase their stress level and were then randomly assigned to two different virtual environments representing realistic and dreamlike graphics. The participants’ stress levels were assessed using two physiological methods that measured heart rate and skin conductance levels and one psychological method through the Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire. These indicators were analyzed using a sample t-test and a one-way analysis of variance. The results showed that virtual forest environments could have positive stress-relieving effects. However, realistic graphics were more efficient in reducing stress. These findings contribute to growing forest therapy concepts and provide new directions for future forest therapy research.
BCERF Alert for Women Firefighters: Chemical Exposures in Your Workplace and Breast Cancer Risk

Chemicals and Breast Cancer Risk – There are very few studies on women firefighters and the risk of female cancers, including breast cancer. Other studies of workplace exposures to certain chemicals have shown some evidence of a higher risk of breast cancer. Some of these chemicals are also encountered in firefighting (see Formaldehyde and Benzene, below). Hence, it is prudent to take precautions against exposures to these chemicals.
Effect of losses in an active device and harmonic network on the efficiency of Class F and inverse Class F power amplifiers

High frequency class F and inverse class F power amplifiers obtain high efficiency of dc to ac power conversion, by reducing the overlap of voltage and current waveforms at the output of the active device, to ensure that the power dissipated in the resistance Ron of the active device is minimised. In this paper the active device is modelled as a switch in series with resistance Ron 0 to 5Ω. For ideal switch voltage / current waveforms and equal dc input power for both amplifiers the efficiency of power conversion is compared. To confirm the predicted results ideal lossless load harmonic networks using lumped elements were designed to meet all frequency conditions of the two amplifiers. These networks were done used in Advanced Design System (ADS) software for Ron=0, 2 and 4 Ω. The predicted efficiency for 2Ω and 4 Ω were 80% and 60% and the obtained simulation efficiency were 83.2% and 65.5% for class F amplifier. For the inverse class F amplifier the predicted efficiency was 87.3% and 74.5% and for the simulation results it was 87.26% and 74.4%. Above predicted and simulated results show that the resistance Ron has less effect on the efficiency of inverse class F than for class F amplifier. As lumped elements can not be used at high frequencies they were replaced initially with lossless transmission lines and then by microstrip lines to also investigate also how copper and dielectric losses affect the efficiency of power conversion.
Medium Voltage DC Network Modeling and Analysis with Preliminary Studies for Optimized Converter Configuration Through PSCAD Simulation Environment

With the advancement of high capacity power electronics technologies, most notably in high voltage direct current (HVDC) applications, the concept of developing and implementing future transmission networks through a DC backbone presents a realistic and advantageous option over traditional AC approaches. Currently, most consumer electrical equipment requires DC power to function, thus requiring an AC/DC conversion. New forms of distributed generation, such as solar photovoltaic power, produce a direct DC output. Establishing an accessible and direct supply of DC power to serve such resources and loads creates the potential to mitigate losses experienced in the AC/DC conversion process, reduce overall electrical system infrastructure, and lessen the amount of power generated from power plants, as well as other advantages. For the reasons listed, medium voltage DC (MVDC) networks represent a promising, initial platform for interconnecting relatively low voltage generation resources such as photovoltaic panels, serving loads, and supplying other equipment on a common DC bus bar. Future industrial parks, ship power systems, hybrid plug-in vehicles, and energy storage systems are all avenues for future implementation of the concept. This thesis introduces an initial design and simulation model of the MVDC network concept containing renewable generation, power electronic converters, and induction machine loads. Each of the equipment models are developed and modeled in PSCAD and validated analytically. The models of the represented system equipment and components are individually presented and accompanied with their simulated results to demonstrate the validity of the overall model. Finally, the equipment models are assembled together into a meshed system to perform traditional preliminary studies on the overall power system including wind speed adjustments, load energizing, and fault-clearing analysis in order to evaluate aspects of various operational phenomena such as potential overvoltages, system stability issues, and other unexpected occurrences.
On the Wind Turbine Wake and Forest Terrain Interaction

Future wind power developments may be located in complex topographic and harsh environments; forests are one type of complex terrain that offers untapped potential for wind energy. A detailed analysis of the unsteady interaction between wind turbines and the distinct boundary layers from those terrains is necessary to ensure optimized design, operation, and life span of wind turbines and wind farms. Here, laboratory experiments were carried to explore the interaction between the wake of a horizontal-axis model wind turbine and the boundary layer flow over forest-like canopies and the modulation of forest density in the turbulent exchange. The case of the turbine in a canonical boundary layer is included for selected comparison. The experiments were performed in a wind tunnel fully covered with tree models of height H/zhub≈0.36, where zhub is the turbine hub height, which were placed in a staggered pattern sharing streamwise and transverse spacing of Δx/dc=1.3 and 2.7, where dc is the mean crown diameter of the trees. Particle image velocimetry is used to characterize the incoming flow and three fields of view in the turbine wake within x/dT∈(2,7) and covering the vertical extent of the wake. The results show a significant modulation of the forest-like canopies on the wake statistics relative to a case without forest canopies. Forest density did not induce dominant effects on the bulk features of the wake; however, a faster flow recovery, particularly in the intermediate wake, occurred with the case with less dense forest. Decomposition of the kinematic shear stress using a hyperbolic hole in the quadrant analysis reveals a substantial effect sufficiently away from the canopy top with sweep-dominated events that differentiate from ejection-dominated observed in canonical boundary layers. The comparatively high background turbulence induced by the forest reduced the modulation of the rotor in the wake; the quadrant fraction distribution in the intermediate wake exhibited similar features of the associated incoming flow.
FINANCIAL ECONOMETRICS FALL 2002

Course Description: The course is designed to introduce the econometric tools most used in finance and to gain understanding of the sources and characteristics of financial data. We will use Datastream or other vendors as a source for financial data, and EViews software to build ARCH and other time series models. There will be homework and a paper but no exam. There is a lot of reading. The bold references will be distributed one week in advance. The others will be available for lending in my office. The homework assignments will frequently be computer exercises which will be presented in class.
Lane Detection System for Vehicle Platooning

This paper proposes a method of lane marker detection for platooning and automatic driving technology. The proposed method recognizes lane markers in images captured from a front camera and downward side cameras. First, candidate points of lane markers are extracted by edge pair detection. Then, straight lines representing lane marker are detected by applying Hough transform to these candidate points. In a front camera, a yaw angle of a vehicle is calculated by estimating an intersection point of straight lines. And, in a downward side camera, a lateral position is estimated from a position of a straight line in an image. These methods were implemented in the image processing hardware whose CPU satisfies on-vehicle specifications. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed method and a lane detection device. In experiments conducted at the test course, the vehicle ran at 80 km/h along the straight lane automatically.
A Study of Biofeedback Gait Training in Cerebral Stroke Patients in the Early Recovery Phase with Stance Phase as Target Parameter

Walking function disorders are typical for patients after cerebral stroke. Biofeedback technology (BFB) is currently considered effective and promising for training walking function, including in patients after cerebral stroke. Most studies recognize that BFB training is a promising tool for improving walking function; however, the data on the use of highly selective walking parameters for BFB training are very limited. The aim of our study was to investigate the feasibility of using BFB training targeting one of the basic parameters of gait symmetry—stance phase duration—in cerebral stroke patients in the early recovery period. The study included 20 hemiparetic patients in the early recovery period after the first hemispheric ischemic stroke. The control group included 20 healthy subjects. The BFB training and biomechanical analysis of walking (before and after all BFB sessions) were done using an inertial system. The mean number of BFB sessions was nine (from 8 to 11) during the three weeks in clinic. There was not a single negative response to BFB training among the study patients, either during the sessions or later. The spatiotemporal parameters of walking showed the whole syndrome complex of slow walking and typical asymmetry of temporal walking parameters, and did not change significantly as a result of the study therapy. The changes were more significant for the functioning of hip and knee joints. The contralateral hip amplitude returned to the normal range. For the knee joint, the amplitude of the first flexion increased and the value of the amplitude of hyperextension decreased in the middle of the stance phase. Concerning muscle function, the observed significant decrease in the function of m. Gastrocnemius and the hamstring muscles on the paretic side remained without change at the end of the treatment course. We obtained positive dynamics of the biomechanical parameters of walking in patients after the BFB training course. The feasibility and efficacy of their use for targeted correction need further research.
Surface and 60 FSW Performance Testing of the Modified MBS 2000 Closed Circuit Oxygen Rebreather.

Abstract : The primary objective of the current study was to use the lessons learned from the FY05 testing to improve the design and efficiency of the current MBS 2000 unit. Specific design modifications chosen for testing were aimed at improving purge efficiency and reducing the oxygen volume requirements needed to accommodate purges and any leaks of ambient air into the system during a treatment. Since all previous testing had been performed at 1 ATA, a second major objective for the FY06 tests was to evaluate the modified MBS 2000 rebreather at 60 fsw in a hyperbaric chamber. In particular, data on purge frequency and oxygen consumption at depth was sought to provide more accurate calculations of the total volume of oxygen needed to support an operation.
Treatment Options for Elderly/Unfit Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in the Era of Targeted Drugs: A Comprehensive Review

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) incidence increases with age reaching 37.9/100,000 in patients over 85 years. Although there is no standardized geriatric tool specifically validated for CLL, a correct framing of the fitness status is of critical importance to individualize treatment strategies. Based on the evidence available to date, frontline chemoimmunotherapy has an increasingly narrowing application, being eligible for candidacy only in elderly fit patients without or with minimal geriatric syndromes. On the other hand, treatment with BCR inhibitors, monotherapy, or in combination with anti-CD20 antibodies (e.g., obinutuzumab), must be preferred both for frontline and relapsed CLL not only in unfit patients, but also in fit patients with unmutated IGHV or harboring del(17p) and/or TP53 mutations/deletions. Second-generation inhibitors (e.g., acalabrutinib, zanubrutinib, pirtobrutinib) are novel compounds that, due to their better safety profile and different specificity, will help physicians overcome some of the safety issues and treatment resistances. In the era of targeted therapies, treatment decisions in elderly and/or unfit patients with CLL must be a balance between efficacy and safety, carefully evaluating comorbidities and geriatric syndromes to ensure the best approach to improve both quality of life and life expectancy.
A SiGe-Chip-Based D-Band FMCW-Radar Sensor With 53-GHz Tuning Range for High Resolution Measurements in Industrial Applications

The article presents a monostatic <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$D$ </tex-math></inline-formula>-band frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar based on a fully integrated monostatic single-channel silicon-germanium (SiGe) transceiver (TRX) chip. The chip is fabricated in Infineon’s bipolar-complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (BiCMOS) production technology B11HFC which offers heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) with an <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$f_{\mathrm {T}}/f_{\mathrm {max}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> of 250 GHz/370 GHz. The monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) output signal is coupled by a fully differential substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) based coupling network. The output power at the WR-6.5 antenna flange is more than −10 dBm over a bandwidth of 37.5 GHz. For a sweep within a single-loop phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit from 174.5 to 121.5 GHz, a spatial resolution of almost 3 mm with a metallic plate as the target is achieved. The radar provides a small form factor of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$2 \times 4 \times 5$ </tex-math></inline-formula> cm<sup>3</sup> and low power consumption of 2.2 W at 5 V. Finally, the capabilities of the sensor for non-destructive testing (NDT) are demonstrated using a millimeter scanner. With radar imaging, it was possible to measure the orientation of the fiber layers up to a depth of 7.03 mm.
Operationalizing Offensive Social Engineering for the Air Force

Abstract : The focus of this paper is on the use of offensive social engineering in the Air Force. As the Air Force organizes, trains, and equips its new cyber warrior force, it will need to operationalize social engineering principles in order to grow a repeatable, sustainable capability. Towards this end, this paper is organized around three main points. First, establish legitimacy and demonstrate that social engineering is in fact compatible with existing Air Force and Joint military doctrine. This is done with a thorough analysis of doctrine and historical writings about military deception, psychological operations, and related concepts. Second, social engineering arrives in the operational realm by discussing a framework for measuring its e? ects. A well known process, Aerospace Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace, is extrapolated and adapted for use in this realm. Finally, requirements for a training plan are developed as a first step in the implementation process.