Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
HARPO: Learning to Subvert Online Behavioral Advertising

Online behavioral advertising, and the associated tracking paraphernalia, poses a real privacy threat. Unfortunately, existing privacy-enhancing tools are not always effective against online advertising and tracking. We propose Harpo, a principled learning-based approach to subvert online behavioral advertising through obfuscation. Harpo uses reinforcement learning to adaptively interleave real page visits with fake pages to distort a tracker's view of a user's browsing profile. We evaluate Harpo against real-world user profiling and ad targeting models used for online behavioral advertising. The results show that Harpo improves privacy by triggering more than 40% incorrect interest segments and 6x higher bid values. Harpo outperforms existing obfuscation tools by as much as 16x for the same overhead. Harpo is also able to achieve better stealthiness to adversarial detection than existing obfuscation tools. Harpo meaningfully advances the state-of-the-art in leveraging obfuscation to subvert online behavioral advertising
P‐14: AM‐OLED Pixel Circuits Based on a‐InGaZnOThin Film Transistors

In this paper, we investigated the application of amorphous In‐Ga‐Zn‐O (a‐InGaZnO) thin film transistors (TFTs) to active‐matrix organic light emitting display (AM‐OLED) pixel circuits. SPICE model of a‐InGaZnO TFTs was developed based on experimental data. Several pixel circuits were explored, and the potential advantages of using a‐InGaZnO TFTs were discussed.
Climate shapes and shifts functional biodiversity in forests worldwide

Much ecological research aims to explain how climate impacts bio- diversity and ecosystem-level processes through functional traits that link environment with individual performance. However, the specific climatic drivers of functional diversity across space and time remain unclear due largely to limitations in the availability of paired trait and climate data. We compile and analyze a global forest dataset using a method based on abundance-weighted trait moments to assess how climate influences the shapes of whole-community trait distributions. Our approach combines abundance-weighted metrics with diverse cli- mate factors to produce a comprehensive catalog of trait – climate relationships that differ dramatically — 27% of significant results change in sign and 71% disagree on sign, significance, or both — from traditional species-weighted methods. We find that ( i ) functional diversity gener- ally declines with increasing latitude and elevation, ( ii ) temperature variability and vapor pressure are the strongest drivers of geographic shifts in functional composition and ecological strategies, and ( iii ) functional composition may currently be shifting over time due to rapid climate warming. Our analysis demonstrates that climate strongly gov-erns functional diversity and provides essential information needed to predict how biodiversity and ecosystem function will respond to climate change. denoting the direction of the percent of deviation). Linear regressions between trait moments and latitude and elevation were calculated using the lm function in R (43). Relationships between trait moments and individual environmental variables were de- termined using Pearson product-moment correlations. PCA was conducted on community-weighted means across all traits using the prcomp function in R (43). Only BIEN plots were used in the PCA analysis because there are no data for tree height or seed mass for the in situ plots. Community relative moments were calculated as the percent deviation between local community values (m local ) and global values (m global ) for each moment [% deviation = (m local – m global )/ j m global j × 100]. We used two-sided t tests to determine whether community relative moments were significantly different from 0 — the null expectation given no shift in trait-distribution shape. Only in situ data were used in the relative moment analysis to ensure that trait estimates were specific to each location rather than being taken from a trait database. All data (45) and custom code (46) used in this study have been made publicly available online.
Controlling Vibration of HDD Actuator by Using Dummy Heads

Some hard disk drives (HDDs) have fewer than the maximum number of magnetic heads. Such HDDs need to be re-designed to keep their position accuracy. We focused on adding dummy heads instead of re-designing the whole actuator. A dummy head is put on the edge of an arm model, and it influences the vibration characteristics of the model. Because the vibration characteristics of the arm model are related to those of the whole actuator, we optimized the dummy head design by focusing on the vibration characteristics of a local arm model instead of focusing on the whole actuator. We created a dummy head that would enable HDDs to keep the gain of their vibration characteristics around the sampling frequency as low as those of an HDD with the maximum number of mountable magnetic heads.
Engineering Cardiac Valve Extracellular Matrix Structure and Function for Modeling Pathogenesis and Regeneration

Fibrosis of the semilunar cardiac valves clinically manifests as deterioration in latestage functional performance. Stenotic insufficiencies, due to either congenital or acquired heart valve disease, are a result of irreversible structural aberrations to the normally highly ordered leaflet extracellular matrix (ECM). In particular, excessive remolding and deposition of ECM in the load bearing fibrosa layer of the leaflets over time leads to tissue thickening and eventual calcification. Therefore, we asked what role the fibrosa layer, essential for healthy leaflet mechanical functionality, plays in early-stage valve disease etiology and function. We hypothesized that recapitulating the valvular fibrosa ECM structure and composition will enable the self-assembly of valvular tissue to model acute fibrotic pathogenesis and provide a platform for functional tissue replacement. We tested this hypothesis by engineering both in vitro and in vivo models of semilunar valve tissues. In vitro, aortic valve interstitial cell (AVIC) tissues were engineered on two dimensional, flexible thin films and fibrous scaffolds to mimic fibrosal alignment. Engineered AVIC tissues were acutely exposed to a clinically relevant dose of the drug Pergolide, a known valvulopathogen, in order to determine early, drug-induced changes in fibrotic biomechanical function. AVIC tissues on thin films lost nearly half of their capacity to generate both basal and active tissue tone, indicative of a switch from a reparative, contractile cell phenotype to a more motile and synthetic one as a result of treatment with the drug. These data were supported by a decrease in both tissue alignment and expression of the contractile protein alpha smooth muscle actin along with increased cofilin-actin
Influence of solid boundary conditions on the evolution of free and wall-bounded turbulent flows

The effect of the boundary conditions on the organization of vortex clusters is analyzed in two separate cases: rough channel flow and grid-generated turbulence. The aim is to understand how far the fluid structures are affected by the presence of roughness and the geometry of the grid. The grid-turbulence cases show that the single- and multi-scale geometries generate a flow strongly dominated by the shear at the beginning. The shear is initially caused by the presence of the body and, for the multi-scale grids, subsequently by the large differences between the scales. Further downstream from the grid these shear-dominated structures break up and form more isotropic clusters, whose dimensions seem to depend little on the particular geometry of the grid. For fractal grids, clusters are formed right downstream of the grid, resulting in a flow with less inhomogeneities than for single- and multi-scale grids. Eight different rough surfaces have been analyzed. In the smooth channel, both attached and detached clusters have been found and, depending on the geometry, the roughness affects the attached structures. Roughnesses made of aligned obstacles with a large separation seem to reduce the number of these structures in the flow. When the roughness elements are closely packed, both for transverse and aligned obstacles, the attached clusters are not able to reach within the roughness elements, and they seem to be anchored to the plane of the crests.
Linear Adaptive Noise Attenuation

Summary For the attenuation of ground roll and back scattering, we have tested and improved an adaptive method aimed at effectively removing the noise while minimizing harm to the signal. We tested this adaptive method versus the commonly used deterministic F-K filtering method. In addition to comparing their effectiveness in reducing ground roll, we also paid close attention to how well these methods can preserve the signal. The results were compared by viewing stacks visually and by analyzing them in t-x, f-k and f-x domains. We found that the adaptive method can provide us with good ground roll suppression while preserving the signal, especially in the high frequency components of the data.
Multiplexed measurements of strain using short- and long-gauge length sensors

The paper discusses two complimentary optical fiber sensing techniques which have been researched for structural monitoring applications. The short-gauge-length sensor system is based on fiber gratings and has achieved a strain resolution below 1 microstrain. The long-gauge-length sensor system has achieved 100 micron spatial resolution using a new OTDR technique. Results are presented for surface-mounted and embedded sensors. Both sensors systems can be multiplexed to make more efficient use of the interrogating unit. Their system designs should be capable of being developed to meet real engineering applications.
Challenges and Feasibility for Comprehensive Automated Survey of Pavement Conditions

Items in pavement condition surveys normally include surface distresses, such as cracking, rutting, and other defects. This paper presents the most recent findings on the feasibility study to conduct a comprehensive survey of pavement conditions through the use of multiple high-resolution digital cameras and related new equipment. It has been shown that it is possible to establish three-dimensional (3D) surface models of pavements for the entire surface model of pavements. Previous efforts in developing 3D surface models of pavements are also discussed in this paper. The paper concludes that a umber of challenges remain in the implementation of such technology for field application.
Rheological properties of granular materials: critical parameters and mixing rules

OF THE DISSERTATION . ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . iv TABLE OF CONTENTS . vi LIST OF TABLES . ix LIST OF FIGURES . x CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Motivation . 1 1.2 Role of Powder Flow in Continuous Manufacturing – a QbD Perspective . 2 1.3 Powder Flow Characterization . 6 1.3.1 Powder Flowability . 6 1.3.2 Granular Flow Regimes . 7 1.3.3 Bulk Density . 10 1.3.4 Powder Testing: Application-based Approach . 11 1.4 Comparison Studies . 13 1.5 Modeling Studies . 15 1.6 Outstanding Issues and Path Forward . 16 1.7 Figures for Chapter 1 . 18 CHAPTER 2 METHODOLOGY . 19 2.1 Characterization Methods . 19 2.1.1 Gravitational Displacement Rheometer . 19 2.1.2 Shear Cell Testing . 20 2.1.3 Compressibility . 24 2.1.4 Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) . 24 2.1.5 Particle Size Measurements . 25 2.1.6 Density Measurements . 25 2.2 Discrete Element Method (DEM) . 26 2.3 Figures for Chapter 2 . 29 CHAPTER 3 ESTABLISHING VARIABLES OF INTEREST IN POWDER FLOW CHARACTERIZATION THROUGH METHOD COMPARISON . 36 3.1 Rationale . 36 3.2 Materials and Blend Preparation . 37 3.3 Shear Cell Results . 38 3.4 GDR Measurements . 41 3.5 Variables of Interest Through Correlative Comparison . 43 3.6 Compressibility . 45 3.7 Flow Properties of Catalytic Support Materials . 47 3.8 Conclusions of the Method Comparison Study . 50 3.9 Figures for Chapter 3 . 53 3.10 Tables for Chapter 3 . 66 CHAPTER 4 DENSITY EFFECTS IN CHARACTERIZATION OF UNCONFINED FLOW BEHAVIOR . 68 4.1 Rationale . 68
Modified Paris's Law to Predict Entire Crack Growth in Asphalt Mixtures

Paris's law is a well-known and widely used method for predicting crack growth in engineering materials. Currently, most Paris's law model forms are formulated on the basis of the growth of a single crack, which is not in accord with the actual damage in asphalt mixtures, which entails the propagation of a multitude of cracks. The parameters in these Paris's law model forms are determined either by extensive testing and curve fitting or by collecting data from a series of different tests. To predict the entire crack growth in an asphalt mixture, this paper proposes a modified Paris's law, which is defined by using the damage density. In addition, the procedure for determining the modified Paris's law parameters (A’ and n’) is simplified so that they are easily obtained from one test on one asphalt mixture specimen. The proposed modified Paris's law was applied to 20 types of asphalt mixtures. The results showed that A’ and n’ were highly correlated with each other for the materials tested. On the basis of this relationship, the damage density formulated in the modified Paris's law is proved to be related monotonically to n’ through a sensitivity analysis. This relationship suggests that n’ can be used directly to compare the damage density of different asphalt mixtures. Investigation of the effects of asphalt binder, air void content, and aging period on fatigue cracking in asphalt mixtures further confirms that n’ is a good indicator of the tendency of the material to crack and can be used solely in material comparison and selection for fatigue cracking; a smaller value of n’ is preferred.
End-user perceptions of ERP systems: a case study of an international automotive supplier

A number of organisations have implemented enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems over the past decade. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software applications are designed to facilitate the system-wide integration of complex processes and function across a large enterprise consisting of many internal and external constituents. Such systems promise high returns on investment and improved process efficiencies. However, an important aspect of the success of such systems is the end-user perception of them. By means of a case study of an international automotive supplier corporation, we examine end-user perceptions with an ERP system. Specifically, we look at the following variables ease of use, usefulness, and satisfaction with the system. Training approaches that could influence these perceptions are also investigated. The results of the study confirm that training techniques influence user perceptions of ease of use and usefulness, which in turn influence user satisfaction with the system.
Field-oriented control scheme for linear induction motor with the end effect

The movement of a linear induction motor (LIM) causes eddy currents in the secondary conductor sheet at the entry and the exit of the primary core. The eddy currents of the sheet tend to resist sudden flux variation, allowing only gradual change along the airgap. Hence, the so-called 'end effect' causes not only the losses but also airgap flux profile variation changes depending on the speed. In this work, an equivalent circuit model of LIM is developed following Duncan's per phase model. It is then transformed into a synchronous reference frame which is aligned with the secondary flux. Also, a field orientation control scheme is developed which accounts for the end effect. The validity of the proposed LIM model is demonstrated by comparing experimental and simulated voltage current relations. With the proposed control scheme, the (secondary) flux-attenuation problem due to the end effect is shown to be resolved in the high-speed range.
Investigation of parasitic elements for coupling reduction in multiantenna hand‐set devices

This article investigates parasitic radiating structures for coupling reduction between two 900MHz planar inverted‐F antennas (PIFAs) in a hand‐held device. Measurement of the initial prototype shows that a maximum isolation enhancement of more than 8 dB is achieved with a single parasitic element. This is followed by optimization of the parasitic structure for compactness, improved bandwidth, and tuning capability. First, different techniques for miniaturization are employed to obtain 60% less footprint with a 22 mm x 15 mm meandered parasitic element. Second, it is demonstrated that the isolation bandwidth can be increased by employing several parasitic radiators with different lengths. Finally, it is presented that the operation of a handheld device, as well as the coupling reduction technique, is compromised in proximity to the human body. For the first time, a miniaturized electronically tunable parasitic radiating element is designed to compensate for the detuning of the coupling reduction technique and adjusting its resonance to achieve maximum isolation between two handset PIFAs. Measurements of the fabricated prototype show 810–960 MHz tuning range. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 24:1–10, 2014.
Application of cascaded H-bridge distribution-static synchronous series compensator in electrical distribution system power flow control

In this study, the power flow control of the electrical distribution network using multilevel converter-based distribution-static synchronous series compensator is presented. The conventional radial distribution network can be changed into a meshed grid because of this device. Using multilevel converter topology, the device can be installed directly in series with the line, connecting two separate feeders from different substations together. Two control methods are proposed to control the power flow in the line. The first control strategy uses a fixed DC bus voltage. Enhancing the performance of the multilevel converter, a novel control strategy using variable DC bus voltage is introduced while maintaining the appropriate dynamic response. The new strategy can reduce the total harmonic distortion (THD) of the injected voltage and losses of the power converter compared with the fixed DC bus method. A new soft start method is also proposed to connect the separate feeders together safely. The feasibility of the control strategies is investigated through simulation and experimental results.
The Characterization of Acid Soluble Collagen from Sheep Tail Tendon

The sheep (Ovis aries) tail tendons are the major by-products after being slaughtered for food consumption. A tendon is a powerful band of fibrous connective tissue that is composed of parallel bundles of collagen fibers and connects muscle to bone, due to the transmit forces and tolerate tension during muscle contraction. The tendon collagen structure is found as the main molecule of dense fibrous tissue and forms approximately 70% of dry weight. The collagen type is largely composed of Type I (60%) and other types. Type I collagen is by far the most abundant molecules in vertebrates, and it is a particularly mechanical scaffold in bone, skin, and connective tissue. This study was conducted to extract and characterize acid-soluble collagens (ASC) from sheep tail tendons. The tendon collagen was confirmed as collagen by different physicochemical techniques such as sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Zeta Potential Analyzer, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra analysis. The yield of type I ASC from sheep tail tendon was about 9.7% on the dry weight of raw material. The collagen’s α1, α2, and β chain bands are observed in SDS-PAGE for both ASC and pepsin soluble collagen. The zeta potentials of ASC had a positive charge when pH from 2 to 4.5, while the negative charge in pH range from 6 to 11. But the electric potential of ASC was zero at pH 5. The results of FTIR spectra analysis detected the presence of triple superhelical structure in acid-soluble collagens, presenting isolation procedure did not interrupt the triple helical structure from the sheep tail tendon. Therefore, the study showed that it is a potential reference for collagen extraction and application of sheep tendon tails.
Using Data Mining to Explore the Deterioration Factors of Reinforced Concrete (RC) Highway Bridges in Taiwan

Information about the factors that lead to the deterioration of bridges is essential for bridge maintenance. Pinpointing what these factors are will certainly enhance the effectiveness of bridge management. However, a review of the literature reveals that such deterioration factors are usually determined from expert opinion. In other words, there is no systematic way to identify the factors and the effect they have on different types of bridge members. This study identifies six common types of deterioration that affect RC bridge decks. Twenty-nine factors are extracted from a review of past related work as well as from the inventory of Taiwan Bridge Management System. After this, a data mining technique, Rough Set Theory (RST), is employed to find the factors that have the greatest impact on deterioration from thousands of visual inspection, traffic and environmental data. It is found that weather-related factors are rather significant for almost all types of deterioration. In addition to these, some functional and structural factors are major factors for cracking and traffic volume is a major factor in rebar corrosion and breakage.
Post-LGM glacial retreat and Early Holocene monsoon intensification drives aggradation in the interiors of the Kashmir Himalaya

Understanding the response of glaciated catchments to climate change is crucial for assessing sediment transport from the high-elevation, semi-arid sectors in the Himalaya. The fluvioglacial sediments stored in the semi-arid Padder valley in the Kashmir Himalaya record valley aggradation during ~20 -10 ka. We relate the initial stage of valley aggradation to increased sediment supply from the deglaciated catchment during the glacial-to-interglacial phase transition. Previously-published bedrock-exposure ages in the upper Chenab River valley suggest ~180 km retreat of the valley glacier during ~20 - 15 ka. Increasing roundness of sand-grains and reducing mean grain-size from the bottom to the top of the valley-fill sequence hint about increasing fluvial transport with time and corroborate with the glacial retreat history. The later stages of aggradation can be attributed to strong monsoon during the early Holocene. Especially, the hillslope debris that drapes the fluvioglacial sediment archive may have resulted from the early Holocene monsoon maximum. We observe a net degradation of the valley-fill in the Holocene reflecting the weakening of summer monsoon or reduced input from the glaciers. Our study highlights the coupled effect of deglaciation and monsoon intensification in sediment transfer from the high-elevation sectors of the Himalaya.