Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Content Delivery Infrastructure Deployment using Network Cloud Resources

Millions of people value the Internet for the content and the applications it makes available. To cope with the increasing end-user demand for popular and often high volume content, e.g., high-definition video or online social networks, massively distributed Content Delivery Infrastructures (CDIs) have been deployed. However, a highly competitive market requires CDIs to constantly investigate new ways to reduce operational costs and improve delivery performance. Today, CDIs mainly suffer from limited agility in server deployment and are largely unaware of network conditions and precise end-user locations, information that improves the efficiency and performance of content delivery. While newly emerging architectures try to address these challenges, none so far considered collaboration, although ISPs have the information readily at hand. In this thesis, we assess the impact of collaboration on content delivery. We first evaluate the design and operating space of todays content delivery landscape and quantify possible benefits of collaboration by analyzing operational traces from an European Tier-1 ISP. We find that collaboration when assigning end-users to servers highly localizes CDI traffic and improves end-user performance. Moreover, we find significant path diversity which enables new mechanisms for traffic management. We propose two key enablers, namely in-network server allocation and informed user-server assignment, to facilitate CDI-ISP collaboration and present our system design, called NetPaaS (Network Platform as a Service), that realizes them. Innetwork server allocation offers agile server allocation close to the ISPs end-users leveraging virtualization technology and cloud style resources in the network. Informed user-server assignment enables ISPs to take network bottlenecks and precise end-user locations into account and to recommend the best possible candidate server for individual end-users to CDIs. Therefore, NetPaaS provides an additional degree of freedom to scale-up or shrink the CDI footprint on demand. To quantify the potential of collaboration with NetPaaS, we perform a first-of-itskind evaluation based on operational traces from the largest commercial CDI and an European Tier-1 ISP. Our findings reveal that dynamic server allocation based on accurate end-user locations and network conditions enables the CDI to better cope with increasing and highly volatile demand for content and improves the end-users performance. Moreover, recommendations from NetPaaS result in better utilization of existing server infrastructure and enables the ISP to better manage traffic flows inside its network. We conclude, that NetPaaS improves the performance and efficiency of content delivery architectures while potentially reducing the required capital investment and operational costs. Moreover, NetPaaS enables the ISP to achieve traffic engineering goals and therefore offers a true win-win situation to both CDIs and ISPs.
Improvement of power quality with advanced power electronic equipment

The quality of electrical energy supply, especially voltage quality is becoming more and more important in both industrialized and developing countries. An insufficient supply quality can lead to an inadequate quality of products, interruption of important industrial processes and therefore to economic losses. The amount of equipment and industrial processes which are sensitive to insufficient voltage quality, such as harmonics and sags, is increasing. This paper describes the main power quality problems and their solution with IGBT PWM converter-based power conditioning equipment.
Two Rare Variants in PLAU and BACE1 Genes—Do They Contribute to Semantic Dementia Clinical Phenotype?

We have performed whole-genome sequencing to identify the genetic variants potentially contributing to the early-onset semantic dementia phenotype in a patient with family history of dementia and episodic memory deficit accompanied with profound semantic loss. Only very rare variants of unknown significance (VUS) have been identified: a nonsense variant c.366C>A/p.Cys122* in plasminogen activator, urokinase (PLAU) and a missense variant c.944C>T/p.Thr315Met in β-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1)—along with known disease-modifying variants of moderate penetrance. Patient-derived fibroblasts showed reduced PLAU and elevated BACE1 mRNA and protein levels compared to control fibroblasts. Successful rescue of PLAU mRNA levels by nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) inhibitor (puromycin) confirmed NMD as the underlying mechanism. This is the first report of the PLAU variant with the confirmed haploinsufficiency, associated with semantic dementia phenotype. Our results suggest that rare variants in the PLAU and BACE1 genes should be considered in future studies on early-onset dementias.
Time-frequency forecast of the equity premium

Any time series can be decomposed into cyclical components fluctuating at different frequencies. Accordingly, in this paper, we propose a method to forecast the equity premium which exploits the frequency relationship between the equity premium and several predictor variables. We evaluate a large set of models and find that, by selecting the relevant frequencies for equity premium forecasting purposes, this method significantly improves in a statistical and economic way upon standard time series forecasting methods. This outperformance is robust regardless of the predictor used, the out-of-sample period considered, and the frequency of the data used.
Prototype expert system for preventive control in power plants

This paper describes the functions, the advantages, and the performing steps of preventive control in power plants, and presents the methods to construct this prototype expert system. The differences between preventive control and diagnosis are also described. Preventive control consists of two major areas: (1) Correction of process control of generator system, and (2) prevention of equipment failure. This system uses frames along with rules to construct a large knowledge base. there are three main methods for developing the knowledge base; (1) Constructing root frame and subframes according to the properties of operational process and equipment; (2) determining all parameters used in the knowledge base; and (3) turning the expertise into rules by means of decision trees. Examples are presented for describing this prototype expert system.
Simulation of a Lightning Protective Area through the Protective Angle Method and the Rolling Sphere Method

The protective angle method (PAM) and the rolling sphere method (RSM) are the popular lightning protection concepts for the impact avoidance of a lightning flash by using the installation of a vertical conducting rod (or Air termination) which can appropriately be utilized to analyze the external lightning protection. Moreover, these methods (PAM & RSM) are approved through the international standard IEC62305. Especially, the lightning protective area (LPA) is demonstrated if and only if the vertical conducting rod is installed which directly concerns the PAM and RSM respectively. However, the LPA of PAM and RSM are different configurations. As mentioned above, this article presents the simulation and comparison result of the lightning protective area (LPA) between the protective angle method (PAM) and the rolling sphere method (RSM). Also, the mathematical correlations of the LPA based on PAM & RSM are clearly shown for evaluation in this article.
Transcend the Death of Child with Cancer: Professional Health Experiences

Objective: To reveal the perception of grief support of professionals in pediatric oncology units, after the death of the patients. Method: Qualitative phenomenological study. 22 in-depth interviews were conducted with professionals from 5 pediatric oncology units of public hospitals in Santiago. Once the narratives were transcribed, the comprehensive analysis and subsequent triangulation of the data was performed, achieving saturation. Results: Professionals perceive themselves supported in their grief by being able to experience the losses in a protected environment and feeling supported by their surroundings. They recognized the existence of external and internal factors that facilitated the process of grief. However, this support is perceived as insufficient, as there is a lack of formal support from the institution, as well as a protected grief period, or support from mental health professionals to the teams. All death experiences allow professionals to transcend their pain based on lifelong learning and to give meaning to their work. Conclusion: Grief support felt by the professionals is generated from their own initiatives of re-encounter within the teams, which is insufficient. Therefore, training in coping with death is necessary from undergraduate level, which would allow greater cohesiveness in coping and greater self-care within the teams.
Efficient optical control of microwave circuits, antennas and arrays

We present an overview of work at the University of Colorado in the area of optical control of microwave circuits, antennas and active antenna arrays. Specifically, we present X-band examples of two types of optically controlled microwave components: those where the optical device is used as a microwave component; and those where a standard optical component is combined with standard microwave components. The former is a slot antenna controlled with a PD in the feedline; and the latter example is that of a photodiode that controls the bias to a microwave SPDT switch. This switch is integrated with a transmit/receive (T/R) active antenna, which is then used as an element of a quasi-optical T/R array.
Model-Free Sliding Mode Control for PMSM Drive System Based on Ultra-Local Model

This paper presents a novel model-free sliding mode control (MFSMC) method to improve the speed response of permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) drive system. The ultra-local model (ULM) is first derived based on the input and the output of the PMSM. Then, the novel MFSMC method is presented, and the controller is designed based on ULM and MFSMC. A sliding mode observer (SMO) is constructed to estimate the unknown part of the ULM. The estimated unknown part is feedbacked to MFSMC controller to perform compensation for parameter perturbations and external disturbances. Compared with the sliding mode control (SMC) method, the results of simulation and experiment demonstrate that the presented MFSMC method improves the dynamic response and robustness of the PMSM drive system. This paper presented a novel MFSMC method to improve the speed response and robustness of the PMSM drive system. The ULM of the speed loop in PMSM is established based on the input and the output of the PMSM drive system. The MFSMC speed controller is designed based on ULM, and the SMO is designed to estimate the unknown part of ULM. The estimated unknown part is feedbacked to the controller to compensate for parameter perturbations and external disturbances. Compared with the SMC method, the results of simulation and experiment prove the presented method has excellent speed control performance and operates well. The MFSMC method has independence on the precise model of PMSM, and has faster response speed and strong robustness than the SMC method.
Laser-Induced Graphene Heater Pad for De-Icing

The replacement of electro-thermal material in heaters with lighter and easy-to-process materials has been extensively studied. In this study, we demonstrate that laser-induced graphene (LIG) patterns could be a good candidate for the electro-thermal pad. We fabricated LIG heaters with various thermal patterns on the commercial polyimide films according to laser scanning speed using an ultraviolet pulsed laser. We adopted laser direct writing (LDW) to irradiate on the substrates with computer-aided 2D CAD circuit data under ambient conditions. Our highly conductive and flexible heater was investigated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller. The influence of laser scanning speed was evaluated for electrical properties, thermal performance, and durability. Our LIG heater showed promising characteristics such as high porosity, light weight, and small thickness. Furthermore, they demonstrated a rapid response time, reaching equilibrium in less than 3 s, and achieved temperatures up to 190 °C using relatively low DC voltages of approximately 10 V. Our LIG heater can be utilized for human wearable thermal pads and ice protection for industrial applications.
Challenging Classic Project Management: Turning Project Uncertainties into Business Opportunities

The management of uncertainty during a project's implementation is not well understood. In general, uncertainties are treated similar to project risks by practitioners and by scholars as negative events threatening a project's implementation. Following the arguments of economists, uncertainties are a necessary condition for the existence of opportunities. This research aims to identify specific classes of opportunities and specific contextual situations under which they occur during the implementation of projects. An exploratory case study of 20 projects was conducted. Different categories of opportunities and uncertainties were identified. All identified opportunities were connected with at least one situation of uncertainty but not every situation of uncertainty relates to opportunities. The cases unveiled that risks are misperceived as uncertainties and some situations of project improvements were misperceived as opportunities. Our study sheds light on the limitations of classic project management and suggests that future project management education needs to include a deeper exposure to business context to better equip project managers for the challenge and opportunity posed by uncertainty during project implementation.
ARG-US RFID FOR MONITORING AND TRACKING NUCLEAR MATERIALS — THE OPERATING EXPERIENCE*

Under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Packaging Certification Program (PCP), Office of Packaging and Transportation, Office of Environmental Management, Argonne National Laboratory (Argonne) has developed a monitoring and tracking system for nuclear materials based on radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. The system, called ARG-US (which means “Watchful Guardian”), has been in field-testing and deployments at selected DOE sites since 2010. This paper describes the operating experience of ARG-US at three of the sites — Savannah River Site, Nevada National Security Site, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory — in both storage and off-site transportation applications. ARG-US utilizes battery-powered tags to remotely and continually monitor the vital parameters of packages in storage and transportation. The tags report the results to readers and the attached database via the 433-MHz radio frequency. No line-of-sight is necessary, and the read range can be >100 m. The tags contain a suite of sensors, including seal (tamper-indicating), temperature, humidity, and shock, as well as a gamma dosimeter and neutron detector. When sensor conditions are normal, the values of the parameters are recorded and stored at prescribed intervals. If any of the thresholds of a sensor are violated (for instance, a loss of seal-bolt tension), the condition is reported instantaneously to responsible parties for action. The ARG-US RFID system has a modular and flexible platform. Of all the sensors, the neutron detector is the latest addition. In conjunction with the gamma dosimeters, the ARG-US RFID technology has the potential to provide all vital information about the packages to the facility operator while minimizing the need for personnel to be present for surveillance. Doing so not only streamlines facility operation and enhances productivity but also improves the implementation of the As-Low-As-Reasonably-Achievable (ALARA) principle for nuclear and radiological facilities.
A SYSTEM OF TRADABLE BOTTLENECK PERMITS FOR GENERAL NETWORKS

本研究は，一般構造の交通ネットワークに対する“ボトルネック通行権取引制度 (TBP)”を考察する．TBPは，渋滞解消のための新たなスキームとして赤松・佐藤・Nguyen (2006) によって提案されたが，その理論的特性は，単一ボトルネックを対象とした場合しか明らかにされていない．本稿では，まず，単一ODペアを持つ任意構造のネットワークにおいて，TBP導入下の均衡状態が最も効率的な資源配分を達成できることを明らかにする．そして，この結果は，多起点・多終点の場合，OD需要が弾性的な場合，利用者の希望到着時刻が分布する場合等のより一般的な状況でも成立することが示される．さらに，混雑料金制とTBPとの理論的関係を示した上で，TBPが混雑料金制に対して持つ優位性を明らかにする．
Predicting remaining life of lattice steel transmission tower based on condition assessment and corrosion hazard data

This paper presents a novel approach for predicting the remaining life of lattice steel transmission towers in Malaysia. The transmission tower components assessment grouped into ground corrosive condition, foundation condition, lattice steel body of the tower, and conductor. Significant and scientific field investigation and visual assessment evaluate the state of the tower. The corrosion hazard, which is a product of climate and air pollution data, is used. Three separated lines and 84 towers were selected with different ages of the tower in service. The Weighing Scoring Method with Analytical Hierarchy Process to impose the weighed factor was used. The survival function analysis is used to predict service life, and the tower remaining life was determined. The paper shows how to use the model to predict the remaining life of a transmission tower and how this can be used to advise maintenance planning.
Utilizing OpenFlow and sFlow to Detect and Mitigate SYN Flooding Attack

Software Defined Network (SDN) is a new technology in computer network area which enables user to centralize control plane. The security issue is important in computer network to protect system from attackers. SYN flooding attack is one of Distributed Denial of Service attack methods which are popular to degrade availability of targeted service on Internet. There are many methods to protect system from attackers, i.e. firewall and IDS. Even though firewall is designed to protect network system, but it cannot mitigate DDoS attack well because it is not designed to do so. To improve performance of DDOS mitigation we utilize another mechanism by using SDN technology such as OpenFlow and sFlow. The methodology of sFlow to detect attacker is by capturing and sum cumulative traffic from each agent to send to sFlow collector to analyze. When sFlow collector detect some traffics as attacker, OpenFlow controller will modify the rule in OpenFlow table to mitigate attacks by blocking attack traffic. Hence, by combining sum cumulative traffic use sFlow and blocking traffic use OpenFlow we can detect and mitigate SYN flooding attack quickly and cheaply.
Literature review of recent research on Cloud Computing in Education

The education system in rural and semi-rural areas of developing and underdeveloped countries are facing many challenges. The limited accessibility and challenges to the education are attributed mainly to political, economic and social issues of these underdeveloped countries. We propose a “Feasible Rural Education System (FRES)” based on Cloud to enhance the accessibility to education in rural areas. Cloud Computing provides resources and capabilities of Information Technology (e.g. applications , storages, communication, collaboration, infrastructure) via services offered by CSP (cloud service provider). Cloud computing has the capacity of scaling and elasticity which is perfect for such an environment.
A multi-ice-core, annual-layer-counted Greenland ice-core chronology for the last 3800 years: GICC21

Abstract. Ice-core timescales are vital for the understanding of past climate; hence they should be updated whenever significant amounts of new data can contribute to improvements. Here, the Greenland ice-core chronology was revised for the last 3835 years by synchronizing six deep ice-cores and three shallow ice-cores from the central Greenland ice sheet. A layer-counting bias was found in all ice cores because of site-specific signal disturbances, and a manual comparison of all ice cores was deemed necessary to increase timescale accuracy. A new method was applied by combining automated counting of annual layers on multiple parallel proxies and manual fine-tuning. After examining sources of error and their correlation lengths, the uncertainty rate was quantified to be one year per century. The new timescale is younger than the previous Greenland chronology by about 13 years at 3800 years ago. The most recent 800 years are largely unaffected by the revision, while the slope of the offset between timescales is steepest between 800 and 1000 years ago. Moreover, offset-oscillations of about 5 years around the average are observed between 2500 and 3800 years ago. The non-linear offset behavior is attributed to previous mismatches of volcanic eruptions, to the much more extensive data set available to this study, and to the finer resolution of the new ice-core matching. In response to volcanic eruptions, averaged water isotopes and layer thicknesses from Greenland ice cores provide evidence of notable cooling lasting for up to a decade, longer than reported in previous studies of volcanic forcing. By analysis of the common variations of cosmogenic radionuclides, the new ice-core timescale is found to be in alignment with the IntCal20 curve. Radiocarbon dated evidence found in the proximity of eruption sites such as Vesuvius or Thera was compared to the ice-core dataset; no conclusive evidence was found regarding if these two eruptions can be matched to acidity spikes in the ice cores. A hitherto unidentified cooling event in the ice cores is observed at about 3600 years ago (1600 BCE), which could have been caused by a large eruption which is, however, not clearly recorded in the acidity signal. The hunt for clear signs of the Thera eruption in Greenland ice-cores thus remains elusive.
Small diameter active catheter using shape memory alloy

Three kinds of active catheters whose outside diameters are less than 2 mm were fabricated. One uses polymer links, the other two are linkless active catheters using adhesive. Distributed shape memory alloy (SMA) coil were used as actuators for the active motion. There are endoskeletal type and exoskeletal type in the linkless active catheters. We have applied the endoskeletal type active catheter to intraureteral ultrasonography used in a kidney. Concept of an advanced multifunction active catheter is mentioned.
Channel Estimation in OFDM Systems in Slow Fading and Fast Fading Channels using Channel Interpolation Techniques

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is an effective means of communication which eliminates inter symbol interference for transmission over frequency selective fading channels. In particularly, accurate channel estimation has a major impact on the whole system performance. Pilot symbol assisted channel estimation is especially attractive for wireless links, where the channel is time-varying. Two types of pilot arrangements (block-type and comb-type) have been used and compared generally in terms of Least Square Error (LSE) and Minimum Mean Square Error (MMSE) channel estimators. From the analytical studies and simulations performed, it is found that block type pilot sub-carriers is more suitable for slow-fading radio channels; whereas, comb type pilots provide better resistance to fast fading channels. The channel estimation algorithm based on comb type pilots is divided into pilot signal estimation and channel interpolation. Pilot-aided channel estimation of OFDM systems mostly needs an interpolation technique to estimate the channel response on non-piloted subcarriers. Many studies about interpolation have been published; however, the performance of which is limited by either the number or the position of pilot subcarriers, such as cubic spline interpolation and DFT-based method. In this paper we investigate and compare various efficient channel interpolation schemes for OFDM systems.