Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Life Cycle Assessment-Based Comparative Study between High-Yield and “Standard” Bottom-Up Procedures for the Fabrication of Carbon Dots

Carbon dots (CDs) are carbon-based nanomaterials with remarkable properties that can be produced from a wide variety of synthesis routes. Given that “standard” bottom-up procedures are typically associated with low synthesis yields, different authors have been trying to devise alternative high-yield fabrication strategies. However, there is a doubt if sustainability-wise, the latter should be really preferred to the former. Herein, we employed a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach to compare and understand the environmental impacts of high-yield and “standard” bottom-up strategies, by applying different life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) methods. These routes were: (1) production of hydrochar, via the hydrothermal treatment of carbon precursors, and its alkaline peroxide treatment into high-yield CDs; (2) microwave treatment of carbon precursors doped with ethylenediamine; (3) and (6) thermal treatment of carbon precursor and urea; (4) hydrothermal treatment of carbon precursor and urea; (5) microwave treatment of carbon precursor and urea. For this LCA, four LCIA methods were used: ReCiPe, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, AWARE, and USEtox. Results identified CD-5 as the most sustainable synthesis in ReCiPe, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, and USEtox. On the other hand, in AWARE, the most sustainable synthesis was CD-1. It was possible to conclude that, in general, high-yield synthesis (CD-1) was not more sustainable than “standard” bottom-up synthesis, such as CD-5 and CD-6 (also with relatively high-yield). More importantly, high-yield synthesis (CD-1) did not generate much lower environmental impacts than “standard” approaches with low yields, which indicates that higher yields come with relevant environmental costs.
MACHINING PARAMETERS SELECTION TO AVOID CHATTER IN HIGH SPEED MILLING

High speed milling exerts great demands on the dynamic behavior of machine-tool-workpiece system. The results of the process depend on the amplitudes of the relative vibrations between workpiece and tool, which arise during the operation. Best results can be achieved only if the process is kept in stable conditions free of chatter. In this paper, it is investigated the relative importance of spindle speed, system dynamics, and depth of cut on the stability of the high speed end milling of aluminum through computational simulations and experiments. Slotting operations were performed on aluminum workpieces using carbide endmills. The results showed that the spindle rotations, which permit the use of high axial depth of cuts without chatter are those whose tooth passing frequency approach to the natural frequency of the system. In this case the forced vibrations are at their highest, but the regenerative ones, which are more critical, are at their lowest. The selection of these spindle rotations is one way to minimize chatter problems and increase material removal rate.
Vegetation History and Survival Patterns of the Earliest Village on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

The upper Yellow River valley in the northeastern Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) is an important corridor for prehistoric migration to the hinterland plateau. However, most studies have focused on the Neolithic Age, with limited evidence for earlier periods. The Shalongka (SLK) site on the northeastern QTP spans the Epipaleolithic to Bronze Age and contains cultural deposits, so provides a good basis for unraveling the evolutionary history of the human-land relationship. In this study, we sampled the 420-cm-thick section T1406E at the SLK site and undertook lithologic stratigraphic description and analysis of grain size, redness, magnetic susceptibility, geochemical elements, pollen and charcoal. Dating control was provided by accelerated mass spectrometry 14C and optically stimulated luminescence methods. Results show that SLK site was affected by the local fluvial sedimentary environment. The absolute dating results of the SLK site have revealed that humans occupied the site during the Epipaleolithic (8.5–7.3 cal ka BP), Yangshao culture (5.9–5.1 ka) and Qijia Culture (4.1–3.9 cal ka BP). Pollen analysis showed that the humans lived in a landscape that was predominated by forest-steppe. Consolidating with multidisciplinary evidence, we learned that Epipaleolithic sites were occupied by microlithic hunter-gatherers and comprised by relatively fixed seasonal central campsites, and their mobility was significantly decreased from the early to late period. Subsequently, farmers of the Yangshao culture migrated from the low elevation (Chinese Loess Plateau) to the upper Yellow River valleys on the QTP and founded the earliest settlement villages (~5.9 ka) on the QTP. People of the Qijia culture adopted diversified survival strategies under the settled lifestyle. In all, we infered that SLK site may play an important role in the communication and integration between different people and cultures.
A GPU Parallel Algorithm for Computing Morse-Smale Complexes

The Morse-Smale complex is a well studied topological structure that represents the gradient flow behavior between critical points of a scalar function. It supports multi-scale topological analysis and visualization of feature-rich scientific data. Several parallel algorithms have been proposed towards the fast computation of the 3D Morse-Smale complex. Its computation continues to pose significant algorithmic challenges. In particular, the non-trivial structure of the connections between the saddle critical points are not amenable to parallel computation. This paper describes a fine grained parallel algorithm for computing the Morse-Smale complex and a GPU implementation (gmsc). The algorithm first determines the saddle-saddle reachability via a transformation into a sequence of vector operations, and next computes the paths between saddles by transforming it into a sequence of matrix operations. Computational experiments show that the method achieves up to 8.6× speedup over pyms3d and 6× speedup over TTK, the current shared memory implementations. The paper also presents a comprehensive experimental analysis of different steps of the algorithm and reports on their contribution towards runtime performance. Finally, it introduces a CPU based data parallel algorithm for simplifying the Morse-Smale complex via iterative critical point pair cancellation.
Lower-Limb Robotic Assistance Devices for Drop Foot: A Review

Drop foot is a pathological type of gait frequently exhibited by individuals suffering from stroke and other neurological conditions due to the weakness of the ankle dorsiflexor muscles. To avoid common negative compensations, such as foot-slap during the loading response and toe-drag during the swing phase of gait, various drop foot assistive robotic devices and technologies have emerged over the last couple of decades. This review summarizes the design, working principle, and application of robotic devices for drop foot assistance and rehabilitation in the last decade. The research findings describe the design aspects of 72 lower-limb robotic assistance devices for drop foot, including 21 studies that evaluated specific design aspects through experimental trials. All the designs reviewed here demonstrated the capability to successfully improve drop foot impairments in the sagittal plane. Some leveraged advanced functional features to achieve optimal performance without jeopardizing the user’s natural range of motion, comfort, balance, or safety. However, there remain certain limitations when combining all these functional features into one robotic device. Overcoming these limitations should add great value to the future of advanced robotic devices for drop foot assistance and rehabilitation.
Normative Legitimacy Management and the Expansion of Purpose-Driven Workforces through Organizational Identity

Social-political legitimacy requires leaders to do things right (normative legitimacy) and correctly (regulatory legitimacy). However, it is more challenging to manage normative legitimacy in diverse organizations. Leaders use normative legitimacy to help align organizational values to the social environment in which it operates. The ability to manage normative behaviors is an ethical virtue and may establish a link with organizational identity. This research applies the leadership ethics and decision-making (LEAD) model. The LEAD model suggests that employee perception of ethics requires leaders to conduct an outward examination of their decisions using integrity, assurance, and pragmatism. Previous research suggests that the LEAD model may act as an ethical guide to "doing things right" and potentially fill the gap in managing normative legitimacy by influencing organizational identity. The results conclude that outward examinations account for employee perceptions and that the LEAD model is a suitable ethical leadership concept. Integrity, assurance, and pragmatism have significant positive relationships with and predict organizational identity. The findings reveal that the LEAD model discerns ethical leadership behavior, appropriately manages normative legitimacy, and creates a purpose-driven workforce by developing organizational identity.
Robust Optimal Output-Tracking Control of Constrained Mechanical Systems With Application to Autonomous Rovers

This article presents a robust optimal output-tracking control strategy for underactuated mechanical systems whose motion is restricted by mixed holonomic and nonholonomic constraints. Autonomous rovers/cars and unmanned underwater/aerial vehicles are a few examples of such systems that must often operate in harsh environments and under uncertain conditions. We present a comprehensive control analysis of this large class of nonlinear systems, including the existing studies on local reachability and static state feedback linearization. We also propose a local observability analysis of the feedback transformed input–output linearized systems. Based on the input–output linearization of the holonomically restricted nominal system, we develop a sliding mode control strategy that is robust against the projected effects of uncertainties and disturbances on the system’s output. Asymptotic stability of the output toward a bounded desired trajectory is proven using Lyapunov’s direct method, while the system’s internal stability (in the sense of boundedness) is investigated based on the notion of tracking-error zero dynamics. Time-dependent bounded matched uncertainties in the inertia parameters and disturbance forces arising in the unrestricted system are considered in this study. We propose an optimal sliding manifold according to the finite-horizon linear-quadratic regulator design problem with split boundary value conditions. The developed control strategy is implemented on a six-wheel autonomous Lunar rover in a simulation environment and its performance is compared with that of an optimal proportional–integral–derivative feedback, feedforward controller. The optimal sliding mode controller shows superior performance in trajectory tracking with acceptable control actions.
Development of α-Tocopherol Succinate-Based Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Delivery of Paclitaxel

The management of retinoblastoma (RB) involves the use of invasive treatment regimens. Paclitaxel (PTX), an effective antineoplastic compound used in the treatment of a wide range of malignant tumors, poses treatment challenges due to systemic toxicity, rapid elimination, and development of resistance. The goal of this work was to develop PTX-loaded, α-tocopherol succinate (αTS)-based, nanostructured lipid carrier (NLCs; αTS-PTX-NLC) and PEGylated αTS-PTX-NLC (αTS-PTX-PEG-NLC) to improve ocular bioavailability. The hot homogenization method was used to prepare the NLCs, and repeated measures ANOVA analysis was used for formulation optimization. αTS-PTX-NLC and αTS-PTX-PEG-NLC had a mean particle size, polydispersity index and zeta potential of 186.2 ± 3.9 nm, 0.17 ± 0.03, −33.2 ± 1.3 mV and 96.2 ± 3.9 nm, 0.27 ± 0.03, −39.15 ± 3.2 mV, respectively. The assay and entrapment efficiency of both formulations was >95.0%. The NLC exhibited a spherical shape, as seen from TEM images. Sterilized (autoclaved) formulations were stable for up to 60 days (last time point checked) under refrigerated conditions. PTX-NLC formulations exhibited an initial burst release and 40% drug release, overall, in 48 h. The formulations exhibited desirable physicochemical properties and could lead to an effective therapeutic option in the management of RB.
Design of broadband class-F power amplifier with high-order harmonic suppression for S-band application

A broadband class-F power amplifier for an S-band handset device is integrated on a 3 × 3 × 0.82 mm3 die using an InGaP/GaAs HBT process. With LC serial harmonic traps immersed into the broadband output matching circuit, good harmonic suppression performance can be achieved. A pure resistive impedance of the matching circuit, but near zero at second and infinite at third harmonic frequency, which enhances the efficiency, is obtained across 1.8–2.5 GHz. Tested with a continuous wave (CW) signal, the PA delivers an output power of 34 dBm and achieves a PAE of 57% at 2 GHz. In addition, excellent harmonic suppression levels of less than −53 dBc across the second to fifth harmonic are obtained.
Organizational Conditions Supporting Design Function: South Korea in Reflection of Japan

Abstract This research addresses effective ways of managing corporate design function through appropriate sets of organizational conditions, which in turn determine the types of design functions. The three types of design functions – Leader, Collaborator, and Implementer – were established through cluster analysis of survey data, with further in-depth analysis to identify the determinants of the types. Qualitative post-survey interviews were conducted to discover the underlying reasons for insightful phenomena. The research established that different levels of design excellence were associated with different types of design functions, and that the general consumer, as an end user, was a significant determinant of the types. The findings suggest that a given type can also be the result of a strategic choice as well as a company’s capability for design. The scope of the design activities and leadership style were found to be important factors in organizational conditions for the company’s capability to achieve design excellence.
The relationship between the BBC and the commercial radio sector in promoting DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) in the United Kingdom

The place of Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) in the UK provides an interesting area of study. As of 2015, it is a platform which has been in existence for twenty years. During that time its position has been nebulous. It represents only one method of listening to radio output in a digital format but one in which the BBC, and latterly, the commercial radio sector, placed a huge degree of trust. It has however not become the standard mode of radio listening. One can argue that after much proactive effort from within the UK radio industry, its position may be beginning to falter somewhat in the commercial sector while remaining a paramount policy objective for the BBC. The aim of this thesis is to account for the emergence of DAB and its impact on the relationship between the BBC and the commercial radio sector. It examines the separate and joint roles of each in promoting DAB and highlights how this led to a unique period of cooperation between the two. A historical backdrop is necessary in order to establish the previous state of relations, before embarking upon the core of the thesis which argues that both parties adopted significant changes of posture in order to promote DAB. I argue that the implementation of DAB as a new radio technology represents a marked period of institutional change within the UK radio industry. In playing distinct, separate roles, I show how this reveals a maturity within the industry whereby the BBC and the commercial sector reached a point of equality. In promoting a joint role, based on a policy of overt cooperation, I demonstrate how this represented a major shift in the historical relationship between both parties. Relying on a small canon of secondary sources and an extensive survey of primary source documentation, as well as interviews with some of the key players in DAB and the UK radio industry as a whole, this thesis provides a study of a significant period in British radio history which witnessed the development of a nascent radio platform, coupled with a significant change in the dynamic of existing relationships within the industry. In doing so, it delivers a wider historical interpretation of a particular point in radio history and marks a critical phase when the very nature of the industry changed.
Patient-Reported Outcomes for Function and Pain in Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients

Background Some patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty successfully manage their condition postoperatively, whereas others encounter challenges in regaining function and controlling pain during recovery at home. Objective The aim of this study was to use traditional statistics and machine learning to develop prediction models that identify patients likely to have increased care needs related to managing function and pain following total knee arthroplasty. Methods This study included 201 patients. Outcomes were changes between baseline and follow-up in the functional and pain subcomponents of the Oxford Knee Score. Both classification and regression modeling were applied. Twenty-one predictors were included. Tenfold cross-validation was used, and the regression models were evaluated based on root-mean-square error, mean absolute error, and coefficient of determination. Classification models were evaluated based on the area under the receiver operating curve, sensitivity, and specificity. Results In classification modeling, random forest and stochastic gradient boosting provided the best overall metrics for model performance. A support vector machine and a stochastic gradient boosting machine in regression modeling provided the best predictive performance. The models performed better in predicting challenges related to function compared to challenges related to pain. Discussion There is valuable predictive information in the data routinely collected for patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty. The developed models may predict patients who are likely to have enhanced care needs regarding function and pain management. Improvements are needed before the models can be implemented in routine clinical practice.
PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF HELIUM INVENTORY CONTROL OF RGTT200K COOLING SYSTEM

RGTT200K is a power reactor, designed based on HTGR tech-nology having capability to operate at high temperatures. RGTT200K features are 200 MWth power, helium-cooled, graphite moderator and reflector, pebble fuel type, and uses the Brayton direct cycle. Helium Inventory Control System (HICS) is one of its safety system which maintains the pressure, the helium coolant quality and quantity to meet safety requirements. The HICS consists of 3 subsys-tems, namely: Inventory Control System (ICS), Helium Purification System (HPS), and Helium Make-Up System (HMS). All of the systems have the function to maintain pressure, helium quality and quantity so that the reactor can operate reliable and safely. This paper discusses the performance of the ICS, which is integrated to the reactor coolant. The research objective was to determine the helium storage tank response rate, when primary coolant is overpressured and depressurized. The methodology used in this research is modeling and simulation by using ChemCAD. In previous re-search, the HPS, ICS and HMS have been modeled but have not been integrated yet in to the primary coolant. The simulation results showed that the time required for the injection tank back to the cool-ant normal pressure of 52 bars, due to depressurization up to 5 % was 160 seconds. While the time required for bleeding / blowdown to the storage tanks due to overpressurization up to 5 % was 186 seconds.
Mutation of PTPN11 (Encoding SHP-2) Promotes MEK Activation and Malignant Progression in Neurofibromin-Deficient Cells in a Manner Sensitive to BRAP Mutation

Simple Summary Germline mutations of NF1 cause neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), which is characterized by multiple benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors known as neurofibromas. In some individuals with NF1, plexiform neurofibromas can give rise to malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Here, we applied genomic DNA sequencing to NF1-derived tumors and identified additional genetic alterations in PTPN11 (encoding Src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase-2 (SHP)-2) and BRAP associated with NF1 tumor malignancy. We found that the forced expression of the mutant form of SHP-2 activated the protein kinase MEK and increased tumorigenic activity in NF1 cells, and that these effects were attenuated by the forced expression of the mutant form of BRCA1-associated protein (BRAP). This suppressive action of mutant BRAP was not apparent in NF1-intact cells. Our data indicate that the combination of NF1 mutation and PTPN11 mutation drives the malignancy of NF1 cells and that SHP-2 inhibition by BRAP is a potential therapeutic strategy for NF1-associated malignant tumors. Abstract Germline mutations of NF1 cause neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) through the activation of the RAS signaling pathway, and some NF1 patients develop malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs). Here, we established subclones of the human NF1-MPNST cell line sNF96.2 that manifest increased tumorigenic activity and increased phosphorylation of the protein kinases MEK and Akt relative to the parental cells. Genomic DNA sequencing identified 14 additional heterozygous mutations within the coding regions of 13 cancer- and other disease-related genes in these subclones. One of these genes, PTPN11, encodes SHP-2, and the forced expression of the identified G503V mutant of SHP-2 increased both tumorigenic activity and MEK phosphorylation in parental sNF96.2 cells, suggesting that the combination of PTPN11 and NF1 mutations induces the pathological activation of the RAS pathway. These effects of SHP-2 (G503V) were inhibited by the coexpression of the G370A mutant of BRAP, which was also detected in the highly malignant subclones, and this inhibition was accompanied by the calpain-dependent cleavage of SHP-2 (G503V). The cleavage of SHP-2 (G503V) and suppression of MEK phosphorylation mediated by BRAP (G370A) were not detected in NF1-intact (HeLa) cells. Tumor promotion by SHP-2 (G503V) and its suppression by BRAP (G370A) may serve as a basis for the development of new treatment strategies for NF1.