Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modeling user behaviour in response to cyberthreats

Considerable challenges exist for the average computer user, organizations and indeed governmental agencies with the advent and evolution of threats directed against the computer user today. Combating cyberthreats has not only become a highly politicized issue but also a lucrative one as is evidenced from the growth in information security workforce. In conjunction with the nebulous existence of threats there is also an implied sense of calculability, even predictability, as often proclaimed by many security industry experts and academics. The end user must still make an independent decision on whether to react to these threats or not. To attempt to understand end user motivations when faced with threats, attitude-behaviour models are sometimes used. The theory of planned behaviour has been adapted to understand the impact of factors which may trigger behaviours in end users to deal with a cyberthreat. The model suggests that end users' intentions are not significantly mediated by their attitudes, perceived abilities to prevent threats or perceptions of their peer group.
Defining the Transcriptional and Epigenetic Basis of Organotypic Endothelial Diversity in the Developing and Adult Mouse

Significant phenotypic differences exist between the vascular endothelium of different organs, including cell-cell junctions, paracellular fluid transport, shape, and mural cell coverage. These organ-specific morphological features ultimately manifest as different functional capacities, as demonstrated by the dramatic differences in capillary permeability between the leaky vessels of the liver compared to the almost impermeable vasculature found in the brain. While these morphological and functional differences have been long appreciated, the molecular basis of endothelial organ specialization remains unclear. To determine the epigenetic and transcriptional mechanisms driving this functional heterogeneity, we profiled accessible chromatin, as well as gene expression, in six different organs, across three distinct time points, during murine development and in adulthood. After identifying both common, and organ-specific DNA motif usage and transcriptional signatures, we then focused our studies on the endothelium of the central nervous system. Using single cell RNA-seq, we identified key gene regulatory networks governing brain blood vessel maturation, including TCF/LEF and FOX transcription factors. Critically, these unique regulatory regions and gene expression signatures are evolutionarily conserved in humans. Collectively, this work provides a valuable resource for identifying the transcriptional regulators controlling organ-specific endothelial specialization and provides novel insight into the gene regulatory networks governing the maturation and maintenance of the cerebrovasculature.
RF performance degradation in nMOS transistors due to hot carrier effects

This paper reports the hot electron induced RF performance degradation in multifinger gate nMOS transistors within the general framework of the degradation mechanism. The RF performance degradation of hot-carrier stressed nMOS transistors can be explained by the transconductance degradation, which resulted from the interface state generation. It has been found that the RF performance degradation, especially minimum noise figure degradation, is more significant than dc performance degradation. From the experimental correlation between RF and dc performance degradation, RF performance degradation can be predicted just by the measurement of dc performance degradation or the initial substrate current. From our experimental results, hot electron induced RF performance degradation should be taken into consideration in the design of the CMOS RF integrated circuits.
B1 Homogenization at 3 T MRI using a 16 Rung Transmit Array

, a FDTD simulation tool was used to calculate the relevant RF parameters. The starting point was the computation of the B1 distribution within the body as induced by a body coil with conventional current distribution (equal current magnitudes and a constant phase increase). External routines computed the optimum current distribution in the rungs for a minimum standard deviation of B1 and the corresponding minimal SAR values. The simulation program was used again to calculate and plot the new, optimized B1 distribution using the improved current distribution. The optimization method can either comprise the whole slice or be focused on a special region of interest. Results The B1 uniformity within an arbitrary chosen region of a MRI slice can significantly be improved using optimized currents in the individual coil rungs. For the example depicted below with an area comprising the upper abdominal region the standard deviation of B1 was originally 21,2%. This improved to a standard deviation of 11,5% after the optimization algorithm was applied. The total power deposition (scaled to the level needed for a 180° MRI inversion pulse) increased only by about 9% from 7410 to 8075 W.
A new, continuous-time model for current-mode control (power convertors)

A current-mode control power convertor model that is accurate at frequencies from DC to half the switching frequency is described for constant-frequency operation. Using a simple pole-zero transfer function, the model is able to predict subharmonic oscillation without the need for discrete-time z-transform models. The accuracy of sampled-data modeling is incorporated into the model by a second-order representation of the sampled-data transfer function which is valid up to half the switching frequency. Predictions of current loop gain; control-to-output; output impedance; and audio susceptibility transfer functions were confirmed with measurements on a buck converter. The audio susceptibility of the buck converter can be nulled with the appropriate value of external ramp. The modeling concentrates on constant-frequency pulse-width modulation (PWM) converters, but the methods can be applied to variable-frequency control and discontinuous conduction mode. >
The Resistance of a Ship among Waves

1—The wave resistance of a ship advancing in still water may be calculated under certain assumptions, which amount to supposing the forced wave motion to be small so that squares of the fluid velocity may be neglected; moreover, the ship is supposed to advance with constant velocity in a horizontal line. It does not appear to have been noticed that we may super­ pose on the solution so obtained free surface waves of small amplitude, and that the addition to the resistance may be calculated, to a similar degree of approximation, as the horizontal resultant of the additional fluid pressures due to the free surface waves; this additional resistance, which may be negative, depends upon the position of the ship among the free waves. Various calculations are now made from this point of view. We consider first transverse following waves moving at the same speed as the ship, and then a ship moving in the waves left by another ship in advance moving at the same speed; finally, we examine the more general case of a ship moving through free transverse waves of any wave-length. All the cases are discussed with reference to such experimental results as are available. 2—We treat the problem first as one of steady motion with the ship at rest in a uniform stream of velocity c in the negative direction of Ox ; we take the origin O in the undisturbed water surface, and Oz vertically upwards. The velocity potential is given by ϕ = cx + ϕ 1, (1)
Cost Overruns in Large Infrastructure Projects - An Overview of International and Croatian Experiences 1

Large infrastructure projects, privately or public funded, have always been under public review in order to determine the cause of the costs overruns or failure to achieve the intended projects benefits. Once when the project implementation is finished, it is often revealed that the costs of the project exceeded the planned budget. However, with all these large traffic infrastructure projects complications arise involving the aforementioned anticipated costs exceeding the initial predictions and shortfalls in project benefits. The latest researches, except for usual technical risk analysis, go in the direction of the nature of the behavioral defects in project planning. This paper gives an overview of recent international experiences and researches in this field compare to latest Croatian experience with an implementation of the national traffic strategy.
A New Optimized Hybrid Local Lifting Wavelet Co-occurrence Texture Pattern for Content Based Medical Image Retrieval

Medical image retrieval (MIR) is a hard task owing to the varied patterns and structures in the medical images. The feature descriptors have been used to describe the images in most MIR approaches. Based on the local relationship, several feature descriptors of neighbouring image pixels have been proposed for MIR so far, but their low performance scores make them unsuitable. In this paper, an efficient optimized hybrid local lifting wavelet co-occurrence texture pattern for content-based MIR is proposed. Initially, image resize and Adaptive histogram equalization technique is used to carried out for contrast enhancement. Then Local Lifting Wavelet Co-occurrence Texture Pattern is derived using Local tetra pattern, Gradient directional pattern, lifting wavelet transform and Gray level co-occurrence matrix. An Equilibrium optimization technique is employed to select the most important features of an image from the obtained feature vectors (FV). Finally, to match the query image with the database images, distance between their FV is computed and the minimum distance images are considered as retrieval outcome. Three benchmark medical databases of various modalities (CT and MRI) are used to test the efficiency of the proposed method: EXACT-09, TCIA-CT, and OASIS. The experimental results prove that the proposed approach outperforms existing descriptors in terms of APR and ARR.
Semi-active control of a thin piezoactuated structure

Vibration damping of a cantilever plate is achieved by using a piezoelectric element simultaneously as passive single-mode device and active broad-band actuator. Control strategies are designed on the basis of a modal model of the coupled electro- mechanical structure. This model is obtained by using a suitable finite-element formulation together with a modal analysis. A purely passive single-mode control composed of an optimally tuned external RL shunt circuit and a purely active control based on classical LQG techniques are compared to a semi-active control obtained by tuning the external shunt circuit on the second vibration mode of the structure and using a LQG controller designed on the only first-mode model.
On the joint effects of fiber parametric gain and birefringence and their influence on ASE noise

Parametric gain (PG) in optical fibers may substantially enhance amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) noise, especially in long-haul amplified links. We present new results that permit to accurately characterize the effects of PG on ASE noise, as well as the interplay of PG and ASE noise with fiber dispersion in both the anomalous and normal dispersion regions. In a recent letter, we introduced the concept of a PG transfer matrix, that allows the easy evaluation of ASE noise enhancement over chains of amplified fiber spans. In the same letter we showed that the transfer matrix can be expressed in analytical closed-form when a scalar (single polarization) fiber is assumed. In this paper we extend the analysis to a more realistic two-polarization fiber model that accounts for both linear and nonlinear polarization coupling effects. We show that the new transfer matrix does not have an analytical expression, but can be easily evaluated using standard numerical algorithms. ASE noise enhancement due to PG turns out to be slightly lower in a realistic birefringent two-polarization fiber than a single-polarization fiber. An interesting result is that the single polarization model yields a convenient approximation to ASE noise enhancement, that can be evaluated analytically.
Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: An Early Experience at A Tertiary Care Hospital in Islamabad

*Corresponding Author: Khawaja UA, Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan Received date: 21 September 2020; Accepted date: 15 October 2020; Published date: 21 October 2020 Citation: Waleed MS, Khawaja UA, Akhtar M, Sadiq W (2020) Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: An Early Experience at A Tertiary Care Hospital in Islamabad. Comm Med Pub Health Rep 1(4): https://doi.org/10.38207/jmcrcs20201053 Copyright: © 2020 Waleed MS. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Abstract Background Gallbladder is an ovate shaped organ lying beneath the liver. Stones can form in the gallbladder and that pathology is known as cholelithiasis. Cholelithiasis is one of the commonest conditions encountered by surgeons all over the world. Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy is a technique in which gallbladder is removed laparoscopically.
Design and commissioning of a 5 MVA, 2.5 MWh battery energy storage system

Momentary and sustained power interruptions are some of the most difficult and important power quality problems facing many industrial and commercial users. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) have the potential to provide versatile solutions to this problem for utility, industrial and commercial applications. This paper describes the design and commissioning of a 5 MVA, 2.5 MWh BESS which is now in operation at the GNB Battery Recycling Plant in Vernon, California. The BESS at Vernon provides the required power combined with both voltage and frequency control to allow the plant to tolerate disconnection from the utility grid without suffering unacceptable impacts on critical loads.
The Dramatic Arc in the Development of Argumentation Skills of Upper Secondary School Students in Geography Education

Geography education can facilitate learners’ critical thinking and argumentation skills to make well-reasoned decisions on social and environmental issues. This study reports on a geography course consisting of 18 lessons, each of them 75 min, designed to afford intensive practice in argumentation to upper secondary school students (n = 21) and following the dramatic arc. The study produces examples of different developmental pathways of upper secondary school students’ argumentation during the geography course. In this qualitative case study, the data were collected from learning diaries and analyzed using content analysis following ARRA-analysis (Analysis of Reasoning, Rhetorics and Argumentation), which is based on Toulmin’s argumentation model. The results indicated that most of the students developed justified arguments and composed clear claims and relevant rhetorical modes such as qualifications, rhetorical questions and rebuttals. Justification categories that were mainly used were backings, grounds and warrants. However, some students had difficulties in recognizing the main claim and arguments. The students developed their argumentation skills following the dramatic arc. They possessed the prerequisites for argumentative reasoning and writing but needed further practice in analytical and critical writing.
Exploring System-on-Chip Design with Low Power Perspective

Until recently, power has been a second concern in the chip design, following the first order issues such as cost, area, and timing. But in modern times, power is emerging as the most critical issue in system-on-chip (SoC) design. Power management is becoming an increasingly urgent problem for almost every category of design, as power density-measured in watts per square millimeter rises at an alarming rate. From a chip-engineering perspective, effective energy management for a SoC must be built into the design starting at the architecture stage; and low power techniques need to be employed at every stage of the design, from RTL to GDSII. Exceeding the power budget can be fatal to the project, whether it means moving from a cheap plastic package to an expensive ceramic one, or causing an unacceptably poor reliability due to excessive power density, or failing to meet the required battery life. These problems are all expected to get worse with the next generation technology nodes. For virtually all applications, reducing the power consumed by SoCs is essential in order to add performance and features and to grow their businesses.
Pattern reconfigurable patch array for 2.4 GHz WLAN systems

In this project, a pattern reconfigurable simple two patch array antenna has been designed and implemented to operate at a fixed frequency of 2.4 GHz for beam scanning purpose. Proposed antenna operates at three different modes in which the radiation pattern steers 0°, ±30° with respect to the antenna broadside. In this article, a different approach has been taken to implement the reconfigurable antenna which is very simple and cost effective compared to previous works. For this, a SP3 RF switch is used to steer the radiation pattern by applying phase difference between the two antenna elements. A reconfigurable patch array is designed on a Rogers 5880 RT/DUROID substrate in which antenna element is fed in inset configuration. Measured and simulated results are well matched but with some minor deviations. Designed antenna array has a gain of 9 dBi in broadside and the gain drops to 7.5 dB when the beam is rotated by either ±30°. Pattern reconfigurable antenna can be used in wireless communication systems, where antenna pattern needs to be aligned with strongest signal sources or when the antenna needs to be kept away from noisy environments or interfering signals. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 56:2377–2381, 2014
Radiative optical isolator and circulator

A novel radiative optical isolator and a circulator are discussed in this paper. It is numerically estimated that with /spl lambda/=1.3 /spl mu/m, 45-dB isolation ran be achieved with an isolator of 8 mm in length. For a 21.5-mm-long 4-port circulator, the achievable isolation is about 45 dB, with approximately 1-dB insertion loss.
Thinking Time in Music Practice

We asked school- and college-aged instrumentalists (N = 32) to imagine an ideal performance of a brief passage of music, record a performance of the passage, and describe discrepancies they noticed between their imagined and actual performances. The more experienced participants took at least as much time to imagine their idealized performances as it took to perform them; less experienced participants took less time to imagine what they were about to play. There were no differences among experience levels in the numbers or types of discrepancies identified. The differences between more and less experienced participants were also evident in a subsequent practice period. More experienced musicians’ practice included more frequent moments of pause, whereas school-aged participants seldom paused and tended to address performance issues other than those identified in their commentaries.
Past, present and future dynamics within the power supply industry

This paper describes the past, present and future market and technical dynamics within the US power supply industry. A survey of virtually all leading US power supply manufacturers and OEMs has revealed the current and future condition of the US power supply market. In particular, the US communications market will be the fastest growing market for internal AC/DC switching power supplies and DC/DC converters through 2001.
Design and Development of Digital Control Strategy for Solar Photovoltaic Inverter to Improve Power Quality

The design and development of control circuit for a solar fed cascaded multilevel inverter is postulated in this paper. The control circuit based on logic operations reduces the semiconductor switches required for the multilevel inverter. In addition to the reduction of switches, it also improves the quality of the output power by minimizing the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD). The proposed design achieves the maximum output voltage levels without the requirement of detailed look up table, boost converters and output transformers. The implementation of multilevel inverter is carriedout with asymmetrical DC sources from solar photovoltaics to achieve 2 ns+1 -1 and 3 ns levels, where ns is the number of individual inverter stages. Based on the proposed design 12 switches are required to achieve 15 and 27 levels respectively, whereas the conventional inverter can able to produce only 7 levels. MATLAB/Simulink is used for the simulation of the system. The modelling of solar panel which adheres to the experimental setup is developed. A 3kWp solar plant is taken into consideration for the implementation of the proposed control design and the performance parameters are measured using power quality analyser. The results are compared with the conventional inverter which shows that the proposed inverter is much suitable for both standalone and grid connected systems.
Comparative Study of Electric Machines for Stirling Generator Application

The choice of a machine for an application and a given specification remains a complex problem. This will involve, for example, bringing together criteria such as: performance, space saving, economical, reliable, little acoustic noise and others. The best machine selection to fulfill all constraints is an important step for the project to be realized. This work focus on Stirling Engine based Generator and study all types of rotating machines that can be employed for maximum electric power production. Analytical electromagnetic models where developed for all types of rotating machines that satisfied minimum requirement for the project by solving Maxwell equations. The purpose is to develop the design model and combine electromagnetic and thermal study of the machines. Finite Element Method is used to compare the performances of the generators for the best choice. Results show that for applications not requiring bigger output power, the major criteria for the selection is the optimal magnetic induction created by the inducer in the stationary part of the machine. For application such as Stirling generators, permanent magnet (PM) machine satisfy many comparison criteria such as maximum power at low speed, torque density, high efficiency. Beyond exposing a selection method for a project, this work lay down a step-by-step method for engineers and scientists for the crucial stage of design and conception work