Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adaptive oxide electronics: A review

Novel information processing techniques are being actively explored to overcome fundamental limitations associated with CMOS scaling. A new paradigm of adaptive electronic devices is emerging that may reshape the frontiers of electronics and enable new modalities. Creating systems that can learn and adapt to various inputs has generally been a complex algorithm problem in information science, albeit with wide-ranging and powerful applications from medical diagnosis to control systems. Recent work in oxide electronics suggests that it may be plausible to implement such systems at the device level, thereby drastically increasing computational density and power efficiency and expanding the potential for electronics beyond Boolean computation. Intriguing possibilities of adaptive electronics include fabrication of devices that mimic human brain functionality: the strengthening and weakening of synapses emulated by electrically, magnetically, thermally, or optically tunable properties of materials.In this review, we detail materials and device physics studies on functional metal oxides that may be utilized for adaptive electronics. It has been shown that properties, such as resistivity, polarization, and magnetization, of many oxides can be modified electrically in a non-volatile manner, suggesting that these materials respond to electrical stimulus similarly as a neural synapse. We discuss what device characteristics will likely be relevant for integration into adaptive platforms and then survey a variety of oxides with respect to these properties, such as, but not limited to, TaOx, SrTiO3, and Bi4-xLaxTi3O12. The physical mechanisms in each case are detailed and analyzed within the framework of adaptive electronics. We then review theoretically formulated and current experimentally realized adaptive devices with functional oxides, such as self-programmable logic and neuromorphic circuits. Finally, we speculate on what advances in materials physics and engineering may be needed to realize the full potential of adaptive oxide electronics.
MPC-based yaw and lateral stabilisation via active front steering and braking

In this paper, we propose a path following Model Predictive Control-based (MPC) scheme utilising steering and braking. The control objective is to track a desired path for obstacle avoidance manoeuvre, by a combined use of braking and steering. The proposed control scheme relies on the Nonlinear MPC (NMPC) formulation we used in [F. Borrelli, et al., MPC-based approach to active steering for autonomous vehicle systems, Int. J. Veh. Autonomous Syst. 3(2/3/4) (2005), pp. 265–291. ] and [P. Falcone, et al., Predictive active steering control for autonomous vehicle systems, IEEE Trans. Control Syst. Technol. 15(3) (2007), pp. 566–580. ]. In this work, the NMPC formulation will be used in order to derive two different approaches. The first relies on a full tenth-order vehicle model and has high computational burden. The second approach is based on a simplified bicycle model and has a lower computational complexity compared to the first. The effectiveness of the proposed approaches is demonstrated through simulations and experiments.
HV NMOS Transistor for IC/MEMS Integration on SOI

This paper describes the procedure of creating HV NMOS transistor for IC/MEMS integration on thick SOI wafers. The result of this kind of integration is essential for many next-generation applications. High bias voltages are needed with MEMS devices to create more complex entities on a single chip. SOI wafers are ideal for this kind of integration as MEMS devices can be fabricated using buried oxide layer. Thick SOI also provides a substrate that can be used for CMOS processes with little or no modifications. Two different SOI were used as well as bulk wafers to verify the results. The SOI layer was either uniformly doped or it had a buried p+ layer. The SOI had an 8µm thick device layer with 1µm thick buried oxide. Critical layout parameters are identified and test structures have been designed to study the layout effects. Properties of the HV NMOS transistor for these different substrates and for different layouts are compared. HV NMOS transistor has been successfully fabricated for IC/MEMS integration on SOI.
Optimal planning of wind energy conversion systems over an energy scenario

This paper introduces an optimisation model that may be used for planning wind turbine installations over a global energy scenario. The model follows from the observation that, in most practical cases, installations may have to be made under space constraints, and that this may limit the overall energy output per unit land area. In such cases, it may be wise to install wind turbines of large ratings, in an attempt to extract large amounts of energy from each installed turbine. This would evidently lead to better utilisation of the installed units.
Development of a novel nomogram for the prediction of cause specific survival for patients with non-metastatic Chromophobe Cell Renal Carcinoma, following radical nephrectomy

Background:The applicability of the nomogram approach to the prognosis of CCRC patients following radical nephrectomy has yet been established or tested. In this study, we utilized data from a large publicly available US cancer database to obtain a large sample size of data on CCRC patients, and used this dataset to evaluate the independent prognostic risk factors for cause-specific survival (CSS) in patients with non-metastatic CCRC. The data were used to construct a new novel prognostic nomogram for CCRC following radical nephrectomy in order to provide a clinically useful predictive tool for estimating a patient's survival probability.This study aimed to establish a novel prognostic nomogram for patients with non-metastatic Chromophobe Cell Renal Carcinoma (CCRC) after radical nephrectomy.Methods:A total of 1040 CCRC patients with non-metastatic cancer who had undergone radical nephrectomy, were identified in SEER (2004 through 2014). A novel nomogram was constructed based on the data and variables associated with cause specific survival time were included in the model using the Cox Proportional-Hazards Model. The nomogram was cross-validated against a subset of the data (n = 520 patients) from 9 randomly selected cancer registries in SEER, by calculation of Harell’s Concordance index (C-index) and the calibration curve for the time-related probability of survival. Results:Multivariate analysis of the training dataset (n = 1040 patients) revealed age at diagnosis, tumor size and tumor grade as independent factors associated with cause specific survival (CSS), and these were selected for inclusion in the nomogram. The calibration curve for the time-limited probability of survival showed good agreement between the predictions of the nomogram and actual observation. The C-index of the nomogram for predicting survival was 0.81 (95% CI 0.75 - 0.87), which was statistically higher than the C-index values produced by the 6/7th AJCC systems (0.75, 95% CI 0.67 - 0.83). The nomogram prediction of survival based on the validation dataset was also superior to that of the 6/7th AJCC staging systems (C-index 0.83 vs. 0.71; P = 0.038 ). Conclusion：The nomogram prediction model we built has a higher C index value, and has better sensitivity and predictive value. A prospective study with a larger sample is needed to verify our findings.
An investigation into major factors in shunt capacitor switching performances by vacuum circuit breakers with copper-chromium contacts

The performance of vacuum circuit breakers in switching shunt capacitors depends much more on in-rush current than on interrupting current. This is because when contacts that were fused together by pre-arcs during contact closing are forcibly separated, large protrusions are formed on the contact surface, making it easier for microparticles to be detached from the protrusions. Microparticles are also produced on the entire surface of contacts by mechanical impact or cold weld. Current interruption of a certain magnitude, however, has a conditioning effect because moderate arcs can eliminate such microparticles and lower the protrusions. To clarify the relationship between the behavior of microparticles and the dielectric breakdown, a laser scattering technique was employed. The authors found a microparticle-induced breakdown phenomena that could explain the mechanism of long delayed restrikes that is occasionally observed in vacuum circuit breakers. >
FEM‐PEEC coupled method for modeling solid conductors in the presence of ferromagnetic material

Purpose – This paper seeks to model magneto‐harmonic solid conductors in the presence of ferromagnetic materials.Design/methodology/approach – The approach takes the form of a coupling between the FEM and the PEEC method.Findings – The paper shows one how to use the FEM‐PEEC coupled method to model a problem comprising solid conductors and ferromagnetic materials and compare its results with the FEM.Research limitations/implications – The formulation allows one to treat linear material in the magneto‐harmonic assumption.Originality/value – The two methods FE and PEEC are well‐known. The innovation here is coupling these methods in order to profit by the main advantages.
Measurement of slice thickness and in-plane resolution on radiographic tomosynthesis system using modulation transfer function (MTF)

A novel method to measure in-plane resolution (modulation transfer function, or MTF) and slice thickness (slice sensitivity profile, or SSP) of a digital radiographic tomosynthesis system is presented. With this method, one can measure these two important system IQ characteristics simultaneously without suffering from incontinuous sampling, aliasing, and partial volume effect as do the existing methods. The method is based on imaging a shallow-angled slice ramp phantom. The MTF is measured as the HWHM of the Fourier transformation of the first derivative of edge profiles. The HWHM corresponding to the sharpest of edge profile represents the in-plane resolution of the system, and the slice thickness of the system is determined from the HWHM vs. z-distance curve. The in-plane resolution result has been confirmed by the measurement from an animal skull specimen. The experiment results have shown that, for a typical 40-degree sweep, 61 projections, and using a Specialized Filtered Backprojection (SFBP) algorithm, the in-plane resolution of the measured system is close to 1 lp/mm (as measured by the HWHM of MTF), and effective slice thickness is 1.7 mm and 4.0 mm at HWHM and HW3TM, respectively. It is also observed that, while the in-plane resolution remains constant between planes at 7 cm and 30 cm above the detector plane, SSP has increased (i.e., slice thickness increased) 20% on average with the increase of the plane height. We demonstrate one of the applications of the method to optimize the sweep angle of a tomosynthesis system. The results show that, in a typical angular range from 20 to 60 degrees, the increase in sweep angle can intrinsically reduce slice thickness but less significantly impact in-plane resolution.
Self-phase equalised bidirectional distributed amplifier

A novel bidirectional distributed amplifier is configured by integrating a bidirectional amplifier (BDA) into a distributed amplifier. The BDA is formed by connecting two identical FETs in 'reverse' parallel. Experimental results show that symmetric S-parameters are obtained in the range 0.8-2.2 GHz without additional phase equalisation.
On the Geometry of Emergency Service Medical Provision in Cities

The enormity of many cities today poses special problems for authorities supplying emergency medical services. The scale of the emergency system and variations in the operating conditions rule out some of the traditional methods developed to deal with the complexities involved. In cities the provision of services is affected not only by the daily varying locations of the populations at risk, but also by the prevailing traffic and weather conditions that can hinder ambulance access to the site of an incident or to a treatment facility. The controlling authorities of these services nevertheless like to maintain the highest possible levels of service given the available resources. They are interested in knowing which facilities to open and when, what resources and staffing levels are required, and what the long-term and short-term implications of changing operating conditions and of other unforeseen circumstances are on operating standards. In this paper the authors present research into a set of methods that are designed to assist in finding solutions to these problems or, at least, in understanding how to deal with them. The methods are based on the efficiency of movement in cities, particularly the time it takes to access different locations in different traffic conditions, and on the likelihood of incidents occurring at different times of the day. Initial results are presented based on the London area, but the main conclusions are transferable to many other cities of comparable scale. The distinguishing feature of the methods is that they are based on a type of non-Euclidean geometry that arises from the generalized profiles of the average speeds of traffic flow in cities.
Modélisation TS et commande H-infinie d'une machine de rééducation des membres inférieurs

Ce papier propose une commande non lineaire pour une machine de reeducation des membres inferieurs basee sur un multimodele de type Takagi-Sugeno (T-S). Une loi de commande de type " parallel distributed compensation " est utilisee pour stabiliser le systeme en boucle fermee. L'effort de l'utilisateur applique au bras de la machine est considere comme une perturbation externe a la dynamique du systeme. De plus, afin d'attenuer cette perturbation, un critere Hoo est applique avec des conditions de stabilite pour une classe de modeles T-S perturbes. Enfin, un generateur de consigne permettant la conduite volontaire du systeme par l'utilisateur est specifie par une machine a etats discrets.
Sezonowosc jakosci wody malych zbiornikow retencyjnych w krajobrazie rolniczym Podlasia

S t r e s z c z e n i e Do badan w latach 2001–2003 wytypowano dwa male, okresowo bezodplywowe zbiorniki retencyjne w wojewodztwie podlaskim, utworzone w 2000 r. w wyniku spietrzenia wod systemow melioracyjnych. Zbiornik Zarzeczany w gminie Grodek (powierzchnia – 11 ha, pojemnośc – 77 tys. m 3 , pow. zlewni – 10,1 km 2 , lesistośc zlewni – 43%) jest zlokalizowany w rozleglej, podmoklej i plaskiej dolinie. Wody opuszczające zbiornik stanowią bezpośredni doplyw rzeki Supraśl (doplyw Narwi). Zbiornik Jasionowka (powierzchnia – 4,5 ha, pojemnośc – 67 tys. m 3 , pow. zlewni – 6,8 km 2 , lesistośc zlewni – 21%) lezy w dorzeczu Brzozowki (doplyw Biebrzy). W zbiornikach zanotowano wyraźny wplyw splywu powierzchniowego na jakośc wody. Stezenie wiekszości form azotu w wodach zbiornikow w tym okresie jest wyraźnie zwiekszone. W wiosennym doplywie związkow fosforu duzą role odgrywają jego labilne formy, sprzyjające rozwojowi fitoplanktonu. Male zbiorniki środpolne mogą przyczyniac sie do retencji fosforu w zlewni. W zbiorniku Zarzeczany okolo 57% fosforu cząstkowego ulega sedymentacji z toni wodnej do osadow dennych. Najwiekszym zagrozeniem eutrofizacyjnym dla rzek opuszczających zbiorniki są zwiekszone wiosenne przeplywy, kiedy oprocz zasilania ze zlewni dochodzi do wynoszenia fosforu deponowanego w osadach dennych zbiornikow. W takiej sytuacji dochodzi do kumulowania negatywnego oddzialywania malych zlewni rolniczych na jakośc wod ekosystemow znajdujących sie ponizej zbiornikow.
Engineering design change management

Outlines the economic consequences of changes that are made during the design process and manufacture. Computer and paper based systems are considered, and the advantages of a computer based system are discussed. Experience in the use of a computer based system in a company is reviewed with respect to the sources of design changes, the control of design changes and the benefits gained. The use of bespoke and proprietary software is briefly discussed. Notes that engineering design change management plays an essential role in successful manufacturing organisations. Also notes that the bespoke system described has led to a considerable improvement in the company’s change control process.
SIMPLIFIED DYNAMIC MODEL FOR HIGH-SPEED CHECKWEIGHER

In this paper, we concern with the dynamic behaviors of a high speed mass measurement system with conveyor belt (a checkweigher). The goal of this paper is to construct a simple model of the measurement system so as to duplicate a response of the system. The checkweigher with electromagnetic force compensation can be approximated by the combined spring-mass-damper systems as the physical model, and the equation of motion is derived. The model parameters (a damping coefficient and a spring constant) can be obtained from the experimental data for open-loop system. Finally, the validity of the proposed model can be confirmed by comparison of the simulation results with the realistic responses. The simple dynamic model obtained offers practical and useful information to examine control scheme.
Towards vehicle trajectory planning for collision avoidance based on elastic bands

Vehicle safety and driver assistance systems are an active field of research. Therein, a current trend focuses on guidance systems that link the vehicle to its environment. This paper presents a potential field based guidance strategy, which supports lane keeping and evasion manoeuvres. Therein, potential fields are scaled according to the hazard levels associated to the borders of the road and to other traffic participants. Trajectories of low hazard levels are generated by means of elastic bands that sense the environment like antennae of insects. An important contribution of this predictive motion planning approach is the incorporation of moving obstacles.
Ultrawideband monocycle pulse generator with dual resistive loaded shunt stubs

An ultrawideband (UWB) monocycle pulse generator with dual resistive loaded shunt stubs is present in this article. The proposed pulse generator consists of a step recovery diode (SRD), a Schottky diode, a pair of resistive loaded stubs, and a pair of short‐circuited stubs. By introducing an additional resistive loaded stub between the SRD and the Schottky diode, the ringing tail of the impulse waveform can be substantially suppressed and the resultant monocycle pulse is well‐behaved with very low ringing level. The measurement result demonstrates a monocycle pulse with peak‐to‐peak amplitude of 550 mV, pulsewidth of 320 ps, ringing level of as low as −22 dB, and good pulse symmetry. This pulse generator is suitable for various UWB applications. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 49: 459–462, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.22145
BSLC: A TOOL FOR BACTERIA SOURCE CHARACTERIZATION FOR WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

The Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) program is an integrated watershed assessment and management process designed to address surface water quality impairments. The presence of pathogen indicator bacteria (fecal coliform and Escherichia coli (E. coli)) is reported to be the most widespread cause of water quality impairment in the United States. Watershed-scale simulation models, when used in a "what-if" scenario assessment mode, can assist stakeholders and watershed planners in making informed immediate and long-term land-use-based watershed management decisions designed to control bacterial contamination and improve water quality. However, to use such models, accurate characterization of bacteria sources present in a watershed is necessary. The objectives of this article are to describe the process developed and used by the Center for TMDL and Watershed Studies at Virginia Tech to characterize bacterial source inputs needed for a watershed-scale simulation model and to introduce a software tool, the Bacteria Source Load Calculator (BSLC), that aids in the source characterization and TMDL allocation scenario development process. The BSLC uses externally generated inputs, such as land use distribution and livestock, wildlife, and human population estimates, to calculate monthly bacterial land loadings and hourly bacterial stream loadings. The program was developed using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) in Microsoft Excel. The BSLC and its underlying methodology have been used in the development of 21 bacterial TMDLs in Virginia. The BSLC software greatly simplifies the creation of required data files needed by watershed-scale simulation models and provides consistency in data development and processing.
When will we have an exascale supercomputer? [News]

The global race to build more powerful supercomputers is focused on the next big milestone: a supercomputer capable of performing 1 million trillion floating-point operations per second (1 exaflops). Such a system will require a big overhaul of how these machines compute, how they move data, and how they're programmed. It's a process that might not reach its goal for eight years. But the seeds of future success are being designed into two machines that could arrive in just two years.
Study on the Seepage and Stability of Carbon Dioxide Geological Storage in Scrap Metal Mine: A Finite Difference Analysis

The carbon dioxide geological storage is one of the most effective ways to slow down the earth's climate warming. The ideal location for storage is in the deep scrap mines. Because of the characteristics of the deep underground condition, the long-term mechanical stability must have close relationship with the geostress fields and permeability, whose development can determine and reflect the mechanical behaviors of carbon dioxide geological storage. The permeability of host rock is affected by existing joints and discontinuity surfaces. Furthermore, as the liquid carbon dioxide is injected into the geological storage, the injection pressure and buoyancy force will change the state of geostress obviously. In this paper, based on mechanical properties of the host rock (granite), coupled brittle shear constitutive model was adopted and the analysis module was implemented in software FLAC3D. Then, with the in situ survey of joints in the host rock and the monitoring of in situ geostress, the permeability characteristics and geostress inverse analysis were input in FLAC3D. At last, fluid-solid coupled model was used to analyze the seepage characteristics of each phase after the injection and long-term storage of liquid carbon dioxide. Therefore, the systematic analysis of the storage stability of carbon dioxide geological could be carried out.
Parking Choice Behavior for Shared Parking Based on Parking Purposes

This paper considers two parking purposes: commute parking and non-commute parking, based on a SP survey, different factors which affect shared parking choice are present firstly. Then, two choice models towards shared parking based on two parking purposes are established. The results show that the difference of distance between the expected parking lot to the destination and the shared one has the deepest influence on shared parking choice for commuters. For non-commuters, the difference of parking price between the expected parking lot and the shared one has the deepest influence.