Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using Rollback Avoidance to Mitigate Failures in Next-Generation Extreme-Scale Systems

High-performance computing (HPC) systems enable scientists to numerically model complex phenomena in many important physical systems. The next major milestone in the development of HPC systems is the construction of the first supercomputer capable executing more than an exaflop, 10 floating point operations per second. On systems of this scale, failures will occur much more frequently than on current systems. As a result, resilience is a key obstacle to building next-generation extreme-scale systems. Coordinated checkpointing is currently the most widely-used mechanism for handling failures on HPC systems. Although coordinated checkpointing remains effective on current systems, increasing the scale of today’s systems to build next-generation systems will increase the cost of fault tolerance as more and more time is taken away from the application to protect against or recover from failure. Rollback avoidance techniques seek to mitigate the cost of checkpoint/restart by allowing an application to continue its execution rather than rolling back to
Climbing the Ladder: Explaining the Vertical Proliferation of Cruise Missiles

Why do some states possess more advanced military technologies than others? Our study explores the vertical proliferation of land-attack cruise missiles (LACMs), seeking to understand which demand- and supply-side factors best explain why some countries acquire more sophisticated LACMs. We theorize that states’ security environments, regime types, possession of related strategic technologies, and membership in the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) influence the possession of more sophisticated cruise missiles. Our analysis employs a unique new global dataset with granular data on every LACM national militaries have deployed. We use this dataset to evaluate the proliferation of LACMs across the international system from 1991–2015. Using a selection model that first controls for the horizontal proliferation of LACMs, we find that insecurity, scientific and technical expertise from related technologies, the possession of highly authoritarian and highly democratic regimes, and MTCR membership all have positive effects on the sophistication of LACM-possessors’ arsenals.
Built-In Self-Test of Flexible RF Transmitters Using Nonuniform Undersampling

The advent of increasingly powerful Integrated Circuits (IC) has led to the emergence of the Software Defined Radio (SDR) concept, which brought the sector of secured mobile communications into a new era. The outstanding performance of these systems results from optimal trade-offs among advanced analog/Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry, high-speed reconfigurable digital hardware and sophisticated real-time software. The inherent sophistication of such platforms poses a challenging problem for product testing. Currently deployed industrial test strategies face rising obstacles due to the costlier RF test equipment, longer test time and lack of flexibility. Moreover, an SDR platform is field-upgradeable, which means it will support standards and scenarii not considered during the design phase. Therefore, an in-field test strategy is not anymore 'a nice to have' feature but a mandatory requirement. In this context, our research aims to invent and develop a new test methodology able to guarantee the correct functioning of the SDR platform post-fabrication and over its operational lifetime. The overall aim of our efforts is to reduce post-manufacture test cost of SDR transceivers by leveraging the reconfigurability of the platform.For tactical radio units that must be field-upgradeable without specialized equipment, Built-in Self-Test (BIST) schemes are arguably the only way to ensure continued compliance to specifications. In this study we introduce a novel RF BIST architecture which uses Periodically Nonuniform Sampling (PNS2) of the transmitter (TX) output to evaluate compliance to spectral mask specifications. Our solution supports a stand-alone implementation, is scalable across a wide set of complex specifications and can be easily applied for in-field testing with small added hardware. Compared to existing analog/RF test techniques, this approach is not limited to a given TX architecture and does not rely on an ad-hoc TX model, which makes it ideal for SDR testing.
Non-reciprocal diplexer and power combiner/divider from topological cavities with both splitting and combining functions

Multiplexers and power combiners/dividers are crucial in many applications of electromagnetic waves including microwave and terahertz communication. Full-duplex communication requires the separation of transmitted and received signals; thus, non-reciprocal multiplexers and power combiners/dividers are very essential. In this work, we present and numerically study a design concept for such non-reciprocal circuits from topological cavities. First, a quad-port circulator is made from a topological cavity and two trivial waveguides, which effectively operates as a non-reciprocal band-pass filter. Then, by parallelly connecting multiple circulators together, topological diplexers and power combiners/dividers are formed. These circuits are non-reciprocal due to the nature of photonic topological insulators, yet unlike the previously proposed non-reciprocal multiplexers or power combiners/dividers, they can both split and combine multiple frequencies or multiple power flows. The topological nature of the proposed circuits also makes them robust to any fabrication error and suitable for practical full-duplex communication applications.
A Multi-Criteria Framework to Evaluate the Sustainability of Renewable Energy: A 2-Tuple Linguistic Grey Relation Model from the Perspective of the Prospect Theory

The unique resources and environmental advantages of renewable energy make it an essential component of energy strategies and a meaningful way to achieve “carbon neutrality”. However, due to limitations relating to ecological factors and geographical locations, renewable energy power generation faces many problems, including instability, resulting in unsustainable development. Few studies have been conducted on the sustainability of renewable energy. Therefore, a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework for evaluating renewable energy sustainability is put forward. Based on a 2-tuple linguistic grey relation model and the prospect theory, the MCDM framework can comprehensively analyze the factors that may influence renewable energy sustainability in terms of resources, the environment, society, technology, and the economy. The combination of the 2-tuple linguistic model and the prospect theory can improve the objectivity of decision making. Taking China as the research object, this study finds that the profit–loss ratios for the four alternatives considered are {0.969, 0.432, 0.395, 0.369} for solar photovoltaic power, wind power, hydropower, and biomass power, respectively, ranked from best to worst. Based on the sensitivity analysis, the MCDM framework can change its parameters based on the relevant psychological characteristics and then establish a suitable system for decision making. The MCDM framework proposed in this study can provide investors with decision-making references and help governmental agencies formulate renewable energy policies.
Statistical models for rank data

Rank data arise when a set of judges rank some or all of a set of objects. Rank data emerges in many areas of society; the list of the world’s most cited scientists or the final ordering of horses in a race provide examples of such data. Irish society generates a wealth of rank data in two specific contexts: applicants to Irish third level educational institutions rank degree courses in order of preference and under the Irish electoral system voters rank candidates in order of preference. The relationships that may exist between the set of objects ranked and between the judges who rank them are explored in this thesis. The set of applicants to Irish third level institutions in the year 2000 are investigated to determine if groups of similar applicants exist and if so, what characteristics they share. Voters and candidates from the 1997 Irish presidential election and from the 2002 Irish general election are examined. The (dis)similarities that the Irish electorate deem to exist between candidates are revealed. Complex rank data models are developed which take account of the ranked nature of the data. Mixture models, and extensions thereof, are used to model heterogeneous populations which generate rank data; a latent space model is also proposed which locates the ranked objects in an unobservable space. Model fitting is performed in both classical and Bayesian frameworks. Unique model fitting techniques are necessary due to the complex nature of the models. Examining fitted model parameters provides insight to the underlying mechanisms which drive Irish social opinions. Applicants to Irish third level institutions are influenced by course discipline, an institutions’ geographical location and by course prestige. Evidence of both candidate orientated and politically driven voters is also presented.
Circumglobal Rossby wave patterns during boreal winter highlighted by space–time spectral analysis

Abstract. The classic partitioning between slow-moving, low-wavenumber planetary waves and fast-moving, high-wavenumber synoptic waves is systematically extended by means of a space–time spectral decomposition to characterize the day-to-day evolution of Rossby wave activity in the upper troposphere. This technique is employed to study the origin and the propagation of circumglobal Rossby wave patterns (CRWPs), amplified Rossby waves stretching across the Northern Hemisphere in the zonal direction and projecting primarily over few, dominant wavenumber–phase-speed harmonics. Principal component analysis of daily anomalies in spectral power allows for two CRWPs to emerge as leading variability modes in the spectral domain during boreal winter. These modes correspond to the baroclinic propagation of Rossby wave packets (RWPs) from the Pacific to the Atlantic storm track in a hemispheric flow configuration displaying enhanced meridional gradients of geopotential height over midlatitudes. The first CRWP is forced by tropical convection anomalies over the Indian Ocean and features the propagation of amplified RWPs over northern midlatitudes, while the second one propagates rapidly over latitudes between 35 and 55∘ N and appears to have extratropical origin. An anomalous equatorward propagation of Rossby waves from the Atlantic eddy-driven jet to the North African subtropical jet is observed for both CRWPs. The obtained results highlight the substantial contribution of propagating RWPs to CRWPs, hinting that the two features might have the same nature.
Commercial Building Applications Requirements

Building management systems have evolved toward IP communication at the enterprise level during the past decade. IP implementation at the real-time control and sensor layers would provide a single pervasive protocol usable across the entire system increasing flexibility and code reuse. This document will describe the topology of these building networks, the application protocols widely used in their deployment and the application use cases.
Shape memory alloy micro actuators for medical applications

Most of the current ’applications’ of microelectromechanical systems can be found in the sensor field. The development of micro-actuators is severely hindered by the low power-to-volume ratio of most actuator technologies. Most of the presented micromotors also require reduction gearing and suffer from wear or fatigue problems. Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) actuators offer the advantage of extremely high work-to-volume ratios that are comparable to those for hydraulic actuation [1]. Moreover they enable a very simple direct drive actuator design and they can be directly driven by an electrical current using simple resistive heating. Shape memory based microactuators were presented by Honma [2] and Kuribayashi [3]. In the medical field, “ real" actuators are mostly used in minimal invasive surgery tools like endoscopes. Some examples are the active catheter tip developed by Dario [4], the active endoscope presented by Ikuta [5], or the miniature active catheter developed by Guo [6]. This paper describes the design of micromechanisms actuated by Shape Memory Alloys. They are to be used for different medical applications and illustrate a very simple microactuation technology conceived around a simple wire-shaped SMA element. Four different systems are described: The first one is a very simple microvalve to be used in drug delivery systems. The three other examples are situated in the minimal invasive surgery area: a mirror actuation system, a zooming system, and a bending actuator for colonoscopy.
Comprehensive analysis of expression signature and immune microenvironment signature of biomarker Endothelin Receptor Type A in stomach adenocarcinoma

Background: EDNRA (Endothelin Receptor Type A) is closely associated with tumor progression in many tumor types. However, the functional mechanism of EDNRA in stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) remains to be elucidated. Methods: ENDRA expression levels in STAD were assessed. A Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to measure the diagnostic value of EDNRA. The correlation between ENDRA expression levels and patient clinical-pathological characteristics was analyzed. The survival and prognostic significance were validated using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression and confirmed by the immunohistochemistry cohorts. Differentially expressed genes of EDNRA in STAD were determined, and EDNRA related functional enrichment and biological pathways involved in STAD were obtained by Gene-Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). The correlation between EDNRA expression in STAD and immune cell infiltration was assessed using the CIBERSORT and Spearman correlation analysis, and the correlation between EDNRA and TMB, MSI, IC50, and immune checkpoints was examined. Results: EDNRA expression was significantly higher in STAD than in normal tissues (P < 0.001) and associated with worse overall survival (OS). EDNRA expression was significantly associated with T stage, histological type, histologic grade, and TP53 status. Cox regression analysis revealed that primary therapy outcome, age, tumor status, and EDNRA were independent prognostic factors for OS. Multivariate analysis revealed that EDNRA expression, tumor status, age, and primary therapy outcome influenced patient prognosis. GSEA was significantly enriched in several pathways and biological processes, which include Immunoregulatory, Hedgehog, WNT, PI3K-AKT.NK cells, Tem, macrophages, and mast cells were substantially positively correlated with EDNRA expression in the STAD microenvironment. Notably, high EDNRA expression may promote M2 macrophages to block PD-1-mediated immunotherapy and induce immunosuppression. In addition, patients with high expression of EDNRA might be resistant to the treatment of several anti-tumor drugs. Conclusion: Our results suggest that EDNRA was closely related to clinicopathologic characteristics, poor prognosis, and promoted macrophage differentiation and synergistic role in immunosuppression.
An Overview of Sustainability Assessment Frameworks in Agriculture

Recent research established a link between environmental alterations due to agriculture intensification, social damage and the loss of economic growth. Thus, the integration of environmental and social dimensions is key for economic development. In recent years, several frameworks have been proposed to assess the overall sustainability of farms. Nevertheless, the myriad of existing frameworks and the variety of indicators result in difficulties in selecting the most appropriate framework for study site application. This manuscript aims to: (i) understand the criteria to select appropriate frameworks and summarize the range of those being used to assess sustainability; (ii) identify the available frameworks to assess agricultural sustainability; and (iii) analyze the strengths, weaknesses and applicability of each framework. Six frameworks, namely SAFA, RISE, MASC, LADA, SMART and public goods (PG), were identified. Results show that SMART is the framework that considers, in a balanced way, the environmental, sociocultural and economic dimensions of sustainability, whereas others focused on the environmental (RISE), environmental and economic (PG) and sociocultural (SAFA) dimension. However, depending on the scale assessment, sector of application and the sustainability completeness intended, all frameworks are suitable for the assessment. We present a decision tree to help future users understand the best option for their objective.
The Impact of Recent Crisis on the Real Estate Market on the UAE: Evidence from Asymmetric Methods

We explore empirically the impact of the world real estate crisis on the UAE real estate market. We consider the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) in our investigation. Besides the asymmetric causality test methods we also use recently developed asymmetric generalized impulse response functions and variance decompositions, which separate the effect of positive shocks from those of negative ones. The empirical results that this paper provides can be very informative and useful for both investors and policy makers. L’impatto della recente crisi sul mercato immobiliare degli Emirati Arabi Uniti: evidenze da metodi asimmetrici Questo studio analizza empiricamente l’impatto della crisi del mercato immobiliare mondiale – nel contesto della crisi finanziaria globale – sul mercato immobiliare degli Emirati Arabi. Oltre ai test di causalita asimmetrici, abbiamo anche sviluppato funzioni asimmetriche con risposta generalizzata ad impulso e decomposizioni di varianza, le quali separano gli effetti degli shock positivi da quelli degli shock negativi. I risultati empirici di questo studio possono essere molto informativi ed utili sia agli investitori che ai policy maker.
A Novel Approach to Analyze the Isolation Valve System Based on the Complex Network Theory

Complex Network Theory (CNT) studies network models and centrality metrics to deal with reliability/vulnerability assessment in networked systems. Classic CNT analyses evaluate the impact of failure of single vertices/edge elements on system connectivity assuming that all vertices/nodes have the same relevance. In Water Distribution Networks (WDNs), the Isolation Valve System (IVS) plays a crucial role for system reliability because a pipe failure asks for valves shutdown to isolate that pipe, usually requiring the isolation of a larger network segment, having its intrinsic relevance. This circumstance makes classic connectivity analyses and metrics of CNT misleading in reliability assessment of WDN. This work proposes a novel approach to analyze IVS, which is based on the construction of the graph of segments and isolation valves generated by the IVS. The application of the recently proposed relevance‐based (WDN‐tailored) betweenness centrality to such graph is used to rank the importance of segments and isolation valves. Two WDNs of different sizes are used to demonstrate and discuss the strategy also from a practical perspective.
Analyses of Pellets Produced from Spruce Sawdust, Spruce Bark, and Pine Cones in Different Proportions

A lot of residual biomass has energy value and can be used for further applications through suitable treatments, such as pelletization. This treatment can improve properties, mainly energy density, but can also lead to problems due to their low ash melting temperatures, high ash content, and the formation of harmful compounds during combustion. This article deals with the energy potential of pellets produced from spruce sawdust, spruce bark, and pine cones in different proportions. The impact of cone and bark contents on pellet properties was also observed. The energy properties of the produced pellets were measured, such as the contents of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, moisture, volatile, fixed carbon, and ash, as well as calorific values and ash melting temperatures. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the addition of pine cones and spruce bark to spruce sawdust mainly affected the contents of nitrogen and ash and melting temperatures. Despite this, all produced pellets met the standard EN ISO 17225-2 for the content of nitrogen, ash, and also lower calorific value at least B quality. However, only three pellet samples of five met this standard for A2 and B quality for ash melting behavior. Therefore, they present an alternative fuel with interesting energy potential.
La calidad de la práctica educativa en el nivel universitario. Un estudio de casos con foco en el sistema de actividad

Para analizar la configuración de buenas prácticas educativas como noción de transformación de la calidad en el nivel universitario, se realizó una investigación cualitativa de abordaje descriptivo-explicativo y diseño de estudio de casos, mediante las técnicas de observación de clases y entrevistas con profesores y estudiantes de una universidad privada argentina con una orientación pedagógica explicitada en su proyecto institucional. El enfoque teórico del estudio se sustentó en la Teoría de la Actividad y el enfoque ecológico de la práctica educativa. En el sistema áulico que configura una práctica educativa de calidad, estudiantes y profesores se involucran en un proceso formativo caracterizado por el intercambio sociocultural de expectativas, experiencias, actitudes y conocimientos en torno a un objeto consensuado y transformado, mediante sus interacciones, en un producto que evidencia los resultados del aprendizaje.
Removal of Disinfection By-Products Precursor (Humic Acid) by Graphene-Silica Composites

: Graphene-silica (RGO-SiO 2 ) was successfully synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method. The composites were used to study the adsorption properties of humic acid and disinfection by-product precursors in natural surface water. Compared with reduced graphene oxide (RGO), the speciﬁc surface area of the composites doped with silica (SiO 2 ) increased by 31.2% to 259.43 m 2 /g. RGO-SiO 2 could achieve 66.91% adsorption of humic acid (HA), while the maximum adsorption of HA on RGO-SiO 2 reached 925.91 mg/g. The adsorption and removal rates of HA by RGO-SiO 2 were signiﬁcantly higher than those of RGO. The whole adsorption process was in accordance with the quasi-secondary kinetic model, the Langmuir isothermal adsorption model. RGO-SiO 2 has good adsorption performance for organic matter of different water qualities. RGO-SiO 2 has a better removal ability for hydrophobic organics than hydrophilic and nitrogenous organics. The adsorbent was reusable, and the organic removal efﬁciency of RGO-SiO 2 decreased insigniﬁcantly after four cycles.
Real-time drug release monitoring from pH-responsive CuS-encapsulated metal–organic frameworks

Real-time monitoring of drug release behaviors over extended periods of time is critical in understanding the dynamics of drug progression for personalized chemotherapeutic treatment. In this work, we report a metal–organic framework (MOF)-based nanotheranostic system encapsulated with photothermal agents (CuS) and therapeutic drug (DOX) to achieve the capabilities of real-time drug release monitoring and combined chemo-photothermal therapy. Meanwhile, folic acid-conjugated polyethylene glycol (FA-PEG) antennas were connected to the MOF through coordination interactions, endowing the MOF with an enhanced active targeting effect toward cancer cells. It is anticipated that such a theranostic agent, simultaneously possessing tumor-targeting, real-time drug monitoring and effective treatment, will potentially enhance the performance in cancer therapy.