Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Laboratory experiments of multi-phase plumes in stratification and crossflow

This thesis presents laboratory experiments of bubble, droplet, and sediment plumes in stratification and crossflow. The experiments were conducted to study the behavior of multiphase plumes in the deep ocean, with applications ranging from carbon sequestration to the fate of oil and gas released from an oil well blowout. Experimental techniques included LASER induced fluorescence, shadowgraph visualization, salinity and dye concentration profiling, stratification generated by the two-tank method (using a 1.2 m square by 2.4 m deep, glass-walled tank), and crossflow generated by a towed source (using a 28 m long flume with 0.8 m square cross-section). Size spectra of droplets and bubbles were measured using a phase Doppler particle analyzer. To control particle size, sediment was also used; sediment size was measured using a micrometer. Slip velocities among all buoyancy sources ranged from 3 to 35 cm/s. Stratified experiments investigated the dependence of plume properties on the nondimensional slip velocity, UN= us/(BN)1/4 , where u, is the slip velocity, B is the total kinematic buoyancy flux, and N is the Brunt-Vaissld buoyancy frequency. First, UN predicts the transitions among characteristic plume types, and a new plume type was identified where the bubbles are dispersed by the intruding fluid. Second, non-dimensional variables (including characteristic length scales, volume and buoyancy fluxes, and fraction peeled) correlate with UN and were chosen to provide insight and calibration data to models. Crossflow experiments demonstrated fractionation (sorting of bubbles based on slip velocity) and separation (entrained fluid completely separating from the dispersed phase). Plumes were observed to have a fully-developed plume stage followed by separation at a critical height, hs, dependent on B, us, and the crossflow velocity, u. A single-phase model was applied to these plumes by treating the separated fluid as a buoyant momentum jet. Stratified crossflow experiments showed that separation occurs at the lower of hs or the peel height in stagnant stratification (which correlates with UN). Thesis Supervisor: Dr. E. Eric Adams Title: Senior Research Engineer and Lecturer
The usability engineering lifecycle

The purpose of this tutorial is to provide a lifecycle of practical usability tasks and techniques for structuring the process of designing good user interfaces to either traditional software applications or Web pages and applets. The tutorial presents techniques which can be applied at different points in a typical product development lifecycle. Techniques presented include not only requirements analysis, design and testing techniques, but also organizational and managerial strategies.
The effects of different frequencies of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on intracranial neurotransmitters in patients with swallowing disorders after cerebral infarction

Objective To study the improvements and mechanism of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on swallowing disorders after cerebral infarction. Methods A total of 60 patients with swallowing disorders were randomly assigned to receive high/low-frequency rTMS treatment, another 30 patients without rTMS treatment were included in the control group. The Kubota’s water-swallowing test, video fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS), and major intracranial neurotransmitters were analyzed before and after treatment. Results No significant difference was observed in the Kubota’s water-swallowing test scores, the VFSS scores, or the levels of intracranial neurotransmitters between the three groups before treatment. The Kubota’s water-swallowing test scores were significantly reduced after high-frequency rTMS treatment than in the control group; the aspiration degree was significantly increased after high-frequency rTMS treatment than in the control group; the levels of glutamate and dopamine were significantly increased after high-frequency rTMS treatment than in the control group; Moreover, the Kubota’s water-swallowing test scores were significantly reduced after high-frequency rTMS treatment than after low-frequency rTMS treatment; the levels of glutamate and dopamine were significantly increased after high-frequency rTMS treatment than after low-frequency rTMS treatment. Conclusions High-frequency rTMS was effective for swallowing disorders, which may be related to increased levels of intracranial glutamate and dopamine.
Malware Mimics for Network Security Assessment

Abstract : For computer network infiltration and defense training within the Department of Defense, the use of Red Teams results in the most effective, realistic, and comprehensive training for network administrators. Our thesis is meant to mimic that highly trained adversary. We developed a framework that would exist in that operational network, that mimics the actions of that adversary or malware, that creates observable behaviors, and that is fully controllable and configurable. The framework is based upon a client-server relationship. The server is a Java multi-threaded server that issues commands to the Java client software on all of the hosts of the operational network. Our thesis proved that commands could be sent to those clients to generate scanning behavior that was observable on the network, that the clients would generate or cease their behavior within five seconds of the issuance of the command, and that the clients would return to a failsafe state if communication with the command and control server was lost. The framework that was created can be expanded to control more than twenty hosts. Furthermore, the software is extensible so that additional modules can be created for the client software to generate additional and more complex malware mimic behaviors.
Competences of IT Architects

The field of architecture in the digital world uses a plethora of terms to refer to different kinds of architects, and recognises a confusing variety of competences that these architects are required to have. Different service providers use different terms for similar architects and even if they use the same term, they may mean something different. This makes it hard for customers to know what competences an architect can be expected to have. This book combines competence profiles of the NGI Platform for IT Professionals, The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF), as well as a number of Dutch IT service providers in a comprehensive framework. Using this framework, the book shows that notwithstanding a large variety in terminology, there is convergence towards a common set of competence profiles. In other words, when looking beyond terminological differences by using the framework, one sees that organizations recognize similar types of architects, and that similar architects in different organisations have similar competence profiles. The framework presented in this book thus provides an instrument to position architecture services as offered by IT service providers and as used by their customers. The framework and the competence profiles presented in this book are the main results of the special interest group “Professionalisation” of the Netherlands Architecture Forum for the Digital World (NAF). Members of this group, as well as students of the universities of Twente and Nijmegen have contributed to the research on which this book is based.
Strategies for Sustainable Architecture

Filling a gap in existing literature on sustainable design, this new guide introduces and illustrates sustainable design principles through detailed case studies of sustainable buildings in Europe, North America and Australia. The guide will provide the reader with a deeper understanding of the design issues involved in delivering sustainable buildings, and giving detailed description of the process of integrating principles into practice. Approximately one hundred case studies of sixty buildings, ranging from small dwellings to large commercial buildings, and drawn from a range of countries, demonstrate best current practice. The sections of the book are divided into design issues relating to sustainable development, including site and ecology, community and culture, health, materials, energy and water. With over 400 illustrations, this highly visual guide will be an invaluable reference to all those concerned with architecture and sustainability issues.
Thermal analysis for series LC integrated passive resonant module based on finite-element modeling

In recent years, the passive integrated power electronic module (IPEM), which has been implemented as resonant tank in resonant DC-DC converters, has gained research interest because of its merits for possibly reducing the total volume of the resonant converter system. In this paper, thermal analysis for a series resonant LC passive IPEM is performed. Especially, a 3-dimensional thermal model based on finite-element modeling (FEM) using I-DEAS is presented and the thermal distribution of the integrated passive module is simulated. In order to verify the thermal analysis results, an experimental prototype LC passive REM was constructed and temperature distribution measured using an IR (Infrared) camera and thermocouples and compared to simulation results. A good correlation between the 3-D thermal model and thermal test results was achieved. Moreover, 1-dimensional thermal analysis was also performed and presented to compare results of the hot spot temperatures in the interior of the passive IPEM using the 1-D and the 3-D models.
Estimating tumor mutational burden across multiple cancer types using whole-exome sequencing

Background Tumor mutational burden (TMB) is emerging as a promising biomarker in immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. Despite whole-exome sequencing (WES) being the gold standard for quantifying TMB, TMB is determined by selected targeted panels in most cases, and WES-derived TMB data are lacking due to the greater cost and complexity. Determining TMB thresholds is another issue that needs attention. Methods A total of 309 patients who had received ICI therapy, representing five cancers (listed in “Results”), were recruited. Among them, 269 patients were evaluable for survival analysis. Tumor and matched blood samples from the patients were analyzed using WES and somatic mutations were determined. TMB is defined as the total number of somatic nonsynonymous mutations in the tumor exome in our study. The patients were divided into different TMB subgroups according to a common fixed number (10 mutations/Mb) or the top tertile within each tumor type. Results The distribution of WES-derived median TMBs was highly variable across different tumor types, ranging from 2.71 (cholangiocarcinoma) to 2.97 (nervous system tumor), 3.69 (gastric cancer), 4.31 (hepatocellular carcinoma), and 4.64 [colorectal cancer (CRC)] mutations/Mb. In CRC, the survival benefit of TMB-high patients was significant using both the top tertile and the 10 mutations/Mb threshold. In hepatocellular carcinoma, the 10 mutations/Mb threshold showed an advantage over the top tertile threshold. Among patients with nervous system tumors, cholangiocarcinoma, and gastric cancer, no obvious survival differences were observed between the TMB-high and TMB-low groups with either TMB stratification approach. Conclusions The TMB threshold criterion may vary for different cancers. Our data suggest that TMB is unable to predict ICI benefit across all cancer types in Chinese patients. However, it may be an effective biomarker for predicting the clinical benefit of ICI therapy for patients with CRC.
Supercapacitors as Storage of Modern Energy Systems

The paper presents supercapacitors as energy storing devices for renewable energy and transportation systems. Basic principles of operation are presented, as well as operation layouts and equivalent circuits of various accuracy. Example charging and discharging curves of the investigated supercapacitors are given along with the main capacitor parameters derived from them. SUPERKONDENSATORY JAKO MAGAZYN ENERGII W NOWOCZESNYCH SYSTEMACH ENERGETYCZNYCH
Defect‐Free Metal Deposition on 2D Materials via Inkjet Printing Technology

2D materials have many outstanding properties that make them attractive for the fabrication of electronic devices, such as high conductivity, flexibility, and transparency. However, integrating 2D materials in commercial devices and circuits is challenging because their structure and properties can be damaged during the fabrication process. Recent studies have demonstrated that standard metal deposition techniques (like electron beam evaporation and sputtering) significantly damage the atomic structure of 2D materials. Here it is shown that the deposition of metal via inkjet printing technology does not produce any observable damage in the atomic structure of ultrathin 2D materials, and it can keep a sharp interface. These conclusions are supported by abundant data obtained via atomistic simulations, transmission electron microscopy, nanochemical metrology, and device characterization in a probe station. The results are important for the understanding of inkjet printing technology applied to 2D materials, and they could contribute to the better design and optimization of electronic devices and circuits.
Performance measurement review practices : a dual perspective case study

Understanding how change is managed in performance measures (PM) is as important as it is under-researched (Bourne, 2008). The purpose of this paper is to outline the PM review practice and contrast it to theory. The paper is based on two case studies, one with the top-management and one with the rest of the organisation. This paper concludes that the theoretical recommendations are in line with the practical application on an overall level. However, a considerable gap exists between the theoretical soundness of the PM review approach and the competence of executing it.
Astragaloside IV protects cardiomyocytes against hypoxia injury via HIF-1α and the JAK2/STAT3 pathway

Background Hypoxia is an important cause of myocardial injury due to the heart’s high susceptibility to hypoxia. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is the main component of Astragalus membranaceus and could exert cardiac protective role. Here, the effect of AS-IV on hypoxia-injured H9c2 cardiomyocytes was elucidated. Methods First, H9c2 cells were exposed to hypoxia and/or AS-IV treatment. Cell apoptosis, death, and viability as well as hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) expression and apoptotic proteins were analyzed. Next, transfection of si-HIF-1α into H9c2 cells was carried out to test whether upregulation and stabilization of HIF-1α influences the effect of AS-IV on hypoxia-treated H9c2 cells. Furthermore, the regulatory role of Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) signaling on HIF-1α levels was examined. Results Hypoxia suppressed viability and promoted the apoptosis and death of H9c2 cells. AS-IV eliminated hypoxia-induced H9c2 injury. Moreover, HIF-1α signaling was further activated and stabilized by AS-IV in hypoxia-challenged H9c2 cells. Downregulation of HIF-1α suppressed the function of AS-IV in hypoxia-challenged H9c2 cells. AS-IV promoted JAK2/STAT3 signaling in hypoxia-induced injury. The beneficial functions of AS-IV in hypoxia-exposed H9c2 cells were linked to HIF-1α upregulation and JAK2/STAT3 signaling activation. Conclusions AS-IV relieved H9c2 cardiomyocyte injury after hypoxia, possibly by activating JAK2/STAT3-mediated HIF-1α signaling.
Node dissection in prostate cancer: no answers for old questions

Over the past century, it has been recognized that pelvic and abdominal lymph nodes are common sites for metastatic prostate cancer (1). Flocks (2) reported that metastatic nodes were also frequently found in early prostatic cancer, this finding, associated with the development of safe surgical techniques to remove the prostate gland, has brought attention to the importance of pelvic lymphadenectomy. The presence of positive lymph nodes is associated with a worse prognosis and every effort should be made to detect the lymph node involvement and establish the best therapeutic plan. Important questions have arisen since then: how extensive should the pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) be? is PLND a staging or therapeutic procedure?
Micromechanical fiber-optic attenuator with 3 /spl mu/s response

Optomechanical fiber-optic attenuators are bulky and slow. The mechanical antireflection switch (MARS) modulator offers a high-speed alternative for applications including dynamic gain control in fiber amplifiers. This paper describes a compact electrically controlled variable attenuator using a micromechanical device where electrostatic deflection of a silicon nitride quarter-wave dielectric layer suspended over a silicon substrate creates a variable reflectivity mirror. This device is packaged with two fibers in one ceramic ferrule placed in contact with a gradient index (GRIN) collimation lens, so that the input light reflects from the modulator in the collimated beam plane and couples into the output fiber. Using a 300 /spl mu/m diameter MARS attenuator and a 500 /spl mu/m diameter collimation lens, the total insertion loss at 1550 nm was 3.0 dB with no applied voltage, increasing to 31 dB at 35.2 V. The polarization dependent loss was less than 0.06 dB. Full attenuation with more than 100 mW input power produced no damage. The response time was 2.8 /spl mu/s to move from maximum to minimum transmission and 1.1 /spl mu/s to return to maximum transmission.
A Methodology for Writing High Quality Requirements Specification and Evaluating Existing Ones

Requirements development and management have always been critical in the implementation of software systems-engineers are unable to build what analysts can not define. It is generally accepted that the earlier in the life cycle potential risks are identified the easier it is to eliminate or manage the conditions that introduce that risk. Problems that are not found until testing are approximately 14 times more costly to fix than if the problem was found in the requirement phase. The requirements specification, as the first tangible representation of the capability to be produced, establishes the basis for all of the project's engineering management and assurance functions. If the quality of the requirements specification is poor it can give rise to risks in all areas of the project. Recently, automated tools have become available to support requirements management. The use of these tools not only provides support in the definition and tracing of requirements, but it also opens the door to effective use of metrics in characterizing and assessing the quality of the requirement specifications.
Muscle pump‐induced inhibition of sympathetic vasomotor outflow during leg cycling is blunted by high‐intensity muscle metaboreflex activation

Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) decreases during leg cycling at light or mild intensity (below 40%VO2max), and this is attributed to loading of the cardiopulmonary baroreceptors via muscle pump‐induced increases in venous return. In contrast, MSNA increases during leg cycling above moderate intensity, suggesting that the sympathoinhibitory effect of the cardiopulmonary baroreflex could be overridden by a powerful sympathoexcitatory drive. Skeletal muscle metaboreflex is known to elicit robust sympathoexcitation. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that high‐intensity muscle metaboreflex activation attenuates muscle pumpinduced cardiopulmonary baroreflex‐mediated inhibition of MSNA during leg cycling. In five healthy young men (25 ± 2 yrs, mean ± SE), MSNA (radial nerve) and thoracic impedance were recorded. Subjects performed cycling at 30 watts with and without muscle metaboreflex activation. Graded isolation of the muscle metaboreflex was achieved by post‐exercise ischemia (PEI) following low and high intensity isometric handgrip at 20% (PEI‐L) and 40% (PEI‐H) maximum voluntary contraction, before the onset of leg cycling. Resting MSNA burst frequency was 23.4 ± 0.4 burst·min−1 and MSNA total activity was 1503 ± 20 AU·min−1. As expected, leg cycling alone significantly decreased MSNA burst frequency and total activity (Δtotal activity: −43.0 ± 4.9%, P < 0.05). When leg cycling was performed during muscle metaboreflex activation with PEI, MSNA burst frequency and total activity decreased significantly during PEI‐L (Δtotal activity: −32.8 ± 7.1%, P < 0.05), but not during PEI‐H (Δtotal activity: +1.6 ± 7.1%, P = 0.89). Thoracic admittance, which was calculated from thoracic impedance as an index of central blood volume, was not changed during handgrip or PEI, whereas leg cycling evoked similar increases in thoracic admittance during all conditions (ΔLeg cycling alone: +3.5 ± 1.0, ΔPEI‐L: +3.6 ± 1.0, ΔPEI‐H: +3.6 ± 0.8 S·10−4, one‐way repeated measures ANOVA: F = 0.02, P = 0.98). These preliminary findings suggest that high intensity muscle metaboreflex activation attenuates muscle pump‐induced cardiopulmonary baroreflex inhibition of sympathetic vasomotor outflow during dynamic leg cycling.
The Dynamics of Shipbuilding in Shipping: An Econometric Analysis

This book provides an empirical analysis of the role of shipbuilding in the large shipping world. A large amount of studies on shipping markets are based on the efficient market theory. However, given the unpredictable and ever-changing nature of shipping industry, it is not convincing to study the market statically. This book looks into the dynamics between freight and shipbuilding markets in a more delicate way: the interaction among freight rate, shipbuilding order and delivery. It focuses specifically on the factor of 'time lag' between different shipping segments through a comprehensive econometric analysis. Shipbuilding variables do not interact with other economic variables in a static way, the dynamics among freight rate, shipbuilding order and delivery act in a cyclical manner. While the shipbuilding market largely depends on the operating environment of other shipping markets, it influences back freight market profoundly.
Load curves at DC inverter side: a useful tool to predict behavior and aid the design of grid-connected photovoltaic systems

The paper proposes a novel analysis and design method providing the designer with an aid useful to compare different solutions and to optimize component dimensioning, in the field of electronic systems, for direct conversion of PV energy, devoted to be connected to an utility grid. The novel concept of load curve in DC frame is first introduced that allows to find the system steady-state operating point both in DC and AC frame leading to a prediction technique. Predictions by load curve technique are shown to be validated by experimental results obtained from an ad hoc designed prototype system. Then the technique is applied to evaluate the effect of parasitic parameters in working point displacement with respect to the design ideal case. As an example, this ability of the load curve technique to help the design is exploited in the practical case of a PV generator installed at the Polytechnic University of Turin and results are verified by means of PSpice simulations.
Implementação Paralela do Algoritmo de Geração de Chaves do Esquema de Assinatura Digital XMSS (eXtended Merkle Signature Scheme)

Algoritmos de assinatura baseados em hash estão ganhando atenção devido a sua apregoada resistência a algoritmos quânticos. Apesar dos tempos de confecção e veriﬁcação de assinatura serem compatíveis com os tempos dos algoritmos atualmente em uso, o tempo de geração das chaves é ordens de grandeza superior. Este artigo apresenta e analisa o desempenho de duas implementações de paralelismo MIMD (Multiple Instruction Multiple Data) para acelerar o tempo de execução do algoritmo de geração de chaves do esquema de assinatura digital baseado em hash XMSS (eXtended Merkle Signature Scheme).