Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Modular Multilevel Voltage-Boosting

Abstract –In order to overcome the limitations of the existing classical and solid-state Marx Pulse Generators, this paper proposes a new modular multilevel voltage-Boosting Marx Pulse Generator (BMPG). The proposed BMPG has hardware features that allow modularity, redundancy and scalability as well as operational features that alleviate the need of series connected switches and allows generation of a wide range of pulse waveforms. In the BMPG, a controllable low-voltage input boost converter supplies, via Directing/Blocking (D/B) diodes, two arms of a series modular multilevel converter Half-Bridge Sub-Modules (HB-SMs). At start up, all the arm’s SM capacitors are resonantly charged in parallel from 0V, simultaneously via directing diodes, to a voltage in excess of the source voltage. After first pulse delivery, the energy of the SM capacitors decreases due to the generated pulse. Then, for continuous operation without fully discharging the SM capacitors or having a large voltage droop as in the available Marx generators, the SM-capacitors are continuously re-charged in parallel, to the desired boosted voltage level. Because all SMs are parallel connected, the boost converter duty ratio is controlled by a single voltage measurement at the output terminals of the boost converter. Due to the proposed SMs structure and the utilization of D/B diodes, each SM capacitor is effectively controlled individually without requiring a voltage sensor across each SM capacitor. Generation of the commonly used pulse waveforms in electroporation applications is possible, whilst assuring balanced capacitors, hence SM voltages. The proposed BMPG has several topological variations, such as utilizing a buck-boost converter at the input stage and replacing the HB-SM with full-bridge SMs. The proposed BMPG topology is assessed by simulation and scaled-down proof-of-concept experimentation to explore its viability for electroporation applications. A Modular Multilevel Voltage-Boosting Marx Pulse-Waveform Generator for Electroporation Applications
DISPERSION OF HYDROGEN FROM HIGH-PRESSURE SOURCES

This paper describes work by Shell Global Solutions and the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) to characterise the hazards from jet releases of hydrogen. The objectives were to determine how hydrogen hazards differ from those associated with more traditional hydrocarbon fuels and whether existing models can adequately describe this behaviour. Controlled release experiments have been carried out with release pressures ranging between 1 and 15 MPa. Concentration measurements were made in unignited free jets to determine the extent of the flammable cloud generated. The results are compared with predictions from HGSYSTEM, a model developed and validated for jet releases of hydrocarbons. Agreement with model predictions was excellent for 8 out of the 23 releases. The disagreement with the other releases was consistent with the plume being blown off-axis downstream. The strength of this crosswind effect was significant and illustrates the need to include crosswind capability into dispersion models.
Isolation and Identification of Potential Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria from the Rhizosphere of Lupinus hirsutus L . in the north of Morocco

The use of biological approaches instead of chemicals to improve agricultural production has captured the interest of agronomists for a long time. With the aim to select beneficial bacteria exhibiting several plant growth promoting (PGP) traits, 44 bacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere of the legume Lupinus hirsutus L. , and tested for solubilization of tricalcium phosphate (Ca3 (PO4)2). Of 35 phosphate solubilizing rhizobacteria, 14 isolates were selected for their solubilization diameters (0.6-1cm). Four bacteria were able to produce indole acetic acid (IAA), while none was positive for hydrocyanic acid (HCN). Other PGP traits (siderophores production, Atmospheric nitrogen fixation and ACC deaminase) were searched for these 4 bacteria. Except the isolate RL5 strain which showed ACC deaminase activity, all strains were unable to produce siderophores or to fixe nitrogen. Phosphorus solubilizing ability of these 4 strains was tested in liquid medium with 0.5% Ca3(PO4)2, and the values of soluble P were ranged between 81.94 and 298.66 mg / l after 7 days of incubation, obtained respectively by RL77 and RL10. This bacterial solubilization of P was accompanied by a fall in pH to pH 4.83 in presence of RL10. These isolates were shown to belong to the genus Enterobacter. The rice inoculation test (Puntal variety) was performed in pots substituting soluble P by Ca3 (PO4)2. Significant increases were obtained for shoot length and dry weight of plants in presence of RL5, RL10 and RL16, as compared to the control. However, RL77 showed a significant decrease of the different parameters.
Computation of LC50 against Spodoptera litura (Fab.) for Bacillus thuringiensis isolates from native soil samples of Andhra Pradesh

The experiments were conducted at the Department of Seed Science and Technology during 2017 on mechanization of seed priming by standardizing the spin drying duration of the Seed Priming cabinet, to enhance the seed viability per cent, embryonic growth of the solanaceous vegetables viz., brinjal, chilli and tomato seeds. The seeds were subjected to conventional hydropriming which involves manual soaking, draining and shade drying and it was compared with mechanized seed priming and spin drying for 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 min. Hydropriming (48 hrs) and spin drying for 1 min. was standardised for chilli, likewise, 48 hrs + 2 min. for both brinjal and tomato. The hydroprimed and spin dried seeds along with hydroprimed + shade drying and control seeds were subjected to anatomical study by using Euromex Holland’s Image Version 1.0. The results indicated that high seed viability per cent 19.3, 30.7 and 76.0 was observed in hydroprimed + spin dried seeds of brinjal, chilli and tomato respectively, over non primed seeds. Apart this, Spin dried seeds of all the above said crops showed significant difference in radicle and cotyledon length over nonprimed seeds. In which, Spin dried seeds of tomato showed 116.7 and 22.4 per cent increase in length of radicle and plumule + hypocotyl length, respectively over non primed seeds. Brinjal spin dried seeds showed hike in radicle length and plumule + hypocotyl length of 35.8 and 95.3 per cent respectively over non primed seeds. In chilli, spin dried seeds radicle length and plumule + hypocotyl length was increased 42.1 and 3.2 per cent, respectively over non primed seeds.
HEVC Encoding Assisted with Noise Reduction

Optimization of encoding process in video compression is an important research problem, especially in the case of modern, sophisticated compression technologies. In this paper, we consider HEVC, for which a novel method for selecting of the encoding modes is proposed. By the encoding modes we mean e.g. coding block structure, prediction types and motion vectors. The proposed selection is done basing on noise-reduced version of the input sequence, while the information about the video itself, e.g. transform coefficients, is coded basing on the unaltered input. The proposed method involves encoding of two versions of the input sequence, further, we show realization proving that the complexity is only negligibly higher than complexity of a single encoding. The proposal has been implemented in HEVC reference software from MPEG and tested experimentally. The results show that the proposal provides up to 1.5% bitrate reduction while preserving the same quality of a decoded video.
A Long Short-term Memory Neural Network for Improved Twins' Voice Differentiation

A Long Short-Term Memory Neural Network for Improved Twins’ Voice Differentiation Stallone Bruno-Ray Sabatier Although successfully implemented in certain situations, the reliability of speaker recognition (SR) decreases due to speaker and channel variability present between enrollment and evaluation samples, as well as the available length of speech utterances. The issue of speaker variability becomes more pronounced when the number of speakers in the evaluation set increases, as there is a higher probability that two voices may sound more alike. The differentiation of intra-twin pairs’ voices can be beneficial to general SR because inclusion can simulate this effect. This is due to the fact that their shared voice similarities are comparable to the potential inter-speaker similarities one would expect in a large database of enrolled speakers. Furthermore, twin occurrence has steadily increased over the past thirty years. With these considerations in mind, there have been few research efforts analyzing the impact of identical twins on SR, and they have been lacking in terms of the corpus of individuals sampled and/or the technology employed. In this research effort, a recurrent neural network that specializes in processing time series data, specifically the long short-term memory (LSTM) network, is evaluated on a large corpus of identical twins’ speech collected over two years with multiple speaking modes. The LSTM’s recurrent capability enables the exploitation of higher level speech features which are hypothesized to be more variant between identical twins. The LSTM is configured as a single network, and in a Siamese fashion, to evaluate the performance of varied utterance lengths and speech features. Matching results are analyzed and discussed in comparison to state of the art i-vector methodologies. Results in terms of the equal error rate (EER) indicate that, as the length of the enrollment and test utterances are reduced, the LSTM outperforms the i-vector system by 17% for two seconds of speech data. Of the three speech features investigated in the Siamese configuration, mel-frequency spectral coefficients resulted in the highest rate of twin voice differentiation with an EER of 8.57% for six seconds of data. Lastly, in comparison to other twins’ voice studies, the introduction of more individuals degrades performance with respect to male speakers from nearly 0% to 0.598% EER. However, the results from these experiments are far less than female trials in other studies.
Biomass and nutrient content of Douglas-fir logs and other detrital pools in an old-growth forest

MEANS,J.E. , MACMILLAN, P.C. , and CROMACK, K. , JR. 1992. Biomass and nutrient content of Douglas-fir logs and other detrital pools in an old-growth forest, Oregon, U.S.A. Can. J. For. Res. 22: 1536-1546. Logs, forest floor, and mineral soil were sampled and measured, and snags were measured, in a 450-year-old Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) stand on the H.I. Andrews Experimental Forest, Oregon. Logs, some still identifiable after 300 years on the forest floor, contained large amounts of organic matter (222 Mglha), C (100 Mglha), water (559 10 700 LIIog), N (183 kg/ha), and Ca (141 kglha), and smaller amounts of P (5.5 kg/ha), K (22 kglha), Mg (14 kglha), and Na (3.7 kglha). Logs and snags covered about 17%of the forest floor and had an all-sided area index of 0.69 m2/m2.Through mineralization, C, N, and K were lost through time; Ca and Mg increased; and P and Na increased then decreased, showing no net change. Also through mineralization, cellulose and hot acid detergent soluble fraction decreased more rapidly than lignin. Lignin was apparently not lost until the later stages of decay, when N was also lost in significant amounts. This parallels the shift from initial dominance by white rots that degraded cellulose and lignin to laler dominance by brown rots that preferentially degraded cellulose. Lignin and cellulose were eventually lost at more similar rates in'later decay stages. This may have been due in part to a close association between the remaining cellulose and lignin in later decay stages. Lignin was a better predictor of the onset of N release than was the C:N ratio.
Sparse Reject Option Classifier Using Successive Linear Programming

In this paper, we propose an approach for learning sparse reject option classifiers using double ramp loss Ldr. We use DC programming to find the risk minimizer. The algorithm solves a sequence of linear programs to learn the reject option classifier. We show that the loss Ldr is Fisher consistent. We also show that the excess risk of loss Ld is upper bounded by excess risk of Ldr. We derive the generalization error bounds for the proposed approach. We show the effectiveness of the proposed approach by experimenting it on several real world datasets. The proposed approach not only performs comparable to the state of the art, it also successfully learns sparse classifiers.
On Evolution of Young Wind Waves in Time and Space

The mechanisms governing the evolution of the wind-wave field in time and in space are not yet fully understood. Various theoretical approaches have been offered to model wind-wave generation. To examine their validity, detailed and accurate experiments under controlled conditions have to be carried out. Since it is next to impossible to get the required control of the governing parameters and to accumulate detailed data in field experiments, laboratory studies are needed. Extensive previously unavailable results on the spatial and temporal variation of wind waves accumulated in our laboratory under a variety of wind-forcing conditions and using diverse measuring techniques are reviewed. The spatial characteristics of the wind-wave field were determined using stereo video imaging. The turbulent airflow above wind waves was investigated using an X-hot film. The wave field under steady wind forcing as well as evolving from rest under impulsive loading was studied. An extensive discussion of the various aspects of wind waves is presented from a single consistent viewpoint. The advantages of the stochastic approach suggested by Phillips over the deterministic theory of wind-wave generation introduced by Miles are demonstrated. Essential differences between the spatial and the temporal analyses of wind waves’ evolution are discussed, leading to examination of the applicability of possible approaches to wind-wave modeling.
ENGLISH COMPETENCY TOWARDS LAW EDUCATION ACQUISITION FOR NON-LAW DIPLOMA COURSE STUDENTS

This research aims to find out if there is a significant correlation between English Language Competency towards the learning of the Law Subject, EMT 119 (Introduction to The Property of Law). This study involves the survey method through the use of a questionnaire. The respondents in the sample are 150 undergraduates pursuing the Diploma In Estate Management in the Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying, Universiti Teknologi Mara Perak. Descriptive data are presented in the form of percentage, total mean scores and standard deviation. Inferential statistics is used to determine the correlation between the variables. The results show significant correlations between the following: (1) English Language Competency and EMT 119 and (2) Listening and EMT 119.
Executive Market Segmentation : How Local Density Affects Incentive and Performance

This paper studies how the density of executive labor markets affects managerial incentives and firm performance. I show that executive markets are locally segmented rather than nationally integrated, and the density of a local market provides executives with noncompensation incentives. In a denser market, executives face stronger performance-based dismissal threats as well as better outside promotion opportunities. These incentives induce executives to bring higher performance to firms in denser markets, especially when executives are young. The results in this paper imply the importance of local market density in managerial incentive alignment. JEL Classification: G30; G34; J42
State Ownership and Product Innovation in China : An Integrated View of Efficiency and Legitimacy

Does state ownership benefit or impede firm innovation? Extant studies offer contradicting perspectives and inconsistent empirical findings regarding this issue. This study develops an integrated view of institutional and efficiency logics by proposing that whereas state ownership enables a firm to obtain R&D resources, it makes the firm less efficient in utilizing the resources to generate innovation. The results of two longitudinal panel datasets of Chinese manufacturing firms show that state ownership positively affects R&D input; however, it also weakens the effect of R&D input on innovation output, making a minority state ownership optimal for innovation development. Moreover, the efficiency problem of state ownership of transforming R&D input into innovation output decreases when industrial competition is high, as well as for start-ups. We discuss the implications of these findings for research of state ownership and firm innovation in emerging economies.
Teachers ’ patterns of implementation of an evidence-based intervention and student outcomes : results from a nationwide dissemination over 24-months follow-up

More information is needed about factors influencing real-life implementation and program impact of interventions effective in controlled study conditions. Ongoing national implementation of an evidence-based HIV prevention program targeting grade 6 students in The Bahamas offers the opportunity to examine patterns of implementation and relate them to student outcomes. Data were collected from 208 grade 6 teachers, 75 grade 7 teachers and 4,411 grade 6 students followed over two years. Mixed-effects modeling analysis examined the association of teachers’ patterns of implementation with student outcomes. High quality program implementation in grade 6 (high implementation dosage and fidelity) was significantly related to student outcomes six and 18 months post-intervention. Quality of implementation of the booster session in grade 7 was also significantly related to student outcomes in grade 7. Quality of delivery of the brief booster session a year after initial implementation is important in maintaining or resetting the student outcome trajectory.
TITLE: Survival and Injury Outcome After TBI: Influence of Pre- and Post-Exposure to Caffeine PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR:

s (full text in appendix) Lytle, N. K. , Boison, D. , Lusardi, T. A. Acute mortality following severe traumatic brain injury is rescued by caffeine. Society for Neuroscience, 42 nd Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA October 13-17, 2012. Lusardi, T. A. , Lytle, N. K. , Boison, D. Effects of caffeine withdrawal after traumatic brain injury. Society for Neuroscience, 42 nd Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA October 13-17, 2012.
Structure and ion physiology of Brasenia schreberi glandular trichomes in vivo

Brasenia schreberi is a critically endangered aquatic basal angiosperm. In this work, we characterized the structure of the glandular trichomes of B. schreberi morphologically and histochemically. We used a variety of structural, histochemical and permeability stains for the characterization, and we tested the effects of stress in vivo using NaCl and ethanol. We observed that the glandular trichome of B. schreberi are composed of two disk-like stalk cells, and a glandular cell which surround a cuticular storage space. The cuticle is discontinuous at the surface of the shoots. Nearly half of young trichomes senesced in 0.9% NaCl, and mature trichomes senesced at 1.8% NaCl. About half of young trichomes senesced under 3% ethanol and mature trichomes senesced in 2% ethanol after 20 min of treatment. The physiology of glandular trichomes affects the way they secrete mucilage via storage space at a young stage. The trichomes become permeable and absorb ions when mature. This transition depends on the osmiophilic material and the dynamic protoplast. It can accelerate senescence and disassembly by ion accumulation. Permeability tests and ion treatments of glandular trichomes provide new insights for fertilizer research. Our study highlights the structure and physiology of B. schreberi glandular trichomes.
On the Distribution of Content Updates over a Mobile Social Network

Our work [1,2] focuses on a content distribution system over a mobile network. In this system, users subscribe to a content distribution service offered by their wireless service provider, as shown in Illustration 1. The content distributed is dynamic and, as a result, subscribers need to continuously receive fresh updates for this content. For example, cell-phone users may receive updates regarding a news-feed or a blog of their interest, the price of a stock, traffic information, etc.
Modulation of in fl ammation by chondroitin sulfate

Objective and methods: To evaluate the immune-modulator effect of chondroitin sulfate (CS) by means of the review of the literature. Results: Inflammatory reactions are primarily originated by infectious agents, immune reactions and by sterile tissue lesions that activate membrane receptors by means of pathogen-associated molecular patterns, tissue breakdown products and cytokines. The activation of membrane receptors triggers the phosphorylation of mitogen activated protein kinases and of the nuclear factor kB (NF-kB). The binding of NF-kB to the promoter of target genes enhances the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase 2, phospholipase A2, and matrix metalloproteases, proteins that contribute to tissue damage and to the inflammatory reaction. The activation of NF-kB has a key role in the immune homeostasis and the inflammatory response and therefore, in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases. Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is able to diminish NF-kB activation and nuclear translocation in chondrocytes and synovial membrane, effects that may explain the benefits of CS in osteoarthritis. In addition, systemic CS reduces NF-kB nuclear translocation in macrophages and hepatocytes, raising the hypothesis that CS might be of benefit to treat other diseases with a strong inflammatory component. There is preliminary evidence in humans that CS improves moderate to severe psoriasis. Moreover, experimental and clinical data suggest that CS might be a useful therapeutic agent in diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases, atherosclerosis, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Discussion: These results urge for double blinded placebo-controlled trials to confirm the utility of CS in diseases with immune and inflammatory components. 2010 Osteoarthritis Research Society International. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Running head : Unemployment and personality change No Personality Change Following Unemployment : A Registered Replication

Author Note Timo Gnambs, Institute of Education and Psychology, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria and Educational Measurement, Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories, Bamberg, Germany; Barbara Stiglbauer, Institute of Education and Psychology, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Timo Gnambs, Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories, Wilhelmsplatz 3, 96047 Bamberg, Germany, E-mail: timo.gnambs@lifbi.de.
E(cid:11)ective actions in N = 1 , D5 supersymmetric gauge theories: harmonic superspace approach

: We consider the o(cid:11)-shell formulation of the 5D, N = 1 super Yang-Mills and super Chern-Simons theories in harmonic superspace. Using such a formulation we develop a manifestly supersymmetric and gauge invariant approach to constructing the one-loop e(cid:11)ective action both in super Yang-Mills and super Chern-Simons models. On the base of this approach we compute the leading low-energy quantum contribution to the e(cid:11)ective action on the Abelian vector multiplet background. This contribution corresponds to the ‘ F 4 ’ invariant which is given in 5D super(cid:12)eld form.