Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Novel Dual-Input High-Gain Transformerless Multilevel Single-Phase Microinverter for PV Systems

This article proposes a novel single-phase microinverter that is fit to process the power of two photovoltaic (PV) modules in a modular way. The proposed topology combines a full-bridge inverter integrated with two dc–dc boost converters, in addition to a dc link that consists of switched capacitor (SC) networks. The operating modes of the proposed topology are illustrated. The voltage stress of all components is identified. A modulation technique along with a control system is developed for a proper operation of the proposed topology. A comparative study with other topologies is introduced, and the following merits for the proposed one are presented: 1) The power of two PV modules can be harvested individually or simultaneously without any circulating current issues; 2) very high gain can be acquired, and, thus, no series connection of PV modules is required for grid-tied applications; 3) transformerless operation; 4) multilevel shaping of the output voltage, and, thus, reduced filter size is required; and 5) self-balancing for the dc-link capacitors, and, thus, simple control systems can be used. The performance of the seven-level version of the proposed topology is validated using real-time simulation and experimental prototype under grid-tied and stand-alone conditions, respectively.
Review article: Climate change impacts on dam safety

Abstract. Dams as well as protective dikes and levees are critical infrastructures whose associated risk must be properly managed in a continuous and updated process. Usually, dam safety management has been carried out assuming stationary climatic and non-climatic conditions. However, the projected alterations due to climate change are likely to affect different factors driving dam risk. Although some reference institutions develop guidance for including climate change in their decision support strategies, related information is still vast and scattered and its application to specific analyses such as dam safety assessments remains a challenge. This article presents a comprehensive and multidisciplinary review of the impacts of climate change that could affect dam safety. The global effect can be assessed through the integration of the various projected effects acting on each aspect of the risk, from the input hydrology to the calculation of the consequences of the flood wave on population and assets at risk. This will provide useful information for dam owners and dam safety practitioners in their decision-making process.
Preparation and Characterization of Novel Plaster with Improved Thermal Energy Storage Performance

Thermal energy storage systems based on latent heat utilization represent a promising way to achieve building sustainability and energy efficiency. The application of phase change materials (PCMs) can substantially improve the thermal performance of building envelopes, decrease the energy consumption, and support the thermal comfort maintenance, especially during peak periods. On this account, the newly formed form-stable PCM (FSPCM) based on diatomite impregnated by dodecanol is used as an admixture for design of interior plasters with enhanced thermal storage capability. In this study, the effect of FSPCM admixture on functional properties of plasters enriched by 8, 16 and 24 wt. % is determined. On this account, the assessment of physical, thermal, hygric, and mechanical properties is done in order to correlate obtained results with applied FSPCM dosages. Achieved results reveal only a minor influence of applied FSPCM admixture on material properties when compared to negative impacts of commercially produced PCMs. The differential scanning calorimetry discloses variations of the phase change temperature, which ranging from 20.75 °C to 21.68 °C and the effective heat capacity increased up to 15.38 J/g accordingly to the applied FSPCM dosages.
Screen-Printed Chipless Wireless Temperature Sensor

A chipless wireless sensor for temperature monitoring is described in this work. The sensor is fabricated by screen printing of an RLC circuit on a flexible substrate. The sensing element is a resistive carbon paste with positive temperature coefficient placed in a small area in the interconnection between the inductor and the capacitor. This sensing layer modifies the resonance frequency of the circuit when the temperature varies. We also show the influence of the sensor sensitivity with respect to the reading distance.
Does the GPM mission improve the systematic error component in satellite rainfall estimates over TRMM? An evaluation at a pan-India scale

Abstract. The last couple of decades have seen the outburst of a number of satellite-based precipitation products with Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) as the most widely used for hydrologic applications. Transition of TRMM into the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) promises enhanced spatio-temporal resolution along with upgrades to sensors and rainfall estimation techniques. The dependence of systematic error components in rainfall estimates of the Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (IMERG), and their variation with climatology and topography, was evaluated over 86 basins in India for year 2014 and compared with the corresponding (2014) and retrospective (1998–2013) TRMM estimates. IMERG outperformed TRMM for all rainfall intensities across a majority of Indian basins, with significant improvement in low rainfall estimates showing smaller negative biases in 75 out of 86 basins. Low rainfall estimates in TRMM showed a systematic dependence on basin climatology, with significant overprediction in semi-arid basins, which gradually improved in the higher rainfall basins. Medium and high rainfall estimates of TRMM exhibited a strong dependence on basin topography, with declining skill in higher elevation basins. The systematic dependence of error components on basin climatology and topography was reduced in IMERG, especially in terms of topography. Rainfall-runoff modeling using the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model over two flood-prone basins (Mahanadi and Wainganga) revealed that improvement in rainfall estimates in IMERG did not translate into improvement in runoff simulations. More studies are required over basins in different hydroclimatic zones to evaluate the hydrologic significance of IMERG.
N and P as ultimate and proximate limiting nutrients in the northern Gulf of Mexico: implications for hypoxia reduction strategies

Abstract. The occurrence of hypoxia in coastal oceans is a long-standing and growing problem worldwide and is clearly linked to anthropogenic nutrient inputs. While the need for reducing anthropogenic nutrient loads is generally accepted, it is costly and thus requires scientifically sound nutrient-reduction strategies. Issues under debate include the relative importance of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) as well as the magnitude of the reduction requirements. The largest anthropogenically induced hypoxic area in North American coastal waters (of 15 000 ± 5000 km2) forms every summer in the northern Gulf of Mexico where the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers deliver large amounts of freshwater and nutrients to the shelf. A 2001 plan for reducing this hypoxic area by nutrient management in the watershed called for a reduction of N loads. Since then evidence of P limitation during the time of hypoxia formation has arisen, and a dual nutrient-reduction strategy for this system has been endorsed. Here we report the first systematic analysis of the effects of single and dual nutrient load reductions from a spatially explicit physical–biogeochemical model for the northern Gulf of Mexico. The model has been shown previously to skillfully represent the processes important for hypoxic formation. Our analysis of an ensemble of simulations with stepwise reductions in N, P, and N and P loads provides insight into the effects of both nutrients on primary production and hypoxia, and it allows us to estimate what nutrient reductions would be required for single and dual nutrient-reduction strategies to reach the hypoxia target. Our results show that, despite temporary P limitation, N is the ultimate limiting nutrient for primary production in this system. Nevertheless, a reduction in P load would reduce hypoxia because primary production is P limited in the region where density stratification is conducive to hypoxia development, but reductions in N load have a bigger effect. Our simulations show that, at present loads, the system is almost saturated with N, in the sense that the sensitivity of primary production and hypoxia to N load is much lower than it would be at lower N loads. We estimate that reductions of 63±18 % in total N load or 48±21 % in total N and P load are necessary to reach a hypoxic area of 5000 km2, which is consistent with previous estimates from statistical regression models and highly simplified mechanistic models.
Piña Palmera is a place for learning : A qualitative study of experiences from the Piña Palmera Community Based Rehabilitation program for people with disabilities in Oaxaca, Mexico

AbstractIntroduction Persons with disabilities are among the most vulnerable groups in every society and the World Health Organisation (WHO) has introduced Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) with the intention of decreasing this vulnerability. In Oaxaca, Mexico, the Pina Palmera CBR program is working with persons with disabilities from rural communities to improve their quality of life.Objective The objectives of this qualitative study were to explore what motivates people to engage in the Pina Palmera CBR program, the expected and perceived benefits of participation, and future hopes and ideas for the program among program participants and their family members.Method Data was collected in the state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico during November-December 2014, in the form of 8 semi-structured interviews. Analysis of the data collected in the interviews was done by using thematic analysis.Findings The analysis of the data resulted in four themes regarding motivations for and perceived benefits of participation: Pina Palmera is a place for learning, You feel part of a group in Pina Palmera, Pina Palmera is improving the situation for persons with disabilities, and No other place works like Pina Palmera.Conclusion That Pina Palmera is a place where you get opportunities to learn, that one feels a part of a group, and that the program is different from other options in the way they work can make them an important resource for persons with disabilities in Oaxaca, decreasing problems with unemployment, discrimination, and lacking governmental support for persons with disabilities.
Deep-Reinforcement-Learning-Based Autonomous Voltage Control for Power Grid Operations

In this letter, a novel autonomous control framework “Grid Mind” is proposed for the secure operation of power grids based on cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The proposed platform provides a data-driven, model-free and closed-loop control agent trained using deep reinforcement learning (DRL) algorithms by interacting with massive simulations and/or real environment of a power grid. The proposed agent learns from scratch to master the power grid voltage control problem purely from data. It can make autonomous voltage control (AVC) strategies to support grid operators in making effective and timely control actions, according to the current system conditions detected by real-time measurements from supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) or phasor measurement units (PMUs). Two state-of-the-art DRL algorithms, namely deep Q-network (DQN) and deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG), are proposed to formulate the AVC problem with performance compared. Case studies on a realistic 200-bus test system demonstrate the effectiveness and promising performance of the proposed framework.
Global sensitivity analysis of chemistry-climate model budgets of tropospheric ozone and OH: Exploring model diversity

Abstract. Projections of future atmospheric composition change and its impacts on air quality and climate depend heavily on chemistry-climate models that allow us to investigate the effects of changing emissions and meteorology. These models are imperfect as they rely on our understanding of the chemical, physical and dynamical processes governing atmospheric composition, on the approximations needed to represent these numerically, and on the limitations of the observations required to constrain them. Model intercomparison studies show substantial diversity in results that reflect underlying uncertainties, but little progress has been made in explaining the causes of this or in identifying the weaknesses in process understanding or representation that could lead to improved models and to better scientific understanding. Global sensitivity analysis provides a valuable method of identifying and quantifying the main causes of diversity in current models. For the first time, we apply Gaussian process emulation with three independent global chemistry transport models to quantify the sensitivity of ozone and hydroxyl radicals (OH) to important climate-relevant variables, poorly-characterized processes and uncertain emissions. We show a clear sensitivity of tropospheric ozone to atmospheric humidity and precursor emissions which is similar for the models, but find large differences between models for methane lifetime, highlighting substantial differences in the sensitivity of OH to primary and secondary production. This approach allows us to identify key areas where model improvements are required while providing valuable new insight into the processes driving tropospheric composition change.
Assessing the Usability of MAX 2008 Encounter Data for Enrollees in Comprehensive Managed Care. Washington, DC: Mathematica Policy Research

This issue brief provides an assessment of the selected other services, inpatient (IP), and prescription drug (RX) encounter data for enrollees in comprehensive managed care during 2008. It summarizes the availability, completeness, quality, and usability of the encounter data for comprehensive managed care enrollees by basis of eligibility category and gives specific information by state. It also examines the changes in the IP and RX encounter data from 2007 to 2008. The results are encouraging for researchers and policymakers. Most states that have comprehensive managed care plans are reporting IP, RX, and other services encounter data. Of those data, most are usable. The number of states submitting usable encounter data is increasing.
Geostationary Lightning Mapper and Earth Networks Lightning Detection Over the Contiguous United States and Dependence on Flash Characteristics

This study compared the detection capabilities of the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) and ground‐based Earth Networks Total Lightning Network (ENL) over the contiguous United States (CONUS) from 25 April 2017 to 5 May 2018. GLM detection efficiency (DE) relative to ENL varied spatially with greater DE in the southeastern United States and lower DE in the Northern Plains. Regions with greater DE were often regions where most intracloud flashes had normal positive polarity, while lower DE regions frequently had inverted negative intracloud. According to the tripolar noninductive charging model, inverted intracloud flashes are lower altitude than normal intracloud flashes. This lower altitude flash may result in greater cloud scattering of the optical lightning signal, which at cloud top is less than the GLM detection limits. DE was generally also greater for greater absolute peak current flashes, which serves as a proxy for optical energy. Additionally, GLM observed flashes to be generally greater in area and duration in the eastern relative to the western CONUS, which may result in the greater DE. GLM DE was also varied with the solar zenith angle as greatest DE occurred at night. ENL DE relative to GLM was varied spatially over CONUS with greater DE over eastern CONUS. ENL DE was greater for flashes of greater GLM flash radiant energy, area, and duration.
Initial phonological transfer in L3 Brazilian Portuguese and Italian

This study examines five variables posited to drive(s) initial phonological transfer of (part of) one system over another in an L3: language status (L1/L2), facilitation, global structural similarity, dominance, and bilingual experience. Specifically, we investigate production of intervocalic voiced stops by English/Spanish bilinguals at the initial stages of L3 Brazilian Portuguese (BP) or Italian. These segments surface as [−continuant] in BP, Italian, and English but are realized as [+continuant] in Spanish; English transfer is therefore facilitative while Spanish is non-facilitative. Three groups (English-dominant heritage Spanish speakers, L1 English/L2 Spanish, L1 Spanish/L2 English) enrolled in first semester BP or Italian completed delayed repetition tasks in all three languages. The majority of participants across groups produce Spanish-like [+continuant] segments, suggestive of a primary role for global structural similarity. For the subset of participants across groups that produces English-like/L3-like [−continuant] segments, debrief data indicate a potential relationship between metalinguistic knowledge and [−continuant] production.
Meteorological factors affecting the risk of transmission of HPAI in Miyazaki, Japan

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks engender a severe economic impact on the poultry industry and public health. Migratory waterfowl are considered the natural hosts of HPAI virus, and HPAI viruses are known to be transmitted over long distances during seasonal bird migration. Bird migration is greatly affected by the weather. Many studies have shown the relationship between either autumn or spring bird migration and climate. However, few studies have shown the relationship between annual bird migration and annual weather. This study aimed to establish a model for the number of migratory waterfowl involved in HPAI virus transmission based on meteorological data. From 136 species of waterfowl that were observed at Futatsudate in Miyazaki, Japan, from 2008 to 2016, we selected potential high-risk species that could introduce the HPAI virus into Miyazaki and defined them as ‘risky birds’. We also performed cluster analysis to select meteorological factors. We then analysed the meteorological data and the total number of risky birds using a generalised linear mixed model. We selected 10 species as risky birds: Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), Northern pintail (Anas acuta), Eurasian wigeon (Anas penelope), Eurasian teal (Anas crecca), Common pochard (Aythya ferina), Eurasian coot (Fulica atra), Northern shoveler (Anas clypeata), Common shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), Tufted duck (Aythya fuligula) and Herring gull (Larus argentatus). We succeeded in clustering 35 meteorological factors into four clusters and identified three meteorological factors associated with their migration: (1) the average daily maximum temperature; (2) the mean value of global solar radiation and (3) the maximum daily precipitation. We thus demonstrated the relationship between the number of risky birds and meteorological data. The dynamics of migratory waterfowl was relevant to the risk of an HPAI outbreak, and our data could contribute to cost and time savings in strengthening preventive measures against epidemics.
Optimal and Decentralized Control Strategies for Inverter-Based AC Microgrids

This paper presents two control strategies: (i) An optimal exergy destruction (OXD) controller and (ii) a decentralized power apportionment (DPA) controller. The OXD controller is an analytical, closed-loop optimal feedforward controller developed utilizing exergy analysis to minimize exergy destruction in an AC inverter microgrid. The OXD controller requires a star or fully connected topology, whereas the DPA operates with no communication among the inverters. The DPA presents a viable alternative to conventional P − ω / Q − V droop control, and does not suffer from fluctuations in bus frequency or steady-state voltage while taking advantage of distributed storage assets necessary for the high penetration of renewable sources. The performances of OXD-, DPA-, and P − ω / Q − V droop-controlled microgrids are compared by simulation.
Applying Bayesian data mining to measure the effect of vehicular defects on crash severity

Abstract The National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey (NMVCCS), conducted from 2005 to 2007, showed that an estimated 44,000 crashes occurred due to vehicular defects— 2% of the NMVCCS crashes. Vehicle defects have an adverse effect upon overall roadway safety as they can increase the likelihood of traffic crashes, thus increasing the frequency of crash-related injuries and fatalities. Even though Louisiana requires a biennial vehicular safety inspection, recent traffic crash statistics have shown a higher than average percentage of vehicle defect–related crash fatalities in Louisiana (3% of all traffic fatalities). This fact called for an in-depth analysis of the vehicle defect–related crashes in Louisiana. The current study used 7 years (2010–2016) of traffic crash data from Louisiana to investigate the association between crash severity and vehicle-defect types by applying a Bayesian data mining approach. The findings showed that vehicle age is associated with severe injury crashes. Worn tires and defective brakes are the over-represented vehicle-defect categories. The significant association patterns can be used by different stakeholders to enhance roadway safety and reduce vehicular defect associated crashes.
Influence of PGPR-enriched liquid organic fertilizers on the growth and nutrients uptake of maize under drought condition in calcareous soil

Abstract In order to study the effect of water deficit stress (WDS), plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)-enriched and non-enriched vermicompost tea(VT) and vermiwash(V) on the growth and nutrients uptakes of maize, a greenhouse experiment was conducted. The two-factor experiment was set up in a completely randomized design with three replications. The factors included: 1) liquid organic fertilizers (LOFs) with five levels (control, VT, V, vermicompost tea enriched with bacterium (VTB) and vermiwash enriched with bacterium (VB)) and 2) WDS with three levels (Field Capacity (FC), 80% FC and 60% FC(. At each irrigation interval, the volume of the used LOFs was equivalent to 60% of the volume of water required for 60% FC. At 60% FC, shoot dry matter (SDW), shoot N, P, Zn, Cu, and Fe uptake significantly decreased compared with those of FC and 80% FC, whereas shoot K uptake significantly increased. At all WDS levels, application of LOFs led to increase in SDW and shoot nutrients uptake. The highest amount of studied traits was obtained in VTB and VT treatments. Generally, VT treatments were more effective than V. Furthermore, PGPR-enriched LOFs were more effective than non-enriched ones. Application of LOFs may be considered as a practical approach for amplifying drought tolerance and reducing the risk of water scarcity in maize cultivation.