Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Water Quality Modeling

EPA formed the Water Quality Modeling Workgroup in 2013 to facilitate collaboration among EPA and state employees who are using water quality models for CWA regulatory purposes, primarily in the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and Water Quality Standards programs. The group is hosting a series of six 2-hour Webinars in 2015 to help water quality professionals better understand modeling and how models can be used to solve the problems facing water quality regulators. The first three webinars cover modeling basics, such as selecting, developing, and running hydrology and water quality models. The last three webinars will be focused on modeling specific pollutants (e.g., nutrients, sediment, metals) and other emerging issues.
The spatial patterns of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of seed plants with the climate factors across Ethiopia and Eritrea

Back ground: Biodiversity is the basic units and measures of the health of ecosystems that provide diverse goods and services for the well-being of human societies and other life forms. However, in this era due to the threats from climatic change and other human-driven environmental changes the earth’s biodiversity is in a grave danger in the world wide. Here, we explored and mapped how the patterns of plant taxonomic diversity, phylogenetic diversity and structures vary across the geographical regions and with respect to environmental factors in Ethiopia and Eritrea in the horn of Africa by using different analyzing methods and diversity measuring indices for the same reasons.Results: Our analysis showed varied spatial distribution patterns of plant diversity across the region and with the gradients of climatic factors. While the central and southern highland parts of Ethiopia were found to be the primary centers of taxonomic diversity, the centers with higher phylogenetic diversity were found scattered in the region. The phylogenetic structures also vary greatly. About 70% of the floristic compositions in the region showed phylogenetically clustering patterns. Significant and different relationships were observed between the climatic variables and plant diversity and phylogenetic structures. Generally mean annual temperature were found to negatively and mean annual precipitation and elevational range have a positively impact the patterns of plant diversity in the region while variable patterns were observed among different plant growth forms. The phylogenetic structure patterns of woody and herbaceous plant groups in terms of NTI were found to be differently impacted by environmental factors.Conclusions: The patterns of plant diversity both from taxonomic and evolutionary perspectives vary greatly across the geographic and with climatic gradients in Ethiopia and Eritrea. Phylogenetic clustering patterns dominate the floristic compositions assembly in the region though considerable areas were found with floristics of phylogenetically overdispersing patterns. The patterns observed from evolutionary perspectives can provide more crucial information for conservation plans. It provide insights that enable the areas with high phylogenetic diversity and phylogenetically overdispersing assemblages to gain as much conservation attention as that of areas with high taxonomic diversity, given their species richness.
Neck Injury Biomechanics

Includes 40 papers covering more than 15 years (1993 to 2009) of research on the biomechanics of neck injuries from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV), the Stapp Car Crash Conference, and the International Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact (IRCOBI).
Nozzle Modifications for High-Reynolds-Number Quiet Flow in the Boeing/AFOSR Mach-6 Quiet Tunnel

Abstract : The Boeing/AFOSR Mach-6 Quiet Tunnel was designed to have laminar nozzle-wall boundary layers and therefore low noise levels for stagnation pressures up to 150 psia. From its initial operation in 2001 until March 2005, the tunnel only exhibited low noise levels up to 8 psia. A surrogate aluminum nozzle was fabricated to replace 30 in. of the original electroformed nickel and steel nozzle, starting at the throat region. Improving the surrogate nozzle's polish and other modifications improved its maximum quiet pressure from 20 psia to as high as 130 psia, though not reliably. Quiet flow is regularly achieved for 60-90 psia. A flaw in the electroformed nozzle bleed lip inner contour was identified as the probable cause of early transition on the electroform. The bleed-lip contour was remachined and the flaw was eliminated. As of August 2006, the electroformed nozzle exhibited performance similar to the surrogate. Measurements in the downstream half of the nozzle found no quiet pressure dependence on axial location, suggesting that bypass transition near the bleed lip is still responsible for the limited performance.
Evaluation of TCP Performance in hybrid Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

Nowadays a lot of research efforts focus on Mobile Ad-hoc NETworks (MANETs). A MANET is a collection of mobile autonomous nodes, which can move arbitrary, leading to a constantly changing network topology. However, today most of the information is still stored on wired servers. A wired network has a hierarchical topology, while in a MANET the topology is usually flat to allow for nodes to easily change there position in the network. Due to the different topological natures of these systems, interconnectivity is not trivial.To further complicate the situation the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) is designed for wired networks, in a MANET with different link and route characteristics, as multihop and frequent packet losses, the performance of current TCP proposals drop considerably.The purpose of this report is to give an overview of the current MANET – Internet connectivity situation and to evaluate TCP performance in a hybrid MANET where mobile nodes connect to a wired network through a gateway.The report is divided into two parts. The first theoretical part will evaluate the different routing and mobility problems that occur in a realistic scenario with multiple gateways. Main problems that will be discussed are: path selection, gateway discovery, handover between gateways and address configuration in current solutions.In the last part, a simulation-based evaluation will be made on a simplified scenario where one gateway is linking the two different networks. The simulation will be conducted with ns-2.28, which is extended with support for Uppsala University version of Ad-hoc On-demand Distance Vector (AODVUU) as routing and gateway discovery protocol and TCP AP (Adaptive Pacing) as transport protocol. In the performance evaluation, AODVUU and Destination-Sequenced Distance-Vector Routing (DSDV) combined with TCP Newreno, TCP Vegas and TCP AP will be used. The simulation based evaluation concluded that the best performance was achieved with TCP Vegas in conjunction with AODVUU.
The Swedish car movement data project Final report.

Summary The aim of this project has been to gather and analyze a larger amount of data on the characteristics and distribution of the movement patterns of individual, privately driven cars in Sweden by measurement with GPS equipment. Potential cars to be logged were recruited from a stratified random selection of cars from the Swedish motor-vehicle register. The GPS equipment was sent by mail to be installed by the owner/driver. Over 700 cars have installed the equipment for around two months each in 9 campaigns with up to around 100 logging units. The first measurement period started in June 2010 and the last ended in Sept 2012. The data (timestamp, position (horizontal and vertical) and velocity (speed and direction, and identity of used satellites) gathered with 2.5 Hz was transmitted via the mobile net to a intermediary server, for later transfer to a final storage together with road information in a source database, from which various basic data and statistics for the trips and cars have been extracted and stored, Fig S.1. The intended goal of the project has been to finally have high quality car movement data for at least one month for each of at least 500 representative cars. Fig S.1 Overview of the Swedish car movement data project. The project has resulted in a unique dataset on the detailed movements of representative vehicles from the current fleet of privately driven cars in Sweden. The database contains 714 cars with data, of which 528 cars have loggings exceeding 30 days and over 450 cars more than 50 days. The measurement project was initiated for the purpose of achieving appropriate data for various types of analyses connected to the electrification of cars. It is currently used extensively for such purposes. However, the databases freely available for all kinds of research devoted to vehicle movements, energy efficiency, and environmental performance as well as traffic safety and societal planning. Due to the privacy character of some of the data, the availability is further classified according to type. This revised final report presents the layout of the project, the performed measurements, experiences, and contrary to an earlier version results based on all the gathered data. This report is available at the project homepage (www.chalmers.se/brd).
Tumor hypoxia impairs NK cell cytotoxicity through SHP-1-mediated attenuation of STAT3 and ERK signaling pathways

Natural killer (NK) cells are innate immune effectors with potent anti-tumor activity. Nonetheless, tumor cells have the ability to create an immunosuppressive microenvironment, thereby escaping from immune surveillance. Although accumulating evidence indicates that microenvironmental hypoxia plays an important role in favoring tumor development and immune evasion, it is still unclear how hypoxia directly impairs NK cell anti-tumor activity. In this study, we confirmed that hypoxic NK cells show significantly lower cytotoxicity against tumor cells. Consistent with this, we also found that the reduction in NK cell cytotoxicity resulting from hypoxia is related to the lower expression of granzyme B, IFN-γ, degranulation marker CD107a, as well as killer activation receptors including NKp30, NKp46, and NKG2D on NK cells. More importantly, we further demonstrated that a reduction in the phosphorylation levels of ERK and STAT3 secondary to hypoxia are tightly associated with the attenuated NK cell cytotoxicity. Focusing on the mechanism responsible for reducing phosphorylation levels of ERK and STAT3, we revealed that the activation of protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1 (src homology region 2 domain-containing phosphatase-1) following hypoxia may play an essential role in this process. When knocking down SHP-1 or blocking its activity using a specific inhibitor TPI-1, we were able to partially restore NK cell cytotoxicity under hypoxia. Taken together, we demonstrated that hypoxia can impair NK cell cytotoxicity by decreasing the phosphorylation levels of ERK and STAT3 in a SHP-1 dependent manner. Therefore, targeting SHP-1 could provide an approach to enhance NK cell-based tumor immunotherapy.
Carbon stocks in umbric ferralsols driven by plant productivity and geomorphic processes, not by mineral protection

Umbric ferralsols (UF) have organic carbon stocks within the first 1 m of soil profile depth that are nearly double the size (~19 kg C m−2) compared to the average carbon stocks of all other ferralsols (~10 kg C m−2). Here, we investigate processes that allow UF to gain and maintain such extraordinary carbon stocks. Using the International Soil Research and Information Center database, complemented with recently published datasets, we show that the carbon saturation capacity of the clay + silt fractions in UF (22.8 ± 5.7 g C kg−1 soil, n = 59) does not exceed the carbon saturation capacity in other ferralsols (23.3 ± 6.2 g C kg−1 soil, n = 165), thus eliminating a particularly retentive mineral matrix as a possible explanation. Rather, carbon stocks were correlated with the thickness of A horizons (106 ± 49 cm, n = 59 in umbric versus 35 ± 22 cm, n = 165 in non‐umbric ferralsols). We subsequently hypothesized that differences in A‐horizon thickness arose from two pedogenic scenarios: (i) superior carbon accrual resulting from a unique vegetation cover capable of allocating large quantities of carbon to belowground plant organs; and (ii) geomorphic processes that led to carbon burial. We evaluated the plausibility of these scenarios considering landscape history and associated carbon flux rates, hillslope position, as well as δ13C values and Ti/Zr ratios for subsets of ferralsol profiles studied by us in a region that encompasses latitudes from 26 to 7°S in eastern Brazil. We found that exceptional carbon stocks were most prevalent in the gradual transition zone (ecotone) between savanna and rainforest, likely resulting from erosion–deposition processes, historic changes of vegetation cover composed of grasses and arboreal elements, and active bioturbation. We suggest that attempts to sequester carbon in non‐umbric ferralsols will be most successful if they emulate or promote the biotic and abiotic processes prevalent in the savanna/rainforest ecotone.
Converting hardwoods on poor sites to white pine by planting and direct seeding

Until recently, conversion of hardwood stands on poor sites to white pine (Pinus strobus L.) was limited mostly to natural white pine reproduction released from a hardwood overstory, either by killing the hardwoods or by removing them through a timber sale. However, in our effort to increase the returns from poor sites in West Virginia (oak site index 45 to 60) we have been introducing white pine where advanced natural white pine is scarce or absent. The results of several conversion studies completed during the past 6 years and the results of pertinent research conducted elsewhere are summarized and reported here.
Use of Mobile Technology Among Museum Visitors: A Case Study

Museums have employed mobile modes of communication for decades: pamphlets and audio tours. The popularity of mobile technology prompted museums to integrate mobile experiences with personal devices. A survey collected information from the Memorial Art Gallery (MAG) email list to understand adoption of MAG’s mobile experience through the lens of the technology acceptance model to learn how perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use influence visitors use or intent to use MAGart 2.0. The study proposed two museum specific variables, MAG frequency of visitation and MAG engagement, to examine adoption of MAGart 2.0. Results suggest behavioral intention and actual use of MAGart 2.0 are positively related to perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, MAG frequency of visitation, and MAG engagement.
Security ceremonies : including humans in cryptographic protocols

Whether by using electronic banking, by using credit cards, or by synchronising a mobile telephone via Bluetooth to an in-car system, humans are a critical part in many cryptographic protocols daily. We reduced the gap that exists between the theory and the reality of the security of these cryptographic protocols involving humans, by creating tools and techniques for proofs and implementations of human-followable security. After three human research studies, we present a model for capturing human recognition; we provide a tool for generating values called Computer-HUman Recognisable Nonces (CHURNs); and we provide a model for capturing human perceptible freshness.
Aircraft emissions characterization: TF41-a2, TF30-p103, and TF30-p109 engines. Final report, December 1985-March 1987

Assessment of the environmental impact of aircraft operations is required by Air Force regulations. This program was undertaken with the aim of quantifying the gaseous and particulate emissions associated with three Air Force turbine engines. These engines were TF41-A2, TF30-P103, and TF30-P109. The emissions tests were carried out, using a test cell Tinker AFP, Oklahoma City, OK. All tests employed JP-4 as the fuel, and fuel samples were characterized by standard tests and analyzed for composition. Emissions were measured at power settings of idle, 30%, 75%, 100%, and afterburner (where appropriate). Measurements were made of detailed organic composition, CO, CO/sub 2/, NO, NOx, smoke number, particle concentration, and particle-size distribution. A multiport sampling rake was used to sample the exhaust, and heated Teflon tubing was used to transfer exhaust to the monitoring instrumentation. Measured and calculated fuel/air ratios were compared to assure representative sampling of the exhaust.
Vibrational Properties of Benzoxaboroles and Their Interactions with Candida albicans' LeuRS

Benzoxaboroles have emerged over the past decade mainly due to their growing medicinal importance. Regarding the wide application of IR spectroscopy in the pharmaceutical industry, the vibrational properties of over a dozen of benzoxaboroles were described, based on results of DFT calculations as well as IR and Raman spectra measurements. Investigated series of compounds included the currently available antifungal drug (Tavaborole, AN2690) as well as its derivatives. An intense and well-isolated band corresponding to the B-OH group stretching vibrations was present in all experimental IR spectra in the range of 1446–1414 cm−1 and can be considered as characteristic for benzoxaboroles. The vibrational properties of benzoxaboroles are shown to be affected by the formation of intramolecular as well as intermolecular hydrogen bonds, which should also influence the interactions of benzoxaboroles with biomolecules and impact on their biological functions. Docking studies of the benzoxaboroles’ adenosine monophosphate (AMP) spiroboronates into the Candida albicans leucyl-RS synthetase binding pocket showed that the introduction of an amine substituent has a strong influence on their binding. The determined values of inhibition constants manifest high potential of some of the investigated molecules as possible inhibitors of that enzyme.
Characterization of Fiber Tapers for Fiber Devices and Sensors

Fiber tapers have attracted much attention and have been successfully employed in various applications, ranging from resonators, filters, interferometers to sensors. This thesis studies the properties of fiber tapers for the purpose of making tapered-based devices and sensors in aerospace related application where small size and light weight are critical. This thesis includes theoretical derivation and experimental verifications of distributed mode coupling in tapered single-mode fibers (SMFs) with high-resolution optical frequencydomain reflectometry (OFDR) technique. The studies are realized with OFDR through phase detection of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI), which measures local refractive index change relative to the reference arm. The wavelength shifts converted by the phase change give the group index differences between the fundamental mode and higher-order modes of fiber tapers. The energy re-distribution is observed in Rayleigh backscatter amplitude as a function of fiber length with a ∼13μm resolution over the entire fiber taper, and group index difference between core and cladding modes is measured with a spatial resolution of ∼2cm by using autocorrelation data processing. The thermal and mechanical properties of fiber tapers have also been characterized with OFDR. The cross-correlation wavelength shift is related to the refractive index change of the modes. It is shown that residual stress induced by the tapering process results in the inhomogeneous thermal property, which can be significantly reduced by an annealing treatment. A fiber taper with a waist diameter of ∼6μm has a force sensitivity of ∼620.83nm/N, ∼500 times higher than that of SMF. Furthermore, polarizationpreserving character of tapered polarization-maintaining fibers (PMFs) is evaluated by OFDR-based distributed birefringence along tapered PMFs. Three tapered-based micro-fiber devices have been used as effective mode selecting components to build narrow-linewidth tunable Erbium-doped fiber ring lasers. The fabrication is easy and at a low cost. 1) a tapered fiber tip forms multimode interference mechanism; 2) a two-taper MZI has been demonstrated by splitting/combining the funiii damental mode and higher-order modes through fiber tapers and is tuned by bending one taper waist; 3) a novel tunable fiber Fabry-Perot filter, consisting of a hollow-core photonic bandgap fiber and a micro-fiber, is employed in the reflection mode.
Study of Thyroid Dysfunction in Postpartum Psychosis

Background Becoming a mother of newborn involves adaptation to may changes socially and physiologically. Some risk factors are responsible for the development of postpartum psychosis including postpartum hormonal changes. Objectives: was to study the role of thyroid dysfunction in development of early postpartum psychosis among a sample of Egyptian women. Subjects and Methods: A total of 60 female patients with postpartum psychosis during the first four weeks after delivery not suffering from any previous psychiatric disorders (Case Group) and 30 female patients within the first four weeks after delivery not suffering any psychiatric disorders (Control Group) were subjected to clinical psychiatric assessment using structured psychiatric interview of DSM -V, BPRS, HDRS and measuring plasma level of thyroid hormones e.g., free triiodothyronine, free tetra-iodothyronine and thyroid stimulating hormone. Results: There were higher significant difference regarding thyroid dysfunction in patients with postpartum psychosis than in controls. Patients with postpartum psychosis with thyroid dysfunction have a higher significant score on BPRS and HDRS than patients with postpartum psychosis without thyroid dysfunction. Conclusion: There is significant association between thyroid dysfunction in first four weeks after delivery and postpartum psychosis.
Is There Any Relation Between Insulin Resistance and Menstrual Irregularity in Obese Women?

Objectives: Menstrual irregularity is a common issue in obese women that can cause anovulation and infertility. Insulin resistance is also common in obese women. We aimed to find the relation between menstrual pattern and insulin resistance in obese women.Results: The samples were 233 obese women 18-36 years old coming to obesity clinic for treatment of obesity. We checked Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA – IR) and lipid profile in the clients and also we filled a form including the age, educational status, marital status, menstrual pattern and severity of hirsutism. Sample size was 233. The mean age of women was 25.6±8 years. The mean Body mass index (BMI) was 44.6±4.8 kg/m2. 84.55% of women had insulin resistance. There was significant relation between menstrual pattern and fasting insulin level (p=0.05). There was no significant relation between presence of Insulin resistance and menstrual pattern (p=0.28). There was significant relation between age and menstrual pattern (p=0.007). Based on the results, there was no significant relation between HOMA- IR and menstrual pattern (p=0.28). Perhaps type of obesity (android) may have relation with menstrual pattern and also we need to a standard IR definition to explain the relation between different findings.