Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of Gravitational Processes in the Migration of Heavy Metals in Soils of the Priolkhonye Mountain-Steppe Landscapes, Lake Baikal: Methodology of Research

The study object of this work is the soils of the Priolkhonye mountain-steppe landscapes. This research is performed at the Priolkhonye test site. Annual monitoring for exogenous geological process activity is conducted there. This research aims to study the influence of gravitational geological processes (landslides) on the migration of heavy metals, which are introduced into soil as a result of human agricultural activity. A methodology for the geoecological monitoring of soils based on an assessment of their contamination level by anthropogenic heavy metals, and a transfer mechanism throughout whole migration path (field–landslide–coast) is proposed. The following steps were taken to solve this problem: isolating a fine-grained fraction (<100 μm); determining the Hg, Cd, Pb, and Cu concentrations using wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence and atomic absorption spectroscopies, as well as total organic carbon (TOC) content using UV-Vis spectrophotometry; computing various geochemical indices; and describing the migration path of these heavy metals and TOC. The monitoring results showed that these pollutants migrate to the coastal zone as a result of landslides activation. The soil contamination level is increased which can cause negative toxic effects in coastal ecosystems, and could rise to a dangerous level for humans. Thus, the observed changes in the indices and TOC values allow us to assess the geoecological state of the study area; namely, the periods of landslide activity and the supply of these pollutants to the coastal zone.
Flow Analysis of Melted Urea in a Perforated Rotating Bucket

A comprehensive study of the internal flow field for the prilling application in a perforated rotating bucket has been carried out. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is used to investigate the flow field of urea melt inside the perforated rotating bucket. The bucket is mounted at the top of the prilling tower. In prilling process, urea melt is sprayed by the perforated rotating bucket to produce the urea droplets, which falls down due to gravity. These drops fall down through a cooling medium and solidify into prills. The velocity field in the bucket is very important to study, as it has great effect on the heat and mass transfer performance in prilling process. ANSYS 14.0 CFD package is used to simulate and Design Modeler and Catia V5 are used for geometrical model of the perforated prilling bucket. Velocity distribution on different planes are obtained and discussed.
User-Centered Prosthetic Development: Comprehension of Amputees’ Needs

The goal of user-centered development (UCD) is an active involvement of the user for a clear understanding of the users' needs. In the context of rehabilitation engineering it is essential to integrate the users' needs into the development methodology. In fact the use or disclaim of assistive device depends on good comfort and satisfaction during application. Especially prostheses are developed to improve amputees’ quality of life up to live independently again. UCD can improve integrating the amputees’ needs into the prosthesis’ properties. For a more detailed view of the prosthesis-users’ needs we developed a questionnaire and collected data from patients regarding their needs using lower limb prostheses. 88 items, describing satisfaction, usability, appearance, functionality and handling of the prosthesis in different motor situations, were generated. Among 65 participants, 29 transfemoral amputees and experienced prosthesis users completed the questionnaire. The results indicate a lack of satisfaction with the prosthesis shaft as well as with different motor functions. Furthermore, the majority feels socially restricted and is dissatisfied with their appearance in public. While the latter is significantly negative correlated with feelings of social restriction, problems during changing gait speed are significantly negative correlated with feelings of certainty and stability during spontaneous movements. Although prostheses are developed to help to improve amputees’ quality of life, the lack in different motor- and social- issues are noticeable. This indicates that the enhancement of changing gait speed in prostheses may help amputees to feel more certain and natural during walking. From an amputee’s point of view, this could be one important predictor for being more satisfied and a first step for being more independent in life in general. With this first step of UCD, important information for the design of prosthesis in future has been generated.
Contrast Induced Nephropathy; Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors in Patients Undergoing Multi-vessel Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)

Objective: To examine the prevalence and associated risk factors of contrast induced nephropathy in patients undergoing multi-vessel percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Study Design: Prospective/Observational Place and Duration: The study was conducted at the cardiology department of DHQ Teaching Hospital, Sargodha and Wazirabad Institute of Cardiology, Wazirabad for duration of six months from October 2020 to March 2021. Methods: Total 135 patients of both genders with ages 20 to 80 years undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention were enrolled in this study. Patients’ detailed demographics were recorded after written consent. Contrast induced nephropathy was defined as serum creatinine >0.5mg/dl from baseline value. Risk factors associated with CIN were examined; Data was analyzed by SPSS 23.0. Results: Out of 130 patients 90 (66.7%) were males while 45 (33.3%) were females with mean age 54.87±12.44 years. We found contrast induced nephropathy in 27 (20%) patients. Anemia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, contrast volume >150ml, congestive heart failure and age >70 years were significantly associated risk factors of contrast induced nephropathy with p-value <0.05. Conclusion: It is concluded that the incidence of contrast induced nephropathy in patients undergoing PCI is high. Significant risk factors for CIN were anemia, age >70 years, diabetes mellitus, contrast volume >150ml and heart failure. Keywords: Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, Contrast Induced Nephropathy, Risk Factors.
A novel low-loss wide-angle Y-branch with a diamond-like microprism

A novel structure of low-index diamond-like microprism on a single-mode symmetric Y-junction waveguide is proposed. Not only the phase-front mismatch can be compensated, but also the field mismatch can be ameliorated with the help of power presplitting effect. The optimal prism parameters are determined, and the results simulated by beam propagation method also demonstrate that the transmitted loss is only 0.6 dB even though the branching angle is up to 20/spl deg/. Moreover, this structure takes many advantages of the simple structure, easy design procedure, being fairly insensitive to fabrication errors, and flexible selection of prism-index.
DYNAMIC PLANNING AND CONTROL METHODOLOGY FOR DESIGN/BUILD FAST-TRACK CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

A dynamic planning and control methodology is developed by integrating the applications of axiomatic design concepts, concurrent engineering concepts, the graphical evaluation and review technique (GERT), and the system dynamics modeling technique. The goal of the proposed methodology is to help create a dynamic project plan for design/build fast-track civil engineering and architectural projects where unforeseen changes can be absorbed in the project schedule without creating major interruptions. The axiomatic design concepts are applied to formulate and evaluate various work methodologies, and to create a project plan based on the selected work methodology. The concept of concurrent engineering is adapted to develop a fast-tracking framework based on the task production rate, the upstream task reliability, and downstream task sensitivity to the upstream error. The GERT diagramming scheme is used to calculate the project duration probabilistically by incorporating the possible branches and loops in the p.
Altering sugarcane shoot architecture through genetic engineering: prospects for increasing cane and sugar yield

SUGARCANE shoot architecture can affect both cane yield and sucrose content. For example, excessive stalk height can increase lodging and subsequent stalk death, while increased suckering can effectively reduce sugar content and, thus, profitability. Recently significant progress has been made in isolating and characterising genes that control plant architecture, especially those regulating the initiation and outgrowth of axillary buds and elongation of stems. An opportunity exists to test if these genes, when expressed in sugarcane, can alter growth to reduce lodging and suckering and increase yield. This paper reviews shoot architecture-associated constraints to improve sugarcane yield and describes the results of preliminary experiments that we are conducting to address them.
Statistical profiling of SILC spot in flash memories

A new experimental technique for evaluating the position of the oxide weak spot responsible for the stress-induced leakage current (SILC) in flash memories is presented. The oxide field along the channel is modified by drain biasing, and the gate current is then monitored. The position of the leakage spot can be determined by the shift in the gate current-voltage (I-V) characteristics. Experimental results on flash memory arrays reveal a strong localization of SILC in correspondence of the drain junction, due to the cooperation effects of program/erase (P/E) operations. The technique can be used to optimize the P/E conditions for maximum device reliability.
Experimental investigation of CF3I-CO2 gas mixtures on the breakdown characteristics in uniform and nonuniform field configurations

This thesis is concerned with the investigation of trifluoroiodomethane (CF3I) gas mixtures as an alternative for an insulation medium in high voltage applications. The work has involved a broad review of literature, followed by developing a test rig for carrying out experimental investigations, extensive computational modelling and simulation studies as well as extensive laboratory tests on CF3I gas and its gas mixtures. The literature survey reviewed the current trend of efforts taken by researchers to find solutions for minimizing the usage of sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) as a gas insulator, focusing on CF3I and its mixtures. The physical properties of CF3I are investigated, along with thermal and electrical properties. A new test rig has been designed and constructed specifically to be used for gas insulation research. The test rig is integrated with wireless temperature and humidity sensors, as well as an electrode gap length control system. The test rig is completed with a gas recovery system to ensure proper gas handling is carried out after each test. Extensive laboratory experimental investigations on CF3I mixtures have been completed, focusing on the mixture of CF3I-CO2 gas with a ratio of 30%-70%. Standard lightning impulse of 1.2/50 has been used, with both positive and negative polarity. The effects of electrode configuration, impulse polarity, electrode gap length, gas pressure, and CF3I content have been investigated. Insulation properties such as 50% breakdown voltage (U50) and V-t characteristics for each test condition are investigated and presented, as well as the electric field behaviour. Finite element method (FEM) has been used to determine the electric field behaviour of a given test condition. This study revealed that CF3I gas mixtures perform better under more uniform field condition. It was also found that an increase in gas pressure will increase the insulation strength and an increase in CF3I content is more likely to give benefit in conditions with a more uniform field when compared to less uniform field conditions. Also, relation between liquefaction temperatures of a CF3I-CO2 mixture with varying CF3I content has been developed for various pressures based on literature. Observations on solid by-products of CF3I have also been carried out. It has been found that iodine particles are deposited on both high voltage and ground electrodes, which can affect the insulation properties of CF3I and its mixtures.
Optimizing Harvest Time Through Absolute and Relative Growth of the Black Clam, Chionista fluctifraga, Cultivated in the Intertidal Along the Southeastern Coast of the Gulf of California

The shell height-body weight relationship of the black clam Chionista fluctifraga cultivated in the intertidal of the southeastern Gulf of California, was evaluated for the first time, to improve the knowledge in determining its harvesting time. Clam seeds (n=900,000; 6.1±1.9 mm) were produced in the laboratory. The culture was divided into pre-fattening in racks on the bottom (2 months) and fattening directly in the bottom (16 months) from May 2018 to October 2019. Each month, 60 (n=1080) clams were randomly selected to stablish the morphometric relationship between shell height (SH) and body weight (BW). The growth rate (mm/d and g/d) was recorded. The SH-BW Interaction in both cultivation phases showed positive allometry. SH in prefattening and fattening registered a growth rate of 0.072 and 0.058 mm/d, respectively. In fattening, the interaction BW-SH displayed a high coefficient of determination (R2=0.99). A final survival rate of 90% was obtained. The results yielded the equations that describe the relative growth of C. fluctifraga for the fattening stage. A harvesting time after 10 months of fattening in the intertidal zone is stablished to reach the commercial size (35 mm, SH).
DIFFERENCES IN THE FREQUENCY OF MYOELECTRIC ACTIVATION OF LOWER LIMBS BETWEEN SINGLE AND DOUBLE LEG LANDINGS IN MALES

The frequency of myoelectric activation seems to be related to the recruitment of different motor units (Wakeling, 2009). Fast muscle fibers are responsible to the production of higher forces related to the slow fibers (Wakeling, 2009). Therefore, the pattern of activation of some muscles could be associated to the risk of injuries (Bealieau et al., 2008). However, it is not well described whether the muscular activation, in the time-frequency domain, used by males in tasks with different mechanical stresses would truly be related to the strategies of protection of the ACL. The aim of this research was to compare the instantaneous median frequency (IMF) of the EMG signal of lower limbs muscles between different landing tasks in males.
Short Term Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic On Progress Test Outcomes and Emotional State of Medical Students: A Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has been the source of many challenges for medical students worldwide. The authors examined short-term effects on knowledge gain as well as shifts in learning behavior and study-related emotional states.Method The development of knowledge gain was measured comparing the outcomes of shared questions within Progress Test (PT) pairs. The authors used mixed-effect regression models and compared the absolute variations in the percentage of correct answers per subject. Three successive test pairs were analyzed in this manner: PT36-PT41 (both conducted before the pandemic), PT37-PT42 (PT37 took place before the pandemic; PT42 was conducted from April 2020 onwards) and PT38-PT43 (PT38 was administered before the pandemic; PT43 started in November 2020). A survey including closed and open-ended questions was also carried out in January 2021 with the purpose of assessing the learning behavior and emotional state of participants. Open-ended responses were analyzed using Latent Dirichlet Allocation. Results The most recent test of each PT-pair showed a higher mean score compared to the previous test in the same pair (PT36-PT41: 2.53 (95% CI: 1.31-3.75), PT37-PT42: 3.72 (2.57-4.88), PT38-PT43: 5.59 (4.37-6-81)). Analogously, an increase in the share of correct answers was observed for most medical disciplines, with Epidemiology showing the most remarkable upsurge.N=2,715 students from eleven different German-speaking faculties participated in the survey. Respondents were mostly positive towards online lectures, which were perceived as clearly beneficial, allowing for more time and flexibility. On the other hand, the suspension of practical lessons and alleged communicational and organizational shortcomings were seen as the main disadvantages. 28% of the students did not perceive negative impacts on their emotional state regarding their studies, however, 20% of the surveyed students found it difficult to cope with the lack of social contacts, with an additional 8% of them claiming to feel lonely, demotivated or abandoned.Conclusion: Overall, PT performance improved during the pandemic. Students see advantages in online lectures, but disadvantages in the cancellation of practical lectures; they miss their former social interactions and some even show signs of emotional distress.
Discussion of “Economic Load Dispatch—A Comparative Study on Heuristic Optimization Techniques With an Improved Coordinated Aggregation-Based PSO”

This paper aims to introduce an improved coordinated aggregation-based particle swarm optimization (ICA-PSO) algorithm for solving the optimal economic load dispatch (ELD) problem in power systems. In the ICA-PSO algorithm each particle in the swarm retains a memory of its best position ever encountered, and is attracted only by other particles with better achievements than its own with the exception of the particle with the best achievement, which moves randomly. Moreover, the population size is increased adaptively, the number of search intervals for the particles is selected adaptively and the particles search the decision space with accuracy up to two digit points resulting in the improved convergence of the process.
Prediction of Sperm Progression in Three Dimensions Using Rapid Optical Imaging and Dynamic Mechanical Modeling

We present a multidisciplinary approach for predicting how sperm cells with various morphologies swim in three-dimensions (3D), from milliseconds to much longer time scales at spatial resolutions of less than half a micron. We created the sperm 3D geometry and built a numerical mechanical model using the experimentally acquired dynamic 3D refractive-index profiles of sperm cells swimming in vitro as imaged by high-resolution optical diffraction tomography. By controlling parameters in the model, such as the size and shape of the sperm head and tail, we can then predict how different sperm cells, normal or abnormal, would swim in 3D, in the short or long term. We quantified various 3D structural factor effects on the sperm long-term motility. We found that some abnormal sperm cells swim faster than normal sperm cells, in contrast to the commonly used sperm selection assumption during in vitro fertilization (IVF), according to which sperm cells should mainly be chosen based on their progressive motion. We thus establish a new tool for sperm analysis and male-infertility diagnosis, as well as sperm selection criteria for fertility treatments.
The Impact of Implementation of ISO9000: 2000 on Technology Improvement

ISO9000 set of standards has been widely applied in Iranian Automotive manufacturing industry. Regarding the effects of TQM and ISO9000 set of standards various studies have been conducted and different quantitative conclusions have been made. Due to lack of quantitative information, in many of the cases, using qualitative information becomes the best option. The qualitative nature of data in such cases, requires qualitative analysis methods that might lead to some challenging computational issues. This paper examines the impact of ISO9000: 2000 certification and its perceived benefits for an automotive manufacturing company. Using an empirical approach, the paper seeks to ascertain if certification has indeed improved the performance of the company. Our null hypothesis rotates around the effect of ISO9000: 2000 on the 4W`s of an enterprise. To carry out the research, first we developed a couple of questionnaires including all criteria of ISO9000 and 4W’s. Second, the questionnaires were discussed with two researchers knowledgeable in the field, and then submitted to the quality practitioners and executives of Iran Khodro Enterprise-a leading company in Iranian automotive manufacturing industry. Finally the null hypothesis was tested and the technology improvement dimensions were ranked through nonparametric tests. The results illustrated a reasonable cause and effect relationship, suggesting that ISO9000: 2000 has positive effect on the 4W`s of company result. In this work we investigate the effect as technology improvement viz., the improvement of techno-ware, human-ware, info-ware, and organ-ware.
A Single-Switch High-Voltage-Gain DC–DC Converter With Reduced Switch Voltage Stress

In this article, a novel single-switch high-voltage-gain dc–dc converter is presented. The proposed converter is operated with continuous input current, and the voltage stress across the power switch is lower compared to the competitive high-voltage-gain topologies. Hence, a lower rating active switch can be selected for the proposed configuration to achieve reduced conduction losses due to its low on-state resistance of the switch. The leakage energy of the coupled inductor is effectively recycled to the load through the voltage multiplier used in the topology. The voltage stress across the power diode at the output side is low, and hence, there is an improvement in the output-side reverse recovery performance. Moreover, the proposed topology has reduced aggregate diode voltage stress. A detailed comparative study consisting of steady-state analysis, working principle, and efficiency and reliability evaluation of the proposed converter for the continuous conduction mode is presented. The proposed concept is verified through extensive simulation studies and from the measured results from the experimental prototypes.
Metacognitive Aspects Influencing Help-Seeking Behavior on Collaborative Online Learning Environment: A Systematic Literature Review

Metacognition has recently been used as an aspect of assessment in the development of learning, given the importance of this aspect in improving the ability to solve problems. Collaborative online learning is a recommended form of learning because of the existence of peer interaction. Higher interaction frequency will improve the process of knowledge construction for an individual student. This process occurs because metacognition activities are getting better. Metacognition skills are also closely associated with help-seeking behavior. This article is a systematic review of research conducted from 2009 to 2019 related to collaborative online learning, help-seeking behavior, and metacognitive skills. The purpose of this review is to identify and analyze the role of help-seeking behavior and the aspects of metacognitive skills developed in collaborative online learning. The results of the review show that there are various metacognitive aspects related to help-seeking behavior, and in the context of collaborative online learning, a variety of metacognitive aspects that are used to assess help-seeking behavior are found. Recommendations are also given at the end of this review.
Pilot Motivation and Performance: Theoretical and Empirical Relationships

This study examines the relationship between pilot motivation and flight performance in student pilots attending an aviation university. Predictions about motivation-performance relationships were based on intrinsic-extrinsic motivation distinctions. Results indicated that there was a robust relationship between motivation and performance, in that the greater the number of student cancellations during a course of training, the lower the student performance in actual flight training. Limitations and strengths of this study are discussed, with suggestions for future research.