Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High performance multiple stepped quantum well resonant microwave devices

Implemented by low-pressure metal organic chemical vapour deposition and fabricated by simple wet chemical etching, GaAs/In 0.59 Ga 0.41 As/InAs multiple stepped quantum well resonant interband tunnelling diodes (MSQW RITDs) are demonstrated for the first time. The multiple InAs well layers reduce the thermionic current. In particular, it is shown that the viability of the GaAs/In 0.59 Ga 0.41 As/InAs MSQW RITD with peak current density reaches over 1.11 kA/cm 2 , valley current density reaches less than 0.46 A/cm 2 , and therefore peak-to-valley ratio (PVCR) up to 2.4times10 3 at room temperature. The excellent negative differential resistance characteristics are explained by good confined effect of quantum well and interband tunnelling structure. The largest PVCR achieved is believed to the highest reported value to date for all two-terminal devices
The Rise of the Nones across the United States, 1973 to 2018: State-Level Trends of Religious Affiliation and Participation in the General Social Survey

: Although there has been a fast rise in the share of Americans reporting no religion, it is unclear whether this trend has affected different parts of the country equally. Against this backdrop, we apply dynamic multilevel regression and poststratiﬁcation (Dynamic MRP) to General Social Survey data over the period 1973 to 2018 to estimate state-level religious trends. We validate our estimates against external benchmarks, ﬁnding that they perform well in terms of predictive accuracy. Substantively, we ﬁnd steeper increases in the share of religious nones in states that had more nones to begin with. Moreover, whereas state-level increases in the share of religious nones are strongly linked to declines in occasional church attendance and moderate religious identiﬁcation, the associations with trends in regular attendance and strong identiﬁcation are much weaker. States have thus not only diverged in their share of religious nones but also experienced different degrees of religious polarization.
Numerical and experimental study of unsteady flow in a centrifugal fan

Abstract In the current work, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) technique coupled with experimental investigations has been used in order to study the complex phenomena related to the unsteady flow in a centrifugal fan. The studied phenomena are the interactions and unsteadiness induced by the rotating blades motion relatively to the volute and their impact on the aeroacoustic behaviour of the fan. Thus, three-dimensional and two-dimensional unsteady simulations have been carried out using unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes approach. Turbulence has been modelled with the k-ω-shear stress model and a sliding mesh technique has been applied to the interfaces in order to allow unsteady interactions between the rotating (impeller) and the stationary zones (volute casing). The overall performances predicted by the computations have been validated at different flowrates. In order to locate the flow unsteadiness and perturbations, the near field wall pressure fluctuations at different strategic points on the volute surface have been computed. In addition to this, the unsteady flow variables provided by the CFD calculations have been used as inputs in the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings equation in order to estimate the tonal noise generated by the centrifugal fan. Finally, the numerical results have been compared with the experimental measurements and a correlation between the wall pressure fluctuations and the far field noise signals has been found.
Designing integrated cellular manufacturing systems with tactical decisions

In this paper, we aim to design cellular manufacturing systems that optimize the performance of a manufacturing system subject to the optimization aspects of production planning. Consequently, the demand for each part – one of the production planning features – plays a vital role in determining the part families and the formation of machine cells in each period. In our study, holding and backorder costs follow a probabilistic structure, and they are described by a set of stochastic scenarios. In this model, five objective functions are employed: one of them minimizes the expected total holding and backorder costs in order to evaluate the risk in the model. The aim of this model is to select and optimize the assignment of parts and machines to different cells as well as the number of each produced part in each period. A new heuristic algorithm based on the optimization method is established to yield the best solution for this complicated mathematical formulation. Further, the performance of the proposed algorithm is verified using certain test problems in which the obtained results are compared with those obtained using the branch-and-bound algorithm and heuristic procedures.
Variational models for the interaction of surfactants with curvature – existence and regularity of minimizers in the case of flexible curves

Existence and regularity of minimizers for a geometric variational problem is shown. The variational integral models an energy contribution of the interface between two immiscible fluids in the presence of surfactants and includes a Helfrich type contribution, a Frank type contribution and a coupling term between the orientation of the surfactants and the curvature of the interface. Analytical results are proven in a one–dimensional situation for curves.
Effects of microbial inoculants on soil carbon stock, enzymatic activity, and above ground and belowground biomass in marginal lands of Northern India

Restoration practices in marginal lands for food production are the most important sustainability challenge for humans at the global level. Nature‐based solutions (NBS) are among the best interventions to improve soil health, which directly enhances the soil productivity and biodiversity for improved sustainability of ecosystems. Our field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of three inoculants, two of which were bacterial: Azotobacter chroococcum (T1), Acetobacter diazotrophicus (T2), and the third fungal: Aspergillus awamori (T3) on soil properties, plant biomass, enzymatic activities (phosphatase, dehydrogenase activity), and soil carbon stock in marginal lands. The experimental results clearly revealed that the inoculations significantly enhanced plant growth and biomass (p < 0.01). The soil enzyme (dehydrogenase and phosphatase) activities increased under T3 and T2 treatments in response to inoculation. Interestingly, the significant results were observed in T3 and T1 treatment in the 4th year of observation for soil carbon stock (53.06 Mg ha−1 yr−1 and 51.41 Mg ha−1 yr−1, respectively). The total soil carbon stock was found to be 38.60 Mg ha−1 yr−1 in control plots. The inoculation enhanced (p ≤ 0.05) the soil biological properties like microbial biomass carbon as 267.62 ± 18.73 μgg−1 to 894.24 ± 41.65 μg g−1. We conclude that selected inoculations in marginal lands can provide a suitable option for eco‐restoration and can sequester more atmospheric CO2 in to stable carbon pools to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals and food security.
Comparing university students’ commitment – a multicultural case study

ABSTRACT The aim of this research was to evaluate and compare the creative tension of university students in three different universities in South Korea and Finland. The creative tension, or the gap between a person's feeling of current reality and target for future, was analysed according to features describing their committing factors related to their universities and studies. Data for this study were collected from 41 university students through self-evaluation using internet-based survey instrument. The application was able to identify the creative tension in each group of university students, and the results show differences in creative tension across the universities and also between countries. This type of in-depth analysis into the cultural perceptions of attributes offers valuable new information for academia and businesses.
Optimal design of an MMI coupler for broadening the spectral response of an AWG demultiplexer

Optimal design of a multimode interference (MMI) coupler for broadening the spectral response of an arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) demultiplexer is considered. By using a Gaussian beam approximation, an analytical expression for the spectral response of an AWG demultiplexer (with an MMI section) is obtained. A simple analytical formula is derived to relate the optimal MMI length to the separation between the peaks of the twofold images in the MMI region. This peak separation is related to the width of the MMI section. In the proposed design method, a required 1-dB passband width determines the peak separation, which then determines the optimal value for the length of the MMI section according to the analytical formula. The designed flat-top AWG demultiplexer is verified by the beam propagation method.
Supplementary File for: “Image Harmonization with Transformer”

In addition to MSE and PSNR, we also report foreground MSE (fMSE) and foreground PSNR (fPSNR) to measure how well the foreground is harmonized. MSE and PSNR essentially evaluate harmonization performance over all pixels across the dataset (dataset-level), while fMSE and fPSNR measure the harmonization over each single image (with different sizes of foreground) averaging on the dataset (image-level). We argue that image-level fMSE and fPSNR are more suitable to evaluate the harmonization generalization ability since many pixels (background) are unchanged and the sizes of foreground are different in terms of each image. Given the real image H and the harmonized image Ĥ, we provide the details of these four metrics as follows.
Identification of static load characteristics based on measurements in medium-voltage distribution network

The authors deal with static load (SL) characteristics (P-V and Q-V characteristics) of a medium-voltage distribution network derived from field measurements. The experiments have been performed by changing the tap position of an on-load tap-changing transformer in different seasons, different week days and day periods. P-V and Q-V load characteristics are divided into two classes, transient and steady-state characteristics. The differences between them are discussed and quantified. Both classes are mathematically described by polynomial, linear and exponential SL models. Model parameters are obtained by curve fitting using a least square method. The adequacy of developed load models is critically assessed and discussed. All the static characteristics are grouped according to seasons and day periods and are mutually compared. Finally, the parameters of the SL models for residential load without electrical heating are suggested for different seasons.
Wavelength converter based on integrated all-active three-port Mach-Zehnder interferometer

The realisation and first static results of a novel monolithic Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) wavelength converter configuration in InGaAsP/InP MQW technology is reported. The compact all-active three-port MZI device allows for effective improvement of the on/off ratio up to 18 dB (from 6 to 26 dB) due to direct optical access to one of the interferometer arms by an extra input branch. This device is very attractive for high-capacity optical networks.
Water quality modeling: A review of the analysis of uncertainty

This paper addresses very important issues of uncertainty in water quality modeling. However, the issue of uncertainty is important not only for those who are interested in developing or using water quality models, but also for a wide audience of researchers involved in environmental modeling. Although the author discusses issues which are not investigated in the framework of the project "Decision Support Systems for Managing Large International Rivers," this does not mean that the problems discussed in the paper are irrelevant to the scope of the project. His comprehensive review provides interesting and important information and may stimulate a critical evaluation of the concepts and opinions presented.
Patterning conductive PDMS nanocomposite in an elastomer using microcontact printing

This paper introduces a simple method of embedding conductive and flexible elastomer micropatterns into a bulk elastomer. Employing microcontact printing and cast molding techniques, patterns consisting of conductive poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) composites mixed with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are embedded into bulk PDMS to form all-elastomer devices. To pattern conductive composites, a micromachined printing mold is utilized to transfer composite ink from a spin-coated thin layer to another substrate. Distinct from previously reported approaches, the printing mold in this technique, once fabricated, can be repeatedly used to generate new patterns and therefore greatly simplifies the device fabrication process and improves its efficiency. Manufactured devices with embedded conductive patterns exhibit excellent mechanical flexibility. With characterization of printing reliability, electrical conductivity of the composites is also shown with different loading percentages of MWCNTs. Furthermore, a simple strain gauge was fabricated and tested to demonstrate the potential applications of embedded conductive patterns. Overall, this approach demonstrates feasibility to be a simple method to pattern conductive elastomers that work as electrodes or sensing probes in PDMS-based devices. With further development, this technology yields many potential applications in lab-on-a-chip systems.
Glycosaminoglycans and glycoproteins influence the elastic response of synovial fluid nanofilms on model oxide surfaces

Synovial fluid (SF) is the natural lubricant found in articulated joints, providing unique cartilage surface protecting films under confinement and relative motion. While it is known that the synergistic interactions of the macromolecular constituents provide its unique load-bearing and tribological performance, it is not fully understood how two of the main constituents, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and glycoproteins, regulate the formation and mechanics of robust load-bearing films. Here, we present evidence that the load-bearing capabilities, rather than the tribological performance, of the formed SF films depend strongly on its components’ integrity. For this purpose, we used a combination of enzymatic treatments, quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) and the surface forces apparatus (SFA) to characterize the formation and load-bearing capabilities of SF films on model oxide (i.e., silicates) surfaces. We find that, upon cleavage of proteins, the elasticity of the films is reduced and that cleaving GAGs results in irreversible (plastic) molecular re-arrangements of the film constituents when subjected to confinement. Understanding thin film mechanics of SF can provide insight into the progression of diseases, such as arthritis, but may also be applicable to the development of new implant surface treatments or new biomimetic lubricants.
Wide stopband substrate integrated waveguide filter using corner cavities

A type of substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) `corner cavity` is proposed. For each corner cavity, two transmission zeros (TZs) can be introduced and the location of either TZ can easily be controlled by adjusting suitable geometrical parameters. Using the corner cavities, a novel SIW filter with wide stopband characteristic is implemented. The central frequency of the filter is 20 GHz, and the first spurious appears at about 40 GHz, which is two times the central frequency. In addition, the measured stopband attenuation of the filter is better than 50 dB from 21.24 to 37.71 GHz.
Yam seed system characteristics in Nigeria: Local practices, preferences, and the implications for seed system interventions

Yam is an important food and cash crop in Nigeria. The seed system is mostly farmer-based and its challenges and opportunities are not well documented. This study reports results of surveys, interviews, focus group discussions and participant observations that describe local practices characterizing yam cultivation and the farmer-based seed system in five states in Nigeria. Our findings show that ware and seed yam are dynamic and highly commercialized goods in Nigeria. There is a high demand for, and a high turn-over of, seed yam. The reasons for the high demand are the low multiplication rate and degeneration of seed yam which lead farmers to frequently acquire fresh seeds and replace varieties, investing significantly in the seed of ware yam. The study found some farmers specializing in seed yam production but less than expected for such a highly commercial crop. The market is the major source for off-farm sourced seed yam, and although completely informal, the seed yam sector is vibrant and well organized. The identification of strategically positioned farmers and traders can offer opportunities and entry points for introduction of new varieties and improved seed production techniques. Building on the existing farmer-based system is a more logical strategy than replacing it with formal structures and legislative regulation.
A Network-Based Model for Mitigating Traffic Jams in Road Networks

Abstract. In recent years, the city of Mosul, which is the capital city of Nineveh province in the North of Iraq, had witnessed an unstable situation (e.g., wars, internal conflicts) that led to destructing most of the infrastructure including city roads. In addition, the population of Mosul is currently concentrated on the east coast of the city. Therefore, this situation has caused a server traffic jam and the roads have become overloaded, which is time-wasting when accessing a particular place in the city. In this analytical study, the roads of the east coast of Mosul city are modeled in the form of a Road Network. The proposed approach is based on concepts inspired from Complex Networks and their measurements such as clustering coefficient, betweenness, degree, and closeness. The dataset of this work was collected from Google Earth with the support of governmental offices and road-experienced individuals. The created network represents the road network of Mosul city. In the results, suggestions and recommendations are provided, which can contribute to alleviating the problem of traffic congestion in the city of Mosul. The provided suggestions do not need a high cost because the proposed approach benefits the current road networks with few modifications. The proposed approach is applicable to any city of interest.
BODHISATTVA AND MESSIAH: THE COINCIDENCES AND CONCORDANCES IN THEIR THEORIES AND DOCTRINES

This paper explores the concordances and the coincidences in the theories and doctrines of Bodhisattva and Messiah. The doctrines of Bodhisattva dominantly prevail in Buddhism, in its scriptures, and the literature about it. Likewise, the concept of the Messiah is also equally pervasive in the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible. The theories and doctrines of Bodhisattva and Messiah have coincidences and concordances in their essence. They both accord in their ideals and missions to lead humankind to salvation, redemption, and Nirvana or enlightenment. Despite the differences, both Bodhisattva and Messiah have a similar primal grounding on sacrifice and renunciation to liberate and redeem humankind. To accomplish this goal, both depict themselves as the saviours. Therefore, it is essential to recognize that the fundamental doctrines of Bodhisattva and Messiah are not only just because of random development; rather the crosscurrents between the two religions enriched the theories and ideas about them. The simultaneous development of these two religions has harmonized the concepts of Bodhisattva and Messiah. By providing a new outlook, this study adds the qualitative insights of the knowledge about these two aspects from Buddhism and Christianity. The congruity in their ideas demonstrates how the different roads lead to the same destination of truth and reality. To meet the objectives, this article has applied the qualitative approach to research. So, comparative research design and thematic analysis method have been implemented to formulate new interpretations while exploring the concurrences in the theories and doctrines of Bodhisattva and Messiah.
EVALUACIÓN EXPERIMENTAL DE LA RESISTENCIA A LA CORROSIÓN DE UN ACERO AISI-SAE 4140 IMPLANTADO CON IONES DE NITRÓGENO

Se estudio la resistencia a la corrosion de un acero AISI-SAE 4140 implantado con iones de Nitrogeno mediante la tecnica 3DII (Implantacion Ionica Tridimensional). Se evaluaron diferentes rugosidades de las muestras implantadas mediante tecnicas electroquimicas de Rp, EIS y Tafel en una salmuera al 3% de NaCl, donde se obtuvo la mayor resistencia a la corrosion para el material implantado con menor rugosidad. Se produjo la formacion de una posible capa protectora estable con la inmersion de las muestras en el electrolito de trabajo para tiempos superiores a 240 horas.
Systemic principals of research of functional states of the gas-man operator while working in the desert

This work describes functional state of the gas-man operator while working in the desert. Under the functional state, one understands the state of the operator that is changing during the work shifts. The most important characteristics of the operator's functional state are work capacity and fatigue. These are two sides of the same coin. The more the fatigue is, the less is the work capacity. In spite of the broad interest to these phenomena, ther is still not a precise and reliable way to measure them. The present article focuses on some aspects of this important issue from the activity theory point of view.
High-Frequency Capability of Schottky-Barrier Carbon Nanotube FETs

The high-frequency capability of carbon nanotube field-effect transistors is investigated by simulating the small-signal performance of a device with negative-barrier Schottky contacts for the source and drain, and with a small, ungated region of nanotube between the end contacts and the edge of the wrap-around gate electrode. The overall structure is shown to exhibit resonant behaviour, which leads to a significant bias dependence of the small-signal capacitances and transconductance. This could lead to high-frequency figures of merit (fT and fmax) in the terahertz regime.
8-GHz CMOS quadrature VCO using transformer-based LC tank

A fully integrated quadrature VCO at 8 GHz is presented. The VCO is implemented using a transformer-based LC tank in 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS technology, in which two VCOs are coupled to generate I-Q signals. The VCO is realized employing the drain-gate transformer feedback configuration proposed here. This makes use of the quality factor enhancement in the resonator using a transformer and the deep switching-off technique by controlling gate bias. By turning off switching transistors of the differential VCO core deeply, the phase noise performance is improved more than 10 dB. The measured phase noise values are -110 and -117 dBc/HZ at the offset frequencies of 600 kHz and 1 MHz respectively. The tuning range of 250 MHz is achieved with the control voltage from 0 to 1 V. The VCO draws 8 mA in two differential core circuits from 3 V supply. When the bias voltage goes down to 2.5 V, the phase noise decrease only 2 dB compared to that of 3 V bias. The VCO performances are compared with previously reported quadrature Si VCOs in 5/spl sim/12 GHz frequency range.