Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Response of the Eastern Mediterranean Microbial Ecosystem to Dust and Dust Affected by Acid Processing in the Atmosphere

Acid processes in the atmosphere, particularly those caused by anthropogenic acid gases, increase the amount of bioavailable P in dust and hence are predicted to increase microbial biomass and primary productivity when supplied to oceanic surface waters. This is likely to be particularly important in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (EMS), which is P limited during the winter bloom and N&P co-limited for phytoplankton in summer. However, it is not clear how the acid processes acting on Saharan dust will affect the microbial biomass and primary productivity in the EMS. Here, we carried out bioassay manipulations on EMS surface water on which Saharan dust was added as dust (Z), acid treated dust (ZA), dust plus excess N (ZN) and acid treated dust with excess N (ZNA) during springtime (May 2012) and measured bacterioplankton biomass, metabolic and other relevant chemical and biological parameters. We show that acid treatment of Saharan dust increased the amount of bioavailable P supplied by a factor of ~40 compared to non-acidified dust (18.4 nmoles P mg-1 dust vs. 0.45 nmoles P mg-1 dust, respectively). The increase in chlorophyll, primary and bacterial productivity for treatments Z and ZA were controlled by the amount of N added with the dust while those for treatments ZN and ZNA (in which excessive N was added) were controlled by the amount of P added. These results confirm that the surface waters were N&P co-limited for phytoplankton during springtime. However, total chlorophyll and primary productivity in the acid treated dust additions (ZA and ZNA) were less than predicted from that calculated from the amount of the potentially limiting nutrient added. This biological inhibition was interpreted as being due to labile trace metals being added with the acidified dust. A probable cause for this biological inhibition was the addition of dissolved Al, which forms potentially toxic Al nanoparticles when added to seawater. Thus, the effect of anthropogenic acid processes in the atmosphere, while increasing the flux of bioavailable P from dust to the surface ocean, may also add toxic trace metals such as Al, which moderate the fertilizing effect of the added nutrients.
Application and validation of HUNS3D flow solver for aerodynamic drag prediction cases

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are extensively used in scientific research and in the design and analysis phase. In order to establish confidence and quantify the results of these simulations, verification and validation process should be conducted. In the present work the validation process for in-house CFD code HUNS3D (Hybrid Unstructured Navier-Stokes 3D) was carried out by simulating drag prediction cases and comparing results with the experiment and other CFD solvers. This procedure will ensure the solver accuracy and its ability to replicate the flow physics. Firstly, two dimensional test cases selected from AIAA Drag Prediction workshop were simulated. NACA-0012 airfoil which usually has a blunt trailing edge is slightly modified so that a sharp trailing edge is obtained. For grid convergence study, a total of five grids were investigated. From coarsest-to-finest the grids have the dimensions of 113 × 33 - 1793 × 513 cells respectively. The grid aspect ratio was kept constant for all the cases. An essential requirement for these test cases was to run them at incompressible condition (M = 0.15) and at Reynolds number of 6 million. As part of a convergence study, asymptotic convergence analysis was also performed. Next the study was extended for drag prediction of DLR-F6 Wing-Body-Nacelle-Pylon (WBNP) configuration. The lift and drag values were calculated at transonic flow conditions by solving RANS equations on unstructured hybrid grid. Three different test cases were performed by changing the angle of attack and the results were compared with the available experimental data. The simulations were converged to a value of 1e-8 for residuals. The predicted drag value was found in close agreement when compared with available results. The static stall simulation for NACA-0012 resulted in an overall difference of less than 8% for lift coefficient, when compared with the experimental data. For purpose of validating turbulence models, the simulations were conducted at different angles of attack (0°, 10°, 15°). Lift and drag coefficient were calculated by employing Spalart-Allmaras (SA) turbulence model and Shear Stress Turbulence (SST) turbulence model. These results were compared with those obtained by CFL3D solver and maximum difference of 6% was found. For DLR- F6 configuration the predicted drag values compares well with other CFD solver and experimental data showing consistent trend and comparable wing pressure distributions.
Developing a business case for knowledge management: the IMPaKT approach

There is a wealth of literature on the role of knowledge management (KM) in business improvement. Those with responsibility for implementing KM in organizations are often required to demonstrate its benefits. The need to convince senior management and other stakeholders about the business benefits is increasingly recognized as crucial in justifying a KM strategy and the resources to support its implementation. A three-stage approach (the IMPaKT framework) - underpinned by an industry survey and case study findings - is presented for developing a business case for KM. The framework facilitates: (1) an understanding of the strategic context of business problems and their knowledge management implications; (2) the planning and alignment of KM strategy to address business problems or objectives; and (3) an evaluation of the impact of KM on business performance in terms of effectiveness and efficiency. Key findings based on industrial application and further development of the framework are discussed. Evaluation shows that the framework could significantly facilitate the implementation of a KM strategy in construction organizations.
Quantitative contribution of NHE 2 and NHE 3 to rabbit ileal brush-border Na 1 / H 1 exchange

Wormmeester, Louktje, Fermin Sanchez de Medina, Freddy Kokke, Chung-Ming Tse, Seema Khurana, Joellyn Bowser, Michael E. Cohen, and Mark Donowitz. Quantitative contribution of NHE2 and NHE3 to rabbit ileal brush-border Na1/H1 exchange. Am. J. Physiol. 274 (Cell Physiol. 43): C1261–C1272, 1998. —Intestinal neutral NaCl absorption, which is made up of brush-border (BB) Na1/H1 exchange linked to BB Cl/HCO3 2 exchange, is upand downregulated as part of digestion and diarrheal diseases. Glucocorticoids stimulate ileal NaCl absorption and BB Na1/H1 exchange. Intestinal BB contains two Na1/H1 exchanger isoforms, NHE2 and NHE3, but their relative roles in rabbit ileal BB Na1/H1 exchange has not been determined. A technique to separate the contribution of NHE2 and NHE3 to ileal BB Na1/H1 exchange activity was standardized by using an amiloride-related compound, HOE-694. Under basal conditions, both NHE2 and NHE3 contribute ,50% to ileal Na1/H1 exchange. Glucocorticoids (methylprednisolone) increase BB Na1/H1 exchange (2.5 times) but increase only ileal NHE3 activity (4.1 times), without an effect on NHE2 activity. Thus ileal BB Na1/H1 exchange in animals treated with glucocorticoids is 69% via NHE3. A quantitative Western analysis for NHE3 was developed, using as an internal standard a fusion protein of the COOH-terminal 85 amino acids of NHE3 and maltose binding protein. Glucocorticoid treatment increased the amount of BB NHE3. The quantitative Western analysis showed that NHE3 makes up 0.018% of ileal BB protein in control rabbits and 0.042% (2.3 times as much) in methylprednisolone-treated rabbits. Methylprednisolone treatment did not alter the amount of ileal BB NHE2 protein. NHE3 turnover number was estimated to be 458 cycles/s under basal conditions and 708 cycles/s in glucocorticoid-treated ileum. Thus methylprednisolone stimulates ileal BB Na1/H1 exchange activity only by an effect on NHE3 and not on NHE2; it does so primarily by increasing the amount of BB NHE3, although it also increases the NHE3 turnover number.
Isolation and Antibiogram of Staphylococcus Species from Eggs of Japanese Quail in an Organised Farm

This study was undertaken to analyse and characterize Staphylococcus species isolated from the surface and contents of quail eggs on their phenotypic properties, biochemical reactions and antibiotic sensitivity pattern was also studied. The study included 42 strains of the genus Staphylococcus isolated from the egg whites, yolks and shells of table quail eggs from 150 samples (26.7%). Among the species isolated, the most frequently occurring strains were of Staphylococcus hominis (26.1%), followed by S. aureus (14.28%), S. xylosus (16.6%), S. lentus (14.28%) S. sciuri (7.14%), S. epidermidis (4.76), S. caprae (4.76%), S. hyicus (4.76%), S. cohnii (2.38%), S. simulans (2.38%), S. auricularis (2.38%). The greatest number of strains (78.57%) were isolated from shells, while 14.28% of isolates were obtained from yolks and 7.14% from the whites of the eggs. The antibiotic sensitivity testing showed 15.5% of the strains to be resistant to one or more of the therapeutic agents tested. The antibiotic sensitivity testing showed 16.6% of the strains to be resistant to one or more of the therapeutic agents tested. Moreover, some isolates exhibited intermediate sensitivity to the drugs, particularly to gentamicin (23.9%), neomycin (26.2%), streptomycin (50.1%) and Linco-Spectin (45.4%), amoxicillin (11.9%), amoxicillin with clavulanic acid (7.1%), cephalexin (2.3%), doxycycline (4.8%), enrofloxacin (2.4%), linco-spectin (45.4%), oxytetracycline (2.3%), trimethoprim /sulfamethoxazole (9.6%), Norfloxacin (14.4%).
Output harmonic termination techniques for AlGaN/GaN HEMT power amplifiers using active integrated antenna approach

In this paper, effects of output harmonic terminations on PAE and output power of AlGaN/GaN HEMT power amplifier are investigated. Using a traditional method of harmonic termination, we observe a substantial increase in PAE and output power. Further, we demonstrate the high efficiency AlGaN/GaN HEMT power amplifier with harmonic termination characteristics by using the active integrated antenna approach. For the microstrip-based AlGaN/GaN HEMT power amplifier, large signal measurements and comparisons of PAE and output power were done in class-AB operation with and without output harmonic terminations. For the antenna integrated power amplifier using an AlGaN/GaN HEMT with 1 mm gate periphery, output power of 30 dBm and peak PAE of 55 % with a power gain of 14 dB were achieved at a drain voltage of 18 V and a gate voltage of -2.8 V.
Contact Formation and Recombination at Screen-Printed Local Aluminum-Alloyed Silicon Solar Cell Base Contacts

We study recombination properties and the formation of base contacts, which are realized by local laser ablation of a dielectric stack and the subsequent full-area screen printing of an Al paste. Based on charge-carrier lifetime measurements using the camera-based calibration-free dynamic infrared lifetime mapping technique, we determine contact reverse saturation current densities as low as <i>J</i><sub>0, cont</sub> = 9 X10<sup>2</sup> fA/cm<sup>2</sup> on 1.5-Ωcm<i>p</i>-type float-zone silicon (FZ-Si) and <i>J</i><sub>0, cont</sub> = 2X10<sup>4</sup> fA/cm<sup>2</sup> on 200- Ωcm<i>p</i>-type FZ-Si. Scanning electron microscopy images reveal that the thickness of the highly Al-doped (Al-<i>p</i><sup>+</sup>) layer considerably depends on the contact size and the contact layout (e.g., point or line contacts). Based on this finding, we show that Al-<i>p</i><sup>+</sup> layer thickness <i>W</i><sub>Al-</sub><i>p</i>+ significantly affects the contact recombination. As a result, we show which local contact geometry is most appropriate for the lowest contact recombination employing local Al-alloyed contacts.
A 900 MHz 2.25 MB cache with on-chip CPU now in Cu SOI

The 500 MHz 1.5 MB cache with 50% increased bit count described is ported from a 0.25 /spl mu/m bulk technology to a 0.18 /spl mu/m SOI process with local interconnect. The SOI technology used presented significant design challenges to match the 80% frequency increase expected for the CPU.
Nonquasi-Static Effects and the Role of Kinetic Inductance in Ballistic Carbon-Nanotube Transistors

Nonquasi-static effects in ballistic carbon-nanotube (CN) FETs (CNFETs) are examined by solving the Boltzmann transport equation self-consistently with the Poisson equation. We begin by specifying the proper boundary conditions that should be employed in time-dependent simulations at high speeds; these are the proper boundary conditions for a characterization of the so-called intrinsic transistor, i.e., the internal portion of the device that is unaffected by the source and drain contacts. A transmission-line model that includes both the kinetic inductance (LK) and quantum capacitance (CQ) is then analytically developed from the Boltzmann and Poisson equations, and it is shown to represent the intrinsic transistor's behavior at high frequencies, including a correct prediction of resonances in the transistor's y-parameters. Finally, we show how to represent LK using lumped elements in the transistor's traditional quasi-static equivalent circuit, and we demonstrate that the resulting circuit is capable of modeling the intrinsic behavior of a ballistic CNFET, including the observed resonances, to frequencies beyond the unity-current-gain frequency fT. External parasitics can be easily added for an overall compact model of ballistic CNFET operation.
Control Design for Optimizing Efficiency in Inductive Power Transfer Systems

Inductive power transfer (IPT) converters are resonant converters that attain optimal energy efficiencies for a certain load range. To achieve maximum efficiency, it is common to cascade the IPT converter with front-side and load-side dc/dc converters. The two dc/dc converters are normally controlled cooperatively for the requirements of output regulation and maximum efficiency tracking using a control technique based on perturbation and observation, which is inevitably slow in response. In this paper, a decoupled control technique is developed. The load-side dc/dc converter is solely responsible for output regulation, while the front-side converter is responsible for impedance-matching of the IPT converter by controlling its input-to-output voltage ratio. The controls are linear and therefore fast. DC and small-signal transfer functions are derived for designing the control parameters. The performances of fast regulation and high efficiency of the IPT converter system are verified using a prototype system.
Multi-fault Diagnosis of Rotating Machinery by Using Feature Ranking Methods and SVM-based Classifiers

Rotating machinery plays an important role in industries for motion transmission in machines; the breakdowns of gearboxes are mostly produced by gear and bearings failures. Thus, some strategies are sought to avoid unscheduled stops, or catastrophic damages, in order to reduce maintenance costs and increase reliability. This paper describes a methodological framework to detect eleven rotating machinery faults by using feature ranking methods and support vector machine, based on information that comes from the measured vibration signal. Thirty features are calculated from the vibration signal in time domain, for each faulty condition. Feature ranking methods such as ReliefF, Chi square, and Information Gain are used to select the most informative features, and subsequently to reduce the size of the feature vector. The feature ranking methods are compared in order to obtain improved diagnosis results with a reduced feature set. Results show good fault identification accuracy with the first four features of ReliefF ranking method as input to support vector machine classifier.
Improved Multi-objective PSO for Semi-desirable Facility Location Problem

Evolutionary optimization algorithms have been used to solve multiple objective problems. However, most of these methods have focused on search a sufficient Pareto front, and no efforts are made to explore the diverse Pareto optimal solutions corresponding to a Pareto front. Note that in semi-obnoxious facility location problems, diversifying Pareto optimal solutions is important. The paper therefore suggests an improved multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm (MOPSO) to find diversified Pareto optimal solutions in the parameter space for semi-obnoxious facility location problems while achieving a similar Pareto front in the objective space. The improvement of MOPSO is obtained by introducing a new mechanism based on distances among Pareto optimal solutions. Three semiobnoxious facility location problems from the literature are used to evaluate the performance of the improved MOPSO. The results indicate that the approach is promising, being able to expand the diversity of non-dominated/Pareto Optimal solutions while acquiring a similar Pareto front.
RESILIENT AND COMPREHENSIVE NETWORKS PLANNING IS KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL INTEGRATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES

The German “Energiewende” leads to significant uncertainty in terms of future demand and generation development. Distribution networks are mainly affected by the resulting different divergent requirements: Distribution networks are transformed into local transportation grids. Additionally network investments are restricted by regulation. The solution presented here combines strategic Asset Management (age & condition) and Network Development (capacity) in a synergetic fashion to raise significant technical & economical optimization potential. An adaption to uncertainty in the future is based on the analysis of a variety of load and feed-in scenarios. This approach enables optimal risk and cost aware decisions.
First-order Generalized Integrator Based Frequency Locked Loop and Synchronization for Three-Phase Grid-connected Converters under Adverse Grid Conditions

This paper presents an alternative frequency adaptive grid synchronization technique named HDN-FLL, which can accurately extract the fundamental positive- and negative-sequence components and interested harmonics in adverse three-phase grid voltage. The HDN-FLL is based on the harmonic decoupling network (HDN) consisting of multiple first order complex vector filters (FOCVF) with a frequency-locked loop (FLL), which makes the system frequency adaptive. The stability of the proposed FLL is strictly verified to be global asymptotically stable. In addition, the linearization and parameters tuning of the FLL is also discussed. The structure of the HDN has been widely used as a prefilter in grid synchronization techniques. However, the stability of the general HDN is seldom discussed. In this paper, the transfer function expression of the general HDN is deduced and its stability is verified by the root locus method. To show the advantages of the HDN-FLL, a simulation comparison with other gird synchronization methods is carried out. Experimental results verify the excellent performance of the proposed synchronization method.
Heavy Metal Pollution Problems in the Vicinity of Heap Leaching No . 3 of Sarcheshmeh Porphyry Copper Mine

Environmental damage resulting from the transport of heap-structure leachate containing elevated concentrations of heavy metals to the environment has occurred due to poor management during the planning, development and operation of the heap leaching process and misunderstanding of the detrimental impacts of heavy metals on human beings, aquatic flora and other creatures. In this paper, the effects of heavy metals discharged from the heap-leaching structure No. 3 of Sarcheshmeh copper mine were investigated by sampling and analyzing water from the Shour River. Samples were taken from upstream, from the entry of leachate into the river, and from downstream of it. Chemical analysis of the samples and field observations show that the concentrations of many heavy metals downstream in the Shour River are very high, which is harmful to the environment. The pH varies from 2.0 to 4.3, and its variations strongly control the mobility of dissolved heavy metals. Heavy-metal concentrations in the water decrease with distance from the heap facility due to dilution by uncontaminated waters and to an increase in pH. Fe is the most rapidly depleted species from the aqueous phase in the river.
A pilot study on the aetiology of goiter in Bayelsa state, Nigeria

Some biochemical parametersthiocyanate, triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), aspartate aminotranferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), iodine, sodium and potassium were determined from subjects (both sexes), in order to trace the aetiology of goiter observed among some persons living in Bayelsa state. Subjects were admitted into the study in accordance with the operating ethical consideration at the local medical centre. The control group constitutes those certified apparently healthy by the medical practitioner. Thiocyanate determination was done according to the modified method of Haque and Bradbury; whereas the hormonal and the enzymic studies were carried out using ELISA method. Sodium and potassium were determined by flame photometric method. The levels of the analytes determined in the test group (those with endemic goiter) were compared to their control counterparts. The mean (±SD) thiocyanate level (μg/L) determined from the test group (females) was 150.5±15.78; whereas those from the controls were 104.7±1.93 (Males) and 84.67±30.80 (females); and were all higher than the literature critical range. Significant differences (p<0.05) were determined between the mean serum levels of T3, T4, AST, and ALT, in test group and their controls. Interestingly, even the thyroid hormone levels in the control group were at the lower boarder of the reference ranges. These results suggest that the larger population out there could be at risk of developing goiter, if proper intervention measures are not instituted. The high thiocyanate levels determined could be an outcome of chronic accumulation of hydrocyanide arising from high intake of improperly processed cassava (Manihot esculenta cruntz) food products. Cassava is a major staple food in Bayelsa State and known to contain substantive level of the toxicant hydrocyanide which had been implicated in goiter development. Finally the ongoing salt iodination programme in the country, and in some other regions where it is practiced, should be done with caution. It would be worthwhile to first carry out a base-line study to determine the level of deficiency, if any, before embarking on salt fortification with iodine. This is necessary so as to avoid an over-load with the element and its attendant consequences. Key word: Goiter, thyroid hormones, thiocyanate, iodine.
Magnitude-based seed point placement for streamlines generation

This paper presents an improved seed point placement to locate initial seed points based on magnitude value. The vector field is separated in to grid to ensure the uniformity in generating streamlines and broader streamlines coverage, thus reducing poor visualization information especially near to visualization boundary. An evaluation using Mean Square Error is conducted to evaluate the improvement in term of streamlines placement uniformity. Result shows that proposed method able to come out with lower Mean Square Error value compared to evenly-spaced in across different separation distance, resulting better streamlines control to produce uniform visualization result. Finally, the proposed method can be improved in many aspects to come out with a better visualization result in 2 and possibly 3 dimension flow visualization.