Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Energy recovery snubber circuit for a dc-dc push-pull converter

This study presents an active snubber recovery circuit for a dc-dc push-pull converter. Detailed waveform analysis and associated mathematical equations are presented, supported by PSpice simulations and experimentation. More importantly, unlike previous snubbers for the push-pull converter, the presented active recovery circuit remains fully functional over the complete duty cycle range. The proposed snubber technique is practically demonstrated on a 1-kW voltage-fed 48 V dc /560 V dc step-up push-pull converter. The experiments are conducted with a low-voltage and high-current source, typical of battery, supercapacitor, and photovoltaic source applications.
Massive Multi‐Mission Statistical Study and Analytical Modeling of the Earth's Magnetopause: 3. An Asymmetric Non Indented Magnetopause Analytical Model

In a companion statistical study, we showed that the expression of the magnetopause surface as a power law of an elliptic function of the zenith angle θ holds at lunar distances, that the flaring of the magnetopause surface is influenced by the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) By component and that the IMF Bx component had no influence on the stand‐off distance. As a follow‐up to these statistical results, this paper presents a new empirical analytical asymmetric and non‐indented model of the magnetopause location and shape. This model is obtained from fitting of 15,349 magnetopause crossings using 17 different spacecraft and is parametrized by the upstream solar wind dynamic and magnetic pressures, the IMF clock angle and the Earth dipole tilt angle. The constructed model provides a more accurate prediction of the magnetopause surface location than current Magnetopause surface models, especially on the night side of the magnetosphere.
On-chip integration of laser-ablated zone plates for detection enhancement of inGaAs bow-tie terahertz detectors

One order of magnitude detection enhancement of bow-tie-shaped InGaAs-based terahertz detectors by on-chip incorporation of the secondary diffractive optics is reported. Zone plates were produced directly on the bottom surface of 500 µm-thick InP substrate using the direct laser write technique after an array of InGaAs detectors was formed on the front surface of the wafer. Measurements of detected signal dependence on the angle of the incident wave were performed at 0.76 THz and compared with finite-difference time-domain simulation results. Good correlation of the results shows that the observed enhancement is indeed caused by the focusing performance of the zone plate rather than by the exceptional sensitivity of the single detector.
Integral rating of efficiency of commercial apartment buildings construction

The issue of development of integral indicator of efficiency of ICP is discussed in the research. The issue is discussed in term of construction of commercial apartment building in the form of state and private partnership. The analysis of theoretical works was carried out. The advantages and disadvantages of classic model are shown. The economic indicators and the indicator of participation are suggested to be introduced into classic model. The main dependences for particular indicators and integral indicator of efficiency of ICP are shown. The conclusion about necessity of carrying out the integral indicator of efficiency of ICP, in case of commercial apartment buildings and state and private partnership was done.
Analysis of the Influence of the Degree of Reduction of Iron Ore Materials on the Shape and Location of the Cohesion Zone in a Blast Furnace

The paper considers the theoretical foundations of softening of iron ore materials in a blast furnace (the so-called ‘cohesion zone’). The dependences of the temperature range of softening of iron ore materials (the temperatures of the beginning and ending of softening) on the degree of reduction are calculated and experimentally obtained. Physical modelling of the softening process of reduced iron ore materials was carried out using the Russian State Standard No 26517-85. The results of calculations of the location and shape of the cohesion zone in the blast furnace for iron ore materials with different metallurgical characteristics are presented.
Maize Output Supply Response to Climatic and other Input Variables in Ethiopia

Climate change is among the major challenges to sustainable agricultural production in Ethiopia. Production of cereal crops, especially maize, is very responsive to changes in rainfall and temperature, as climatic parameters influencing productivity. This paper analyzes how climatic and other variables affect the supply of maize in Ethiopia. The data were obtained from secondary sources and cover the period 1981–2018. Data were analyzed using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach. The Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), Schwarz Information Criterion (SIC), and Hannan-Quinn Information Criterion (HQ) were used to select the optimum number of lags. In order to detect whether unit root is present in the series, Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) and Philips-Perron (PP) tests were carried out. The presence of long-run equilibrium was found between maize output and temperature, rainfall, and other included variables. The results show that, in both the long and shortrun, all included climatic variables had a negative relationship with maize output supply, although temperature showed statistical insignificance (P>0.10). The result showed that maize crops are highly sensitive to extremes of rainfall – both shortage in the initial growing period and excessin the vegetative and fruiting stages. It was concluded that farmers face climate-related risk due to variations, particularly in rainfall. Therefore, farmers should adapt by using short-duration and climate-tolerant varieties of maize, along with engagement with eco-friendly production systems.
An Experimental Investigation of Hybrid Position/Force Control for Metal Spinning Process

This study proposes a new approach for controlling metal spinning process using force and position feedbacks. Problems which usually occur during common practices of spinning can be categorized as follows: sheet metal wrinkling, fractures and spring­ back. In order to avoid the above mentioned defects optimized tool path strategies are required. Additionally, forming forces must be under control. In this paper, basic force control strategies which have been proposed for robotics applications and adopted for spinning processes, have been thoroughly reviewed. Classical control theories such as PID controllers are integrated with the reviewed force controller strategies. In order to investigate the efficiency of the proposed control method , a test rig is designed which is composed of a manual lathe ,a geared stepper motor, a linear encoder ,a 3­axis KISTLER dynamometer , a high speed motion control card and a high resolution 16­channel data acquisition card. A spinning roller and tool post is manufactured and mounted on the lathe. Further, a supervisory program has been developed in MATLAB software which can control the process in real time. The program can also analysis and record the data.
VISIBLE/NIR SPECTROSCOPY FOR CHARACTERIZING FECAL CONTAMINATION OF CHICKEN CARCASSES

Zero tolerance of feces on the surfaces of meat and poultry carcasses during slaughter was established as a standard to minimize the likelihood of microbial pathogens. Microbial pathogens can be transmitted to humans by consumption of contaminated meat and poultry. Compliance with zero tolerance of feces in meat processing establishments is currently verified by visual observation. The objective of this study was to investigate the use of visible, near–infrared reflectance spectroscopy as a method to discriminate between uncontaminated poultry breast skin and feces, and to select key wavelengths for use in a hyperpspectral system. Feces (n = 102), uncontaminated poultry breast skin, and skin contaminated with fecal spots were analyzed from 400 to 950 nm. The spectra were reduced by principal component (PC) analysis. The first four PCs explained 99.8% of the spectral variation. PC 1 was primarily responsible for the separation of uncontaminated skin from feces and for the separation of uncontaminated skin from contaminated skin. A classification model was developed and evaluated to classify fecal–contaminated skin from the spectral data with a success rate of 95%. Key wavelengths were identified by intensity of loading weights at 628 nm for PC 1, 565 nm for PC 2, and 434 and 517 nm for PC 4. Discrimination was dependent on the spectral variation related to fecal color and myoglobin and/or hemoglobin content of the uncontaminated breast skin.
New Integrated Robust Disturbance Rejection Control Method for Reusable Launch Vehicle Attitude Controller Design

A new controller structure is formed by two parts. One is the main controller, designed for high performance of the nominal system; another is a compensation controller, which builds an additional control signal to cancel the disturbance and enhance the robustness of the closed loop system. Compensation controller is designed by using the disturbance estimation which could be given by nonlinear extended state observer. In this paper, the process of implementing this new method on reusable launch vehicle is detailed and simulated.
Quality factor and surface resistance of high-Tc superconductor thick film microstrip resonators

Quality factor and surface resistance of high-Tc superconductor thick film microstrip resonators have been studied at various cryogenic temperatures. Superconducting microstrip line resonators made of YBa2Cu3O7-d (YBCO) material were prepared by screen printing on polycrystalline yttrium stabilized zirconium oxide substrates. Equivalent resonators mae of thick film gold material (ESL 8880-H) were prepared on the same substrate material to determine the resonator geometry factor (G) and by means of it the surface resistance (RS) of the superconducting resonators. Both conductor patterns and ground planes of the superconducting resonators were made of YBCO material. The resonators were measured in the frequency range 2 GHz - 7 GHz and the temperature range 30 K - 90 K (the gold resonators were measured up to 300 K). At their best, the superconducting resonators showed significant improvement in unloaded quality factor Q0 (over three times higher) and over 6 dB lower insertion loss values compared to identical thick film gold resonators at 40 K - 50 K temperatures. The crossover temperature was frequency dependent: for example, temperatures of 62 K at 2.3 GHz, 71 K at 4.6 GHz and 55 K at 6.8 GHz frequencies were observed. The surface resistance of the YBCO resonators was calculated at the fundamental, the second and the third harmonic resonant frequencies at 40 K and 77 K. To achieve significant improvement in loss characteristics over thick film gold resonators at these frequencies, operation near 40 K temperatures is required.
Modelling short-term tension stiffening in tension members

Recent research has questioned the validity of bond–slip relationships owing to the ‘necessity for the concrete to be able to slip past the ribs on the bar’. Conversely, it is suggested in this paper that bond–slip models are simply a numerical device that relates bond stress to the relative displacements between the concrete, which surrounds the internal cracking zone, and steel. This paper shows that the short-term response of a reinforced concrete tension member with a central reinforcement bar is predicted well by a one-dimensional non-linear finite-element analysis incorporating a trilinear idealisation of the Model Code 1990 bond–slip relationship. The authors' analysis is significant since it is shown to predict many of the trends in behaviour observed in tests associated with tension stiffening and cracking. Different approaches are adopted in Eurocode 2 (EC2) (2004) for modelling tension stiffening in the calculation of crack width and mean axial extension. These approaches are reviewed in the li.
Are Platelet-related Parameters Predictive of the Prognosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma?

Cite as: Akdeniz A, Mehtap Ö, Karakuş V, Ünal S, Aygün K, Örekici Temel G, Tombak A, Tiftik EN. Are Platelet-related Parameters Predictive of the Prognosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma? Med J Bakirkoy 2021;17:367-374 Received: 15.09. 2021 Accepted: 09.12. 2021 Objective: Hodgkin’s lymphoma has a good prognosis unless it has relapsed or become refractory. The predictive value of platelet (Plt)-related parameters, namely, mean Plt volume (MPV), plateletcrit (PCT), Plt distribution width, and Plt, is shown in some solid tumors and hematological malignancies, but it remains unknown in Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This study aimed to define their values and effects on staging and relapsing status in patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma by comparing them with those in healthy subjects. Methods: Values of Plt-related parameters of 217 patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and 205 healthy individuals were documented and compared according to the disease stage and relapsing status. We defined the cutoff values for diagnosis, staging, and relapsing status of these parameters using the receiving operating characteristic curve analysis. Results: For diagnosis, the cutoff values of MPV, Plt, and PCT were 8.49 fL, 32,1000/mm3, and 0.31, respectively. For staging, the cutoff values of MPV and Plt were 9.5 fL and 12 fL, respectively. None of the parameters were associated with relapsing status. Conclusion: This is the first study evaluating Plt-related parameters in Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Further studies including survival analyses will clarify the effect of these parameters on Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Delay-Dependent H∞ Controller Design for Seismic-Excited Structures with Actuator Delay under Consideration of Actuator Saturation

Abstract This paper studies the design of a state-feedback delay-dependent H ∞ controller for vibration attenuation problem of a seismic-excited structural system having time-varying actuator delay, L 2 disturbances and actuator saturation. First, sufficient delay-dependent stability criteria are derived by choosing a Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional candidate based on matrix inequalities for a stabilizing H ∞ synthesis. To overcome the bilinear matrix inequality problems involved in the delay dependent conditions; a cone complementary linearization method is used to find a feasible solution set. The proposed method utilizes convex description of nonlinear saturation phenomenon by means of convex hull of some linear feedback which leads to a few additional ellipsoidal conditions in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). By use of the proposed method, a suboptimal controller with maximum allowable delay bound and minimum allowable disturbance attenuation level can be easily obtained by a convex optimization technique. The effectiveness of the proposed controller is illustrated through simulations of the responses of a-four-degree-of-freedom structural system under seismic excitations. Simulation results show that, in spite of the actuator saturation, the designed controller is all effective in reducing vibration amplitudes of storeys and guarantees stability at maximum actuator delay.
A Review of patents in tyre cooling

A number of patents on tyre cooling have been reviewed with a focus on those which can be applied to earthmoving tyres for the mining industry. The mechanisms of heat transfer within the tyre carcass are introduced as well as the basic tyre structure and effects of overheating on tyre operation. The tyre cooling patents are separated into five functional groups and reviews are made based on practicality and potential for significant heat transfer. This analysis has made it evident that potential cooling effectiveness is often compromised by practicality of an invention. The patents deemed to have the most potential for cooling are those which incorporate a working fluid which undergoes a phase change to transfer heat between different regions of the wheel assembly. Finally, these inventions are also related to current research projects which aim to develop a new cooling technique and extend the working life of earthmoving tyres.
Characterization of the PLN p.Arg14del Mutation in Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes

Phospholamban (PLN) is the natural inhibitor of the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATP-ase (SERCA2a). Heterozygous PLN p.Arg14del mutation is associated with an arrhythmogenic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), whose pathogenesis has been attributed to SERCA2a “superinhibition”. Aim: To test in cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) derived from a PLN p.Arg14del carrier whether (1) Ca2+ dynamics and protein localization were compatible with SERCA2a superinhibition and (2) if functional abnormalities could be reverted by pharmacological SERCA2a activation (PST3093). Methods: Ca2+ transients (CaT) were recorded at 36 °C in hiPSC-CMs clusters during field stimulation. SERCA2a and PLN where immunolabeled in single hiPSC-CMs. Mutant preparations (MUT) were compared to isogenic wild-type ones (WT), obtained by mutation reversal. Results: WT and MUT differed for the following properties: (1) CaT time to peak (tpeak) and half-time of CaT decay were shorter in MUT; (2) several CaT profiles were identified in WT, “hyperdynamic” ones largely prevailed in MUT; (3) whereas tpeak rate-dependently declined in WT, it was shorter and rate-independent in MUT; (4) diastolic Ca2+ rate-dependently accumulated in WT, but not in MUT. When applied to WT, PST3093 turned all the above properties to resemble those of MUT; when applied to MUT, PST3093 had a smaller or negligible effect. Preferential perinuclear SERCA2a-PLN localization was lost in MUT hiPSC-CMs. Conclusions: Functional data converge to argue for PLN p.Arg14del incompetence in inhibiting SERCA2a in the tested case, thus weakening the rationale for therapeutic SERCA2a activation. Mechanisms alternative to SERCA2a superinhibition should be considered in the pathogenesis of DCM, possibly including dysregulation of Ca2+-dependent transcription.
IBM's new brain [News]

The TrueNorth neuromorphic chip takes a big step toward using the human brain‚s architecture to reduce computing‚s power consumption. Neuromorphic computer chips meant to mimic the neural network architecture of biological brains have generally fallen short of their wetware counterparts in efficiency-a crucial factor that has limited practical applications for such chips. That could be changing. At a power density of just 20 milliwatts per square centimeter, IBM‚s new brain-inspired chip [above] comes tantalizingly close to such wetware efficiency. The hope is that it could bring brainlike intelligence to the sensors of smartphones, smart cars, and–if IBM has its way–everything else.
Strategic alliance formation and the effects on the performance of manufacturing enterprises from supply chain perspective

This study examines the antecedents of strategic alliance formation in manufacturing firms in China, the alliance effect on innovation capability and dyadic quality performance, and how these two organisational capabilities are related to the supply chain performance of Chinese manufacturing enterprises in Shanghai. We perform a series of statistical techniques including logistic regression analysis, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and multiple regression analysis for assessing the hypothesised relationships. Our findings indicate that relational stability and effective communication are significant antecedent factors influencing strategic alliance formation among Chinese manufacturing enterprises. Such alliance formation is found to benefit innovation capability and dyadic quality performance, which are significant contributors to the supply chain performance of Chinese manufacturers. We provide important theoretical and practical implications on these antecedents and consequences of strategic alliance formation leading to supply chain performance in the Chinese manufacturing context.
Identification and Functional Characterization of Divergent 3’-Phosphate tRNA Ligase From Entamoeba histolytica

HSPC117/RtcB, 3’-phosphate tRNA ligase, is a critical enzyme involved in tRNA splicing and maturation. HSPC117/RtcB is also involved in mRNA splicing of some protein-coding genes including XBP-1. Entamoeba histolytica, a protozoan parasite responsible for human amebiasis, possesses two RtcB proteins (EhRtcB1 and 2), but their biological functions remain unknown. Both RtcBs show kinship with mammalian/archaeal type, and all amino acid residues present in the active sites are highly conserved, as suggested by protein alignment and phylogenetic analyses. EhRtcB1 was demonstrated to be localized to the nucleus, while EhRtcB2 was in the cytosol. EhRtcB1, but not EhRtcB2, was required for optimal growth of E. histolytica trophozoites. Both EhRtcB1 (in cooperation with EhArchease) and EhRtcB2 showed RNA ligation activity in vitro. The predominant role of EhRtcB1 in tRNAIle(UAU) processing in vivo was demonstrated in EhRtcB1- and 2-gene silenced strains. Taken together, we have demonstrated the conservation of tRNA splicing and functional diversification of RtcBs in this amoebozoan lineage.
Simulation Framework for Modeling Large-Scale Flexible Transit Systems

Despite the prevalent use of simulation methods in a majority of areas in transportation research, transit and paratransit research has not relied heavily on simulation models, not only because traditional transit studies do not necessarily require simulation techniques but also because proper simulation packages are not available for modeling innovative transit systems. This study proposes a new type of simulation framework, targeting large-scale flexible transit systems with various vehicle operation schemes. The intent of this study is to describe the generalized concepts and the detailed architecture of the framework developed for urban transportation networks. A comprehensive process for the framework development, including considerations of simulation data conversion and user interface design, is discussed. Two real-time flexible transit applications are modeled with the proposed simulation framework: high coverage point-to-point transit and real-time shuttle service. Detailed simulation results are provided, and the importance of simulation design and operational features is addressed. The results also show that the framework can model realistic large networks several times faster than real time with standard desktop computers; these results raise the possibility of its use in real-time optimization schemes as well as for synchronous modeling with commercial road traffic simulators.
COVID-19 related factors affecting the experiences of neurodivergent persons in the workplace: A rapid review.

BACKGROUND Policy responses to the COVID-19 pandemic offer possibilities to advance social justice. One such prospect is to make workplaces more inclusive of neurodivergence. OBJECTIVE This research addresses the question of, in what ways might COVID-19 affect the experiences of neurodivergent persons in the workplace? METHODS Conducting a rapid review, the author has applied thematic analysis to a total of 50 documents comprised of journal articles, news articles, and guides as retrieved from purposive searches of ProQuest Central, ProQuest Newsstream International, Google Scholar, and Google databases. RESULTS Research results have revealed themes of challenges and opportunities, and sub-themes of accommodating (i.e., remote working, employee recruitment, retainment or advancement and/or access); and diversity and inclusion (i.e., acceptance, empathy and/or ERGs). CONCLUSION This study has informed a baseline COVID-19-related guide to accommodating and including neurodivergence in the workplace. The review concludes by offering possibilities as to what a COVID-19 inspired 'new normal' might mean for supporting neurodivergent staff (and prospective staff).