Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The emergence of koi herpesvirus and its significance to European aquaculture

1) CIDC-Lelystad, NRL for Fish and Shellfish Diseases, P.O. Box 2004, 8203 AA Lelystad, The Netherlands; 2) CEFAS, NRL for Fish Diseases, Weymouth Laboratory, Barrack Road, Weymouth, Dorset DT4 8UB England; 3) NRL for Fish Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Boddenblick 5a, D-17493 Greifswald Insel Riems, Germany; 4) Community Reference Laboratory for Fish Diseases, Danish Institute for Food and Veterinary Research, Hangovej 2, DK-8200 Arhus, Denmark.
Some practical notes on the land surface modeling in the Tibetan Plateau

Abstract. The Tibetan Plateau is a key region of land-atmosphere interactions, as it provides an elevated heat source to the middle-troposphere. The Plateau surfaces are typically characterized by alpine meadows and grasslands in the central and eastern part while by alpine deserts in the western part. This study evaluates performance of three state-of-the-art land surface models (LSMs) for the Plateau typical land surfaces. The LSMs of interest are SiB2 (the Simple Biosphere), CoLM (Common Land Model), and Noah. They are run at typical alpine meadow sites in the central Plateau and typical alpine desert sites in the western Plateau. The identified key processes and modeling issues are as follows. First, soil stratification is a typical phenomenon beneath the alpine meadows, with dense roots and soil organic matters within the topsoil, and it controls the profile of soil moisture in the central and eastern Plateau; all models, when using default parameters, significantly under-estimate the soil moisture within the topsoil. Second, a soil surface resistance controls the surface evaporation from the alpine deserts but it has not been reasonably modeled in LSMs; an advanced scheme for soil water flow is implemented in a LSM, based on which the soil resistance is determined from soil water content and meteorological conditions. Third, an excess resistance controls sensible heat fluxes from dry bare-soil or sparsely vegetated surfaces, and all LSMs significantly under-predict the ground-air temperature gradient, which would result in higher net radiation, lower soil heat fluxes and thus higher sensible heat fluxes in the models. A parameterization scheme for this resistance has been shown to be effective to remove these biases.
Black Exceptionality in Academia: A Cultural-Historical Re-Conceptualization of Black Male Students Identified With Learning Disabilities in Higher Education

The underrepresentation of Black male students identified with learning disabilities (LD) in higher education is a symptom of a larger social injustice, the racialization of educational opportunities and outcomes in the United States. We provided a critical review of the literature to examine the structural and social barriers facing Black college students identified with LD in terms of access to adequate support services, refusal of funds of knowledge that Black students bring to higher education, and hegemonic organization of higher education. Following themes are explored: a) historical legacy of racial inequity in academia; b) systemic contradictions in institutional practices; c) absence of collaborative networks. This article offers a conceptualization of antiblackness and the denial of Black exceptionality informed by Vygotskian cultural-historical activity theory and critical pedagogies. The concepts of cultural mediation, cultural hegemony, resistance, and agency will be used to examine the challenges and possibilities of scaffolding success and joy of Black males identified as LD in higher education.
The Ionospheric Bubble Index deduced from magnetic field and plasma observations onboard Swarm

In the post-sunset tropical ionospheric F-region plasma density often exhibits depletions, which are usually called equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs). In this paper we give an overview of the Swarm Level 2 Ionospheric Bubble Index (IBI), which is a standard scientific data of the Swarm mission. This product called L2-IBI is generated from magnetic field and plasma observations onboard Swarm, and gives information as to whether a Swarm magnetic field observation is affected by EPBs. We validate the performance of the L2-IBI product by using magnetic field and plasma measurements from the CHAMP satellite, which provided observations similar to those of the Swarm. The L2-IBI product is of interest not only for ionospheric studies, but also for geomagnetic field modeling; modelers can de-select magnetic data which are affected by EPBs or other unphysical artifacts.
A novel TSV interposer based System-in-Package for RF applications

In this paper, a TSV interposer base SIP for RF applications is proposed. It’s composed of two separate TSV interposers based on high resistivity Si substrate, which is utilized as the substrate and Cap for RF SIP package. Choice of high resistivity Si substrate is intended to relieve RF loss. The one used for SIP package substrate is consisted of Cu TSVs, RF transmission lines and cavities, the cavity is coated with Copper layer inside, populated with electrical grounding Cu TSVs at the bottom surface, surrounded by lines of TSVs, and it’s utilized to accommodate RF microelectronic chips. The other one used for capping is similar to the bottom TSV interposer in structure. The two TSV interposers will be aligned in the final step with the cavities being sealed to form a close room for the inside RF device for improving the property in electromagnetic compatibility. To demonstrate TSV interposer based RF SIP, Process is developed for the TSV interposer. To testify theprocess, a test vehicle is designed and TSV interposer is fabricated, assembled and characterized.
A Deep Convolutional Neural Network for Semantic Pixel-Wise Segmentation of Road and Pavement Surface Cracks

Deterioration of road and pavement surface conditions is an issue which directly affects the majority of the world today. The complex structure and textural similarities of surface cracks, as well as noise and image illumination variation makes automated detection a challenging task. In this paper, we propose a deep fully convolutional neural network to perform pixel-wise classification of surface cracks on road and pavement images. The network consists of an encoder layer which reduces the input image to a bank of lower level feature maps. This is followed by a corresponding decoder layer which maps the encoded features back to the resolution of the input data using the indices of the encoder pooling layers to perform efficient up-sampling. The network is finished with a classification layer to label individual pixels. Training time is minimal due to the small amount of training/validation data (80 training images and 20 validation images). This is important due to the lack of applicable public data available. Despite this lack of data, we are able to perform image segmentation (pixel-level classification) on a number of publicly available road crack datasets. The network was tested extensively and the results obtained indicate performance in direct competition with that of the current state-of-the-art methods.
A review of surrogate models and their application to groundwater modeling

The spatially and temporally variable parameters and inputs to complex groundwater models typically result in long runtimes which hinder comprehensive calibration, sensitivity, and uncertainty analysis. Surrogate modeling aims to provide a simpler, and hence faster, model which emulates the specified output of a more complex model in function of its inputs and parameters. In this review paper, we summarize surrogate modeling techniques in three categories: data‐driven, projection, and hierarchical‐based approaches. Data‐driven surrogates approximate a groundwater model through an empirical model that captures the input‐output mapping of the original model. Projection‐based models reduce the dimensionality of the parameter space by projecting the governing equations onto a basis of orthonormal vectors. In hierarchical or multifidelity methods the surrogate is created by simplifying the representation of the physical system, such as by ignoring certain processes, or reducing the numerical resolution. In discussing the application to groundwater modeling of these methods, we note several imbalances in the existing literature: a large body of work on data‐driven approaches seemingly ignores major drawbacks to the methods; only a fraction of the literature focuses on creating surrogates to reproduce outputs of fully distributed groundwater models, despite these being ubiquitous in practice; and a number of the more advanced surrogate modeling methods are yet to be fully applied in a groundwater modeling context.
Case A and B evolution towards electron capture supernova

Context. Most super-asymptotic giant branch (SAGB) stars are expected to end their life as oxygen–neon white dwarfs rather than electron capture supernovae (ECSN). The reason is ascribed to the ability of the second dredge-up to significantly reduce the mass of the He core and of the efficient AGB winds to remove the stellar envelope before the degenerate core reaches the critical mass for the activation of electron capture reactions. Aims. In this study, we investigate the formation of ECSN through case A and case B mass transfer. In these scenarios, when Roche lobe overflow stops, the primary has become a helium star. With a small envelope left, the second dredge-up is prevented, potentially opening new paths to ECSN. Methods. We compute binary models using our stellar evolution code BINSTAR. We consider three different secondary masses of 8, 9, and 10 M⊙ and explore the parameter space, varying the companion mass, orbital period, and input physics. Results. Assuming conservative mass transfer, with our choice of secondary masses all case A systems enter contact either during the main sequence or as a consequence of reversed mass transfer when the secondary overtakes its companion during core helium burning. Case B systems are able to produce ECSN progenitors in a relatively small range of periods (3 ≲ P(d) ≤ 30) and primary masses (10.9 ≤ M∕M⊙≤ 11.5). Changing the companion mass has little impact on the primary’s fate as long as the mass ratio M1∕M2 remains less than 1.4–1.5, above which evolution to contact becomes unavoidable. We also find that allowing for systemic mass loss substantially increases the period interval over which ECSN can occur. This change in the binary physics does not however affect the primary mass range. We finally stress that the formation of ECSN progenitors through case A and B mass transfer is very sensitive to adopted binary and stellar physics. Conclusions. Close binaries provide additional channels for ECSN but the parameter space is rather constrained likely making ECSN a rare event.
The Impact of Non-Parallelism of Toothed Gear Shafts Axes and Method of Gear Fixing on Gearbox Components Vibrations

Abstract The subject of the experimental research was a modified back-to-back test stand. During the test, the driven gear with a number of teeth z1=16 was fixed on stationary axis. The tested gearbox worked without load and the closing gearbox was dismantled to avoid any additional vibration and noise. A mechanical system was also used which, during the tests, allowed to change the position of the above mentioned stationary axis. Gear with number of teeth z1 was fixed on a stationary axis with the arrangement of two self-aligning ball bear-ings which prevented significant changes in the angular position of axis of gear in regard of stationary axis; or fixed on a stationary axis with the arrangement of one self-aligning ball bearing which allowed significant changes in the angular position of axis of gear in regard of stationary axis. On the basis of the conducted studies, it can be stated that only in some of the analyzed cases fixing of gear with the arrangement of one self-aligning ball bearing reduces the vibration of the gearbox elements.
The Effects of Lipophilicity of Propofol Derivatives on Lung Cancer Cells

Propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) is a commonly utilized general anesthetic that has been shown to induce apoptosis. Propofol derivatives of varying lipophilicity were used to treat H1299 human lung cancer cells. Lipophilicity is a significant characteristic that effects whether a compound can enter a cell by passing through the membrane. Clonogenic assays were used to evaluate the effect of each of the compounds on the number of cells attached to the plate after a 24-hour incubation. Dose-response curves were created for phenol, 2,6-dimethylphenol, propofol, and 2,6-di-t-butylphenol. Trend lines for the linear portion of the data were used to estimate LC20 values. The LC20 values for the compounds tested were compared, and no definitive trend was found relating lipophilicity to the number of living cells remaining on the plate after treatment. This could be a result of cell death being secondary to the anesthetic action of propofol. The calculated LC20 values were: 206 μM for phenol, 16.3 μM for 2,6dimethylphenol, 9.33 μM for propofol, and 101 μM for 2,6-di-t-butylphenol. ANOVA testing found statistical significance between the various concentrations tested for phenol and propofol.
Relationship between soil organic matter lability and liming requirement in acid sandy-loam cambisols

It is evident that the presence of organic matters in soil considerably influences by its microbial oxidation to CO2 the requirement for calcareous compounds as well as the necessary amelioration dose of lime to reduce incurred soil acidity as the impact of balanced buffering CO2-HCO3 – system, the more labile the organic matters are. If we take into consideration that the content of soil water per hectare of topsoil is, at the total weight of 6 × 106 kg, approximately, in analyzed sandy-loam soils 1.2 × 106 litre, in the given experiment soil water is just able to use up to 220 kg CaCO3/ha for the fixation of free surplus CO2 to the value of equilibrium CO2, at zero elution! From this process, even 300–400 kg water-soluble Ca(HCO3)2 result. Of course, the ion exchange and the buffering system of the soil have further requirements for Ca compounds. Consequently, an unambiguous conclusion is: doses of calcareous compounds cannot be calculated only with the aim of reducing soil acidity and consumption of Ca nutrient by plants as it is common in the other nutrients. In a practical experiment in watersheds of nine Šumava brooks of the total area of 78.5 km2 we studied changes in the stability of soil organic matters in the soils of these brooks in relation to variations in calcium carbonate equilibriums in waters from these watersheds in 1986–2004. The loss of the least stable fraction of soil organic matters, and the associated loss of the microbial activity of soils, were found to lead to a decrease in Langelier saturation index Is in the waters, hence to a reduction in water corrosivity against CaCO3, and so to a smaller need of liming to establish the calcium carbonate equilibrium in soil solutions even though exchange and active acidity of soil increased.
Fashion Industry Supply Chain Issues: Zara (Azel France)

The main purpose of retail business is to continuously maintain the responsiveness to the changing trends in consumer fashion tastes through quickly creating new designs that are suitable for all customers with an affordable price. Hence, the importance of Supply Chain (Management) has appeared. The objectives of this study are to analyze the impact of purchasing and supply chain management strategies in retail industry and identify the way of success of AZEL FRANCE Retailer Company of ZARA clothing in Bosnia and Herzegovina from supply chain perspective management by conducting a survey study. AZEL FRANCE is found to be successful in that it can control and streamline the highly consumable fashion items in their supply chains so that they can greatly decrease their lead time and thus increase be responsive enough for fast changes in fashion customer needs and desires by minimizing the industry risks. The retailer stores of AZEL FRANCE are also found to be confident about the future profitability. However, some technical inabilities of the company are also identified. It can be suggested that AZEL FRANCE can easily leverage more its successfully implemented supply chain activities by increasing its technical abilities.
Expression of the Non-Structural Proteins NS3/4A of the Hepatitis C Virus Using a Genetically Modified Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Vector System

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the leading causes of chronic liver diseases. Despite advancements in the development of antivirals and efforts to combat HCV infections, there is currently no vaccine for HCV. Adopting traditional approaches to HCV vaccine development has been impractical due to the lack of reproducible cell culture systems that can support HCV replication. In this study, the New Jersey serotype of recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (rVSVNJ) was used as the vector to express non-structural proteins NS3/4A of genotype 1a HCV for potential vaccine purposes. The rVSVNJ-GMM vector was genetically modified by changing glycine to glutamic acid at position 22 and methionine to arginine at positions 48 and 51 of the matrix protein to reduce inhibition of host gene expression and cytopathic effects. This study examined replication efficiency, attenuation, and capacity of rVSVNJ-GMM vector to express high protein levels. It was hypothesized that the genetically modified rVSVNJ-GMM vector with the HCV NS3/4A insert would demonstrate reduced cytopathogenesis without compromising viral replication and efficiently express functional NS3/4A proteins. The rVSVNJ-GMM-NS3/4A was recovered by reverse genetics and amplified to construct viral growth kinetics that generated a high viral titre. The degree of cytopathogenesis of rVSVNJ-GMM without insert and rVSVNJ-GMM-NS3/4A was compared and results showed that rVSVNJ-GMM-NS3/4A achieved fewer structural changes in the infected cells compared to rVSVNJ-GMM without insert. In addition, the proper expression and processing of HCV NS3/4A proteins were confirmed, and the function of NS3/4A protein complex as a serine protease was confirmed by its ability to cleave at the NS5A/NS5B polyprotein junction. Electron microscopic visualization showed normal morphology of rhabdovirus particles and clear projection of glycoproteins. The replication efficiency, safety, and capacity to achieve high expression level of functional NS3/4A proteins indicate that the rVSVNJ-GMM vector can be used for recombinant HCV vaccine development.
Solar Forecast Reconciliation and Effects of Improved Base Forecasts

Forecasting of solar PV generation plays an important role in power system operations. Forecasts are required on various geographical and temporal scales, which can be modeled as hierarchies. In a geographical hierarchy, the overall forecast for the region can either be obtained by directly forecasting the regional time series or by aggregating the individual forecasts generated for the sub-regions. This leads to a problem known as aggregate inconsistency as the two sets of forecasts are most likely different due to modeling uncertainties. Hence, practice is not optimal. Statistically optimal aggregation known as reconciliation, has been proven to provide aggregate consistent forecasts. Reconciliation helps system operators to have a superior foresight in a region-wise level, which eventually results in efficient system planning. The focus of this paper is on improving reconciliation accuracy. In addition, the effects of more accurate disaggregated and aggregated forecasts on the final reconciled predictions have been analyzed. A total of 318 simulated PV plants in California have been used to build a geographical hierarchy. More accurate NWP based and aggregated level forecasts are obtained with model output statistics and artificial neural network models. Significant improvements are observed in reconciled forecasts without using any exogenous information.
Incoherent Projection Matrix Design for Compressed Sensing Using Alternating Optimization

In this paper we address the design of projection matrix for compressed sensing. In most compressed sensing applications, random projection matrices have been used but it has been shown that optimizing these projections can greatly improve the sparse signal reconstruction performance. An incoherent projection matrix can greatly reduce the recovery error for sparse signal reconstruction. With this motivation, we propose an algorithm for the construction of an incoherent projection matrix with respect to the designed equiangular tight frame (ETF) for reducing pairwise mutual coherence. The designed frame consists of a set of column vectors in a finite dimensional Hilbert space with the desired norm and reduced pairwise mutual coherence. The proposed method is based on updating ETF with inertial force and constructing incoherent frame and projection matrix using alternating minimization. We compare the performance of the proposed algorithm with state-of-the-art projection matrix design algorithms via numerical experiments and the results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the other algorithms.
The Impact of Mean State Errors on Equatorial Atlantic Interannual Variability in a Climate Model

Observations show that the Equatorial Atlantic Zonal Mode (ZM) obeys similar physics to the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO): positive Bjerknes and delayed negative feedbacks. This implies the ZM may be predictable on seasonal timescales, but models demonstrate little prediction skill in this region. In this study using different configurations of the Kiel Climate Model (KCM) exhibiting different levels of systematic error, we show that a reasonable simulation of the ZM depends on realistic representation of the mean state, i.e., surface easterlies along the equator, upward sloping thermocline to the east, with an equatorial SST cold tongue in the east. We further attribute the differences in interannual variability among the simulations to the individual components of the positive Bjerknes and delayed negative feedbacks. Differences in the seasonality of the variability are similarly related to the impact of seasonal biases on the Bjerknes feedback. Our results suggest that model physics must be enhanced to enable skillful seasonal predictions in the Tropical Atlantic Sector, although some improvement with regard to the simulation of Equatorial Atlantic interannual variability may be achieved by momentum flux correction. This pertains especially to the seasonal phase locking of interannual SST variability.
Performance of Three Phase T-Type Multilevel Inverter with Reduced Switch Count

This paper propose a three-level T-type multilevel inverter with the reduced switch count concept. It is also known as solar inverter. T -type MLI is use in various applications like solar inverter, motor drive application, fuel cell converter and etc. The importance of the Reduced Device Count (RDC) concept is to reduce the hardware and output is same as the original one model. Also RDC important in aspect of the loss regulation as well as the cost beneficial. The performance of T-type multi-level inverter (MLI) is studied under different modulation frequency with resistive (R) load as well as inductive (RL) load. The different topologies of conventional inverters are compared.