Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thermal Treatment of Active Carbons: a Comparison Between Microwave and Electrical Hating

Two commercial activated carbons were subjected to thermal treatment in a N2 atmosphere using a microwave multimode resonant cavity and a conventional electric tube furnace as heat sources. The temperature of the carbon bed during the microwave treatment was monitored using an infrared pyrometer and an Inconel sheltered type-K thermocouple. A comparison between both methods of measuring temperature was made. When similar treatment temperatures are used, both techniques produce similar changes in the textural and chemical properties of the activated carbons. However, microwave treatment is much less time-consuming than conventional heating. Microwave treatment in an inert environment seems to be an efficient and attractive way of removing oxygenated functionalities from carbon surfaces and of increasing the hydrophobicity and basicity of carbons.
Low-Frequency Noise Reduction Using In-Pixel Chopping To Enhance The Dynamic Range of a CMOS Image Sensor.

In this paper, a low-noise CMOS image sensor with enhanced dynamic range (DR), using an in-pixel chopping technique, is presented. The proposed in-pixel chopping technique is used to reduce the low-frequency or 1/f noise of the source follower (SF) in an active pixel sensor (APS), which is a major component of the temporal noise. A conventional 3T active pixel, with n-well/p-sub photodiode (PD), is modified to implement a chopper inside a pixel. A single minimum sized nMOS transistor is used in each pixel, without much compromising in the fill-factor (FF). Using chopping action the low-frequency noise of the source follower is modulated to the chopping frequency (f ch ) which is much higher than the maximum frequency of the input signal frequency band. The up-converted low-frequency noise is eliminated using a column level low-pass filter (LPF), in the later stage. The reduction in the temporal noise also results in an enhanced dynamic range of the image sensor. In addition, the readout consists of a column level high gain chopper amplifier also reduces the non-linearity of the source follower. To validate the proposed technique a prototype sensor consists of a 128x128 sized pixel array with in-pixel chopping and column level read-out circuitry, is fabricated in AMS 0.35 {\mu}m CMOS OPTO process. The pixel pitch is 10.5 um (horizontal and vertical both) with a fill-factor of around 30%. The temporal noise is measured as 280 uVrms at the chopping frequency (fch) of 8 MHz, which shows a reduction in the noise power by 11 dB. Due to the reduced noise floor, the dynamic range is enhanced from 65 dB to 76 dB, using the proposed technique.
SMALL SHIPS RESISTANCE ESTIMATION IN PLANNING DOMAIN

The present paper investigates a theoretical method proposed by Mordvinov in order to estimate the small ship resistance in the planning domain. The practical evaluation of this problem with satisfactory accuracy constitutes an important element in the initial design phase. The computer code PHP-NM-RI-G, realised in the Research Centre of the Naval Architecture Faculty of “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati was described and run in order to compute the resistance performance of a small ship in planning domain. The components of the planning ship resistance were determined and a comparative analysis was performed. The computer code may be applied in the initial design process of planning small ships.
DNA ligase PCNA

: The BARD1 N-terminal RING domain binds BRCA1 while the BARD1 C-terminal ankyrin and tandem BRCT repeat domains bind CstF-50 to modulate mRNA processing and RNAP II stability in response to DNA damage. Here we characterize the BARD1 structural biochemistry responsible for CstF- 50 binding. The crystal structure of the BARD1 BRCT domain uncovers a degenerate phosphopeptide binding pocket lacking the key arginine required for phosphopeptide interactions in other BRCT proteins. Small angle X-ray scattering together with limited proteolysis results indicates that
CyDER – an FMI-based co-simulation platform for distributed energy resources

The increased integration of distributed energy resources (DERs) is bringing a number of challenges to the power grid. These include reverse power flows in distribution systems and potentially transmission systems and grid stability. So far, specialized tools have been developed to capture some of the impact of DERs at the distribution level. However, distribution system operators lack visibility into the overall system conditions. Furthermore, the impact of increasing DERs is not limited to the distribution level but also influences the transmission grid. To support the planning and operation of the grid, we developed a co-simulation platform called CyDER (A Cyber Physical Co-simulation Platform for Distributed Energy Resources in Smart Grids) that integrates various domain-specific simulation tools. CyDER is based on the functional mock-up interface standard. This paper gives an overview of CyDER and demonstrates its use based on two applications.
Guiding Principles: Applying Water Competence to Drowning Prevention

Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.bgsu. edu/ijare Part of the Exercise Physiology Commons, Exercise Science Commons, Health and Physical Education Commons, Leisure Studies Commons, Other Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons, Outdoor Education Commons, Recreation Business Commons, Sports Management Commons, Sports Sciences Commons, Sports Studies Commons, and the Tourism and Travel Commons
Localization of nanospheres in pheochromocytoma-like cells following exposure to high-frequency electromagnetic fields at 18 GHz

Exposure to high-frequency (HF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) at 18 GHz was previously found to induce reversible cell permeabilization in eukaryotic cells; however, the fate of internalized foreign objects inside the cell remains unclear. Here, silica core–shell gold nanospheres (Au NS) of 20 ± 5 nm diameter were used to study the localization of Au NS in pheochromocytoma (PC 12) cells after exposure to HF EMFs at 18 GHz. Internalization of Au NS was confirmed using fluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Analysis based on corresponding scanning transmission electron microscopy energy-dispersive spectroscopy revealed the presence of the Au NS free within the PC 12 cell membrane, cytoplasm, enclosed within intracellular vesicles and sequestered in vacuoles. The results obtained in this work highlight that exposure to HF EMFs could be used as an efficient technique with potential for effective delivery of drugs, genetic material, and nanomaterials into cells for the purpose of cellular manipulation or therapy.
Trait-mediated competition drives an ant invasion and alters functional diversity

The assumption that differences in species' traits reflect their different niches has long influenced how ecologists infer processes from assemblage patterns. For instance, many assess the importance of environmental filtering versus classical limiting-similarity competition in driving biological invasions by examining whether invaders’ traits are similar or dissimilar to those of residents, respectively. However, mounting evidence suggests that hierarchical differences between species' trait values can distinguish their competitive abilities (e.g. for the same resource) instead of their niches. Whether such trait-mediated hierarchical competition explains invasions and structures assemblages is less explored. We integrate morphological, dietary, physiological and behavioural trait analyses to test whether environmental filtering, limiting-similarity competition or hierarchical competition explain invasions by fire ants on ant assemblages. We detect both competition mechanisms; invasion success is not only explained by limiting similarity in body size and thermal tolerance (presumably allowing the invader to exploit different niches from residents), but also by the invader's superior position in trait hierarchies reflecting competition for common trophic resources. We find that the two mechanisms generate complex assemblage-level functional diversity patterns—overdispersion in some traits, clustering in others—suggesting their effects are likely missed by analyses restricted to a few traits and composite trait diversity measures.
A network-based measure of functional diversity in food webs

Biodiversity is measured from various perspectives. One of them, functional diversity, quantifies the heterogeneity in species traits and roles in an ecosystem. One important aspect of species roles is their interactions with other species, i.e. their network role. We therefore investigate here functional diversity from the network perspective. Species differ in their network positions in a food web, having different interaction patterns. We developed a measure for quantifying the diversity in species interaction patterns in a food web. We examined the relationship between interaction diversity and several global network properties for 92 food webs. Our results showed that high interaction diversity occurs in sparsely connected and less cohesive food webs. High interaction diversity also occurred in food webs with more clusters and high network modularity. We also quantified several conventional functional diversity indices and demonstrate that they show little or no correlation with interaction diversity. Our proposed diversity index therefore provides a measure complementary to current concepts of functional diversity.
Curved schemes for stochastic differential equations on, or near, manifolds

Given a stochastic differential equation (SDE) in Rn whose solution is constrained to lie in some manifold M⊂Rn, we identify a class of numerical schemes for the SDE whose iterates remain close to M to high order. These schemes approximate a geometrically invariant scheme, which gives perfect solutions for any SDE that is diffeomorphic to n-dimensional Brownian motion. Unlike projection-based methods, they may be implemented without explicit knowledge of M. They can even be implemented if the solution merely remains close to M, without being exactly confined to it. Our approach does not require simulating any iterated Itô integrals beyond those needed to implement the Euler–Maryuama scheme. We prove that the schemes converge under a standard set of assumptions, and illustrate their geometric advantages in a variety of numerical contexts, including Monte Carlo simulation of the Riemannian Langevin equation.
An insula hierarchical network architecture for active interoceptive inference

In the brain, the insular cortex receives a vast amount of interoceptive information, ascending through deep brain structures, from multiple visceral organs. The unique hierarchical and modular architecture of the insula suggests specialization for processing interoceptive afferents. Yet, the biological significance of the insula's neuroanatomical architecture, in relation to deep brain structures, remains obscure. In this opinion piece, we propose the Insula Hierarchical Modular Adaptive Interoception Control (IMAC) model to suggest that insula modules (granular, dysgranular and agranular), forming parallel networks with the prefrontal cortex and striatum, are specialized to form higher order interoceptive representations. These interoceptive representations are recruited in a context-dependent manner to support habitual, model-based and exploratory control of visceral organs and physiological processes. We discuss how insula interoceptive representations may give rise to conscious feelings that best explain lower order deep brain interoceptive representations, and how the insula may serve to defend the body and mind against pathological depression.
Analysis of a model for surfactant transport around a foam meniscus

A model developed by Bussonnière & Cantat [1] is considered for film-to-film surfactant transport around a meniscus within a foam, with the transport rate dependent upon film-to-film tension difference. The model is applied to the case of a five-film device, in which motors are used to compress two peripheral films on one side of a central film and to stretch another two peripheral films on the central film’s other side. Moreover, it is considered that large amounts of compression or stretch are imposed on peripheral films, and also that compression or stretch might be imposed at high velocities (relative to a characteristic velocity associated with physico-chemical properties of the foam films themselves). The actual strain that results on elements within each film might differ from the imposed strain, with the instantaneous film length coupled to the actual strain determining the amount of surfactant currently on each film (and hence also the amount of surfactant that has transferred either from or onto films). Quite distinct surfactant transport behaviour is predicted for the stretched film compared with the compressed one. In particular, when a film is stretched sufficiently at high enough velocity, surfactant flux onto it is predicted to become extremely ‘plastic’, increasing significantly.
Early social environment affects attention to social cues in juvenile common ravens, Corvus corax

Social competence, i.e. defined as the ability to adjust the expression of social behaviour to the available social information, is known to be influenced by early-life conditions. Brood size might be one of the factors determining such early conditions, particularly in species with extended parental care. We here tested in ravens whether growing up in families of different sizes affects the chicks' responsiveness to social information. We experimentally manipulated the brood size of 13 captive raven families, creating either small or large families. Simulating dispersal, juveniles were separated from their parents and temporarily housed in one of two captive non-breeder groups. After five weeks of socialization, each raven was individually tested in a playback setting with food-associated calls from three social categories: sibling, familiar unrelated raven they were housed with, and unfamiliar unrelated raven from the other non-breeder aviary. We found that individuals reared in small families were more attentive than birds from large families, in particular towards the familiar unrelated peer. These results indicate that variation in family size during upbringing can affect how juvenile ravens value social information. Whether the observed attention patterns translate into behavioural preferences under daily life conditions remains to be tested in future studies.
Pollination ecology of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) in an island ecosystem

Abstract: Plant pollination is influenced by plant traits, pollinator community, plant community, and abiotic conditions. Island ecosystems, which often have reduced pollinator communities, provide unique insights into pollination ecology. Lowbush blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton, has predominantly been studied in managed agricultural areas with introduced honeybees. We examined diurnal and nocturnal pollination of unmanaged lowbush blueberry patches on an 80 ha island in New Brunswick without honeybees. We restricted pollinator access to blueberry stems in five different treatments. Using mesh bags, we made stems accessible to pollinators 24 h a day (positive control), only during the day, only at night, or never (negative control), with an additional sham control. Blueberry stems accessible only to diurnal visitors had 70.55% fruit set and a mean 7.33 viable seeds per fruit. Stems accessible only to nocturnal visitors had 63.76% fruit set and 5.87 viable seeds, significantly higher than the continuously bagged negative control stems. The most common diurnal insects observed visiting flowers were bumblebees and two wasp species. Insects collected from plants at night were beetles and flies. There was substantial variation between blueberry patches in fruit set and fruit size. We examined whether flower color could be driving patch differences in pollination, and quantified flower color using spectrophotometry. We found no effect of flower color on metrics of pollination. As well as demonstrating substantial nocturnal pollination, we record unusually high fruit set, especially for an island without managed bees. We discuss some of the potential drivers of this high fruit set.
DIGITALISATION OF SHOP-FLOOR OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN TOOL, DIE, AND MOULD-MAKING INDUSTRY

Digitalisation has been advocated as a possible strategy to improve the competitiveness of tool, die, and mould-making (TDM) companies in the 21st century. The recent rise of digital technologies, such as Internet of Things devices, now makes digitalisation an achievable reality. This paper focuses on the digitalisation of shop-floor operations in the South African TDM industry through the development of a novel mobile data collection (MDC) tool known as a shop-floor management system (SMS). The developed SMS was deployed to, and validated in, a selected tooling company for various products. The developed system improved the shop-floor’s real-time data collection.
Joint Placement of Gateways and Controllers in SDN-Enabled Space-Ground Integration Network

The integration research of terrestrial and satellite network utilizes Software-Defined Networking (SDN) to build an emerging network architecture. Therein, the joint placement problem of gateways and controllers is crucial for the design of this SDN-enabled integrated network. Different from the previous work which only considers the network latency and reliability, we introduce the load average difference rate metric to balance the load in the network. In order to minimize the load average difference rate and determine the appropriate number of controllers and gateways, we propose a simulated annealing algorithm based on improved density peak clustering (DBSAA). We conduct experiments on real-world network topology to verify the effectiveness of our algorithm for the joint placement problems. The simulation results show that compared with the Optimal Enumeration Algorithm (OEA) and Simulated Annealing Algorithm (SAA), DBSAA can obtain approximately optimal performance in a shorter running time.
Review of Research on Electric Vehicle V2G Schedule Technology Under Multi Perspective

Electric vehicles (EVs) are attracting wide attention because of its environment protection and energy saving. As an important controllable load, the large-scale of EV fleets connect will have negative effects on the grid without appropriate control. To solve the EV fleets schedule problem, this paper firstly analyzed the modeling approach of uncertainty of EVs, which will increase the accuracy of schedule plan. Then the latest researches are introduced from schedule objectives, methods and environments. Finally, the probably research directions in the future are analyzed.
The analog use of digital trails –Walking practices along the French shores in the digital era

Studies on walking activities aim mainly to categorize and understand their related commodity consumption, but rarely consider the effect of digital tool use, which is becoming increasingly widespread among the French population. The objective of the study is to analyze practitioners’ use of digital tools on walking trails which provide sources of digital information. To do so, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted along two digital coastal trails (n = 589). Results show that 39% of respondents use digital devices during their visit, mainly for digital maps, geo-localization, itinerary tracking, and as cameras. Significant differences exist between walkers who visit the site for the first time, and those who already have previous experience of it. Visitors show little interest in information about the walking activities and the sites visited, and they practically never share their experiences on social media.
For Better, for Worse, for Richer, for Poorer, in Sickness and in Health: A Cognitive-Linguistic Approach to Merism

ABSTRACT This paper is a qualitative usage-based treatment of merism from a cognitive-linguistic perspective. Considered a minor or non-basic figure of speech, especially if compared to the master tropes, metaphor and metonymy, merism is approached here as a figure of speech whose complexity has been largely and unfairly underestimated. We provide a principled account of the relationship of merism with metonymy starting off from the well-known assumption that merism is a particular kind of synecdoche. The notion of merism is delimited and used in its etymological sense, which serves as a starting point for a two-fold classification of this figurative use into contrast-based merism and merism in which contrast plays no role (bare merism). We also explore the constructions which might trigger meristic uses and the characteristics of the terms involved in meristic binomials and trinomials which make them readily available for fusion into specific syntactic patterns like “X and Y,” “both X and Y,” “X and Y alike,” “X as well as Y,” and “X, Y, and Z. ”
Advances in Deformable Plate Tectonic Models: 1. Reconstructing Deformable Continental Blocks and Crustal Thicknesses Back Through Time

Deformable plate tectonic models have been demonstrated to be a useful technique for quantifying temporal variations in strain rate and crustal thickness within recent plate kinematic studies. Using the GPlates software, deformable plate models offer an approach to visualize and assess the interplay of plate kinematics and deformation. However, several assumptions are imposed in previous studies that limit their ability to explain the crustal evolution of various tectonic regimes. Examples of these assumptions include, but are not limited to, the rigid nature of continental blocks and boundaries used to define deformable regions, and uniform crustal thickness assumptions at model start times. In this study, we address these assumptions with newly presented applications using the interplay of GPlates and its python programming library, pyGPlates. In particular, we demonstrate the ability to create deformable continental blocks, reconstruct present day crustal thickness estimates back through time, and how the landward extent of present day crustal thickness estimates can be used to define the limits of deformable plate models and rift domain boundaries a priori. To demonstrate their application and validity, these concepts are evaluated using a previously published deformable plate model of the southern North Atlantic that is tested using 4 modeling scenarios herein to assess the impact of variable model inputs. These models provide insight regarding the pre‐Jurassic (200 Ma) crustal thickness template of the southern North Atlantic, the evolution of continental blocks during rift‐related deformation, and the potential impact of ancient orogenic terranes during subsequent rifting within the North Atlantic.