Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transfer of Cobalt Nanoparticles in a Simplified Food Web: From Algae to Zooplankton to Fish

Cobalt (Co) nanoparticles (NPs) may be diffusely dispersed into natural ecosystems from various anthropogenic sources such as traffic settings and eventually end up in aquatic systems. As environmentally dispersed Co NPs may be transferred through an aquatic food web, this study investigated this transfer from algae (Scendesmus sp.) to zooplankton (Daphnia magna) to fish (Crucian carp, Carassius carassius). Effects of interactions between naturally excreted biomolecules from D. magna and Co NPs were investigated from an environmental fate perspective. ATR-FTIR measurements showed the adsorption of both algae constituents and excreted biomolecules onto the Co NPs. Less than 5% of the Co NPs formed heteroagglomerates with algae, partly an effect of both agglomeration and settling of the Co NPs. The presence of excreted biomolecules in the solution did not affect the extent of heteroagglomeration. Despite the low extent of heteroagglomeration between Co NPs and algae, the Co NPs were transferred to the next trophic level (D. magna). The Co uptake in D. magna was 300 times larger than the control samples (without Co NP), which were not influenced by the addition of excreted biomolecules to the solution. Significant uptake of Co was observed in the intestine of the fish feeding on D. magna containing Co NPs. No bioaccumulation of Co was observed in the fish. Moreover, 10–20% of the transferred Co NP mass was dissolved after 24 h in the simulated gut solution of the zooplankton (pH 7), and 50–60% was dissolved in the simulated gut solution of the fish (pH 4). The results elucidate that Co NPs gain different properties upon trophic transfer in the food web. Risk assessments should hence be conducted on transformed and weathered NPs rather than on pristine particles.
A Hydrodynamic-Based Robust Numerical Model for Debris Hazard and Risk Assessment

Debris flow simulations are important in practical engineering. In this study, a graphics processing unit (GPU)-based numerical model that couples hydrodynamic and morphological processes was developed to simulate debris flow, transport, and morphological changes. To accurately predict the debris flow sediment transport and sediment scouring processes, a GPU-based parallel computing technique was used to accelerate the calculation. This model was created in the framework of a Godunov-type finite volume scheme and discretized into algebraic equations by the finite volume method. The mass and momentum fluxes were computed using the Harten, Lax, and van Leer Contact (HLLC) approximate Riemann solver, and the friction source terms were calculated using the proposed splitting point-implicit method. These values were evaluated using a novel 2D edge-based MUSCL scheme. The code was programmed using C++ and CUDA, which can run on GPUs to substantially accelerate the computation. After verification, the model was applied to the simulation of the debris flow process of an idealized example. The results of the new scheme better reflect the characteristics of the discontinuity of its movement and the actual law of the evolution of erosion and deposition over time. The research results provide guidance and a reference for the in-depth study of debris flow processes and disaster prevention and mitigation.
Power Limit Control Strategy for Household Photovoltaic and Energy Storage Inverter

The increased installation capacity of grid-connected household photovoltaic (PV) systems has been witnessed worldwide, and the power grid is facing the challenges of overvoltage during peak power generation and limited frequency regulation performance. With the dual purpose of enhancing the power grid safety and improving the PV utilization rate, the maximum feed-in active power can be regulated by modifying the maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm and battery energy storage (BES) accessibility as control instructions. However, the existing methods not only waste installed PV capacity, but it becomes no longer accessible when the state of charge (SOC) of the BES approaches its upper limit. In response to the above problem, this paper proposes a power limit control strategy to coordinate the MPPT algorithm and the BES accessibility. The proposed strategy directly controls the inverter output current according to the power limit instructions from the electric operation control centers, leading to a bus voltage difference. The difference serves as a control signal for BES and PV. Under a power-limiting scenario, priority is given to power regulation through energy storage to absorb the limited active power. When the SOC of the BES reaches the upper limit of charging, modification of the PV MPPT algorithm facilitates the inverter output power to meet the power limit requirements. To further verify the effectiveness of the proposed power limit control strategy, both simulation and experimental studies are conducted, which consistently indicated a synchronized inverter current with grid voltage and a rapid power response of the power-limiting instruction within 0.2 s. The power limit control strategy not only improves the PV energy utilization but also supports the safe and reliable operation of the power gird in the context of soaring renewable energy penetration.
Electrochemical polishing of matrix stents of the 316LVM steel using microsecond pulses

With the development of minimally invasive treatment technology, coronary stents made of corrosion-resistant steel are in demand for restoring the patency of blood vessels. The effectiveness of coronary stenting depends on various factors, but the quality of the surface of the stents is a major factor. The higher the quality of the surface of the stent is, the less negative the effect on the circulatory system, arterial walls, and the higher the biocompatibility of the stent is. The complex shape, small cross-section, size, and low rigidity of coronary stents are the main reasons for the inability to ensure high surface quality using mechanical finishing methods. Therefore, electrochemical methods are used to polish stents. For electrochemical polishing (ECP) of stents, an electric mode based on direct current is traditionally used. The disadvantages of direct current ECP are excessive metal removal and the need to use electrolytes of complex compositions, often containing toxic components. As an alternative to the traditional ECP with the use of direct current, we have proposed a method of pulsed ECP using pulses of microsecond duration for polishing stents. The use of pulsed current allows one to achieve a significant increase in the efficiency of the SEC process, when, due to the localization of the anodic dissolution, the smoothing speed of the microroughness of the treated surface, referred to the total metal removal, increases significantly. The paper presents a comparative analysis of ECP modes using direct and pulse current to change the surface roughness, removal, radius of curvature of the edges, and corrosion resistance on the example of stents made of the 316LVM stainless steel. Based on the results of the studies, technological regimes of pulsed ECP were established that provide the highest quality polishing of the stent surface with a small metal removal with a slight rounding of the edges.
Heat and mass transfer on unsteady MHD free convection rotating flow through a porous medium over an infinite vertical plate with hall effects

In this paper, we have considered the unsteady MHD free convection flow of an incompressible electrically conducting fluid through porous medium bounded by an infinite vertical porous surface in the presence of heat source and chemical reaction in a rotating system taking hall current into account. The flow through porous medium is governed by Brinkman’s model for the momentum equation. In the undisturbed state, both the plate and fluid in porous medium are in solid body rotation with the same angular velocity about normal to the infinite vertical plane surface. The vertical surface is subjected to the uniform constant suction perpendicular to it and the temperature on the surface varies with time about a non-zero constant mean while the temperature of free stream is taken to be constant. The exact solutions for the velocity, temperature and concentration are obtained making use of perturbation technique. The velocity expression consists steady state and oscillatory state. It reveals that, the steady part.
Using an Analytical Hierarchy Process to Analyze the Development of the Green Energy Industry

With global climate change and resource scarcity becoming increasingly serious issues, the green energy economy is transforming on a global scale. There are an increasing number of large-scale green energy development projects. However, these are often beset with risks; thus, this study conducted an analysis of the renewable energy risks in Taiwan using the analytical hierarchy process technique. Accordingly, a comprehensive study focusing into the current energy situation and potential development is needed. Renewable energy status and the availability by its main types, including, wind, solar, thermal, and biomass energies, were critically reviewed and discussed in this study. The findings of this study include the top 10 key operating risks recognized by specific green energy companies, as well as an assessment of which risks have been addressed and which have caused losses.
Prognostic MicroRNA Panel for HCV-Associated HCC: Integrating Computational Biology and Clinical Validation

Simple Summary Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a disease of poor prognosis. The early diagnosis of HCC will restrain the disease progression and thus improve patients’ quality of life. We aimed in this study to define a panel of microRNAs (miRNAs) that could facilitate the early prognosis of HCC focal lesions in the cirrhotic livers of patients previously infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). A minimally invasive technique was used to measure the differential expression of isolated miRNAs from the serum of 201 HCV infected and HCV-HCC patients. We suggest that a panel of five serum miRNAs (miR-150, miR-199a, miR-224, miR-424, and miR-3607) might provide a potentially promising tool in the prognosis of HCC disease in cirrhotic HCV patients. Abstract Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) will reduce morbidity and mortality rates of this widely spread disease. Dysregulation in microRNA (miRNA) expression is associated with HCC progression. The objective is to identify a panel of differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) to enhance HCC early prediction in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients. Candidate miRNAs were selected using a bioinformatic analysis of microarray and RNA-sequencing datasets, resulting in nine DE-miRNAs (miR-142, miR-150, miR-183, miR-199a, miR-215, miR-217, miR-224, miR-424, and miR-3607). Their expressions were validated in the serum of 44 healthy individuals, 62 non-cirrhotic HCV patients, 67 cirrhotic-HCV, and 72 HCV-associated-HCC patients using real-time PCR (qPCR). There was a significant increase in serum concentrations of the nine-candidate miRNAs in HCC and HCV patients relative to healthy individuals. MiR-424, miR-199a, miR-142, and miR-224 expressions were significantly altered in HCC compared to non-cirrhotic patients. A panel of five miRNAs improved sensitivity and specificity of HCC detection to 100% and 95.12% relative to healthy controls. Distinguishing HCC from HCV-treated patients was achieved by 70.8% sensitivity and 61.9% specificity using the combined panel, compared to alpha-fetoprotein (51.4% sensitivity and 60.67% specificity). These preliminary data show that the novel miRNAs panel (miR-150, miR-199a, miR-224, miR-424, and miR-3607) could serve as a potential non-invasive biomarker for HCC early prediction in chronic HCV patients. Further prospective studies on a larger cohort of patients should be conducted to assess the potential prognostic ability of the miRNAs panel.
Ocean Circulation in the Challenger Deep Derived From Super‐Deep Underwater Glider Observation

Ocean circulation in the Challenger Deep is rarely investigated due to sparse observations. Based on hydrographic data collected by two super‐deep Chinese “Sea‐Wing” gliders during September–October 2018, we analyzed water properties and ocean circulation structures in this trench. Results showed that the horizontal distribution of water properties is approximately a three layer structure, changing from a northeast‐southwest structure to a north‐south structure then to an east‐west structure as the depth increases from 3,000 to 7,000 m. This structure is a joint result of the water uplift, advection, and diffusion in the trench. The westward geostrophic flow, with 1.29 Sv (1 Sv = 106 m3 s−1) volume transport, dominates the deep layer of the Challenger Deep, gradually weakening with depth. The unexpectedly large volume transport, twice that of previous studies, might be due to temporal variations of LCDW (Lower Circumpolar Deep Water) intrusion from the Southern Ocean and different reference levels.
The Permian to Cretaceous succession at Permpasset, Wollaston Forland: the northernmost Permian and Triassic in North–East Greenland

Permian to Triassic outcrops in East Greenland diminish significantly northwards. Understanding the northward extent, and nature, of the Permian and Triassic successions has implications for regional palaeogeographic reconstructions and exploration in adjacent offshore basins. Examining the structural relationships between the basement, Permian, Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous successions can further our understanding of the tectonic evolution of the region. Here, we describe a hitherto overlooked section through the Permian to Cretaceous from central Wollaston Forland and consider its structural context. The western side of Permpasset forms the upthrown eroded crest of a horst block, which provides exposure of the earliest stratigraphic intervals in the region. The fractured Caledonian basement is overlain by evaporitic marine limestone facies of the Karstryggen Formation, which are succeeded by shallow marine sandstones assigned to the Schuchert Dal Formation, both Upper Permian. The overlying unit records a period of fluvial deposition and is not possible to date. However, an Early to Middle Triassic age (Pingo Dal Group) seems most likely, given regional eustatic considerations. This is, therefore, the most northerly record of Triassic strata in North–East Greenland. West of the horst structure, fine-grained sandstones and bioturbated siltstones of the Jurassic (Oxfordian) Jakobsstigen Formation are recorded. These were downfaulted prior to a prolonged hiatus after which both the Triassic and Jurassic strata were draped by Cretaceous shales of the Fosdalen Formation. The Cretaceous succession is overlain by a thick basalt pile of Eocene age, heralding the opening of the North-East Atlantic. Glendonites overlie Oxfordian siltstones at the base of the middle Albian Fosdalen Formation. These were likely winnowed from slightly older Cretaceous strata and overlie the hiatus surface between the Jurassic and Cretaceous. This is the first record of glendonites from the Cretaceous of East Greenland and they are interpreted to record the Circum–Arctic late Aptian – early Albian cooling event.
Wideband 20-Elements 3D-MIMO Antenna for Localization System

In this brief, a low-profile wideband quad-element MIMO antenna with high isolation is designed, which is utilized to propose a 20-elements MIMO system. Each element of the MIMO antenna covers a wideband occupying a small area of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$15\times 15$ </tex-math></inline-formula> mm<sup>2</sup>. The orthogonal symmetric arrangement of a single antenna forms an extremely compact quad-element MIMO antenna having shared ground, and its occupied volume is <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$0.84\lambda _{\mathrm{ g}} \times 0.84\lambda _{\mathrm{ g}} \times 0.019 \lambda _{\mathrm{ g}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\lambda _{\mathrm{ g}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> at 3.95 GHz) with a minimum (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$0.155 \lambda _{\mathrm{ g}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) edge to edge distance between elements. The proposed antenna has a −10 dB (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$S _{ij} \in i=j$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) impedance bandwidth of 77.52% (3.95–8.95 GHz) and a minimum isolation (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$S _{ij} \in i \ne j$ </tex-math></inline-formula>) value of 17 dB. The measured and simulated results are found in good agreement that confirms the proposed antenna is appropriate for extending a higher-order MIMO system. Further, a low-profile quad-element MIMO antennas are arranged orthogonally at the four-corners and a quad-element MIMO antenna at the center of form a 20-elements planar MIMO antenna. It can be utilized as a localization system where different user’s devices are connected to the primary host.
Three Winding Coupled Inductor-Based Dual Active Bridge DC-DC Converter With Full Load Range ZVS Under Wide Voltage Range

In this article, a three winding coupled inductor-based dual active bridge (TWCI DAB) dc-dc converter is proposed. Similar to the current-fed DAB converter, the proposed TWCI DAB has small input current ripple and wide input voltage range. In addition, the zero-voltage switching (ZVS) of all switches in the full load range under wide input voltage variation can be realized. With the magnetic integration structure, the size of the total magnetics can be reduced, and the efficiency is also increased compared with the discrete magnetic case. To better analyze the working principle of the three winding coupled inductor, a general analysis method based on magnetic reluctance model is first introduced to obtain the expressions of high frequency current. Furthermore, ZVS analysis and inductor design to obtain low inductor root mean square (rms) current and full load range ZVS based on the ZVS conditions, maximum power transfer and rms current are presented. Finally, the validity of the proposed topology and design are verified by experimental results from a 1-kW laboratory prototype.
Mediterranean-Scale Drought: Regional Datasets for Exceptional Meteorological Drought Events during 1975–2019

Drought is one of the most complex climate-related phenomena and is expected to progressively affect our lives by causing very serious environmental and socioeconomic damage by the end of the 21st century. In this study, we have extracted a dataset of exceptional meteorological drought events between 1975 and 2019 at the country and subregional scales. Each drought event was described by its start and end date, intensity, severity, duration, areal extent, peak month and peak area. To define such drought events and their characteristics, separate analyses based on three drought indices were performed at 12-month timescale: the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), and the Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI). A multivariate combined drought index (DXI) was developed by merging the previous three indices for more understanding of droughts’ features at the country and subregional levels. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify five different drought subregions based on DXI-12 values for 312 Mediterranean stations and a new special score was defined to classify the multi-subregional exceptional drought events across the Mediterranean Basin (MED). The results indicated that extensive drought events occurred more frequently since the late 1990s, showing several drought hotspots in the last decades in the southeastern Mediterranean and northwest Africa. In addition, the results showed that the most severe events were more detected when more than single drought index was used. The highest percentage area under drought was also observed through combining the variations of three drought indices. Furthermore, the drought area in both dry and humid areas in the MED has also experienced a remarkable increase since the late 1990s. Based on a comparison of the drought events during the two periods—1975–1996 and 1997–2019—we find that the current dry conditions in the MED are more severe, intense, and frequent than the earlier period; moreover, the strongest dry conditions occurred in last two decades. The SPEI-12 and RDI-12 have a higher capacity in providing a more comprehensive description of the dry conditions because of the inclusion of temperature or atmospheric evaporative demand in their scheme. A complex range of atmospheric circulation patterns, particularly the Western Mediterranean Oscillation (WeMO) and East Atlantic/West Russia (EATL/WRUS), appear to play an important role in severe, intense and region-wide droughts, including the two most severe droughts, 1999–2001 and 2007–2012, with lesser influence of the NAO, ULMO and SCAND.
Recurrent Neural Network for Human Activity Recognition in Embedded Systems Using PPG and Accelerometer Data

Photoplethysmography (PPG) is a common and practical technique to detect human activity and other physiological parameters and is commonly implemented in wearable devices. However, the PPG signal is often severely corrupted by motion artifacts. The aim of this paper is to address the human activity recognition (HAR) task directly on the device, implementing a recurrent neural network (RNN) in a low cost, low power microcontroller, ensuring the required performance in terms of accuracy and low complexity. To reach this goal, (i) we first develop an RNN, which integrates PPG and tri-axial accelerometer data, where these data can be used to compensate motion artifacts in PPG in order to accurately detect human activity; (ii) then, we port the RNN to an embedded device, Cloud-JAM L4, based on an STM32 microcontroller, optimizing it to maintain an accuracy of over 95% while requiring modest computational power and memory resources. The experimental results show that such a system can be effectively implemented on a constrained-resource system, allowing the design of a fully autonomous wearable embedded system for human activity recognition and logging.
𝕋-Proper Hypercomplex Centralized Fusion Estimation for Randomly Multiple Sensor Delays Systems with Correlated Noises

The centralized fusion estimation problem for discrete-time vectorial tessarine signals in multiple sensor stochastic systems with random one-step delays and correlated noises is analyzed under different T-properness conditions. Based on Tk, k=1,2, linear processing, new centralized fusion filtering, prediction, and fixed-point smoothing algorithms are devised. These algorithms have the advantage of providing optimal estimators with a significant reduction in computational cost compared to that obtained through a real or a widely linear processing approach. Simulation examples illustrate the effectiveness and applicability of the algorithms proposed, in which the superiority of the Tk linear estimators over their counterparts in the quaternion domain is apparent.