Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PSO Optimization of the Controller Parameters for an Inherently Unstable Attraction Type Levitation System

Optimization of the controller parameters with a comparative analysis approach for a double I core actuator based inherently unstable DC attraction type levitation system (DCALS) is presented here since the classically designed controllers play a very critical role for suspension in air with no visible means of support. Here the proposed system suspends a cylindrical rod under two I core actuators to achieve pitching control of the suspended rod with single degree of freedom movement control, which is a useful application in precision instrumentation. Proposed controllers which are typically employable for suspension purpose are the classically designed controllers such as Lead or, Lead-Lag or, PID for a nominal operating air-gap (10 mm) have been optimized utilizing particle swarm optimization and a comparative analysis of the transient performances has been produced at nominal as well as off-nominal operating air-gaps (low and high). Optimization algorithms are implemented inside the MATLAB software environment. The particle swarm optimization algorithm is found to be more competent in finding optimal results. KeywordOptimization, DC attraction type levitation system (DCALS), particle swarm optimization (PSO), transient performance.
Research on Axle Press-fit Phased Array Ultrasonic Inspection Technology

The crack detection methods are widely used in wheel-set maintenance, espec ially by ultrasonic and magnetic particle testing. Wheel, gear, and break disk are pressed or shrunk on the axle, and defects at axle press-fit parts can only be used by ultrasonic method by accessing from axle body or end face. This press or shrink processing has significant influence on th e in-service axle defect detection comparing with open defect on the axle. Parts of ultrasonic signal would go into wheel hub, and decrease the total signal power. The condition at press-fit interface makes ultrason ic eflection more strong and as a result makes the signal to noise ratio lower. With long time in service, both sides of press-fit have corrosion fatigue make the ultrasonic back reflection varies fro m one axle to another. In this paper, a series of experiments have been complemented to compare the difference of ultrasonic defect detection between bare axle and axle with press-fit part. By using wav elet denoising algorithm, the defects detecting SNR is obviously increased, and some results are sh own a an example.
An algorithm to retrieve ice water content profiles in cirrus clouds
from the synergy of ground-based lidar and thermal infrared
radiometer measurements

Abstract. The algorithm presented in this paper was developed to retrieve ice water content (IWC) profiles in cirrus clouds. It is based on optimal estimation theory and combines ground-based visible lidar and thermal infrared (TIR) radiometer measurements in a common retrieval framework to retrieve profiles of IWC together with a correction factor for the backscatter intensity of cirrus cloud particles. In a first step, we introduce a method to retrieve extinction and IWC profiles in cirrus clouds from the lidar measurements alone and demonstrate the shortcomings of this approach due to the backscatter-to-extinction ambiguity. In a second step, we show that TIR radiances constrain the backscattering of the ice crystals at the visible lidar wavelength by constraining the ice water path (IWP) and hence the IWC which is linked to the optical properties of the ice crystals via a realistic bulk ice microphysical model. The scattering phase function obtained from the microphysical model has a flat ending without backscattering peak. We show that retrievals with the lidar only algorithm using this phase function in backscattering direction to define the backscatter-to-extinction ratio of the ice crystals result in an overestimation of IWC which is inconsistent with the TIR radiometer measurements. Hence, a synergy algorithm was developed that combines the profiles of backscattering measured by the lidar and the measurements of TIR radiances in a common optimal estimation framework to retrieve together with the IWC profile a correction factor for the phase function of the bulk ice crystals in backscattering direction. We show that this approach allows to simultaneously converge towards the measurements of two independent instruments and that the first results of the retrieved lidar ratios for cirrus clouds agree with previous studies.
ON THE UNCERTAINTY OF MEASUREMENTS CONCERNING THE CENTER OF PRESSURE SIGNALS

INTRODUCTION: Force plate measurement systems unavoidably introduce noise into the output signals (Hunt, 1998). The noise in the COP signal is the propagation error that arises from the combination of the components used to compute it (i.e. strain gauges and/or transductor) with function f. Generally, the noise is modeled as a wide-band additive, stationary, zero-mean, and uncorrelated noise that contaminates the low-pass COP signal with noise variance σ. However, even if the noise of the recorded GRF signals can be modelled as an additive zero-mean “white noise”, the nonlinear transformation in COP computation induces noise in the COP signal that becomes nonstationary (i.e., unequal noise variance), except for the case where the Fz (vertical force component) is constant. In many fields of biomechanical studies, there are instants where Fz vector of GRF changes its magnitude drastically during its evolution in time, so, the noise presented in the raw COP coordinates should be modeled as additive, zero-mean, and nonstationary–i.e., unequal noise variance across COP coordinates and variations in time of the noise power. Weak correlated noise is also assumed. This renders time-invariant Fourier transform based filtering techniques or Generalized cross-validated splines (GCVSPL) as suboptimal. In dynamics tasks, many ways exist to process force plate measured signals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the noise in the COP signal under different experimental conditions to construct a weighted variance matrix for the COP noise in conformance with the GUM approach (BIPM, IFCC, IUPAC, & ISO, 2008).
Climate Change Amplifications of Climate‐Fire Teleconnections in the Southern Hemisphere

Recent changes in trend and variability of the main Southern Hemisphere climate modes are driven by a variety of factors, including increasing atmospheric greenhouse gases, changes in tropical sea surface temperature, and stratospheric ozone depletion and recovery. One of the most important implications for climatic change is its effect via climate teleconnections on natural ecosystems, water security, and fire variability in proximity to populated areas, thus threatening human lives and properties. Only sparse and fragmentary knowledge of relationships between teleconnections, lightning strikes, and fire is available during the observed record within the Southern Hemisphere. This constitutes a major knowledge gap for undertaking suitable management and conservation plans. Our analysis of documentary fire records from Mediterranean and temperate regions across the Southern Hemisphere reveals a critical increased strength of climate‐fire teleconnections during the onset of the 21st century including a tight coupling between lightning‐ignited fire occurrences, the upward trend in the Southern Annular Mode, and rising temperatures across the Southern Hemisphere.
Financial Analysis and Economic Aspects of the Agricultural Unions of Crete

Cooperatives constitute a "creation" of the social necessity for equal opportunities in the production and disposal of products. Nevertheless, the development and redistributive role of cooperatives in Crete has become open to controversy throughout the recent years, due to the problems of development and management that the co-operative organizations are called upon to face. In order to examine the economic environment and the competitiveness of cooperative Unions in Crete, a study aiming at the discovery of solutions for the reforming and increasing of competition among of agricultural unions was conducted. Distillation of this study constitutes the present article.
Through the looking-glass: Exploring the wonderland of ‘other’ female portrayals in advertising

Abstract Research on gender portrayals in advertising are prolific and mostly focus on stereotypical roles. However, there is no previous research report analysing portrayals that fall into the ‘other’ category of female roles. This article aims to provide an outline of female role portrayals in advertising and, importantly, to examine the ‘other’ role category for new portrayals. A quantitative content analysis was conducted on samples of South African magazine and television advertisements. The findings indicate that the stereotypical decorative role was prevalent in magazine advertisements, while in television advertisements the product user was the person most often featured. A detailed analysis of the ‘other’ category in both media revealed four new role portrayals. These roles represent a different view of the modern woman and may be used to differentiate effectively those brands in the media that are cluttered with advertising messages. The research provides directions for future content-analytic studies on the topic of female portrayals in advertising.
FAM129B promoted tumor invasion and proliferation via facilitating the phosphorylation of FAK signaling and associated with adverse clinical outcome of non-small cell lung cancer patients

Background Family with sequence similarity 129, member B (FAM129B), also called MINERVA, is upregulated and promotes tumor invasion in multiple types of cancer. However, the mechanism and clinicopathological significance of FAM129B remains unclear. Materials and methods Online KM-plotter tool and immunohistochemistry were used to predict the prognostic value of FAM129B expression in lung cancer tissues. Western blotting analysis, MTT, colony formation assay and matrigel invasion assay were performed after overexpressing or depleting FAM129B. Results In this study, using the online KM-plotter tool, we found FAM129B was correlated with adverse outcome in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients (P<0.001). Immunohistochemistry results revealed that FAM129B showed negative or dim expression in normal lung tissues while presented positive cytoplasmic expression in both squamous cell lung carcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma. The positive ratio of FAM129B in clinical NSCLC tissue samples (77/187, 41.2%) was significantly higher than that in normal lung tissue samples (8/68, 11.8%; P<0.001). FAM129B expression associated with advanced TNM staging (P<0.001) and positive regional lymph node metastasis (P<0.001). The results of Kaplan-Meier analysis suggested that the survival time of patients with positive FAM129B expression was significantly shorter than those with negatively FAM129B expression (P<0.001). Proliferation and invasion assay revealed that FAM129B prominently facilitated tumor proliferation and invasion in NSCLC cells. Western blotting results revealed that FAM129B upregulated the expression of MMP2 and Cyclin D1 by enhancing the phosphorylation of FAK at Tyr 397 and Tyr 925. Incorporation of FAK inhibitor in the medium significantly downregulated the phosphorylation of FAK and subsequently attenuated increasing expression of MMP2 and Cyclin D1 induced by FAM129B overexpression. Conclusion Our results indicated that FAM129B may be a new prognosis predictor of NSCLC patients and impact tumor invasion and proliferation of NSCLC cells through promoting the activation of FAK signaling.
Diagnosing the radiative and chemical contributions to future changes in tropical column ozone with the UM-UKCA chemistry–climate model

Abstract. Chemical and dynamical drivers of trends in tropical total-column ozone (TCO3) for the recent past and future periods are explored using the UM-UKCA (Unified Model HadGEM3-A (Hewitt et al., 2011) coupled with the United Kingdom Chemistry and Aerosol scheme) chemistry–climate model. A transient 1960–2100 simulation is analysed which follows the representative concentration pathway 6.0 (RCP6.0) emissions scenario for the future. Tropical averaged (10° S–10° N) TCO3 values decrease from the 1970s, reach a minimum around 2000 and return to their 1980 values around 2040, consistent with the use and emission of halogenated ozone-depleting substances (ODSs), and their later controls under the Montreal Protocol. However, when the ozone column is subdivided into three partial columns (PCO3) that cover the upper stratosphere (PCO3US), lower stratosphere (PCO3LS) and troposphere (PCO3T), significant differences in the temporal behaviour of the partial columns are seen. Modelled PCO3T values under the RCP6.0 emissions scenario increase from 1960 to 2000 before remaining approximately constant throughout the 21st century. PCO3LS values decrease rapidly from 1960 to 2000 and remain constant from 2000 to 2050, before gradually decreasing further from 2050 to 2100 and never returning to their 1980s values. In contrast, PCO3US values decrease from 1960 to 2000, before increasing rapidly throughout the 21st century and returning to 1980s values by ∼ 2020, and reach significantly higher values by 2100. Using a series of idealised UM-UKCA time-slice simulations with concentrations of well-mixed greenhouse gases (GHGs) and halogenated ODS species set to either year 2000 or 2100 levels, we examine the main processes that drive the PCO3 responses in the three regions and assess how these processes change under different emission scenarios. Finally, we present a simple, linearised model to describe the future evolution of tropical stratospheric column ozone values based on terms representing time-dependent abundances of GHG and halogenated ODS.
PARTIAL PURIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CYSTEINE PROTEINASE FROM METAMORPHOSING TADPOLE TAILS OF RANA CA TESBEIANA

-l. A leupeptin-sensitive proteinase was partially purified from regressing tadpole tails by acetone fractionation and column chromatography on S-Sepharose. 2. The enzyme degraded hemoglobin and myoglobin at pH 3.0. The enzyme also hydrolyzed Z-Phe-Arg-MCA and Boc-Val-Leu-Lys-MCA at pH 4.0. 3. The enzyme activity was inhibited by leupeptin, egg cystatin, E-64 and monoiodoacetic acid and was activated by L-cysteine. 4. The enzyme degraded myosin and actin in myofibrils of tadpole tails. 5. The enzyme belongs to the cysteine proteinase and is possibly involved in tail degradation during the metamorphosis of tadpoles.
Intelligent Irrigation System Based On S 3 C 6410

Facing severe shortage of water resources, China is in urgent need of water-saving irrigation. In view of the situation, this paper designs an intelligent irrigation system targeted at reducing irrigation water consumption and improving irrigation efficiency. The system uses S3C6410 as the host controller and CC2530 as the wireless control chip to realize the transmission and control (with solenoid valve, etc.) of the wireless module data information (temperature, humidity, daylight intensity, etc.). This paper not only completes the programming for hardware circuit design and node software design of the whole system and the terminal node, but also elaborates the key circuits and programs. The system is characterized by low system error, fast response, flexible deployment, low cost and simple maintenance, etc., and can be widely used in agricultural irrigation.
Estimates of Glomerular Filtration Rate in Liver Transplant Recipients are not Accurate: A Role for 24-Hour Urine Creatinine Clearance

Background: Kidney injury is common among liver transplant recipients. Equations estimating glomerular filtration rate were not developed in liver transplant recipients. Aim: To determine if GFR equations and 24-hour urine creatinine clearance accurately estimate GFR in liver transplant recipients. Methods: 30 subjects were enrolled within 6 months of transplant and obtained estimates of GFR. The iothalamate scan served as the gold standard and it was compared to GFR equations and 24- hour urine creatinine clearance. Results: The mean time to iothalamate scan was 110 + 50 days.The mean iothalamate GFR was 90 + 37 mL/min/1.73 m2. The GFR equations underestimated GFR with 47%-63% of estimates differing by more than 20% from the iothalamate GFR. Among the equations the CKD-EPI-Cys-Cr was the most accurate. 24-hour urine creatinine clearance both under and overestimated GFR, however it was the most concordant with the iothalamate scan in identifying subjects with GFR greater or less than 50 mL/min/1.73 m2. Conclusions: Within 6 months of liver transplant GFR equations and 24-hour urine collection do not accurately estimate GFR. 24-hour urine creatinine clearance may be the clinically most useful estimate of GFR because it most accurately identifies liver transplant recipients with GFR greater or less than 50 mL/min/1.73 m2.
Analysis of ESCO Activities Using Country Indicators

Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) are private sector instruments that offer energy-/emission-improvement (energy saving, energy efficiency, energy conservation, emission reduction) projects in the developed and in some developing countries. Literature reveals that energy-/emission-improvements of countries may be related to their innovation- and R&D-activity levels. In this work, we use a literature data on the activities and the sectors targeted by ESCOs in 38 countries, summarized in terms of the age of ESCO market (AEM), number of ESCO companies (NE), and total value of ESCO projects (VE). Along with the Global Innovation Index (GII) data of the countries, we investigate the relationships among the ESCO Indicators (EIs: AEM, NE, VE, sectors targeted by ESCOs), and the Country Indicators (CIs: GII and per-capita GDP, energy consumption, CO2 emission). We observe noteworthy dependencies between the EIs and CIs. Using the simple trend equations we estimate the missing VEs in the original data. We also project, as a hint for the size and orientation of the upcoming Turkish ESCO market, the set of EIs and the distribution of the sectors that are likely to be targeted by ESCOs in Turkey.
OpenFOAM Finite Volume Method Implementation of a Fully Nonlinear Potential Flow Model for Simulating Wave-Structure Interactions

We develop an interface-tracking algorithm to solve the two-dimensional time dependent free surface flows using a finite volume method with full nonlinear free surface boundary conditions and moving grids. The velocity potential is obtained inside the fluid domain by solving a mixed boundary value problem. The velocity is then calculated by the gradient of the velocity potential. The motion of the free surface is captured by integrating in time the kinematic boundary condition, which is based on the free surface volume flux. In the implemented scheme, the free surface is allowed to deform and a new mesh is generated at each time step. The basis of this model is the freely available open-source computational fluid dynamic toolbox OpenFOAM R ©). We examine the spatial and temporal convergence of the scheme. We also compare wave periods and evolution of wave amplitudes for a range of wave conditions with the analytical solutions, and a good agreement is found. The solver is intended to be a first step towards an advanced numerical wave tank solving both incompressible and compressible flows interacting with structures undergoing large body motions.
Effect of wheat straw urea treatment and Leucaena leucocephala foliage hay supplementation on intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance and growth of lambs

This study evaluated the effect of wheat straw urea treatment and Leucaena leucocephala (LL) foliage hay supplementation on intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance and growth of Ethiopian highland sheep. Thirty-six yearling male lambs were randomly allotted, in randomized complete design, to six dietary treatments:- untreated wheat straw (T1); urea treated wheat straw (T2); T2 plus 100, 200, 300 g LL in T3, T4, T5 respectively, and T1 plus 300 g LL per lamb/day (T6). The lambs were fed for three months. Urea treatment increased straw crude protein (CP) content (g kg-1DM) (32 vs. 60) and decreased neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (807 vs. 743), acid detergent fiber (ADF) (523 vs. 504) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) (75 vs. 70). Straw intake was increased (P<0.001) with urea treatment and supplementation. Total DM intake (g/day) peaked (P<0.001) in T5 (750) compared to T6 (546.9). Lambs in T2 gained 10.7, while lambs in T1 lost 33.9 g/day. The highest average daily gain (47.2 g) was achieved in T5. Digestibility of DM, organic matter (OM) and CP was higher (P<0.001) in T2 than T1. Supplementation increased the digestibility of DM, CP and Ash significantly. Digestibility of nutrients, except CP, was higher (P<0.001) in T5 than T6. Nitrogen balances (g/day) were positive, except in T1 (-0.71 g/day) and increased (P<0.001) with supplementation. Total nitrogen excretion (g/day) was higher (P<0.001) in T2 (4.64) than T1 (2.97) and increased with supplementation. It is concluded that combined use of urea treatment and LL supplementation improves feed utilization and lambs' performance better than using them separately. Key words: Wheat straw, urea treatment, leucaena, intake, live weight, lambs.
Commission incomplete: exploring the new model for purchasing public services from the third sector

Abstract The concept of commissioning has risen in prominence in recent years as a result of ongoing reforms to the funding and delivery of public services in the UK. The model of commissioning constructed by policy has however been overlaid on existing practices, which themselves differ between different service areas. This paper, focusing on commissioning of third sector organisations (TSOs) in the field of community mental health services, shows that its introduction has not led to the straightforward public sector ‘marketisation’ that advocates desire or that critics fear. Instead, commissioning has led to an indeterminate outcome or ‘halfway house’ position in which the status and role of commissioning remains somewhat muddled – both internally to participants within public sector organisations and externally in terms of the experience of the interface by TSOs. We found that commissioning as it is actually practiced remains contested and political – it is a highly relational process dependent on personal practices and skills and on personal relationships between stakeholders – and is therefore not fully managerialised or marketised. This has implications for the policy and practice of commissioning and the interpretation of more ‘open’ public services.
Effects of dietary fish oil (FO) supplementation on the skeletal muscle blood flow (BF) response to submaximal treadmill exercise

Dietary supplementation (SUPP) with FO containing docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) has been demonstrated to produce advantageous effects on vascular function. Specifically, FO SUPP has resulted in enhanced brachial artery dilation during rhythmic handgrip exercise (EX). The effects of FO on BF during dynamic full body EX, however, remain unknown.