Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Kelvin force microscopy of polymer and small molecule thin-film transistors

By their nature, scanning probe microscopy (SPM) measurements are ideally suited to the study of organic thin-film transistors (TFTs). In Chapter 3 surface potential measurements are made on TFTs made from the polymer pBTTT. The modification of the surface morphology by annealing into the liquid crystalline phase is examined and the separation between crystalline layers is found to be in agreement with the literature. Kelvin force gradient microscopy (KFGM) measurements provide a very detailed picture of the local potential within the channel of the TFT, allowing for the separation of the device and ? film mobilities in both the linear and saturation regimes. Once the effects of the contacts are removed, the linear mobility is found to be four times higher than the saturation mobility, although the model that best fits the data assumes a constant mobility. Short channel effects are studied in saturation and an upper bound placed on the magnitude of the channel-length modulation. The contacts are also studied in more detail and it is found that a broad region of the pBTTT film near the contacts shows increased resistance, modulated by the gate voltage. In Chapter 4, KFGM is applied to TFTs produces with zone-cast TIPS pentacene as the active material. The seemingly uniform linear crystallites are found to exhibit a wide range of different behaviours, resulting in device characteristics based on statistical averages of many crystallites. The AFM is used to define a single-crystal device and this is found to contain two distinct regions of widely divergent mobility. The highest mobility regions imply that the maximum theoretical mobility is much higher than is achieved with zone-casting. Greater control over the crystallisation of the film could result in significant increases in device performance. Scanned gate microscopy measurements are also performed and susceptibility to local gating is linked to the conductivity of the film.
Structure of RNA-dependent RNA polymerase from 2019-nCoV, a major antiviral drug target

Abstract A novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak has caused a global pandemic resulting in tens of thousands of infections and thousands of deaths worldwide. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp, also named nsp12), which catalyzes the synthesis of viral RNA, is a key component of coronaviral replication/transcription machinery and appears to be a primary target for the antiviral drug, remdesivir. Here we report the cryo-EM structure of 2019-nCoV full-length nsp12 in complex with cofactors nsp7 and nsp8 at a resolution of 2.9-A. Additional to the conserved architecture of the polymerase core of the viral polymerase family and a nidovirus RdRp-associated nucleotidyltransferase (NiRAN) domain featured in coronaviral RdRp, nsp12 possesses a newly identified β-hairpin domain at its N-terminal. Key residues for viral replication and transcription are observed. A comparative analysis to show how remdesivir binds to this polymerase is also provided. This structure provides insight into the central component of coronaviral replication/transcription machinery and sheds light on the design of new antiviral therapeutics targeting viral RdRp. One Sentence Summary Structure of 2019-nCov RNA polymerase.
Thermal and Melt Wear Characterization of Materials in Sliding Contact at High Speed

Abstract : The Holloman High Speed Test Track is used to evaluate hypersonic aircraft materiel in a near-operational environment. The four-stage pusher rocket sled is capable of accelerating a test apparatus to hypersonic speeds in a matter of seconds. The sled must contend with tremendous thermal, mechanical, and aerodynamic loading during each run. The effects of the combination of forces acting on the sled are most acute at the interface between the rail and the wraparound slipper that holds the sled to the rail. Frictional heating due to sliding contact between the slipper and the rail coupled with mechanical wear can lead to significant material degradation in the slipper. Aerodynamic heating can exacerbate deleterious wear effects. This work considers the application of thermal and aerodynamic loading on the slipper. A two-dimensional finite element model is employed to depict temperature distribution and estimate melt wear over the course of a test run. The thermal load cases considered allow a new perspective on the slipper wear phenomena and should serve as a building block in future research endeavors.
Digital Anthropometric Video-Imaging Device (DAVID) Versus Anthropometer Measurements

Abstract : Anthropometric data are essential in the development and design of items in industry, transportation, and housing. Anthropometry is particularly important in military aviation due to restrictive environments found in cockpits and the limited range of motion allowed for safe operation of controls. Methods of obtaining anthropometric measurements are varied; they range from manual techniques, such as tape measures and calipers to three-dimensional whole-body scanners. In addition to these methods, a computer-based technique called the digital anthropometric video-imaging device (DAVID) has been developed at the Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory, in Pensacola, Florida. The DAVID provides a means to capture and measure a person's digital image using off-the-shelf hardware and software. A study comparing 6 anthropometric measurements (sitting height, sitting eye height, sitting acromial height, thigh clearance, buttock/knee length, and sitting knee height) was completed on 236 aviation candidates (200 males and 36 females) using both the DAVID and manual (anthropometer) measurement methods. The mean data measurements compared favorably with data reported in previous anthropometric surveys. The results of this study indicate the DAVID technology provides comparative results to standard manual methods for the measurements tested.
Air Traffic Control Agents: Landing and Collision Avoidance

This paper presents an example of share autonomy between a human air traffic controller and two agents that assist the human operator. The agents monitor and interact with the dynamic situation of flights around an airport tower. When a situation arises that requires an air traffic response, the agents notify the human operator about the situation along with a suggested action. If the human operator does not respond in time, the agent will take over and issue the needed response.
Review of progress in implementing the recommendations of Sir Gareth Roberts regarding employability and career development of PhD students and research staff:A report for Research Councils UK by an independent review panel October 2010

The need for improvement in the development of research careers and researchers’ training in transferable skills was highlighted in two particular recommendations (numbers 4.2 and 5.3) in the 2002 report ‘SET for success: the report of Sir Gareth Roberts’ Review - the supply of people with science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills’ (Roberts, 2002). As a consequence of that review, Research Councils UK (RCUK)1 have invested about £120 million, usually referred to as ’Roberts’ Money’, in research organisations to address this concern in all research disciplines. The last ‘Roberts’ Money’ payment will be for the period up to March 2011; it was therefore proposed to assess the progress made with taking forward these specific recommendations. An independent panel was formed by RCUK to undertake this review in 2010. The terms of reference for the panel are in Annex A. In summary, the panel was asked to review progress made and to advise RCUK and the higher education (HE) sector about future requirements for the development and training of researchers. In the course of their review, the panel considered a wide range of existing reports, interviewed key stakeholders in the HE sector and elsewhere, as well as drawing on their own knowledge and expertise. This report presents the findings of the panel’s review.
Higher-order sliding mode control of a diesel generator set

Abstract Diesel engines are used as prime movers and independent power sources in many applications because of their advantages in terms of fuel efficiency, robustness and reliability. This paper presents the results of isochronous speed controller design and experimental analysis of robustness and efficiency of a turbocharged diesel generator set (genset). The steady state performance and transient response of the genset speed utilizing second-order sliding mode techniques with a super twisting sliding mode control algorithm are assessed. The algorithm does not require the time derivative of the sliding variable. It only uses the measured genset speed and does not require the use of an observer. A modification made to the algorithm shows improvement of the genset performance over a wide operating envelope. The influence of this methodology and modification of the algorithm on overall generator performance, in particular in the presence of large load changes and in terms of fuel efficiency, exhaust emissions, starting speed transient response and steady speed variation, are assessed. An algorithm for tuning the higher-order sliding mode (HOSM) controller for the genset is established and presented. The robustness of the controller is investigated and the performance is compared with that obtained by a commercial genset controller and a classical proportional-integral controller.
Risk methodology for geologic disposal of radioactive waste: the DNET Computer Code User's Manual

This report describes a network flow model (DNET) for use in simulating the process of salt dissolution in bedded salt formations. Included in the model are the capabilities for simulating processes such as salt creep, subsidence, and thermomechanical effects, all of which can affect the salt dissolution process. The model was developed for use by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the analysis of nuclear waste facilities in deep bedded salt formations. This document is a user's manual and is intended to facilitate the use of the DNET simulator. Mathematical equations, submodels and a description of the flow network are given. A complete input data guide is included as well as four sample problems with input deck descriptions and associated output.
Physiological and Biochemical Responses of Bald Cypress to Salt Stress

Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich. ) is native to freshwater wetlands of Florida. The vitality of cypress within coastal freshwater wetlands is threatened by saltwater intrusion. Biomarkers to detect sub-lethal salinity stress were developed using a controlled greenhouse study. Cypress saplings maintained at elevated salinities of 4 and 8‰ exhibited a decrease in maximum quantum yield (MQY) and an increase in nonphotochemical quenching (NPQ). Cypress leaves exhibited an increase in Na + , H2O2, and free proline content compared to plants maintained in freshwater. These biomarkers were used to detect salinity stress within a population of cypress associated with the lower St. Johns River where saltwater intrusion is occurring. Cypress in a basin swamp exhibited signs of salinity stress with low MQY and elevated NPQ values compared to Cypress at other sites. Cypress leaves at the basin swamp also had the highest Na + , lipid peroxidation, and proline content compared to plants at other sites. Detached Cypress leaf experiments were conducted to explore the mechanisms of salt tolerance. Detached cypress leaves were first exposed to elevated NaCl concentrations for 24, 48, or 72 hours. Elevated salinity caused a decrease in leaf transpiration for all times tested. Total peroxidase activity exhibited an increase in response to salt stress after 48 hours. Enhanced peroxidase activity was found to be associated with the induction of a ~37 kDa peroxidase isoform. Treatment of leaves with clofibrate caused an increase in activity of the ~37 kDa peroxidase. Pre-treatment of leaves with brefeldin A (BFA) blocked the induction of the ~37 kDa peroxidase associated with salt stress. Pre-treatment of Cypress leaves with diphenyliodonium (DPI) blocked the decrease in transpiration associated with
Combining SVM and PSO for PVC Detection

This paper proposes a method for premature ventricular contraction detection. The method consist of three modules. Feature extraction module extracts ten electrocardiogram (ECG) morphological features and two timing interval features. Then a number of support vector machine (SVM) classifiers with different values of C and the GRBF kernel parameter, sigma, are designed and compared their ability for classification of three different classes of ECG signals. An overall classification accuracy of detection of 98.38% were achieved over nine files from the MIT/BIH arrhythmia database. The classification accuracy increased to 99.90% when particle swarm optimization (PSO) employed to find the best values of SVM parameters
Costs and benefits of reaching parents for survey participation through school communication systems: testing the potential of a straightforward convenience sample

Drawing a random sample for surveys from official registers is an expensive and time-consuming procedure in Belgium as in other countries. In order to obtain a sample for a study on work-family life balance amongst working mothers in Flanders (the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium), I opted for a promising, economical procedure by first selecting children in schools and day-care facilities. Given the compulsory nature of schooling in Belgium and the widespread use of day-care facilities, this offers a straightforward ‘convenience’ sampling for reaching working parents, and mothers in particular. In this paper, I describe the details and advantages of this cost-effective sampling strategy and the experiences with this test case. I also discuss the possible methodological downsides and how to avoid them in future research.
Improving aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul: A novel text mining approach

Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) feedback commonly includes an engineer’s complex text-based inspection report. Capturing and normalizing the content of these textual descriptions is vital to cost and quality benchmarking, and provides information to facilitate continuous improvement of MRO process and analytics. As data analysis and mining tools requires highly normalized data, raw textual data is inadequate. This paper offers a textual-mining solution to efficiently analyse bulk textual feedback data. Despite replacement of the same parts and/or sub-parts, the actual service cost for the same repair is often distinctly different from similar previously jobs. Regular expression algorithms were incorporated with an aircraft MRO glossary dictionary in order to help provide additional information concerning the reason for cost variation. Professional terms and conventions were included within the dictionary to avoid ambiguity and improve the outcome of the result. Testing results show that most descriptive inspection reports can be appropriately interpreted, allowing extraction of highly normalized data. This additional normalized data strongly supports data analysis and data mining, whilst also increasing the accuracy of future quotation costing. This solution has been effectively used by a large aircraft MRO agency with positive results.
Design of latent heat storage systems using phase change materials (PCMs)

Systems with PCM can be applied with two different approaches: use the latent heat to store a great amount of energy in a very small temperature range, or use it as a temperature regulator. PCM does not have a linear behaviour and, therefore, common design methodologies of heat exchangers and buildings are not always applicable. Thus, new design methods are necessary. In this chapter, the main considerations to take into account during the design process will be overviewed and different PCM storage concepts and design methodologies will be introduced and analysed.
Stability criteria for AC power systems with regulated loads

In this paper the voltage source converters are taken for getting the improved d c voltage at the AC source. In the distribution system, power grid is nonideal. with input as voltage source and which consists of some ripples here the power converters or rectifiers are connected to the nonideal grid . interacting with each other . in this paper we are maintains the constant voltage or stable power at the line by using the converters. We consider the effect of both source (grid) impedance and transmission line impedance between converters, It is shown that the system of interacting converters can become unstable. Moreover, results are presented in design-oriented forms so as to facilitate the identiﬁcation of variation trends of stable operation boundaries. The Experimental results verify in simulink/MAT LAB.
Anonymous HD video streaming

No scalable privacy-enhancing technologies exists that is capable of anonymous HD video streaming. Our paper discusses the new anonymizer built into Tribler, a social content-sharing client. With anonymous HD-video streaming as the main objective requirements as at least 10 Mbit/s throughput, user bandwidth donations and NAT-traversal are defined. Using the Tribler API and related tools as Dispersy the ProxyCommunity is designed. This community of proxies provides peer discovery, onion routing and multi-tunnel proxying. Our system evolved through various stages. From the initial standalone routing prototype, to the first Tribler version. This was followed by profiling to achieve performance improvements. Finally the version with libtorrent and cryptography-readyness was implemented. Our performance evaluation shows that the proxy community is able to discover others on the network effectively and built circuits with them. Over these circuits the required 10 Mbit/s throughput for HD streaming has been achieved. Preliminary real-world testing shows that the system works in the wild. However more testing needs to be done and important work on our security model remains.
0-Level packaging techniques for flip-chip mounted MMICs

Currently, the thin film microwave multi-chip module (MCM) technology offers many benefits for a compact, lightweight and low cost integration of RF and microwave circuits [see Carchon et al (1)]. This technology allows the realisation of low loss transmission lines with a variety of characteristic impedances (between 10 and 100 Ohm) up to the higher mm-wave frequencies (>50 GHz). The technology also allows mounting active circuits (such as MMICs) by e.g. flip-chip technology. However, when placing different functions closely together, an adequate shielding and also mechanical protection of the active dies may be required. For this purpose, we developed a wafer level (called 0- level) package concept using micromachined cavities to realise versatile, microwave compatible protection and shielding structures on the thin film substrate. 0-level packaging refers to packaging before separation of the dies of the thin film integration substrate. In order to illustrate this concept and the benefits in real microwave functions, the realisation of a Ka-band LNA module, including 0-level package, bias circuits and RF feedthrough structures is discussed in this contribution.
Effects of calcium level and source, acidification, and phytase on phytate degradation and the microbiota in the digestive tract of broiler chickens

Background Diet acidification, dietary calcium ( Ca ) level, and phytase supplementation are known influences on the microbial community in the digestive tract and on phosphorus ( P ) utilization of broiler chickens. Effects of dietary factors and microbiota on P utilization may be linked because microorganisms produce enzymes that release P from phytate ( InsP 6 ), the main source of P in plant feedstuffs. This study aimed to detect linkages between microbiota and InsP 6 degradation by acidifying diets (i.e., replacing Ca carbonate (CaCO 3 ) by Ca formate or adding formic acid to CaCO 3 -containing diets), varying Ca levels, and supplementing phytase in a three-factorial design. We investigated i) the microbial community and pH in the digestive tract, ii) prececal ( pc ) P and Ca digestibility, and iii) InsP 6 degradation. Results All factors under investigation influenced digesta pH and the microbiota composition. Predicted functionality and relative abundance of microorganisms indicated that diets influenced the contribution of the microbiota on InsP degradation. Values of InsP 6 degradation and relative abundance of the strains Lactobacillus johnsonii and Lactobacillus reuteri were correlated. Phytase supplementation increased pc InsP 6 disappearance, with differences between Ca levels, and influenced concentrations of lower inositol phosphate isomers in the digestive tract. Formic acid supplementation increased pc InsP 6 degradation to myo -inositol. Replacing CaCO 3 by Ca-formate and the high level of these Ca sources reduced pc InsP 6 disappearance, except when the combination of CaCO 3 +formic acid was used. Supplementing phytase to CaCO 3 +formic acid led to the highest InsP 6 disappearance (52%) in the crop and increased myo -inositol concentration in the ileum digesta. Supplementing phytase leveled the effect of high Ca content on pc InsP 6 disappearance. Conclusions The results point towards a contribution of changing microbial community on InsP 6 degradation in the crop and up to the terminal ileum. This is indicated by relationships between InsP 6 degradation and relative abundance of phosphatase-producing strains. Functional predictions supported influences of microbiota on InsP 6 degradation. The extent of such effects still remains to be clarified. InsP 6 degradation can also be influenced by pH effects caused by dietary concentration and solubility of the Ca sources.
Stir Bar Sorption Extraction (SBSE) and Its Application for Analysis of Organic Compounds in Aqueous Samples: A Review

Sample preparation is one of the crucial steps in any chemical analysis because most samples are not ready to introduce directly into analytical instruments. This step is very important to eliminate interferences, isolate and preconcentration of analytes of interest from the matrix and makes them more suitable for separation and detection. The extraction of analytes from aqueous matrices can be traditional and nontraditional techniques. Miniaturized techniques are simple, solventless or solvent-reduced techniques allowing the extraction and concentration in a single step on a micro scale approach. Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction (SBSE) is a relatively new solventless sample preparation method for the extraction and concentration of organic compounds from aqueous matrices of environmental, food and biological samples. In SBSE, a stir bar coated with Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) phase is added to a vial containing the sample. The sample is then stirred until analytes partition equilibrium time reached with sorbent. The extracts can be introduced quantitatively into the analytical system by thermal or liquid desorption. The efficiency of extraction of SBSE in terms of the amount extracted and the equilibrium is affected by extraction time, stirring speed, temperature of the sample, pH, salting and sample volume. The most important limitation of SBSE is the only commercial availability of PDMS coating material exists at present. Besides, due to the non-polar character of PDMS, SBSE technique is mainly applied to extract non-polar and weakly polar compounds but failed in extraction of strongly polar compounds.