Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design and Performance Analysis of Zeta, Sepic and Cuk Converter Based BLDC Motor drive for Solar Water Pumping Application

This paper proffers design and modelling of Solar Water Pumping System comprising of BLDC Motor drive and it manifests the performance comparison between Zeta, Sepic and Cuk converter based output conditioning of SPV array. As the solar insolation level is not constant, Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) is utilized on SPV array output in order to extricate maximum power from the assembly. MPPT is implemented using Incremental Conductance (INC) algorithm along with Zeta, Sepic and Cuk converters to power the BLDC motor drive. The DC-DC converters are analyzed and compared on the basis of performance characteristics when being simulated with complete model of SPV array and BLDC motor. The BLDC motor drive is fed employing a six-pulse converter which is controlled using Space Vector Pulse Width Modulation (SVPWM) technique which facilitate maximization of efficiency of whole system. The simulation results are obtained from model created in MATLAB (Simulink) environment.
THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSISTENT KINEMATIC DATA IN THE INVERSEDYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF BIOMECHANICAL MODELS

INTRODUCTION: The evaluation of the muscular actions and internal forces of human articular joints is of major importance in different areas of medicine, sports, physical rehabilitation or biomedical engineering. There is no experimental methodology that can directly measure these forces. Among the numerical procedures that can be applied, inverse dynamics based methods are still the most commonly used numerical tools. Their use requires that the kinematics of human motion, i.e., the positions, velocities and accelerations of the anatomical points, be known in advance. This is obtained by standard reconstruction methods based on the DLT technique (Aziz and Karara, 1971). Moreover, the equations of motion for the system must be associated to a biomechanical model (Celigueta, 1996; Silva et al., 1997). The muscle action may be obtained by having each particular group of muscles, defined as those with similar functions and common anatomical insertions, modeled independently and included in the biomechanical model (An et al., 1995). This leads to an indeterminate problem, in terms of the unknown forces, that can be solved using the optimization theory (Pedotti et al., 1978). Alternatively, the actions of the different muscle groups can be lumped as moments about anatomical joints leading to a determinate inverse dynamics problem (Winter, 1991). Regardless of the biomechanical model used or of the way the muscle actions are described, the results obtained from the inverse dynamic analysis are related to the quality of the kinematic data supplied. The problem of the consistency of this kinematic data with respect to the biomechanical model used is addressed in this work, it being shown that the quality of the inverse dynamics analysis results is highly dependent on the data kinematic consistency.
Investigation of the Propeller Slipstream with Particle Image Velocimetry

The flow around an 8-bladed propeller is analyzed using particle image velocimetry in the Airbus low-speed wind tunnel facility in Bremen, Germany. The propeller is mounted on a half-model equipped with two propellers with opposing rotation directions, where only the outboard propeller is investigated. For two cases with no thrust (C T = 0) and with thrust (C T = 0.1) the propeller slipstream is visualized at several angles of attack. In particular, the development of the slipstream over the wing is investigated with particle image velocimetry derived variables such as mean velocities, fluctuations, and turbulent kinetic energy. A detailed description of the slipstream returns valuable information on the vortical structures and periodic phenomena. An identification of such events is necessary for a future validation with numerical data. It allows for the analysis of parametric cases; first, a comparison between the thrust and no-thrust cases and, second, the effect of an increasing angle of attack. It is found that at the thrust cases, for higher angles of attack, vortices are formed due to interactions in the boundary layer.
Plasma wave electronics: novel terahertz devices using two dimensional electron fluid

We discuss how the propagation of plasma waves in a High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) can be used to implement a new generation of terahertz devices, including sources, resonant detectors, broad band detectors, and frequency multipliers. Our estimates show that these devices should outperform conventional terahertz devices, which use deep submicron Schottky diodes.
Fall acclimation and spring deacclimation of root cold tolerance for two perennial asters

Abstract. Snow is an important temperature insulator for overwintering plants, and as the depth and duration of snowpack decreases with warmer weather and the frequency of extreme climate events increases, belowground tissues may be exposed to colder temperatures. Determining the cold tolerance of overwintering plant tissues for native species could help predict species persistence following winter climate change, yet most plant cold tolerance studies are about agricultural crop species, woody plants, or aboveground tissues. Also, plants can acclimate and deacclimate to winter so measuring cold tolerance across seasons provides a more accurate assessment of a species susceptibility to winter climate change. Here, we measure root cold tolerance of two native perennial grassland forbs (Solidago rigida and Silphium integrifolium) in a restored prairie across time to examine cold acclimation and deacclimation to seasonal temperature changes. Average root cold tolerance varied between the two species. Over time, the roots of S. rigida predictably gained cold tolerance as fall progressed and lost cold tolerance in spring. However, roots of S. integrifolium had variable cold tolerance across both seasons. The differences in cold tolerance development between grassland forb species may be a contributing factor explaining species persistence under continued winter climate change. Further research on the cold tolerance of native plant species and belowground tissues is needed to predict the response of temperate plant species and communities to winter climate change.
New approach with a Hopfield modeling framework to economic dispatch

This paper presents a new Hopfield model based approach for the economic dispatch problem of power systems. To solve the economic dispatch problem using the Hopfield model, an energy function composing power mismatch, total fuel cost and the transmission line losses is defined. The weighting factors associated with the terms of the energy function can be either appropriately selected or directly estimated in the proposed model. Which, however, are determined by trial and error in the conventional Hopfield method. To minimize the value of the energy function, the computational procedures including a series of adjusting the weighting factor associated with the transmission line losses and updating the unit generations and power losses are carried out. Because the weighting factors are governed by some relationships developed, adjustment of the weighting factor is much simpler and more effective in steadily achieving solutions than adjustment of the /spl lambda/-multiplier in the lambda-iteration method for economic dispatch problems. Computational results reveal that this approach can find accurate solutions more simply and fast compared with the conventional lambda-iteration method.
Midlatitude Error Growth in Atmospheric GCMs: The Role of Eddy Growth Rate

Several studies have established that atmospheric flows have a finite range of predictability, which may be reasonably considered a consequence of the underlying dynamics. In the midlatitudes, error growth is predominantly associated with baroclinic disturbances. We consider midlatitude error growth in two models: an idealized dry dynamical core and a comprehensive atmospheric general circulation model (GCM). By systematically varying equator to pole temperature gradients in the dynamical core, we show that with increasing Eady growth rates, the time elapsed before errors saturate decreases, shortening the window in which weather predictions may be useful. We also consider the limits of midlatitude predictability in the comprehensive moist GCM in a range of climates. Our results show that the times to error saturation are shorter in warmer climates than colder climates, suggesting that warmer climates are inherently less predictable.
Sustainable Mobility and the Smart City: A Vision of the City of the Future: The Case Study of Cracow (Poland)

The vision of the smart city is inextricably linked with the concepts of intelligent transport, sustainable mobility and managerial decision making. Cities of the future not only entail the use of new technology, but also increasingly the interpenetration of technological and social aspects, with the simultaneous involvement of urban space users in the creation of such technologies. This provides an opportunity to introduce desired changes and create a more balanced space with a higher quality of life and improved energy efficiency. The article discusses the concepts of sustainable development and sustainable mobility with a particular emphasis on issues related to the smart city. The authors reviewed the various smart city solutions that have been implemented in the field of urban transport in Cracow, whose authorities have taken steps over the last few years to make the city smarter and more modern. The aim of the research was to assess the contribution made by smart city solutions to improving the attractiveness and reliability of public transport in Poland’s second-largest city. The undoubted added value of this analysis is the application of the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) method to evaluate the implemented solutions. It should be pointed out that such an analysis constitutes a new approach in this area. Until now, these models have been used to assess consumer behavior. The results showed that some of the implemented intelligent solutions increase the attractiveness of public transport in Cracow, but this does not square with users’ assessment of reliability. According to users, ecological solutions have no impact on the attractiveness of public transport. Nor do conveniences such as bus lanes, giving priority to public transport vehicles at intersections, and adjusting traffic light regulation to traffic volume, have a positive impact on perceptions of public transport as a reliable means of getting around the city. The results may be of particular importance for the city’s authorities and other stakeholders engaged in strategic activities and the building of a city of the future.
Uniquely disgusting? Physiological disgust and attitudes toward GM food and other food and health technologies

Despite scientific consensus that genetically modified (GM) food is safe to eat, the American public remains skeptical. This study (N=73) investigates the proposed role of disgust in driving opposition to GM food, which is debated in extant literature. Using physiological measures of disgust, alongside self-report measures, this study suggests that disgust plays a role in driving skepticism toward GM food, but not other food and health technologies. We further discuss the possible influence of risk sensitivity and perceptions of unnaturalness on attitudes toward novel science.
Requirements management: an enabler for concurrent engineering in the automotive industry

Defining and agreeing the product requirements is especially important when the design and manufacture of a system is part of an Extended Enterprise. To realize an all-inclusive concurrent engineering process, tools for the upstream design activities are needed. In practice, it is often difficult for the companies to have a shared understanding of what needs to be developed, and so specifications contain ambiguities in describing the product requirements. This paper clarifies the problem domain in the context of a complex product, designed and manufactured in a pan-national Extended Enterprise and serving a highly competitive market. The authors show how the challenge can be addressed through the application of ontology. A model of a requirements-management tool is proposed that will allow the various systems and associated levels of a product to be described and then shared through the supply chain. A prototype system is presented and illustrated through a case study from the automotive industry.
Transcriptome Analyses Reveal Circadian-Related Expression Features in the Visual Systems of Two Snakes

The visual characteristics of animals with different circadian habits, especially colubrid snakes, exhibit highly variable photoreceptor morphology. While studies have reported on the diversity in retinal cell morphology among snakes with different circadian patterns, few studies have examined the expression of genes related to vision. To explore gene expression patterns in the eyes between diurnal and nocturnal snakes, we carried out RNA sequencing of six tissues (eye, heart, liver, lung, kidney, and muscle) in two colubrids with disparate circadian activities, i.e., diurnal Ahaetulla prasina and nocturnal Lycodon flavozonatum, followed by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). The genes in the two most correlated modules were primarily enriched in different functional pathways, thus suggesting different biological functions. Three opsin genes (RH1, LWS, and SWS) were differentially expressed between the two species. Moreover, in the phototransduction pathway, different genes were highly expressed in the eyes of both species, reflecting specific expression patterns in the eyes of snakes with different circadian activity. We also confirmed the dominance of cone- and rod-related genes in diurnal and nocturnal adaptation, respectively. This work provides an important foundation for genetic research on visual adaptation in snakes and provides further insight into the adaptive evolution of such species.
MicroRNA Analysis of Human Stroke Brain Tissue Resected during Decompressive Craniectomy/Stroke-Ectomy Surgery

Background: Signaling pathways mediated by microRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified as one of the mechanisms that regulate stroke progression and recovery. Recent investigations using stroke patient blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) demonstrated disease-specific alterations in miRNA expression. In this study, for the first time, we investigated miRNA expression signatures in freshly removed human stroke brain tissue. Methods: Human brain samples were obtained during craniectomy and brain tissue resection in severe stroke patients with life-threatening brain swelling. The tissue samples were subjected to histopathological and immunofluorescence microscopy evaluation, next generation miRNA sequencing (NGS), and bioinformatic analysis. Results: miRNA NGS analysis detected 34 miRNAs with significantly aberrant expression in stroke tissue, as compared to non-stroke samples. Of these miRNAs, 19 were previously identified in stroke patient blood and CSF, while dysregulation of 15 miRNAs was newly detected in this study. miRNA direct target gene analysis and bioinformatics approach demonstrated a strong association of the identified miRNAs with stroke-related biological processes and signaling pathways. Conclusions: Dysregulated miRNAs detected in our study could be regarded as potential candidates for biomarkers and/or targets for therapeutic intervention. The results described herein further our understanding of the molecular basis of stroke and provide valuable information for the future functional studies in the experimental models of stroke.
Road Travel Time Prediction Based on Improved Graph Convolutional Network

Travel time prediction is playing an increasingly important part in advanced traveler information system (ATIS), which is of great significance to alleviate urban traffic congestion. Although graph convolutional networks have been widely used in road network traffic prediction, spatiotemporal dynamic modeling of urban traffic is still an intractable task. In this study, we propose an improved graph convolutional network (IGC-Net) for travel time prediction. Specifically, we design a modified adjacency matrix by fusing distance and correlation matrix with original adjacency matrix to capture spatial dynamic feature. We then establish three components based on temporal property to capture recent, daily-periodic, and weekly periodic correlations. The comparison experiments with baseline models and variants on a real-world dataset in Beijing are conducted. The results show that the IGC-Net outperforms baseline models in different prediction horizons and has stronger robustness for dynamic traffic prediction.
IS THERE A COMPREHENSIVE METHOD FOR HAZARD ZONING IN POPULATED AREAS

Due to the increasing pressure of spreading residential areas in the sparse space for permanent settlements in alpine regions and due to the limited capacities for hazard zoning, a further development of appropriate tools evaluating rock fall risk is discussed. Most existing rock fall rating systems focus on the evaluation of rock fall risk being relevant for linear structures such as railways, roads or pipelines where often good data regarding the rock fall frequency is available. For land use planning and rather young settlements such data is very often not existent and therefore the evaluation of risk has to be based on a frequency estimation. Such data can be derived from an assessment of the rock faces present on the slope and/or the subsequent accumulations of blocks on the slope. This procedure prescribes state of the art evaluations for land use planning, hazard zoning and design of mitigation measures. Die Ausbreitung von Siedlungsgebieten im alpinen Raum sowie die beschrankten Mittel fur die Zonenplanung machten die Entwicklung geeigneter Hilfsmittel fur die Bestimmung des Steinschlagrisikos notwendig. Die meisten existierenden Klassifizierungssysteme von Steinschlaggefahren wurden fur Eisenbahnlinien, Strassen und Pipelines entwickelt. Fur diese Einrichtungen gibt es meist ausreichend genaue Aufzeichnungen uber Steinschlagereignisse. Fur die Flachenwidmung und junge Siedlungen stehen solche Daten meist nicht zur Verfugung. Daher muss die Risikobeurteilung auf einer Abschatzung der Steinschlaghaufigkeit aufbauen, die von einer Beurteilung der Felsaufschlusse und/oder der darunter liegenden Blockhalden abgeleitet werden kann. Mit dieser Vorgangsweise werden dem Stand der Technik entsprechende Untersuchungen fur die Flachenwidmung, Gefahrenzonen- und Masnahmenplanung eingefuhrt.
DUX4 Role in Normal Physiology and in FSHD Muscular Dystrophy

In the last decade, the sequence-specific transcription factor double homeobox 4 (DUX4) has gone from being an obscure entity to being a key factor in important physiological and pathological processes. We now know that expression of DUX4 is highly regulated and restricted to the early steps of embryonic development, where DUX4 is involved in transcriptional activation of the zygotic genome. While DUX4 is epigenetically silenced in most somatic tissues of healthy humans, its aberrant reactivation is associated with several diseases, including cancer, viral infection and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD). DUX4 is also translocated, giving rise to chimeric oncogenic proteins at the basis of sarcoma and leukemia forms. Hence, understanding how DUX4 is regulated and performs its activity could provide relevant information, not only to further our knowledge of human embryonic development regulation, but also to develop therapeutic approaches for the diseases associated with DUX4. Here, we summarize current knowledge on the cellular and molecular processes regulated by DUX4 with a special emphasis on FSHD muscular dystrophy.
Ultrasound-assisted green synthesis and antimicrobial assessment of 1,3-thiazoles and 1,3,4-thiadiazines

ABSTRACT In this article, we applied ultrasonic irradiation as an ecofriendly, green, efficient approach for the synthesis of a new 1,3-thiazoles and 1,3,4-thiadiazines under solvent-free conditions. Thus, thiocarbohydrazide condenses with N-(thiazol-2-yl)acetamide (2) in different molar ratios under ultrasonic irradiation afforded mono and bis thiocarbohydrazons 3a,b, respectively. Thiocarbohydrazones were reacted with α-haloketone, α-haloester as well as hydrazonoyl halides under ultrasonic conditions afforded 1,3-thiazole 4, 1,3-thiazolinone 5 and 1,3,4-thiadiazines 6 and 11a–c, respectively. The reaction of monohydrazone 3a with phthalic anhydride derivatives afforded phthalazines 7a,b in a good yield. Ultrasonic irradiation has benefits such as greater purity, lower cost, high yields, and simple workups compared to the conventional methods. All the new compounds were screened for antimicrobial activity against different tested microbes. Most of the newly synthesized compounds exhibited potent to moderate activities toward the tested microbes. Compounds that exhibited potent antimicrobial activities were selected to measure their MIC and MBC values. The results revealed that compounds 3a, 3b, 8, 10, and 11a showed lower MIC against Staphylococcus aureus with the values of 39.06, 78.13, 9.77, 39.06 and 39.06 µg/ml, respectively. Meanwhile, the MBC values were found to be acceptable for 3a and 10 of 156 and 312, respectively. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
The Relationship between Different Amounts of Physical Exercise, Internal Inhibition, and Drug Craving in Individuals with Substance-Use Disorders

Purpose: To explore the relationship between different amounts of physical exercise and drug craving in individuals with substance-use disorders (SUD), and to reveal the mediating role of internal inhibition between physical activity and drug craving. Method: This study adopted the Physical Activity Rating Scale, Internal Inhibition Scale, and Drug Craving Scale to assess 438 cases of SUD in a compulsory isolation detoxification center in southwest China. Results: (1) The amount of physical exercise individuals with SUD engaged in was positively correlated with internal inhibition and negatively correlated with drug craving, while the amount of physical exercise was negatively correlated with drug craving. (2) The amount of physical exercise was able to negatively predict drug craving in addicts, the amount of physical exercise and internal inhibition were able to jointly predict drug craving, and internal inhibition played a mediating role between the amount of physical exercise and drug craving (the mediating effect was 0.22). (3) There was a dose-effect relationship regarding different amounts of physical exercises and drug craving. Internal inhibition did not mediate between a low amount of physical exercise and drug craving, it played a partial mediating role between a moderate amount of physical exercise and drug craving (the mediating effect was −0.19), and it played a partial mediating role between a high amount of physical exercise and drug craving (the mediating effect was −0.15). Conclusions: Physical activity has a positive effect on reducing drug craving in individuals with SUD. Moreover, in the process of sports rehabilitation for SUD, medium or high amounts of physical activity were required in order to effectively reduce and alleviate drug cravings.