Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A wideband linear‐in‐dB VGA using a CMOS in the triode region

This paper presents a wideband variable gain amplifier (VGA) fabricated using the 0.18‐μm CMOS process. An exponential CMOS triode transconductor scheme is proposed to achieve highly linear‐in‐dB characteristics of a VGA for ultra‐wideband (UWB) systems. The proposed VGA achieves a linear‐in‐dB controllable gain range of 28.4 dB (7 to −21.4 dB) with a bandwidth of 1200 MHz, while drawing only 2.7 mA from a 1.8‐V power supply. Measurements show a linear gain range with a linearity error of less than ±0.5 dB. P1dB varies from −8.5 to −6 dBm. The chip occupies an area of 0.2 × 0.2 mm2, excluding bond‐pads. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 48: 997–1000, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21546
A practical optical force-feedback microphone

A novel technique of measuring diaphragm displacement in microphones using a laser-diode Fabry-Perot system is presented. The microphone diaphragm is held within an electrostatic force-feedback loop so as to improve the performance. A second loop operates around the laser, for noise minimisation purposes. Following a brief introduction to the subject of optical detection in microphones, the modified Fabry-Perot interferometer is described, and the complete system with the two feedback loops presented. The characteristics of the laser driver and laser diode are examined. Theoretical responses are shown, for different cases, and noise calculations yield the dynamic ranges without feedback. The effect of feedback is then examined, both around the laser (electronic) and around the microphone capsule (electrostatic), and the dynamic ranges are recalculated to show the advantages of feedback. Intended directions for further research are also discussed.
A controller for plasma motion in a Tokamak based on model estimation

A simple model and its application in designing the plasma position control system in the Saskatoon Torus Medium (STOR-M ) Tokamak are described. Estimating the model parameters, the design of a controller, plasma position measurement, the design of a power driver, and the implementation and testing of the complete system are included. The following assumptions are made to simplify the plasma position model: the plasma is treated as a moving axisymmetric, current-carrying filament; the iron-core of the transformer is approximated by an infinitely long cylinder; and the STOR-M vacuum vessel is constructed of type-304L stainless steel, is circular in cross-section, and is 4 mm in thickness. The model was very useful in the early stages of the design, but due to practical constraints the parameters of the model could not be determined very accurately. A least-squares-error algorithm was used offline to determine revised estimates of the model's parameters. Based on these values, the PID (proportional-integral-derivative) controller was tuned. A 30 kA plasma has been successfully contained for a time of 50 ms, which is the maximum time required for this machine. >
Sled tests and CIREN data illustrating the benefits of booster seats

Abstract Booster seats are recommended for children approximately 4 to 10 years old, with more specific recommendations according to their size. The booster seat improves the geometry of the lap and shoulder belts, and allows the child's lower limbs to bend at the knees eliminating the need to slouch. Without a booster seat, children will also often place the shoulder belt under their arm or behind their back. This paper presents sled tests with a 6-year old child dummy in several restraint conditions. In addition to correct booster seat use, the dummy is restrained with a three-point belt, and with the shoulder belt either behind the back or under the arm. Dummy injury measures illustrate the increased injury risk due to misuse of the shoulder belt. In support of the sled test findings, data from the CIREN (Crash Injury Research and Engineering Network) database illustrate injury trends resulting from these misuse scenarios.
Seed placement measuring technique for direct drilling machines — A note

Abstract An apparatus for measuring seed placement in 3 dimensions and a sampling frame were designed and built to assess the accuracy of seed placement by direct drilling machines. Sample turf blocks were taken after drilling and transferred to a glasshouse. After seedling emergence, the turf blocks were placed in the measuring apparatus which was used to determine the position of the seeds in the soil. The apparatus cannot measure the placement of ungerminated seeds or unemerged seedlings. A computer programme was used to present, both graphically and statistically, the seed placement pattern for a particular seed and soil type.
DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE THIN LAYERCHROMATOGRAPHIC METHOD FOR CIPROFLOXACIN BY QUALITY BY DESIGN APPROACH

Objective: The aim of this paper is to create a new, systematic high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method for ciprofloxacin that is based on quality by design (QbD). Methods: The mobile phase was chloroform: IPA: H2O: Formic Acid (2:7:0.5:0.5V/V), and the chromatographic separation was performed on aluminum-backed silica gel 60 F254 plates. Ciprofloxacin was detected using UV light at 278nm. In factor screening studies, a 3-factor 17-run standard 3-level factorial design was used, and a Box-Behnken design was used to optimize HPTLC experimental parameters for obtaining anticipated chromatographic conditions. The basic method parameters were tested to understand risk assessment. Three independent parameters, such as saturation time, band duration, and migration distance, were chosen and analyzed based on the risk assessment to see if these three parameters influenced the responses. For ciprofloxacin, the method produces a compact and well-resolved band at Rf = 0.40 0.02. In the linear regression analysis performed on ciprofloxacin, the regression coefficient was found to be r2 = 0.996. Results: According to the International Council on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines, it was validated for validation parameters such as accuracy, precision, robustness, the limit of detection, and the limit of quantification. The proposed method for ciprofloxacin determination was found to be straightforward, precise, reliable, stable, and sensitive. Conclusion: The QbD method produced a more robust method that can generate accurate, high-quality, and reliable data during the process, and it can be effectively used in the routine inspection of Ciprofloxacin in the tablets dosage form.
A quantification of peak force in a switching controlled impact operation

Contact transition must be thoroughly understood and controlled such that industrial robots can effectively perform an impact force operation. There are three different stages in controlling robots while interacting with the environment, i.e. pre-collision, impact and post-collision stages. In this paper, we present an analytical derivation of an impact control, together with its experimental results using a switching method. We quantify peak forces during impact based on the parameters during the pre-collision stage. Such a quantification is verified by experiments on our 1-DOF manipulator.
Manufacturer Order Fulfillment Based on Multi-Objective Optimization NSGA II Model

The aim of this paper is to study the production and delivery decision problem in the Manufacturer Order Fulfillment. Owing to the order fulfillment optimization condition of the manufacturer, the multi-objective optimization model of manufacturers' production and delivery has been founded. The solution of the multi-objective optimization model is also very difficult. Fast and Elitist Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA II) have been applied successfully to various test and real-world optimization problems. These population based the algorithm provide a diverse set of non-dominated solutions. The obtained non-dominated set is close to the true Pareto-optimal front. But its convergence to the true Pareto-optimal front is not guaranteed. Hence SBX is used as a local search procedure. The proposed procedure is successfully applied to a special case. The results validate that the algorithm is effective to the multi-objective optimization model.
Stochastic Optimization of a Multireservoir Hydroelectric System: A Decomposition Approach

A computational scheme that is able to determined at each stage the most economical generation decision for each plant of a hydrothermal system is presented. The algorithm is based on the stochastic extension of Benders decomposition and can be implemented from already existing operation models. The results can be used in the weekly or monthly generation scheduling activities in real-time operation. A case study with 37 reservoirs of the Brazilian system is presented and discussed.
Platform and Algorithm Development for a RFID-Based Indoor Positioning System

In recent years, developing Indoor Positioning System (IPS) has become an attractive research topic due to the increasing demands on Location-Based Service (LBS) in indoor environment. Several advantages of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology, such as anti-interference, small, light and portable size of RFID tags, and its unique identification of different objects, make it superior to other wireless communication technologies for indoor positioning. However, certain drawbacks of existing RFID-based IPSs, such as high cost of RFID readers and active tags, as well as heavy dependence on the density of reference tags to provide the LBS, largely limit the application of RFID-based IPS. In order to overcome these drawbacks, we develop a cost-efficient RFID-based IPS by using cheaper active RFID tags and sensors. Furthermore, we also proposed three localization algorithms: Weighted Path Loss (WPL), Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) and integrated WPL-ELM. WPL is a centralized model-based approach which does not require any reference tags and provides accurate location estimation of the target effectively. ELM is a machine learning fingerprinting-based localization algorithm which can provide higher localization accuracy than other existing fingerprinting-based approaches. The integrated WPL-ELM approach combines the fast estimation of WPL and the high localization accuracy of ELM. Based on the experimental results, this integrated approach provides a higher localization efficiency and accuracy than existing approaches, e.g., the LANDMARC approach and the support vector machine for regression (SVR) approach.
Optimal multispecies harvesting in biologically and technologically interdependent fisheries

Title of Document: OPTIMAL MULTISPECIES HARVESTING IN BIOLOGICALLY AND TECHNOLOGICALLY INTERDEPENDENT FISHERIES Stephen Andrew Kasperski, Ph.D., 2011 Directed By: Lars Olson, Professor and Department Chair, Agricultural and Resource Economics Department and Richard Just, Distinguished University Professor, Agricultural and Resource Economics Department Single species management of multispecies fisheries ignores biological interactions in addition to important technological interactions resulting from the multiproduct nature of firms' production often to the detriment of the health of the ecosystem, the stocks of fish species, and fishery profits. This dissertation solves a dynamic optimization problem of maximizing the net present value from a three species fishery and uses numerical optimization techniques to determine the optimal harvest quota of each species given the biological and technological interactions. The model is then extended to the case of a nuisance species, a species that lowers the value of the fishery by negatively affecting the growth of other species in the ecosystem, and has little harvest value of its own. As approaches for ecosystem-based fisheries management are developed, results demonstrate the importance of focusing not only on the economically valuable species interact, but also on some non-harvested species, as they can affect the productivity and availability of higher value species. This study uses the arrowtooth flounder, Pacific cod, and walleye pollock fisheries in the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands region of Alaska as a case study and finds the net present value of the fishery is decreased from $20.7 billion to $8.5 billion dollars by ignoring arrowtooth’s role as a nuisance species on the growth of Pacific cod and walleye pollock. The optimal subsidy on the harvest of arrowtooth summed over all years is $35 million dollars, which increases the net present value by $273 million dollars, after accounting for the subsidy. OPTIMAL MULTISPECIES HARVESTING IN BIOLOGICALLY AND TECHNOLOGICALLY INTERDEPENDENT FISHERIES
Boundary integral equation formulation of skin effect problems in multiconductor transmission lines

The inductive and resistive skin effect in multiconductor transmission lines is discussed with respect to the analysis and design of the interconnections in high-speed digital circuitry. A boundary integral equation formulation is proposed to reduce the two-dimensional electromagnetic field problem to one-dimensional unknowns along the conductor boundaries. The method of moments is then applied to solve the equation and find the desired resistance and inductance matrices. This approach is suitable for multiple conductors of arbitrary shapes at low as well as high frequencies. Some examples are included to illustrate the method. Results are validated by comparison to known solutions. >
Interaction analysis of teachers and students in inquiry class learning based on augmented reality by iFIAS and LSA

ABSTRACT Inquiry-based learning (IBL) is one of the most important learning strategies. Augmented Reality (AR) is an effective way to support this strategy, which is considered conducive to enhance academic achievements of students during IBL. This paper investigated teacher-student interactions during AR-supported IBL by comparison and case study. First, four video clips carried by two high schools were coded by improved Flanders Interaction Analysis System (iFIAS) with two clips in AR-supported class and others in no AR-supported class. Then, Lag Sequence Analysis (LSA) was used to extract sequence features based on the codes. Finally, suggestions on using AR in IBL and details about study were discussed. Results show that AR-supported IBL has more active responses from students and a higher response rate from teachers. Student responses in AR-supported IBL have more tendency to be approved by teachers. The interactive component of AR software is in positive relation to its capacity of flexible inquiry, but it requires more time to learn to operate and demands more demonstration behavior from teachers. Teachers should develop skills of asking questions to guide and give timely feedback when carrying out IBL supported by AR.
SC-cut resonator with reduction of B-mode electrical response

Excitation, by the use of two pairs of cross-connected half electrodes, of SC-cut resonator operating on first anharmonic modes is considered. In order to obtain resonators having the best electrical response of the C-mode, it is shown that two cases can be encountered, depending on the shapes and orientation of modes, i.e. on overtone number. The computation of electrical parameters is based on Lewis formula and use of analytical expressions for the vibration and the electric field.
Celecoxib prevents tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced cellular senescence in human chondrocytes

ABSTRACT Osteoarthritis (OA) is a cartilage degenerative disease commonly observed in the elderly population and significantly impacts the normal life of OA patients. It has been reported that the development of pathological cell senescence in chondrocytes is involved in the pathogenesis of OA. Celecoxib is a common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, and it has been recently reported to exert therapeutic effects on OA. However, its underlying mechanism is still unclear. The present study intends to explore its mechanism and provide fundamental evidence for the application of Celecoxib in the treatment of clinical OA. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was utilized to establish an in vitro model of chondrocytes senescence. The elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, increased cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase, reduced telomerase activity, and upregulated senescence-associatedβ-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) staining were all observed in TNF-α-treated chondrocytes, which were then dramatically reversed by 10 and 20 μM Celecoxib. In addition, the upregulated DNA damage biomarkers, p-ATM, and p-CHK2, observed in TNF-α-treated chondrocytes were significantly downregulated by 10 and 20 μM Celecoxib. Lastly, the expression level of p21 and p53 was greatly elevated in chondrocytes by stimulation with TNF-α which was then pronouncedly repressed by treatment with Celecoxib. Taken together, our data reveal that Celecoxib ameliorated TNF-α-induced cellular senescence in human chondrocytes.
Analysis and Design of Wideband CMOS Transimpedance Amplifiers Using Inductive Feedback

Optical receivers have an important role in high data rate wireline data communication systems. Nowadays, these receivers have data rates of multi Gb/s. To achieve such high data rate in the design of optical receivers, all the amplifiers in the signal path need to be wideband and at the same time have minimum gain variations in the passband. As a rule of thumb, the bandwidth of amplifiers in the optical receivers should be 70% of the data rate. The first component of the optical receiver is photodiode which converts photons received from optical fiber to current signals. The small current received from the photodiode is amplified using the transimpedance amplifier (TIA) which is one of the main building blocks in the receiver frontend. Due to high data rate of fiber optic communication systems the bandwidth of TIAs should be high and it should satisfy gain requirements. It has been shown that inductive feedback technique is capable of extending the bandwidth of CMOS TIAs amplifiers effectively. However, no mathematical analysis is available in the literature explaining this phenomenon. The main focus of this thesis is to explain mathematically the mechanism of bandwidth extension of CMOS TIAs with inductive feedback. In this thesis, it is shown mathematically that the bandwidth extension of inverter based CMOS TIAs with inductive feedback is due to either zero-pole cancellation or change in the characteristics of complex conjugate poles. It is shown that for large photodiode capacitance for example 150fF the phenomenon for the bandwidth extension is zero pole cancellation. In the case of small photodiode capacitance for example 50fF, the bandwidth extension happens due to change in the characteristics of complex conjugate poles. Finally, the zero pole cancellation using inductive feedback method for common source based transimpednace amplifier with resistive load using different values of photodiode capacitances has been analyzed. In addition to that a new 3-stage common source based transimpedance amplifier using inductive feedback technique is designed. The process of bandwidth extension is shown analytically and is confirmed with simulation results using well-known tools and technologies. To show the system level motivation, an eye diagram simulation is performed for all topologies and it is verified that bandwidth extension does not disturb the performance. Moreover, the concept is verified based on a frequency scaled down discrete implementation. In this thesis, for inverter based CMOS TIA using photodiode capacitances of 150fF and 50fF bandwidths of 16.7GHz and 29.7GHz are achieved. In the case of common source based TIAs, considering 50fF, 100fF, 150fF photodiode capacitances, -3dB bandwidths of 32.1GHz, 21.8GHz, and 15.8GHz are achieved. A new three-stage TIA is proposed which achieves bandwidths of 42.8GHz, 35.5GHz, and 28.5GHz for 50fF, 100fF, 150fF photodiode capacitances. Based on comparative analysis, it is shown that, inductive feedback is the most effective method to extend the bandwidth of TIAs in terms of number of inductors.
A novel approach to the design of a shunt active filter for an unbalanced three-phase four-wire system under nonsinusoidal conditions

Summary form only given as follows. A new approach is presented for the design of a shunt active filter in a three-phase, four-wire distribution system with unbalanced, distorted sources and unbalanced loads. The purpose of the shunt active filter is to provide compensation currents such that the source needs to supply balanced (positive-sequence) fundamental source current at unity power factor even though the load consumes harmonic currents as well as positive, negative, and zero-sequence currents. A major feature of the proposed approach is that it does not require symmetrical component transformation to transform the three-phase voltages and currents to /spl alpha/-/spl beta/-o quantities. This makes practical implementation of the proposed method easier than the symmetrical component transformation approach. In addition, the power factor of the positive-sequence fundamental component is close to unity and only positive-sequence power is supplied by the source. The effectiveness of the proposed control algorithm is demonstrated by computer simulation and experimental results of a shunt active filter for a three-phase four-wire distribution system with distorted, unbalanced source voltages and unbalanced loads.
The involvement of non-formal education in students' learning needs during the covid-19 epidemic

All Formal education is oriented towards the continuity of one's education to carry out formal learning activities from the pre-school level to the university level. This article asks about the involvement of non-formal education to fulfil the learning needs of students during the Covid-19 epidemic as a form of companion, complement, support and requirement. This article uses a qualitative descriptive design that takes the ideas, sources and theories based on reference books, related journals and experiences as well as from sources those who are experienced in their fields. So this article, the author states that the involvement of non-formal education is divided into two points, namely: 1) Direct involvements: a) extracurricular involvement, b) technology system involvement of subjects matters, c) involvement of school activity companions, d) involvement of supporting of vision and mission of the school. 2) Indirect involvements: a) involvement of companion learning resource’s needed, b) involvement of flexibility learning activities, c) involvement of potential trainers of students, d) involvement of pre-requisites for admission to favourite study and e) involvement the lifelong education's changement.
Silica Hydride: A Separation Material Every Analyst Should Know About

This review describes the development, special features and applications of silica hydride-based stationary phases for HPLC. The unique surface of this material is in contrast to ordinary, standard silica, which is the material most frequently used in modern HPLC stationary phases. The standard silica surface contains mainly silanol (Si-OH) groups, while the silica hydride surface is instead composed of silicon-hydrogen groups, which is much more stable, less reactive and delivers different chromatographic and chemical characteristics. Other aspects of this material are described for each of the different bonded moieties available commercially. Some applications for each of these column types are also presented as well as a generic model for method development on silica hydride-based stationary phases.