Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A new square-slot circularly polarized antenna array with broadband characteristic

ABSTRACT In this article, we propose a wide square-slot CPA loaded with a semi ellipse patch. The proposed antenna consists of a sequential rotation feeding structure, a square-slot ground-plane with corner cuts, and an asymmetric U-shaped feeding strip. In contrast to the traditional strips and slots etched into the square-slot ground-plane, semi ellipse patch is first inserted into the ground-plane to increase the antenna bandwidth. In addition, four rectangular slots are used to adjust the impedance matching. The slot CPAA could excite multipole CP resonant modes using these slots and patches, which result in the wideband radiation. The proposed slot CPAA has outstanding characteristics of 85.7% (2.0–5.0 GHz) −10-dB IBW and 68.3% (2.20–4.48 GHz) 3-dB ARBW, which would be a potential candidate in the wideband communication.
Structural, mechanical, thermodynamic, electronic and optical characteristics of LaPtBi half-Heusler compound from first principles analyses

Abstract The first-principles based density functional theory was used to investigate the structural, mechanical, thermodynamic, electronic and optical characteristics of LaPtBi half-Heusler. The calculated crystal parameters showed good agreement with available theoretical and experimental data. Electronic band structure and density of states confirmed semimetallic behavior of the compound under study. The elastic and mechanical properties have been investigated in detail for the first time. Single crystal elastic constants satisfy Born criteria which confirms mechanical stability of LaPtBi. The optical characteristics including absorption, dielectric function, loss function, reflectivity, conductivity and refractive index were analyzed and discussed broadly, first-ever.
International Space Station Bus Regulation With NASA Glenn Research Center Flywheel Energy Storage System Development Unit

ABSTRACT An experimental flywheel energy storage system is described. This system is being used to develop a flywheel based replacement for the batteries on the International Space Station (ISS). Motor control algorithms which allow the flywheel to interface with a simplified model of the ISS power bus, and function similarly to the existing ISS battery system, are described. Results of controller experimental verification on a 300 W· hr flywheel are presented. Keywords: flywheel, motor control, battery, charge, discharge, charge reduction. I INTRODUCTION A developmental flywheel test facility has been built at NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC), in Cleveland, Ohio. This system includes a carbon composite high-speed flywheel, which is coupled to a motor/generator, and is suspended by active magnetic bearings. This test facility allows development and testing of control algorithms for the flywheel motor/generator and magnetic bearings. Flywheel based energy storage systems are being considered as a possible replacement for the battery based system currently in use on the ISS because flywheel systems feature longer life, higher efficiency and greater depth of discharge than battery based systems. In order to allow direct replacement, the flywheel system must be made to operate in the same fashion as the battery systems currently in place on the ISS. This paper describes motor/generator control algorithms which allow the flywheel system to interface with a simplified version of the ISS electrical bus, enabling the flywheel to be “charged” by storing energy mechanically in the wheel, and “discharged” by converting mechanical energy to current on the bus, while regulating bus voltage.
Culturally sustaining web 2.0 technology use in the Pacific: Innovations from American Samoa and Hawaiʻi

Abstract This study takes a transnational and collaborative approach to explore how Pacific Island educators are using web 2.0 technology to enhance instruction and facilitate culturally sustaining learning opportunities for emergent bilingual and multilingual students. It is also an analysis of the digital divide for young adolescent users due to linguistic, economic, and geographic barriers. Two middle level education vignettes are presented—one from American Samoa and one from Hawaiʻi. First, we explore the areas of technology use, collaborative learning, and culturally sustaining education within our unique Pacific contexts. Each vignette consists of an overview of the technology usage within our Pacific contexts, connections to The Successful Middle School: This We Believe, results, and next steps. This study caters to educators working with multilingual and multicultural populations and contributes to the knowledge base of culturally sustaining pedagogyin middle level online learning environments.
Functional roles of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in Alzheimer’s disease: Implications of gut microbiota-targeted therapy

Abstract Increasing scientific evidence demonstrates that the gut microbiota influences normal physiological homeostasis and contributes to pathogenesis, ranging from obesity to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Gut microbiota can interact with the central nervous system (CNS) through the microbiota-gut-brain axis. The interaction is mediated by microbial secretions, metabolic interventions, and neural stimulation. Here, we review and summarize the regulatory pathways (immune, neural, neuroendocrine, or metabolic systems) in the microbiota-gut-brain axis in AD pathogenesis. Besides, we highlight the significant roles of the intestinal epithelial barrier and blood–brain barrier (BBB) in the microbiota-gut-brain axis. During the progression of AD, there is a gradual shift in the gut microbiota and host co-metabolic relationship, leading to gut dysbiosis, and the imbalance of microbial secretions and metabolites, such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These products may affect the CNS metabolic state and immune balance through the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Further, we summarize the potential microbiota-gut-brain axis-targeted therapy including carbohydrates, probiotics, dietary measures, and propose new strategies toward the development of anti-AD drugs. Taken together, the data in this review suggest that remodeling the gut microbiota may present a tractable strategy in the management and development of new therapeutics against AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
The role of CAE tools in engineering technology

The CAE (computer-aided engineering) tools course that is required for all entering students in manufacturing and plastics engineering technology at Western Washington University is described. The course content and development considerations are discussed. All students entering the manufacturing and plastics engineering technology programs are required to complete a basic CAD (computer-aided design)/solids modeling course and an introductory CAE tools course. Interdisciplinary projects are used within the department to teach the students about simultaneous or concurrent engineering. <<ETX>>
Resting-State Functional MRI Metrics in Patients With Chronic Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Their Association With Clinical Cognitive Performance

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) accounts for more than 80% of people experiencing brain injuries. Symptoms of mTBI include short-term and long-term adverse clinical outcomes. In this study, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) was conducted to measure voxel-based indices including fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and functional connectivity (FC) in patients suffering from chronic mTBI; 64 patients with chronic mTBI at least 3 months post injury and 40 healthy controls underwent rs-fMRI scanning. Partial correlation analysis controlling for age and gender was performed within mTBI cohort to explore the association between rs-fMRI metrics and neuropsychological scores. Compared with controls, chronic mTBI patients showed increased fALFF in the left middle occipital cortex (MOC), right middle temporal cortex (MTC), and right angular gyrus (AG), and increased ReHo in the left MOC and left posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). Enhanced FC was observed from left MOC to right precuneus; from right MTC to right superior temporal cortex (STC), right supramarginal, and left inferior parietal cortex (IPC); and from the seed located at right AG to left precuneus, left superior medial frontal cortex (SMFC), left MTC, left superior temporal cortex (STC), and left MOC. Furthermore, the correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation between neuropsychological scores and fALFF, ReHo, and seed-based FC measured from the regions with significant group differences. Our results demonstrated that alterations of low-frequency oscillations in chronic mTBI could be representative of disruption in emotional circuits, cognitive performance, and recovery in this cohort.
A new modulation technique for reducing the input current harmonics of a three-phase diode rectifier with capacitive load

In this paper, a new technique for shaping the line current and reducing the total harmonic distortion in a three-phase bridge rectifier, feeding a capacitive load, is presented. Using the topology of a three-level three-switch pulsewidth modulated (PWM) rectifier, a new control technique has been implemented. The main objective here is to minimize the total harmonic distortion (THD) of the line current under different load conditions (20%-100% of full load). A review of the problems inherent in a bridge rectifier feeding a capacitive load and the possible solutions are first presented. Subsequently, the analysis of the new circuit and the control technique used are described, along with simulation results. Finally, the experimental results on a 1.6 kW prototype are presented.
Towards A Competitive Manufacturing Sector

The Indian manufacturing sector has grown at an impressive average rate of 9.5 per cent annually since 2003-04. Its sustained growth is crucial for generating employment opportunities needed to absorb the rapidly expanding workforce. In this context, this paper reviews the current state of the sector and focuses on determinants of its competitiveness. The paper finds that Indian manufacturing sector exhibits a great deal of regional variation and a marked dualism between the organized and the unorganized segments in terms of both productivity and wage levels. The level of labour absorption in the organized manufacturing sector has been weak as reflected in the declining labour intensity in this sector. This does not augur well for achieving inclusive growth. We also find that although there have been significant changes in the composition of exports in the last 20 years; India is still a very small player at the global level, especially in knowledge intensive and advanced technology products. Finally, the paper explores India's potential for transforming itself into a hub of mass manufacturing. We find that the main constraints in doing so have been the low level of R&D, relative lack of skilled personnel and relatively low FDI levels.
Neuronal Loss of the Glutamate Transporter GLT-1 Promotes Excitotoxic Injury in the Hippocampus

GLT-1, the major glutamate transporter in the mammalian central nervous system, is expressed in presynaptic terminals that use glutamate as a neurotransmitter, in addition to astrocytes. It is widely assumed that glutamate homeostasis is regulated primarily by glutamate transporters expressed in astrocytes, leaving the function of GLT-1 in neurons relatively unexplored. We generated conditional GLT-1 knockout (KO) mouse lines to understand the cell-specific functions of GLT-1. We found that stimulus-evoked field extracellular postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) recorded in the CA1 region of the hippocampus were normal in the astrocytic GLT-1 KO but were reduced and often absent in the neuronal GLT-1 KO at 40 weeks. The failure of fEPSP generation in the neuronal GLT-1 KO was also observed in slices from 20 weeks old mice but not consistently from 10 weeks old mice. Using an extracellular FRET-based glutamate sensor, we found no difference in stimulus-evoked glutamate accumulation in the neuronal GLT-1 KO, suggesting a postsynaptic cause of the transmission failure. We hypothesized that excitotoxicity underlies the failure of functional recovery of slices from the neuronal GLT-1 KO. Consistent with this hypothesis, the non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist MK801, when present in the ACSF during the recovery period following cutting of slices, promoted full restoration of fEPSP generation. The inclusion of an enzymatic glutamate scavenging system in the ACSF conferred partial protection. Excitotoxicity might be due to excess release or accumulation of excitatory amino acids, or to metabolic perturbation resulting in increased vulnerability to NMDA receptor activation. Previous studies have demonstrated a defect in the utilization of glutamate by synaptic mitochondria and aspartate production in the synGLT-1 KO in vivo, and we found evidence for similar metabolic perturbations in the slice preparation. In addition, mitochondrial cristae density was higher in synaptic mitochondria in the CA1 region in 20–25 weeks old synGLT-1 KO mice in the CA1 region, suggesting compensation for loss of axon terminal GLT-1 by increased mitochondrial efficiency. These data suggest that GLT-1 expressed in presynaptic terminals serves an important role in the regulation of vulnerability to excitotoxicity, and this regulation may be related to the metabolic role of GLT-1 expressed in glutamatergic axon terminals.
Real Time Water Demand Estimation in Water Distribution System

Accurate modeling of chemical transport in water distribution systems depends on accurate knowledge of temporally and spatially variable water demands. Typical network models would include water demands that are allocated from billing or census data, and thus may not be appropriate for specific operational analysis, such as emergency events arising from intentional or accidental contamination. During such an event, water consumption patterns may be significantly different from those assumed when developing the hydraulic model, and may change significantly over short time periods due to the unusual circumstances of the event. To allow accurate hydraulic and water quality prediction in real-time, the water demands should be updated continuously to reflect current conditions. The development of such a real-time water demand calibration method poses many complex issues such as identifiability and uncertainty of the water demand estimates. Given the sparsity of data that are likely to be available in real time, prior statistical information about water demands must be incorporated in the calibration procedure. In this paper, a method and algorithms are proposed for a real time water demand calibration process. A predictor-corrector methodology is proposed to predict statistical hydraulic behavior based on prior estimation of water demands, and then correct this prediction using new, real-time measurements. The problem is solved using the extended Kalman filter, which is a linear algorithm that calculates the estimate of water demands and their uncertainty. As part of the Kalman filter calculation, we calculate direct sensitivities of system hydraulic responses with respect to water demands. Results of numerical experiments illustrate the impacts of statistical demand variability, hydraulic measurement accuracy and sampling design on demand estimation. This paper was presented at the 8th Annual Water Distribution Systems Analysis Symposium which was held with the generous support of Awwa Research Foundation (AwwaRF).
Compressive force‐induced LincRNA‐p21 inhibits mineralization of cementoblasts by impeding autophagy

The mineralization capability of cementoblasts is the foundation for repairing orthodontic treatment‐induced root resorption. It is essential to investigate the regulatory mechanism of mineralization in cementoblasts under mechanical compression to improve orthodontic therapy. Autophagy has a protective role in maintaining cell homeostasis under environmental stress and was reported to be involved in the mineralization process. Long noncoding RNAs are important regulators of biological processes, but their functions in compressed cementoblasts during orthodontic tooth movement remain unclear. In this study, we showed that compressive force downregulated the expression of mineralization‐related markers. LincRNA‐p21 was strongly enhanced by compressive force. Overexpression of lincRNA‐p21 downregulated the expression of mineralization‐related markers, while knockdown of lincRNA‐p21 reversed the compressive force‐induced decrease in mineralization. Furthermore, we found that autophagy was impeded in compressed cementoblasts. Then, overexpression of lincRNA‐p21 decreased autophagic activity, while knockdown of lincRNA‐p21 reversed the autophagic process decreased by mechanical compression. However, the autophagy inhibitor 3‐methyladenine abolished the lincRNA‐p21 knockdown‐promoted mineralization, and the autophagy activator rapamycin rescued the mineralization inhibited by lincRNA‐p21 overexpression. Mechanistically, the direct binding between lincRNA‐p21 and FoxO3 blocked the expression of autophagy‐related genes. In a mouse orthodontic tooth movement model, knockdown of lincRNA‐p21 rescued the impeded autophagic process in cementoblasts, enhanced cementogenesis, and alleviated orthodontic force‐induced root resorption. Overall, compressive force‐induced lincRNA‐p21 inhibits the mineralization capability of cementoblasts by impeding the autophagic process.
Prenatal choline supplementation improves child sustained attention: A 7‐year follow‐up of a randomized controlled feeding trial

Numerous rodent studies demonstrate developmental programming of offspring cognition by maternal choline intake, with prenatal choline deprivation causing lasting adverse effects and supplemental choline producing lasting benefits. Few human studies have evaluated the effect of maternal choline supplementation on offspring cognition, with none following children to school age. Here, we report results from a controlled feeding study in which pregnant women were randomized to consume 480 mg choline/d (approximately the Adequate Intake [AI]) or 930 mg choline/d during the 3rd trimester. Sustained attention was assessed in the offspring at age 7 years (n = 20) using a signal detection task that showed benefits of maternal choline supplementation in a murine model. Children in the 930 mg/d group showed superior performance (vs. 480 mg/d group) on the primary endpoint (SAT score, p = .02) and a superior ability to maintain correct signal detections (hits) across the 12‐min session (p = .02), indicative of improved sustained attention. This group difference in vigilance decrement varied by signal duration (p = .04). For the briefest (17 ms) signals, the 480 mg/d group showed a 22.9% decline in hits across the session compared to a 1.5% increase in hits for the 930 mg/d group (p = .04). The groups did not differ in vigilance decrement for 29 or 50 ms signals. This pattern suggests an enhanced ability to sustain perceptual amplification of a brief low‐contrast visual signal by children in the 930 mg/d group. This inference of improved sustained attention by the 930 mg/d group is strengthened by the absence of group differences for false alarms, omissions, and off‐task behaviors. This pattern of results indicates that maternal 3rd trimester consumption of the choline AI for pregnancy (vs. double the AI) produces offspring with a poorer ability to sustain attention—reinforcing concerns that, on average, choline consumption by pregnant women is approximately 70% of the AI.
Optimum Bistatic Angle Extraction Using Compressed Time- Frequency Feature Vectors

When the target of interest is determined, the transmitter and receiver positions of bistatic radar are of great importance at the aspect of radar target classification. The radar cross section (RCS) of a target varies with these positions, and the target classification performance is considerably influenced by RCS. In this study, the target classification performance using the bistatic scattering data of wire targets and scale-model targets is analyzed and compared. Time-frequency analysis and effective compression techniques are used for target feature extraction from the bistatic scattering data of each target, and a multilayered perceptron (MLP) neural network is used as a classifier. The optimum receiver position is found by comparing the calculated classification probabilities while changing the position of the bistatic radar receiver. The classification results using calculated data and measured data show that an optimally positioned bistatic radar yields better classification results, demonstrating the importance of the positions of the transmitter and receiver for bistatic radar.
Measurement of MEMS thermal actuator time constant using image blur

A method of experimentally determining the time constants of MEMS thermal actuators from an analysis of blurred still camera images of high frequency motion is presented. The response of MEMS thermal actuators to harmonic excitation falls off with increasing frequency. An analytical derivation of the thermal frequency response is performed considering actuator arm conduction and conduction through air to the substrate. For the actuator in this study, the predicted time constant is 120–125 µs. Directly measuring this time constant would require sampling in the kHz range, well above the range of most cameras, which blur the image. The thermal time constant is computed by analyzing the sidewall profiles of a stationary actuator and of the actuator excited over a range of frequencies. The observed slope of the blurred sidewall profile changes with the frequency: the larger the amplitude of motion, the shallower the apparent slope. By numerically blurring the stationary profile, the relationship between the blur amplitude and the blurred slope is found. From this and the measured slopes, the blur amplitude is determined at each frequency and the time constant determined by curve fitting. The resultant measured time constant is 130 ± 12 µs, in good agreement with the predicted value.
Optimal Gait Generation of an 8-DOF Biped Robot on Deformable Terrain using Floating-base Dynamics

This paper presents the optimal gait generation of an 8 Degrees of Freedom (DOF) biped robot on deformable terrain. The deformation of the terrain causes the foot and terrain contact point to move during gait, and hence we have used the floating base representation for the dynamics formulation. The foot-terrain interaction is modelled using a spring-damper model with friction constraints. The contact points acceleration changes the contact constraint resulting in change in corresponding base acceleration. Hence the contact point accelerations are obtained such that the difference of the actual and desired base acceleration is minimized. The base acceleration is obtained using contact forces due to foot contact with the terrain and the contact point acceleration. The corresponding joint torques are obtained using equations of motion of the biped. The variation of the hip trajectory with the coefficient of friction of the terrain and deformation of the terrain has been analysed. The variation of the required coefficient of friction and center of pressure are also analyzed in this paper. The results show that the error in the hip trajectory between the desired and actual trajectory, depends on the coefficient of friction and deformation of the terrain. The results are useful in determining the terrain conditions on which the robot can walk stably.