Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bhakta Kharel Comparing Methods for System Identification on the Quadruple Tank Process

System Identification in control engineering has been the field of interest for the research and development to find the optimal model of dynamic system. Both MIMO and SISO systems can be modeled using different system identification techniques with satisfactory result using input and output data and easy to implement the control strategies. System identification of a quadruple Tank which is a MIMO system with two user inputs and two outputs and adjustable zero. Using first principle, non-linear mathematical model is developed and it is linearized. Input and output data are taken from the real system using LabVIEW and Stability, observability and controllability are analyzed. Both minimum and non-minimum phase with the change in valve parameters are analyzed. Using input and output data from the real process system identification model is developed by DSR, PEM and N4SID methods. All these identification analysis are done using MATLAB software while the input and output data taken using model developed in LabVIEW. Model developed using all three methods are compared against each other both by simulation and experimentally. Model developed are validated individually using new set of data and the quality of methods are again compared against each other using indices such as MAE, RMSE. Finally, DSR method of identification is found out to be the best method among all three methods and it is suggested to proceed for the implementation of control strategies and further analysis Telemark University College accepts no responsibility for results and conclusions presented in this report.
Sampling Error Estimation in Stratified Surveys

Many operations carried out by official statistical institutes use large-scale surveys obtained by stratified random sampling without replacement. Variables commonly examined in this type of surveys are binary, categorical and continuous, and hence, the estimates of interest involve estimates of proportions, totals and means. The problem of approximating the sampling relative error of this kind of estimates is studied in this paper. Some new jackknife methods are proposed and compared with plug-in and bootstrap methods. An extensive simulation study is carried out to compare the behavior of all the methods considered in this paper.
Differentially Expressed Genes in Daphnia magna Exposed to Methyl Farnesoate

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are chemicals with the potential to interfere with the function of endocrine systems. When accumulated in the environment, they pose a great risk to the healthy functioning of most ecological food chains. Methyl farnesoate, the major terpenoid hormone in insects, could stimulate production of male offsprings in normally asexually produced Daphnia magna . Commonly known as water fleas, D. magna is a standard Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) species used in water toxicity tests. The methyl farnesoate signaling pathway is especially susceptible to the disruption of external signals. Thus, gene expression changes of D. magna under acute exposure of methyl farnesoate were studied to better understand the character of methyl farnesoate signaling pathway. Gene expression profiles for methyl farnesoate exposures were obtained by using a D. magna cDNA microarray following each acute exposure at an established effective concentration (EC 50 ). Differentially expressed genes were determined using a statistical method developed in Vulpe lab, UC Berkeley, which employs an outlier approach. Those differentially expressed genes by methyl farnesoate were analyzed in order to determine which genes were similarly affected in different exposures. These genes are likely candidate genes that initiate male production in D. magna . The results suggested that this approach could enable more understanding of what genes were involved in methyl farnesoate signaling pathway, as well as further substantiating the uses of toxicogenomic methods in the study of toxicants' effects on environmental organisms.
Dark-field detection method of shallow scratches on the super-smooth optical surface based on the technology of adaptive smoothing and morphological differencing

There exist some shallow scratch defects on the super-smooth optical surface. Their detection has a low efficiency with the existing technologies. So a new detection method, dark-field detection of adaptive smoothing and morphological differencing (DFD-ASMD), is proposed. On one hand, the information of shallow scratches can be kept in dark-field images. On the other hand, their weak characteristics can be separated and protected from being overly reduced during the elimination of noise and background in the image. Experiments show the detection rate of shallow scratches is around 82%, and DFD-ASMD can lay a foundation for quality control of defects on the high-quality optical surface.
A class of non-equilibrium states and the black hole interior

We consider a class of non-equilibrium pure states, which are generally present in an isolated quantum statistical system. These are states of the form $|\Psi\rangle=e^{-{\beta H \over 2}} U e^{{\beta H \over 2}} |\Psi_0\rangle$, where $U$ is a unitary made out of simple operators and $|\Psi_0\rangle$ is a typical equilibrium pure state with sharply peaked energy. We argue that in a system with a holographic dual these states have a natural interpretation as an AdS black hole with transient excitations behind the horizon. We explore the interpretation of these states as pure states undergoing a time-dependent spontaneous fluctuation out of equilibrium. While these states are atypical and the microscopic phases of the wavefunction are correlated with the matrix elements of simple operators, the states are partly disguised as equilibrium states due to cancellations between contributions from different coarse-grained energy bins. These cancellations are guaranteed by the KMS condition of the underlying equilibrium state $|\Psi_0\rangle$. However, in correlators which include the Hamiltonian $H$ these cancellations are spoiled and the non-equilibrium nature of the state $|\Psi\rangle$ can be detected. We discuss connections with the proposal that local observables behind the horizon are realized as state-dependent operators. The states studied in this paper may be useful for implementing an analogue of the "traversable wormhole" protocol for a 1-sided black hole, which could potentially allow us to extract the excitation from behind the horizon. We include some pedagogical background material.
An Analysis of Food Safety Management Systems Certification: The Portuguese Case

The worldwide food safety management systems implementation and certification had significantly increased during the last few years, thus reflecting the importance that those standards assumed for some activity sectors. Based on the literature review carried out, there is a large number of research projects conducted in this area. However, as Portugal is concern, the nationwide research projects related to ISO 22000 are scarce. Therefore, this paper reflects what we believe to be a pioneering contribution in order to characterize the food safety management systems adoption by the Portuguese companies. In more detail, our aim is to provide fact-based insights, among other, to the following issues: - Which are ISO 22000 certification motivations and benefits? - Which are ISO 22000 main obstacles, difficulties and drawbacks? - What are the benefits and costs directly related to the food management system implementation, certification and maintenance? - Which are the food management systems market evolution perspectives? In order to answer to the previous issues our research methodology was based on a survey that was e-mailed to the ISO 22000 Portuguese certified companies.
A Glimpse on Melanoma - Risk Factors and Treatment

Melanoma is the most dreadful form of skin cancer that begins in melanocytes. It is the leading cause of death from skin disease. It can occur in any part of the body that contains melanocytes. Several internal and external risk factors of the body may contribute to the development of many cancer melanomas such as unexpected exposure to UV radiation, weakened immune system, family history etc. Melanoma diagnosed at early stages is typically cured by surgical excision, but advanced stages are often deadly. Cancer stem cells (CSC) are recently proposed to be the cancer initiating cells responsible for tumorigenesis and contribute to cancer resistance. In the present review I have discussed about melanoma incidence, detection with various modes of treatment.
Know-How Transfer in Core-Banking System Implementation Projects: A Case Study

In the last years, many Swiss banks replaced their old core-banking systems with new ones. Implementing a core baking-system requires that the bank, the software vendor, and the implementation partner collaborate. Crucial for the collaboration and the project success is planned and unplanned know- how transfer. This case study examines the know-how transfer in a core- banking system implementation project for a retail bank with around 200 project members. We describe the sourcing network and different roles people have with respect to know-how transfer. We elaborate the methods used within the project for know-how transfer and present first results of a study looking on their effectiveness. Thus, this paper gives project managers a good insight into know-transfer within a project and points out how to stimulate them successfully.
Unique Airflow Visualization Techniques for the Design and Validation of Above-Plenum Data Center CFD Models

One cause for the substantial amount of energy used for data center cooling is poor airflow effects such as hot-aisle to cold-aisle air recirculation. To correct these and to investigate innovative designs that will notably increase efficiency requires a robust, well-verified computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model. Most above-plenum data center CFD models are only validated using temperature data. Although a temperature-only validation method can be useful, it does not confirm that the airflow patterns predicted by the CFD model are accurate. Since the airflow patterns above a raised-floor plenum should be confidently understood before they can be optimized, it is necessary to adopt a validation method that offers more than just a comparison of temperature data. This paper summarizes the unique validation process of a CFD model for a small data center test cell located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The validation method features point velocity and temperature measurements and the use of small neutrally-buoyant bubbles to visualize the airflow patterns above a raised-floor plenum. The data center test cell was designed to emulate a standard hot-aisle and cold-aisle airflow configuration. The airflow visualization revealed that each perforated tile had a substantial non-uniform air velocity distribution leading to an unexpected three-dimensional flow pattern above the racks. When this surprising reality was properly accounted for in the CFD boundary conditions, good agreement was found with the observed airflow patterns. It is the purpose of this paper to show the difficulties and value of utilizing more robust validation techniques for data center CFD models.
Enhancement of Pigmentation in Blue Morph, Pseudotropheus lombardoi Through Feeding Different Carotenoid Sources

Aquarium fishes are well-liked by everyone because of their magnificent coloration and graceful movement. Fishes that are colored in nature often get faded under intensive culture conditions where the chance of rejuvenating and replenishing the carotenoid source is meagre. The possibility of enriching the fish feed with various energy rich and different concentrations of carotenoid containing ingredients like Spirulina, mango peel, curry leaves and beet root have been studied. The quantitative estimation of carotenoid in the experimental fish tissue by spectrophotometric method revealed a better coloration in fish fed with the carotenoid incorporated diet than the control diet. Among the various carotenoid ingredients used, Spirulina (15%) incorporated feed ranks first in enhancing the colour of Pseudotropheus lombardoi. It is evident from the present investigation that an extrinsic carotenoid source had more influence in enhancing the colour of the tropical fishes, in a simulated environment.
Clustering Durum Wheat Genotypes in Multi-Environmental Trials of Rain-Fed Conditions

Abstract For durum wheat genotypes evaluation in multi-environmental trials (MET), measured seed yield is the combined result of effects of genotype (G), environment (E) and genotype by environment GE interaction. The GE interaction structure can be identified if the data are stratified into homogeneous subsets through cluster analysis. A combined analysis to assess GE interactions of 20 durum wheat genotypes across 14 environments was undertaken. The combined analysis of variance for E, G and GE interaction was significant, suggesting differential responses of the genotypes in various environments. Four cluster methods, which differ in the dissimilarity indices depending on the regression model or ANOVA model, were used. According to dendograms of regression methods there were 10 different genotypic groups based on G (intercept) and GE (line slope) sources and 3 different genotypic groups based on GE (line slope) sources. Also, the dendograms of ANOVA methods indicated 11 different genotypic groups based on G and GE sources and 13 different genotypic groups based on GE sources. The above mentioned genotypic groups were determined via F-test as an empirical stopping criterion for clustering. Due to the high values of regression’s determination coefficient which ranged from 92.6 to 99.4, using of the linear regression-based clustering was more practical. The genotypes clustering based on similarity of linear regression parameters or ANOVA model indicated that there were considerable variations among durum wheat genotypes and there are different with each other in response to environmental changes. Such an outcome could be regularly applied in the future to clattering durum wheat genotypes and other crops based on regression or ANOVA models in the Middle East and other areas of the world.
Trade and Financial Integration in East Asia: Effects on Co-Movements

In this paper we explore three important areas where deeper trade and financial integration in East Asia can influence: (1) business cycle co-movements in the region, (2) the extent of risk sharing across countries and (3) price co-movements across countries. We find evidence that trade integration enhances co-movements of output but not of consumption across countries. Especially the fact that trade integration does not raise co-movements of consumption as much as that of output is interpreted as trade integration does not improve the extent of risk sharing. Co-movements of price arise most significantly as trade integration deepens, lowering the border effects and allowing better opportunities for resource reallocation across countries. In contrast, financial integration demonstrates much weaker evidence of enhancing co-movements across countries. Deeper financial integration improves price co-movements weakly but does not enhance output or consumption co-movements at all. However, since the current level of financial integration in East Asia is quite low, our evidence is too early to firmly determine the role of financial integration.
The interaction of climate change and methane hydrates

Gas hydrate, a frozen, naturally‐occurring, and highly‐concentrated form of methane, sequesters significant carbon in the global system and is stable only over a range of low‐temperature and moderate‐pressure conditions. Gas hydrate is widespread in the sediments of marine continental margins and permafrost areas, locations where ocean and atmospheric warming may perturb the hydrate stability field and lead to release of the sequestered methane into the overlying sediments and soils. Methane and methane‐derived carbon that escape from sediments and soils and reach the atmosphere could exacerbate greenhouse warming. The synergy between warming climate and gas hydrate dissociation feeds a popular perception that global warming could drive catastrophic methane releases from the contemporary gas hydrate reservoir. Appropriate evaluation of the two sides of the climate‐methane hydrate synergy requires assessing direct and indirect observational data related to gas hydrate dissociation phenomena and numerical models that track the interaction of gas hydrates/methane with the ocean and/or atmosphere. Methane hydrate is likely undergoing dissociation now on global upper continental slopes and on continental shelves that ring the Arctic Ocean. Many factors—the depth of the gas hydrates in sediments, strong sediment and water column sinks, and the inability of bubbles emitted at the seafloor to deliver methane to the sea‐air interface in most cases—mitigate the impact of gas hydrate dissociation on atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations though. There is no conclusive proof that hydrate‐derived methane is reaching the atmosphere now, but more observational data and improved numerical models will better characterize the climate‐hydrate synergy in the future.
Focussing on Consumer Attention: Price-Quality Relationships and Reputation Indicators

In Germany, the focus of agricultural policy is now "the consumer". In the aftermath of the BSE crisis, farmers are encouraged to produce higher quality "ecological" food for which consumers are willing to pay more. Food is an experience good and quality signals are becoming a more important determinant of the prices received. However, given consumers' cognitive limitations, all signals can not receive equal attention. We argue that consumer attention to product quality signals increases with its producer's quality performance, and given attention spillovers (collective reputation), with the expertise of associated producers. Over time, collective reputations should have an effect on price when attention (or quality performance) is low, but should lose their impact as attention increases. We illustrate our consumer attention argument with an empirical application of wine producers and regions and draw some conclusions for the new consumer oriented agri-food policy in Germany.
Theoretical and practical validation tests for a Near-Field to Far-Field transformation algorithm using spherical wave expansion

The use of spherical wave expansion of the solution of the wave equation to predict Far-Field values from data measured in the Near-Field region is a well known technique, typically used to perform antenna measurements in compact anechoic chambers. However, when designing the computing algorithm it is fundamental to validate the results and to quantify the numerical error of the method. In this regard, a computer application that samples the electric Near-Field and calculates the values of the electric Far-Field region using spherical wave expansion was developed to measure antenna radiation patterns in the Fresnel zone inside a fully anechoic chamber. In order to validate the code, this paper describes three validation methods: firstly, using the theoretical electric Near-Field values of an infinitesimal dipole as the input to the algorithm to compare the output with the response analytically expected; secondly, using a Far-Field electric field data of a calibrated half wavelength dipole measured in an anechoic chamber and finally, using an electric Near-Field data of a calibrated half wavelength dipole measured in the same chamber. These methods provide simple procedures to calculate the error introduced by the code in different scenarios that should be considered to estimate the measurement uncertainty.
Tobacco and alcohol consumption in post-Soviet Ukraine: qualitative findings from community consultations

BACKGROUND: This study focuses on a variety of social determinants of alcohol and tobacco consumption, which have been reported as an alarming epidemic in the post-Soviet Ukraine. Authors look at the intersections of social determinants of tobacco and alcohol use in Ukraine as perceived by the study participants, and their perception of structural effects of economic and cultural transition on the prevalence of these harmful lifestyles. METHODS: This study is part of a mixed-methods research, informed by an intersectional framework, focusing on complex health and health care experiences of Ukrainians. This study uses findings from 21 community consultations in 11 regions, corresponding to Ukraine’s diverse demographics, culture, and geography. At these consultations, participants discussed their health, experiences in seeking healthcare and provided recommendations for healthcare reforms. RESULTS: The study identifies the important demographic factors like age, gender, SES, and place of residence, and how their intersections influence tobacco and alcohol consumption in Ukraine. People of lower SES have reportedly higher rates of consuming alcohol and tobacco, but younger individuals of low SES are most affected by these unhealthy lifestyles. The study also points to broader structural factors, such as stress, unemployment, poor law enforcement, poor social support, lack of health promotion, features of the built environment, and tobacco and alcohol availability, which affect the uptake of unhealthy behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: The community consultations revealed people’s perceptions about the complex nature of tobacco and alcohol consumption in the post-Soviet setting. People shared their concern about the vulnerability of certain social groups to using alcohol and tobacco, and their understanding of the detrimental effects these substances have on the health of these groups. This intersectionality-based study concludes that there is a need to look beyond individual demographics and consider how social factors intersecting between themselves, as well as individual demographic factors, affect outcomes.