Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A High-Frequency Digitally Controlled LED Driver for Automotive Applications With Fast Dimming Capabilities

This paper presents a high-frequency, digitally controlled high-brightness LED driver for automotive applications with fast dimming capabilities. The power converter is based on the magnetically coupled Ćuk topology and employs a single, off-the-shelf SMT mutual inductor. The proposed digital control technique exploits the inherent stabilizing effect of magnetic coupling, and combines it with a dedicated duty cycle feedforward technique for step-reference response enhancement during the dimming operation. No direct sensing of the LED string current is performed, bypassing the disadvantage of the Ćuk topology of having an inverted output polarity. Furthermore, the magnetically coupled Ćuk topology is a single-switch solution and it provides inherent filtering of the input and output currents without introducing the additional magnetic elements, strongly reducing the total required capacitance and maintaining the small form-factor required in the automotive environment. This paper discusses the theoretical and practical development of the proposed controller. Experimental tests on a 40-W, 1-A, 500-kHz prototype indicate a 0- to 1-A current rise time in the tens of microseconds time frame with excellent damping characteristics and regulation accuracy.
Inflation driven by unification energy

We examine the hypothesis that inflation is primarily driven by vacuum energy at a scale indicated by gauge coupling unification. Concretely, we consider a class of hybrid inflation models wherein the vacuum energy associated with a grand unified theory condensate provides the dominant energy during inflation, while a second "inflaton" scalar slow-rolls. We show that it is possible to obtain significant tensor-to-scalar ratios while fitting the observed spectral index.
Extreme upper level cyclonic vorticity events in relation to the Southern Hemisphere jet stream

The mean seasonal variation in the frequency of occurrence of extreme upper level cyclonic vorticity events, and its relation to the jet stream, is examined in the Southern Hemisphere. During the austral summer to fall, extreme cyclonic vorticity occurs most frequently at the upper level jet stream core, while during the austral winter to spring, there is a main peak on the poleward flank of the subtropical jet and a secondary peak on the poleward flank of the eddy‐driven jet. Composite analysis shows that the extremes in both seasons are associated with wave breaking and the formation of elongated vorticity tongues. In summer, extreme events occur when waves propagating on the eddy‐driven jet break nonlinearly, while in winter, extreme events occur when waves on the eddy‐driven jet interact with waves on the subtropical jet. In both seasons, these extreme upper level vorticity events are associated with significant positive precipitation anomalies and a pattern of alternating positive and negative surface temperature anomalies.
Chapter 2 Silicon Technologies to Address mm-Wave Solutions

There are strong reasons not to consider silicon technologies for mm-wave applications. Silicon comes up short in many comparisons to III-V semiconductors. Silicon carrier mobility is relatively low and so device-level FOMs of raw performance appear to be inferior. The silicon bandgap is relatively small and so voltage tolerance tends to be lower. Furthermore, highly-resistive or semi-insulating silicon substrates are difficult to achieve resulting in poorer isolation and higher losses in interconnects and passive devices. Each of these presents serious challenges to implementing mmwave functions. However, advances in silicon technology driven by high-performance digital applications, offer advantages to the mm-wave designer that might not be apparent on first consideration. Performance, quantified by fT , fmax or NFmin for example, has dramatically increased with geometry scaling and technology enhancements in both CMOS and SiGe HBTs [1]. Both CMOS and BiCMOS technologies have been used to demonstrate circuit functioning at frequencies in and above the K-band. Now, these silicon technologies are, by virtue of nanometer-scale design rules, able to implement staggering amounts of digital logic in a given area thereby enabling the on-chip integration of sophisticated control logic for performance tuning and/or digital signal processing. Furthermore, the worldwide manufacturing capacity of silicon technologies driven by consumer applications like gaming and personal electronic appliances assures low-cost. This will certainly provide an impetus for the evolution of mm-wave consumer applications. The combination of mm-scale wavelengths, low cost and the ability to integrate begs the consideration of array-based transceiver topologies being implemented on a single die or package.
Oligonucleic Acids (“Aptamers”) for Designing Stimuli‐Responsive Membranes

Stimulus-responsive materials can be understood as materials that change their properties upon exposure to a stimulus in various ways: they may undergo a physical bulk change, for example, as occurs in shape memory polymers upon a temperature change (Figure 1.1a); they may modify their overall (bulk) physico-chemical properties, as do, for example, ionic liquids of switchable polarity upon exposure to a gas (Figure 1.1b); or they may consist only partially of responsive segments that are incorporated into an otherwise nonresponsive support structure which may change both their physical and their physicochemical properties, such as can be observed in shrinkable polymer brushes when exposed to light (Figure 1.2a). The significant difference between the latter and the former two, which are bulk responses, is the fact that in principal only a local, selective, and specific action of a stimulus is required in order to trigger a change in the responsive part of the material. While you are reading these lines Mother Nature is continuously doing this in your body using responsive transporter proteins which are embedded in the otherwise nonresponsive lipid bilayer of the cell membrane, without the need for your whole body to be exposed to light or undergo a dramatic change in temperature. In a similar manner to what Nature achieves so ingeniously in your cell membranes, so this chapter deals with
MIMIC DIF Testing When the Latent Variable Variance Differs Between Groups

Multiple indicators multiple causes (MIMIC) models (Joreskog & Golberger 1975) can be employed in a psychometric context to test for differential item functioning (DIF) between groups on the measurement of a latent variable (Muthén 1989). MIMIC DIF models can be attributed some favorable properties when compared to alternative DIF testing methods (i.e., Item Response Theory-Likelihood Ratio DIF) such as having generally small sample size requirements while simultaneously maintaining reliably low Type 1 error rates and sufficient DIF detection power (Woods 2009). The mechanism by which MIMIC models test for DIF is to regress a latent variable and its non-anchor indicators onto an exogenous (grouping) variable. This allows the model to account for differences in the mean of the latent variable across groups, while also testing for uniform DIF in individual items. However, the model does not allow heterogeneity in the covariance structure of the latent variables themselves—it is assumed to be equal across groups. A simulation study was conducted to examine the consequences of violating this assumption for the MIMIC DIF model. In this simulation, the following characteristics were varied: sample size, DIF effect magnitude, heterogeneity in latent variance between groups, magnitude of the group mean difference on the latent variable, and the ratio of focal group size to reference group size. Results suggest that violating the model's equality of latent covariance structure assumption leads to systematically biased parameter estimates on factor loadings and estimates of the latent group mean difference, inflated Type 1 error in DIF detection, and several other undesirable statistical side-effects.
Psychological ownership: an empirical study on its antecedents and impacts upon organizational behaviors

Psychological ownership or the feeling of ownership is the main theme of this research. First of all the study reviews the literature to identify motives and experiences that form the antecedents of psychological ownership, then it examines whether organizational climate, job satisfaction and demographic factors have an impact on ownership and in return to what extent psychological ownership influence organizational citizenship behaviors and organizational commitment. Our respondents are constituted by the administrative and academic staff of a state university which currently employs 1061 persons. The questionnaires had been sent to all the personnel and among the returned questionnaires 709 of them have been considered complete for statistical analysis. The findings suggest that job satisfaction and a participative organizational climate may strengthen the feelings of ownership held by employees towards their organization. It also suggests that the longer employees work in an organization, the stronger ownership they feel towards it. Another finding is that psychological ownership may increase organizational citizenship behaviors and organizational commitment supposing that there is a participative and autonomy supporting work environment in which employees have a considerable chance of self-development and long term employment.
Adegbite, Saheed A. and McMeekin, Scott and Stewart, Brian G. (2017) Computational efficient SLM–OFDM receiver for time-invariant indoor fading

This paper addresses receiver related side information (SI) estimation issues when selected mapping (SLM) is used to reduce peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. The SI contains critical information and its accurate estimation is required to enable successful recovery of payload data regardless of the channel condition. However, the need for SI estimation poses some practical issues in the form of high computational complexity and implementation challenges. Through simulations, this paper investigates the performance of an alternative data decoding approach called Embedded Coded Modulation (ECM), which requires no SI estimation. Using a form of block-type OFDM frame structure, results show that the ECM technique produces identical data decoding performance as other methods even in the presence of some non-linear amplifier distortions. In addition, it is shown that the ECM method eliminates SI related computational complexity and implementation problems.
Segmentation and Positioning in the Brazilian Kids Market: A Case Study on the Bottom of the Pyramid

Este artigo aborda o mercado infantil, com enfoque na base da pirâmide. Um estudo de caso foi desenvolvido com empresa da industria de brinquedos. Por causa dos poucos estudos desenvolvidos no âmbito do marketing voltado a crianca, a opcao deste estudo foi por focar nas estrategias basicas de marketing, segmentacao de mercado e posicionamento. Os resultados exemplificam como uma empresa pode estruturar sua estrategia de marketing parra ter um foco claro em determinado segmento do mercado infantil.
GENERATION OF DIGITAL ORTHOPHOTOS FROM IKONOS SATELLITE IMAGES

Due to its high spatial resolution, IKONOS imagery has the highest potential for large-scale topographic mapping of the resource satellites currently available. The orthorectification of IKONOS images thus becomes an important task. Since raw image data would, in general, not be provided by the satellite company, we have developed a method that performs the rectification of IKONOS GEO images. The proposed scheme includes the following steps: (1) the correction of relief displacement for ground control points (GCPs); (2) the performing of affine transformation between the ground coordinate system and the image coordinate system; (3) the performing of back projection for each pixel in the orthoimage; (4) the use of digital terrain model to calculate the relief displacement for the pixel in the previous step; and (5) image resampling. The experimental results indicate that the generated orthoimage may reach an accuracy of 2 m, when 6 GCPs are used.
Title Link-based system optimum dynamic traffic assignmentproblems with environmental objectives

Maintaining air-quality standards has been a priority for transportation planners and policy makers worldwide. However, most existing system optimum dynamic traffic assignment (SO-DTA) models do not accommodate environmental objectives. In this paper, we use the link transmission model (LTM) to develop SO-DTA models that minimize total system emissions (TSE) in single destination networks. We use step functions to approximate cumulative flow curves for individual links, and to decompose link inflow into sub-flows according to time intervals at which they leave the link. The decomposed link inflows are used to estimate link emissions. Dynamic network constraints, non-vehicle holding constraints and link decomposition constraints are considered, and SO-DTA problems with environmental objectives are formulated as mixed integer linear programming (MILP) problems. Any average speed based emission functions can be used for our models. Finally, numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the property of the proposed models.
Māori University success: what helps and hinders qualification completion

Māori (Indigenous New Zealand) university graduates are role models for educational success and are critical for the social and economic wellbeing of Māori whānau (extended family) and communities. In this study, Māori graduates (N = 626) from all eight New Zealand universities participated in the Graduate Longitudinal Study New Zealand between July and December 2011. They were asked to describe factors that they found helpful or challenging to the completion of their qualifications. Graduates described a range of external (e.g. family), institutional (e.g. academic support), and student or personal (e.g. persistence) factors. Describing the experiences of Māori graduates can provide a blueprint for future indigenous success by building an evidence base of the factors that may promote indigenous higher educational achievement in New Zealand and internationally.
Phase-plane analysis of the timelike geodesics around a spherically symmetric static dilaton black hole

In this note we take a dynamical systems approach to the equations of motion of a free test particle moving around a spherically symmetric static dilaton black hole, written in the Einstein frame. The equations of motion are obtained using the Euler-Lagrange formalism. Using the first integrals of motion, we reach the conclusion that the free test particles are moving in a plane, named \emph{plane of motion}. In it we analyze the existence and nature of the equilibrium points and compare the behavior of free test particles near the equilibrium points using the dynamics systems approach. The study revealed that in the exact phase-plane exist distinct regions of motion, separated through a curve named \emph{separatrix}. In the end we obtained a relation between the parameters describing the black hole and the free test particle that holds on a parabolic separatrix.
A Two-Stage Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm for MPPT of Partially Shaded PV Arrays

ABSTRACT The power-voltage (P-V) characteristic curves of a PV array are nonlinear and have multiple peaks under partially shaded conditions (PSCs). This paper proposes a novel maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method for a PV system with reduced steady-state oscillation based on a two-stage particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. The grouping method of the shuffled frog leaping algorithm (SFLA) is incorporated in the basic PSO algorithm (PSO-SFLA), ensuring fast and accurate searching of the global extremum. An adaptive speed factor is also introduced into the improved PSO to further enhance its convergence speed. Test results show that the proposed method converges in less than half the time taken by the conventional PSO method, and the power is improved by 33% under the worst PSCs, which confirms the superiority of the proposed method over the standard PSO algorithm in terms of tracking speed and steady-state oscillations under different PSCs.
Characterization of Frequency Stability

Consider a signal generator whose instantaneous output voltage V(t) may be written as V(t) = [V 0 + ? (t)] sin [2? v 0 t + s(t)] where V 0 and v 0 are the nominal amplitude and frequency, respectively, of the output. Provided that ? (t) and ? (t) = (d? /(dt) are sufficiently small for all time t, one may define the fractional instantaneous frequency deviation from nominal by the relation y(t) - ? (t)/2? v o A proposed definition for the measure of frequency stability is the spectral density S y (f) of the function y(t) where the spectrum is considered to be one sided on a per hertz basis. An alternative definition for the measure of stability is the infinite time average of the sample variance of two adjacent averages of y(t); that is, if y k = 1/t ? tk+r = y(t k ) y(t) dt where ? is the averaging period, t k+1 = t k + T, k = 0, 1, 2 . , t 0 is arbitrary, and T is the time interval between the beginnings of two successive measurements of average frequency; then the second measure of stability is ? y 2(? ) ? (y k+1 - y k )2/2 where denotes infinite time average and where T = ? In practice, data records are of finite length and the infinite time averages implied in the definitions are normally not available; thus estimates for the two measures must be used. Estimates of S y (f) would be obtained from suitable averages either in the time domain or the frequency domain.
Direct Synthesis of N-Hydroxy β-Amino Acid Esters from Carboxylic Esters and Nitrones

The direct synthesis of the title amino acid derivatives from carboxylic esters and nitrones can be achieved in fair to good yields when lithium or magnesium ester enolates were treated with nitrones in THF at -78 °C or in Et2O at -20 to 0 °C, respectively. The products from the reaction of t-butyl acetate with 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline N-oxide or 5,5-dimethylpyrroline 1-oxide were transformed into (1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-1-ylidene)acetate or (pyrrolidin-2-ylidene)acetate derivatives in the presence of triphenylphosphine, carbon tetrachloride, and triethylamine in refluxing dichloromethane.
A Model of Factors Affecting Foreign Brand Trust

This study aims to investigate the effect of perceived quality on foreign brand trust and the moderating role of consumer ethnocentrism and negative subjective norms on foreign brand trust. A self-report survey of 170 Iranian home appliances shoppers was administrated. The results showed that perceived quality has a positive direct effect on foreign brand trust (β=0.623, t= 9.8) but consumer ethnocentrism and negative subjective norms have no significant effect on perceived quality. The analysis also indicated that consumer ethnocentrism and negative subjective norms moderate the relationship between perceived quality and foreign brand trust negatively, respectively (β=-0.229, t= -2.39; β=-0.131, t= -2.04).
Effects of the Tomato Pomace Oil Extract on Physical and Antioxidant Properties of Gelatin Films

Antioxidants still remain in the tomato pomace which is generated as a by-product from industry and the extraction of tomato pomace oil may useful in edible film production. The edible film solution was prepared by mixing gelatin (2, 4, and 6%). The effects of the tomato pomace oil (TPOE) were evaluated at 0, 0.5, and 1%. The results showed that an increase in gelatin concentration had caused an increase in the tensile strength, moisture content, solubility and swelling power. The edible film with TPOE appeared as a rough film having oil droplets dispersed throughout. The addition of TPOE caused an increase in lightness, redness, and yellowness, while tensile strength, moisture content, and solubility were decreased. The films, made with TPOE at 0.5 and 1%, exhibited antioxidant properties. However, those properties were not significantly different (p<0.05) between film incorporated with TPOE 0.5 and 1%. The suitable conditions for film production in this study were 4% of gelatin and 0.5%. 
NUMERICAL SOLUTION OF THE SYSTEM OF NONLINEAR FREDHOLM INTEGRO-DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS BY THE OPERATIONAL TAU METHOD WITH AN ERROR ESTIMATION

In this paper, the operational approach to the Tau method is used for the numerical solution of a nonlinear Fredholm integro-differential equations system and nonlinear ODEs with initial or boundary conditions without linearizing. An efficient error estimation of the approximate solution is also introduced. Some examples are given to clarify the efficiency and high accuracy of the method.
GLOBULAR CLUSTER SYSTEMS OF SPIRAL AND S0 GALAXIES: RESULTS FROM WIYN IMAGING OF NGC 1023, NGC 1055, NGC 7332, AND NGC 7339

We present results from a study of the globular cluster (GC) systems of four spiral and S0 galaxies imaged as part of an ongoing wide-field survey of the GC systems of giant galaxies. The target galaxies—the SB0 galaxy NGC 1023, the SBb galaxy NGC 1055, and an isolated pair comprised of the Sbc galaxy NGC 7339 and the S0 galaxy NGC 7332—were observed in BVR filters with the WIYN 3.5 m telescope and Minimosaic camera. For two of the galaxies, we combined the WIYN imaging with previously published data from the Hubble Space Telescope and the Keck Observatory to help characterize the GC distribution in the central few kiloparsecs. We determine the radial distribution (surface density of GCs versus projected radius) of each galaxy's GC system and use it to calculate the total number of GCs (NGC). We find NGC = 490 ± 30, 210 ± 40, 175 ± 15, and 75 ± 10 for NGC 1023, NGC 1055, NGC 7332, and NGC 7339, respectively. We also calculate the GC specific frequency (NGC normalized by host galaxy luminosity or mass) and find values typical of those of the other spiral and E/S0 galaxies in the survey. The two lenticular galaxies have sufficient numbers of GC candidates for us to perform statistical tests for bimodality in the GC color distributions. We find evidence at a high confidence level (>95%) for two populations in the B − R distribution of the GC system of NGC 1023. We find weaker evidence for bimodality (>81% confidence) in the GC color distribution of NGC 7332. Finally, we identify eight GC candidates that may be associated with the Magellanic dwarf galaxy NGC 1023A, which is a satellite of NGC 1023.
Measurements of the recovery time of Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes

A new type of photon detector, the Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode (G-APD) has been developed during recent years. This device has the potential to replace photomultiplier tubes. It has a response to single photons with high detection efficiency. G-APDs are operated in Geiger mode and therefore the recovery time, the time needed until the small photodiodes of this device are fully active again after a breakdown, is a crucial parameter in applications with a high level of ambient light. The recovery time of several types of G-APDs was measured and the results are presented. r 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. PACS: 29.40. Pe; 29.40. Mc; 85.60. Dw