Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Nine Decade Femtoampere Current to Frequency Converter

Various applications require ultra-low current sensing. Some of these applications are related to ionizing radiation detection. Radiation monitoring is important in particle physics experiments, nuclear facilities, hadron therapy institutes and hospitals. In these cases the detectors used are mostly gas-filled detectors like ionization chambers. The output of these detectors is a current that is normally proportional to the energy deposited by the incident radiation. The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) has a legal obligation to comply with the legislation in matters of radiation protection in order to avoid any unjustified dose to people or pollution of the environment. According to the existing detectors, the current output varies from a few femtoamperes up to the microampere range. The scope of this thesis is the design of a microelectronic integrated wide dynamic range front-end for radiation monitoring. Firstly, the state of the art has been investigated and different technologies have been compared. The selected architecture is based on current to frequency conversion with charge balancing. The main limitation in ultra-low current sensing is related to the leakage currents that are present in the front-end input. A demonstrator Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) named Utopia 1 was built in AMS 0.35 um technology to estimate the different sources of leakage currents and provide guidelines or design solutions for femtoampere measurements. According to the achieved results, a new ASIC named Utopia 2 was designed that has been optimized to minimize the non-ideal effects. The Utopia 2 is able to digitize currents from 1 femtoampere (fA) up to 5 microamperes (uA). To achieve such performance, the ASIC includes an active on-chip leakage current compensation circuit and a multi-range charge balancing circuit. The ASIC integrates the input current in a constant acquisition time, but for the sub-picoampere current measurements the measuring time needs to be increased. The ASIC has been characterized for its low current performance in the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology (METAS). The ASIC's calibration procedure and qualitative radiation measurements with the detector in the presence of radiation sources have been performed. The designed ASIC is the ultra-low current sensing circuit and digitizer that will be used at CERN for radiation monitoring for personnel and environmental safety.
Active–disturbance–rejection–control and fractional–order–proportional–integral–derivative hybrid control for hydroturbine speed governor system

A novel approach named active–disturbance–rejection–control (ADRC) and fractional–order–proportional–integral–derivative (FOPID) hybrid control scheme is proposed for hydroturbine speed governor system, which is based on ADRC and FOPID control methods. By combining the advantages of ADRC and FOPID controllers, the proposed ADRC–FOPID hybrid control scheme can actively reject the unpredictable disturbance, even with random noises, and can be adapted to the nonlinearities as well as unknown dynamics of hydroturbine speed governor system. The control performances of ADRC–FOPID, ADRC, FOPID as well as conventional proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controllers have been compared. And ADRC–FOPID has been proved to be an effective control scheme for hydroturbine speed governor system.
Impact of Organisational Climate and Commitment among Nurses Job Satisfaction: A Review of Literature

The study explains the effect of the organizational climate and commitment to the organization influences job satisfaction. Organizational climate is considered the most effective and different strategy with the entanglement of the commitment to the organization suggesting the self-satisfaction among the Healthcare organization working body which includes the nursing practitioner. It was found that a higher level of job satisfaction directs the higher level of organizational commitment and competency development among the nursing practitioner elsewhere, as the higher effective level of organizational climate affects the higher competency level and a commitment to the organization. The study has suggested that the organizational climate is considered the most effective component in the organization, which binds the individual to the commitment level and enhances the job satisfaction among the nursing practitioner.
Healthcare encounters between asylum seekers and health professionals in Maltese primary care

Background There is a substantial body of literature that discusses the problematic nature of asylum seeker healthcare in several European countries. However, little is known about how asylum seekers experience primary healthcare in Malta. Aim This paper draws on a qualitative study that aimed to explore the nature of healthcare encounters between asylum seekers and healthcare professionals in Maltese primary healthcare and the contextual processes which influence these interactions. Methodology The study utilised critical ethnography, informed by postcolonial theory. Data were collected through observation of encounters between healthcare professionals and asylum seekers (130 hours) and in-depth interviews with asylum seekers (n11), cultural mediators (n4) and Maltese healthcare professionals (n7). Results Thematic analysis of the combined data resulted in three themes: ‘the impact of seeking refuge’, ‘seeking mutual understanding’ and ‘seeking resolution’. Healthcare encounters between asylum seekers and professionals are characterised by ‘othering’ practices, pre-conceived expectations and mutual mistrust. These are shaped by a complex interplay of factors, including damaging experiences of migration, derogatory political and public discourses and inadequate resources. Conclusion In Maltese primary care, healthcare encounters are highly problematic for both patients and professionals. Nurses could take the lead in developing services to assess complex needs and aid asylum seekers in navigating the healthcare system.
New records of mycobiota associated with stored wheat and its by-products in Iraq

Abstract. Fadhil WF, Al-Saadoon AH, Al-Moussawi FM. 2022. New records of mycobiota associated with stored wheat and its by-products in Iraq. Biodiversitas 23: 3099-3107. Wheat is a staple food for the Iraqi population and is an important feed source due to its high nutritional value. Consequently, wheat and wheat by-products are susceptible to various species of fungi during processing, transportation, or storage. In this paper, thirty-two selected fungal isolates were subjected to morphological and molecular analysis for identification through combined sequences of ITS regions, actin, calmodulin, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and ? -tubulin genes according to the target fungal genus. The results showed that eighteen fungal species were identified from wheat grains, flour, and bran samples collected from different silos and mills in three provinces in southern Iraq. In addition, nine species were recorded for the first time from Iraq, i.e., Alternaria consortialis, A. japonica, A. lolii, A. multiformis, A. ventricosa, Aspergillus montevidensis, Cladosporium halotolerans, C. versiforme, and Staganosporopsis tanaceti. Brief descriptions of the new records are presented. This study represents an important addition to the mycobiota of Iraq.
Institutional pressures and corporate environmental management maturity

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how corporate environmental management strategies at different environmental management maturity (EMM) stages are influenced by institutional forces in the service sector organizations of a developing country. Design/methodology/approach The authors used a multiple case study approach in this study. Institutional isomorphic pressures (coercive, mimetic and normative) at different EMM stages were used as the analytical framework. Findings The study finds coercive pressures largely shape the corporate environmental management strategies at the reactive stage while mimetic pressures have the greatest influence on the internal integration stage. Combined mimetic and normative pressures influence the environmental strategies at the external integration stage. Further, it emphasizes the importance of various institutional pressures in propelling the organizations in the developing countries to benefit from higher levels of EMM. Originality/value This paper offers a new theoretical approach that highlights the importance of considering the institutional influence of the top-down process of diffusion and simultaneous counter-process of invention by which the lower level organizational actors shape and change their environmental management practices for corporate EMM.
Hydrodynamic Considerations in Near-Optimal Control of a Small Wave Energy Converter for Ocean Measurement Applications

t allowed by the swe ession for wave surf face elevation at poi ave/oscillation or the top and botto e n damping coefficien ttom bodies ations for the top an cous damping coeffi applied on the relat p-wave measuremen pplied by the power pplied by the power t of reaction frame op and bottom bodi t of standard buoy This paper investigates the use of wave energy to power long-term ocean sensing systems. The device examined here consists of an oceanographic buoy and a shallow-submerged reaction frame that may carry a science instrument. Power conversion is from the relative heave oscillation between the two bodies. The oscillation is controlled on a wave-by-wave basis using near-optimal feedforward control, which requires up-wave surface elevation measurement and deterministic prediction at the device location. This paper presents the dynamic formulation used to evaluate the near-optimal, wave-by-wave control forces in the time domain. Also examined are reaction-frame geometries for their impact on overall power capture through favorable hydrodynamic interactions. Performance is evaluated in a range of wave conditions (from most to least favorable for conversion) sampled over a year at a chosen site of deployment. It is found that control may be able to provide the required amounts of power to sustain instrument operation at the chosen site but also that energy storage options may be worth pursuing.
DBPs in chlorinated North Carolina drinking waters

The proposed Disinfectants/Disinfection By-products (D/DBP) Rule establishes a maximum contaminant level (MCL) for haloacetic acids (HAAs) of 60 μg/L and revises the MCL for trihalomethanes (THMs) to 80 μg/L. In anticipation of the proposed rule, researchers obtained finished drinking water from six North Carolina utilities and analyzed for THMs, HAAs, and total organic halides. Samples from representative locations within the distribution system were collected three times over 12 months to discern seasonal patterns in DBP formation. Relationships among the different by-products were explored, as was their relationship to raw water quality. The results suggest that HAA concentrations can be as much as 50 percent greater than THM concentrations and that the occurrence of HAAs in finished drinking water may be much higher than was anticipated when the D/DBP Rule was proposed.
Non‐ and sub‐state climate action after Paris: From a facilitative regime to a contested governance landscape

The Paris Agreement marks a significant milestone in international climate politics. With its adoption, Parties call for non‐ and sub‐state actors to contribute to the global climate agenda and close the emissions gap left by states. Such a facilitative setting embraces non‐state climate action through joint efforts, synergies, and different modes of collaboration. At the same time, non‐state actors have always played a critical and confrontational role in international climate governance. Based on a systematic literature review, we identify and critically assess the role of non‐state climate action in a facilitative post‐Paris climate governance regime. We thereby highlight three constitutive themes, namely different state‐non‐state relations, competing level of ambition, and a variety of knowledge foundations. We substantiate these themes, derived from an inductive analysis of existing literature, with illustrative examples and propose three paradigmatic non‐state actor roles in post‐Paris climate governance on a continuum between compliance and critique. We thereby highlight four particular threats of a facilitative setting, namely substitution of state action, co‐optation, tokenism, and depoliticization. Future research should not limit itself to an effective integration of NSSAs into a facilitative climate regime, but also engage with the merits of contestation.
Optimization of UV exposure schedules for tanning

The main source of human exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is the sun, but almost 1,000,000 individuals pursue indoor tanning in the US every day. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration published regulations for indoor tanning devices in 1979 (updated in 1985). The manufacturer is required to provide a recommended exposure schedule. In 1986 the FDA published guidance about how the exposure schedules should be developed. Because of the risks involved, the FDA does not recommend that anyone uses indoor tanning devices, but they acknowledge that many do engage in this behavior. The aim of this study was to develop an exposure schedule for indoor tanning that would maximize benefits, while minimizing risks. We evaluated three different exposure schedules using two different UV sources and found that the cumulative dose received could be significantly reduced from current practices, due to saturation of the pigmentation system. We also found that exposure schedules need not be differentiated by skin type and that tanning lamps with a higher proportion of UVA tanned more efficiently. In December, 2015, the FDA published a Proposed Rule to amend its 1985 Performance Standard for these devices and incorporated changes that were a result of this work.
The Involvement of ALPK3 in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in East Asia

Objective ALPK3 is associated with a recessive form of pediatric cardiomyopathy accompanied by musculoskeletal and craniofacial abnormalities. Heterozygous truncating variants in this gene (ALPK3tv) have recently been confirmed as a cause of autosomal dominant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Whether ALPK3 is also implicated in HCM in East Asia and the effect of missense variants in ALPK3 on HCM remains unresolved. Methods We compared the frequency of rare deleterious variants in ALPK3 in a study cohort comprised of 793 HCM cases of East Asian descent to that in the controls subset of Genome Aggregation Database (gnomAD). Gene burden test was used to assess this association. The involvement of these variants in HCM was further validated by independent cohort. The clinical characteristics and prognoses of these carriers were compared with sarcomere-positive and negative patients. Results Rare deleterious variants in ALPK3 were significantly enriched in HCM compared with gnomAD controls (truncating: 4/793 vs. 4/4523, P = 0.02; missense: 25/793 vs. 46/4523, P = 2.56e-5). Replication in an independent cohort provided more supporting evidence. Further comparisons revealed that ALPK3 carriers displayed more severe hypertrophy in interventricular septum (IVS) and apex, as well as greater maximal left ventricular wall thickness, relative to sarcomere negatives. Conclusion Heterozygous rare variants in ALPK3, both missense and truncating variants, are associated with HCM in East Asians.
The Chromosome-Scale Assembly of the Curcuma alismatifolia Genome Provides Insight Into Anthocyanin and Terpenoid Biosynthesis

Curcuma alismatifolia, a bulbous flower known for its showy bracts, is widely used around the world as a cut flower, potted, and garden plant. Besides its ornamental value, this species is rich in terpenoid metabolites and could serve as a resource for essential oils. Here, we report a chromosome-level genome assembly of C. alismatifolia and describe its biosynthetic pathways for anthocyanins and terpenoids. This high-quality, assembled genome size is 991.3 Mb with a scaffold N50 value of 56.7 Mb. Evolutionary analysis of the genome suggests that C. alismatifolia diverged from Zingiber officinale about 9.7 million years ago, after it underwent a whole-genome duplication. Transcriptome analysis was performed on bracts at five developmental stages. Nine highly expressed genes were identified, encoding for six enzymes downstream of the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway. Of these, one gene encoding F3′5′H might be a key node in the regulation of bract color formation. Co-expression network analysis showed that MYB, bHLH, NAC, and ERF transcription factors collectively regulated color formation in the bracts. Characterization of terpenoid biosynthesis genes revealed their dispersal and tandem duplications, both of which contributed greatly to the increase in the number of terpene synthase genes in C. alismatifolia, especially to species-specific expansion of sesquiterpene synthase genes. This work facilitates understanding of genetic basis of anthocyanin and terpenoid biosynthesis and could accelerate the selective breeding of C. alismatifolia varieties with higher ornamental and medicinal value.
The effect of inclination of scarf joints with four pins

ABSTRACT During the renovation of roof trusses and roof structures, damaged wood must be replaced with new wood. To keep the original material adjustment slab joints can be used. Unfortunately, this type of joint has not been observed from the structural perspective. The shape of the joint, the inclination of its faces, the type and the number of connectors still represent an unknown area. A simplified analytical model is briefly derived in the article and the effect of the face inclination is solved. The results obtained from experiments are compared with the results from the model.
Design of Structural Damage Identification Applications Web-Based

The current building construction and maintenance Note well, certainly will be utilized as desired. If a building is experiencing interference, then all activities will be obstructed so that the building requires maintenance activities. Building maintenance activities include the maintenance of the structure, architectural, mechanical, electrical, and outer space. On systems that are running now the surveyor directly monitor to location which requires a fee and take a long time. Technology websites that are built can be used for building maintenance activities in the form of a data string entered by the Manager of the building and the response of the Contracting Party. With this technology produces a system that can help in the process of monitoring a building that suffered damage and need repair.
Compact AC/DC-module for electric vehicle charging

At present, the automotive industry has equipped their electric vehicles with the on-board charger, where it converts the power in order to charge the high voltage battery. However, there is a demand to remove the on-board charger from the vehicle since it requires large space and weight. Therefore it is desirable to investigate if it is feasible to relocate and redesign the on-board charger to an external portable charger. Since this charger is suppose to be portable, it is essential that the design is lightweight and compact. This research completed an analysis of a dissembled on-board charger, topologies review of converters, components selection, loss calculations, electric circuits simulation and thermal simulation studies. In this study it was demonstrated that it was feasible to design an off-board charger for electric vehicles. The charger was design for a current level of 4 A, which has a size of 1024 cm3, a weight of 2.8 kg and an efficiency of 94.42 %. Comparing only the module itself with the OBC, there was a weight reduction of 71 %. Forced cooling has been implemented, to prevent overheating of the power electronic components.
Influence of Macro-Economic Factors on Financial Performance of Commercial Banks in Tanzania

This study was designed to determine the influence of macro-economic factors on financial performance of commercial banks in Tanzania. The study was geared towards achieving the following objectives (i) to assess the influence of interest rate on the financial performance of commercial banks in Tanzania (ii) to determine the influence of inflation rate on the financial performance of commercial banks in Tanzania and (iii) to determine the influence of exchange rate on the financial performance of commercial banks in Tanzania. Data were collected using secondary source. The study applied descriptive and explanatory research design to describe trend of the exchange rate, interest rates and inflation rate for the period of 10 years from 2010 to 2019 in which the relationship between macroeconomic variables mentioned and the financial performance of commercial banks were explained. The data collected for this study was keyed into excel sheet and then the descriptive and correlation analysis was conducted. The study indicates that the correlation analysis conducted between interest rate and return on assets reveal a strong negative relationship of 74.99%. This means that increase in return on assets results in a decrease in interest rate by 74.99%. Further more it is indicated that the correlation analysis conducted between inflation rate and return on assets reveal a positive relationship of 59.22%. Also, the study showed that the correlation analysis conducted between exchange rate and return on assets reveal a negative relationship of 65.52%. The study concluded that interest rate, inflation rate and exchange rate influence financial performance of commercial banks. The study recommended that the government to continue maintaining the lending interest rate to curb a drop in financial performance of commercial banks, to continue maintaining the policies that protect commercial banks in case of inflation rate rising and lastly, the government to continue maintaining the policies that protect commercial banks in case of exchange rate fluctuations.