Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimal Circulant Modulation for Submodule Voltage Ripple Minimization With Inherent Balancing Capability in Modular Multilevel DC–DC Converters

The modularity of the modular multilevel dc-dc converters (MMDCs) makes them a competitive candidate in medium voltage applications but brings the submodule (SM) voltage balancing issue. This article proposes an optimal circulant modulation method for minimizing the SM voltage ripples with inherent balancing capability proven at the same time, which allows smaller SM capacitors and avoids the high-frequency communication for SM voltage balancing. First, the optimal switching pattern is strictly derived providing a general method to theoretically minimize the SM capacitor voltage ripple. Then the switching matrix of the optimal circulant modulation is formulated by introducing the generalized-circulant matrix. It verifies the circularity and full-rank feature of the optimal switching matrix, which promises the uniformity of SM actions and the inherent balancing of SM voltages. Finally, full-scale simulations and down-scaled experiments are both provided with the isolated LLC-based MMDC model and prototype. The results show that the proposed optimal circulant modulation can reduce the SM capacitor voltage ripple by 37% compared with the existed method, and it also promises the inherent SM voltage balancing and SM uniformity.
Tropopause characteristics over a southern subtropical site, Reunion Island (21°S, 55°E): Using radiosonde‐ozonesonde data

[1] In this paper, we present tropopause characteristics using in situ radiosonde-ozonesonde observations carried out over the past 13 years (September 1992 to February 2005) from a southern subtropical site, Reunion Island (21°S, 55°E). Three kinds of tropopause definitions, namely, cold-point tropopause (CPT), lapse rate tropopause (LRT), and ozone tropopause (OT), are characterized. The ozone tropopause for Reunion is appropriately defined as the height at which the vertical gradient of the ozone mixing ratio exceeds 55 ppbv/km and the ozone mixing ratio is over 75 ppbv. The overall height distribution of the three kinds of tropopause ranges in between 12.5 and 18.5 km. Of the three definitions, CPT follows higher heights of distribution, followed by LRT and then OT. The sharpness of tropopause height detection for LRT and OT has been examined, and it has been found that the detection frequency of a definite OT is larger than that for LRT. The results also showed no indefinite OT for a subtropical station in comparison to the results obtained for Northern Hemisphere midlatitude and high-latitude stations. After adopting a few modifications in the sharpness of ozone tropopause detection, the result remains the same, with a single indefinite case. The indefinite ozone tropopause case was identified when Reunion Island was located nearer to the divergence zone of wind as well as in the anticyclonic region of jet stream entrance. The LRT sharpness results are found to be in good agreement with the other published definition.
Benchmarking best practice for irrigation productivity in Canterbury Dairy Farming

ii TABLE OF CONTENTS . iv LIST OF FIGURES . viii LIST OF TABLES . viii GLOSSARY. ix CHAPTER 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 1 1.1 Overview of the New Zealand Dairy Industry. 1 1.2 Irrigation in New Zealand. 2 1.3 Dairy Farming and Irrigation in Canterbury. 3 1.4 Irrigation Systems . 4 1.4. 1 Border Dyke. 4 1.4. 2 Rotary Boom. 5 1.4. 3 Pivot . 6 1.5 Research Problem . 8 1.6 Research Objectives and Questions . 9 1.7 Dissertation Outline . 10 CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE. 11 2.1 Water Use Efficiency. 11 2.2 Levels of Milk Production being achieved from Water use . 11 2.3 Factors affecting production from Water use . 13 2.3. 1 Irrigation factors. 13 2.3. 2 Farm Management Factors . 14 2.4 Characteristics of Irrigation systems. 15 2.4. 1 Border dyke. 15 2.4. 2 Rotary Boom and Centre Pivot Irrigation. 16 2.5 Limitations in the Literature and how this study aims to fill these limitations. 17 CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGY. 18 3.
Manifestations of the Cretaceous High Arctic Large Igneous Province in Svalbard

Abstract Major Cretaceous Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs, e.g., Kerguelen and Ontong Java) show Aptian magmatic peaks and are linked to global mantle overturning and anomalous surface conditions. Widespread Cretaceous igneous activity in the High Arctic has recently been identified as a LIP. Exposed components on Svalbard, Franz Josef Island, adjacent shelf areas, Axel Heiberg and Ellesmere Islands, and perhaps North Greenland, cover several hundred thousand square kilometers and were peripheral to a LIP center at the Alpha Ridge. Manifestations of LIP development on Svalbard include (1) extensive sills, rare dikes, and extrusives in the east, (2) slow regression within the upper part of thick, black shales punctuated by locally abrupt uplift, with overlying coastal plain sandstones, (3) development of a regional, Late Cretaceous, low‐angle unconformity associated with a second regression, and (4) a widespread Early Aptian transition from quartz arenites to lithic arenites and feldspathic sandstones reflec.
Relationship between Dietary Decanoic Acid and Coronary Artery Disease: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a cardiovascular disease with significant personal health and socioeconomic consequences. The biological functions of decanoic acid and the pathogenesis of CAD overlap considerably; however, studies exploring their relationship are limited. Methods: Data from 34,186 Americans from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2003 to 2018 were analyzed. The relationship between dietary decanoic acid (DDA) and CAD prevalence was explored using weighted multivariate logistic regression models, generalized summation models, and fitted smoothing curves. Stratified analyses and interaction tests were conducted to explore the potential modifiers between them. Results: DDA was negatively associated with CAD prevalence, with each 1 g/d increase in the DDA being associated with a 21% reduction in CAD prevalence (odds ratio (OR) 0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.61–1.02). This relationship persisted after log10 and trinomial transformations, respectively. The OR after log10 transformation was 0.81 (95% CI 0.69–0.96), and the OR for tertile 3 compared with tertile 1 was 0.83 (95% CI 0.69–1.00). The subgroup analyses found this relationship to be significant among males and non-Hispanic white individuals, and there was a significant interaction (interaction p-values of 0.011 and 0.012, respectively). Conclusions: DDA was negatively associated with the prevalence of CAD, and both sex and race may modify this relationship.
The Bug Creek Problem and the Cretaceous-Tertiary Transition at McGuire Creek, Montana

Bug Creek assemblages from Montana, transitional in composition between typical Cretaceous and Paleocene vertebrate faunas, are critical to K-T extinction debates because they have been used to support both gradual and catastrophic K-T extinction scenarios. Geological and palynological data from McGuire Creek indicate that Bug Creek assemblages are Paleocene and restricted to channel fills entrenched into older sediments, suggesting that the Cretaceous component of the assemblage was reworked. Thus, the author concludes, "Paleocene dinosaurs" are an illusion and the K-T survival rate of mammals is low because the presence of Cretaceous mammals in Bug Creek assemblages is also the result of reworking.
Assessment of Photogrammetric Mapping Accuracy Based on Variation Flying Altitude Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Photogrammetry is the earliest technique used to collect data for topographic mapping. The recent development in aerial photogrammetry is the used of large format digital aerial camera for producing topographic map. The aerial photograph can be in the form of metric or non-metric imagery. The cost of mapping using aerial photogrammetry is very expensive. In certain application, there is a need to map small area with limited budget. Due to the development of technology, small format aerial photogrammetry technology has been introduced and offers many advantages. Currently, digital map can be extracted from digital aerial imagery of small format camera mounted on light weight platform such as unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). This study utilizes UAV system for large scale stream mapping. The first objective of this study is to investigate the use of light weight rotary-wing UAV for stream mapping based on different flying height. Aerial photograph were acquired at 60% forward lap and 30% sidelap specifications. Ground control points and check points were established using Total Station technique. The digital camera attached to the UAV was calibrated and the recovered camera calibration parameters were then used in the digital images processing. The second objective is to determine the accuracy of the photogrammetric output. In this study, the photogrammetric output such as stereomodel in three dimensional (3D), contour lines, digital elevation model (DEM) and orthophoto were produced from a small stream of 200m long and 10m width. The research output is evaluated for planimetry and vertical accuracy using root mean square error (RMSE). Based on the finding, sub-meter accuracy is achieved and the RMSE value decreases as the flying height increases. The difference is relatively small. Finally, this study shows that UAV is very useful platform for obtaining aerial photograph and subsequently used for photogrammetric mapping and other applications.
Simulation of the stratospheric Quasi-Biennial Oscillation using a general circulation model

The quasi-biennial oscillation is fairly well simulated by use of a T21 60-layer general circulation model with moist convective adjustment. The model is the first version of the Center for Climate System Research/National Institute for Environmental Studies (CCSR/NIES) general circulation model. The vertical resolution is approximately 500m in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere. The damping time for the maximum wavenumber in the fourth-order horizontal diffusion is 20 days, being about one-order of magnitude less than that in standard general circulation models. The period of the oscillation is 1.5 years, which is slightly shorter than that of the observed quasi-biennial oscillation. The simulated oscillation occurs in the middle stratosphere, being slightly higher than that observed in the equatorial lower stratosphere. The amplitude of the zonal-wind associated with the oscillation is 20 ms−1 which is comparable to the observed value.
Automated discrimination of upland and wetland using terrain derivatives

Wetlands are complex ecological systems that result from a number of environmental factors including hydrologic, geomorphic, and biologic processes. As a result of this complexity, wetlands, as a single feature, are often heterogeneous, making traditional image-based classification techniques for wetland mapping problematic. In this study, we propose a wetland classification approach that uses a combination of terrain-based derivatives to account for variability in ecological characteristics. A site was studied near Bolton, Ontario (43.84°N, 79.68°W). Based on research and experience, the authors propose a two-step multisoftware (i.e., geographic information system (GIS), statistical, and image processing) technique, with step one involving the delineation of wetland boundaries using topographic data, followed by the separation of wetlands by type (i.e., marsh, swamp, fen, bog). This paper focuses on the exploration of three wetland boundary delineation methods: (i) a visual derivative image threshold, (ii) a logistic regression model, and (iii) a classification and regression tree (CART) model. Each method was applied to a number of spatially distributed digital elevation model (DEM) terrain derivatives originating from a photogrammetrically derived 5 m DEM. Of the three methods investigated, the results showed the CART approach provided the best mapping, with a calibration accuracy of 90% correct and a validation accuracy of 84%. The CART approach classified the wetlands based on the degree of terrain complexity, thus allowing for subcomponents of the wetlands to be evaluated in further detail.
Enhanced Online Calibration and Initialization of Visual-Inertial SLAM System Leveraging the Structure Information

Calibration and initialization of point feature-based simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) systems are prone to performance degradation in challenging environments where rapid motion and texture-less areas are present. Inaccurate calibration and initialization results can introduce additional errors to backend optimization, thereby affecting the localization performance. Difficulty in convergence also limits the practical application of SLAM systems. The structure line segment features present more stability and compact spatial constraint, which can provide additional structural constraints for visual-inertial state estimation. Thus, in this article, we propose to incorporate the structure information of extracted line segment features and construct an enhanced online calibration and initialization framework for visual-inertial SLAM systems. The proposed method estimates initial velocity, gravity orientation, gyroscope bias, scale, extrinsic rotation, and the potential time delay between inertial measurement unit (IMU) and camera data sequence. A vertical structure direction-aided closed-form solution is proposed, achieving both higher initialization accuracy and less convergence time. The experimental results on the synthetic data sequences and real-world dataset prove that our method can achieve robust and accurate calibration and initialization with the introduction of structure information, which is superior to the state-of-the-art works in a high success rate of up to 85% and less convergence time of initialization to 0.5 s within 15 keyframes.
When the continental crust melts: a combined study of melt inclusions and classical petrology on the Ronda migmatites

Melt inclusions hosted in peritectic minerals of migmatites represent a novel and powerful small-scale tool to investigate the anatexis of the continental crust. In this thesis, taking advantage of a new experimental approach developed during this work, a combined study of classical petrology and melt inclusions in migmatites was performed to characterize in detail the composition and the physical properties of anatectic melts, the fluid regimes, and the melting mechanisms and conditions during the anatexis of the metasedimentary crust located below the Ronda peridotite (Betic Cordillera, S Spain). Here, the tectonic emplacement of mantle rocks within the continental crust produced high-temperature metamorphism and partial melting in the underlying metasedimentary rocks. The investigated migmatites are quartzo-feldspathic metatexites located towards the base of the crustal sequence and quartzo-feldspathic mylonitic migmatites found close to the contact with the peridotite. The petrologic study was made by petrographic observations, compositional characterization of minerals and bulk rocks, conventional thermobarometry and pseudosection calculations. The quartzo-feldspathic migmatites are mainly composed of Qtz + Pl + Kfs + Bt + Sil + Grt and probably derived from a greywacke protolith. Muscovite, very rare in the metatexites, is absent in the mylonites. Graphite is present in all migmatites. The former presence of melt is recorded by melt inclusions and melt pseudomorphs at the microscale, and by peraluminous leucogranitic leucosomes at the mesoscale. The changes in phase compositions and modal contents from the metatexites to the mylonites, along with thermobarometric calculations and pseudosection modelling, are consistent with an increase of melting conditions and degree towards the contact with the peridotite. Melt inclusions have been found in peritectic garnets of the investigated quartzofeldspathic migmatites. A detailed study was carried out to characterize the microstructural features of melt inclusions and their chemical composition by microscope observation, FESEM imaging, piston cylinder experimental remelting, Raman and EMP analyses. The inclusions are primary in origin and were trapped within peritectic garnet during crystal growth. They are very small in size, mostly ≤ 10 μm,
Health and Economic Benefits of Air Pollution Reductions in Vietnam During 2020–2021

Objectives: This paper explores the potential reduction in the number of deaths and the corresponding economic benefits in Vietnam that could have arisen from the decreased in concentrations of particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Methods: Using Global Exposure Mortality Models, we estimated the potential health and economic benefits on people aged 25 and above across Vietnam’s 63 provinces. The counterfactual scenario assumed reducing PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations to levels observed during the two COVID-19 epidemic waves in 2021 with national lockdowns and activity restrictions. Results: In 2019, PM2.5 concentrations ranged from 12.8 to 40.8 μg/m3 while NO2 concentrations ranged between 2.9 and 36.98 μg/m3. The reduced levels of PM2.5 and NO2 resulted in 3,807 (95% CI: 2,845–4,730) and 2,451 (95% CI: 2,845–4,730) avoided deaths of adults aged 25 and above due to non-injury-related causes, respectively. Considering that every prevented death represents potential tangible and intangible cost savings, reduced levels of PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations during COVID-19 restrictions would have resulted in economic benefits of $793.0 million (95% CI: 592.7–985.4) and $510.6 million (95% CI: 381.3–634.9), respectively. Conclusion: The COVID-19 lockdown led to decreased PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations, benefiting health and economy in Vietnam. Our findings highlight the potential advantages of implementing air quality control policies in the country.
Machine Learning Models for Blood Glucose Level Prediction in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus: Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Background Machine learning (ML) models provide more choices to patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) to more properly manage blood glucose (BG) levels. However, because of numerous types of ML algorithms, choosing an appropriate model is vitally important. Objective In a systematic review and network meta-analysis, this study aimed to comprehensively assess the performance of ML models in predicting BG levels. In addition, we assessed ML models used to detect and predict adverse BG (hypoglycemia) events by calculating pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity. Methods PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Explore databases were systematically searched for studies on predicting BG levels and predicting or detecting adverse BG events using ML models, from inception to November 2022. Studies that assessed the performance of different ML models in predicting or detecting BG levels or adverse BG events of patients with DM were included. Studies with no derivation or performance metrics of ML models were excluded. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool was applied to assess the quality of included studies. Primary outcomes were the relative ranking of ML models for predicting BG levels in different prediction horizons (PHs) and pooled estimates of the sensitivity and specificity of ML models in detecting or predicting adverse BG events. Results In total, 46 eligible studies were included for meta-analysis. Regarding ML models for predicting BG levels, the means of the absolute root mean square error (RMSE) in a PH of 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes were 18.88 (SD 19.71), 21.40 (SD 12.56), 21.27 (SD 5.17), and 30.01 (SD 7.23) mg/dL, respectively. The neural network model (NNM) showed the highest relative performance in different PHs. Furthermore, the pooled estimates of the positive likelihood ratio and the negative likelihood ratio of ML models were 8.3 (95% CI 5.7-12.0) and 0.31 (95% CI 0.22-0.44), respectively, for predicting hypoglycemia and 2.4 (95% CI 1.6-3.7) and 0.37 (95% CI 0.29-0.46), respectively, for detecting hypoglycemia. Conclusions Statistically significant high heterogeneity was detected in all subgroups, with different sources of heterogeneity. For predicting precise BG levels, the RMSE increases with a rise in the PH, and the NNM shows the highest relative performance among all the ML models. Meanwhile, current ML models have sufficient ability to predict adverse BG events, while their ability to detect adverse BG events needs to be enhanced. Trial Registration PROSPERO CRD42022375250; https://www.crd. york.ac. uk/prospero/display_record. php? RecordID=375250
Research on the Usefulness of Dried Zebda Mango
by-Products for Production Raw Beef Sausage

Total phenolic (TPC), total flavonoid (TF), carotenoids and vitamin C contents were shown to be 4109, 2050 mg GAE/100 g, 3889, 1665 mg catechin/100 g, 3.86, 0.25 mg/100 g and 75.07, 65.76 mg/100 g D.W in MPP and MKP, respectively. The obtained bioactive compounds indicated that MPP (65%) had a higher antioxidant capacity than MKP (50%). The incorporation of mango by-product powder significantly altered the beef sausage’s physico-chemical, microbiological and sensory criteria. Especially the addition of MPP at a high concentration (2%) was retarding the development of lipid oxidation and, consequently, the deterioration of quality, such as microbial and color parameters stability of beef sausage stored at 4ºC for 12 days. The utilization of mango by-products as an antioxidant and antimicrobial natural preservative was investigated in beef sausage instead of synthetic preservatives, which are becoming avoided. Results showed that the higher concentration of MPP (2%) had a greater antioxidant effect than Butylated Hydroxy Toluene (BHT), which delayed lipid oxidation,
How to fix a broken heart—designing biofunctional cues for effective, environmentally-friendly cardiac tissue engineering

Cardiovascular diseases bear strong socioeconomic and ecological impact on the worldwide healthcare system. A large consumption of goods, use of polymer-based cardiovascular biomaterials, and long hospitalization times add up to an extensive carbon footprint on the environment often turning out to be ineffective at healing such cardiovascular diseases. On the other hand, cardiac cell toxicity is among the most severe but common side effect of drugs used to treat numerous diseases from COVID-19 to diabetes, often resulting in the withdrawal of such pharmaceuticals from the market. Currently, most patients that have suffered from cardiovascular disease will never fully recover. All of these factors further contribute to the extensive negative toll pharmaceutical, biotechnological, and biomedical companies have on the environment. Hence, there is a dire need to develop new environmentally-friendly strategies that on the one hand would promise cardiac tissue regeneration after damage and on the other hand would offer solutions for the fast screening of drugs to ensure that they do not cause cardiovascular toxicity. Importantly, both require one thing–a mature, functioning cardiac tissue that can be fabricated in a fast, reliable, and repeatable manner from environmentally friendly biomaterials in the lab. This is not an easy task to complete as numerous approaches have been undertaken, separately and combined, to achieve it. This review gathers such strategies and provides insights into which succeed or fail and what is needed for the field of environmentally-friendly cardiac tissue engineering to prosper.