Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transitions in Taylor–Couette flow of concentrated non-colloidal suspensions

Taylor–Couette flow of concentrated non-colloidal suspensions with a rotating inner cylinder and a stationary outer one is numerically investigated. We consider suspensions of the bulk particle volume fraction φb = 0.2, 0.3 with the ratio of annular gap to the particle radius ϵ = 60 confined in a cylindrical annulus of the radius ratio (i.e. ratio of inner and outer radii) η = 0.877. Numerical simulations are performed by applying suspension-balance model and rheological constitutive laws. To observe flow patterns caused by suspended particles, the Reynolds number of the suspension, based on the bulk particle volume fraction and the rotating velocity of the inner cylinder, is varied up to 180. At high Reynolds number, modulated patterns undiscovered in the flow of a semi-dilute suspension emerge beyond a wavy vortex flow. Thus, a transition occurs from the circular Couette flow via ribbons, spiral vortex flow, wavy spiral vortex flow, wavy vortex flow and modulated wavy vortex flow for the concentrated suspensions. Moreover, friction and torque coefficients for suspensions are estimated. It turns out that suspended particles significantly enhance the torque on the inner cylinder while reducing friction coefficient and the pseudo-Nusselt number. In particular, the coefficients are reduced in the flow of more dense suspensions. This article is part of the theme issue 'Taylor–Couette and related flows on the centennial of Taylor's seminal Philosophical Transactions paper (Part 2)'.
Thermo-fluid dynamics and synergistic enhancement of heat transfer by interaction between Taylor–Couette flow and heat convection

This study experimentally and numerically investigated the thermo-fluid dynamics of Taylor–Couette flow with an axial temperature gradient from the chemical engineering perspective. A Taylor–Couette apparatus with a jacket vertically divided into two parts was used in the experiments. Based on the flow visualization and temperature measurement for glycerol aqueous solutions with various concentrations, the flow pattern was classified into six modes: heat convection dominant mode (Case I), heat convection-Taylor vortex flow alternate mode (Case II), Taylor vortex flow dominant mode (Case III), fluctuation maintaining Taylor cell structure mode (Case IV), segregation between Couette flow and Taylor vortex flow mode (Case V) and upward motion mode (Case VI). These flow modes weremapped in terms of the Reynolds and Grashof numbers. Cases II, IV, V and VI are regarded as transition flow patterns between Case I and Case III, depending on the concentration. In addition, numerical simulations showed that in Case II, heat transfer was enhanced when the Taylor–Couette flow was altered by heat convection. Moreover, the average Nusselt number with the alternate flow was higher than that with the stable Taylor vortex flow. Thus, the interaction between heat convection and Taylor–Couette flow is an effective tool to enhance heat transfer. This article is part of the theme issue 'Taylor–Couette and related flows on the centennial of Taylor's seminal Philosophical Transactions paper (Part 2)'.
Tunable high-repetition-rate femtosecond few-hundred keV electron source

Using three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, we demonstrate that femtosecond few-hundred keV electron pulses can be produced at a high repetition rate by tightly focusing few mJ few-cycle radially polarized laser pulses in a low density gas. In particular, we show that the laser pulse parameters and gas density can be optimized to cover the full 100–300 keV energy window that characterizes ultrafast electron diffraction imaging experiments. The active development of high-power laser sources promises routine operation at 1 kHz and above, allowing time-resolved electron diffraction on the femtosecond time scale.
Development of a theoretical model of pilot decision making with conflicting information

Abstract The advancement of technology on the modern commercial flight deck has allowed flight crew members to utilise multiple sources of information to maintain the safety of their flight. Having multiple sources of flight deck information, capable of displaying the same type of information, can lead to a situation in which a pilot encounters conflicting information. Understanding how a pilot makes a decision when faced with an information conflict on the flight deck is important to ensure appropriate design of flight-deck information systems and effective pilot training. This effort utilised data collected from 25 airline pilots who experienced information conflicts on a simulated B-737 flight deck, in conjunction with a theoretical review of how information conflicts impact decision making, to develop a theoretical model of pilot decision-making in the presence of an information conflict. This manuscript describes the model, along with the theory-driven and data-driven approaches utilised to develop the model.
An Improved Non-local Filter for Image Denoising Using Steering Kernel Regression

An improved Non-local Means (NLM) method for image denoising is proposed in this paper. It employs the Rotated Block Matching (RBM) scheme and the adaptive kernel to achieve the robust similarity measure between image patches. The structure of the image obtained by Steering Kernel Regression (SKR) is employed for the RBM and the weighted distance computation. The RBM process can find more similar patches via dominant orientation alignment. Instead of using Gaussian kernel, the SKR kernel (weights) can ensure those of patches with similar structure to get smaller similarity distance values in computing the weighted distance. Finally, the filtering parameter is optimized to obtain better denoisng performance. The proposed method can robustly measure similarity between image patches even if they appear in the rotated instances. Hence, more candidates can be found for the weighted average and yield improved results.
Optimal control of systems with random delay

An optimal control problem for systems with random time-delay is discussed. As a model of the random delay process, a distributed parameter system with random coefficients is introduced, which is a state description of the delay process and is preferable to input—output description in optimal control problems. Relation between the state model and the input—output model is discussed in detail. Based on the state description of the system, the optimal control is obtained in an explicit form for a linear system with a quadratic cost functional.
Low-loss amorphous silicon waveguides grown by PECVD on indium tin oxide

Low-loss hydrogenated amorphous silicon (α-Si:H) waveguides were realized by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) on a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer which is intended to provide the buried contact for the application of an external bias in active devices, e.g. switches and modulators. In particular we propose a technological solution to overcome both the strong reduction in optical transmittance due to the very high extinction coefficient of metal contacts and, at the same time, the optical scattering induced by the texturization effect induced in α-Si:H films grown on TCO. The very high optical propagation losses were minimized by depositing a spin-on-glass (SOG) layer between the α-Si:H core-layer and the TCO bottom contact. In this case, propagation losses of 2.5 dB/cm at 1550 nm were measured. All the fabricated samples were optically characterized and the surface roughness was accurately measured using a mechanical profilometer. We observed that, for an α-Si:H core-layer directly deposited on the TCO contact, the surface roughness is of the order of 100 nm leading to totally opaque waveguides. The experimental performances have been compared to those obtained through calculations using an optical simulation package. The results are found to be in agreement with the experimental data.
A robust sliding-mode output tracking control for a class of relative degree zero and non-minimum phase plants: A chemical process application

A well-known robust observer-based sliding-mode output tracking control developed for strictly proper, minimum phase systems is extended to the control of relative degree zero, MIMO non-minimum phase plants. By assuming that the class of uncertainty is limited to an appropriate sub-space of the actuator range-space, a sliding-mode tracking control for non-minimum phase systems is posed. By introducing some dynamics, in the form of a plant output filter, relative degree zero plants are proved to be robustly controllable. The design of the linear components of the tracking control and the observer gains is posed in an H 2-framework. The control law is exemplified on the control of a highly non-linear, benzene producing, large scale chemical process.
Lagged effect of Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Sleep Disturbance on subacute postsurgical PROMIS Pain Behavior

Sleep disturbance is a modifiable risk factor that, when reduced, may improve subacute postsurgical outcomes (e.g., pain‐related impact). Evidence also indicates that pain and sleep may have a bidirectional longitudinal relationship before to (sub) acutely after surgery. The objective of the present study is to examine the degree to which sleep disturbances and pain behavior have uni‐ or bidirectional relationships in a sample of patients undergoing sports orthopedic surgery. In this observational, longitudinal cohort study, participants ( = 296) were adult (ages 18+) active duty service members who underwent open or arthroscopic shoulder or knee surgery at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Participants were asked to complete PROMIS Sleep Disturbance and Pain Behavior computer adaptive testing item banks before surgery, 6 weeks postsurgery, and 3 months postsurgery. Patient‐level covariates were analyzed for interrelationships using nonparametric bivariate statistics. Autoregressive and cross‐lagged structural equation modeling examined the bidirectional relationships of patient‐level covariates and PROMIS outcomes. When controlling for patient‐level covariates, sleep disturbance at presurgical and 2‐week postsurgical timepoints were positively associated with both sleep disturbance and pain behavior at the subsequent timepoint. Sleep disturbance may contribute to pain‐related functioning and quality of life after sports orthopedic surgery. Future studies utilizing multidimensional patient report outcomes and robust analytics are needed to better understand whether sleep‐targeted interventions can improve subacute and long‐term orthopedic sports surgery outcomes.
Numerical simulation of the mechanical behaviour of porous concrete

– Porous concrete is a mixture of open‐graded coarse aggregate, water and cement. It is also occasionally referred to as no‐fines concrete or pervious concrete. Due to its high infiltration capacity, it is viewed as an environmentally sustainable paving material for use in urban drainage systems since it can lead to reduced flooding and to the possibilities of stormwater harvesting and reuse. However, the high porosity is due in the main part to the lack of fine aggregate particles used in the manufacture of porous concrete. The purpose of this paper is to present a numerical method to understand more fully the structural properties of porous concrete. This method will provide a useful tool for engineers to design with confidence higher strength porous concrete systems. , – In the method, porous concrete is modelled using a discrete element method (DEM). The mechanical behaviour of a porous concrete sample subjected to compressive and tensile forces is estimated using two‐dimensional Particle Flow Code (PFC2D). , – Three numerical examples are given to verify the model. A comprehensive set of micro‐parameters particularly suitable for porous concrete is proposed. The accuracy and effectiveness of simulation are confirmed by comparison with experimental results and empirical equations. , – The experimental investigations for porous concrete described in this paper have been designed and conducted by the authors. In addition, the type of two dimensional PFC analysis presented has rarely been used to model porous concrete strength characteristics and from the results presented in this paper, this analysis technique has good potential for predicting its mechanical properties.
Room temperature growth of crystalline Mn-Zn ferrite thin films by laser ablation technique

A laser ablation technique contained with a shadow mask in Ar atmosphere enables us to obtain crystalline ferrite thin films on glass substrates at room temperature. Investigations on the Ar pressure, P/sub Ar/, and the distance between the shadow mask from the target, L/sub 1/, were carried out. The optimum conditions for forming the spinel structure of Mn-Zn ferrite were P/sub A/r=20 mTorr and L/sub 1/=20 mm, respectively.
Blind estimation of hidden Markov models

In this paper, an on-line blind parameter estimation scheme for hidden Markov models (HMMs) is developed. The parameters to be estimated in the paper include state transition probabilities, observation vector and measurement noise density. Some implementation aspects of the proposed blind estimation algorithm are discussed. Computer simulations show that our algorithm can converge to the true values under different noise environments and initialisations. Furthermore, it can track the slowly varying changes of HMM's parameters.
Is multiplicity universal? : a study of multiplicity in the young moving groups

The young moving groups are collections of nearby (<200 pc), young (5-150 Myr) premain sequence stars; these stars offer us one of the best opportunities to characterise stellar multiplicity, sub-stellar phenomena, disc evolution and planet formation. Here we present results from a series of multiplicity studies aimed at producing comprehensive multiplicity statistics of the young moving groups. The aim was to compare the derived statistics of the young moving groups to other populations in order to investigate whether the abundance and properties of multiple systems are environmentindependent. We have combined high-resolution spectroscopy, AO-imaging and direct imaging to identify and characterise multiple systems across a huge range of orbital periods (11010 day). The observational techniques also allow us to constrain the abundance of multiple systems in these populations by calculating detection limits. We found many similarities (frequency of spectroscopic binaries; frequency, mass-ratio and physical separation of visual binaries) between the young moving groups and both younger and older regions, for multiple systems with physical separations smaller than 1000 au. We did, however, identify a significant number of new wide (>1000 au) companions. We reconciled the apparent excess of wide binary systems, when compared to the field population, by arguing that the wide systems are weakly bound and most likely decaying. By comparing the multiplicity statistics in one particular moving group we showed that the dynamical evolution of non-hierarchical protostars could lead to the population of wide binaries we can observe today. Our results indicate that the majority of low-mass stars form in small groups with 3 or 4 components that undergo significant dynamical evolution. The multiplicity properties of the young nearby moving groups are statistically similar to many other populations, supporting the environment-independent formation of multiple systems.
Changing Abundances, Changing Opacities

Abstract With ever changing solar abundances being reported the equation of state and opacities needed for stellar evolution models also change. A discussion of those changes in mean molecular opacities will be presented with a discussion on the effect on evolution models. Aside from changing the abundances of the base mixture the enrichment changes too. Traditionally mean opacity tables are produced for oxygen-rich mixtures, however stars will often become carbon-rich. A discussion of carbon-rich opacities tables will also be presented.
RNA Sensing and Innate Immunity Constitutes a Barrier for Interspecies Chimerism

Interspecies chimera formation with human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) holds great promise to generate humanized animal models and provide donor organs for transplant. However, the approach is currently limited by low levels of human cells ultimately represented in chimeric embryos. Different strategies have been developed to improve chimerism by genetically editing donor human PSCs. To date, however, it remains unexplored if human chimerism can be enhanced in animals through modifying the host embryos. Leveraging the interspecies PSC competition model, here we discovered retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)-like receptor (RLR) signaling, an RNA sensor, in “winner” cells plays an important role in the competitive interactions between co-cultured mouse and human PSCs. We found that genetic inactivation of Ddx58/Ifih1-Mavs-Irf7 axis compromised the “winner” status of mouse PSCs and their ability to outcompete PSCs from evolutionarily distant species during co-culture. Furthermore, by using Mavs-deficient mouse embryos we substantially improved unmodified donor human cell survival. Comparative transcriptome analyses based on species-specific sequences suggest contact-dependent human-to-mouse transfer of RNAs likely plays a part in mediating the cross-species interactions. Taken together, these findings establish a previously unrecognized role of RNA sensing and innate immunity in “winner” cells during cell competition and provides a proof-of-concept for modifying host embryos, rather than donor PSCs, to enhance interspecies chimerism.
BnIR: a multi-omics database with various tools for Brassica napus research and breeding

In the post-GWAS era, multi-omics techniques have shown great power and potential for candidate gene mining and functional genomics research. However, due to the lack of effective data integration and multi-omics analysis platforms, such techniques have not still been applied widely in rapeseed, an important oil crop worldwide. Here, we constructed a rapeseed multi-omics database (BnIR; http://yanglab.hzau.edu.cn/BnIR), which provides datasets of six omics including genomics, transcriptomics, variomics, epigenetics, phenomics and metabolomics, as well as numerous “variation-gene expression-phenotype” associations by using multiple statistical methods. In addition, a series of multi-omics search and analysis tools are integrated to facilitate the browsing and application of these datasets. BnIR is the most comprehensive multi-omics database for rapeseed so far, and two case studies demonstrated its power to mine candidate genes associated with specific traits and analyze their potential regulatory mechanisms. Short Summary In this study, we developed BnIR (http://yanglab.hzau.edu.cn/BnIR), a multi-omics database for rapeseed that integrates six omics datasets and “variation-gene expression-phenotype” associations. The database is equipped with a range of multi-omics tools for streamlined browsing and analysis. Through multiple case studies, we demonstrated BnIR’s potential to identify candidate genes associated with specific traits and investigate their regulatory mechanisms.
From GWAS to signal validation: An approach for estimating genetic effects while preserving genomic context

Validating associations between genotypic and phenotypic variation remains a challenge, despite advancements in association studies. Common approaches for signal validation rely on gene-level perturbations, such as loss-of-function mutations or RNAi, which test the effect of genetic modifications usually not observed in nature. CRISPR-based methods can validate associations at the SNP level, but have significant drawbacks, including resulting off-target effects and being both time-consuming and expensive. Both approaches usually modify the genome of a single genetic background, limiting the generalizability of experiments. To address these challenges, we present a simple, low-cost experimental scheme for validating genetic associations at the SNP level in outbred populations. The approach involves genotyping live outbred individuals at a focal SNP, crossing homozygous individuals with the same genotype at that locus, and contrasting phenotypes across resulting synthetic outbred populations. We tested this method in Drosophila melanogaster, measuring the longevity effects of a polymorphism at a naturally-segregating cis-eQTL for the midway gene. Our results demonstrate the utility of this method in SNP-level validation of naturally occurring genetic variation regulating complex traits. This method provides a bridge between the statistical discovery of genotype-phenotype associations and their validation in the natural context of heterogeneous genomic contexts.
ed Centroid Selection in TGVFCMS for Energy-Efficient Wireless Sensor Network

— Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) includes large quantities of sensing node used in various situations to collect data. WSN considers applications to collect data from remote locations, for example in environment surveillance, military, transport protection, etc. An energy efficient routing protocol is essential to handle the discharged electricity of the system and to minimize traffic and upstairs during data broadcast phases to fulfill the sensing, communication and processing tasks of the WSN. The biggest problem in the WSN is that energy resources are small. In this study, an energy-efficient routing protocol improves energy efficiency with the life span of sensor nodes by using optimization
Dynamic measurement of magnetic characteristics of switched reluctance motor

Introduction . Switched reluctance motor (SRM) is a type of electric motor featuring nonlinear magnetic characteristics. The flux linkage or inductance profile of SRM is usually required for the purpose of high control performance, and can be normally obtained through conventional static test by using DC or AC method when the rotor is locked. Problem . However, it is not practical to use the conventional method of measurement when the specific apparatus for locking the rotor is unavailable. Besides, due to the magnetic nonlinearity of SRM, the saturation effect makes it difficult to obtain the saturated magnetic characteristics, and the conventional static AC test fails to address this problem. Novelty . In this paper, a dynamic measurement method of the magnetization curves of SRM is proposed which allows the measurement take place while the motor is running with load. Methodology . Based on the conventional static AC test, the proposed measurement handles the saturation problem successfully by introducing a DC offset in the high frequency AC voltage. Phase inductance with different rotor positions and currents can be obtained by analyzing simple equivalent circuit. Practical value . Simulation is conducted in MATLAB/Simulink environment and the results have verified that the proposed dynamic measurement can effectively obtain the magnetic characteristics of SRM. References 16, table