Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Scattering by a conducting elliptic cylinder with a multilayer dielectric coating

A solution to the electromagnetic scattering of a transverse magnetic plane wave due to a perfectly conducting elliptic cylinder coated by a lossless, nonmagnetic, and elliptic multilayer dielectric is proposed. Despite the lack of orthogonality of the eigenfunctions of the field inside different layers, an efficient recursive procedure for the computation of the solution is devised. It is based on series expansions of the fields in terms of Mathieu functions and on a Galerkin approach. An outline of the procedure is given, and some numerical results, concerning both the field quantities and the radar cross section per unit length, are provided.
Fluorescent diagnostics of cyanobacteria

In this studies we used classical and laser methods for cyanobacteria diagnostics: Fluorescence Induction and Relaxation and Non-Linear Laser Fluorimetry in order to obtain the whole set of photophysical parameters of cyanobacteria. Different photophysical processes that take place in photosynthetic apparatus of cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 were studied with mentioned above fluorescent methods and sets of photophysical parameters were determined. The results allow us to suggest a model of photo adaptation processes under excess irradiance (depending on light intensity and spectrum).
EFFECTS OF ANTI-UV FILM AND PROTECTIVE ATMOSPHERE ON FRESH-CUT ICEBERG LETTUCE PRESERVATION

The aim of this research was to study the shelf-life of fresh-cut iceberg lettuce, testing a packaging fi lm manufactured with and without addition of anti-UV compounds, and using two different protective atmospheres (N2/CO2 70/30% and Ar/CO2 80/20%). In order to simulate the most common retail storage conditions, the samples were stored at 6 °C under artifi cial light by using real supermarket refrigerated exposition stands. The data obtained showed that the use of an anti-UV fi lm always causes a lower quality decay of the product; in any case, the best results were obtained when the anti-UV fi lm was utilized in association with the packaging atmosphere consisting of Ar and CO2 (80/20%) gas mixture.
EFFECTS OF REFLECTIVE NOTEBOOKS ON PERCEPTIONS OF LEARNING AND MATHEMATICS ANXIETY

ABSTRACT In this study, twenty-eight prospective teachers enrolled in a mathematics course participated in regular writing activities in reflective notebooks. Students' writings and data collected from interviews and surveys were used to analyze the effects of the notebooks on students' perceptions of their learning and mathematics anxiety. Students appeared to develop new ways of thinking about mathematics, to realize their contributions to the learning community, and to begin to evaluate themselves more effectively.
The Error in Variables (EIV) Regression Approach as a Means of Identifying Unbiased Physical Parameter Estimates: Application to Chiller Performance Data

Classical linear regression analysis by the method of Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) considers errors to affect the dependent variable only, while it is implicitly assumed that the independent or regressor variables are free of error. This assumption is frequently unrealistic, because measurement inaccuracies in the regressor variables are sometimes very large. If these variables are correlated, which is often the case, model coefficients identified by OLS will be biased. This issue may be of secondary concern if the model is used for predictive purposes only, but it is problematic if the model coefficients are to be interpreted as physical quantities and used for diagnostic purposes. A modeling approach that can overcome this deficiency is the Error-InVariable (EIV) regression approach, which can provide unbiased parameter estimates even in the presence of errors in the regressor variables (under the assumption that the errors are unbiased and normally distributed) and when the regressor variables are correlated. This paper describes this method, and, based on precise chiller performance data measured in a laboratory, illustrates the benefit and advantage of the EIV method over the OLS method in the framework of the Gordon and Ng (GN) chiller model. It is found that biased parameter estimates are very likely to occur when OLS is used for identification using the GN model even when well-maintained field instrumentation is used. This bias in parameter estimates can be minimized or even eliminated when the EIV method is used instead.
Study of ADI (After Develop Inspection) on photo resist wafers using electron beam (II)

We have clarified that the low-damage, high-resolution defect inspection of the photo resist patterns is ensured by the electron-beam defect inspection equipment for 32-nm generation and beyond. It has first been confirmed that the CD variations on the 65-nm width line structure formed on an ArF resist under general inspection conditions are equal to or less than the CD variations due to a general CD-SEM. We have also succeeded in understanding the resist deterioration mechanism when the ArF resist is exposed to e-beams. This understanding has led us to learn that the layer that, located in the vicinity of the resist surface, is deteriorated by e-beams has its etching rate lowered to cause even improvement on the etching resistance. These findings have enabled us to use inspection conditions that cause lower damage to resists. By using those conditions, we have been able to inspect ArF resist line-space structure wafers with line width of 65nm and pitch width of 140nm. The inspection successfully detected 15 to 20nm programmed extrusion defects with a capture rate of at least 95% and a nuisance rate of 5% or less. It has thus been revealed that e-beam defect inspection equipment are useful for inspecting defects on resist wafers with 32-nm generation and beyond.
Low Surface Brightness Hα Observations of Local Intergalactic Hydrogen Clouds

We present upper limits on the local ionizing background based on a search for extended Hα emission from three nearby intergalactic H I clouds: the Leo Ring (M96 group), both the NE and SW lobes of the Haynes-Giovanelli Virgo Cloud (H I 1225+01), and the H I tidal tails associated with the NGC 4631/4656 group. These clouds were chosen to have 21 cm emission that is extended (10-100 kpc) and distant from any associated galaxy. Deep, wide-field CCD images were acquired through narrow- (~31 Å) and broadband R filters with the Burrell Schmidt telescope on Kitt Peak. We set a 95% confidence upper limit on the Hα surface brightness for the areas of the clouds detected in H I of 1.6 × 10-19 ergs s-1 cm-2 arcsec-2 in Leo and of 3.7 × 10-19 ergs s-1 cm-2 arcsec-2 in Virgo. We limit the local ionizing background to Φ0 < 5.0 × 103 photons s-1 cm-2 sr-1 (95%) at the location of the Leo Ring cloud and Φ0 < 1.1 × 104 photons s-1 cm-2 sr-1 at the Virgo cloud, assuming spherical clouds. (Limits are a factor of 2 higher for a thin face-on slab.) The limits correspond to J0 < 3.3 × 10-23 and 7.6 × 10-23 ergs s-1 cm-2 sr-1 Hz-1 for a ν-1/2 spectrum (1.6 times higher for a ν-1.4 spectrum) between 1 and 4 ryd. Such low limits suggest that quasar light, and not galactic light, dominates the ionizing background at low redshift. The Hα limit on the Leo cloud is significantly below a previously reported detection. In the field of the edge-on galaxies NGC 4631 and NGC 4656, we detect Hα from ionized gas extending nearly 16 kpc above N4631, which could have been blown out by starburst activity in the plane, and a low surface brightness companion or stellar tidal tail. This companion lies between N4631's H I tidal tails and may have played a role in creating the H I tidal tails, or it may represent star formation within the tidal tails. We also report the tentative detection of an ultrafaint “sheet” of Hα emission extending from NGC 4631 to NGC 4656.
Removal of singularities in tresca and mohr–coulomb yield functions

The Tresca and Mohr–Coulomb yield functions are used widely in metal and soil plasticity computations. Both of these criteria, however, possess angular vertices at which the gradient with respect to the stresses, and hence the elastoplastic constitutive law, is undefined. This paper describes a modified yield function which may be used to ‘round-off’ these vertices. When used in conjunction with the parent yield function, the modified yield function results in a yield surface which is continuous and differentiable for all values of the stresses. The modified yield function is used in the vicinity of the vertices and is given in a form suitable for finite element programming.
Evaluation of the magnetic field - high temperature superconductor interactions

To describe the wide range of possible applications of high temperature superconductors (HTSCs) (e.g. magnetic bearings, levitation systems or electrical machines) several appropriate calculation algorithms have been developed. They determine the force interaction between a superconductor and any even multidimensional magnetic field excitation system. Especially good agreements between experiments and computed results have been obtained for the Vector‐Controlled Model, which seems to be the best approximation of the macroscopic superconductivity behaviour. The validation of this model by means of measurements makes it a powerful tool for the design and optimisation of any HTSC application in the field of force generation. It can be used not only for the designing of levitation applications, but also to help the understanding of the flux penetration, flux trapping and magnetisation of bulk superconductors in non‐uniform magnetic fields. By means of this model, the force interaction between superconductors and external magnetic fields for practical multi‐polar configurations, e.g. superconducting levitation systems or inherently stable superconducting bearings has been determined. Furthermore, the time dependency of the forces taking flux flow and flux creep into account, can be considered.
Strategies for Fitting Large, Geostatistical Data in MCMC Simulation

Models for geostatistical data introduce spatial dependence in the covariance matrix of location-specific random effects. This is usually defined to be a parametric function of the distances between locations. Bayesian formulations of such models overcome asymptotic inference and estimation problems involved in maximum likelihood-based approaches and can be fitted using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation. The MCMC implementation, however, requires repeated inversions of the covariance matrix which makes the problem computationally intensive, especially for large number of locations. In the present work, we propose to convert the spatial covariance matrix to a sparse matrix and compare a number of numerical algorithms especially suited within the MCMC framework in order to accelerate large matrix inversion. The algorithms are assessed empirically on simulated datasets of different size and sparsity. We conclude that the band solver applied after ordering the distance matrix reduces the computational time in inverting covariance matrices substantially.
Impact of Falls Within 3 Months on the Short-Term Prognoses of Elderly Patients in Intensive Care Units: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using Stabilized Inverse Probability Treatment Weighting

Background: Falls are a major public health problem in the older adults that can lead to poor clinical outcomes. There have been few reports on the short-term prognoses of older critically ill patients, and so we sought to determine the impact of falls on elderly patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Patients and Methods: This retrospective study of 4503 patients (aged 65 years or older) analyzed data in the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-III critical care database. Of those, 2459 (54.6%) older adults are males, and 2044 (45.4%) older adults are females. Based on information from the medical care record assessment forms, patients were classified into the following two groups based on whether they had a fall within the previous 3 months: falls (n=1142) and nonfalls (n=3361). The primary outcomes of this study were 30- and 90-day mortality. Associations between the results of the Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival analysis, Cox proportional-hazards regression models, and subgroup analysis and its outcomes were analyzed using stabilized inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW). Results: KM survival curves with stabilized IPTW indicated that 30- and 90-day survival rates were significantly lower in elderly critically ill patients with a history of falls within the previous 3 months than in those patients without a history of falls (all p<0.001). Multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression analysis indicated that 30- and 90-day mortality rates were 1.35 times higher (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.16–1.57, p<0.001) and 1.36 times higher (95% CI=1.19–1.55, p<0.001), respectively, in elderly critically ill patients with a history of falls within the previous 3 months than in those patients without a history of falls. Conclusion: Experience of falls within the previous 3 months prior to ICU admission increased the risk of short-term mortality and affected the prognoses of elderly patients. Falls should therefore receive adequate attention from clinical healthcare providers and management decision-makers.
Interstellar K I and Na I absorption lines near rho Ophiuchi

Results are reported for photoelectric interferometric scans of the interstellar K I (7699 A) and Na I D1 absorption lines toward rho Oph AB and omicron Sco in the complex of dark clouds near rho Oph. The scans are found to reveal a well-marked line multiplicity toward both stars. It is shown that the resolved components of the line profiles can provide a natural explanation for the difference between the radial velocity of the strongest atomic lines of Na I and Ca II and that of the much weaker molecular lines of CH(+), CH, and CN that was previously observed toward rho Oph. The less saturated 7699-A lines toward both stars yield K I column densities roughly consistent with the calculated interstellar reddening.
The representation of soil moisture freezing and its impact on the stable boundary layer

The 1993 to 1996 version of the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts model had a pronounced near‐surface cold bias in winter over continental areas. the problem is illustrated in detail with help of tower observations. It is shown that a positive feedback exists in the land surface boundary‐layer coupling that has the potential to amplify model biases. If the surface is cooled too much the boundary layer becomes too stable, reducing the downward heat flux and making the surface even colder. This positive feedback is believed to be stronger in the model than in the real atmosphere, resulting in diurnal temperature cycles that are too large and in excessive soil cooling on a seasonal time‐scale in winter.
A search for faint highly polarized objects

On a effectue une recherche d'objets faibles fortement polarises jusqu'a la 20eme magnitude. Les observations ne revelent pas une grande population d'objets BL Lac radio-calmes, associes aux quasars radio-calmes. Les observations peuvent etre utilisees pour montrer que les objets BL Lac appartiennent a une classe d'objets extragalactiques evoluant lentement, mais on montre qu'elles sont egalement compatibles avec le modele d'ecoulement relativiste
Sample Size Estimation for Longitudinal Designs with Attrition: Comparing Time-Related Contrasts Between Two Groups

Formulas for estimating sample sizes are presented to provide specified levels of power for tests of significance from a longitudinal design allowing for subject attrition. These formulas are derived for a comparison of two groups in terms of single degree-of-freedom contrasts of population means across the study timepoints. Contrasts of this type can often capture the main and interaction effects in a two-group repeated measures design. For example, a two-group comparison of either an average across time or a specific trend across time (e.g., linear or quadratic) can be considered. Since longitudinal data with attrition are often analyzed using an unbalanced repeated measures model (with a structured variance-covariance matrix for the repeated measures) or a random-effects model for incomplete longitudinal data, the variance-covariance matrix of the repeated measures is allowed to assume a variety of forms. Tables are presented listing sample size determinations assuming compound symmetry, a first-order autoregressive structure, and a non-stationary random-effects structure. Examples are provided to illustrate use of the formulas, and a computer program implementing the procedure is available from the first author.
A posteriori iron loss computation with a vector hysteresis model

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to find out how to model iron losses in electrical machines accurately and efficiently.Design/methodology/approach – The starting point was a previously developed vector hysteresis model that was designed and incorporated into the 2D time‐stepping finite‐element (FE) simulation of induction machines. The developed approach here is a decoupling between the vector hysteresis model and the 2D FE model of the machine. The huge time consumption of the incorporated hysteresis model required some new approach to make the model computationally efficient. This is dealt with through an a posteriori use of the vector hysteresis model.Findings – In this research, it was found that the vector hysteresis model, although used in an a posteriori scheme is able to accurately predict the iron losses as far as these losses are small enough not to affect the other operation characteristics of the machine.Research limitations/implications – The research methods reported in this paper dea.
A Different Approach To Cosmology

Modern cosmology began with the solutions to Einstein's theory of gravity discovered by Aleksandr Friedmann and Georges Lemaitre in the 1920s. When combined with the Hubble redshift‐distance relation, these solutions could be interpreted as showing that we live in an expanding universe. By 1930, the scientific establishment and much of the lay public believed in this expanding cosmos. It then requires only time reversal and elementary logic to conclude that the universe must originally have been so compact that we can talk of a beginning. Lemaitre tried to describe this state as the “primeval atom. ”
Consistency of direction-of-arrival estimation with multipath and few snapshots

An analysis is made of the consistency of two direction-of-arrival estimation algorithms used in the presence of multipath propagation and with very few snapshots. The conditional maximum-likelihood (CML) algorithm and the method of direction estimation (MODE) are discussed. The cost functions of these algorithms are shown to coincide for a very large number of snapshots or very large signal-to-noise ratio. Necessary and sufficient conditions are derived for the algorithms to yield unique estimates. It is shown that their uniqueness conditions coincide with fundamental uniqueness conditions for the array that are independent of the algorithm used. <<ETX>>
Silicon nanocrystal luminescence coupled to whispering gallery modes in optical fibers

Oxide-embedded silicon nanocrystals (Si-NCs) are a promising material for microphotonics, particularly when coupled to high quality factor (Q-factor) optical cavity modes. By glazing smooth nanocrystalline films from a solution-based precursor onto the surface of optical fibers, the Si-NC luminescence can be strongly coupled into the optical modes of the fiber. Well-developed whispering gallery modes occur in the luminescence of the Si-NCs measured perpendicular to the fiber axis, showing detection-limited Q-factors in the emission spectrum. In addition to providing high Q-factor fluorescence without the need for lithographic procedures, the physical versatility of a nanocrystal-coated fiber suggests possible refractometric applications.
Three-body electron attachment to a molecule

Mechanisms for three-body electron attachment to a molecule are examined. Methods for studying this process experimentally are described. The measurements of the characteristics of the process and their dependence on the parameters of the molecule and the energy of the electron are presented. It is shown that electron attachment to a molecule in a gas and a liquid are related. It is shown that three-body attachment is important in the low-temperature plasma of the upper atmosphere, high-pressure discharges, and gaseous dielectrics.
The clinical potential of ultra-high-speed echo-planar imaging

Ultra-high-speed echo-planar imaging (EP1) allows acquisition of a complete twodimensional image in 64 to 128 ms devoid of movement artefact and without sacrifice of contrast due to relaxation time effects. In conventional whole-body MRI, however, obtrusive movement artefact and extended imaging time, resulting from the need to apply multiple sequences to facilitate lesion detection and pathological characterization, remain limitations. Reduced total examination time increases patient tolerance and throughput • furthermore optimization of contrast to achieve maximal conspicuity of particular features in liver or brain pathology is achieved simply and interactively by real time adjustment of the imaging parameters. The method provides the opportunity to study in real time dynamic events such as flow phenomena in the vascular and cerebrospinal fluid compartments of the brain as well as the kinetics of administered contrast agents, EPI is the only means of capturing the irregular motion of aperiodic cardiac events and bowel peristalsis.
Risk minimizing hedging for a partially observed high frequency data model

Risk-minimizing hedging strategies for contingent claims are studied in a general model for intraday stock price movements in the case of partial information. The dynamics of the risky asset price is described throught a marked point process Y, whose local characteristics depend on some unobservable hidden state variable X. In the model presented the processes Y and X may have common jump times, which means that the trading activity may affect the law of X and could be also related to the presence of catastrophic events. The hedger is restricted to observing past asset prices. Thus, we are in presence not only of an incomplete market situation but also of partial information. Considering the case where the price of the risky asset is modeled directly under a martingale measure, the computation of the risk-minimizing hedging strategy under this partial information is obtained by using a projection result (M. Schweizer, Risk minimizing hedging strategies under restricted information, Mathematical Finance 4 (1994) 327–342). This approach leads to a filtering problem with marked point process observations whose solution, obtained via the Kushner-Stratonovich equation, allows us to provide a complete solution to the heding problem.
The inverse bremsstrahlung absorption coefficient in collisional plasmas

A prescription for the inverse bremsstrahlung (IB) absorption coefficient is presented. The coefficient is derived in terms of a collision frequency that is found from a memory function kinetic formalism. The formalism admits limits that allow a rigorous definition of the coefficient when the plasma is weakly coupled and approximations that provide a reliable calculation when the plasma is strongly coupled. In the latter case, use is made of spatial distribution functions computed from the solution to the set of integral equations describing plasma correlations via the hypernetted chain approximation (HNC). A simple analytic result is compared with the HNC calculations. Results show that, as expected, the classical form for the IB absorption coefficient is of little utility when the plasma is strongly coupled. The theory presented here should provide reasonable predictions of the coefficient.