Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Single Photon Counting with Silicon Photomultipliers, shortening systems and incoherent illumination

In this work it is shown the benefit of using pulse shortening systems for conforming photodetection pulses provided by Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs). One of the main drawbacks when using SiPMs is the slow falling edge in the detection signal which can reach even hundreds of nanoseconds. Pulses obtained when using the shortening systems proposed here are single narrow peaks, with full width at half maximum (FWHM) around 10 ns, preserving the photonic modulation and with good pseudo-gaussian shape, single polarity and low ringing. Different tests are presented to illustrate the advantage of these systems in the detection of single photons emitted in short, incoherent pulses.
Determining Shear Capacity of Ultra-high Performance Concrete Beams by Experiments and Comparison with Codes

In this research, nineteen specimens of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete rectangular beams are made and their shear resistance is determined experimentally. The results are compared with estimations by ACI 318, RILEM TC 162-TDF, Australian guideline and Iranian national building regulations. To compare the code estimations, the ratio of experimental shear strength to predicted shear strength is calculated for each code. This ratio is actually a measure of safety factor on one hand and a measure of precision of the estimation on the other hand. Based on the results of both studies, the authors conclude that the Australian guideline with a ratio of 2.5 provides the minimum experimental to predicted ratio while the Iranian National Building Regulations with a ratio of about 10 provides the highest experimental to predicted ratio. This ratio obtained for ACI and RILEM was about 8 and 3.6 respectively. The Iranian and ACI codes provide basically the same strength estimation but both are very conservative, which may be interpreted as mainly because the codes are dubious about the precision of their own estimations. However, RILEM and Australian codes, estimate the shear resistance with reasonable margin of safety.
A Nondestructive and Rapid Method for Estimating Leaf Area Broccoli

Nondestructive and rapid methods to estimate leaf area from linear measurements are valuable tools when portable leaf area meters are not available. A model to estimate leaf area for one population and one hybrid of Broccoli was developed in a previous experiment. Since leaf morphology may vary among different genetic materials, it is necessary to test the available models on other cultivars. The objective of the present study was to determine whether an existing broccoli leaf area model developed for one population and one hybrid would apply to other broccoli sources, and if not, to develop models for such sources; ten hybrids were used. In a previous work, a model based on the product of leaf length (L) times the leaf width at the widest point (W) was the best leaf area predictor in terms of coefficient of determination (R 2 = 0.99). The best equation based on a single measurement included W 2 and had less predicting ability (R 2 = 0.96) than the model based on L x W but required measurement only of the leaf width at the widest point. The model based on L x M fit the data of eight of the ten hybrids tested, and the model based on W 2 fit the data of nine of the ten hybrids. This study demonstrates that broccoli leaf area can be estimated by using models derived from linear measurements. The product of L x W was a good predictor for most genotypes, but not for all of them. W 2 was a good predictor for all of the hybrids used in this study, even though it was less precise than L x W.
Towards gene therapy based on femtosecond optical transfection

Gene therapy poses a great promise in treatment and prevention of a variety of diseases. However, crucial to studying and the development of this therapeutic approach is a reliable and efficient technique of gene and drug delivery into primary cell types. These cells, freshly derived from an organ or tissue, mimic more closely the in vivo state and present more physiologically relevant information compared to cultured cell lines. However, primary cells are known to be difficult to transfect and are typically transfected using viral methods, which are not only questionable in the context of an in vivo application but rely on time consuming vector construction and may also result in cell de-differentiation and loss of functionality. At the same time, well established non-viral methods do not guarantee satisfactory efficiency and viability. Recently, optical laser mediated poration of cell membrane has received interest as a viable gene and drug delivery technique. It has been shown to deliver a variety of biomolecules and genes into cultured mammalian cells; however, its applicability to primary cells remains to be proven. We demonstrate how optical transfection can be an enabling technique in research areas, such as neuropathic pain, neurodegenerative diseases, heart failure and immune or inflammatory-related diseases. Several primary cell types are used in this study, namely cardiomyocytes, dendritic cells, and neurons. We present our recent progress in optimizing this technique's efficiency and post-treatment cell viability for these types of cells and discuss future directions towards in vivo applications.
Three-dimensional step–height measurement using sinusoidal wavelength scanning interferometer with four-step phase-shift method

A sinusoidal wavelength scanning interferometer with the four-step phase-shift method is demonstrated for a three-dimensional profile measurement. The interference phase-shift signal generated by the sinusoidal wavelength scanning contains information about optical path difference covering a nm-μm scale structure. The interference phase-shift signal was obtained by the four-step phase-shifting method. The sinusoidal wavelength shifting with a frequency of approximately 180 Hz and tunable range of 5.7 nm was performed by the Littman–Metcalf external resonator-type tunable laser with a center of 772.1 nm. The full-field surface profile measurement was conducted by a charge coupled device image sensor with an accuracy on a nm scale. The surface profiles of gauge blocks with a step height up to about 10 μm were successfully measured with a surface profile irregularity of 3.8×10−2 μm. The deviations of two measured surfaces of upper and lower steps were estimated to be 1.6×10−2 μm and 3.1×10−2 μm, respectively.
Spherical aberration and the information content of optical images

The main purpose of the paper is to investigate the effect of spherical aberration on the information content of low-contrast photographic images with specified spread and noise characteristics. In § 1 an outline is given of the basic ideas and the relevant formalism. In § 2 the response functions of monochromats with spherical aberration and defocusing are considered, and their computed values in selected special cases are displayed in figures 3 to 5. A digression is made in § 3 in order to discuss, with the help of these values, a point of topical interest, namely, the variation of best focus with the line frequency of a sinusoidal test object. In § 4 the notion of the equivalent receiving surface of a low-contrast photographic process is introduced and two equivalent receiving surfaces are defined, with the help of some experimental results of Higgins & Jones (1952), which correspond to model photographic processes used with low-contrast objects. In § 5 the mean information density in the images of an aberration-free monochromat is calculated for two model emulsions, at selected noise levels, over a range of focal settings. In both models, the correctly focused images of a random object set are found to contain about one bit per Airy disk when the signal-to-noise ratio is 100 and the effect of defocusing are similar in the two cases. The effect of spherical aberration on information density at different focal settings is then examined in the second model. It appears that, for amounts of fourth-power aberration up to two fringes, the informationally best focus is approximately midway between paraxial and marginal foci, and that the acceptance of a 20% drop in information content corresponds to a focal tolerance of approximately ± ½ fringe.
A High Resolution, High Sensitivity Color Schlieren Method

The sensitivity of three color schlieren methods currently used is limited because of diffraction inherently associated with them. A new method has been developed that has the same resolution capabilities as the commonly used black and white schlieren technique. At the same time the new method has sensitivity capabilities approaching that of the black and white technique. The paper illustrates both old and new methods and has photographs to compare sensitivity and resolution capabilities of each.
Cumulus Convection in Weak and Strong Tropical Disturbances

Abstract A relatively simple method of parameterizing subgrid-scale moist convection has been developed for use in tropical numerical weather prediction experiments. The technique includes entrainment, moist and dry downdrafts, and environmental mixing. Vertical extent of the model cloud is to one of three possible tropospheric levels. The formulation of the mass flux into cloud base is such that the amount of low-level energy consumed by the clouds is approximately that supplied by the large-scale flow. The model convection was employed, without change, in real-data primitive equation forecasts of two separate tropical disturbances. The first disturbance was a non-developing, Caribbean easterly wave (August 1961) and the second was hurricane Alma (August 1962). Predicted convection in the easterly wave tended to be weak and sporadic. Convective regions, generally in the eastern half of the wave, developed and then dissipated within 6–12 hr. Averaged over longer periods, latent heating tended to be weak a.
Performance of Operational Model Precipitation Forecast Guidance during the 2013 Colorado Front-Range Floods

AbstractDuring the period 9–16 September 2013, more than 17 in. (~432 mm) of rainfall fell over parts of Boulder County, Colorado, with more than 8 in. (~203 mm) over a wide swath of Colorado’s northern Front Range. This caused significant flash and river flooding, loss of life, and extensive property damage. The event set a record for daily rainfall (9.08 in., or >230 mm) in Boulder that was nearly double the previous daily rainfall record of 4.8 in. (122 mm) set on 31 July 1919. The operational performance of precipitation forecast guidance from global ensemble prediction systems and the National Weather Service’s global and regional forecast systems during this event is documented briefly in the article and more extensively in online supplemental appendixes. While the precipitation forecast guidance uniformly depicted a much wetter-than-average period over northeastern Colorado, none of the global nor most of the regional modeling systems predicted precipitation amounts as heavy as analyzed. Notable ex.
REVERSE MONTE CARLO ANALYSIS OF THE STRUCTURE OF GLASSY CARBON USING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY DATA

The reverse Monte Carlo (RMC) method was utilized in order to obtain three-dimensional atom configurations in glassy carbon using measurements of the static structure provided by electron diffraction. This allowed the local and medium-range order in glassy carbon formed at heat-treatment temperatures of 1000 and 2500 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C to be analyzed in detail. In particular, the nature of the graphitelike bonding within the glassy-carbon structure was investigated as well as the form of disorder that gives rise to the particular features of its static structure factor. The configurations produced by the RMC method consisted of randomly stacked graphitic basal planes possessing a buckled nature. It was found that significant nongraphitic regions exist in glassy carbon including the presence of three- and five-membered rings. These disordered regions decrease in extent as the heat-treatment temperature increases.
Microwave impedance characterization of large-area HTS films: a novel approach

We recently reported a method for measuring the microwave surface resistance (Rs) of large-area HTS films. The device was formed from a sapphire quasi-optical dielectric resonator (QDR) with conducting end-plates (CEP). In the present work, Rs-measurement procedures and data obtained under different conditions are systematically analysed. The accuracy and the sensitivity of the Rs-measurement are analysed. The results of the study clearly demonstrate that the proposed technique provides a sensitivity which is increased by at least one order in comparison with the most accurate cavity resonator techniques in the millimetre wave range. In addition, the first experimental results on the temperature dependence of the QDR resonances with different CEP (HTS and/or Cu) are discussed in terms of a surface reactance (Xs) measurement.
Standard Error of Linear Observed-Score Equating for the NEAT Design With Nonnormally Distributed Data

In the nonequivalent groups with anchor test (NEAT) design, the standard error of linear observed-score equating is commonly estimated by an estimator derived assuming multivariate normality. However, real data are seldom normally distributed, causing this normal estimator to be inconsistent. A general estimator, which does not rely on the normality assumption, would be preferred, because it is asymptotically accurate regardless of the distribution of the data. In this article, an analytical formula for the standard error of linear observed-score equating, which characterizes the effect of nonnormality, is obtained under elliptical distributions. Using three large-scale real data sets as the populations, resampling studies are conducted to empirically evaluate the normal and general estimators of the standard error of linear observed-score equating. The effect of sample size (50, 100, 250, or 500) and equating method (chained linear, Tucker, or Levine observed-score equating) are examined. Results suggest that the general estimator has smaller bias than the normal estimator in all 36 conditions; it has larger standard error when the sample size is at least 100; and it has smaller root mean squared error in all but one condition. An R program is also provided to facilitate the use of the general estimator.
On moderate deviations for martingales

Let X n = (X t n , F t n ) 0≤t≤1 be square integrable martingales with the quadratic characteristics (X n ), n = 1, 2,. We prove that the large deviations relation P(X 1 n ≥ r)/(1 - Φ(r)) → 1 holds true for r growing to infinity with some rate depending on L 2δ n = Z Σ 0≤t≤1 |ΔX t n | 2+28 and N 2δ n = E|(X n ) 1 - 1| 1+δ , where δ > 0 and L 2δ n → 0, N 2δ n → 0 as n → ∞. The exact bound for the remainder is also obtained.
Decomposition-based Evolutionary Aerodynamic Robust Optimization with Multi-fidelity Point Collocation Non-intrusive Polynomial Chaos

© 2015 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc. All rights reserved. Evolutionary algorithms are powerful optimizers often used to explore the trade-off between performance and robustness in robust optimization. A popular methodology for un- certainty quantiffication (UQ) in evaluating robustness is through use of a polynomial chaos (PC) expansion. To make best use of the available computational budget, improvements in the performance of both optimizer and UQ method are desired. In this paper we present an approach for aerodynamic robust optimization which consists of a decomposition-based optimizer (MOEA/D) and multi-ffidelity point collocation non-intrusive PC. The inherited diversity that a decomposition-based optimizer produces is a benefficial trait for multi-objective robust optimization applications. In our UQ approach, the availability of the multi-ffidelity simulations is incorporated within the point collocation PC to allow exible numbers of samples and calculate the effiect of uncertainty efficiently. A comparison between MOEA/D and NSGA-II is performed for a subsonic application. This shows that the decomposition-based optimizer is able to find a more diverse Pareto front. The multi-ffidelity robust optimization framework is then demonstrated on a transonic airfoil robust optimization application with the goals of maximizing lift-to-drag ratio (L/D) while minimizing the sensitivity to aleatory uncertainties. The multi-ffidelity point collocation non-intrusive PC approach is able reduce the computational time needed for UQ. In the transonic case, the solution with the maximum mean of L/D is preferred over the other airfoils even though it is accompanied by a high standard deviation in L/D. The stochastic response surface shows that its minimum value of L/D over the response surface is still higher than that of the airfoil with the minimum standard deviation. This shows that it is important to examine the trend of the stochastic response surface before conclusions are drawn and decisions made.
A Tactile Sensor for Incipient Slip Detection

This article introduces a new tactile sensor for incipient slip detection. The sensor has concentric circular ridges over its surface and is designed with the aim of differentiating between local slip and total slip. Partial deformation of ridges on the edge of contact with the object exposes built-in fiber optics to ambient light. Changes in light signals are used as an indication of incipient slip. A two-stage computer simulation is presented using finite element, graphics, and image processing software. Experiments reveal an early change in light signals that can be used to ensure the effectiveness of the proposed Sensor.
A little introduction to wavelets

Wavelets have become a popular and useful tool for the investigation and analysis of many kinds of problem. It is difficult to pin down a unique origin for wavelet theory. Many fields provided the seeds from which wavelet theory grew. These include signal processing, physics and mathematics. The range of applications that wavelets are being applied to is large and growing. This paper reviews briefly the principle of wavelets including mother wavelets and fast transforms. (6 pages)
Low-noise 1 THz niobium superconducting tunnel junction mixer with a normal metal tuning circuit

We describe a 1 THz quasioptical SIS mixer which uses a twin-slot antenna, an antireflection-coated silicon hyperhemispherical lens, Nb/Al-oxide/Nb tunnel junctions, and an aluminum normal-metal tuning circuit in a two-junction configuration. Since the mixer operates substantially above the gap frequency of niobium (nu >~ 2 Delta/h ~ 700 GHz), a normal metal is used in the tuning circuit in place of niobium to reduce the Ohmic loss. The frequency response of the device was measured using a Fourier transform spectrometer and agrees reasonably well with the theoretical prediction. At 1042 GHz, the uncorrected double-sideband receiver noise temperature is 840 K when the physical temperature of the mixer is 2.5 K. This is the first SIS mixer which outperforms GaAs Schottky diode mixers by a large margin at 1 THz.
Sums of spherical waves for lattices, layers, and lines

We consider the connections between sums of spherical wave functions over lattices, layers, and lines. The differences between sums over lattices and those over a doubly periodic constituent layer are expressed in terms of series with exponential convergence. Correspondingly, sums over the layer can be regarded as composed of a sum over a central line, and another sum over displaced lines exhibiting exponential convergence. We exhibit formulas which can be used to calculate accurately and efficiently sums of spherical waves over lattices, layers, and lines, which in turn may be used to construct quasiperiodic Green’s functions for the Helmholtz equation, of use in scattering problems for layers and lines of spheres, and for finding the Bloch modes of lattices of spheres. We illustrate the numerical accuracy of our expressions.
Brownian motion of a single particle under shear flow

The influence of fluid flows over Brownian motion is a topic of much theoretical and practical interest which has received wide attention. However, most of the textbooks on statistical physics are limited to Brownian motion in fluids at rest. Here, we deal with the simple example of the Brownian motion of a single particle under a steady homogeneous shear flow by starting from the Langevin equation. We explicitly solve the equation and show how the presence of the shear drastically changes the time evolution of the second moments of the position of the particle, and we discuss the form of the time-dependent effective diffusion coefficient. Zussamenfassung. Der Einflus von hydraulischen Flussen auf Brownsche Bewegung ist ein Thema von theoretischer und praktischer Interesse, das eine weite Beachtung hervorgerufen hat. Aber meiste von den Textbuchern in bezug auf statistische Physik sind auf Brownsche Bewegung in der ruhenden Flussigkeit beschrankt. Hier behandeln wir ein einfaches Beispiel von der Brownschen Bewegung eines einzelnen Teilchens unter einer standig homogenen Scherstromung, indem wir mit der Langevin Gleichung den Anfang machen. Wir losen die Gleichung explizite und zeigen, wie das Vorhandensein von der Scherstromung drastisch die zeitliche Evolution von den sekundaren Momenten in bezug auf die Position des Teilchens verandert, und diskutieren uber die Form von der Streukoeffizient, die von der Zeit abhangig ist.
Determination of Cointegration Rank in the Presence of a Linear Trend

It is shown how the table in S. Johansen and K. Juselius (1990) can be applied to make inference on the cointegration rank. The reason that inference is difficult is that the limit distribution of the proposed likelihood ratio test statistic depends on which parameter is considered under the null. It is shown how a recent procedure for unit root testing suggested by S. G. Pantula (1989) solves the problem. The procedure is illustrated by some published econometric examples. Copyright 1992 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd
COMPUTER GENERATION OF HIGHLY SKEWED CORRELATED RANDOM VARIABLES

ABSTRACT A multivariate approach was previously developed for generating non-normal correlated random variables (Taylor and Bender, 1988, 1989). The method exactly preserves each univariate probability distribution; however, there may be cases where the correlations between variables are not preserved. The objective of this study was to empirically determine how well the multivariate approach preserves the correlations for highly skewed probability distributions. Three bivariate combinations were examined: (1) both distributions positively skewed, (2) both distributions negatively skewed, and (3) one positively and one negatively skewed. The multivariate method preserved the correlation between variables with excellent accuracy except for the case involving a mixture of positively and negatively skewed distributions in conjunction with high correlation. KEYWORDS. Probability distributions. Computer simulation.