Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Carbon Tetrachloride and Chloroform Attenuation Parameter Studies: Heterogeneous Hydrolytic Reactions -- Status Report

This report documents a project initiated in FY 2006 to help address uncertainties related to the rates of hydrolysis in groundwater for carbon tetrachloride (CT) and chloroform (CF). The study sought also to explore the possible effects of contact with minerals and sediment (i.e., heterogeneous hydrolysis) on these rates. It was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through the Office of Environmental Management Columbia River Protection Supplemental Technologies (CRPST) project and complements work initiated by the Hanford Groundwater Project in FY 2006 that focused primarily on CT in homogenous solution. Work was performed by staff at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the State University of New York at Cortland (SUNY-Cortland).
Electrical Manipulation of Spin Precession in an InGaAs-Based 2DEG Due to the Rashba Spin-Orbit Interaction

The paper demonstrates a spin interference effect in small arrays of mesoscopic InGaAs rings, which is the time reversal Aharonov-Casher effect. Spin-orbit interaction parameters obtained from the spin interference are consistent with those estimated from Shubnikov-de Haas analysis. This result shows evidence for electrical manipulation of the spin precession angle in an InGaAs 2-D electron gas channel. The precession rate was controlled in a precise and predictable way with an electrostatic gate
Three‐dimensional cartography of functional territories in the human striatopallidal complex by using calbindin immunoreactivity

This anatomic study presents an analysis of the distribution of calbindin immunohistochemistry in the human striatopallidal complex. Entire brains were sectioned perpendicularly to the mid‐commissural line into 70‐μm‐thick sections. Every tenth section was immunostained for calbindin. Calbindin labeling exhibited a gradient on the basis of which three different regions were defined: poorly labeled, strongly labeled, and intermediate. Corresponding contours were traced in individual sections and reformatted as three‐dimensional structures. The poorly labeled region corresponded to the dorsal part of the striatum and to the central part of the pallidum. The strongly labeled region included the ventral part of the striatum, the subcommissural part of the external pallidum but also the adjacent portion of its suscommissural part, and the anterior pole of the internal pallidum. The intermediate region was located between the poorly and strongly labeled regions. As axonal tracing and immunohistochemical studies in monkeys show a similar pattern, poorly, intermediate, and strongly labeled regions were considered as the sensorimotor, associative, and limbic territories of the human striatopallidal complex, respectively. However, the boundaries between these territories were not sharp but formed gradients of labeling, which suggests overlapping between adjacent territories. Similarly, the ventral boundary of the striatopallidal complex was blurred, suggesting a structural intermingling with the substantia innominata. This three‐dimensional partitioning of the human striatopallidal complex could help to define functional targets for high‐frequency stimulation with greater accuracy and help to identify new stimulation sites. J. Comp. Neurol. 450:122–134, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
THE INFLUENCE OF PRICE AND SERVICE QUALITY OF BRAND IMAGE AND ITS IMPACT ON CUSTOMER SATISFACTION GOJEK (STUDENTS STUDY ON A STATE UNIVERSITY OF JAKARTA)

The purpose of the research are to: test empirically influence of price to brand image on customer satisfaction Gojek, test empirically influence of service quality to brand image on customer satisfaction Gojek, test empirically influence of price on customer satisfaction Gojek, test empirically influence of service quality on customer satisfaction Gojek, test empirically influence of brand image on customer satisfaction Gojek. This study used confirmatory factor analysis. The research was conducted in State University of Jakarta and used purposive sampling techniques, while the data collecting technique used questionaire, SPSS and SEM LISREL for data processing. The result shows a significant influence of price and service quality for brand image and its impact on customer satisfaction. Keywords: price, service quality, brand image, customer satisfaction
ULISS project: First comparison of two cryocooled sapphire oscillators at the 10−15 level

We already demonstrated a state-of-the-art Cryogenic Sapphire Oscillator (CSO), which incorporates a pulse-tube cooler instead of a bath cryostat - thus eliminating the need for regular supplies and manual transferring of liquid helium. The advent of reliable and cryocooled (CSO) open the possibility to implement such an ultra-stable reference not only in metrological laboratories with liquid helium facilities but also in remote sites like base stations for space navigation, VBLI antenna sites, . The first prototype, i.e. ELISA, has been implemented in the ESA ground station in Malargüe (Ar) in April 2012. A second CSO was recently achieved using the same technology but specially designed to be transportable. After its complete assembly the CSO was coold down for the first time, and a preliminary frequency stability evaluation was done by direct comparison between the two CSOs. The Allan deviation was derived from data collected during more than 3 days. A short term frequency stability better than 2×10-15 at 1s was obtained. In spite of bad environemental conditions (infrastructure works in the building: implementation of an air conditioning in our laboratory which is not still effective) the frequency stability stays better than 4×10-15 for τ <; 1,000s and 1×10-14 over one day.
Investigation on maximum power point tracking techniques for use in partially shaded conditions

Partially shaded conditions (PSCs) often occur in large photovoltaic generation systems (PGSs). Since PSCs will result in losses in output power, hot spot effects, and incurring system safety and reliability problems, developing a new maximum power point tracking (MPPT) technique is crucial. In this study, three MPPT methods suitable for PSC are investigated. These methods are firstly implemented and validated using MATLAB. Then, these methods are compared in terms of several factors including tracking speed, tracking accuracy and successful rate of tracking global maximum power point (GMPP). Finally, the pros and cons of these compared methods will be discussed and summarized.
A ONE-DIMENSIONAL MODEL FOR RAYLEIGH–TAYLOR INSTABILITY IN SUPERNOVA REMNANTS

This study presents a method for approximating the multidimensional effects of Rayleigh–Taylor (RT) instability as a modification of the one-dimensional (1D) hydro equations. This modification is similar to the Shakura–Sunyaev α prescription for modeling the coarse-grained effects of turbulence in astrophysical disks. The model introduces several dimensionless tunable parameters that are calibrated by comparing with high-resolution two-dimensional axisymmetric numerical calculations of RT unstable flows. A complete description of the model is presented, along with a handful of test problems that demonstrate the extent to which the 1D model is able to reproduce multidimensional effects.
Magnetic integration of the harmonic filter inductor for dual-converter fed open-end transformer topology

Many high power converter systems are often connected to the medium voltage network using a step-up transformer. In such systems, the converter-side windings of the transformer can be configured as an open-end and multi-level voltage waveforms can be achieved by feeding these open-end windings from both ends using the dual-converter. An LCL filter with separate converter-side inductors for each of the converter is commonly used to attenuate the undesirable harmonic frequency components in the grid current. The magnetic integration of the converter-side inductors is presented in this paper, where the flux in the common part of the magnetic core is completely canceled out. As a result, the size of the magnetic component can be significantly reduced. A multi-objective design optimization is presented, where the energy loss and the volume are optimized. The optimization process takes into account the yearly load profile and the energy loss is minimized, rather than minimizing the losses at a specific operating point. The size reduction achieved by the proposed inductor is demonstrated through a comparative evaluation. Finally, the analysis is supported through simulations and experimental results.
Factors Controlling the Incorporation of Trace Metals to Coastal Marine Sediments: Cases of Study in the Galician Rías Baixas (NW Spain)

Transitional coastal environments such as the Galician Rias in the Atlantic coast of NW Spain are densely populated areas. Their environmental problems are highlighted by the conflicting interests of different economic sectors: extensive mariculture activities are located in its waters and intertidal zone; shipbuilding, carbuilding, canning and other industries compete with tourism on their shores; and dairy farming is the main agricultural activity in its surrounding hills and hinterland (Vilas et al., 2008). As a result, the management of the coastal zone is highly complex and it is difficult to balance quality of coastal waters with economic activities. For instance, in the Ria de Vigo, the southernmost of the Rias Baixas, wastewater treatment plants were not installed until the 1990s, and in spite of regional environmental legislation (Lei 8/2001), their capacity was still insufficient in 2005 when the European Court of Justice found Spain guilty of failure to fulfill its obligations under the Article 5 of the Council Directive 79/923/EEC on the quality required for shellfish waters (Case C-26/04 ECJ). This case was closed following Spain's submission of a pollution-reducing programme specifically pertinent to shellfish waters; success of this plan will depend critically on the behaviour of the sediments on the ria bottom. Galician Rias experience seasonal upwelling, which increases marine productivity. This promotes the deposition of high organic matter contents in the bottom sediments and contributes to the observed intense sedimentation rates of 1-6 mm yr-1 (Alvarez-Iglesias et al., 2007; Rubio et al., 2001). Current levels of trace metals (Prego & Cobelo, 2003) in sediments of these Rias have caused a significant concern by local and European authorities in the last ten years, especially in relation to the application of the Water Framework Directive (WFD), aimed to ensure that all waters reach “good status” by 2015. Some of these studies (Alvarez-Iglesias et al., 2003; Belzunce-Segarra et al., 2008; Rubio et al., 2000a) showed that the highest concentration of trace metals occurs in the muddiest surficial
Shallow Trench Isolation Edge Effect on Random Telegraph Signal Noise and Implications for Flash Memory

Random telegraph signal (RTS) noise is of increasing concern for sub-100-nm flash memories. To quantitatively study the shallow trench isolation (STI) edge effect, NMOS devices with and without STI edges in the channel area are designed and analyzed. The significant impact of STI on width scaling is demonstrated and quantified. It is shown that the noise induced by STI edges dominates the RTS noise for smaller device sizes and is caused by an increase in the number of trapping sites at the STI edges. By rounding the STI corner, the number of stress-induced traps can be significantly reduced.
The impact of innovation policy schemes for collaboration

Measures to foster longer-term cooperation between science and industrial actors represent a significant part of the innovation policy portfolio. Governments support these links to achieve economies of scope and scale, to overcome disincentives of transaction costs and knowledge spillovers and to provide support for knowledge transfer. The evaluations of collaborative schemes share several challenges common to the evaluation of other innovation support schemes, such as problems of time lag, spillovers and behavioural effects, with the added challenge of defining the scope of impact across and beyond the cooperation. Providing a broad evidence base, the chapter nevertheless focuses on a number of extensive evaluations of high-level R&D collaboration. The chapter provides a set of general lessons for the design and implementation of collaborative support instruments, such as alignment of collaboration programmes with other programmes, some provision of formation and education within the programme, and support of managing collaboration projects while keeping bureaucracy at a minimum. Future evaluations of collaboration programmes need to take account of the specificities of each programme and its context much better, and need more convincing ways of demonstrating the causality and contribution of programmes.
A Review of Methods for Plasma Paracetamol Estimation

Paracetamol (Fig. 1), alternatively referred to as N-acetyl-p-aminophenol or acetaminophen, is now a commonly used analgesic, which is readily available to the public without prescription. It is also a constituent of a number of mixed preparations that are obtainable only by prescription in the United Kingdom. It may also be found in the body as a metabolite of acetanilide or phenacetin. Its hepatotoxicity when ingested in large amounts has led to considerable interest in the measurement of plasma concentrations in cases of overdose, and consequently much information on methodology has accumulated over the last few years. Simple extinction measurement Dordoni et af. (1973) performed ether extraction of sodium chloride saturated plasma and then simply measured the extinction of the extract at 250 nm, Although the original authors had reservations about the specificity and sensitivity of the technique, other workers have since claimed very satisfactory performance (Spooner et af., 1976). There are also other methods of this same general type in use, some of them unpublished, employing alternative solvents.
Mitigation of Demagnetization of Bulk Superconductors by Time-Varying External Magnetic Fields

Large single-grain high-temperature superconducting bulks have significant potential to replace permanent magnets in various engineering applications. However, based on our previous research, the trapped field in a bulk superconductor can be attenuated or even erased when a bulk is subjected to a time-varying external magnetic field. Therefore, it is important to develop a method to protect bulks from demagnetization by improving the thermal conduction of the bulk and/or reducing ac losses. Improvement in the thermal conduction of bulks involves modification of the material fabrication process, which may have a detrimental effect on its superconducting properties. Employing shielding materials around a bulk helps to decrease the ac losses, but also provides a durable way to maintain the original material properties. In this paper, two shielding cases are proposed and evaluated numerically: ring-shaped shielding with a copper coil and surface shielding with a ferromagnetic material. Based on the numerical modeling results, the ring-shaped coil works well for externally applied ac fields of larger magnitude and higher frequency. However, the ferromagnetic material was preferable for surface shielding for relatively lower fields. Finally, an optimal shield design is presented.
Clinical features and short-term outcomes of 144 patients with SARS in the greater Toronto area.

CONTEXT Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an emerging infectious disease that first manifested in humans in China in November 2002 and has subsequently spread worldwide. OBJECTIVES To describe the clinical characteristics and short-term outcomes of SARS in the first large group of patients in North America; to describe how these patients were treated and the variables associated with poor outcome. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS Retrospective case series involving 144 adult patients admitted to 10 academic and community hospitals in the greater Toronto, Ontario, area between March 7 and April 10, 2003, with a diagnosis of suspected or probable SARS. Patients were included if they had fever, a known exposure to SARS, and respiratory symptoms or infiltrates observed on chest radiograph. Patients were excluded if an alternative diagnosis was determined. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Location of exposure to SARS; features of the history, physical examination, and laboratory tests at admission to the hospital; and 21-day outcomes such as death or intensive care unit (ICU) admission with or without mechanical ventilation. RESULTS Of the 144 patients, 111 (77%) were exposed to SARS in the hospital setting. Features of the clinical examination most commonly found in these patients at admission were self-reported fever (99%), documented elevated temperature (85%), nonproductive cough (69%), myalgia (49%), and dyspnea (42%). Common laboratory features included elevated lactate dehydrogenase (87%), hypocalcemia (60%), and lymphopenia (54%). Only 2% of patients had rhinorrhea. A total of 126 patients (88%) were treated with ribavirin, although its use was associated with significant toxicity, including hemolysis (in 76%) and decrease in hemoglobin of 2 g/dL (in 49%). Twenty-nine patients (20%) were admitted to the ICU with or without mechanical ventilation, and 8 patients died (21-day mortality, 6.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9%-11.8%). Multivariable analysis showed that the presence of diabetes (relative risk [RR], 3.1; 95% CI, 1.4-7.2; P =.01) or other comorbid conditions (RR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.1-5.8; P =.03) were independently associated with poor outcome (death, ICU admission, or mechanical ventilation). CONCLUSIONS The majority of cases in the SARS outbreak in the greater Toronto area were related to hospital exposure. In the event that contact history becomes unreliable, several features of the clinical presentation will be useful in raising the suspicion of SARS. Although SARS is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, especially in patients with diabetes or other comorbid conditions, the vast majority (93.5%) of patients in our cohort survived.
Marsbot: Building a Personal Assistant

Foursquare recently launched Marsbot, an SMS-based app for local recommendations. Marsbot is an intelligent friend that lives in your pocket and learns about you through the places you go in the real world. While this product is aligned with Foursquare's long-standing mission to find the best places, it represents a new era in the way people interact with recommendation engines. The promise of the latest crop of personal assistants is get us information more quickly and seamlessly, but building them comes with many challenges. In this talk, we discuss why we built Marsbot and some of the many lessons learned along the way.
Damage Control Abdomen: Single-Stage Reconstruction Using a Vicryl Mesh Buttress

Purpose Damage control laparotomy has become an accepted approach for patients with life-threatening abdominal conditions. This method compromises fascial integrity creating functionally and aesthetically debilitating hernias. The purpose of this study is to present our technique and outcomes with these complex abdominal wall reconstructions. Methods A retrospective review was conducted on 56 patients with previous damage control laparotomies who underwent elective single-stage abdominal wall reconstruction between 1999 and 2006. Mean age was 42 years. Reconstruction consisted of a double-layer, subfascial Vicryl mesh buttress, combined with components separation and rectus muscle turnover flaps. Hernia recurrence and function were evaluated by clinical examinations and telephone surveys. Results The major etiologies of abdominal hernias were gunshot wounds, motor vehicle accidents or blunt trauma, and sepsis or perforated bowel. The mean abdominal wall defect was 865 cm2, and the average interval time to definitive repair was 17 months. The average length of follow-up was 29 months. Most patients (88%) had successful repair of their abdominal wall, with no hernia recurrence. There were 7 cases of hernia. Of these, 2 cases were from reopening of abdomen because of compartment syndrome that was not repaired, 3 were small asymptomatic hernias for which patients elected not to undergo further repair. Other complications include superficial skin dehiscence, all of which healed secondarily with daily wound care 12% (7 patients) and abdominal compartment syndrome 7.1% (4 patients), resulting in 2 postoperative mortalities in the initial part of the series. There were no mesh exposures, seromas, or fistulas. In all, 29% or 52% of patients were reached by telephone. Of those, 90% surveyed and who worked full-time prior to injury returned to their jobs, and 92% were functioning at premorbid activity levels. Conclusion Massive abdominal hernia following damage control laparotomy poses a great challenge to the reconstructive surgeon. This patient population is at significant risk for mortality and morbidity. We believe the use of a Vicryl mesh buttress is an important adjunctive tool in complex abdominal wall reconstruction. Functional results are excellent with most returning to work and preinjury activity levels.
Psyllium for the reduction of cholestyramine-associated gastrointestinal symptoms in the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia.

OBJECTIVE To determine if the bulk-forming laxative, psyllium hydrophilic mucilloid (PHM), reduces the gastrointestinal side effects and enhances the cholesterol-lowering efficacy of cholestyramine resin in patients with primary hypercholesterolemia. DESIGN After a dietary lead-in period and 6 weeks of treatment with cholestyramine, the study followed a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover format. SETTING Lipid clinic affiliated with a large metropolitan community hospital. PARTICIPANTS Twenty-seven randomly selected male and female patients with a diagnosis of primary hypercholesterolemia. Entry criteria required a fasting low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentration of 4.91 mmol/L (190 mg/dL) or greater and a triglyceride concentration of less than 2.26 mmol/L. Patients using steroids, beta-blockers, thiazide diuretics, and lipid-lowering agents, or having a history of allergy to psyllium or aspartame were excluded. INTERVENTION The study consisted of four interventional phases of 6 weeks' duration that included (1) dietary stabilization (National Cholesterol Education Program Step I Diet); (2) cholestyramine therapy (4 g twice daily); (3) cholestyramine with study medication (PHM [5.1 g twice daily] or placebo); and (4) cholestyramine with crossover to alternate study medication. MAIN RESULTS Following the 6-week dietary lead-in phase, four patients were eliminated from the study because their fasting LDL-C concentrations fell below 4.14 mmol/L (160 mg/dL), and one patient was eliminated because testosterone therapy was initiated by his internist. The remaining 22 patients entered the cholestyramine treatment phase. Four left the study within 2 weeks because of intolerable gastrointestinal tract symptoms. The 18 patients who completed this phase demonstrated significant reductions in their plasma total cholesterol (7.27 vs 6.67 mmol/L [281 vs 258 mg/dL]) and LDL-C (5.38 vs 4.63 mmol/L [208 vs 179 mg/dL]) concentrations compared with baseline levels. The addition of PHM to the cholestyramine regimen provided a tendency toward further reductions in total cholesterol and LDL-C levels (6.67 vs 6.46 mmol/L [258 vs 250 mg/dL] and 4.63 vs 4.29 mmol/L [179 vs 166 mg/dL], respectively), although statistical significance was not achieved. Psyllium hydrophilic mucilloid significantly reduced the frequency and severity of constipation, abdominal discomfort, and heartburn. No reports of new gastrointestinal tract symptoms or untoward effects were noted with the addition of PHM. CONCLUSION These data suggest that the addition of PHM to cholestyramine therapy may improve a patient's compliance by reducing the associated gastrointestinal tract side effects.