Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CONTROLLED FUNCTIONAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS: APPROXIMATE AND EXACT ASYMPTOTIC TRACKING WITH PRESCRIBED TRANSIENT PERFORMANCE

A tracking problem is considered in the context of a class S of multi-input, multi-output, nonlinear systems modelled by controlled functional differential equations. The class contains, as a prototype, all finite-dimensional, linear, m-input, m-output, minimum-phase systems with sign-definite "high-frequency gain". The first control objective is tracking of reference signals r by the output y of any system in S :g ivenλ ≥ 0, construct a feedback strategy which ensures that, for every r (assumed bounded with essentially bounded derivative) and every system of class S, the tracking error e = y − r is such that, in the case λ> 0, lim supt→∞ � e(t)� <λ or, in the case λ = 0, limt→∞ � e(t)� =0 . The second objective is guaranteed output transient performance: the error is required to evolve within a prescribed performance funnel Fϕ (determined by a function ϕ). For suitably chosen functions α, ν and θ, both objectives are achieved via a control structure of the form u(t )= −ν(k(t))θ(e(t)) with k(t )= α(ϕ(t)� e(t)� ), whilst maintaining boundedness of the control and gain functions u and k . I n the case λ = 0, the feedback strategy may be discontinuous: to accommodate this feature, a unifying framework of differential inclusions is adopted in the analysis of the general case λ ≥ 0.
Variation in developmental time affects mating success and Allee effects

A fundamental question in biological conservation and invasion biology is why do some populations go extinct? Allee effects, notably those caused by mate location failure, are potentially key factors leading to the extinction of sparse populations. Several previous studies have focused on the inability of males and females to locate each other in space when populations are at low densities but here we investigate the effects of differences in the timing of male and female maturation on mating success. We develop a generalized model to clarify the role of protandry (the appearance of males before female emergence) and variability in adult maturation times. We show that temporal asynchrony can substantially reduce the probability of successful mating. We then apply this generalized model to estimate mating success in invading populations of the gypsy moth in North America in relation to local climate and its associated seasonality. Considerable geographic heterogeneity was observed in simulated mating success and this variability was not correlated with previous evaluations of bioclimatic requirements and habitat suitability. Furthermore, we found that the generalized model of temporal asynchrony provided reliable predictions and that detailed modeling of gypsy moth development was not necessary.
Impact of lightning-NO on eastern United States photochemistry during the summer of 2006 as determined using the CMAQ model

Abstract. A lightning-nitrogen oxide (NO) algorithm is implemented in the Community Multiscale Air Quality Model (CMAQ) and used to evaluate the impact of lightning-NO emissions (LNOx) on tropospheric photochemistry over the United States during the summer of 2006. For a 500 mole per flash lightning-NO source, the mean summertime tropospheric NO2 column agrees with satellite-retrieved columns to within −5 to +13%. Temporal fluctuations in the column are moderately well simulated; however, the addition of LNOx does not lead to a better simulation of day-to-day variability. The contribution of lightning-NO to the model column ranges from ∼10% in the northern US to >45% in the south-central and southeastern US. Lightning-NO adds up to 20 ppbv to upper tropospheric model ozone and 1.5–4.5 ppbv to 8-h maximum surface layer ozone, although, on average, the contribution of LNOx to model surface ozone is 1–2 ppbv less on poor air quality days. LNOx increases wet deposition of oxidized nitrogen by 43% and total deposition of nitrogen by 10%. This additional deposition reduces the mean magnitude of the CMAQ low-bias in nitrate wet deposition with respect to National Atmospheric Deposition monitors to near zero. Differences in urban/rural biases between model and satellite-retrieved NO2 columns were examined to identify possible problems in model chemistry and/or transport. CMAQ columns were too large over urban areas. Biases at other locations were minor after accounting for the impacts of lightning-NO emissions and the averaging kernel on model columns. In order to obtain an upper bound on the contribution of uncertainties in NOy chemistry to upper tropospheric NOx low biases, sensitivity calculations with updated chemistry were run for the time period of the Intercontinental Chemical Transport Experiment (INTEX-A) field campaign (summer 2004). After adjusting for possible interferences in NO2 measurements and averaging over the entire campaign, these updates reduced 7–9 km biases from 32 to 17% and 9–12 km biases from 57 to 46%. While these changes lead to better agreement, a considerable unexplained NO2 low-bias remains in the uppermost troposphere.
Habitat fragmentation, tree species diversity and land cover dynamics in a resettlement area in Chimanimani district of Zimbabwe : a spatio-temporal approach

Agricultural expansion into forests leads to habitat fragmentation and the creation of habitat patches that can only support a limited amount of biodiversity. Adopting theoretical frameworks which seek to understand biodiversity variations in agricultural landscapes currently undergoing rapid land cover changes mainly due to agricultural expansion into forests is important for promoting biodiversity-agriculture coexistence. The main objective of this thesis was to test whether the area-diversity prediction of the island biogeography theory can successfully be used to explain differences in tree species diversity among different woodland patch sizes in Nyabamba resettlement area of south-eastern Zimbabwe. We also tested whether cropland expansion drives land cover change in resettled landscapes of Zimbabwe. The area-diversity prediction of the island biogeography theory was used to explore whether woodland patches of different sizes had significant differences in tree species diversity. We also used remotely sensed data in a GIS-Markov chain modelling framework to determine historic as well as future predictions of land cover dynamics in the study area. Our results show that larger woodland patches had significantly higher species diversity than smaller woodland patches, indicating that the island biogeography theory can be used to explain tree species diversity differences in agriculturally fragmented woodlands. Results of historic land cover modelling and futuristic spatial predictions showed increases in cropland and wooded grassland accompanied by decreases in plantation and woodland. We also found that soil types and distance from rivers significantly influence land cover conversions. Results of this thesis imply that habitat fragmentation has a significant effect on tree species diversity and that cropland expansion is a major driver of land cover conversions in newly resettled agricultural landscapes.
Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) based polymer electrolytes and its application in flexible solid supercapacitors

Supercapacitors can be used as stand alone or complement batteries and solar cells to form hybrid systems that provide high power density and ultra fast charge-discharge rate. Flexible solid supercapacitor have recently been developed indicating tremendous opportunities with this new generation solid energy storage devices because it is thin, light weight, flexible, low maintenance, minimize leakage and easy sealing processes. In this work, proton-conducting polymer electrolytes based on poly (epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) containing ammonium thiocyanate (NH4SCN), ethylene carbonate (EC) and succinonitril (SN) will be presented. The polymer membranes were prepared by solution casting. The potential of electrical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) fabricated from symmetry activated carbon electrodes and the PCL based films has been studied. The highest conducting samples show a room temperature ionic conductivity of 4.3 x 10-3 S cm-1. The fabricated EDLC cells were preliminary evaluated by cyclic voltammetry studies. The highest specific capacitance of EDLC cell is found to be 27.7 F g-1 at scan rate 10 mV s-1. Different cell designs will also be discussed.
Quantification and compositional strategies

The standard analysis of quantification claims that the compositionality of a Generalized Quantifier, which denotes a set of sets and is of type 〈〈e, t〉, t〉, comes from combining a determiner quantifier of type 〈〈e, t〉, 〈〈e, t〉, t〉〉 (following Montague (1973)’s notation) with a Noun Phrase (NP) predicate of type 〈e, t〉 as shown in (1) (cf. Barwise & Cooper (1981), Chierchia & McConnell-Ginet (1990), Dowty et al. (1981), Keenan (1987, 1996, 2002), Keenan & Stavi (1986), Heim & Kratzer (1998), Partee (1995), and references therein).
Nonparametric Inferences for the Hazard Function with Right Truncation

Incompleteness is a major feature of time-to-event data. As one type of incompleteness, truncation refers to the unobservability of the time-to-event variable because it is smaller (or greater) than the truncation variable. A truncated sample always involves left and right truncation. Left truncation has been studied extensively while right truncation has not received the same level of attention. In one of the earliest studies on right truncation, Lagakos et al. [40] proposed to transform a right truncated variable to a left truncated variable and then apply existing methods to the transformed variable. The reverse-time hazard function is introduced through transformation. However, this quantity does not have a natural interpretation. There exist gaps in the inferences for the regular forward-time hazard function with right truncated data. This dissertation discusses variance estimation of the cumulative hazard estimator, one-sample log-rank test, and comparison of hazard rate functions among finite independent samples under the context of right truncation. First, the relation between the reverseand forward-time cumulative hazard functions is clarified. This relation leads to the nonparametric inference for the cumulative hazard function. Jiang [32] recently conducted a research on this direction and proposed two variance estimators of the cumulative hazard estimator. Some revision to the variance estimators is suggested in this dissertation and evaluated in a Monte-Carlo study. Second, this dissertation studies the hypothesis testing for right truncated data. A series of tests is developed with the hazard rate function as the target quantity. A one-sample logrank test is first discussed, followed by a family of weighted tests for comparison between finite K-samples. Particular weight functions lead to log-rank, Gehan, Tarone-Ware tests and these three tests are evaluated in a Monte-Carlo study. Finally, this dissertation studies the nonparametric inference for the hazard rate function for the right truncated data. The kernel smoothing technique is utilized in estimating the hazard rate function. A Monte-Carlo study investigates the uniform kernel smoothed estimator and its variance estimator. The uniform, Epanechnikov and biweight kernel estimators are implemented in the example of blood transfusion infected AIDS data. INDEXWORDS: Right truncation, Reverse-time hazard, Kernel function, Hypothesis testing, Counting process NONPARAMETRIC INFERENCES FOR THE HAZARD FUNCTION WITH RIGHT TRUNCATED DATA
Herbs and Spices: Options for Sustainable Animal Production

Herbs and spices and a host of other plant derivatives used in animal feeding as feed additives are referred to as phytogenic feed additives. This class of feed additives is increasingly gaining popularity in livestock production. A number of studies have demonstrated antioxidative and antimicrobial efficacy in vitro. Methane reducing effects of some herbs and spices in ruminants have also been reported. Studies show that some of these plant materials improved the palatability of feed. There are suggestions that they may specifically enhance activities of digestive enzymes and nutrient absorption. Experimental comparisons of these phytogenic additives with antibiotics and organic acids have suggested similar effects on the gut. This include reduced bacterial colony counts, fewer fermentation products, greater nutrient digestion and probably reflecting an overall improved gut equilibrium. In addition, some of the herbs and spices or their derivatives have been reported to promote intestinal mucus production. This effect may explain improved production performance after including these phytogenic feed additives. In general, available literature suggests that phytogenic feed additives such as herbs and spices may add to the set of non-antibiotic growth promoters for use in livestock like organic acids and probiotics. However, a systematic approach toward the efficacy and safety of phytogenic materials used as feed ingredients or additives is needed. There should also be studies to show the possible interaction of these plant materials with other feed ingredients in vivo. There is also the need to study herbs and spices which are indigenous to the tropics for their utilization in livestock production. Keywords: Herbs, Spices, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Phytogenic Feed Additive, Performance.
Channel estimation using evolutionary computing techniques

Channel estimation is often used in estimating the effect of unknown channels. This information is used to combat unde-sired channel effects such as Intersymbol interference. This paper presents the comparison between renowned evolutionary computing techniques such as Genetic Algorithm (GA), Con-tinuous Particle Swarm Optimization (CPSO) and Differential Evolution (DE) for channel estimation problem. Simulation results show that for channel estimation CPSO outperforms GA and DE since it converges faster and has less error.
Tools for mixed-criticality partitioned systems: partitioning algorithm and extensibility support

The development of mixed-criticality virtualized multicore systems poses new challenges that are being subject of active research work. There is an additional complexity: it is now required to identify a set of partitions, and allocate applications to partitions. In this job, a number of issues have to be considered, such as the criticality level of the application, security and dependability requirements, operating system used by the application, time requirements granularity, specific hardware needs, etc. MultiPARTES [6] toolset relies on Model Driven Engineering (MDE) [12], which is a suitable approach in this setting. In this paper, it is described the support provided for automatic system partitioning generation and toolset extensibility.
Value Maximisation in Shared Fisheries

This paper explores some theoretical and practical issues in developing policy for the management of shared fisheries for maximum value. Maximisation of value from the use of resources is a key component of sustainability, and transferable rights in commercial fisheries management have contributed significantly toward this goal. Maximising value becomes more difficult in fisheries shared among commercial, amateur, and indigenous customary users, where rights of access and values gained from fishing differ in kind between these groups. Management of stock abundance and catch allocation between sectors both affect the total value achievable from a fishery. The components of value in these attributes for each sector and the basis for optimisation discussed. However, the practical aspects of optimisation across sectors pose some difficulties. Two approaches to the problem are discussed: the information approach and the market approach. It seems both face considerable challenges. Information is expensive to collect and methods that will provide reasonable accuracy seem difficult to identify in the New Zealand context. Market approaches appear promising but face problems of political and stakeholder acceptance. Conclusions on a practical way forward include the need for transparent, collaborative multi-stakeholder approaches among sector representatives and government agencies.
Deploying decision criteria in a cyclical decision process for the product planning phase

During the planning process of future products or the future product portfolio, ideas for future market opportunities are generated and within a parallel decision process, the best ones are selected. This paper presents a method for the decision process during that product planning process. The focus is on the selection and weighting of the decision criteria. The method is applicable for planning processes with reoccurring decision steps. Therefore a block model is introduced: in every decision step a new block, compromising a set of criteria is added to the existing blocks and thus more and more integrated decisions can be made about the planning alternatives. Based on that the criteria are weighted consecutively in order to assure consistency between the different decision steps. Therefore we show rules for deriving the weighting factors of decision criteria in that additive decision process.
Sensing magnetic nanoparticles using nano-confined ferromagnetic resonances in a magnonic crystal

We experimentally demonstrate the use of the magnetic-field-dependence of highly spatially confined, GHz-frequency ferromagnetic resonances for the detection of magnetic nanoparticles using an anti-dot-based magnonic crystal. The stray magnetic fields of nanoparticles within the anti-dots modify nano-confined ferromagnetic resonances in the surrounding periodically nanopatterned magnonic crystal, generating easily measurable resonance peak shifts. The shifts are comparable to the resonance linewidths for high anti-dot filling fractions with their signs and magnitudes dependent upon the mode localization, consistent with micromagnetic simulation results. This is an encouraging result for the development of frequency-based nanoparticle detectors for nano-scale biosensing.
A mixed-methods pilot study of the factors that influence collaboration among registered nurses and registered practical nurses in acute care

Objective: Staffing models employing registered nurses (RNs) and registered practical nurses (RPN) have created the opportunity for enhanced collaboration in acute care settings. However, little is understood about how these nurses collaborate and the factors that influence their collaboration. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the factors that influenced collaboration among RNs and RPNs at one acute care hospital in Canada in order to understand and improve nursing collaborative practice. Methods: Using an explanatory, sequential mixed methods design, data were collected over several months in 2016 from the nurses using a questionnaire and individual telephone interviews. Sixty-five RNs and RPNs working on medical, surgical and emergency units completed the “Nurse-Nurse Collaboration Scale” survey and ten RNs and RPNs participated in the telephone interviews. Results: Quantitative analysis showed lower scores among younger nurses across most domains of the survey: conflict management, communication, shared processes, coordination and professionalism. Qualitative analysis revealed working to full scope of practice was a facilitator of RN-RPN collaboration, and older age and poor interpersonal skills were barriers to successful collaboration. Conclusions: The results provide discussion for identification of strategies to improve collaborative practice among nurses such as establishing joint education programs for RNs and RPNs, and the use of models or frameworks to guide collaborative practice in healthcare organizations.
A Direct Comparison of Anti-ulcer Effects of Coenzyme Q10 and Vitamin C on Indomethacin-induced Gastric Ulcer in Rat: A Controlled Experimental Study

Introduction: Indomethacin increases generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) which have a crucial role in the indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer. Coenzyme Q10 has an antioxidant activity on mitochondria and cell membranes and protects lipids from oxidation and is essential for stabilizing biological membranes. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) acts as one of the defense mechanisms against free radicals. When the generation of ROS overwhelms, the antioxidant defense, lipid peroxiation of cell membrane occurs and cause cell damage. Materials and Methods: Male adult Wistar rats were divided into A and B groups. The rats in group A were then further divided into three subgroups of 6 animals each and received one of the following treatments: Animals in the first subgroup received saline. Animals in the second subgroup received saline and indomethacin. Animals in the third subgroup received vitamin C and indomethacin. The rats in group B were also further divided into 3 subgroups of 6 rats each and treated with one of the following treatments: Animals in first subgroup received 1% Tween 80 as vehicle. Animals In second subgroup received 1% Tween 80 and indomethacin. Animals in third subgroup received CoQ10 and indomethacin. Four hours after the last treatment, animals were killed and the stomachs removed were cut and gastric mucosal lesions were examined). Ulcer indexes were determined and SOD activity measured in plasma Results: Pretreatment with both vitamin C and coenzyme Q10 was associated with attenuation of ulcer index and increased SOD activity compared with animals treated with indomethacin alone (P<0.001). Conclusion: This effect of CoQ10 may be due to its electron donating property that inhibits the decrease in SOD activity in gastric tissue (replenishment of endogenous SOD) and inhibiting lipid peroxidation.
Electrorheological Properties of Suspensions Prepared from Polystyrene- Block- Polyisoprene Copolymer

Considerable scientific and industrial interest is currently being focused on a class of materials known as electrorheological (ER) fluids, which display remarkable rheological behaviour, being able to convert rapidly and repeatedly from a liquid to solid when an electric field (E) is applied or removed. In this article, the synthesis, characterization, partial hydrolysis and ER properties of polystyrene-blockpolyisoprene copolymer (COP) were investigated. The block copolymer was characterized by GPC, viscosity measurements, H-NMR and FTIR spectroscopies, particle size measurements, and elemental analysis. The polystyrene block of the copolymer was partially hydrolyzed by a series of chemical reactions and then converted to a lithium salt by washing with a lithium hydroxide solution. Colloidal suspensions of this polymeric salt were prepared in silicone oil, at a series of concentrations (5-33% m/m). Colloidal stabilities of these suspensions were determined at 20◦C and 80◦C. Flow times of suspensions were measured under no electric field (E = 0), and under an applied electric field (E 6= 0), and ER activity was observed. Further, the effects of solid particle concentration, shear rate (γ), electric field strength, addition of a polar promoter and high temperature on ER activities of colloidal suspensions were investigated, and excess shear stresses were determined.
A Simulation Model of New Product Diffusion Based on Small World Network

This paper studies the impact of consumer network structure on the diffusion of new products. Taking a communication product for example, we study its diffusion through simulation based on small world network. We find that the greater the proportion of initial adopters is, the faster the new products diffuses, and it’s marginal benefit is decreasing. The social network’s connection can be divided into weak links and strong links with different functions. The more the weak links are, the faster the new products diffuse. For the rise in marketing costs, enterprises need to improve the possibility of the success of new product diffusion with comprehensive consideration.