Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A 7.5-mV-Input Boost Converter for Thermal Energy Harvesting With 11-mV Self-Startup

A DC-DC boost converter for ultra-low-voltage thermal energy harvesting is presented herein. The focus of this brief is to provide both self-startup and efficient conversion at ultra-low input voltages. The converter startup is achieved through the use of a cold starter based on an ultra-low-voltage oscillator and a charge pump. The inductive boost converter architecture uses two low-side switches in order to independently optimize the low-voltage startup and the steady-state conversion efficiency. The model of the developed converter allows optimization of the boost switches as a function of the TEG internal resistance and input voltage. A zero current switching circuit with accurate detection for low input voltages is designed and implemented. The prototype fabricated in 130 nm standard CMOS technology achieves startup for an input voltage of 11 mV and, once started, the system can perform the boost operation for input voltages as low as 7.3 mV, delivering 50% of end-to-end efficiency at 10.5 mV and peak end-to-end efficiency of 85% at 140 mV.
Investigating the assessment strategies used to assess primary trainee teachers on teaching practice

The National Student Survey (NSS) reveals that in the UK Higher Education students are generally dissatisfied with course assessment and feedback processes. This thesis investigates and evaluates a range of assessment and feedback strategies used during Initial Teacher Training (ITT) teaching practice. The views of trainee teachers, school based tutors and university based tutors with regard to the effectiveness of these strategies are also evaluated. A cross sectional research design employing questionnaires, interviews and a focus group interview was used to obtain and analyse data. The findings show that overall, the stakeholders in this study are satisfied with the assessment processes used to assess trainee teachers on teaching practice. These research findings are contrary to the NSS data. Insights gained contribute to the knowedge of the assessment of ITT trainees. This thesis indicates why the assessment strategies used on teaching practice are effective. The lesson observation and subsequent discursive feedback and action point setting is regarded as the most effective assessment strategy. Analysis of the research data suggests that lesson observation and feedback is effective because it provides an authentic assessment experience. The thesis argues that authentic assessment strategies have a positive impact on student experience.
Qualidade de vida urbana no município de Belo Horizonte: análise de confronto entre informações subjetivas e indicadores quantitativos

A qualidade de vida urbana constitui uma questao fundamental a ser considerada visando atender as necessidades e expectativas da populacao local e atrair investimentos para os centros urbanos. Muitos modelos estatisticos para a analise da qualidade de vida urbana tem sido desenvolvidos. Apesar disso, na maioria dos casos, esses modelos focam exclusivamente em indicadores quantitativos. Portanto, aspectos relevantes em relacao a opiniao da populacao, dentro do contexto urbano, nao sao considerados. Nesse trabalho, um modelo de Regressao Logistica Ordenada Multinivel e desenvolvido para a analise da qualidade de vida urbana na cidade de Belo Horizonte, baseado em uma pesquisa de dados recente realizada nesta cidade com informacoes subjetivas da populacao. Os resultados dessa pesquisa sobre niveis de satisfacao da opiniao publica em relacao ao acesso e disponibilidade de servicos sao confrontados, utilizando o modelo proposto, com dados quantitativos tais como o Indice de Qualidade de Vida Urbana de setores de servicos. Conclui-se que o nivel de satisfacao em relacao a acesso a postos de saude e condicoes de nivel de ruido devido a bares ou vizinhos e comercios nao reflete o Indice de Qualidade de Vida Urbana do setor de saude e meio ambiente respectivamente. Quando se compara o coeficiente do IQVU com o respectivo desvio padrao, observa-se que ha significância maior na associacao entre os niveis de satisfacao declarados e o IQVU de setor de servico correspondente nos seguintes casos: condicoes de qualidade do ar, acesso a hospitais, supermercados, escolas particulares do ensino medio e ensino fundamental, disponibilidade de pavimentacao de ruas, transporte publico e servico telefonico. Nesta analise considerou-se uma significância forte quando P < 0,001. Os demais IQVU apresentam uma significância menor na associacao entre os niveis de satisfacao declarados e o IQVU de setor de servico correspondente nos seguintes casos: condicoes de areas verdes, criminalidade, violencia, vandalismo, seguranca de trânsito e nivel de ruido devido ao trânsito, acesso a escolas publicas e disponibilidade de energia eletrica.
A high efficiency on‐chip reconfigurable Doherty power amplifier for LTE communication cells

In this paper, a high efficiency on‐chip reconfigurable Doherty power amplifier (DPA) with proposed topology is proposed for LTE or 4G communication cells. The proposed DPA consists of input driver topology, hybrid coupler, asymmetric amplifiers, and 1:1 balun filtered network. The proposed input driver circuit provides wide amplified signal operation within range of 2.3GHz to 6GHz with flat gain of 33 dB. The amplified signal is unsteadily divided into two paths toward the carrier and the power amplifier by 900 hybrid couplers and demonstrates 27.6 dB and 28.3 dB of gain along with 83.2% and 84.5% of power added efficiency at average output power of 40 dBm. The high efficiency and almost flatness in gain stability of proposed DPA providing better solution in order to overcome the interference and the broadband issues for LTE communication cells. The balun‐filtered network is employed for combined the two outputs of carrier and peak amplifiers that provides more uniform desired band of operation in the frequency responses. The proposed DPA circuit are implemented and optimized by using advanced design RF simulator platform. The fabricated chip is made by using 0.13 μm GaN HEMT on Si‐Nitride monolithic microwave integrated circuit die process. The fabricated chip of DPA provides 85% of PAE with 28 dB gain which are made close agreement with simulation results. The size of chip is 2.8*1.2mm2 which occupies less die area as compared to existing DPAs.
Characterisation and analysis of GLUT4 vesicles in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and the MUNC18-syntaxin interaction

The translocation of GLUT4 from intracellular stores to the plasma membrane in response to insulin results in the large insulin-mediated glucose uptake in fat and muscle tissue. Individuals with insulin resistance and type II diabetes are known to have a defect in this translocation mechanism. As such, a greater understanding of the molecular basis of GLUT4 translocation and recycling is essential in order to design therapies for these diseases. In this study, we have used sucrose gradient analysis to examine the intracellular distribution of GLUT4. This method allowed for the intracellular GLUT4 to be separated into the two pools of GLUT4 containing vesicles. One of these is highly insulin responsive and corresponds to the specialised GLUT4 storage vesicles (GSVs), while the other corresponds to the less insulin responsive endosomal GLUT4 vesicles. It is these specialised GSVs which are believed to allow the large (up to 20- fold) increase in plasma membrane levels of GLUT4, compared to only ~2-fold increase in levels of recycling proteins (such as the transferrin receptor) in response to insulin. The GSVs are small vesicles (~50nm) and exclude the transferrin receptor (and other recycling proteins) found in endosomal vesicles. Here we demonstrated that in response to insulin there is -50% decrease in levels of GLUT4 in GSVs compared to only a 10-20% decrease in levels of GLUT4 in endosomes. We also demonstrate that these sucrose gradients can be used to determine whether other proteins co-localise with GSVs or the endosomal pool. The Sec1/ Munc18 (SM) protein munc 18c is known to interact with syntaxin4 (a t- SNARE present in insulin responsive cells), which is an interaction that appears to inhibit glucose transport by preventing GLUT4 vesicles from undergoing fusion with the plasma membrane. Here we investigated whether a mutated form of the neuronal SM isoform (munc 18a) is capable of functioning in a similar manner to mime 18c (from a sequence alignment of munc 18a and munc 18c we identified specific amino acids to mutate based on the known 3D structure of the munc 18a-syntaxin1 interaction). If indeed the mutated protein is seen to exhibit binding characteristics similar to munc 18c, then it may be possible to establish the importance of the munc 18c-syntaxin4 interaction on GLUT4 integration into the plasma membrane by making recombinant Adenoviral constructs of the munc 18 proteins, and expressing these in mammalian cells. Having made the initial mutations, we demonstrate here that in vitro the mutant munc 18 protein has inherited the syntaxin4 binding capabilities of the wild-type munc 18c. However, we were not able to then get expression of each of the recombinant Adenoviral constructs in mammalian cells, and as such we were unable to establish the effect that these mutations would have upon GLUT4 fusion with the plasma membrane, and ultimately glucose transport.
A influência da raquete de tênis na sobrecarga de membros superiores

As propriedades da raquete podem contribuir para o aumento da sobrecarga nos membros superiores de tenistas, aumentando o risco de lesoes. A vibracao transmitida atraves dos golpes e a forca de preensao no cabo da raquete afetam a demanda sobre o antebraco e podem ser influenciadas pelo tamanho da cabeca, rigidez, distribuicao do peso, tamanho da empunhadura e tensao das cordas. O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar uma revisao da literatura para investigar como essas propriedades podem contribuir no desenvolvimento de lesoes no punho, cotovelo e ombro. Foi realizada uma pesquisa bibliografica na base Medline e 13 estudos foram incluidos na revisao. A analise dos estudos sugere que a sobrecarga dos membros superiores durante a partida de tenis sofre influencia de propriedades da raquete.
Antidiabetic activity of Terminalia sericea Burch. Ex DC constituents

Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine disorder that affects more than 100 million people worldwide. South African plants namely Terminalia sericea, Euclea natalensis, Warbugia salutaris, Aloe ferox Artemisia afra, Sclerocarya birrea, Spirostachys africana and Psidium guajava were investigated for their in vitro antidiabetic and antioxidant activities. Terminalia sericea stem bark extract showed the best results against α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzymes. Bioassay-guided fractionation of an acetone extract of T. sericea stem bark led to the isolation of four known compounds namely β-sitosterol (1), β-sitosterol-3-acetate (2), lupeol (3), and stigma-4-ene-3-one (4), in addition to two inseparable sets of mixtures of isomers [epicatechin-catechin; (M1) and gallocatechin-epigallocatechin; (M2). 1 and 3 showed best inhibitory activity on α-glucosidase (IC50:54.5 μM and 66.48). The bio-evaluation of purified compound’s inhibitory activity on α-amylase, showed that lupeol and β-sitosterol exhibited IC50 values of 140.72 and 216.02 μM respectively against α-amylase. 2, M1, 3 and M2 were found to be non-toxic to Vero cells. This study is the first to report a-glucosidase, a-amylase of M1, M2, 2 and 4 isolated from T. sericea which validated the traditional use of the bark of T. sericea for diabetes in South Africa.
Groundwater Recharge Prediction Using Linear Regression, Multi-Layer Perception Network, and Deep Learning

As the largest freshwater storage in the world, groundwater plays an important role in maintaining ecosystems and helping humans adapt to climate change. However, groundwater dynamics, such as groundwater recharge, cannot be measured directly and is influenced by spatially and temporally complex processes, models are therefore required to capture the dynamics and provide scientific advice for decision-making. This paper developed, estimated and compared the performance of linear regression, multi-layer perception (MLP) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) models in predicting groundwater recharge. The experimental dataset consists of time series of annual recharge from the year 1970 to 2012, based on water table fluctuation estimates from 465 bores in the states of South Australia and Victoria, Australia. We identified the factors that influenced groundwater recharge and found that the correlation between rainfall and groundwater recharge was strongest. The linear regression model had the poorest fitting performance, with the root mean squared error (RMSE) being greater than 0.19 when various proportions of training data were considered. The MLP model outperformed the linear regression in the prediction capability, achieving RMSE = 0.11 when 80% of training data was considered. The LSTM model was found to have the best performance, whose root mean squared errors were less than 0.12 when various proportions of training data were applied. The relative importance of influential predictors was evaluated using the above three models.
Efficacy of household washing pre-treatments and cooking methods for reduction of Listeria monocytogenes in artificially contaminated chicken offal

Consumption of chicken offal is common and famous among Malaysians as it is often served as one of the side dishes with rice. Chicken offal can be a potential source of Listeria monocytogenes because slaughtered animals are recognized as a reservoir for foodborne pathogens. L. monocytogenes is a dangerous foodborne pathogen which can cause severe foodborne listeriosis with high fatality rate. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of different washing pre-treatment and cooking methods to reduce L. monocytogenes in artificially contaminated chicken offal. All the washing pre-treatments (dip treatment in different water sources and wash treatment with different water flow rates) showed significant reduction of the pathogen (p<0.05) when the inoculated samples were treated from 2 mins onwards. Washing the inoculated samples under the water flow rate of 2 L/min was the most effective way to reduce the number of L. monocytogenes (approximately 1.97 log reduction after washing for 10 mins). For heat treatment study, deep-frying was the most effective cooking method followed by boiling and pan-frying to reduce L. monocytogenes where all L. monocytogenes cells (7.91 log10 CFU/g) were killed within 45 s under deep-frying treatment. Overall, the study indicated that washing under running tap water (2 L/min) and deep-frying was effective in reducing and controlling the microbial populations during food preparation. The findings from this study can serve as a safe preparation step and cooking guideline. It is necessary to implement safe steps in food handling practices among food handlers to minimize the risk of foodborne infection.
A High Efficiency and Fast Transient Digital Low-Dropout Regulator With the Burst Mode Corresponding to the Power-Saving Modes of DC–DC Switching Converters

The proposed digital low-dropout regulator uses nonlinear switching control (NLSC) technique to suppress voltage ripple to less than 6 mV when the switching noise voltage of a switching regulator operating in a power-saving mode is greater than 50 mV. In addition, the NLSC technique improves the current efficiency by reducing the quiescent current to less than 10 μA and reduces the switching power loss through variable switching frequency control. With a load step of 1–20 mA, the transient response time is 1.3 μs and the peak current efficiency is 99.8% at heavy loads.
Photochemistry and desorption induced by X-rays in water rich astrophysical ice analogs: implications for the moon Enceladus and other frozen space environments

Soft X-rays are an important agent for chemical processing in the Solar System and in the interstellar medium. The photolysis and photodesorption processes of H2O-rich ices triggered by soft X-rays was, experimentally, addressed in this paper. The experiments were performed at the Brazilian synchrotron facility LNLS/CNPEN employing broadband radiation (from 6 to 2000 eV; mainly soft X-rays and a small fraction of VUV) in solid samples at temperatures of 20 and 80 K. The icy samples were monitored by infrared spectroscopy. We determined the effective destruction cross section (in the order 10−18 cm2) as well as the formation cross section for the new species produced after the irradiation. Among them, we list OCN−, CO, CO3, CH3OH, H2O2, HCOO−, NH4+, HCONH2 and CH3HCO, mostly formed in the experiment at 80 K. The chemical equilibrium stage was characterized and molecular abundances were quantified. In addition, we discuss a methodology to estimate the amount of unknown species in the ice produced by photolysis. The samples reach chemical equilibrium at fluences around 2–3 × 1018 cm−2. Timescales for reaching chemical equilibrium in space environments illuminated by X-rays were given, as well as the desorption yields induced by X-rays. The astrophysical implication on the surface chemistry and desorption processes at the moon Enceladus are provided.
Crystal structure of bis[2-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl-κN 3)aniline-κN]bis(nitrato-κO)cadmium(II)

The synthesis and crystal structure of the title 2-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)aniline CdII complex is reported in which the CdII atom lies on a twofold rotation axis and is coordinated by four N atoms, provided by two bidentate 2-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)aniline ligands, and two nitrato O atoms, forming a distorted octahedral geometry.
An intelligent home energy management (IHEM) based on state of charge of battery in household loads on renewable energy system

This work proposed the switching control strategy for household appliances in a rural area that based their storage on the battery for three days. The system is to track the state of charge (SOC) of the battery to balance with the demand from the output appliances. The existing controller or regulator tries to off all the appliances when the SOC is reaching a certain level. However, to avoid a total blackout and to avoid at least an appliance to be working. Thus, we try to design an intelligent discrete-time controller and optimize the controller parameter for the set point control followed the base rule. The system performance result shows that proposed switch control strategies work within a certain limit and avoid total discharge of the battery.
The Influence of Surface Coatings of Silver Nanoparticles on the Bioavailability and Toxicity to Elliptio complanata Mussels

Nanomaterials could be modified with various coatings which could modulate their behavior in the environment, bioavailability and toxicity. The purpose of this study was to determine if the selected coatings of silver nanoparticles (nAg) could influence the fate, bioavailability, and toxicity toward suspension feeding freshwater mussels, Elliptio complanata. Mussels were exposed for 96 h to 50 μg/L of nAg with the following surface coatings: citrate, silicate (Si), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and branched polyethylenimine (bPEI). After the exposure period, mussels were analyzed for total Ag, resistance to air emersion, oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and autophagosome protein uptake (protein ubiquitinylation) in gills and digestive glands. The data revealed that citrate- and PVP-coated nAg were 2 times more abundant in the digestive gland compared to bPEI- and Si-coated nAg with estimated bioaccumulation factors between 5 and 10. The data revealed that tissue Ag levels were closely associated with air survival time, weight loss during air exposure, DNA strand breaks, LPO, and protein-ubiquitin levels in the digestive gland. The data supports the hypothesis that the coatings could influence bioavailability and toxicity in freshwater mussels.
STUDIES REGARDING THE CONCEPTION RATES AT DAIRY COWS

The conception rate is defined as the aptitude of a female to romaine pregnant after the first A.I. and represents the proportion between the number of pregnant cows at first A.I and the number of cows inseminated in that period. In our experiments of estrus induction and synchronization, in order to increase the pregnancy rates, we used the Ovsynch protocol and other protocols for PgF 2 α and GnRH. In order to establish the pregnancy rates, the number of females that have not return in heats after A.I. were taken in consideration. The conception rates were 45.5 – 52.6%. The estrus synchronization offers the possibility to increase the pregnancy rates at first service after calving and creates the possibility to inseminate at certain time without heat detection.
Metagenomic analysis of bacterial and fungal community composition associated with Paulownia elongata × Paulownia fortunei

The dynamics and interactions of microbial communities in Paulownia’s life cycle are poorly understood. The main goal of this study was to compare the rhizospheric soil and endophytic microbiome and mycobiome of hybrid Paulownia elongata and Paulownia fortunei. The comparison was based on highly efficient Illumina MiSeq sequencing of bacteria and fungi from the rhizosphere and endosphere of bioenergetic trees P. elongata x P. fortunei. The general richness of bacteria and rhizospheric fungi (based on Chao 1, Shannon, and Simpson indicators) was higher than in endosphere samples from the same plants. Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were dominant in the rhizosphere and endosphere of plants in healthy conditions. The rhizosphere fungal communities in both trials were dominated by Ascomycota, Mortierellomycota, and Basidiomycota. Most root endophytes came from Olpidiomycota, Oomycota, and Ascomycota, while most leaf endophytes were from Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. This study was the first report on the composition of bacteria and fungi associated with the endosphere and rhizosphere of Paulownia trees. These studies showed that bacterial and fungal communities from the rhizosphere and endosphere were separate communities. It also showed that the health conditions of trees did not affect the composition of endophytic microorganisms in Paulownia tissues.
Wavelet-Domain Low-Rank/Group-Sparse Destriping for Hyperspectral Imagery

Pushbroom acquisition of hyperspectral imagery is prone to striping artifacts in the along-track direction. A hyperspectral destriping algorithm is proposed such that the subbands of a 3-D wavelet transform most affected by pushbroom stripes—namely, those with spatially vertical orientation—are the exclusive focus of destriping. The proposed method features an iterative image decomposition composed of a low-rank model for the stripes coupled with a group-sparse prior on the wavelet coefficients of the subbands in question. While low-rank stripe models have been widely used in the past, they typically have been deployed in conjunction with a total-variation prior on the image that is prone to oversmoothing and residual stripe artifacts. On the other hand, the proposed group-sparse prior not only captures the well-known sparse nature of wavelet coefficients but also capitalizes on their vertical clustering in the subbands in question. In addition, while many prior destriping methods are wavelet-based, they employ 2-D transforms band by band. In contrast, the proposed 3-D wavelet transform provides a greater concentration of stripe information into fewer wavelet coefficients, leading to more effective destriping. Experimental results on both synthetically striped imagery as well as real striped imagery from an actual hyperspectral sensor demonstrate superior image quality for the proposed method as compared with other state-of-the-art methods.