Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A 12-Level Series-Capacitor 48-1V DC–DC Converter With On-Chip Switch and GaN Hybrid Power Conversion

This work presents a 48-1V dc–dc converter with an on-chip switch and gallium nitride (GaN) hybrid power conversion. By series connecting a 12-level Dickson switched-capacitor with a two-phase switched-inductor circuit, the capacitors take over most of the 48-V voltage stresses. The circuit, thus, reduces to an equivalent 4-1V converter, making the on-chip 5-V transistor applicable for a 48-V high-voltage design. Due to the easy integration of on-chip switches and superior switch figures of merit over other 48-1V counterparts, this proposed design is able to achieve the highest switching frequency, the lowest external switch count, and the improved power density compared with other prior-state-of-the-arts. The prototype was fabricated using a 0.18-<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \text{m}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> BCD process with an evaluation board volume of 17 mm <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\times $ </tex-math></inline-formula> 15 mm <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\times $ </tex-math></inline-formula> 2.6 mm. The converter achieves a maximum 8-A loading capacity with the input range from 36 to 60 V and the output from 0.5 to 1 V. The measured peak power efficiency is 90.2%, and the power density is 998 A/in<sup>3</sup> considering the power stage volume.
Low-cost ELC-UWB fan-shaped antenna using parasitic SRR triplet for ISM band and PCS applications

ABSTRACT This article presents a low-cost, fan-shaped, tri-arm, circular microstrip antenna that is practically loaded with the three split-ring resonators (SRR) and also uses defected ground structure (DGS) to obtain ultra-wideband (UWB) performance. To compensate for the decreased value of gain because of the DGS structure, the antenna is further loaded parasitically with three split-ring resonators (SRR). The introduced metamaterial SRR triplet results in improved impedance matching and 7 dB improvement in reflection coefficient (S11) at the designed frequency. This also leads to improvement in the gain of antenna and a gain of 7.16 dBi has been obtained. The paper reports 10 dB bandwidth from 1.81 GHz to 3.0 GHz which covers applications like Wi-MAX, Wi-Fi, GSM (1.9 GHz), public safety band, Bluetooth, ISM band (2.4–2.5 GHz), 3 G (2.1 GHz), 4 G LTE(2.1–2.5 GHz), WCDMA (1.9, 2.1 GHz) and other PCS applications. The measured values of S11 is lower than −10 dB for the fractional bandwidth more than 48.98% and hence ultra-wideband performance has been achieved. The antenna is novel in the sense it contains three fractal rectangular arms in the basic circular patch. The addition of arms in patch increases the overall electrical length, which results in improvement in overall bandwidth.
Environmental and Cultivation Factors Affect the Morphology, Architecture and Performance of Root Systems in Soilless Grown Plants

Soilless culture systems are currently one of the fastest-growing sectors in horticulture. The plant roots are confined into a specific rootzone and are exposed to environmental changes and cultivation factors. The recent scientific evidence regarding the effects of several environmental and cultivation factors on the morphology, architecture, and performance of the root system of plants grown in SCS are the objectives of this study. The effect of root restriction, nutrient solution, irrigation frequency, rootzone temperature, oxygenation, vapour pressure deficit, lighting, rootzone pH, root exudates, CO2, and beneficiary microorganisms on the functionality and performance of the root system are discussed. Overall, the main results of this review demonstrate that researchers have carried out great efforts in innovation to optimize SCS water and nutrients supply, proper temperature, and oxygen levels at the rootzone and effective plant–beneficiary microorganisms, while contributing to plant yields. Finally, this review analyses the new trends based on emerging technologies and various tools that might be exploited in a smart agriculture approach to improve root management in soilless cropping while procuring a deeper understanding of plant root–shoot communication.
Test of the Serotonin Transporter Gene × Early Life Stress Interaction Effect on Subjective Well‐Being and Loneliness Among Japanese Young Adults

This study investigated whether aspects of early life environment (quality of parental relationship, frequency of parental violence including disciplinary violence, amount of parental attention, and family income during childhood) would affect one's subjective well-being and loneliness later in life (i.e., during young adulthood). This study also investigated whether the negative influence of early life stress is greater among individuals with the SS genotype of the serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) in the serotonin transporter gene. Participants were 568 university students whose genotypes were identified using nail samples. They reported their current levels of subjective well-being and loneliness as well as their recollections of their early family environments. The results showed that less stressful early life environments, such as high levels of parents' relationship quality and parental attention, were positively (negatively) associated with subjective well-being (loneliness), while frequent parental violence was negatively (positively) associated with subjective well-being (loneliness). Nevertheless, the gene × environment interaction effects were consistently non-significant—the SS genotype did not accentuate the effects of early life stress. Studies gene-by-environment × E) interactions to Dick PubMed G × E to 2000; first half of single-nucleotide polymorphisms portion the variance in
The Comprehensive Contributions of Endpoint Degree and Coreness in Link Prediction

In past studies, researchers find that endpoint degree, H-index, and coreness can quantify the influence of endpoints in link prediction, especially the synthetical endpoint degree and H-index improve prediction performances compared with the traditional link prediction models. However, neither endpoint degree nor H-index can describe the aggregation degree of neighbors, which results in inaccurate expression of the endpoint influence intensity. Through abundant investigations, we find that researchers ignore the importance of coreness for the influence of endpoints. Meanwhile, we also find that the synthetical endpoint degree and coreness can not only describe the maximal connected subgraph of endpoints accurately but also express the endpoint influence intensity. In this paper, we propose the DCHI model by synthesizing endpoint degree and coreness and the HCHI model by synthesizing H-index and coreness on SRW-based models, respectively. Extensive simulations on twelve real benchmark datasets show that, in most cases, DCHI shows better prediction performances in link prediction than HCHI and other traditional models.
Potential Impact of Land-Use Changes on River Basin Hydraulic Parameters Subjected to Rapid Urbanization

Urbanization is a significant challenge that catchments face around the world leading to difficulty in implementing stormwater-related engineering solutions. This study aimed at investigating the impact of land use/land cover change on hydraulic parameters of a rapidly urbanizing river basin, a case of the Jangwani basin in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. In this study, the peak discharges were estimated using the SCS-Curve Number Method under the combination of ArcGIS and HEC HMS for three different years (1998, 2009, and 2018). The 100-year rainfall event recorded in 2011 was used to develop the meteorological model in HEC HMS. The steady flow analysis was accomplished using the HEC-RAS software package. To capture the effect of land use/land cover change as well as avoiding variability, the same rainfall dataset was applied for all the three study years. According to the modelling results in HEC RAS, the parameters such as top flow width, average velocity, hydraulic depth, conveyance, shear, stream power as well as the cumulative volume were observed to be increasing with time.
Triple frequency radar retrieval of microphysical properties of snow

Abstract. An algorithm based on triple-frequency (X, Ka, W) radar measurements that retrieves the size, water content and degree of riming of ice clouds is presented. This study exploits the potential of multi-frequency radar measurements to provide information on bulk snow density that should underpin better estimates of the snow characteristic size and content within the radar volume. The algorithm is based on Bayes' rule with riming parameterized by the “fill-in” model. The radar reflectivities are simulated with a range of scattering models corresponding to realistic snowflake shapes. The algorithm is tested on multi-frequency radar data collected during the ESA-funded Radar Snow Experiment. During this campaign in-situ microphysical probes were mounted on the same airplane as the radars. This nearly perfectly collocated dataset of the remote and in-situ measurements gives an opportunity to derive a combined multi-instrument estimate of snow microphysical properties that is used for a rigorous validation of the radar retrieval. Results suggest that the triple-frequency retrieval performs well in estimating ice water content and mean-mass-weighted diameters obtaining root-mean-square-error of 0.13 and 0.15, respectively for log10 IWC and log10 Dm. The retrieval of the degree of riming is more challenging and only the algorithm that uses Doppler information obtains results that are highly correlated with the in-situ data.
The Role of Differential Ablation and Dynamic Detachment in Driving Accelerating Mass Loss From a Debris‐Covered Himalayan Glacier

Sustained mass loss from Himalayan glaciers is causing supraglacial debris to expand and thicken, with the expectation that thicker debris will suppress ablation and extend glacier longevity. However, debris‐covered glaciers are losing mass at similar rates to clean‐ice glaciers in High Mountain Asia. This rapid mass loss is attributed to the combined effects of; (a) low or reversed mass balance gradients across debris‐covered glacier tongues, (b) differential ablation processes that locally enhance ablation within the debris‐covered section of the glacier, for example, at ice cliffs and supraglacial ponds, and (c) a decrease in ice flux from the accumulation area in response to climatic warming. Adding meter‐scale spatial variations in supraglacial debris thickness to an ice‐flow model of Khumbu Glacier, Nepal, increased mass loss by 47% relative to simulations assuming a continuous debris layer over a 31‐year period (1984–2015 CE) but overestimated the reduction in ice flux. Therefore, we investigated if simulating the effects of dynamic detachment of the upper active glacier from the debris‐covered tongue would give a better representation of glacier behavior, as suggested by observations of change in glacier dynamics and structure indicating that this process occurred during the last 100 years. Observed glacier change was reproduced more reliably in simulations of the active, rather than entire, glacier extent, indicating that Khumbu Glacier has passed a dynamic tipping point by dynamically detaching from the heavily debris‐covered tongue that contains 20% of the former ice volume.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEVERAGE RISK AND PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS IN MERU COUNTY- KENYA

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the Influence of leverage risk on performance of selected real estates in Meru County Kenya. Methodology: This study employed a descriptive research design. The target population comprised of 390 real estate owners and the sample size was 197 respondents. Stratified random sampling and purposive sampling procedures were used to select the sample size from the target population. Data was analyzed by use of SPSS version 23. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics such as Regression, and Analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to present the results in tables and figures. Results: This study revealed statistically significant relationships between leverage risk and performance of real estate investments. This study established that Leverage risk had a statistically significant influence on real estate investment performance (r=.686, p<0.01), (f=12.29, p<0.01). However, Real estate investments was not affected by market risk since it had the least influence on its performance. Unique contribution to theory, policy and practice: The study added value to Investors on necessity to evaluate leverage risk, as well as maintain a well-balanced capital structure when making real estate investment decisions. There is dire need for central bank of Kenya to amend lending rates specifically on mortgages. The study informed policy decision to the ministry of finance & central bank of Kenya on implementing fiscal and monetary policies that create an enabling environment. A further study on determinants of leverage in real estate investments need to be done.
An Open-Hardware and Low-Cost Maintenance Tool for Light-Electric-Vehicle Batteries

The large increment expected in the diffusion of light-electric-vehicles will raise several issues that must be addressed to cope with this trend, including battery diagnostic and maintenance services. The battery system is the most expensive part in the majority of the e-mobility devices. Therefore, battery manufacturers tend to reduce the battery cost by using simple battery management systems that provide only basic safety features. Possible advanced functionalities are not implemented and the battery may lose performanceduring its use. Widely spread maintenance centers are thus required to support the mobility electrification process, but their diffusion is limited by the high cost ofprofessional battery characterization instruments. This work proposes an open-hardware low-cost battery maintenance tool architecture that can be used with common laboratory instruments. The tool is based on a relay-matrix and a battery monitor integrated circuit. It is able to completely characterize and optimize the state of a battery independently of the battery management system and also gives a figure of the individual aging of the battery cells. The work shows the architecture and the experimental validation of a 16-cells battery maintenance tool prototype. The results demonstrate that utilizing the tool brings the battery in the best possible state and identifies the degradation of the cells in terms of capacity and resistance.
Functional-semantic field of quantity (number) in systematically different languages

This article studies the problem of the functional-semantic field of quantity (number) in systematically (structurally) different languages. The author analyses various language structures with the meaning of quantity obtained from 18 monolingual and bilingual dictionaries. The peculiarities of the functioning of these structures are recorded based on a continuous sampling from the literary and journalistic works of the English, American, Russian, and Japanese authors. The research considers the ontological category of quantity (number) conceptualizing in a language and being a language category of quantitativeness. The analysis is performed based onliterary and journalistic works, colloquial language. It is established that the category of quantity (number) is essential for all the languages studied. The grammatical category of number is represented through the opposition of singularity and plurality, duality. The functional-semantic field of quantity (number) is represented through four main parameters: composition, measurability, deviation, and state. The research results are that the author discovers that the functional-semantic field of quantity consists of two quantitative macrofields – definite and indefinite.
Stabilization of a wave equation with a distributed control

In this paper, a distributed control isproposed to consider the stabilization of a wave equation. First, we transfer the distributed control problem into a boundary control problem via introducing a simple transformation including a new control function. Second, combining with the stabilization controller of the intermediate boundary control system and hidden regularity of the wave equation, we obtain the distributed feedback control of the original wave system. Third, we prove the exponential stability of the closed‐loop wave system. Then, we point out that the presented procedure for the wave system is also valid for the stabilization of the heat equation with a distributed control considered by Tsubakino et al. (2012). Finally, a numerical result is given, which shows the validity of the distributed feedback controller for the wave system designed by backstepping method.
Dynamic modeling of air traffic emissions with a two variable system

Abstract Greenhouse gases emissions modify the radiative balance of the Earth, causing changes in its climate. Climate Change is considered one of the greatest threats to economic and social stability. Aviation is responsible for around a 2.5% of greenhouse gases emissions. This contribution is steadily increasing, thus the interest of assessing the impacts that different policies might have on it. The simple feedback model proposed here was intended as a tool in order to investigate the stabilization issue. The model was based on the relationship between the number of air traffic passengers and the associated CO2 emissions. It incorporated a representation of the feedback of the technological innovation on the emissions rate and of those of the socioeconomic response to the climatic impact on the passengers number. The model parameters were estimated using data from a variety of robust air traffic sources. However, it was found that neither of the feedback terms succeeded at stabilizing the emissions, although they might slow down their growth. In addition, there is also a nonlinear version of the model that includes a representation of the passengers perception of insecurity, similar to the one experienced in the current pandemic. This model favors the stability of both, the number of passengers and CO2 emissions, as it would also be able to control unprecedented situations.
Octopus Consciousness: The Role of Perceptual Richness

It is always difficult to even advance possible dimensions of consciousness, but Birch et al., 2020 have suggested four possible dimensions and this review discusses the first, perceptual richness, with relation to octopuses. They advance acuity, bandwidth, and categorization power as possible components. It is first necessary to realize that sensory richness does not automatically lead to perceptual richness and this capacity may not be accessed by consciousness. Octopuses do not discriminate light wavelength frequency (color) but rather its plane of polarization, a dimension that we do not understand. Their eyes are laterally placed on the head, leading to monocular vision and head movements that give a sequential rather than simultaneous view of items, possibly consciously planned. Details of control of the rich sensorimotor system of the arms, with 3/5 of the neurons of the nervous system, may normally not be accessed to the brain and thus to consciousness. The chromatophore-based skin appearance system is likely open loop, and not available to the octopus’ vision. Conversely, in a laboratory situation that is not ecologically valid for the octopus, learning about shapes and extents of visual figures was extensive and flexible, likely consciously planned. Similarly, octopuses’ local place in and navigation around space can be guided by light polarization plane and visual landmark location and is learned and monitored. The complex array of chemical cues delivered by water and on surfaces does not fit neatly into the components above and has barely been tested but might easily be described as perceptually rich. The octopus’ curiosity and drive to investigate and gain more information may mean that, apart from richness of any stimulus situation, they are consciously driven to seek out more information. This review suggests that cephalopods may not have a similar type of intelligence as the ‘higher’ vertebrates, they may not have similar dimensions or contents of consciousness, but that such a capacity is present nevertheless.
Evaluation of Economic Security of Water Resources and Analysis of Influencing Factors

To effectively evaluate the level of economic security of water resources (WES) in China and analyze its influencing factors, a comprehensive evaluation model of WES and a regression analysis model of influencing factors are established based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2011 to 2017. It is found that, first, WES in China presents a fluctuating upward trend. Second, different regions have different economic security levels for their water resources in China, among which WES in the central region is the highest. Third, there is a U-shaped correlation between economic development and WES, and the population, pollution control level, technological innovation have negative impacts on WES. Moreover, this study also finds that with upgrades to the industrial structure and level of human capital, there will be improvements to WES. However, the external coefficient and the investment scale of fixed assets have a negative impact on the economic security of water resources. This is helpful to utilize the water resources and improve the water resource safety management. KEyWoRdS Economic Security, Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation, Influencing Factors, Water Resources
Oximetry neither to prescribe long-term oxygen therapy nor to screen for severe hypoxaemia

Background and objective Transcutaneous pulse oximetry saturation (SpO2) is widely used to diagnose severe hypoxaemia and to prescribe long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) in COPD. This practice is not based on evidence. The primary objective of this study was to determine the accuracy (false positive and false negative rates) of oximetry for prescribing LTOT or for screening for severe hypoxaemia in patients with COPD. Methods In a cross-sectional study, we correlated arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) and SpO2 in patients with COPD and moderate hypoxaemia (n=240) and calculated the false positive and false negative rates of SaO2 at the threshold of ≤88% to identify severe hypoxaemia (arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) ≤55 mmHg or PaO2 <60 mmHg) in 452 patients with COPD with moderate or severe hypoxaemia. Results The correlation between SaO2 and SpO2 was only moderate (intra-class coefficient of correlation: 0.43; 95% confidence interval: 0.32–0.53). LTOT would be denied in 40% of truly hypoxaemic patients on the basis of a SaO2 >88% (i.e., false negative result). Conversely, LTOT would be prescribed on the basis of a SaO2 ≤88% in 2% of patients who would not qualify for LTOT (i.e., false positive result). Using a screening threshold of ≤92%, 5% of severely hypoxaemic patients would not be referred for further evaluation. Conclusions Several patients who qualify for LTOT would be denied treatment using a prescription threshold of saturation ≤88% or a screening threshold of ≤92%. Prescription of LTOT should be based on PaO2 measurement. Although transcutaneous pulse oximetry is widely used to diagnose severe hypoxaemia and prescribe long-term oxygen therapy in COPD, up to 40% of patients who qualify for this therapy would be denied treatment using the saturation threshold of ≤88% https://bit.ly/3jolWU5