Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reconstruction of Zonal Precipitation From Sparse Historical Observations Using Climate Model Information and Statistical Learning

Future projected changes in precipitation substantially impact societies worldwide. However, large uncertainties remain due to sparse historical observational coverage, large internal climate variability, and climate model disagreement. Here, we present a novel reconstruction of seasonally averaged zonal precipitation metrics from sparse rain‐gauge data using regularized regression techniques that are trained across climate model simulations. Subsequently, we test the reconstruction on independent satellite data and reanalyzed precipitation, and find a large fraction of historical zonal mean precipitation (ZMP) variability is recovered, in particular over the Northern hemisphere and in parts of the tropics. Finally, we demonstrate that the reconstructed ZMP trends are outside the variability of pre‐industrial control simulations, and are largely consistent with the range of historical simulations driven by external forcing. Overall, we illustrate a novel way of estimating seasonally averaged zonal precipitation from gauge data, and trends therein that show a signal very likely caused by human influence.
A set of concatenative units for speech synthesis

In a previous paper [J. P. Olive, “Rule Synthesis of Speech From Dyadic Units”, IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing, 568–570, (1977)], we discussed a speech synthesis by rule scheme where the segments used for synthesis were obtained from natural speech. These segments included the consonants and the transitions from consonants to vowels, vowels to vowels, and vowels to consonants. Each synthesis parameter was defined by two sets of LPC area parameters, and in the concatenative process, straight line interpolation was used to obtain the complete set of area parameters. Informal listening and some formal intelligibility testing revealed that this simplified description of the synthesis segments was not sufficient to produce the kind of speech that would satisfy us. Consequently, it was decided to expand the definition of the set of concatenative units. Specifically: (1) the number of phonetic segments defining a synthesis unit can vary from one to three; (2) arbitrary n.
Detection of near-surface defects using a coin-tap approach based on the equivalent impact stiffness of Hertzian contact theory

In this paper, a novel method to analyze the mechanical behavior of the coin-tap test using the principle of pounding mechanics is proposed. Based on the Hertzian contact theory, the linearized contact law is applied to simplify the mathematical model of the coin-tap test. By modeling the stiffness of the defect as an equivalent spring in a serial connection with the contact stiffness, the impact force and impact time can be theoretically derived. The derived expressions show that, the closer the defect is to the surface of the structure, the longer the impact duration time and the smaller the impact force will be. In addition, with the increase of defect radii, the peak force and duration of the impact will decrease and increase, respectively. Another innovation of this paper is that an equivalent impact stiffness (EIS)-based damage index (DI) is proposed to reveal the severity and location of the near-surface damages. Two validation experiments were carried out to validate the influences of the damage’s radii and under-surface depths. In the first experiment, the impact force and time of the central point for eight plates are measured to validate the accuracy of the proposed model. In the second experiment, 18 points on the horizontal centerline of eight specimens were tapped at an interval of 1 cm. The recorded pounding force and time were processed by EIS-based DI. Experimental results show that the EIS-based DI can effectively predict the position and severity of the defects and it holds the potential for practical application.
Internationalization of transnational entrepreneurial firms from an advanced to emerging economy: the role of transnational mixed-embeddedness

PurposeThis study investigates the role of transnational mixed-embeddedness when transnational entrepreneurial firms (TEFs) become internationalized. First-generation immigrant entrepreneurs who maintain business arrangements in their home and host countries own TEFs. In many cases, they internationalize from emerging economies to advanced economies. Nevertheless, this study focuses on TEF cases that internationalize from an advanced to an emerging economy, which prior transnational entrepreneurship studies have largely overlooked.Design/methodology/approachThis research uses a qualitative approach based on six TEF case studies from Canada and the UK venturing into China to explore TEFs' internationalization.FindingsThe case studies explore the elements that constitute TEFs' cognitive and relational embeddedness—two main types of embeddedness—in home and host countries and how TEFs exploit such embeddedness for their internationalization. The results suggest that high levels of transnational mixed-embeddedness help TEFs reduce resource and institutional distance barriers in home countries, thereby assisting their internationalization. A framework that visualizes the role of transnational mixed-embeddedness in TEFs' internationalization and novel categorizations of transnational mixed-embeddedness is proposed.Originality/valueAlthough there has been a growing demand for research on the emergence of internationalized smaller firms, there have been few empirical efforts on TEFs' internationalization. It is still unclear how TEFs internationalize differently than homegrown entrepreneurial firms. This study fills this gap in transnational entrepreneurship literature by examining the influence of transnational mixed-embeddedness on TEFs' internationalization.
A parity-time symmetric coherent plasmonic absorber-amplifier

Non-Hermitian parity-time ( PT)-symmetric optical potentials have led to a new class of unidirectional photonic components based on the spatially symmetric and balanced inclusion of loss and gain. While most proposed and implemented PT-symmetric optical devices have wavelength-scale dimensions, no physical constraints preclude development of subwavelength PT-symmetric components. We theoretically demonstrate a nanoscale PT-symmetric, all-optical plasmonic modulator capable of phase-controlled amplification and directional absorption. The modulator consists of two deeply subwavelength channels composed of either gain or loss dielectric material, embedded in a metallic cladding. When illuminating on-resonance by two counter-propagating plane waves, the aperture's total output can be modulated by changing the phase offset between the two waves. Modulation depths are greater than 10 dB, with output power varying from less than one half of the incident power to more than six times amplification. Off-resonance,.
Siamese Network-Based Feature Transformation for Improved Automated Epileptic Seizure Detection

Epilepsy is a common electrophysiological disorder of the brain, detected mainly by electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. Since correctly diagnosing epilepsy seizures by monitoring the EEG signal is very tedious and time-consuming for a neurologist, a growing number of studies have been conducted on developing automated epileptic seizure detection (AESD). In this work, a novel supervised model is proposed for AESD. Initially, the EEG signals are collected from Bonn University EEG (BU-EEG) database. Then, empirical mode decomposition and feature extraction (combination of entropy, frequency, and statistical features) are applied to extract the features. Furthermore, Siamese network is utilized to lessen the number of extracted features and obtain the most discriminative features. Then, these features are exploited to classify seizure and non-seizure EEG signals by using a support vector machine classifier. This paper examines the Siamese network’s contribution as a learning-based feature transformation in improving seizure detection performance. The numerical results confirm that the proposed framework can achieve a perfect classification performance ( 100 % accuracy). This approach can constructively help doctors to detect epileptic seizure activity and reduce their workload.
Correlates of Physical Activity of Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review of Cross-Sectional Studies

Children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at a high risk for a lack of physical activity (PA). The aim of this study is to review the evidence on the correlates of PA in children and adolescents with ASD in low- and middle-income countries. We searched Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection (PBSC), Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science (WOS), MEDLINE, Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), Education Source (ES), and Academic Search Premier (ASP) databases for relevant studies until April 2022, inclusive, to examine the factors associated with the studies of PA in children and adolescents with ASD aged 5 to 17 years in low- and middle-income countries. A total of 15 articles are included in the present review. Three researchers assessed the methodological quality and extracted relevant data of the included reviews. The correlates were synthesized and further assessed semi-quantitatively. Results of this review show that gender (boys) and more PA opportunities were positively associated with the PA of children and adolescents with ASD, while age and body mass index (BMI) were negatively related to their PA levels in low- and middle-income countries. The day of week was found to be inconsistently associated with PA in children and adolescents with ASD. The findings suggest that research on the correlates of PA in adolescents with ASD in low- and middle-income countries is limited. However, there are clear correlates for which future interventions could be based (age, gender, BMI, and PA opportunity) to promote PA participation in children and adolescents with ASD in low- and middle-income countries.
Beam ion losses due to energetic particle geodesic acoustic modes

We report the first experimental observations of fast-ion loss in a tokamak due to energetic particle driven geodesic acoustic modes (EGAMs). A fast-ion loss detector installed on the DIII-D tokamak observes bursts of beam ion losses coherent with the EGAM frequency. The EGAM activity results in a significant loss of beam ions, comparable to the first orbit losses. The pitch angles and energies of the measured fast-ion losses agree with predictions from a full orbit simulation code SPIRAL, which includes scattering and slowing-down.
Effect of Arabian Sea-Surface Temperature Anomaly on Indian Summer Monsoon: A Numerical Experiment with the GFDL Model

Abstract The global general circulation model of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory has been integrated with and without a cold sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly over the Somali coast and the western Arabian Sea. The temperature anomaly is −3°C near the Somali coast and linearly decreases eastward having zero anomaly at about 1500 km east of the coast. Comparison of the mean of the two model states indicates that the rainfall over India and the adjoining region is drastically reduced due to the colder SST anomaly over the western Arabian Sea. The other associated features due to the cold anomaly are an increase in sea surface pressure over the Arabian Sea, a decrease in local evaporation, and a reduction in the cross equatorial component of the wind at the surface and hence a reduction in the cross equatorial moisture flux. Statistical analysis of the results has been done by comparing the difference between the two mean states (“signal”) and the standard deviation of the errors (“noise”) in es.
Design of Battery-Super Capacitors Combination in Uninterruptible Power Supply ( UPS )

This paper presents a study of the reduction in battery stresses by using Super capacitors (SCs) in UPS. We aim at investigating the optimal Super capacitors-battery combination versus the SCs cost. This investigation is threefold; first, super capacitors and battery models developed using MATLAB/ Simulink are presented and validated. Second, the architecture and the simulation of the designed system that combines the SCs and the battery are shown. The Super capacitors are used as high-power storage devices to smooth the peak power applied to the battery during backup time and to deliver full power during short grid outages. By charging the SCs through the battery at a suitable rate, all impulse power demands would be satisfied by the Super capacitors. Third, extensive simulations are carried out to determine the gain in battery RMS current, the gain in energy losses, the energy efficiency and the elimination rate of surge load power. These four performance parameters are determined by simulation and then analyzed.
Infinite systems for a biharmonic problem in a rectangle

This paper addresses a general analytical method based upon Mellin's transforms technique of investigating asymptotic behaviour of infinite systems of linear algebraic equations occurring in some basic two–dimensional biharmonic problems in a rectangular domain. The object of this paper is to prove the advantages of the asymptotic analysis when studying the concrete problems of an equilibrium of an elastic rectangle, creeping flow of viscous fluid set up in a rectangular cavity by tangential velocities applied along its walls, and bending of a clamped thin rectangular plate by a normal load at one surface. The method is illustrated by several numerical examples; the rapidity of convergence and the accuracy of results are studied.
Construction , Modeling and Evaluation of a Low Loss Motor / Generator for Flywheels

The application of flywheels (FWs) for energy storage requires generators with low losses, converting electrical energy to rotational energy and vice versa. In order to keep losses low and achieve a high power density, axial-flux generators with air-wound stator are surveyed. A small-scale axial-flux permanent-magnet (AFPM) generator with ironless stator has been designed and constructed. Magnetic field, voltage and frequency have been measured and analyzed. The different losses, occurring in the experimental set-up have been investigated. A model of the magnetic field of the rotor configuration has been created in COMSOL Multiphysics and the simulation results have been compared to measurements of the flux density in the air gap.
Combined algorithms for analytical inverse kinematics solving and control of the Q-PRR aerial manipulator*

This paper presents the design and modeling of a new aerial manipulator system, called Q-PRR, composed of three joints with a ﬁxed base in the center of mass of the multirotor considered as a whole system. This structure has a prismatic joint as a ﬁrst joint which allows to keep the center of gravity of the Q-PRR as close as possible to the center of gravity of the multirotor. This will also allow to reduce the inﬂuence of arm motion on the multirotor roll thus to ensure the stability of the system on trajectory tracking with dynamic changes in the multirotor’s center of gravity. Furthermore, the conﬁguration of the manipulator arm for the desired position of the end-eﬀector given by the inverse kinematics model is kept without any change in the position and attitude of the multirotor. This paper develops both forward and inverse kinematics models for a nonlinear underactuated system using the Denavit-Hartenberg notation. When a new algorithm is presented for the inverse kinematics based on Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. Then, the dynamic model in the joint spaces is developed with the Lagrangian formalism. The Q-PRR is controlled using a model-free control with a comparison of two states, a free ﬂy and disturbance forces applied to the whole system with manipulator arm movement.
Capacitance measurements of p-n junctions: depletion layer and diffusion capacitance contributions

A set of capacitance measurements is proposed to identify the different contributions to the junction capacitance (diffusion capacitance and depletion layer capacitance) of p-n Si diodes. By measuring the C-f and C-V characteristics of Si commercial diodes, we fully characterize the AC behaviour of such devices. At reverse bias voltages, only the depletion layer capacitance is present and it is frequency independent in our range of measurement (up to 13 MHz). From C-V characteristics, we deduce a linearly graded junction nature and a built-in value of 0.59 ± 0.02 V. At forward bias voltages and frequencies lower than 100 kHz, both the diffusion and the depletion layer capacitances contribute to the junction capacitance. A simple calculation allows us to obtain a value for the average minority carrier lifetime of tau = (4 ± 2) × 10-6 s. Finally, a voltage dependence of exp(qV/2kT) is deduced for the diffusion capacitance.
Evaluation of the Diagnostic Accuracy and Clinical Utility of Fungal Profile Plus Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay in Pulmonary Infections

Abstract Background Pulmonary infections due to Aspergillus, Mucorales, and Nocardia have high morbidity and mortality, in part due to diagnostic challenges. Commercially available molecular assays on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) may have increased sensitivity over currently available diagnostic options. Our aim was to characterize the diagnostic performance of assays for each of these pathogens in our patient population. Methods The medical records of patients whose BALF was tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Aspergillus, Mucorales, and Nocardia between 2019 and 2021 were reviewed in a cross-sectional manner. European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and the Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) definitions of “proven,” “probable,” and “possible” infection were used, including histopathology, serology, and culture. We used (1) “proven” or “probable” infection by EORTC criteria, (2) improvement or stabilization on targeted antimicrobial therapy, and (3) absence of a more likely diagnosis as the reference standard. Results The Aspergillus PCR assay demonstrated the highest agreement with the diagnostic reference standard, with 31.25% (10/32) sensitivity and 97.17% (206/212) specificity. Positive and negative predictive values were 62.50% (10/16) and 90.35% (206/228), respectively. No Mucorales or Nocardia infections were identified by the diagnostic reference standard, so the sensitivity could not be calculated. The specificity of Mucorales and Nocardia targets was 98.35% and 96.69%, respectively. Conclusions Our data demonstrated relatively poor clinical sensitivity for all 3 constituent PCR assays in our patient population, suggesting a limited role for this test in the diagnosis of Aspergillus, Mucorales, or Nocardia.
Assessing the Association of Shoulder Pain Risk with Physical Fitness in Badminton Players at National Tournament Level

Background: Shoulder pain which affects sports performance and activities of daily life, is a common musculoskeletal problem experienced by badminton players. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the association of shoulder pain with physical fitness in elite university badminton players participating in the national tournament via medical check-ups. Methods: Physical fitness evaluations were performed among fifty-two 18 - 22 years old university badminton players participating in the national tournament. Handgrip strength, heel buttock distance, angle of straight leg raise, single leg stance, shoulder range of motion, and trunk range of motion were assessed. The prevalence of present shoulder pain was described. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association of present shoulder pain with physical fitness. Results: Sixteen badminton players (30.8%) sustained present shoulder pain related to badminton. Dominant trunk rotation (adjusted OR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.84 - 0.99, P-value = 0.028) and single leg stance of the nondominant leg (adjusted OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.94 - 1.00, P-value = 0.048) were significantly associated with the presence of present shoulder pain. Conclusions: Decreased trunk rotation and deficit in single-leg stance balance might be potential risk factors associated with physical fitness for shoulder pain in university badminton players at national tournament level. These findings can help draw the attention of badminton coaches, players, and team members to facilitate physical fitness promotion for badminton pain/injury prevention.
Analysis of the plant physiological effects of late, artificial corn smut infestation using remote sensing methods

In Hungary, corn is also infected by several important pathogens. In this experiment, we analysed the plant physiological effects of artificial late cron smut infestation using remote sensing methods under field conditions We examined the experimental area from which the data comes from with a DJI Phantom 4 Multispectral Drone NDVI and NDRE indices were calculated and analyzed in GIS programs. Individuals treated with a higher dose remained much greener than the untreated control. They also showed significant differences within the indices used.
Comparative experiments with MAPS on different parameterization schemes for surface moisture flux and boundary-layer processes

Abstract This study compares several formulations parameterizing the surface moisture flux and boundary-layer processes using the θ-σ hybrid-b model of the Mesoscale Analysis and Prediction System (MAPS) within both 1D and 3D frameworks. A modified formula for computing the surface moisture flux is proposed based on the assumption that the layer below the lowest model computational level can be represented by three “physical” layers, of which the bottom one is the molecular layer. This three-layer aerodynamic (3LAD) scheme is compared with two-layer aerodynamic (2LAD) as well as flux matching and Penman-Monteith potential evapotranspiration (PM) schemes. Both a 10-day forecast period (3D) and case simulations demonstrate that the 3LAD scheme gives the best prediction in latent heat flux from the ground and mixing ratio in the atmosphere. The moisture flux produced by the 2LAD scheme is too large, especially over warm and moist surfaces. The mean 12-h forecast rms errors in relative humidity at the surface.
Development of an All-Fluoroplastic Microfluidic Device Applied as a Nanoliter Sample Injector

A method was developed to fabricate an all-fluoroplastic microfluidic device using NEOFLON EFEP, a new fluoroplastic material. The device was successfully used as a nanoliter sample injector, which is very useful for various biological assays and chemical syntheses. The advantages of NEOFLON are that it is easily structured, it bonds at low temperatures, and it has chemical/physical robustness. NEOFLON microchannels 5 µm in width and 5 µm in height were successfully fabricated for the prototype sample injector. The injector enabled the sample injection and metering of a 1.9 nL sample with less than 2% volume change. This suggests that the NEOFLON flow device is capable of the precise fluidic handling of a few nanoliter samples in volume.