Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modes of Tropical Variability under Convective Adjustment and the Madden–Julian Oscillation. Part I: Analytical Theory

Abstract The interaction between the collective effects of cumulus convection and large-scale dynamics is examined using the Betts–Miller moist convective adjustment (MCA) parameterization in a linearized primitive equation model on an equatorial β plane. In Part I of this paper, an analytical approach to the eigenvalue problem is taken using perturbation expansions in the cumulus adjustment time, which is short compared to planetary dynamical time scales. The modes of tropical variability that arise under MCA are dominated by the presence of moist processes; some modes act to adjust the system rapidly toward a convectively adjusted state, while others evolve on time scales set by the large-scale dynamics subject to near-adjusted (quasi equilibrium) thermodynamical constraints. Of the latter, a single vertical mode stands out, which obeys special balances implied by the quasi-equilibrium constraints and is the only propagating deep convective mode. The propagation speed is determined by an internally defi.
Status of the DNB based ITER CXRS and BES diagnostic

A status report is given on recent joint activities on the ITER CXRS and BES diagnostic package. Expected measurement performances are reviewed as well as comprehensive discussions are led on an integral approach to the implementation of Core and Edge CXRS observation periscopes. The "first mirror" location, its operational temperature, maintenance issues, and optimization of optical imaging are addressed. In parallel to more technical aspects, particular attention has also been given to the development of common evaluation and modeling tools. One part of this work is linked to the modeling of spectra for existing fusion devices and their CXRS diagnostics and extrapolation to the ITER environment. The purpose of this effort is to provide tools for the optimization of spectroscopic instrumentation, and moreover, the specifications of a suitable diagnostic beam.
Optimal Decentralized PID Control with Any Controller Structure Based on Inverse Problem of Optimal Control

: This paper describes optimal decentralized PID control with any controller structure for systems with relative degree no more than 2 from the viewpoint of an inverse linear quadratic problem. We have shown that the decoupling matrix is related to both in optimality and stability of the closed loop system so far. However, a condition for the LQ optimality has never been provided in the case where the inverse of the decoupling matrix does not belong to decentralized controller structure. In this paper, we derive a necessary and su ﬃ cient condition for the LQ optimality. Moreover, our approach for decentralized control is improved from block diagonal controller structure into any structure. We then provide concrete methods of optimal and stable decentralized controllers, respectively. Finally, we show that a desired transient response with decoupled input / output characteristics can be achieved by our decentralized controller, and illustrate the e ﬀ ectiveness of our proposed method by simulation.
Net optical gain at 1.53 mu m in Er-doped Al2O3 waveguides on silicon

A 4 cm long Er‐doped Al2O3 spiral waveguide amplifier was fabricated on a Si substrate, and integrated with wavelength division multiplexers within a total area of 15 mm2. When pumped with 9 mW 1.48 μm light from a laser diode, the amplifier shows 2.3 dB net optical gain at 1.53 μm. The gain threshold was 3 mW. The amplifier was doped with Er by ion implantation to a concentration of 2.7×1020 cm−3. The data agree well with calculations based on a model which includes the effects of cooperative upconversion and excited state absorption. For an optimized amplifier, net optical gain of 20 dB is predicted.
Research on Integral Sliding Mode Control with Exponential Approximation Law for Magnetically Suspended Rotor System of CMG

A robust controller for the magnetic bearing system of magnetically suspended control moment gyroscope(MSCMG) is presented in this paper. The controller mainly deals with the problems such as the strong nonlinearity, parameter perturbation and modeling uncertainties in MSCMG. The axial dynamics as well as the linearized electromagneticforce models of magnetic bearings are developed. Besides,the parameter perturbation and modeling uncertainties are analyzed. Furthermore,a novel nonlinearity integral sliding mode controller is introduced based on the exponential approximation law. An integral sliding mode plane relating to current and position is designed; both exponential approximation law and saturation function are adopted to suppress the chattering phenomenon. Experimental results prove that the new method effectively suppresses SMC 's chattering problem and that the new method has good dynamic performance under parameter perturbation. Moreover,the control system possesses strong robustness to restrain multiple disturbances when both rotor and gimbal system work.
4 - Modélisation et mise en correspondance avec la pyramide neuractive

Cet article presente les pyramides neuractives pour la modelisation des objets subissant des deformations elastiques. Une pyramide est construite pour chaque image de la sequence. Chaque niveau de la pyramide est un graphe regulier construit recursivement sur l'image de depart convoluee par un filtre passe-bas. Les cellules de ce graphe s'adaptent au contenu local des images. L'adaptation du graphe est obtenue en minimisant une fonction energetique basee sur le gradient de l'image et la deformation des cellules. Chaque cellule recoit un vecteur de moments statistiques calcule sur sa zone d'interet et celles de ses voisines. La mise en correspondance des pyramides permet d'acceder au champ de vecteurs des transformations elastiques locales. L'algorithme de mise en correspondance est fonde sur une approche neuronale auto-organisatrice. La souplesse et l'aspect multiresolution des structures permettent d'obtenir des resultats robustes et precis. L'application a des images cardiaques obtenues par resonance magnetique (IRM) 2D montre l'interet de la methode pour la modelisation d'objets complexes.
The impact of compact radio sources on their host galaxies: observations

I review the observational evidence that CSS/GPS radio sources have a significant impact on the evolution of their host galaxies, particularly on the kpc-scales of the galaxy bulges. Starting with an overview of the observational evidence for jet-cloud interactions and warm ionised outflows in CSS/GPS sources, I then consider the challenges involved in quantifying the feedback effect of the warm outflows in terms of their mass outflow rates and kinetic powers. For the best-observed cases it is shown that the warm outflows may have a major negative feedback effect in the very central regions, but probably lack the power to heat and eject the full cool ISM contents of the host galaxies. In contrast, the recently-discovered neutral and molecular outflows are more massive and powerful and therefore carry more destructive potential. However, the feedback effect of such outflows is not necessarily negative: there is now clear observational evidence that the molecular outflows are formed as the hot, compressed gas cools behind fast shocks driven into the ISM by the relativistic jets. The natural endpoint of this process is the formation of stars. Therefore, jet-induced star formation may be a significant process in CSS/GPS radio galaxies. Finally, I discuss whether CSS/GPS sources are “imposters” in flux-limited radio samples, due the flux boosting of the radio sources by strong jet-cloud interactions in the early stages of radio source evolution. (© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Heat Waves: Physical Understanding and Scientific Challenges

Heat waves (HWs) can cause large socioeconomic and environmental impacts. The observed increases in their frequency, intensity and duration are projected to continue with global warming. This review synthesizes the state of knowledge and scientific challenges. It discusses different aspects related to the definition, triggering mechanisms, observed changes and future projections of HWs, as well as emerging research lines on subseasonal forecasts and specific types of HWs. We also identify gaps that limit progress and delineate priorities for future research. Overall, the physical drivers of HWs are not well understood, partly due to difficulties in the quantification of their interactions and responses to climate change. Influential factors convey processes at different spatio‐temporal scales, from global warming and the large‐scale atmospheric circulation to regional and local factors in the affected area and upwind regions. Although some thermodynamic processes have been identified, there is a lack of understanding of dynamical aspects, regional forcings and feedbacks, and their future changes. This hampers the attribution of regional trends and individual events, and reduces the ability to provide accurate forecasts and regional projections. Sustained observational networks, models of diverse complexity, narrative‐based methodological approaches and artificial intelligence offer new opportunities toward process‐based understanding and interdisciplinary research.
A Low-Profile Risley-Prism-Based 2-D Beam-Scanning Circularly Polarized Folded Transmitarray Antenna at Ku-Band

In this communication, a novel folded transmitarray antenna (FTA) based on the principle of the Risley-Prisms antenna is proposed, which can achieve circular polarized (CP) beam scanning in both azimuth and elevation planes with low scanning loss. The antenna consists of a CP patch feed source, a metal ground plate, and two rotatable circular polarization selective metasurfaces (CPSMs). The CPSM can fully reflect the CP incident waves in one mode (left-hand CP (LHCP) mode or right-hand CP (RHCP) mode) and transmit the CP incident waves in the other mode. By mechanically rotating two CPSMs above the feed source, the beam’s scan range covers 0°–52° in the elevation plane and 0°–360° in the azimuth plane. The measured maximum gain is 22.9 dBic at 16 GHz, with a total efficiency of 30.1%. Moreover, since the wave’s propagation path is folded, the overall profile of the proposed antenna is only $1.92 \lambda _{0}$ including the feed source. The proposed antenna has the advantages of low profile, compact structure, low loss, low cost, high gain, and easy fabrication. It has potential in applications that have limited space and weight, such as satellite communication and vehicle communication systems.
Fe3+@PDOPA‑b‑PSar Nanoparticles for Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Cancer Chemotherapy

Purpose Chemotherapy treatments for cancer are always accompanied by a low concentration of drug delivered in the tumor area and severe side effects including systemic toxicity. Improving the concentration, biocompatibility, and biodegradability of regional chemotherapy drugs is a pressing challenge in the field of materials. Methods N-Phenyloxycarbonyl-amino acids (NPCs) which exhibit significant tolerance to nucleophiles, such as water and hydroxyl-containing compounds, are promising monomers for the synthesis of polypeptides and polypeptoids. Cell line and mouse models were used to comprehensively explore how to enhance the tumor MRI signal and evaluate the therapeutic effect of Fe@POS-DOX nanoparticles. Results In this study, poly(3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine)-b-polysarcosine (PDOPA-b-PSar, simplified as POS) was synthesized by the block copolymerization of DOPA-NPC with Sar-NPC. Fe@POS-DOX nanoparticles were prepared in order to utilize the strong chelation of catechol ligands to iron (III) cations and the hydrophobic interaction between DOX and DOPA block to deliver chemotherapeutics to tumor tissue. The Fe@POS-DOX nanoparticles exhibit high longitudinal relaxivity (r1 = 7.06 mM−1·s−1) and act as T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging contrast agents. Further, the main focus was improving tumor site-specific bioavailability and achieving therapeutic effects through the biocompatibility and biodegradability of Fe@POS-DOX NPs. The Fe@POS-DOX treatment exhibited excellent antitumor effects. Conclusion Upon intravenous injection, Fe@POS-DOX delivers DOX specifically to the tumor tissues, as revealed by MR, and leads to the inhibition of tumor growth without overt toxicity to normal tissues, thus displaying considerable potential for use in clinical applications.
A Perceptual Approach to the Impact of CSR on Organizational Financial Performance

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a progressively significant issue for organizations and governments. To benefit from a good reputation that reflects on organizational performance, organizations must ensure the balance between stakeholders’ needs. This paper studies the direct and indirect effects of CSR on organizational financial performance as perceived by employees of organizations. The investigation used structural equation modeling to evaluate and describe the nature of the relationship between these two variables. The empirical study uses a perceptual approach, evaluating the perceptions of the closest stakeholders (employees). Data on the perceptions of 431 employees in Romanian organizations were collected following a questionnaire-based survey. The results indicate a strong effect of social responsibility on both direct and mediated organizational financial performance. The relationships established with the stakeholders ultimately affect organizational financial performance through variables such as the attraction and retention of employees, the attraction and loyalty of customers, more accessible access to capital, and the organization’s reputation.
Gizli Degi§kenler if;eren Modellerde Skor E§leme (Score Matching for Models with Latent Variables)

Undirected graphical models such as Markov random fields or Boltzmann machines prove useful in many signal processing and machine learning tasks. However, parameter estimation in these models is diffi cult due to the intractable normalising con­ stant in their probability density functions. One powerful tech­ nique for parameter estimation in such models is score match­ ing. This technique makes use of an objective function which is independent of the normalising constant and constitutes locally consistent estimators for the parameters of such models. How­ ever, score matching is only applicable to fully-observed mod­ els. In this paper, we extend the applicability of score matching to models with latent variables. Our estimators are unbiased, based on Monte Carlo integration. Unbiased gradient estima­ tors open the way to optimisation through stochastic approxi­ mation. We demonstrate the performance of our methodology on two synthetic problems.
Exploring the Experiences and Perceptions of Pediatric Therapists who use Functional Electrical Stimulation in their Clinical Practice

Abstract Aim: This study aimed to 1) explore the experiences and perceptions of pediatric physical therapists (PTs) and occupational therapists (OTs) who use FES in their practice, and 2) provide recommendations for overcoming common barriers to FES implementation. Methods: Eight Canadian PTs (n = 6) and OTs (n = 2), who use FES in their pediatric practice, participated in semi-structured interviews. Open-ended questions queried the motivation, goals, perceived benefits and challenges, and facilitators and barriers of FES use. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interpretive description was used to analyze the transcripts. Results: One overarching theme emerged: FES is a useful adjunct to therapy for certain pediatric clients. Four sub-themes were identified: Participants described 1) motivation for incorporating FES into clinical practice, which led to 2) experiences with the implementation of FES in clinical practice, including strategies for overcoming implementation barriers. These experiences influenced 3) how FES is used in practice (e.g. for which populations and therapeutic goals), and informed 4) recommendations for pediatric FES practice (e.g. more educational opportunities, research, and access for families). Conclusions: Pediatric PTs and OTs who use FES in clinical practice view FES as a valuable adjunct, especially for motor training to improve functional skills.
Can Azolla filiculoides be a complementary feed resource for ecological intensification in small-scale fish farming? Biological effects on giant gourami (Osphronemus goramy)

Using Azolla filiculoides, a candidate macrophyte species for ecological intensification, in small-scale aquaculture requires the investigation of the potential effects of fresh plant material not only on fish growth but also on physiological status and responses to disease and stress. In this study, juveniles of giant gourami Osphronemus goramy reared into cages placed in an outdoor pond were fed for six weeks with different proportions of fresh Azolla in replacement of commercial pellets (A: 100%, B: 56%, C:26% and D: 0% of the feeding events). The condition factor (KFulton) somatic and immunological indicators were measured. Effects of Azolla on transport stress and bacterial infection with Aeromonas hydrophila were also assessed. Results showed that KFulton decreased with increasing proportions of Azolla in the diet (p < 0.001). Total protein, albumin and globulin in fish from treatment A were significantly lower than in the other treatments. A decrease in lymphocytes was observed in treatments A and B (p < 0.001) and fish from these treatments had higher levels of monocytes (p < 0.001). Neutrophils were higher in treatment A only (p = 0.012). Plasma lysozyme levels and serum bactericidal activity increased with Azolla in the diet (both p < 0.001). Before transport stress, glycaemia was lower in fish from treatment A (p < 0.001) while after transport, glycaemia increased in all treatments excepted treatment A (p < 0.001) where survival was the highest after 15 days post transport. One week after infection the survival of fish was higher in fish from treatments A and B (p < 0.001). Azolla had positive effects on immunological indicators, and resistance to stress and disease but decreased growth. These findings suggest using Azolla at reasonable rate (i.e. <30% of the diet) to reduce pellets inputs while maintaining growth and providing other benefits to fish.
Human Resource (HR) Outsourcing in European Compensation Management in the Light of CRANET Research

The purpose of this paper is to explore the practice of outsourcing in Human Resource Management (HRM) in countries of Europe-EU and Serbia. An analytical exploration of available literature in the area of outsourcing was made, as well as a statistical analysis of the CRANET research data to determine the actual level of outsourcing in HRM in companies around the world, and to make comparison between Serbian compensation outsourcing practice and countries of 20 EU countries. Results of the analysis pointed out that outsourcing of payroll and benefits is used lesser than outsourcing in the field of pensions. Serbian companies use outsourcing at a new low level. There are statistically significant positive correlations between outsourcing of payroll, pension and benefits among each other, and with the number of employees in HR department. A multiple regression model was used to explore the predictors of HR outsourcing. The differences between EU countries in the area of compensation outsourcing have been discussed.
Optimal Control for an Impedance Boundary Value Problem.

We consider the analysis of the scattering problem. Assume that an incoming time harmonic wave is scattered by a surface of an impenetrable obstacle. The reflected wave is determined by the surface impedance of the obstacle. In this paper we will investigate the problem of choosing the surface impedance so that a desired scattering amplitude is achieved. We formulate this control problem within the framework of the minimization of a Tikhonov functional. In particular, questions of the existence of an optimal solution and the derivation of the optimality conditions will be addressed. Acknowledgments I would like to take this opportunity to thank Prof. Andreas Kirsch (KIT, Germany) for providing me with an exciting master’s thesis topic and guiding me along the way. I am sincerely grateful for the discussions we had in person, over the phone and by email. I am also very thankful for carefully reading the draft version of the thesis and giving valuable suggestions. I would also like to thank Prof. Jeff Borggaard and Prof. Terry Herdman for advising me early in the exchange program, and offering the opportunity to do a master’s thesis at Virginia Tech in collaboration with Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. I would also like to thank Prof. John Burns for introducing optimal control theory in a motivating manner, and for providing a “big picture” of the problems discussed in class. I also want to thank my fellow students at VT, Kapil Ahuja and Hans-Werner van Wyk, for the professional discussions we had, their advising on mathematical writing style and for their great company.
Analyzing Quadtree Partitions with Different Thresholds on Various Type of Images in Fractal Compression

The paper analyzes the effect of quadtree partition method with different thresholds on various images in order to compress an image with fractal approach. The paper also addresses the cases where lossless compression cannot be achieved. The traditional fractal image compression methods are based on two different partitions on the same image but this paper provides single quadtree partition method to achieve compression. Keywords—Quadtree, threshold, fractal and image compression.
Immune Response to Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Receiving Cladribine

Cladribine has been approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) and its administration results in a long-lasting depletion of lymphocytes. As lymphopenia is known to hamper immune responses to vaccination, we evaluated the immunogenicity of the influenza vaccine in patients undergoing cladribine treatment at different stages vs. controls. The antibody response in 90 cladribine-treated MS patients was prospectively compared with 10 control subjects receiving platform immunotherapy (NCT05019248). Serum samples were collected before and six months after vaccination. Response to vaccination was determined by the hemagglutination-inhibition test. Postvaccination seroprotection rates against influenza A were comparable in cladribine-treated patients and controls (H1N1: 94.4% vs. 100%; H3N2: 92.2% vs. 90.0%). Influenza B response was lower in the cladribine cohort (61.1% vs. 80%). The increase in geometric mean titers was lower in the cladribine group vs. controls (H1N1: +98.5 vs. +188.1; H3N2: +225.3 vs. +300.0; influenza B: +40.0 vs. +78.4); however, titers increased in both groups for all strains. Seroprotection was achieved irrespective of vaccination timing and lymphocyte subset counts at the time of vaccination in the cladribine cohort. To conclude, cladribine-treated MS patients can mount an adequate immune response to influenza independently of treatment duration and time interval to the last cladribine administration.