Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
0.69 nm resolution ultrasonic motor for large stroke precision stage

This study reports the application of the non-resonant type ultrasonic motor (NRUSM) to a 300 mm-stroke ultra-precision stage for the future nanoelectronics manufacturing. The advantages of the NRUSM are high resolution and no magnetic noise generation due to the DC characteristics of the piezoelectric device, and high servo rigidity and no additional brake mechanism needed due to direct drive mechanism. It is confirmed that the NRUSM is suitable for ultra-precision positioning, slow and high velocity feeding at closed-loop control. The NRUSM driven stage performance results are; (1) maximum velocity 50 mm/s over the 300 mm-stroke at open-loop control; (2) positioning accuracy of /spl plusmn/0.69 nm at step and repeat response, and position accuracy at constant velocity feeding 10 nm/s /spl sim/36 mm/s below 20 nm at closed-loop control.
Genetic Variability, Heritability and Genetic Advance of Ten Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) varieties at Omo Kuraz, Southern Ethiopia

Ten sesame varieties were evaluated using Randomized complete block design with three replications at Omo kuraz -1 sugar development project of South Omo, Southern Ethiopia, during 2018/19 under irrigated condition to estimate phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variation, heritability and genetic advance for some important characters in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.). The treatment consisted of ten varieties of sesame namely: E, Tate, Kelafo74, Mehando-80, T-85, Adi, Abasena, S, Argene and Serkamo. Data were collected on phenological, growth, yield, yield components, oil content and oil yield and analyzed using SAS software version 9.0. The results showed that there were significant differences among the varieties for all characters studied. High estimates for GCV and PCV were observed in seed yield and oil yield, While Plant height to first branch, Plant height to first capsule, number of capsules per plant and harvest index showed moderate PCV and GCV and the remaining traits recorded low PCV and GCV. High estimates for heritability values were observed for traits Seed yield, Plant height to first branch, TSW, Plant height to first capsule, internode length and harvest index which indicated that for breeding activities and can be utilized in subsequent selections based on phenotypic expressions of individual plants for specific traits. And it further indicates the limited influence of the environment on the phenotypic expressions of the traits. Further computation for GAM indicated that high estimates were found for Seed yield, number of capsules per plant, Harvest index, Plant height to first branch, Plant height to first capsule which could further confirm the easy of selections based on phenotypic traits after cycle of selection using 5 % selection intensity. This study generally indicated that there were significance genetic variations among the varieties. Thus, there is enormous opportunity of using the germplasm in the improvement program for employing different breeding techniques for selection of varieties for significant increment in economic traits like seed yield, percent oil content and oil yield.
The FuturICT technological innovation paradigm

In the next century, planet earth will don an electronic skin. It will use the Internet as a scaffold to support and transmit its sensations. This skin is already being stitched together. It consists of millions of embedded electronic measuring devices: thermostats, pres- sure gauges, pollution detectors, cameras, microphones, glucose sensors, EKGs, electroencephalographs. These will probe and monitor cities and endangered species, the atmosphere, our ships, highways and fleets of trucks, our conversations, our bodies-even our dreams . What will the earth's new skin permit us to feel? How will we use its surges of sensation? For several years-maybe for a decade-there will be no cen- tral nervous system to manage this vast signaling network. Certainly there will be no central intelligence.some qualities of self-awareness will emerge once the Net is sensually enhanced. Sensuality is only one force pushing the Net toward intelligence". These statements are quoted by an interview by Cherry Murray, Dean of the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and Professor of Physics. It is interesting to outline the timeliness and highly predicting power of these statements. In particular, we would like to point to the relevance of the question "What will the earth's new skin permit us to feel? " to the work we are going to discuss in this paper. There are many additional compelling questions, as for example: "How can the electronic earth's skin be made more resilient? "; "How can the earth's electronic skin be improved to better satisfy the need of our society? ";"What can the science of complex systems contribute to this endeavour? "
Co-Optimization of Output and Reserve with Significant Penetration of Renewables

Co-optimization of output and reserve is necessary in order to provide maximum benefit to both consumers and producers. Once renewable generation sources like wind or solar begin to make up a large proportion of the generation mix, this co-optimization becomes much more difficult since the output of renewable sources is not well-known in advance. In this paper, a uniform reliability level is used as a constraint in the process of output and reserve. The proposed model is tested on the modified 5-bus PJM system. The co-optimization is performed by sequential quadratic programming techniques. The results show that the co-optimization results are strongly related to the uncertainties of wind power, the reliability level of the system, and the reliability of generators when wind makes up a significant portion of the generation mix.
Influence of cutting management on photosynthetic parameters, heat use efficiency and productivity of barley (Hordium vulgare L.) under variable sowing dates

Field experiments were conducted during 2015–16 and 2016–17 at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, to study the effect of staggered sowing on photosynthetic parameters, heat use efficiency and the productivity of barley (Hordium vulgare L.) in relation to different cutting management. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three sowing dates (October 15, October 30 and November 15) in main plots and five cutting management [un-cut (control), cut at 50 days after sowing (DAS), cut at 60 DAS, cut at 50 DAS + additional 15 kg N ha-1 after cut (N15) and cut at 60 DAS + additional 15 kg N ha-1 after cut (N15)] in sub plots,replicated four times. The results indicated that photosynthetic parameters (PAR interception, chlorophyll index and normalized difference vegetation index) decreased significantly and progressively with each delay in sowing. Heat use efficiency and helio thermal use efficiency of October 15 and October 30 sown crops were statistically similar. Delay in sowing caused significant reduction in fodder, grain and biological yield of barley probably due to significant reduction in photosynthetic parameters.Nitrogen application after fodder cut improved the chlorophyll index, whereas, cutting did not influence the normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI). Un-cut crop recorded higher PAR interception.Significantly higher heat use efficiency and helio thermal use efficiency were recorded in uncutcrop. Un-cut and fodder cut at 50 DAS produced similar grain and biological yield and significantly higher than other cutting treatments. Cut at 60 DAS gave higher fodder yield but at the cost of 9.43-18.3 per cent reduction in grain yield than cut at 50 DAS. Correlation studies indicated significant positive correlation of grain yield with photosynthetic parameters, emphasizing the importance of higher growth and photosynthetic rate during reproductive period for best yield accrual from barley.
Plasma FGF-21 and Sclerostin Levels, Glycemia, Adiposity, and Insulin Sensitivity in Normoglycemic Black and White Adults

Abstract Increased circulating fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-21 and sclerostin levels have been reported in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). We assessed the association of FGF-21 and sclerostin with adiposity, glycemia, and glucoregulatory measures in healthy subjects. We studied 20 normoglycemic Black and White offspring of parents with T2D. Assessments included oral glucose tolerance test, insulin sensitivity (Si-clamp), insulin secretion (homeostasis model assessment index of b-cell function [HOMA-B]), and body fat (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry). Fasting plasma FGF-21 and sclerostin levels were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The participants’ mean (+SD) age was 50.4 ± 5.97 years; body mass index (BMI) 32.5 ± 5.86 kg/m2; fasting plasma glucose (FPG) 96.1 ± 5.21 mg/dL, and 2-hour postload glucose 116 ± 5.45 mg/dL. FGF-21 levels were similar in Black people vs White people (0.36 ± 0.15 ng/mL vs 0.39 ± 0.25 ng/mL), men vs women (0.45 ± 0.14 vs 0.44 ± 0.07 ng/mL), correlated positively with BMI (r = 0.23, P = .05) and waist circumference (r = 0.27, P = .04), and inversely with FPG (r = –0.26, P = .05). Sclerostin levels also were similar in Black people (33.5 ± 17.1 pmol/L) vs White people (34.2 ± 6.41 pmol/L), men vs women (35.3 ± 9.01 pmol/L vs 32.3 ± 15.8 pmol/L), and correlated inversely with FPG (r = –0.11 to –0.44) but not adiposity measures. The correlation coefficient between Si-clamp values and FGF-21 levels was –0.31 (P = .09) compared with 0.04 (P = .89) for sclerostin levels. FGF-21 and sclerostin levels were not correlated with each other or HOMA-B. Among healthy Black and White subjects, plasma FGF-21 and sclerostin showed differential associations with adiposity but concordant association with FPG levels.
Causality Relationship between Trading Volume and Stock Return: Evidence from Nepalese Stock Market

This paper aims to empirically examine the causal relation between trading volume and stock returns for Nepalese Stock Market using Garner causality procedure, using monthly data for the period of July 2007 to February 2015. The study analyzed for the investigation of the Granger causality between trading volume and stock price using monthly data sets to ascertain if the causality runs from volume to stock price or from stock price to volume or in both directions. This study detected unidirectional causality from stock returns to trading volume that is indicative of noise trading model of return volume interaction in this market.
An Implantable Artificial Atherosclerotic Plaque as a Novel Approach for Drug Transport Studies on Drug‐Eluting Stents

Atherosclerotic arteries are commonly treated using drug‐eluting stents (DES). However, it remains unclear whether and how the properties of atherosclerotic plaque affect drug transport in the arterial wall. A limitation of the currently used atherosclerotic animal models to study arterial drug distribution is the unpredictability of plaque size, composition, and location. In the present study, the aim is to create an artificial atherosclerotic plaque—of reproducible and controllable complexity and implantable at specific locations—to enable systematic studies on transport phenomena of drugs in stented atherosclerosis‐mimicking arteries. For this purpose, mixtures of relevant lipids at concentrations mimicking atherosclerotic plaque are incorporated in gelatin/alginate hydrogels. Lipid‐free (control) and lipid‐rich hydrogels (artificial plaque) are created, mounted on DES and successfully implanted in porcine coronary arteries ex‐vivo. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI‐MSI) is used to measure local drug distribution in the arterial wall behind the prepared hydrogels, showing that the lipid‐rich hydrogel significantly hampers drug transport as compared to the lipid‐free hydrogel. This observation confirms the importance of studying drug transport phenomena in the presence of lipids and of having an experimental model in which lipids and other plaque constituents can be precisely controlled and systematically studied.
How Does the Urethra Respond to Bladder Filling in Continent and Incontinent Women?

Objective The objective of this study was to describe mean urethral pressure (MUP) during filling cystometry in continent and incontinent women. Methods Incontinent women were recruited from a urogynecology clinic if they answered “sometimes” or “always” to 1 of the items on the Medical, Epidemiologic, and Social Aspects of Aging questionnaire. Participants were categorized by Medical, Epidemiologic, and Social Aspects of Aging scores into stress urinary incontinence (SUI) or urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) groups. Continent women were recruited from the community. Multichannel urodynamics were performed using microtip catheters. Urethral pressure profiles were obtained with an empty bladder and at 100-mL increments during filling. Data were analyzed in SPSS. Continuous variables were compared with independent t test or analysis of variance, categorical variables with the χ2 test, and multivariable comparisons were made with linear regression. Results Eighty-six women (30 continent, 56 incontinent: 37 SUI, 19 UUI) with a mean ± SD age of 48 ± 15 years and a body mass index (BMI) of 31 ± 9 participated. Sixty-nine percent were White, 43% were postmenopausal, and 80% were parous. Continent women were younger (P < 0.001) and had a lower BMI (P = 0.004). Mean cystometric capacity was higher in women with SUI and continent women than in women with UUI (430 ± 142, 448 ± 101, and 332 ± 160, P = 0.04). Continent women had higher MUP at baseline when controlling for age, BMI, and parity (84 ± 35 cmH2O vs 62 ± 28 cmH2O; aR2 = 0.2, P = 0.02) compared with incontinent women. During filling, MUP in continent women was 20–30 cmH2O higher at all bladder volumes than incontinent women. Mean urethral pressure increased significantly between baseline and 300 mL in continent women (P < 0.005) and women with SUI (P = 0.04), but not in women with UUI (P = 0.48). Conclusions Continent women have greater baseline MUP and greater increases in MUP during bladder filling than incontinent women.
Pattern recognition and knowledge extraction for on-line partial discharge monitoring with defect location

• A submitted manuscript is the author's version of the article upon submission and before peer-review. There can be important differences between the submitted version and the official published version of record. People interested in the research are advised to contact the author for the final version of the publication, or visit the DOI to the publisher's website. • The final author version and the galley proof are versions of the publication after peer review. • The final published version features the final layout of the paper including the volume, issue and page numbers.
Local Signal Adaptivity: Provable Feature Learning in Neural Networks Beyond Kernels

Neural networks have been shown to outperform kernel methods in practice (including neural tangent kernels). Most theoretical explanations of this performance gap focus on learning a complex hypothesis class; in some cases, it is unclear whether this hypothesis class captures realistic data. In this work, we propose a related, but alternative, explanation for this performance gap in the image classiﬁcation setting, based on ﬁnding a sparse signal in the presence of noise. Speciﬁcally, we prove that, for a simple data distribution with sparse signal amidst high-variance noise, a simple convolutional neural network trained using stochastic gradient descent simultaneously learns to threshold out the noise and ﬁnd the signal. On the other hand, the corresponding neural tangent kernel, with a ﬁxed set of predetermined features, is unable to adapt to the signal in this manner. We supplement our theoretical results by demonstrating this phenomenon empirically: in CIFAR-10 and MNIST images with various backgrounds, as the background noise increases in intensity, a CNN’s performance stays relatively robust, whereas its corresponding neural tangent kernel sees a notable drop in performance. We therefore propose the local signal adaptivity (LSA) phenomenon as one explanation for the superiority of neural networks over kernel methods.
Hedonic Analysis of Impacts of Traffic Volumes on Property Values

This research attempts to quantify the cumulative impacts of vehicle traffic, both passenger cars and trucks, by using the hedonic price analysis of the relationship between property values and the traffic along selected arterial corridors in Chicago, Illinois. The traffic characteristics are derived from the traffic counts data obtained from the City of Chicago and include average daily traffic, maximum daily peak, and nighttime volumes, calculated separately for trucks and for total traffic. Autoregressive models, with assessed property value as the dependent variable and traffic characteristics along with other determinants of property value as the independent variables, are constructed. The models include a spatial-lag term to control for the spatial autocorrelation and are estimated using the two-stage least squares. The regression results from the final models suggest that although the characteristics for total traffic have modest but statistically significant impact on property values, the traffic characteristics for trucks are statistically insignificant. Also, the strong evidence of spatial dependence in the data set underscores the importance of paying close attention to the model specification and controlling the autocorrelation in the hedonic price analysis.
Microbial quality assessment of kunun-zaki beverage sold in Girei town of Adamawa State, Nigeria

4cells/ml. The presence of high microbial loads was indication of poor hygiene and/or poor quality cereals and water used in the preparations. The microorganisms recovered were Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococuus pyogenes, Rhizopus nigricans, Penicillium digitatum, Aspergillus fumigatus and Monilia sitophila. The types and density of microorganisms recovered from calls for urgent measures to be taken by regulatory authorities in the processing and handling of the product before being sold to the unsuspecting general public.
New uniaxial-ferrite millimeter-wave junction circulators

The authors report on progress in the development of millimeter-wave junction circulators for the band near 31 GHz, incorporating the technique of exploiting the high effective internal magnetic anisotropy field of barium and strontium magnetoplumbites (hexagonal ferrites) to eliminate the external permanent magnet requirement. Microstrip and waveguide three-port junction versions have been built and evaluated, exhibiting good isolation and insertion loss performance, and requiring no magnet. Design considerations include the magnetic material parameters of remanent magnetization, anisotropy, coercive field, resistivity, and shape-dependent demagnetizing effects, as well as microstrip and waveguide junction circuit geometries, dissipative effects, temperature stability, and influences of coax-microstrip transducers. <<ETX>>
Gestión e impacto del Covid-19 en el deporte escolar guipuzcoano (Impact and management of school sports during Covid-19 in Gipuzkoa)

Desde el inicio de la pandemia de COVID-19 en marzo de 2020, el mundo del deporte, así como la sociedad en general, se ha visto afectada y ha tenido que adaptarse a esta nueva realidad. En este sentido, el deporte escolar ha sufrido numerosos cambios, desde la suspensión de todas las actividades, pasando por diferentes situaciones en función de la comunidad, provincia o municipio. Esto ha generado diversos escenarios que, en el caso de Guipúzcoa, han tenido que gestionar las personas coordinadoras de deporte escolar (CDE), cuyo impacto todavía es desconocido. El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer, describir y comprender la gestión del deporte escolar guipuzcoano desde marzo de 2020 hasta finales del año 2020, dividida en tres fases en función de la situación sanitaria en Guipúzcoa. Para ello se diseñó un cuestionario que se envió a los y las CDE durante el mes de enero. Los resultados muestran que se realizaron propuestas online durante la primera fase de la pandemia, y propuestas en el medio natural durante la desescalada. Igualmente, se observa un descenso de las actividades de un 75,4% a 34,6% así como de la participación de los escolares desde septiembre hasta diciembre (1,68/5). Curiosamente, al tener que adaptarse a un nuevo contexto, las iniciativas han supuesto una ruptura con el modelo tradicional de deporte escolar, aproximándose hacia un paradigma más educativo y menos competitivo. Con todo, parece que el confinamiento ha traído consigo una reflexión acerca del enfoque y la misión de la oferta deportiva para escolares. Abstract. Since the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, society and consequently sports-world has had to adapt to this new reality. Specifically, school sports has undergone many changes which generated various settings. In the case of Gipuzkoa, the school sports coordinators (SSC) have had to managed these settings. The objective of this study was to know, describe and understand the management of school sports in Gipuzkoa from March 2020 to the end of 2020 divided into the three phases of the pandemic situation in the region. For this aim, a questionnaire was designed and answered by SSC. The results showed that various online proposals were made online during the lockdown. After it, activities in nature were proposed having great success. Likewise, there was showed a decreased in the number of proposals from 75,4% to 34,6% and also on children´s participation in activities since the beginning of the pandemic (1,68/5). On the other hand, having to adapt to a new context, the initiatives proposed during the pandemic have broken with the traditional model of school sports moving towards a more educational and less competitive paradigm. All in all, it seems that the confinement has brought with it a reflection on the focus and mission of the sports offer for schoolchildren.
A DC to DC PWM series resonant converter operated at resonant frequency

Resonant DC-DC converters that are usually operated using frequency modulation to achieve regulation have the disadvantage of wideband frequency modulation. An alternate regulation scheme that uses fixed-frequency pulse width modulation (PWM) is proposed. This control scheme is applied to a series-loaded, series-resonant converter. When operated in a full-bridge configuration and with a variation of PWM that can be described as a phase shift modulation between the two sets of switches, the converter presents low switching stresses. Analytical results presented include VA rating and stresses on critical active and passive components as a function of input voltage variation. A 200 kHz, 700 W, 48 V output offline converter was realized using this concept, and some experimental results are presented to corroborate the analysis. >
On-Chip Interconnects

In this paper, a bus transceiver demonstrator IC in a 1.2V 0.13∝m 6M copper CMOS process is presented. Simulations and measurements show that pulse-width pre-emphasis in combination with resistive termination can increase the data-rate to 3Gb/s/ch, using 10mm-long, 0.4∝m-wide differential interconnects. Without the proposed techniques, these interconnects can only achieve 0.55Gb/s/ch.