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Research has been conducted on the study of the multi-slip impact on the Williamson fluid flow above a stretching sheet in the existence of an inclined magnetic field and Radiation. By applying the proper similarity conversions, the governing equations (PDEs) are reduced to a set of non-linear ODEs, and a numerical solution is produced by using MATLAB in-built solver bvp4c package. The impacts of the dimensionless characteristics on the flow patterns are analyzed visually, and the values of the friction, Nusselt, and mass transfer quantities are tabulated to exemplify how the various physical factors have an influence. As the magnetic parameter strength increases, the fluid velocity decreases, but it increases with mixed convection. As the parameters of Brownian motion and thermophoresis increase, the temperature also increases. The findings provide good agreement when compared to the current literature.

This study takes into account the viscous dissipation of the laminar viscosity and radiation influence of the MHD heat and mass transfer nanofluid flow across two dimensional boundary layers in the porous medium in the existence of heat, thermophoresis and Brownian motion influence. The governing equations are transformed into nonlinear ordinary differential equations by the aid of the similarity transformation. The solution is numerically solved with the MATLAB in the built-in bvp4c solver. The influences of the appropriate flow parameters are analysed in graphs and in tabular form.

In this paper, we apply a several wavelets basis functions to the method of moments to modeling the parallel-coupled microstrip lines. The first set of equations is for the shielded microstrip line solved with moment’s method and wavelets. The Green’s function is obtained from the theory of images. The second set are for the parallel-coupled microstrip lines operating in the TEM mode or when the analysis can be based on quasi-static approximation, the properties of coupled lines can be determined from the self- and mutual inductances and capacitances for the lines. To demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed technique, numerical results of even- and odd-mode characteristic impedances, coupling coefficient, percentage sparsity achieved in the impedance matrix, the CPU Time to reverse impedance matrix, and error relative for Daubechies, Coiflets, Biorthogonal and Symlets wavelets are presented. Numerical results are in good agreement with those in previous publications.

A high order multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna assembly is designed for Ultra-Wideband (UWB) applications. The antenna configuration is based on a peculiar arrangement of the radiating elements. A defected microstrip structure is also introduced on the feedlines. The use of a novel technique, the so-called ports-shift, is here discussed. In the proposed antenna, a protruded ground branch structure is employed in combination of three parasitic stubs so as to enhance isolation and impedance matching over the UWB frequency band. The results show that the presented antenna exhibits a good impedance matching which is about -10 dB with a high mutual coupling 15 dB, and envelope correlation coefficients (ECC) smaller than 0.15. The antenna also exhibits good diversity gain of about 9.5, and a good efficiency that varied between 56% and 91% and total active reflection coefficient of less than -20 dB. Which makes it a good candidate for UWB applications.

A compact ultra-wideband (UWB) multiple input-multiple output (MIMO) antenna with high isolation is designed for UWB applications. The proposed MIMO antenna consists of two identical monopole antenna elements. To enhance the impedance matching, three slots are formed on the ground plane. The arc structure as well as the semicircle with an open-end slot is employed on the radiating elements the fact which helps to extend the impedance bandwidth of the monopole antenna from 3.1 up to 10.6 GHz, which corresponds to the UWB band. A ground branch decoupling structure is introduced between the two elements to reduce the mutual coupling. Simulation and measurement results show a bandwidth range from 3.1 to 11.12 GHz with |S11_|

This paper presents an optimal structure of a frequency-reconfigurable SIW antenna, where reconfigurability is achieved using PIN diodes. The antenna is optimized using the PSO (Particle Swarm Optimization) algorithm implemented and developed in MATLAB. The antenna is based on Substrate Integrated Waveguide technology, comprising three slot resonators positioned at the bottom of the SIW antenna. PIN diodes are placed on the structure's feed line to modify the antenna's resonant frequency, making it usable on different Xband frequencies. The PSO algorithm aims to determine the optimum position of the PIN diodes and the size of each slot according to the state of the PIN diode (ON or OFF). The optimized reconfigurable SIW antenna is designed, manufactured, and measured to operate over different frequency bands depending on the diode bias state. Measured gain reaches maximum values of 8.6 dB, 9.4 dB, 9.2 dB and 8.8 dB respectively for OFF-OFF, OFF-ON, ON-OFF and ON-ON bias states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mid-infrared lightweight tunable diode laser hygrometer, “Pico-Light H2O”, the successor to Pico-SDLA H2O, is presented and its performances are evaluated during the AsA 2022 balloon-borne intercomparison campaign conducted at the CNES Aire-sur-l'Adour (AsA, 43.70° N; 0.25° W) balloon launch facility and the Aeroclub d'Aire-sur-l'Adour in France. The Pico-Light instrument has primarily been developed for sounding of the upper troposphere and stratosphere, although during the AsA 2022 campaign we expand the range of comparison to include additionally the lower troposphere. Three different types of hygrometer and two models of radiosonde were flown, operated by the French Space Agency (CNES) and the NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML) scientific teams: Pico-Light H2O, the NOAA Frost Point Hygrometer (FPH), the micro-hygrometer (in an early phase of development), and M20 and iMet-4 sondes. Within this framework, we intend to validate measurements of Pico-Light H2O through a first intercomparison with the NOAA FPH instrument. The in situ monitoring of water vapour in the upper troposphere–lower stratosphere continues to be very challenging from an instrumental point of view because of the very small amounts of water vapour to be measured in these regions of the atmosphere. Between the lapse rate tropopause (11–12.3 km) and 20 km, the mean relative difference between water vapour mixing ratio measurements by Pico-Light H2O and NOAA FPH was 4.2 % ± 7.7 %, and the mean tropospheric difference was 3.84 % ± 23.64 %, with differences depending on the altitude range considered. In the troposphere, relative humidity (RH) over water comparisons led to agreement between Pico-Light and NOAA FPH of −0.2 % on average, with excursions of about 30 % RH due to moisture variability. Expanding the comparison to meteorological sondes, the iMet-4 sondes agree well with both Pico-Light and FPH between the ground and 7.5 km (within ± 3 % RH), as do the M20 sondes, up to 13 km, which are wet-biased by 3 % RH and dry-biased by 20 % in cases of saturation.

Motorcycle is among the most popular and important modes of land transportation in tropical developing countries like Sri Lanka. Yet, research on the effect of motorcycles on traffic safety in Sri Lanka is limited. Investigation of the risk factors and contributory causes of motorcycle crashes using data sourced from Police records was the objective of this research. Police-reported crash data in Sri Lanka contain details of crashes at all severity levels that got reported, together with their corresponding different conditions, including environment, roadway, rider, and vehicle characteristics, throughout the country. Investigating the odds-ratios, the risk factors for motorcycle crashes could be identified in developing the potential counter-measures to improve traffic safety. In Sri Lanka, during 2009-2013, more than 200,000 of motorcycle crashes have been reported. The predominant crash conditions associated with motorcycles were driving on rural roadways, during weekdays, and riding newer motorcycles. The odds-ratios indicated that riding a motorcycle on dry surface conditions, on urban roads, and using safety helmets would be much safer. The results of the study add new insights to the traffic safety literature in regard to improving road safety in Sri Lanka.

Crashes on the road have become a significant socio-economic problem. Younger generations, who have lesser experience in driving, are at greater risks of facing road accidents. It is therefore important to identify driving practices and perceptions of young and inexperienced drivers at an early phase of exposure so that factors that improve safe driving can be identified. This study analysed 400 young and inexperienced drivers’ self-reported habitual practices and perceptions based on a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire focused on supervision of early driving, limitation made by parents, accident and traffic offenses by these youngsters as drivers as well as other habitual driving practices. Analyses were done using reliability statistics, inter-item correlation, likelihood ratio tests, and parameter estimates. The highest inter-item correlation value was 0.467 for the pair of overtaking vehicles in restricted areas and taking the chance to speed and run a yellow light when it is about to change to red. Driving after alcohol consumption, mobile phone usage, taking an illegal U-turn at restricted areas, non-use of signals when changing lanes and overtaking a slow driver from the left side were influenced non-use of seat-belts by young drivers. These habitual practices while driving highlighted the importance of early intervention to improve road safety. In conclusion, there is always one or more habitual driving practices that have affect the other driving habits of a young driver.

This paper explores optimization and synthesis of linear, which prints antennas arrays. The developed synthesis bases on an optimization binomial method. The objective of this paper is to adapt the binomial method to reduce the side lobe level. The application of this formalism gives terrific results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a rare cause of infective endocarditis in adults associated with a high mortality rate due to the frequent occurrence of local and systemic complications. Here we report a case of infective endocarditis (IE) in a young non-pregnant female with a history of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) who presented with a short history of fever, shortness of breath and constitutional symptoms. GBS was isolated from a single blood culture along with echocardiographic findings of a cardiac vegetation and ophthalmologic findings of a Roth spot. Based on the Modified Duke Criteria, a definitive diagnosis of infective endocarditis was made. She was treated with a prolonged course of intravenous (IV) ceftriaxone, with gentamicin being added to the regimen, following which she made a complete recovery.

In this paper, switched beam smart antenna systems are investigated to improve the performance of wireless networks. The microstrip technology of antenna arrays with Butler matrix topology as a beam-former is used to implement the switched beam smart antenna system. The optimum design of a 4x4 planar Butler matrix array, operating at 5.6 GHz for WLAN applications. System's design and optimization was based on computer simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A research-level retrieval algorithm for cloud optical and microphysical properties is developed for the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) aboard the Terra satellite. It is based on the operational MODIS algorithm. This paper documents the technical details of this algorithm and evaluates the retrievals for selected marine boundary layer cloud scenes through comparisons with the operational MODIS Data Collection 6 (C6) cloud product. The newly developed, ASTER-specific cloud masking algorithm is evaluated through comparison with an independent algorithm reported in [Zhao and Di Girolamo(2006)]. To validate and evaluate the cloud optical thickness (τ) and cloud effective radius (reff) from ASTER, the high-spatial-resolution ASTER observations are first aggregated to the same 1000 m resolution as MODIS. Subsequently, τaA and reff, aA retrieved from the aggregated ASTER radiances are compared with the collocated MODIS retrievals. For overcast pixels, the two data sets agree very well with Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficients of R > 0.970. However, for partially cloudy pixels there are significant differences between reff, aA and the MODIS results which can exceed 10 µm. Moreover, it is shown that the numerous delicate cloud structures in the example marine boundary layer scenes, resolved by the high-resolution ASTER retrievals, are smoothed by the MODIS observations. The overall good agreement between the research-level ASTER results and the operational MODIS C6 products proves the feasibility of MODIS-like retrievals from ASTER reflectance measurements and provides the basis for future studies concerning the scale dependency of satellite observations and three-dimensional radiative effects.

High-resolution in situ balloon measurements of water vapour, aerosol, methane and temperature in the upper tropical tropopause layer (TTL) and lower stratosphere are used to evaluate the processes affecting the stratospheric water budget: horizontal transport (in-mixing) and hydration by cross-tropopause overshooting updrafts. The obtained in situ evidence of these phenomena are analysed using satellite observations by Aura MLS (Microwave Limb Sounder) and CALIPSO (Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation) together with trajectory and transport modelling performed using CLaMS (Chemical Lagrangian Model of the Stratosphere) and HYSPLIT (Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory) model. Balloon soundings were conducted during March 2012 in Bauru, Brazil (22.3° S) in the frame of the TRO-Pico campaign for studying the impact of convective overshooting on the stratospheric water budget. The balloon payloads included two stratospheric hygrometers: FLASH-B (Fluorescence Lyman-Alpha Stratospheric Hygrometer for Balloon) and Pico-SDLA instrument as well as COBALD (Compact Optical Backscatter Aerosol Detector) sondes, complemented by Vaisala RS92 radiosondes. Water vapour vertical profiles obtained independently by the two stratospheric hygrometers are in excellent agreement, ensuring credibility of the vertical structures observed. A signature of in-mixing is inferred from a series of vertical profiles, showing coincident enhancements in water vapour (of up to 0.5 ppmv) and aerosol at the 425 K (18.5 km) level. Trajectory analysis unambiguously links these features to intrusions from the Southern Hemisphere extratropical stratosphere, containing more water and aerosol, as demonstrated by MLS and CALIPSO global observations. The in-mixing is successfully reproduced by CLaMS simulations, showing a relatively moist filament extending to 20° S. A signature of local cross-tropopause transport of water is observed in a particular sounding, performed on a convective day and revealing water vapour enhancements of up to 0.6 ppmv as high as the 404 K (17.8 km) level. These are shown to originate from convective overshoots upwind detected by an S-band weather radar operating locally in Bauru. The accurate in situ observations uncover two independent moisture pathways into the tropical lower stratosphere, which are hardly detectable by space-borne sounders. We argue that the moistening by horizontal transport is limited by the weak meridional gradients of water, whereas the fast convective cross-tropopause transport, largely missed by global models, can have a substantial effect, at least at a regional scale.

Despite its importance as one of the key radiative properties that determines the impact of upper tropospheric clouds on the radiation balance, ice cloud optical thickness (IOT) has proven to be one of the more challenging properties to retrieve from space-based remote sensing measurements. In particular, optically thin upper tropospheric ice clouds (cirrus) have been especially challenging due to their tenuous nature, extensive spatial scales, and complex particle shapes and light-scattering characteristics. The lack of independent validation motivates the investigation presented in this paper, wherein systematic biases between MODIS Collection 5 (C5) and CALIOP Version 3 (V3) unconstrained retrievals of tenuous IOT (g) varying as a function of effective radius with mean values that are too large. The MODIS retrievals have been brought into agreement with the IR by adopting a new ice scattering model for Collection 6 (C6) consisting of a modified gamma distribution comprised of a single habit (severely roughened aggregated columns); the C6 ice cloud optical property models have a constant g ≈ 0.75 in the mid-visible spectrum, 5–15 % smaller than C5. For CALIOP, the assumed lidar ratio for unconstrained retrievals is fixed at 25 sr for the V3 data products. This value is found to be inconsistent with the constrained (predominantly nighttime) CALIOP retrievals. An experimental data set was produced using a modified lidar ratio of 32 sr for the unconstrained retrievals (an increase of 28 %), selected to provide consistency with the constrained V3 results. These modifications greatly improve the agreement with the IR and provide consistency between the MODIS and CALIOP products. Based on these results the recently released MODIS C6 optical products use the single-habit distribution given above, while the upcoming CALIOP V4 unconstrained algorithm will use higher lidar ratios for unconstrained retrievals.

In this paper we compare water vapor mixing ratio measurements from two quasi-parallel flights of the Pico-SDLA H2O and FLASH-B hygrometers. The measurements were made on 10 February 2013 and 13 March 2012, respectively, in the tropics near Bauru, São Paulo state, Brazil during an intense convective period. Both flights were performed as part of a French scientific project, TRO-Pico, to study the impact of the deep-convection overshoot on the water budget. Only a few instruments that permit the frequent sounding of stratospheric water vapor can be flown within small-volume weather balloons. Technical difficulties preclude the accurate measurement of stratospheric water vapor with conventional in situ techniques. The instruments described here are simple and lightweight, which permits their low-cost deployment by non-specialists aboard a small weather balloon. We obtain mixing ratio retrievals which agree above the cold-point tropopause to within 1.9 and 0.5 % for the first and second flights, respectively. This level of agreement for balloon-borne measured stratospheric water mixing ratio constitutes one of the best agreement reported in the literature. Because both instruments show similar profiles within their combined uncertainties, we conclude that the Pico-SDLA H2O and FLASH-B data sets are mutually consistent.

Alkaloids of the aerial parts of P. multisectum (Maxim) Bobrov (Zygophyllaceae) growing in Mongolia have been studied by capillary Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Column Chromatography (CC). Four compounds comprising of 2-methylquinoline (1), 9-amino-2, 3,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-1H-cyclopenta [b] quinoline (2), vasicinone (3) and harmine (4) have been determined by GC-MS, while harmine (4), peganine (5), deoxypeganine (6), deoxyvasicinone (7) and harmane (8) were isolated as pure compounds by the CC. The structures of the five alkaloids 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 were elucidated by the MS and 1H and 13C NMR analysis. The alkaloids 1, 2 and 8 were identified for the first time from this species.Mongolian Journal of Chemistry 16 (42), 2015, 48-53

Scientifically based agricultural interventions to improve vegetable productivity were carried out in four districts (Chikkamagalur, Raichur, Vijayapura and Tumkur) of Karnataka State in India, under the Government of Karnataka (GoK)-sponsored Bhoo Samruddhi project (improving the farm productivity and livelihood of smallholder farmers of Karnataka). The activities included, the demonstration of improved practices under protected cultivation (polyroof and shade nethouses), use of grafted seedlings in tomatoes, IPM methods to address tomato leaf miner damage, introduction of mungbean and vegetable cowpea as rotations or intercrops. As a postharvest strategy, we have demonstrated solar drying process and, good agricultural practices to reduce pesticide use & residues in chili. Our interventions have been successful not only in the target farms, the neighbouring farmers have also started adopting them and with the support of the Departments of Agriculture and Horticulture, GoK, the scaling up of these interventions has commenced.

As capacidades motoras são “a base para a capacidade de aprendizagem sensorial e motora”, responsáveis pela execução de uma ação, desde a mais simples à mais complexa (andar, correr, etc.) (Moraes, 2003). Estas capacidades são condicionadas por fatores genéticos, contudo, desenvolvem-se através do treino, potenciando um elevado desempenho motor (Moraes, 2003). É, por isso, importante avaliar as capacidades motoras dos jovens, adequando por esta via, as experiências motoras a cada criança/grupo de crianças e/ou jovens (Neto, Marcarenhas, Nunes, Lepre & Campos, 2004). As relações entre a prática de atividade física e obesidade configuram-se como objeto de estudo prioritário e as evidências na literatura apontam para a existência de associação entre o excesso de peso na adolescência e alterações da sua saúde na idade adulta, dado o excesso de gordura corporal, além de ser fator de risco para diversas doenças, prejudica o desempenho físico. Objetivo: Analisar a associação entre o IMC e as Capacidades Motoras Condicionais em jovens praticantes de modalidades desportivas extra-curriculares.

O estudo da motivação para a prática desportiva é um aspeto determinante para a sua compreensão. Algumas pessoas apresentam um perfil motivacional que lhes permite ir mantendo esse comportamento desportivo, enquanto outras, à primeira experiência de insucesso, desistem (Steinberg & Maurer, 1999). Os responsáveis pela promoção da atividade física e desportiva acreditam que a motivação intrínseca é o aspeto chave na manutenção de boas performances e envolvimento desportivo (Fernandes et al., 2004). Todavia, a dicotomia intrínseca-extrínseca é muito simplista e redutora para a compreensão da motivação, pela qual uma perspetiva autodeterminada diz que a motivação pode ser caraterizada de formas mais compreensivas, considerando um continuum do mais autodeterminado ao menos autodeterminado (Deci & Ryan, 1985).Objetivo: Analisar os fatores reguladores da motivação autodeterminada para a prática do Trail Running.

Summary: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), a prevalent and aggressive neoplasm, poses a significant challenge due to poor prognosis and limited prognostic biomarkers. Leveraging highly multiplexed imaging mass cytometry, we investigated the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in OSCC biopsies, characterizing immune cell distribution and signaling activity at the tumor-invasive front. Our spatial subsetting approach standardized cellular populations by tissue zone, improving feature reproducibility and revealing TIME patterns accompanying loss-of-differentiation. Employing a machine-learning pipeline combining reliable feature selection with multivariable modeling, we achieved accurate histological grade classification (AUC = 0.88). Three model features correlated with clinical outcomes in an independent cohort: granulocyte MAPKAPK2 signaling at the tumor front, stromal CD4+ memory T cell size, and the distance of fibroblasts from the tumor border. This study establishes a robust modeling framework for distilling complex imaging data, uncovering sentinel characteristics of the OSCC TIME to facilitate prognostic biomarkers discovery for recurrence risk stratification and immunomodulatory therapy development.

Adnexal tumors like giant solitary trichoepitheliomas are uncommon to most of us to permit a ready familiarity with them. Information regarding the genesis, clinical profile, behavior, and management options for this tumor is limited. There are 18 cases reported in the world literature till date. This review attempts to provide insight to this rare tumor. Our search included indexed literature from Pubmed, Directory of Open Access Journals, Health Inter Network Access to Research Initiative and Google databases in addition to standard dermatology texts. Giant solitary trichoepithelioma is a rare trichogenic tumor with potential for local recurrence. It has predilection for the older age, but may present at any age including at birth. It has close resemblance to basal cell carcinoma and other skin adnexal tumors - clinically, cytologically, and histologically. CD10, CD 34, PHLDA1 but not p75NTR are useful adjunct markers. Surgical excision is the standard treatment. Recurrence and possible transformation into BCC cautions follow up at regular intervals.