Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficiency improvement for wind energy pumped storage systems

Integrating wind energy into the grid may raise stability problems. Solutions for avoiding these situations are studied and energy storage methods are suitable for balancing the energy between the wind turbine and grid. In this paper, an autonomous wind turbine pumped storage system is presented. The focus of this paper is to improve the efficiency of this system, which is small at low power levels. The driving motor-pump group of the storage system is the key point presented in this paper for efficiency improving. Two control methods, experimentally implemented for induction machine are presented, and the comparison of the system efficiencies highlights the improvement of the proposed control method.
Recessions and the Social Safety Net: The Alternative Minimum Tax as a Counter-Cyclical Fiscal Stabilizer

We present an argument from micro-economic foundations suggesting that the federal Alternative Minimum Tax has potentially salutary – and heretofore unrecognized – effects that counteract pathologies of state budgets over the business cycle. AMT liability increases with income, and acts to eliminate federal tax subsidies for state revenue-raising. Thus, as a states’ income grow and the AMT hits more state residents, state spending becomes more expensive in flush times as the federal tax subsidy for state and local taxes is reduced. Conversely, when state fiscal health deteriorates, the federal tax subsidy grows as fewer state residents fall under the AMT, boosting taxpayer support for state spending. This stabilizing mechanism has the potential to overcome problems state politicians face committing to saving during boom times and spending during bust times. We present empirical evidence suggesting that the AMT does indeed provide some degree of fiscal stabilization in accordance with micro-theory. We also provide policy suggestions regarding how the AMT could be modified to leverage this stabilization effect.
'Til Death Do Us Part: How Couples Stay Together

Contents Preface * Three Couples: Happily Ever After? * Is Marriage Obsolete? * Enduring Is Not Enough * 'Til Death Do Us Part: The Role of Commitment * To Love and To Honor * The Two Become One: Dilemma or Opportunity? * Conflict: How to Engage in "Good Fighting" * From Nowhere to Somewhere: Avoiding the Ruts * What Is Most Important? * Index
GATA3 expression in advanced breast cancer: prognostic value and organ-specific relapse.

OBJECTIVES GATA3 is a transcription factor regulating luminal cell differentiation in the mammary glands and has been implicated in the luminal types of breast carcinoma. The prognostic significance of GATA3 in breast cancer remains controversial. METHODS In this study, we assessed the prognostic value of the molecule in a subset of 62 advanced breast cancers and 10 control breast cancers (no metastasis after follow-up). RESULTS GATA3 expression levels in luminal tumors of advanced stage were significantly higher than that of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) subtype and triple-negative carcinomas, as expected, but were similar to those of the luminal controls. Furthermore, 88% of nonluminal tumors showed variable GATA3 expression, for which the HER2 subtype had significantly higher GATA3 expression than that of the triple-negative carcinomas. Interestingly, GATA3 levels were significantly lower in carcinomas with lung relapse compared to those with metastatic recurrence to other organs, thus reflecting the findings in animal models. No significant difference was observed between tumors with bone relapse and those metastasized to nonskeletal sites. Moreover, high GATA3 expression was significantly associated with favorable relapse-free survival and overall survival. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that GATA3 may not act solely as a luminal differentiation marker, and further uncovering the molecular pathways by which GATA3 regulates the downstream targets will be crucial to our understanding of breast cancer dissemination.
Innate lymphoid type 2 cells in chronic rhinosinusitis

Purpose of review Innate lymphoid type 2 cells (ILC2) have a critical role in the initiation and regulation of type 2 immune responses and are recognized as an important source of type-2 cytokines. Here, we present recent findings of the role of ILC2 in the integration, processing, and coordination of innate and adaptive immune processes and focus on the potential role of ILC2 in the context of chronic rhinosinusitis. Recent findings Recent research has shown the complex crosstalk that occurs between ILC2 and different innate and adaptive immune cell types with a critical role for ILC2 not only in mounting type 2 immune responses at barrier surfaces, but also in tissue repair responses and normal homeostatic functions. ILC2 research in a disease context has brought important insights in particular in the context of allergic inflammatory diseases, emphasizing a critical role for ILC2 and in particular ILC2-derived IL-13 in diseases of the upper and lower airways such as asthma. Summary The identification and characterization of ILC2 in the context of health and disease have brought a wealth of new knowledge into the mechanisms of type 2 immune responses. This is relevant to diverse disorders, including asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis, atopic dermatitis, fibrosis, helminth repulsion, and obesity.
Speed control of differentially driven wheeled mobile robots - model-based adaptive approach

In this paper, the issue concerning model-based adaptive control for a differentially driven wheeled mobile robot is addressed. By choosing state variables directly related to its speeds (linear and angular), the robot’s dynamic model becomes simple with good properties. The controller takes account of the robot dynamics and the coupling between the motions of two wheels, and thus achieves better speed tracking than commonly used model-free PID controller does. The effectiveness of the model free controllers (mostly PID) in some situations is also discussed. Simulation studies are done to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approaches. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Indoor measurements by dual tripole antennas

We present in this paper indoor measurements at 2.45 GHz of a tripole antenna pair and investigate typical channel characteristics that include the antenna elements. Each of the two antenna arrays consists of three orthogonal co-located dipoles promising high capacity, irrelevant of their orientation. The impact of classic parameters related to polarization, correlation and time dispersion are analyzed in order to get an idea of the performance that this real multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system could offer.
[Safflower oil].

An oil derived from the seed of the safflower, and chemically similar to sunflower oil. Two principal varieties differ in the type of fatty acids predominating the oil: those which are high in oleic acid, and those which are high in linoleic acid. The main uses of safflower oil are in cooking oils and in production of margarine and salad dressing.
Adult psychosexual dysfunction as a sequela of child sexual abuse

Abstract Childhood Sexual Abuse (CSA) and adult psychosexual dysfunction are both very broad areas that share difficulties of definition and a recent evolution. This review aims to discuss the evidence in the literature supporting a relationship between these two areas. A paucity of robust evidence exists in both areas and work that has been done is difficult to compare, largely because of widely differing definitions and rating tools. An interesting gender split is seen: most work on adult psychosexual dysfunction is about males and most work on CSA is about females. Certainly both concepts are born and developed in a matrix of disparate factors that conspire to create an environment that both precipitate and perpetuate them. More research is needed to test the hypothesis that CSA does indeed predispose to later adult psychosexual dysfunction.
Differences in neurogenic potential in floor plate cells along an anteroposterior location: midbrain dopaminergic neurons originate from mesencephalic floor plate cells

Directed differentiation and purification of mesencephalic dopaminergic (mesDA) neurons from stem cells are crucial issues for realizing safe and efficient cell transplantation therapies for Parkinson's disease. Although recent studies have identified the factors that regulate mesDA neuron development, the mechanisms underlying mesDA neuron specification are not fully understood. Recently, it has been suggested that mesencephalic floor plate (FP) cells acquire neural progenitor characteristics to generate mesDA neurons. Here, we directly examined this in a fate mapping experiment using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) with an FP cell-specific surface marker, and demonstrate that mesencephalic FP cells have neurogenic activity and generate mesDA neurons in vitro. By contrast, sorted caudal FP cells have no neurogenic potential, as previously thought. Analysis of dreher mutant mice carrying a mutation in the Lmx1a locus and transgenic mice ectopically expressing Otx2 in caudal FP cells demonstrated that Otx2 determines anterior identity that confers neurogenic activity to FP cells and specifies a mesDA fate, at least in part through the induction of Lmx1a. We further show that FACS can isolate mesDA progenitors, a suitable transplantation material, from embryonic stem cell-derived neural cells. Our data provide insights into the mechanisms of specification and generation of mesDA neurons, and illustrate a useful cell replacement approach for Parkinson's disease.
Bevacizumab Demonstrates Prolonged Disease Stabilization in Patients with Heavily Pretreated Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

There are now a variety of therapies approved for the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). These include the immunotherapeutics, alfa-interferon, and interleukin-2, and agents that target the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) via its tyrosine kinase, such as sorafenib, sunitinib, and pazopanib, or the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), such as temsirolimus and everolimus. Bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody directed against the ligand, VEGF, has shown activity against RCC as a single agent in patients who had failed prior cytokine therapy and as first line therapy in combination with interferon. The activity of bevacizumab in patients who had received and failed prior therapy has not been described. We report our experience in 4 patients with metastatic RCC who had failed prior cytokine, TKI, and mTOR inhibitors who were treated with bevacizumab as single agent therapy. These heavily pretreated patients sustained very prolonged periods of stable disease (median of 12 months) with very little toxicity and excellent quality of life. The activity of this agent in patients who had failed prior therapies directed against the VEGFR and mTOR suggests that therapy targeting the ligand, VEGF, is still a viable approach in these patients and deserves further study.
Stroke recurrences in patients with symptomatic vs asymptomatic middle cerebral artery disease

Background: Although the natural history of extracranial carotid artery disease has been investigated systematically, limited data are available on the course of middle cerebral artery (MCA) disease. Methods: The authors observed 102 consecutive patients (67 men, 35 women; mean age 61.9 years) with significant MCA stenosis or occlusion as demonstrated by transcranial Doppler and transcranial color-coded duplex ultrasonography. Forty-six patients entered the study after TIA (n = 17) or stroke (n = 29); 56 patients were asymptomatic. Neurologic and ultrasound investigations were performed at regular intervals with a mean follow-up of 31 (range 6 to 117) months. Patients were continuously treated with either platelet inhibitors (n = 75) or anticoagulation (n = 27). Results: Nineteen cerebral ischemic events (11 strokes, 8 TIAs) occurred during follow-up, resulting in an overall annual rate of 7.3%. Thirteen events (8 strokes, 5 TIAs) were attributable to the vascular territory ipsilateral to MCA disease. Patients with symptomatic MCA disease at study entry had an overall stroke risk of 12.5% per year (ipsilateral: 9.1%), whereas the annual incidence in primarily asymptomatic MCA disease was only 2.8% (ipsilateral: 1.4%; p < 0.01). Symptomatic MCA disease was an independent predictor for overall (hazard ratio [HR] 7.91, 95% CI 2.03 to 30.79; p < 0.01) and ipsilateral (HR 9.66, 95% CI 1.5 to 62.25; p = 0.02) cerebrovascular events. Conclusions: Compared with asymptomatic middle cerebral artery disease, there was a high and continuous recurrence rate of ischemic events in symptomatic patients, which was even higher than in patients with symptomatic extracranial carotid artery disease.
Experiences gamifying developer adoption of practices and tools

As software development practices evolve, toolsmiths face the continuous challenge of getting developers to adopt new practices and tools. We tested an idea with industrial software developers that adding game-like feedback to the development environment would improve adoption of tools and practices for code navigation. We present results from a pre-study survey of 130 developers' opinions on gamification and motivation, usage data from a study with an intact team of six developers of a game on code navigation practices, and feedback collected in post-study interviews. Our pre-study survey showed that most developers were interested in gamification, though some have strong negative opinions. Study results show that two of the six study developers adjusted their practices when presented with competitive game elements.
Further observations on the numbers of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids connected by intercellular bridges in the mammalian testis.

The presence of true intercellular bridges connecting groups of spermatocytes and spermatids in the mammalian testis has been described repeatedly in electron microscopic studies, and recently Gondos and Zemjanis (1970) have reported pairs of interconnected spermatogonia in monkey testis. The present paper describes the fine structure of bridges between developing germ cells in a variety of mammalian species and considers the numbers of cells involved and the significance of this syncytial arrangement in the overall organization of the seminiferous epithelium. in addition to spermatocytes and spermatids, spermatogonia type A and type B were also found to be joined by bridges. In rodents the type A have oval nuclei containing a uniformly granular nucleoplasm and one or more nucleoli at or near the nuclear membrane. The type B possess spherical nuclei with several clumps of chromatin near the periphery and additional small clumps associated with a centrally placed nucleolus. If a pair of connected type A spermatogonia initiates spermatogenesis and the daughter cells of all subsequent divisions remain connected, then one would expect after the eight ensuing mitotic and meiotic divisions, hundreds of conjoined spermatids. The theoretical maximum numbers are probably never achieved since considerable cell death is known to occur normally at certain stages of the spermatogenic cycle. Degenerations are invariably associated with divisions but it appears that some members of a group of conjoined cells may degenerate without the degenerative process extending to the entire group. A possible explanation for this limitation of the process resides in transient specializations of the preexisting intercellular bridges during division that temporarily isolate cell territories within the syncytium. This consists of a series of 8-12 parallel cisternae oriented perpendicular to the long axis of the bridge. These cisternae are separated by intervening layers of relatively dense cytoplasmic material. Since these septa appear to interrupt cytoplasmic continuity, it is possible that they may prevent spread of degenerative changes throughout the syncytium and permit selective degeneration of certain cellular units. The total number of viable spermatids which remains interconnected is indeterminate, and probably variable, but may well be as many as a hundred.
Low Prevalence of Factor V:Q506 in 41 Patients with Isolated Pulmonary Embolism

Summary In 70-80% of cases, pulmonary embolism is the consequence of lower extremity deep vein thrombosis. It has been demonstrated that the most common coagulation defect predisposing to venous thrombosis, resistance to activated protein C (APC), is not associated with an increased risk for pulmonary embolism, but the evidence was based on a functional assay to diagnose APC resistance and no information about concomitant deep vein thrombosis was provided. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of factor V:Q506, the gene mutation responsible for APC resistance, in patients with symptomatic non-fatal pulmonary embolism, whether or not associated with deep vein thrombosis. Patients with uncomplicated deep vein thrombosis and healthy controls were investigated as comparison groups. The overall prevalence of factor V:Q506 in 106 patients with pulmonary embolism was 12.3%, lower than that found in 106 patients with deep vein thrombosis (22.6%, OR 0.5, 95% Cl 0.2-1.0) but significantly higher than that found in 212 healthy subjects taken as controls (2.8%, OR 4.8,95% Cl 1.8-13.0). In the 41 patients with isolated pulmonary embolism, i.e., without the presence of deep vein thrombosis, the prevalence was 4.9%, similar to that in controls (OR 1.8,95% Cl 0.3-9.6), while in the remaining 65 patients with pulmonary embolism associated with deep vein thrombosis the prevalence was significantly higher (16.9%, OR 5.5, 95% Cl 2.0-15.8). In conclusion, the prevalence of factor V:Q506 is high in patients with pulmonary embolism associated with deep vein thrombosis, whereas in patients with isolated pulmonary embolism it is similar to that found in control subjects. This intriguing finding is of difficult interpretation and needs confirmation by further studies.
Keyed/Unkeyed SHA-2

Abstract In FIPS 180–2, NIST published SHA-2 as a new version of secure hash algorithm. SHA-2 offers four secure hash algorithms including SHA-1, SHA-256, SHA-384, and SHA-512. In other words, SHA-2 may have outputs 160, 256, 384, or 512 bits of message digest. However, SHA-2 algorithm uses fixed and predefined parameters in execution. It may be vulnerable to attacks. In this paper, we propose the Keyed/Unkeyed SHA-2 for security improvement.
The Transcription Factor TEAD1 Represses Smooth Muscle-specific Gene Expression by Abolishing Myocardin Function*♦

Background: The function of TEAD1 in the expression of smooth muscle-specific genes is unknown. Results: TEAD1 is induced after arterial injury and suppresses the expression of smooth muscle-specific genes by abolishing myocardin function. Conclusion: TEAD1 is a novel repressor for smooth muscle contractile gene expression. Significance: This study provides novel evidence that TEAD1 is critical for promoting phenotypic switching in smooth muscle cells. The TEAD (transcriptional enhancer activator domain) proteins share an evolutionarily conserved DNA-binding TEA domain, which binds to the MCAT cis-acting regulatory element. Previous studies have shown that TEAD proteins are involved in regulating the expression of smooth muscle α-actin. However, it remains undetermined whether TEAD proteins play a broader role in regulating expression of other genes in vascular smooth muscle cells. In this study, we show that the expression of TEAD1 is significantly induced during smooth muscle cell phenotypic modulation and negatively correlates with smooth muscle-specific gene expression. We further demonstrate that TEAD1 plays a novel role in suppressing expression of smooth muscle-specific genes, including smooth muscle α-actin, by abolishing the promyogenic function of myocardin, a key mediator of smooth muscle differentiation. Mechanistically, we found that TEAD1 competes with myocardin for binding to serum response factor (SRF), resulting in disruption of myocardin and SRF interactions and thereby attenuating expression of smooth muscle-specific genes. This study provides the first evidence demonstrating that TEAD1 is a novel general repressor of smooth muscle-specific gene expression through interfering with myocardin binding to SRF.
Evaluation of Rut-Depth Accuracy and Precision Using Different Automated Systems for Texas Conditions

Collecting accurate rutting data is important in order to assess network-level pavement conditions and to determine maintenance and rehabilitation needs and funding levels in order to optimize the use of available economic resources. The technical objective of this study was the assessment of the rut-depth (RD) accuracy and precision of different continuous automated systems (CAS), which represent the state-of-the-art for the automated data collection of rutting, and discrete automated systems (DAS), which are still used by several Department of Transportations (DOTs) in the United States. The RD values analyzed in this study were obtained by 1) field measurements at highway speeds using five different optical CAS, and 2) calculation simulating the use of DAS with different configurations. The analysis of the first type of values assessed the closeness of the RD produced by the different CAS to the RD manually measured for this study. The analysis of the second type of values assessed the effects of the number of sensors and the width of measurement on the DAS’s accuracy and precision. In addition, the impact of the RD accuracy and precision on the assessed pavement condition at network-level was analyzed for both the CAS that participated in the experiment and the simulated DAS.
The psychology of environmental problems

Foreword, David G. Myers. Preface: The Why, the What and the How of this Book. 1. What on Earth Are We Doing? 2. The Nature of Western Thought. 3. Psychoanalytic Psychology: Becoming Conscious of the Unconscious. 4. Social Psychology: Under the Influence of Others. 5. Behavioral Psychology: Contingency Management. 6. Neuropsychology of Toxic Exposures. 7. Cognitive Psychology: Information Processing. 8. Health and the Psychology of Environmental Stress. 9. Developmental Psychology: Growing Healthy Children in Nature. 10. Holistic Approaches: Gestalt and Ecopsychology. 11. Putting it Together: Using Psychology to Build a Sustainable World.