Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design and analysis of Sliding Mode Controller for Isolated Full Bridge DC-DC converter

For the control of non-linear system, nonlinear control theory is widely accepted as a better technique due to its robustness against uncertainty and parameter variations over the inherent short-comings of the linear control theory. A non-linear control technique named Sliding Mode Control (SMC) technique is characterized by its simplicity in analysis, design, high efficiency and robustness towards parameter uncertainties. In this paper we have applied SMC design for Isolated DC-DC converter and the phenomenon of chattering has been discussed. A prototype model of the Isolated Full-Bridge DC-DC converter has been proposed using MATLAB R2009b/SIMULINK. Simulation results verify the robustness and simplicity of SMC technique.
Plasma and Urine Neutrophil Gelatinase–Associated Lipocalin (NGAL) in Dogs with Acute Kidney Injury or Chronic Kidney Disease

Background Neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a protein that is used in human medicine as a real‐time indicator of acute kidney injury (AKI). Hypothesis Dogs with AKI have significantly higher plasma NGAL concentration and urine NGAL‐to‐creatinine ratio (UNCR) compared with healthy dogs and dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Animals 18 healthy control dogs, 17 dogs with CKD, and 48 dogs with AKI. Methods Over a period of 1 year, all dogs with renal azotemia were prospectively included. Urine and plasma samples were collected during the first 24 hours after presentation or after development of renal azotemia. Plasma and urine NGAL concentrations were measured with a commercially available canine NGAL Elisa Kit (Bioporto® Diagnostic) and UNCR was calculated. A single‐injection plasma inulin clearance was performed in the healthy dogs. Results Median (range) NGAL plasma concentration in healthy dogs, dogs with CKD, and AKI were 10.7 ng/mL (2.5–21.2), 22.0 ng/mL (7.7–62.3), and 48.3 ng/mL (5.7–469.0), respectively. UNCR was 2 × 10−8 (0–46), 1,424 × 10−8 (385–18,347), and 2,366 × 10−8 (36–994,669), respectively. Dogs with renal azotemia had significantly higher NGAL concentrations and UNCR than did healthy dogs (P < .0001 for both). Plasma NGAL concentration was significantly higher in dogs with AKI compared with dogs with CKD (P = .027). Conclusions and Clinical Importance Plasma NGAL could be helpful to differentiate AKI from CKD in dogs with renal azotemia.
Leadership, Management and the Welsh Language

Adopting a multilingual perspective, this empirical paper explores the varied use and meanings of referents of leadership and management among 24 Welsh senior managers. We argue the importance of recognizing the linguistic imperialism of the English language – and its dominant leadership discourse of the heroic individual leader – over locally signified referents of leadership and management in other languages and discourses. At present, the lexical item leadership lacks evaluation of its relevance and meaning within other languages and multilingual contexts. We add to this gap through a discussion of research that analyses 24 Welsh senior managers’ reflections on referents of leadership and management and their varied meanings in their two official workplace languages, namely, Welsh and English. Based on the findings, we explore linguistic power dynamics represented in their reflections on this language diverse work setting and conclude with implications for the practice of leadership and management.
Acceptance of homosexuality in the Netherlands

Original title: De houding ten opzichte van homoseksualiteit. To date, relatively little systematic research has been carried out on public attitudes to homosexual men and women in the Netherlands - far less than in the United States, for example. SCP has recently carried out a large-scale survey of the attitudes of the Dutch public to homosexuality; this was published earlier this year under the title Just doing what comes naturally. Acceptance of homosexuality in the Netherlands (Gewoon doen. Acceptatie van homoseksualiteit in Nederland). Staff from the Rutgers Nisso Groep, the Dutch expert centre on sexuality, carried out a literature review for this survey, the results of which are set out in this working document. The study looks at which questions are important for studying attitudes to homosexuality. It also explores the possible explanations for negative attitudes to homosexuality and what the consequences of this are for gay men and women.
The artificial silicon retina in retinitis pigmentosa patients (an American Ophthalmological Association thesis).

PURPOSE In a published pilot study, a light-activated microphotodiode-array chip, the artificial silicon retina (ASR), was implanted subretinally in 6 retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients for up to 18 months. The ASR electrically induced retinal neurotrophic rescue of visual acuity, contrast, and color perception and raised several questions: (1) Would neurotrophic effects develop and persist in additionally implanted RP patients? (2) Could vision in these patients be reliably assessed? (3) Would the ASR be tolerated and function for extended periods? METHODS Four additional RP patients were implanted and observed along with the 6 pilot patients. Of the 10 patients, 6 had vision levels that allowed for more standardized testing and were followed up for 7+ years utilizing ETDRS charts and a 4-alternative forced choice (AFC) Chow grating acuity test (CGAT). A 10-AFC Chow color test (CCT) extended the range of color vision testing. Histologic examination of the eyes of one patient, who died of an unrelated event, was performed. RESULTS The ASR was well tolerated, and improvement and/or slowing of vision loss occurred in all 6 patients. CGAT extended low vision acuity testing by logMAR 0.6. CCT expanded the range of color vision testing and correlated well with PV-16 (r = 0.77). An ASR recovered from a patient 5 years after implantation showed minor disruption and excellent electrical function. CONCLUSION ASR-implanted RP patients experienced prolonged neurotrophic rescue of vision. CGAT and CCT extended the range of acuity and color vision testing in low vision patients. ASR implantation may improve and prolong vision in RP patients.
Predicting and memorizing observed action: Differential premotor cortex involvement

Many studies have shown the involvement of the premotor cortex in action observation, recognizing this region as the neural marker of action simulation (i.e., internal modeling on the basis of the observer's own motor repertoire). So far, however, we have remained unaware of how action simulation differs from more general action representation in terms of premotor activation. The present fMRI experiment is the first to demonstrate how premotor structures contribute to action simulation as opposed to other action‐related cognitive tasks, such as maintaining action representations. Using similar stimuli, a prediction condition requiring internal simulation of transiently occluded actions was compared to three different action‐related control tasks differing solely in task instructions. Results showed right pre‐SMA activation as a correlate of maintaining action representations in general. Moreover, the prediction condition was most efficient in activating the left pre‐SMA and left PMd. These results suggest that the conjoint activation of the pre‐SMA and PMd reflects a core neural driver of action simulation. Hum Brain Mapp, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Polyamines Confer Salt Tolerance in Mung Bean (Vigna radiata L.) by Reducing Sodium Uptake, Improving Nutrient Homeostasis, Antioxidant Defense, and Methylglyoxal Detoxification Systems

The physiological roles of PAs (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) were investigated for their ability to confer salt tolerance (200 mM NaCl, 48 h) in mung bean seedlings (Vigna radiata L. cv. BARI Mung-2). Salt stress resulted in Na toxicity, decreased K, Ca, Mg, and Zn contents in roots and shoots, and disrupted antioxidant defense system which caused oxidative damage as indicated by increased lipid peroxidation, H2O2 content, O2•- generation rate, and lipoxygenase activity. Salinity-induced methylglyoxal (MG) toxicity was also clearly evident. Salinity decreased leaf chlorophyll (chl) and relative water content (RWC). Supplementation of salt affected seedlings with exogenous PAs enhanced the contents of glutathione and ascorbate, increased activities of antioxidant enzymes (dehydroascorbate reductase, glutathione reductase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) and glyoxalase enzyme (glyoxalase II), which reduced salt-induced oxidative stress and MG toxicity, respectively. Exogenous PAs reduced cellular Na content and maintained nutrient homeostasis and modulated endogenous PAs levels in salt affected mung bean seedlings. The overall salt tolerance was reflected through improved tissue water and chl content, and better seedling growth.
Hydrological processes and their seasonal controls in a small Mediterranean mountain catchment in the Pyrenees

Abstract. The Vallcebre catchments are located in a middle mountain area of the Pyrenean ranges, built up by sedimentary rocks and loamy soils. The vegetation cover is pastures and forests of Pinus sylvestris, mostly occupying former agricultural terraces. Some relatively small, heavily eroded landscapes (badlands) occur in the catchments, playing a relevant hydrological and geomorphic role. Annual precipitation is 924 mm and potential (reference) evapotranspiration is about 700 mm. Rainfall interception in forests represents about 24% of precipitation; interception rates were similar throughout the seasons because of a compensation between rainfall intensities and atmospheric conditions. Soil moisture showed a temporal pattern characterised by the occurrence of marked deficit periods in summer and also, but less pronounced, in winter. During most of the year, subsurface flows on hillslopes drove the spatial organisation of soil moisture and the occurrence of saturated areas. Nevertheless, this spatial organisation was also controlled by the patterns of vegetation cover. During dry periods, subsurface flow ceased, saturated areas disappeared and the spatial patterns of soil moisture changed. Stream flow from these catchments was dominated by storm flow, and the runoff generating mechanisms showed a clear seasonal pattern, controlled mainly by the soil moisture and the extent of saturated areas. During the dry periods, runoff was produced only on impervious areas and badlands. At the end of the dry periods, some large rainfall events generated significant runoff because of the perched saturation of the shallow soil horizons. Thereafter, runoff generation was dominated by the role of saturated areas. Stream waters in catchments with badlands had very high suspended sediment concentrations. The seasonal pattern of erosion processes in badlands was characterised by physical weathering during winter, regolith breakdown and vigorous hillslope erosion during spring and summer, and efficient transport of sediments in autumn.
The Measurement of Negative Creativity: Metrics and Relationships

Although the dark side of creativity and negative creativity are shaping into legitimate subconstructs, measures to assess the same remain to be validated. To meet this goal, two studies assessed the convergent, predictive, and criterion-related validities of two valence-inclusive creativity measures. One measure assessed the self-report endorsement of social creativity, and the other was an Alternate Uses Test (AUT) assessing generation of nonsocial creativity. Participants (N = 129, 88 women, Mage = 25.09 years, SD = 10.03) completed the two creativity measures and three Dark Triad personality scales (narcissism, psychopathy, Machiavellianism) through an online form. Correlations and multiple regressions were employed in the studies. Study 1 assessed the convergent and predictive validities between the two measures. Results indicated a strong convergence on the measurement of positive creativity, but not on negative creativity. Study 2 used the Dark Triad of personality as an external criterion to evaluate the criterion-related validity of the measurement of negative creativity. Although the Dark Triad predicted the self-reported endorsement of negative creativity, there was no discernable relationship with the generation of negative-creative responses on the AUT. Implications of current results, and suggestions for future metrics of valence-inclusive creativity are discussed.
The Relationship Between Erythropoietin Resistance and Antibody Response to Hepatitis B Vaccine in Hemodialysis Patients

Background Seroconversion following Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine in hemodialysis (HD) patients has been shown to be suboptimal. Nutritional and immunological factors were shown to influence the seroconversion related to HBV vaccination in HD patients. Resistance to erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESA) for correction of anemia has also been shown to be associated with nutrition and inflammation in these patients. Objectives The aim of the current study was to analyze the relationship between anti-HBs response and erythropoietin (EPO) resistance in HD patients. Patients and Methods Demographics, clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters and the data about vaccination status were obtained from dialysis charts and vaccination registries retrospectively. To calculate the EPO resistance ESA hypo responsiveness index (EHRI) was used. The EHRI was calculated through deviding the weekly dose of EPO by per kilogram of body weight divided by the hemoglobin level. Patients were divided into non-seroconversion (anti-HBs titers were < 10 IU/L) and seroconversion groups (anti-HBs titers were ≥ 10 IU/L) after completion of the four-dose vaccination schedule. Results In total 97 patients were enrolled. For the entire group, stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that square root transformed anti-HBs levels were independently associated with age (P = 0.016), blood urea nitrogen (P = 0.019), high sensitive C-Reactive Protein (P = 0.009), and square root transformed EHRI (P = 0.019). Logistic regression analysis have also demonstrated that blood urea nitrogen (P = 0.002), creatinine (P = 0.046), albumin (P = 0.01) and square root transformed EHRI (P = 0.011) were independently related to seroconversion. Conclusions EPO resistance was negatively associated with anti-HBs levels and seroconversion. More studies are needed to highlight the underlying mechanisms regarding EPO resistance and response to HBV vaccination in HD patients.
Evaluating the acceptor side of EM/sup 3/: release management at SAS

Today, there are no detailed standard process models encompassing the overall release management activities. To remedy this, we have created an individual release management process model, called EM/sup 3/: release management. In this paper, we evaluate its acceptor side against an industrial release management process performed at Scandinavian Airline Systems (SAS). We have observed some similarities and differences. Some of the observed differences provide feedback for the improvement and further extension of EM/sup 3/: release management.
General and oxidative stress responses in Bacillus subtilis: cloning, expression, and mutation of the alkyl hydroperoxide reductase operon

The AhpC subunit of the Bacillus subtilis alkyl hydroperoxide reductase was identified as a general stress protein induced in response to heat or salt stress or after entry of the organism into the stationary phase. The ahp operon, encoding the two subunits AhpC and AhpF, was cloned and localized between the gntRKPZ operon and the bglA locus. Two-dimensional gel analyses revealed an especially strong induction of AhpC and AhpF in cells subjected to oxidative stress. Transcriptional studies showed a 3- to 4-fold induction of ahp mRNA after heat or salt stress or starvation for glucose and a 20-fold induction by oxidative stress, thus confirming the protein induction data for AhpC and AhpF. Stress induction occurred at a sigmaA-dependent promoter that overlaps with operator sites similar to the per box. Compared with the wild type, the ahpC mutant was resistant to hydrogen peroxide because of the derepression of the peroxide regulon (N. Bsat, L. Chen, and J. D. Helmann, J. Bacteriol. 178:6579-6586, 1996) but more sensitive to cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) during exponential growth. In contrast, stationary-phase wild-type and ahpC mutant cells displayed complete resistance to treatment with 1 mM CHP. Moreover, a sigmaB mutant was found to be extremely sensitive to CHP during vegetative growth and in stationary phase, which indicates that sigmaB-dependent general stress proteins are involved in the protection of cells against oxidative stress.
Annual Cycle and ENSO in a Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere General Circulation Model

Abstract Results from multiyear integrations of a coupled ocean–atmosphere general circulation model are described. The atmospheric component is a rhomboidal 15, 18-level version of the Center for Ocean–Land–Atmosphere Studies atmospheric general circulation model. The oceanic component is the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory ocean model with a horizontal domain extending from 70°S to 65°N. The ocean model uses 1.5° horizontal resolution, with meridional resolution increasing to 0.5° near the equator, and 20 vertical levels, most in the upper 300 m. No flux adjustments are employed. An initial multiyear integration showed significant climate drift in the tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures. Several modifications were made in the coupled model to reduce these errors. Changes were made to the atmospheric model cloudiness parameterizations, increasing solar radiation at the surface in the western equatorial Pacific and decreasing it in the eastern Pacific, that improved the simulation of the time-.
In touch with reality

Objective: A descriptive study in which the audience profile of patients suffering from schizophrenia, their families and caregivers was determined to establish whether information on schizophrenia is disseminated effectively. This is an ongoing project aimed at designing appropriate psychoeducational material on schizophrenia using the audience-based media production approach. Method: A Qualitative research method using screening interviews, focus groups discussions and participant observation. Undertaken at Weskoppies Hospital, Pretoria, Tshwane, South Africa. Using Sotho-speaking patients and their families from the greater Tshwane region. Three researchers from the Departments of Psychiatry and Information Science at the University of Pretoria facilitated four focus groups comprising of 18 participants. A schedule was used to guide the discussions and after each focus group, emergent themes were identified and analysed. Tape recordings and written notes were used to capture information. These were later transcribed and used for data analysis. The participants were asked to indicate how they understand schizophrenia and how living with this disorder influences their lives. Results: It seems that information about schizophrenia is not effectively disseminated to this group. Myths about the disorder prevail. The majority of the participants did not understand what schizophrenia is. The participants’ perceptions regarding schizophrenia reflected the influence of their culture, religion and their experiences of stigmatization by the society in which they live. Conclusion: In the endeavor to effectively disseminate information about schizophrenia to patients and care givers, the prevalent top-down approach should be replaced by a more participatory approach where the target audience is consulted and involved in the process of psycho-education. Declaration of interest: None
Financial Development and Convergence Clubs

This paper studies the economic development process, measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP), for a large panel of countries. We propose a methodology that identifies groups of countries (convergence clubs) that show similar GDP structures, while allowing for changes in club memberships over time. As a second step we analyze the short-run and long-run effects of financial development (measured by financial intermediary development and stock market development) on the GDP process, and the composition of the convergence clubs. We find that the club memberships are quite persistent, but still their compositions change substantially over time. In particular, several EU member countries and East Asian countries are found to belong to a higher GDP club in recent times compared to the beginning of the 1970s. In terms of the effects of financial development indicators on the GDP process, our results partially confirm the theoretical basis for different effects of financial development indicators in the short-run and the long-run. In the long-run, financial development is found to affect the countries’ GDP level positively. The short-run effects of financial development indicators however are found to be less clear, in the sense that we do not find a negative short-run effect of financial intermediary development on GDP levels, while the short-run effect of stock market development is found to be negative.
Voting Behaviour on Free Votes: Simply a Matter of Preferences?

Previous research examining the outcomes of free votes concludes that voting behaviour is determined in large part by MPs’ personal preferences. However, most studies do not measure preferences directly and ignore other possible determinants of voting behaviour. This article illustrates the need to address these shortcomings before one concludes that preferences explain the outcomes of free votes. I illustrate this by examining a series of divisions on the issue of House of Lords reform. Using direct measures of preferences and controlling for alternative explanations, the analysis suggests MPs’ preferences had little effect on voting behaviour on this issue.
Differential Roles of ERα and ERβ in Normal and Neoplastic Development in the Mouse Mammary Gland

The present experiments were performed to determine the roles of estrogen receptors α and β (ERα and ERβ) in normal and neoplastic development in the mouse mammary gland. In wild-type mice, in vivo administration of estradiol (E) + progesterone (P) stimulated mammary ductal growth and alveolar differentiation. Mammary glands from mice in which the ERβ gene has been deleted (βERKO mice) demonstrated normal ductal growth and differentiation in response to E + P. By contrast, mammary glands from mice in which the ERα gene has been deleted (αERKO mice) demonstrated only rudimentary ductal structures that did not differentiate in response to E + P. EGF demonstrates estrogen-like activity in the mammary glands of αERKO mice: treatment of αERKO mice with EGF + P (without E) supported normal mammary gland development, induced expression of progesterone receptor (PR), and increased levels of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPR30) protein. Mammary gland development in βERKO mice treated with EGF + P was comparable to that of wild-type mice receiving EGF + P; EGF had no statistically significant effects on the induction of PR or expression of GPR30 in mammary glands harvested from either wild-type mice or βERKO mice. In vitro exposure of mammary glands to 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) induced preneoplastic mammary alveolar lesions (MAL) in glands from wild-type mice and βERKO mice, but failed to induce MAL in mammary glands from αERKO mice. Microarray analysis of DMBA-treated mammary glands identified 28 functional pathways whose expression was significantly different in αERKO mice versus both βERKO and wild-type mice; key functions that were differentially expressed in αERKO mice included cell division, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. The data demonstrate distinct roles for ERα and ERβ in normal and neoplastic development in the mouse mammary gland, and suggest that EGF can mimic the ERα-mediated effects of E in this organ.