Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Interoperable Approach for Energy Systems Simulation: Electricity Market Participation Ontologies

Electricity markets are complex environments with very particular characteristics. Some of the main ones for this complexity are the need for an adequate integration of renewable energy sources and the electricity markets’ restructuring process. The growth of simulation tool usage is driven by the need to understand those mechanisms and how the involved players’ interactions affect the markets’ outcomes. Several modelling tools directed to the study of restructured wholesale electricity markets have emerged. Although, they share a common limitation: the lack of interoperability between the various systems to allow the exchange of information and knowledge, to test different market models and to allow players from different systems to interact in common market environments. This paper proposes the use of ontologies for semantic interoperability between multi-agent platforms in the scope of electricity markets simulation. The achieved results allow the identification of the added value gained by using the proposed ontologies. They facilitate the integration of independent multi-agent simulators, by providing a way for communications to be understood by heterogeneous agents from different systems.
Deletion of the Presynaptic Scaffold CAST Reduces Active Zone Size in Rod Photoreceptors and Impairs Visual Processing

How size and shape of presynaptic active zones are regulated at the molecular level has remained elusive. Here we provide insight from studying rod photoreceptor ribbon-type active zones after disruption of CAST/ERC2, one of the cytomatrix of the active zone (CAZ) proteins. Rod photoreceptors were present in normal numbers, and the a-wave of the electroretinogram (ERG)—reflecting their physiological population response—was unchanged in CAST knock-out (CAST−/−) mice. Using immunofluorescence and electron microscopy, we found that the size of the rod presynaptic active zones, their Ca2+ channel complement, and the extension of the outer plexiform layer were diminished. Moreover, we observed sprouting of horizontal and bipolar cells toward the outer nuclear layer indicating impaired rod transmitter release. However, rod synapses of CAST−/− mice, unlike in mouse mutants for the CAZ protein Bassoon, displayed anchored ribbons, normal vesicle densities, clustered Ca2+ channels, and essentially normal molecular organization. The reduction of the rod active zone size went along with diminished amplitudes of the b-wave in scotopic ERGs. Assuming, based on the otherwise intact synaptic structure, an unaltered function of the remaining release apparatus, we take our finding to suggest a scaling of release rate with the size of the active zone. Multielectrode-array recordings of retinal ganglion cells showed decreased contrast sensitivity. This was also observed by optometry, which, moreover, revealed reduced visual acuity. We conclude that CAST supports large active zone size and high rates of transmission at rod ribbon synapses, which are required for normal vision.
Circulating intercellular adhesion molecules in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage in Behçet's disease

The aim of this study was to evaluate circulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (cICAM-1) in serum and in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), as a marker for the inflammatory process in patients with active Behçet's disease (BD). Circulating ICAM-1 was tested by an enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay in serum and in BAL of patients with BD. These values were compared to those of patients with tuberculosis and to healthy controls. Increased levels of circulating ICAM-1 were found in serum from patients with active BD compared to healthy controls (p < 0.01). Similar levels of serum cICAM-1 were found in BD and tuberculosis. Additionally, both BD and tuberculosis patients exhibited high levels of cICAM-1 in BAL fluid, suggesting that this increase may be a result of the immune system activation in inflammatory sites. Circulating ICAM-1 seemed to have a good discriminative power in identifying active BD, being elevated in all active stages (p < 0.01) compared to remission BD stage. No differences were found in active BD patients depending upon the clinical manifestations. These results suggest that cICAM-1 may be involved in leucocyte adhesion and migration into the vessel wall of the lung. Circulating forms are derived from molecules expressed on the surface of activated cells, as a result of an inflammatory process.
Postprandial energy expenditure in whole-food and processed-food meals: implications for daily energy expenditure

Background Empirical evidence has shown that rising obesity rates closely parallel the increased consumption of processed foods (PF) consumption in USA. Differences in postprandial thermogenic responses to a whole-food (WF) meal vs. a PF meal may be a key factor in explaining obesity trends, but currently there is limited research exploring this potential link. Objective The goal was to determine if a particular PF meal has a greater thermodynamic efficiency than a comparable WF meal, thereby conferring a greater net-energy intake. Design Subjective satiation scores and postprandial energy expenditure were measured for 5–6 h after isoenergetic meals were ingested. The meals were either ‘whole’ or ‘processed’ cheese sandwiches; multi-grain bread and cheddar cheese were deemed whole, while white bread and processed cheese product were considered processed. Meals were comparable in terms of protein (15–20%), carbohydrate (40–50%), and fat (33–39%) composition. Subjects were healthy women (n=12) and men (n=5) studied in a crossover design. Results There were no significant differences in satiety ratings after the two meals. Average energy expenditure for the WF meal (137±14.1 kcal, 19.9% of meal energy) was significantly larger than for the PF meal (73.1±10.2 kcal, 10.7% of meal energy). Conclusion Ingestion of the particular PF meal tested in this study decreases postprandial energy expenditure by nearly 50% compared with the isoenergetic WF meal. This reduction in daily energy expenditure has potential implications for diets comprised heavily of PFs and their associations with obesity.
Multi-receiver Aloha systems - a survey and new results

This paper focuses on the beneficial effects brought by the presence of multiple receivers to a slotted Aloha scheme. Starting from an analytical angle, we review and compare some recent results that characterize the throughput of such systems under different channel models, based on the assumption that incoming powers at receivers follow an i.i. d. distribution. While practical in some scenarios, this hypothesis does not hold when the path loss experienced by different users, or by a user seen by different receivers, starts to play a role. We shed light on this aspect by means of detailed simulations, and derive some relevant insights on the achievable diversity gain. The impact of successive interference cancellation in this context is also evaluated.
Tanning Device Usage: What Are Parents Thinking?

Abstract: Tanning device usage is prevalent among adolescents. Few studies have assessed the role of parental influence on children's use of indoor tanning facilities. Our objective was to determine if children's tanning device usage is affected by parental knowledge of risks of indoor tanning or by parental tanning practices. A survey was administered to 160 parents of 328 children at a general pediatrics clinic and 204 parents of 367 children at a pediatric dermatology clinic (parents n = 364, children n = 695). Over half of all parents and 17% of all teenagers queried had previously used tanning devices. The level of parental knowledge did not predict tanning device usage by their children. However, parental tanning device usage was associated with increased usage by children (p < 0.05). Children began using tanning devices on average more than 4 years earlier than their parents. Most parents (69%) never wanted their children to use tanning devices, but only 15% of parents had discussed them with their children. Therefore, health providers can provide an important service by initiating discussions about tanning devices. Additional measures, including legislation requiring parental consent for indoor tanning, are needed to reduce tanning device usage by minors.
Cell morphology and mechanical properties of microcellular mucell® injection molded polyetherimide and polyetherimide/fillers composite foams

Microcellular polyetherimide (PEI) foams were prepared by microcellular injection molding using supercritical nitrogen (SC-N2) as foaming agent. The effects of four different processing parameters including shot size, injection speed, SC-N2 content, and mold temperature on cell morphology and material properties were studied. Meanwhile, multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), nano-montmorillonoid (NMMT), and talcum powder (Talc) were introduced into PEI matrix as heterogeneous nucleation agents in order to further improve the cell morphology and mechanical properties of microcellular PEI foams. The results showed that the processing parameters had great influence on cell morphology. The lowest cell size can reach to 18.2 μm by optimizing the parameters of microcellular injection molding. Moreover, MWCNT can remarkably improve the cell morphology of microcellular PEI foams. It was worth mentioning that when the MWCNT content was 1 wt %, the microcellular PEI/MWCNT foams displayed optimum mechanical properties and the cell size decreased by 28.3% compared with microcellular PEI foams prepared by the same processing parameters. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 4171–4181, 2013
Management of paper waste by vermicomposting using epigeic earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae in Gwalior, India

Earthworms are important Vermiresources having simple, cylindrical, Coelomate and segmented body characterized by presence of setae. Earthworms are terrestrial worms well adapted for burrowing life. They depend on soil for all of their activities hence they are called geobionts. In order to protect themselves from enemies and desiccation most of the species prefer to live in burrows and come out during night in search of food (night crawlers). Earthworms are also known as rain worms, as they are seen in large numbers during rains, manure worms, as some varieties flourish well in manures and compost heaps, angel worms as they suddenly appear like angels after some days of rains, or fish worms as they are largely used as fish bait and fish food. ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 2 Number 4 (2013) pp. 42-47 http://www.ijcmas. com
Darcy’s and Forchheimer’s laws in practice – Part 1: The experiment

The aim of this study is to derive flow parameters, which are permeability and Forchheimer coefficient, based on experimentally measured flow rates and pressure drops. When flow rates used in measurements exceed the limits of linear Darcy’s flow regime we discuss what needs to be taken into account while processing the measurements. The study consists of two parts. In this part we briefly recall Darcy’s and Forchheimer’s laws and address the issue of detecting transition between ranges of their applicability. Then we describe the experiment and discuss 8 different ways to process measurement data, four for Darcy’s, and four for Forchheimer’s models. The main topic of the second part is to provide recommendations for the best ways to process data, so that the results obtained with numerical models are in the best agreement with the experimental data. The results shown in the two papers belong to a larger work devoted to modeling fluid flows through porous media, with a special interest in granular beds.
Numerical simulation and experimental validation of residual stress induced constrained shrinkage of injection molded parts

- In this paper a numerical analysis of in-mold constrained shrinkage of injection molded parts is presented, considering the residual stresses produced during the packing and cooling stages. Residual stresses are the main reasons of shrinkage and warpage of the injected parts. In regards to the viscoelastic characteristics of polymeric materials, mold constraints have noticeable effects on the final dimensions of the molded parts. A numerical analysis was developed and experimentally examined for constrained shrinkage using a case study: a plate containing the holes (as constraints). The results indicated a good agreement between the numerical solution and the experimental data.
A Computational Model of Event Segmentation From Perceptual Prediction

People tend to perceive ongoing continuous activity as series of discrete events. This partitioning of continuous activity may occur, in part, because events correspond to dynamic patterns that have recurred across different contexts. Recurring patterns may lead to reliable sequential dependencies in observers' experiences, which then can be used to guide perception. The current set of simulations investigated whether this statistical structure within events can be used 1) to develop stable internal representations that facilitate perception and 2) to learn when to update such representations in a self-organizing manner. These simulations demonstrate that experience with recurring patterns enables a system to accurately predict upcoming stimuli within an event, to identify boundaries between such events based on transient increases in prediction error, and to use such boundaries to improve prediction about subsequent activities.
Decentralized consensus optimization with asynchrony and delays

We propose an asynchronous, decentralized algorithm for consensus optimization. The algorithm runs over a network of agents, where the agents perform local computation and communicate with neighbors. We design the algorithm so that the agents can compute and communicate independently at different times and for different durations. This reduces the waiting time for the slowest agent or longest communication delay and also eliminates the need for a global clock. Mathematically, the algorithm involves both primal and dual variables, uses fixed step-size parameters, and provably converges to the exact solution under a bounded delay assumption and a random agent assumption. When running synchronously, the algorithm performs just as well as existing competitive synchronous algorithms such as PG-EXTRA, which diverges without synchronization. Numerical experiments confirm the theoretical findings and illustrate the performance of the proposed algorithm.
Development of Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans in the Central Auditory System of Rats Correlates with Acquisition of Mature Properties

Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) are macromolecules which regulate the structural organization of the extracellular matrix and can mediate cell migration and axonal growth. Here the spatiotemporal distribution of CSPGs in the central auditory system of rats was investigated using a polyclonal antiserum. In adult brains, CSPGs surrounded many neuronal cell bodies and proximal dendrites at all stations of the auditory pathway except the medial geniculate body. During development, CSPG expression became visible at postnatal day (P) 4 in the superior olivary complex, at P8 in the midbrain, and at P18 in the cortex. Immunoreactivity increased strongly until P12 in the brainstem and until P24 in the cortex. The adult-like pattern in the pontine nuclei, the midbrain, and the cortex was seen at P12, P29, and P35, respectively. The relatively late expression of strong immunoreactivity indicates that the CSPGs are involved in the maturation of axonal connections, but not in early processes such as cell migration or neurite outgrowth.
Asymmetries in children's production of relative clauses: data from English and Korean

ABSTRACT We report here on a series of elicited production experiments that investigate the production of indirect object and oblique relative clauses by monolingual child learners of English and Korean. Taken together, the results from the two languages point toward a pair of robust asymmetries: children manifest a preference for subject relative clauses over indirect object relative clauses, and for direct object relative clauses over oblique relative clauses. We consider various possible explanations for these preferences, of which the most promising seems to involve the requirement that the referent of the head noun be easily construed as what the relative clause is about.
Mathematical modeling and experimental study of squeeze casting of magnesium alloy AM50A and aluminum alloy A356.

In recent years, the squeeze casting process has been widely used with various aluminum alloys to manufacture near-net shape automotive components. Preliminary research has also demonstrated technical feasibility potential of squeeze casting for magnesium. A better understanding of sqeeze casting process is essential for applying the process for the production of large automotive components, such as engine block, using aluminum and magnesium. Meanwhile, simulation can help to achieve the analysis and optimization of the casting process. Unfortunately, for squeeze casting, no appropriate model is presently available. In this study, a mathematical model has been developed to simulate the transport phenomena and solidification occurring in squeeze casting process. The model was based on the control-volume finite difference approach and on an enthalpy method. An experimental system was developed capable of characterizing local in-cavity pressures, determining casting/die interfacial heat transfer, and observing pressurized solidification phenomena taking place in squeeze casting of aluminum and magnesium alloys. It was found that, during squeeze casting process, the local cavity pressure distribution was inhomogeneous. Experimental correlations of heat transfer coefficient were integrated into the model with local cavity pressures estimated by a force balance approach. Hence, instead of using static boundary condition, a dynamic boundary condition was established in the model. In order to minimize the deviation of calculation, experimental correlations between solidification temperatures and applied pressures were also integrated into the
Alternating minimization and projection methods for nonconvex problems

We study the convergence properties of alternating proximal minimization algorithms for (nonconvex) functions of the following type: L(x, y) = f(x) + Q(x, y) + g(y) where f : R → R∪{+∞} and g : R → R∪{+∞} are proper lower semicontinuous functions and Q : R×R → R is a smooth C (finite valued) function which couples the variables x and y. The algorithm is defined by: (x0, y0) ∈ R n × R given, (xk, yk) → (xk+1, yk) → (xk+1, yk+1)
Distribution of Cerebral Blood Flow during Anesthesia with Isoflurane or Halothane in Humans

Background Halothane and isoflurane have been shown to induce disparate effects on different brain structures in animals. In humans, various methods for measuring cerebral blood flow (CBF) have produced results compatible with a redistribution of CBF toward deep brain structures during isoflurane anesthesia in humans. This study was undertaken to examine the effects of halothane and isoflurane on the distribution of CBF. Methods Twenty ASA physical status patients (four groups, five in each) anesthetized with either isoflurane or halothane (1 MAC) during normo‐ or hypocapnia (PaCO2 5.6 or 4.2 kPa (42 or 32 mmHg)) were investigated with a two‐dimensional CBF measurement (CBFxenon, intravenous133 xenon washout technique) and a three‐dimensional method for measurement of the regional CBF (rCBF) distribution with single photon emission computer‐aided tomography (SPECT;99m Tc‐HMPAO). In the presentation of SPECT data, the mean CBF of the brain was defined as 100%, and all relative flow values are related to this value. Results The mean CBFxenon level was significantly influenced by the PaCO2 as well as by the anesthetic used. At normocapnia, patients anesthetized with halothane had a mean CBFxenon of 40 plus/minus 3 (SE) ISI units. With isoflurane, the flow was significantly (P < 0.01, 33 plus/minus 3 ISI units) less than with halothane. Hypocapnia decreased mean CBFxenon (P < 0.0001) during both anesthetics (halothane 24 plus/minus 3, isoflurane 13 plus/minus 2 ISI units). The effects on CBFxenon, between the anesthetics, differed significantly (P < 0.01) also during hypocapnia. There were significant differences in rCBF distribution measured between the two anesthetics (P < 0.05). During isoflurane anesthesia, there was a relative increase in flow values in subcortical regions (thalamus and basal ganglia) to 10–15%, and in pons to 7–10% above average. Halothane, in contrast, induced the highest relative flow levels in the occipital lobes, which increased by approximately 10% above average. The rCBF level was increased approximately 10% in cerebellum with both anesthetics. Changes in PaCO2 did not alter the rCBF distribution significantly. Conclusions There is a difference in the human rCBF distribution between halothane and isoflurane with higher relative flows in subcortical regions during isoflurane anesthesia. However, despite this redistribution, isoflurane anesthesia resulted in a lower mean CBFxenon than did anesthesia with halothane.
Genetic Architecture of Hybrid Male Sterility in Drosophila: Analysis of Intraspecies Variation for Interspecies Isolation

Background The genetic basis of postzygotic isolation is a central puzzle in evolutionary biology. Evolutionary forces causing hybrid sterility or inviability act on the responsible genes while they still are polymorphic, thus we have to study these traits as they arise, before isolation is complete. Methodology/Principal Findings Isofemale strains of D. mojavensis vary significantly in their production of sterile F1 sons when females are crossed to D. arizonae males. We took advantage of the intraspecific polymorphism, in a novel design, to perform quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping analyses directly on F1 hybrid male sterility itself. We found that the genetic architecture of the polymorphism for hybrid male sterility (HMS) in the F1 is complex, involving multiple QTL, epistasis, and cytoplasmic effects. Conclusions/Significance The role of extensive intraspecific polymorphism, multiple QTL, and epistatic interactions in HMS in this young species pair shows that HMS is arising as a complex trait in this system. Directional selection alone would be unlikely to maintain polymorphism at multiple loci, thus we hypothesize that directional selection is unlikely to be the only evolutionary force influencing postzygotic isolation.
Bounding cubic-triple product Selmer groups of elliptic curves

Let $E$ be a modular elliptic curve over a totally real cubic field. We have a cubic-triple product motive over $\mathbb{Q}$ constructed from $E$ through multiplicative induction; it is of rank $8$. We show that, under certain assumptions on $E$, the non-vanishing of the central critical value of the $L$-function attached to the motive implies that the dimension of the associated Bloch-Kato Selmer group is $0$.
A Fine-Grained Privacy Preserving Protocol over Attribute Based Access Control for VANETs

Vehicle safety related applications which are drawing increasing attention in public have attracted extensive research both in academic and industry areas. However, it is assumed that one service is offered by one provider, thus forcing vehicle drivers to subscribe to several service providers within limited computation capabilities. In this paper, we present a fine-grained privacy preserving protocol over attribute access control for VANETs which allows a service provider to offer a range of safety related services to vehicle drivers. The vehicles which have appropriate service attributes are authorized to access the requested services. In order for a vehicle to access to the authorized services, we propose a fined-grained access control mechanism based on linear secret sharing scheme. We consider the concept of an ID-based signature, an attribute based encryption (ABE) and a linear secret sharing scheme (LSSS) as our building blocks.