Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shading Effects on Output Power of Grid Connected Photovoltaic Generator Systems

the quality of power supply from photovoltaic generators is very sensitive to shading effects of single or multiple cells. The energy yield of a partly shaded photovoltaic system is much lower than we could assume from the mean solar irradiance. Therefore we have to optimise the module structure and to select the right type of maximum power point tracking system in combination with the solar inverter. Resume - la qualite d'une puissance electrique produite par un generateur photovoltaique reste tres sensible a l'effet d'ombre produit par une ou plusieurs cellules. Ainsi, dans un systeme photovoltaique, le rendement energetique produit par ce phenomene d'ombre est beaucoup plus faible par rapport a l' irradiance solaire moyenne. C'est pourquoi, nous devons optimiser la structure du modele et choisir le systeme de poursuite et de mesure de la puissance maximale en combinaison avec le convertisseur solaire.
North Korea's strategic intentions

Abstract : This monograph analyzes North Korea's strategic intentions and motivations. First, the views of leading analysts of North Korea regarding Pyongyang's strategic intentions are surveyed and examined. All of the analysts concur on a number of conclusions: (1) that the North Korean regime is not irrational; (2) this rationality leaves North Korea's leadership with a heightened sense of insecurity; (3) North Korea's rulers-or at least some of them-appear to be acutely aware of the reform dilemma they face. This third conclusion is particularly significant. Because North Korea's leaders fear that they would be undermining their positions if the regime adopts comprehensive reforms, they are reluctant to move down this slippery slope. However, without significant reform, North Korea's leaders realize they are probably condemning their regime to the ash heap of history. Pyongyang is probably more fearful of initiating change that it fears will spiral out of control than it is of doing little or nothing. Three alternative packages of Korean strategic intentions are identified: (1) the modest aim of regime survival; (2) a driving desire to maintain a strong, independent, and autonomous North Korea; (3) an ambitious and extremely aggressive goal-unification on North Korea's terms. In the final analysis, there are insufficient data to say with absolute certainty what North Korea's strategic intentions are. Any one of these three "packages" outlined is plausible, or intentions could conceivably fluctuate among the three, depending on how the regime assesses the situation at any particular point.
The Relative Asset Pricing Model: Toward a Unified Theory of Asset Pricing

Ever since the development of Modern Portfolio Theory or MPT (essentially Mean-Variance Optimization and the Capital Asset Pricing Model) in the late 1950s and early 1960s, numerous competing theories have been offered by academics. The simplicity of MPT is appealing as the expected return on an asset is simply a function of the return of the market portfolio and that asset’s beta to the market portfolio. The Arbitrage Pricing Theory (APT) suggests that factors over and above the market portfolio may be relevant and has some validation in empirical tests even though the theory is silent on the specific factors. Prospect Theory or Behavioral Finance (PT) finds that investors do not behave as predicted by MPT and MPT seems to be missing a reference point. A more recent proposal, Adaptive Markets Hypothesis (AMH), while lacking a quantitative theory, suggests that applying the principles of evolution, competition, adaptation, and natural selection to financial interactions may explain some of the observed market phenomena. This paper makes a bold claim that all of these approaches (MPT, APT, PT and AMH) can possibly be captured by a simple paradigm called the Relative Asset Pricing Model (RAPM), which is anchored in how investors behave and act. In this paradigm, at the highest level of application, assets are not invested to maximize wealth, but rather funded status, thereby providing a reference point, liabilities, as desired by PT. At a secondary level, asset management is delegated to agents and they also make relative decisions, but this time relative to sub-components of the liability proxy, and with specific constraints because delegation leads to certain challenges. Depending on how liabilities have been proxied in the past, one can show that many of the additional factors postulated in APT (and discovered by Fama-French) can be credibly rationalized under RAPM. Finally, AMH can also be absorbed into this paradigm because as regulations changed over time and as investors got more sophisticated and became creative in delegation, they adapted how they proxied liabilities/structured portfolios thereby explaining certain other phenomena. If the simple model postulated below has all these attributes, it may provide the basis for a Unifying Theory of Asset Pricing, thereby demonstrating that all these current branches of asset pricing are different perspectives of a multi-dimensional RAPM, and that additional research needs to be undertaken to flush out RAPM in more detail and with greater complexity.
Human NK cell lytic granules and regulation of their exocytosis

Natural killer (NK) cells form a subset of lymphocytes that play a key role in immuno-surveillance and host defense against cancer and viral infections. They recognize stressed cells through a variety of germline-encoded activating cell surface receptors and utilize their cytotoxic ability to eliminate abnormal cells. Killing of target cells is a complex, multi-stage process that concludes in the directed secretion of lytic granules, containing perforin and granzymes, at the immunological synapse. Upon delivery to a target cell, perforin mediates generation of pores in membranes of target cells, allowing granzymes to access target cell cytoplasm and induce apoptosis. Therefore, lytic granules of NK cells are indispensable for normal NK cell cytolytic function. Indeed, defects in lytic granule secretion lead or are related to serious and often fatal diseases, such as familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) type 2–5 or Griscelli syndrome type 2. A number of reports highlight the role of several proteins involved in lytic granule release and NK cell-mediated killing of tumor cells. This review focuses on lytic granules of human NK cells and the advancements in understanding the mechanisms controlling their exocytosis.
Aberrant methylation of PCDH10 and RASSF1A genes in blood samples for non-invasive diagnosis and prognostic assessment of gastric cancer

Background. Assessment of DNA methylation of specific genes is one approach to the diagnosis of cancer worldwide. Early stage detection is necessary to reduce the mortality rate of cancers, including those occurring in the stomach. For this purpose, tumor cells in circulating blood offer promising candidates for non-invasive diagnosis. Transcriptional inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, like PCDH10 and RASSF1A, by methylation is associated with progression of gastric cancer, and such methylation can therefore be utilized as a biomarker. Methods. The present research was conducted to evaluate DNA methylation in these two genes using blood samples of gastric cancer cases. Clinicopathological data were also analyzed and cumulative survival rates generated for comparison. Results. High frequencies of PCDH10 and RASSF1A methylations in the gastric cancer group were noted (94.1% and 83.2%, respectively, as compared to 2.97% and 5.45% in 202 matched controls). Most patients (53.4%) were in severe stage of the disease, with a median survival time of 8.4 months after diagnosis. Likewise, the patients with metastases, or RASSF1A and PCDH10 methylations, had median survival times of 7.3, 7.8, and 8.4 months, respectively. A Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that cumulative survival was significantly lower in those cases positive for methylation of RASSF1A than in their negative counterparts. Similarly, whereas almost 100% of patients positive for PCDH10 methylation had died after five years, none of the negative cases died over this period. Notably, the methylations of RASSF1A and PCDH10 were found to be higher in the late-stage patients and were also significantly correlated with metastasis and histology. Conclusions. PCDH10 and RASSF1A methylations in blood samples can serve as potential non-invasive diagnostic indicators in blood for gastric cancer. In addition to RASSF1A methylation, tumor stage proved to be a major prognostic factor in terms of survival rates.
Africa's Choices After Thirty Years of the World Bank

* Introduction: Something New out of Africa What Was Proposed From Outside * How Old Is Africas Crisis? * Alternative Growth Models in the Post-colonial State * Redistribution and Basic Needs * Structural Adjustmentby the World Bank * Crisis Management: Commodity Exports and Debt * The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse What Africans Are Seeking * Africa Must Unite: The Alternative Vision * Regional Groupings in Africa * Common Defence of Common Resources * Transformation and Self-reliance * An African Model of Industrial Development * The Informal, Second Economy * Let the Women Lead! * Developing Human Resources * Rural Development from the Grass Roots * Urbanization and Workers Organizations A Framework For Cooperation * Cooperation on the Ground * Africa in the World Economy
Ridge Planted Pigeonpea and Furrow Planted Rice in an Intercropping System as Affected by Nitrogen and Weed Management

Intercropping is a crop management system involving the growing of two or more dissimilar crops in distinct row combinations simultaneously on the same land area. In intercropping, the component crop species are usually sown in parallel lines enabling mechanical crop production, maintenance, and harvest. Intercropping involves crop intensification in respect to both time and space dimensions (Ahlawat and Sharma, 2002). Conceptually, an intercropping system helps for risk avoidance from epidemic of insect-pest and diseases and overcome adverse environmental conditions in agro-climatologically unstable regions along with increasing solar radiation utilization and inputs including fertilizer and water utilization compared to monoculture crops. Intercropping not only reduces the risk associated with input costs but also increases profit potential (Rathi and Verma, 1979). Moreover, it provides several major advantages namely, diversification reduces risk associated with crop failure, increased productivity per unit area and time, offers greater yield stability and utilizes the available growth resources more efficiently and sustainably. Furthering rationales of this practice, it caters to the multiple needs of the farmer, is a self-provisioning device, is a mechanism to spread labour peaks, and keeps weeds under check (Singh and Jha, 1984). A number of researchers (Enyi, 1973; Sengupta et al., 1985) reported greater land use efficiency utilizing intercropping and reductions of weed growth through competition. The yield advantage obtained through intercropping has been reported mainly due to efficient utilization and optimization of available natural growth
Optimal Cultivation Time for Yeast and Lactic Acid Bacteria in Fermented Milk and Effects of Fermented Soybean Meal on Rumen Degradability Using Nylon Bag Technique

The objectives of this study were to determine an optimal cultivation time for populations of yeast and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) co-cultured in fermented milk and effects of soybean meal fermented milk (SBMFM) supplementation on rumen degradability in beef cattle using nylon bag technique. The study on an optimal cultivation time for yeast and LAB growth in fermented milk was determined at 0, 4, 8, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h post-cultivation. After fermenting for 4 days, an optimal cultivation time of yeast and LAB in fermented milk was selected and used for making the SBMFM product to study nylon bag technique. Two ruminal fistulated beef cattle (410±10 kg) were used to study on the effect of SBMFM supplementation (0%, 3%, and 5% of total concentrate substrate) on rumen degradability using in situ method at incubation times of 0, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h according to a Completely randomized design. The results revealed that the highest yeast and LAB population culture in fermented milk was found at 72 h-post cultivation. From in situ study, the soluble fractions at time zero (a), potential degradability (a+b) and effective degradability of dry matter (EDDM) linearly (p<0.01) increased with the increasing supplemental levels and the highest was in the 5% SBMFM supplemented group. However, there was no effect of SBMFM supplement on insoluble degradability fractions (b) and rate of degradation (c). In conclusion, the optimal fermented time for fermented milk with yeast and LAB was at 72 h-post cultivation and supplementation of SBMFM at 5% of total concentrate substrate could improve rumen degradability of beef cattle. However, further research on effect of SBMFM on rumen ecology and production performance in meat and milk should be conducted using in vivo both digestion and feeding trials.
Serum Adipokine and Ghrelin Levels in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Adipokines and ghrelin play role in insulin resistance, the key pathophysiological abnormality in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases. In the present study, relationship between nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and serum adipokine and ghrelin levels was investigated. Thirty seven patients with biopsy-proven NASH and 25 age- and sex-matched controls were enrolled. Ten of NASH patients (27%) had diabetes mellitus (n = 5) or impaired glucose tolerance (n = 5). Body mass index (BMI) was less than 30 kg/m2 in 67.6% of patients, while in the remaining 32.4% it was more than 30 kg/m2. Serum adiponectin, leptin, TNF-α, and ghrelin were determined. Serum leptin (15.49 ± 4.84 vs 10.31 ± 2.53) and TNF-α (12.1 ± 2.7 vs 10.31 ± 2.56) levels were significantly higher in the NASH group compared to in the control group (P < .001 for each). Nevertheless, adiponectin (11.1±2.1 vs 17.3±2.8) and ghrelin (6.46±1.1 vs 7.8±1.1) levels were lower in the NASH group than in the control group (P < .001 for each). Serum levels of the adipokines and ghrelin, however, were comparable in the subgroups of patients regardless of whether BMI was < 30 or > 30 or glucose tolerance was impaired or not (P > .05). Additionally, neither adipokines nor ghrelin was correlated with histopathological grade and stage (P > .05). In conclusion; there is a significant relationship between NASH and adipokines and ghrelin independent from BMI and status of the glucose metabolism. These cytokines that appear to have role in the pathogenesis of NASH, however, do not have any effect upon the severity of the histopathology.
Person-level and household-level regression estimation in household surveys

A common class of survey designs involves selecting all people within selected households. Generalized regression estimators can be calculated at either the person or household level. Implementing the estimator at the household level has the convenience of equal estimation weights for people within households. In this article the two approaches are compared theoretically and empirically for the case of simple random sampling of households and selection of all persons in each selected household. We find that the household level approach is theoretically more efficient in large samples and any empirical inefficiency in small samples is limited.
Early behavioural changes in mice infected with BSE and scrapie: automated home cage monitoring reveals prion strain differences

Mice inoculated with transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) show behavioural abnormalities well before the appearance of clinical signs. TSE strains are obtained by serial re‐infection of infectious brain homogenates in laboratory rodents. They are characterized by strain‐typical brain lesion profiles, which implies that they might be differentiated behaviourally as well. Seventy female C57BL/6 mice were tested, 14 per group. Controls received no or sham inocula, two other groups received scrapie strains adapted to mice (139A, ME7) and one group a mouse‐adapted BSE strain (301C). From week 7 until the end of the incubation period, 8 mice per group were subjected once every 2 weeks to open‐field and hot‐plate tests. Assessment of clinical signs, and measuring of body weight, food and water consumption were carried out weekly on the remaining animals kept in single cages. In addition, locomotor activity was recorded continuously in these mice by means of infrared detectors. Monitoring of circadian activity revealed early significant TSE strain differences, most pronounced during the nocturnal active phase. Behavioural changes in open‐field tests also occurred before the appearance of clinical signs, and differences in rearing, wall rearing and sniffing were strain‐specific, however, such differences varied according to the period of testing. Hind paw lick latencies increased equally in all groups after week 19, jump latencies also increased in the two scrapie groups but not in the BSE group. It was at this time that clinical signs first appeared consisting of ataxia, lack of balance, motor dyscoordination, and lordosis. These data imply that automated assessment of circadian activity in mice is a powerful and economical tool for early behavioural typing of TSE strains.
Genetic structure and local adaptation of European wheat yellow rust populations: the role of temperature-specific adaptation

Environmental heterogeneity influences coevolution and local adaptation in host–parasite systems. This also concerns applied issues, because the geographic range of parasites may depend on their capacity to adapt to abiotic conditions. We studied temperature‐specific adaptation in the wheat yellow/stripe rust pathogen, Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici (PST). Using laboratory experiments, PST isolates from northern and southern France were studied for their ability to germinate and to infect bread and durum wheat cultivars over a temperature gradient. Pathogen origin × temperature interactions for infectivity and germination rate suggest local adaptation to high‐ versus low‐temperature regimes in south and north. Competition experiments in southern and northern field sites showed a general competitive advantage of southern over northern isolates. This advantage was particularly pronounced in the southern ‘home’ site, consistent with a model integrating laboratory infectivity and field temperature variation. The stable PST population structure in France likely reflects adaptation to ecological and genetic factors: persistence of southern PST may be due to adaptation to the warmer Mediterranean climate; and persistence of northern PST can be explained by adaptation to commonly used cultivars, for which southern isolates are lacking the relevant virulence genes. Thus, understanding the role of temperature‐specific adaptations may help to improve forecast models or breeding programmes.
Monetary Policy in East Asia (and Elsewhere): Does Targeting Inflation Require 'Inflation Targeting'?

This paper argues that inflation targeting should not be defined too narrowly. The principal objective of a sound monetary policy, namely to provide a credible nominal anchor for the economy, can be achieved with a variety of institutional structures and operational frameworks. It is essential, however, that the objectives of monetary policy be clearly stated and broadly accepted, and that other macroeconomic policies are consistent with the pursuit of price stability. Within these constraints there is room for a number of alternative monetary policy strategies. Countries are well advised to search for policy strategies that are most appropriate for their own economies rather than copying what has worked well in other contexts.
Effectiveness of Home Visits in Pregnancy as a Public Health Measure to Improve Birth Outcomes

Background Birth outcomes, such as preterm birth, low birth weight (LBW), and small for gestational age (SGA), are crucial indicators of child development and health. Purpose To evaluate whether home visits from public health nurses for high-risk pregnant women prevent adverse birth outcomes. Methods In this quasi-experimental cohort study in Kyoto city, Japan, high-risk pregnant women were defined as teenage girls (range 14–19 years old), women with a twin pregnancy, women who registered their pregnancy late, had a physical or mental illness, were of single marital status, non-Japanese women who were not fluent in Japanese, or elderly primiparas. We collected data from all high-risk pregnant women at pregnancy registration interviews held at a public health centers between 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2012, as well as birth outcomes when delivered from the Maternal and Child Health Handbook (N = 964), which is a record of prenatal check-ups, delivery, child development and vaccinations. Of these women, 622 women were selected based on the home-visit program propensity score-matched sample (pair of N = 311) and included in the analysis. Data were analyzed between January and June 2014. Results In the propensity score-matched sample, women who received the home-visit program had lower odds of preterm birth (odds ratio [OR], 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39 to 0.98) and showed a 0.55-week difference in gestational age (95% CI: 0.18 to 0.92) compared to the matched controlled sample. Although the program did not prevent LBW and SGA, children born to mothers who received the program showed an increase in birth weight by 107.8 g (95% CI: 27.0 to 188.5). Conclusion Home visits by public health nurses for high-risk pregnant women in Japan might be effective in preventing preterm birth, but not SGA.
Travel Mode Detection Based on Neural Networks and Particle Swarm Optimization

The collection of massive Global Positioning System (GPS) data from travel surveys has increased exponentially worldwide since the 1990s. A number of methods, which range from rule-based to advanced classification approaches, have been applied to detect travel modes from GPS positioning data collected in travel surveys based on GPS-enabled smartphones or dedicated GPS devices. Among these approaches, neural networks (NNs) are widely adopted because they can extract subtle information from training data that cannot be directly obtained by human or other analysis techniques. However, traditional NNs, which are generally trained by back-propagation algorithms, are likely to be trapped in local optimum. Therefore, particle swarm optimization (PSO) is introduced to train the NNs. The resulting PSO-NNs are employed to distinguish among four travel modes (walk, bike, bus, and car) with GPS positioning data collected through a smartphone-based travel survey. As a result, 95.81% of samples are correctly flagged for the training set, while 94.44% are correctly identified for the test set. Results from this study indicate that smartphone-based travel surveys provide an opportunity to supplement traditional travel surveys.
Modeling a Coronal Loop Heated by Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence Nanoflares

We model the hydrodynamic evolution of the plasma confined in a coronal loop, 30,000 km long, subject to the heating of nanoflares due to intermittent magnetic dissipative events in the MHD turbulence produced by loop footpoint motions. We use the time-dependent distribution of energy dissipation along the loop obtained from a hybrid shell model, occurring for a magnetic field of about 10 G in the corona; the relevant heating per unit volume along the loop is used in the Palermo-Harvard loop plasma hydrodynamic model. We describe the results, focusing on the effects produced by the most intense heat pulses, which lead to loop temperatures between 1 and 1.5 MK.