Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transmission network reinforcement versus FACTS: an economic assessment

While a significant amount of work has been, and continues to be, devoted to the description and analysis of the technical performance of flexible AC transmission systems (FACTS), very little attention has been paid to the economics of these devices. The most frequently stated economic benefit of FACTS devices is that they enable postponement of network reinforcement. This paper describes a linear programming approach for computing the maximum savings in operating costs that could be secured from installing ultimate (100%) FACTS. This gives the volume of the "market" potentially available for FACTS. As the main aim of this paper is to assess the competitiveness of FACTS against network reinforcement, only FACTS devices used for active power control are modelled. The volume of the market for FACTS, defined as the difference between the gross benefit of full network flexibility and the net benefit of network reinforcement is determined for a wide range of line reinforcement costs. It is shown that economics of FACTS are system specific and depend strongly on the cost of reinforcement. It is further concluded that at values of network reinforcement costs presently used in practice, FACTS devices may find it difficult to compete favourably with network reinforcement. The model employed in this evaluation takes account of inter-temporal load variations as well as network security constraints in addition to the usual generator output and transmission thermal limits.
Genotype‐by‐environment interactions underlie the expression of pre‐ and post‐copulatory sexually selected traits in guppies

The role that genotype‐by‐environment interactions (GEIs) play in sexual selection has only recently attracted the attention of evolutionary biologists. Yet GEIs can have profound evolutionary implications by compromising the honesty of sexual signals, maintaining high levels of genetic variance underlying their expression and altering the patterns of genetic covariance among fitness traits. In this study, we test for GEIs in a highly sexually dimorphic freshwater fish, the guppy Poecilia reticulata. We conducted an experimental quantitative genetic study in which male offspring arising from a paternal half‐sibling breeding design were assigned to differing nutritional ‘environments’ (either high or low feed levels). We then determined whether the manipulation of diet quantity influenced levels of additive genetic variance and covariance for several highly variable and condition‐dependent pre‐ and post‐copulatory sexual traits. In accordance with previous work, we found that dietary limitation had strong phenotypic effects on numerous pre‐ and post‐copulatory sexual traits. We also report evidence for significant GEI for several of these traits, which in some cases (area of iridescence and sperm velocity) reflected a change in the rank order of genotypes across different nutritional environments (i.e. ecological crossover). Furthermore, we show that genetic correlations vary significantly between nutritional environments. Notably, a highly significant negative genetic correlation between iridescent coloration and sperm viability in the high food treatment broke down under dietary restriction. Taken together, these findings are likely to have important evolutionary implications for guppies; ecological crossover may influence sexual signal reliability in unstable (nutritional) environments and contribute towards the extreme levels of polymorphism in sexual traits typically reported for this species. Furthermore, the presence of environment‐specific genetic covariance suggests that trade‐offs measured in one environment may not be indicative of genetic constraints in others.
Eating Behaviors, Obesity, and Litigation: Should Casual-Food Restaurant Operators Heed the Warnings to their Fast-Food Counterparts?

McDonald's has weathered attacks over its alleged contribution to the obesity epidemic. Similar concerns may be at hand for casual restaurant operators. Students (N = 605) from a two-year college and a four-year university were surveyed to compare eating behaviors and menu selections in fast-food versus casual restaurants. Actual mean calorie consumption was significantly higher in casual restaurant meals than fast-food restaurant meals (t = 2.703, p = 0.019). In fact, in casual restaurants, students consumed between 47.5% and 61.8% of the recommended daily caloric intake in one meal. Restaurant managers and corporate officers must take a proactive stance to ensure healthy menu selections and avoid potential litigation.
Model uncertainty and asset return predictability: an application of Bayesian model averaging

We investigate model uncertainty associated with predictive regressions employed in asset return forecasting research. We use simple combination and Bayesian model averaging (BMA) techniques to compare the performance of these forecasting approaches in short-vs. long-run horizons of S&P500 monthly excess returns. Simple averaging involves an equally-weighted averaging of the forecasts from alternative combinations of factors used in the predictive regressions, whereas BMA involves computing the predictive probability that each model is the true model and uses these predictive probabilities as weights in combing the forecasts from different models. From a given set of multiple factors, we evaluate all possible pricing models to the extent, which they describe the data as dictated by the posterior model probabilities. We find that, while simple averaging compares quite favorably to forecasts derived from a random walk model with drift (using a 10-year out-of-sample iterative period), BMA outperforms simple averaging in longer compared to shorter forecast horizons. Moreover, we find further evidence of the latter when the predictive Bayesian model includes shorter, rather than longer lags of the predictive factors. An interesting outcome of this study tends to illustrate the power of BMA in suppressing model uncertainty through model as well as parameter shrinkage, especially when applied to longer predictive horizons.
Where have all the inosines gone? Conflicting evidence for A‐to‐I editing of the anticodon of higher eukaryotic 
 tRNAACGArg questions the dogma of a universal wobble‐mediated decoding of CGN codons

Codon–anticodon recognition between triplets of an mRNA and a specific tRNA is the key element in the translation of the genetic code. In general, the precision of this process is dominated by a strict Watson‐Crick base‐pairing scheme. However, the degeneracy of the genetic code led Crick to propose the Wobble Hypothesis, permitting a less restraining interaction with the third base of the codon and involving the participation of inosine for decoding C‐ending codons. The concept that the anticodon base A34 of tRNAACGArg in all eukaryotes, eubacteria, and plant chloroplasts is converted to I34 is firmly anchored in the literature despite conflicting evidence for its existence in higher eukaryote cytoplasmic tRNAACGArg . Here, we provide additional data and summarize the arguments favoring and contradicting post‐transcriptional deamination of this position. A hypothesis that resolves the apparent conflict is proposed. © 2016 IUBMB Life, 68(6):419–422, 2016
PERIPHERAL REGULATION OF GRAFT-VERSUS-HOST ALLOREACTIVITY IN MIXED CHIMERIC MINIATURE SWINE

Background. Despite the presence of circulating donor-derived T cells during the induction of mixed chimerism across MHC barriers in miniature swine, severe graft-versus-host disease was avoided in the majority of animals. In this study, we investigated the possible roles of recipient and donor lymphoid populations in the regulation of donor-anti-recipient alloreactivity. Methods. Mixed chimerism across a full MHC-mismatch barrier was established in miniature swine using a high-dose allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell protocol. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from mixed chimeric swine were co-cultured with naïve donor-matched responders and naïve recipient-matched stimulators in mixed lymphocyte reactions. Results. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from mixed chimeras inhibited donor-anti-recipient proliferation. This suppression was radioresistant to 25 Gy. Suppression of donor-anti-recipient alloreactivity was not observed in mixed lymphocyte co-cultures when donor-derived cells were added in the absence of recipient-derived cells. Conclusions. These results suggest an association between the presence of an active and relatively radioresistant cell population, demonstrable in vitro, and the regulation of graft-versus-host disease across MHC barriers in mixed chimeric miniature swine.
How do children affect parents’ allocation of time?

There is an extensive literature examining the relationship between elder care, child care and labour market activities, although these studies have largely overlooked their simultaneity. This article explores the relationship between these three activities, accounting for the influence that children have on parental allocation of time, using the 2002–2003 Spanish Time Use Survey (STUS). We find that the presence of children has quantitatively significant positive effects on the extent of dependent care-giving activities, with this increase in care-giving being compensated for by a decrease in the time devoted to the labour market.
The President and the Political Use of Force

Throughout the post–World War II period the president has been called upon to make decisions concerning the use of force as a political instrument. The explanation that is offered is based upon a characterization of the president as a cybernetic human decision maker facing limitations. These limitations, in conjunction with the complexity of the environment, lead presidents to develop and use a relatively simple decision rule. The dependent variable, which is the probability of the use of force at any point in time, is explained in terms of enduring and essential concerns, which are operationalized as coming from the international, domestic, and personal environments. Data are taken from Blechman and Kaplan's Force Without War. On the basis of our estimation and evaluation, presidential decisions to use force are based on factors in all three arenas.
Who knows, who cares? The determinants of enactment, awareness, and compliance with community Natural Resource Management regulations in Uganda*

ABSTRACT At the community level, bylaws and other regulations are commonly used to manage natural resources. However, there is limited research on how communities enact these regulations and what determines awareness and compliance with these regulations. A survey of 273 communities was conducted in Uganda with an objective of analyzing the determinants of enactment, awareness and compliance with community Natural Resource Management (NRM) regulations. Presence in the community of programs and organizations with focus on agriculture and the environment increases the probability to enact and to be aware of NRM regulations. The probability to comply with regulations enacted by village councils was greater than the case with such regulations passed by higher legislative bodies, suggesting the important role played by decentralization in NRM. Poverty is associated with lower compliance with NRM regulations. This supports the poverty-natural resource degradation trap hypothesis, and suggests that measures to reduce poverty can also improve NRM.
Modeling one thousand intron length distributions with fitild

Abstract Motivation Intron length distribution (ILD) is a specific feature of a genome that exhibits extensive species-specific variation. Whereas ILD contributes to up to 30% of the total information content for intron recognition in some species, rendering it an important component of computational gene prediction, very few studies have been conducted to quantitatively characterize ILDs of various species. Results We developed a set of computer programs (fitild, compild, etc.) to build statistical models of ILDs and compare them with one another. Each ILD of more than 1000 genomes was fitted with fitild to a statistical model consisting of one, two, or three components of Frechet distributions. Several measures of distances between ILDs were calculated by compild. A theoretical model was presented to better understand the origin of the observed shape of an ILD. Availability and implementation The C++ source codes are available at https://github.com/ogotoh/fitild.git/. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Airway persistence by the emerging multi‐azole‐resistant Rasamsonia argillacea complex in cystic fibrosis

Infections caused by Rasamsonia argillacea complex have been reported in various clinical settings. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is one of the main underlying conditions. An observational cohort study of CF patients with Rasamsonia in respiratory samples was conducted. Eight isolates from 6 patients were identified as R. argillacea complex and tested for antifungal susceptibility. All isolates had high MICs to voriconazole and posaconazole and low MECs to echinocandins. Four patients experienced lung function decline in the year preceding first Rasamsonia isolation. This continued in the year following first isolation in 3 out of 4 cases. Antifungal therapy was initiated in 2 patients, to which only one exhibited a clinical response. Three out of 6 patients died within 3 years of isolating Rasamsonia. Genotyping suggests that similar genotypes of Rasamsonia can persist in CF airways. Consistent with other fungi in CF, the clinical impact of airway colonisation by Rasamsonia is variable. In certain patients, Rasamsonia may be able to drive clinical decline. In others, though a clear impact on lung function may be difficult to determine, the appearance of Rasamsonia acts as a marker of disease severity. In others it does not appear to have an obvious clinical impact on disease progression.
Evidence-based assessment of the impact of the WHI on women's health

ABSTRACT Following the announcement of the first results of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) to the media in 2002, prior to their scientific publication, the resulting panic headlines had an immediate and lasting negative effect on use of menopausal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) around the world. Rates of use dropped by 40–80%. Symptomatic women then sought multiple alternative therapies but the majority of these have no greater effect than the effect seen from placebo in well-conducted trials of HRT. Some of these therapies have risks. Although anecdotally most menopause practitioners after 2002 can attest to having to counsel large numbers of women with debilitating menopausal symptoms who were too frightened to consider HRT, it is difficult to document loss of health-related quality of life in large population studies as they were not conducted. Similarly, the positive or negative effects of the marked decline in HRT on long-term morbidities and mortality have yet to be fully assessed. Recent studies have shown an increase in postmenopausal fractures and in some, but not all, populations a small temporary decline in breast cancer. Cardiovascular outcomes may not be apparent for another decade. Short-term, randomized, placebo-controlled trials confirm that HRT is the only therapy that effectively improves health-related quality of life in symptomatic women through a reduction in vasomotor and urogenital symptoms, joint pains and insomnia, while improving sexuality. The results of the re-analyses of the WHI data and new data from other studies do not justify the continuing negative attitude to HRT in symptomatic women who start HRT near menopause.
Time Management Training and Perceived Control of Time at Work

ABSTRACT The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of time management training, which was based on psychological theory and research, on perceived control of time, perceived stress, and performance at work. The authors randomly assigned 71 employees to a training group (n = 35) or a waiting-list control group (n = 36). As hypothesized, time management training led to an increase in perceived control of time and a decrease in perceived stress. Time management training had no impact on different performance indicators. In particular, the authors explored the use and the perceived usefulness of the techniques taught. Participants judged the taught techniques as useful, but there were large differences concerning the actual use of the various techniques.
Blood cigarettes: cigarette smuggling and war economies in central and eastern Africa

Objective To analyse cigarette smuggling practices in central and eastern Africa. Methods Primary data were gathered during long-term qualitative field research in which about 400 interviews were conducted. Analysis of secondary sources included academic literature and reports from non-government organisations, multilateral organisations and the press. Results Our research suggests that the following factors play an important role in cigarette smuggling in eastern and central Africa: (1) government officials encounter difficulties monitoring the long and porous borders; (2) there is a general problem of corrupt government officials and particularly those who allow large-scale smugglers to operate; (3) criminal elements also play an important role in smuggling—cigarette smuggling has helped rebel groups to finance their activities, something illustrated through examples from the war economy in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Conclusions Our research suggests that cigarette smuggling in this region is not primarily the result of different taxation levels in neighbouring states, but rather the outcome of weak state capacity, high levels of corruption and the activities of rebel groups. Under these conditions smuggling cigarettes becomes an attractive option as taxation is so easily avoided. This explains why in the low-income countries in this study there are high levels of smuggling in spite of low cigarette prices. Comprehensive supply control and enforcement legislation, and cooperation at national, regional and global level are needed to tackle fraudulent practices facilitated by corruption at state level, and to effectively punish interaction between cigarette traders and rebel groups.
Positive Externalities and R&D: Two Conflicting Traditions in Economic Theory

This paper explores the early discussion of external economies in the work of Alfred Marshall and Arthur Pigou. Marshall emphasized external economies as a positive aspect of the market process. Pigou’s interpretation of externalities has become the standard public finance argument on the existence of market failure, and provides the rationale for proposed policy solutions. An examination of the differences between the two perspectives is subsequently used as the base for a discussion of the modern analysis of research and development, and of the difficulties inherent in the standard Pigovian view. A final substantive section of the paper reconsiders the Marshallian perspective, identifying recent contributions to economic theory that have begun a return to Marshall’s original interpretation. The conclusion considers the significance of this Marshallian tradition for industrial policy.
Crystal structure of methylenetetrahydromethanopterin reductase (Mer) in complex with coenzyme F420: Architecture of the F420/FMN binding site of enzymes within the nonprolyl cis‐peptide containing bacterial luciferase family

Methylenetetratetrahydromethanopterin reductase (Mer) is involved in CO2 reduction to methane in methanogenic archaea and catalyses the reversible reduction of methylenetetrahydromethanopterin (methylene‐H4MPT) to methyl‐H4MPT with coenzyme F420H2, which is a reduced 5′‐deazaflavin. Mer was recently established as a TIM barrel structure containing a nonprolyl cis‐peptide bond but the binding site of the substrates remained elusive. We report here on the crystal structure of Mer in complex with F420 at 2.6 Å resolution. The isoalloxazine ring is present in a pronounced butterfly conformation, being induced from the Re‐face of F420 by a bulge that contains the non‐prolyl cis‐peptide bond. The bindingmode of F420 is very similar to that in F420‐dependent alcohol dehydrogenase Adf despite the low sequence identity of 21%. Moreover, binding of F420 to the apoenzyme was only associated with minor conformational changes of the polypeptide chain. These findings allowed us to build an improved model of FMN into its binding site in bacterial luciferase, which belongs to the same structural family as Mer and Adf and also contains a nonprolyl cis‐peptide bond in an equivalent position.
Design, Development and Evaluation of a UAV to Study Air Quality in Qatar

Measuring gases for air quality monitoring is a challenging task that claims a lot of time of observation and large numbers of sensors. The aim of this project is to develop a partially autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) equipped with sensors, in order to monitor and collect air quality real time data in designated areas and send it to the ground base. This project is designed and implemented by a multidisciplinary team from electrical and computer engineering departments. The electrical engineering team responsible for implementing air quality sensors for detecting real time data and transmit it from the plane to the ground. On the other hand, the computer engineering team is in charge of Interface sensors and provide platform to view and visualize air quality data and live video streaming. The proposed project contains several sensors to measure Temperature, Humidity, Dust, CO, CO2 and O3. The collected data is transmitted to a server over a wireless internet connection and the server will store, and supply these data to any party who has permission to access it through android phone or website in semi-real time. The developed UAV has carried several field tests in Al Shamal airport in Qatar, with interesting results and proof of concept outcomes.
Presence of nitrous oxide hotspots in the coastal upwelling area off central Chile: an analysis of temporal variability based on ten years of a biogeochemical time series

Seasonal and inter-annual variabilities of biogeochemical variables, including nitrous oxide (N2O), an important climate active gas, were analyzed during monthly observations between 2002 and 2012 at an ocean Time-Series station in the coastal upwelling area off central Chile (36° 30.8′; 73° 15′). Oxygen, N2O, nutrients and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) showed clear seasonal variability associated with upwelling favorable winds (spring–summer) and also inter-annual variability, which in the case of N2O was clearly observed during the occurrence of N2O hotspots with saturation levels of up to 4849%. These hotspots consistently took place during the upwelling-favorable periods in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2011, below the mixed layer (15–50 m depth) in waters with hypoxia and some NO 2 − ? > accumulation. The N2O hotspots displayed excesses of N2O (ΔN2O) three times higher than the average monthly anomalies (2002–2012). Estimated relationships of ΔN2O versus apparent oxygen utilization (AOU), and ΔN2O versus NO 3 − , ? > suggest that aerobic ammonium oxidation (AAO) and partial denitrification are the processes responsible for high N2O accumulation in subsurface water. Chl-a levels were reasonably correlated with the presence of the N2O hotspots, suggesting that microbial activities fuelled by high availability of organic matters lead to high N2O production. As a result, this causes a substantial N2O efflux into the atmosphere of up to 260 μmol m−2 d−1. The N2O hotspots are transient events or hot moments, which may occur more frequently than they are observed. If so, this upwelling area is producing and emitting greater than expected amounts of N2O and is therefore an important N2O source that should be considered in the global atmospheric N2O balance.