Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Kron Reduction and L2-Stability for Plug-and-Play Frequency Control of Microgrids

This paper proposes a consensus-based secondary frequency control scheme for islanded microgrids. The scheme only deals with droop equation and secondary control variables, and coincides with the hierarchical control concept. In this way, the effects of primary control level are integrated into the active power variation as a disturbance signal. Finite-gain L2-stability of the system, from the disturbances to the system states, is then investigated. Minimum requirements for convergence of the system to the desired operating point are also extracted theoretically. The scheme is then augmented with an online Kron reduction strategy, which prevents the spanning trees in the communication network from cutting, and provides the distributed generation units with smooth plug-and-play functionality, when they get disconnected physically. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme for different case studies is validated in MATLAB/Simscape Electrical™ software environment.
Detecting deceit via analyses of verbal and nonverbal behavior in children and adults

This experiment examined children's and undergraduates' verbal and nonverbal deceptive behavior, and the extent to which their truths and lies could be correctly classified by paying attention to these responses. Participants (N= 196) aged 5–6, 10–11, and 14–15, as well as university undergraduates, participated in an erasing the blackboard event, and told the truth or lied about the event afterwards. Nonverbal and verbal responses were coded, the latter with Criteria-Based Content Analysis and Reality Monitoring. Although children and undergraduates demonstrated different behaviors (for example, the children obtained lower CBCA scores and made more movements), actual cues to deceit were remarkably similar across different age groups (for example, both 5–6-year-olds and undergraduates obtained lower CBCA scores and made fewer movements while lying). A combination of verbal and nonverbal lie detection methods resulted in more correct classifications of liars and truth tellers than the verbal and nonverbal lie detection methods individually, with the combined method obtaining hit rates as high as 88%.
Electrovariable Nanoplasmonics and Self-Assembling Smart Mirrors

We introduce a new direction of research in electrooptics: electrovariable nanoplasmonics. As a specific example, we focus on a new approach for electrically tunable reflection of light at a liquid-liquid interface, suggested and described in this work. Its operation principle relies on voltage controlled localization of metal nanoparticles at the interface. For appropriate sizes and charges of the nanoparticles, and concentration of the electrolytes, about 0.5 V potential variation is required to reversibly convert the interface of two immiscible electrolytic solutions from a transparent window to a mirror. An extension of this approach to solid/liquid electrochemical systems using transparent electrodes is also discussed.
The Effect of Exchange Rate Movements and Economic Growth on Job Creation

Abstract Job creation is at the centre of economic development and remains a source of sustenance for social and human relations. The creation of a job-enabling economic environment is imperative in promoting social and economic cohesiveness in the macro and microeconomic environment. Any shocks to the economy, particularly those of exchange rate shocks and changes in economic growth, may negatively affect the labour market and job creation. This study made use of quarterly observations, from the first quarter of 1995 to the fourth quarter of 2015, to investigate the effect of the real exchange rate and economic growth on South Africa’s employment status. South Africa, a developing country, was selected as a case study due to its high unemployment rate that is still increasing. The Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model and multivariate co-integration techniques were used in assessing the impact and responsiveness of employment to the real exchange rate and real economic growth in South Africa. Findings of this study revealed that employment responds positively to economic growth and negatively to the real exchange rate in the long-run. The short-run displays a positive relationship between real economic growth and employment, while the relationship between employment and the real exchange rate is also negative. However, the effect of economic growth in creating jobs is not significant enough in stimulating job creation in South Africa, as indicated by results in variance decomposition. Movements in the exchange rate exerted a significant short and long-run negative effect on employment dynamics; implying that a depreciation of the rand against the U.S. dollar is associated with decrease in overall employment. Exchange rate stability is thus important for economic growth and job creation in South Africa. The study provided further recommendations on promoting job creation in South Africa and other developing countries.
Crystal structure of (E)-1-(4-(((E)-5-bromo-2-hydroxybenzylidene)amino)phenyl)ethan-1-one O-methyl oxime, C16H15BrN2O2

Abstract C16H15BrN2O2, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 33.758(5) Å, b = 7.1117(16) Å, c = 6.2194(9) Å, β = 92.133(13)°, V = 1492.1(4) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0693, wRref(F2) = 0.2153, T = 278(4) K.
Genetic Analysis of Half Diallel Matting with Different Methods and their Comparisons for Yield and its Associated Traits in Sunflower under Saline Soil Stress Conditions

Abstract A half diallel cross between five divergent sunflower genotypes was evaluated under two contrast locations of Kafr El-Hamam (fovourable soil as a control) and Tag Al-Ezz (as salt affected soil) Agricultural Research Stations using randomized complete block design with three replications. High significance variation among genotypes and their components was detected for all studied traits at both and combined locations. Selection in early generations would be effective at both locations for improving days to 50 % flowering, days to physiological maturity, plant height, head diameter, No. of green leaves plant–1 and seed oil content, but the remaining studied traits took an opposite trend. The parent L125 behaved as the best combiner at both locations for seed weight plant–1 and one or more of its components. The cross L460×L335 was found to be superior and exhibited highest specific combining ability effects and heterosis at both locations for seed weight plant–1 and one or more of its attributes. Gardner and Eberhart and Jones’s analyses (modified Hayman analysis) gives the same information as Griffing’s analysis method 2. Moreover, Hayman’s analysis may be given more information over the others about genetic component, so recommended using any one of these three methods along with Hayman’s analysis.
What is Magi?

VOLUME 1 SPECIAL ISSUE 2 | DECEMBER 2017 | 115 The EuroBiotech Journal Abstract MAGI is concerned with research and diagnosis of rare genetic diseases. It has been operating since 2006 in Italy and abroad. Today it has three centers in Italy, including a medical genetics laboratory specialized in next generation sequencing in Bolzano, a medical genetics laboratory specialized in MLPA in Rovereto (Trento) and a genetic diseases information center at San Felice del Benaco (Brescia). MAGI has also invested outside Italy, setting up non-profit genetics laboratories in countries such as Albania, Russia and in the near future, Kazakhstan
Factors Affecting Students’ Privacy Paradox and Privacy Protection Behavior

Abstract In this exploratory study, we investigate the factors affecting two opposite types of online privacy behavior: 1) online privacy paradox, i.e. a mismatch between users’ online privacy attitudes and their online privacy behavior; and 2) online privacy protection. To assess these two types of behavior, we devised a new direct scale comprising 25 items explicitly highlighting benefits and risks of the examined behavior. Various factors related to online privacy and anonymity were considered in light of the existing theories on online privacy behavior. To this end, 169 students from different fields of study in Israeli academia were administered closed-ended questionnaires. The multivariate linear regression analysis showed that information science students had a significantly lower tendency toward privacy paradox behavior compared to other students. In addition, we found that as the participants’ privacy concern and online privacy self efficacy increase, their tendency toward privacy paradox behavior decreases. However, surprisingly, there was no significant association between privacy protection behavior and high technical skills or online privacy literacy. This research has social implications for academia and the general public, as it shows that the protection of online privacy does not depend on technical knowledge or complicated tool usage, but rather can be achieved by raising users’ online privacy concern and self-efficacy.
Morphometric analysis of metacarpal and metatarsal bones of cave bears (Carnivora, Ursidae)

Abstract For the first time, morphometric variation has been studied in metacarpal and metatarsal bones of all known taxa of cave bears, which belong to different molecular genetic groups (deningeri, kudarensis, spelaeus, and ingressus haplotypes). The examined material involves nearly three thousand specimens from 28 localities of Europe, the Urals, Caucasus, and Central Asia. For comparison we used samples of fossil and recent Ursus arctos, as well as U. etruscus, regarded as a common ancestor of brown bears and cave bears. Methods of univariate and multivariate statistical analyses of metapodial bones were employed, providing an opportunity to ascertain the degree of sexual dimorphism in different taxa, the degree of morphological difference between taxa, and to define “size” and “shape” morphospaces for concise description of morphological diversity and classification of cave bears. Our study reveals that, on average, sexual dimorphism is more pronounced in U. arctos and U. kudarensis praekudarensis than in cave bears. Sexual dimorphism of bear metapodia is greater than sexual dimorphism of the skull (Baryshnikov and Puzachenko 2011). The contribution of sexual dimorphism to size of the metapodials is close to a contribution associated with morphological disparity between the bears belonging to different taxa. By the example of two chronosubspecies of Kudaro cave bear: U. kudarensis praekudarensis from Middle Pleistocene and U. k. kudarensis from Late Pleistocene, we succeeded in detecting a decrease of sexual dimorphism over time, which suggests that earlier cave bears inherited a pronounced sexual dimorphism from ancestral taxa. Metacarpal and metatarsal bones of cave bears are easily distinguished from those of U. etruscus and U. arctos, simultaneously demonstrating similarity between cave bears from different genetic groups, involving the species U. kudarensis (the basal taxon for all cave bears, including U. deningeri); some peculiarities of these bones are revealed only in the smaller U. rossicus. The examples have shown the presence (U. k. kudarensis) as well as absence (U. deningeri, U. kanivetz ingressus) of evident spatial (geographical) and temporal patterns in metapodial variability. It is determined that taxa can be better differentiated by metacarpals rather than by metatarsals, because the latter proved to be more “conservative” and less variable over time. It is hypothesized that very rapid modification of metapodial bones occurred at an early stage of evolution of this group, which was presumably a result of occupation of a special ecological niche by cave bears. This study reveals that the size and shape of metacarpal and metatarsal bones did not have an observable link with the taxonomic or evolutionary position of cave bears. At the same time, the clear morphological differences between brown bears and cave bears reflect an early evolutionary divergence between “arctoid” and “spelaeoid” lineages.
Cost and time performance of traditional-, direct labour- and management-procured public projects in Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract Procurement method over time has proven to have significant influence on the successful delivery of construction projects. Making the right decision in the selection of a procurement option to adopt is therefore crucial if a project is to succeed. This study therefore assessed the cost and time performance of selected public building projects procured using traditional, direct labour and management procurement options in Ondo State, Nigeria. A pro forma was used to gather cost and time data from government procuring entities in the state. In addition, a structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from construction professionals in these procuring entities, in order to ascertain the factors influencing the choice of procurement options adopted. The cost and time data gathered were analyzed using percentages and the paired-samples t-test, while those gathered on the factors influencing the choice of procurement options were analyzed using mean item scores and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results revealed that although there is no significant difference between the initial and final costs of the assessed projects, some measure of cost overrun still exists. In addition, a considerable amount of time overrun was experienced on projects executed using the three different procurement options. The most significant factors influencing the choice of a procurement option are price competition, speed, time certainty and complexity of the project. It is believed that the findings of this study will provide public procuring entities with insight on the cost and time capability of these procurement methods and aid them in selecting the procurement option that will help in delivering public building projects within the budget and on schedule.
The Football Team Composition Problem: a Stochastic Programming approach

Abstract Most professional European football clubs are well-structured businesses. Therefore, the financial performance of investments in players becomes crucial. In this paper, after the problem is discussed and formalized, an optimization model with the objective of maximizing the expected value of the team is presented. The model ensures that the team has the required mix of skills, that competition regulations are met, and that budget limits are respected. The model explicitly takes into account the uncertainty in the career development of football players. A case study based on the English Premier League is presented. Our results show that the model has significant potential to improve current decisions ensuring a steady growth of the value of the team. The team value growth reported is particularly driven by investments in young prospects.
Political Cycles in Military Deployment

Abstract The determinants of military deployment have been extensively discussed in the literature. Empirical studies indicate that, next to the international security arena, also domestic socio-economic variables play an important role. For example, wealth and size of the supplying nation tend to positively influence the number of military troops being deployed. The present study contributes to this literature by focusing on a set of political variables, i.e. the effect of upcoming elections as well as the composition of government. For a cross-sectional time-series of 34 democratic countries, covering the period from 1990 until 2014, we run a linear (fixed effects) panel regression model correcting for a first order autoregressive disturbance term as well as linear dynamic models with diverse corrections. When studying deployment at country level, we find a negative and significant impact of elections on the number of troops deployed, meaning that a country deploys fewer troops close to elections. As for government composition, we observe that rather central administrations deploy substantially fewer troops than right- or left-wing governments.
Influence of sex, body mass index and age on the results of the 2-mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test

Abstract Background: The overnight dexamethasone suppression test (DST) is routinely used in establishing the diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome. However, factors such as variable resorption and increased metabolism of dexamethasone (DXMS) could lead to false positive results. The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of sex, body mass index (BMI) and age on the DXMS metabolism. Methods: In total, 183 subjects were enrolled in a regular 2 mg DST. Patients with Cushing’s syndrome, depression, renal or hepatic insufficiency and patients treated with liver enzyme modulating pharmaceuticals were excluded from this study, so that 72 patients and 66 healthy subjects were analyzed. Nocturnal blood withdrawals were performed in 11 adult subjects at 1:00 AM, 3:00 AM, 5:00 AM, 7:00 AM, 8:00 AM to evaluate the kinetic of DXMS and cortisol. Results: In the DST DXMS levels demonstrated a high variation at 8:00 AM, that was inversely correlated with BMI (r=−0.24, p=0.045). Furthermore, DXMS levels determined in patients with a BMI<30 kg/m2 (n=29) were significantly higher than values of obese patients with a BMI>30 kg/m2 (n=43) (1.66±0.71 ng/mL vs. 1.31±0.57 ng/mL, p=0.026). Cortisol levels, measured at the same time, were neither correlated with DXMS nor with BMI values. In the kinetic study, maximal DXMS concentration was measured at approximately 3:00 AM. At 8:00 AM, median of DXMS was reduced to 59.1% and was correlated directly with the DXMS AUC (r=0.75, p=0.013). However, there was no correlation between the cortisol levels at 8:00 AM and the nocturnal DXMS concentrations. Conclusions: In the DST BMI of individual patients could modulate the resorption rate and metabolism of DXMS but appears to have no impact on cortisol levels. Therefore, obesity should not be a cause of falsely positive results in the DST.
Adaptation Strategies to Turkish Society of Europeans Married to Turkish Citizens

Abstract Accelerated and increasingly complex patterns of international migration are correlated with the emergence of various types of transnational families and an ever-rising number of culturally and ethnically mixed couples. Once a typical emigration country, Turkey has recently been established as a transit and receiving society, where numerous Europeans settle due to emotional ties with Turkish citizens. This paper is based on a qualitative study of 10 mixed European-Turkish families based in Istanbul, carried out through in-depth interviews. The paper is divided into three parts. First, it examines the social characteristics of the research participants. Second, it analyses the reactions of family and friends to the mixed relationship. Third, it discusses four adaptation strategies of foreign partners to Turkish society – namely, integration, assimilation, separation, and marginalization.
Signal Extraction for Nonstationary Time Series with Diverse Sampling Rules

Abstract This paper presents a flexible framework for signal extraction of time series measured as stock or flow at diverse sampling frequencies. Our approach allows for a coherent treatment of series across diverse sampling rules, a deeper understanding of the main properties of signal estimators and the role of measurement, and a straightforward method for signal estimation and interpolation for discrete observations. We set out the essential theoretical foundations, including a proof of the continuous-time Wiener-Kolmogorov formula generalized to nonstationary signal or noise. Based on these results, we derive a new class of low-pass filters that provide the basis for trend estimation of stock and flow time series. Further, we introduce a simple and accurate method for low-frequency signal estimation and interpolation in discrete samples, and examine its properties for simulated series. Illustrations are given on economic data.
Converging Allies?

Abstract In the relevant literature, policy convergence is broadly defined as the gradual process through which countries acquire similar traits in terms of one or more policy characteristics such as objectives, inputs, instruments, outputs. Within the broader policy convergence discourse, this paper empirically investigates the presence of a defence policy convergence in the NATO alliance. Defence spending expressed as a share of GDP represents the resources countries allocate to the production of military capabilities and is adopted as the variable through which the question at hand is examined. In broad terms, results reported herein from β and σ-convergence methodologies as well as from Markov chains, suggest the presence of a defence policy convergence process.
Crystal structure of 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-1,3-dimethyl-1H-perimidin-3-ium iodide, C19H16ClIN2

Abstract C19H16ClIN2, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 7.3359(11) Å, b = 18.424(3) Å, c = 12.8968(19) Å, β = 93.230(2)°, V = 1740.3(4) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0213, wRref(F2) = 0.0562, T = 296(2) K.
New Results in Optical Modelling of Quantum Well Solar Cells

This project brought further advancements to the quantum well solar cell concept proposed by Keith Barnham. In this paper, the optical modelling of MQW solar cells was analyzed and we focussed on the following topics: (i) simulation of the refraction index and the reflectance, (ii) simulation of the absorption coefficient, (iii) simulation of the quantum efficiency for the absorption process, (iv) discussion and modelling of the quantum confinement effect, and (v) evaluation of datasheet parameters of the MQW cell.
The use of LC tandem mass spectrometry as part of a workflow for the screening and identification of hemoglobin variants. Characterization of Hb Ullevaal as an example

Abstract Background: About 2/3 of the hemoglobin (Hb) variants do not show a charge difference to the wildtype entity but most of them differ in hydrophobicity. In addition to cation exchange chromatography, globin differentiation by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (MS) was introduced. Hb Ullevaal was chosen as one example to demonstrate the performance of the approach. Methods: Screening for Hb variants was performed using cation exchange HPLC. For globin separation reversed phase-LC/MS was performed. Tryptic digests of variants were separated on RP-HPLC with or without CID-fragmentation and database search for identification of mutation bearing fragments. Sequencing of the β-globin gene has been performed. Results: HbS, HbC, HbE, Hb South Florida and Hb Ullevaal show typical and distinct patterns in the globin LC/MS according to the theoretical protein data. The tryptic digest of Hb Ullevaal resulted in the identification of the respective mutated peptide βT9, which was confirmed by genetic sequencing. Conclusions: By the application of globin-LC/MS two more dimensions for the Hb identification are added, hydropathicity and protein mass. With this workflow as screening procedure for Hb variants it is expected to be able to detect and identify the majority of variants with the exception of highly unstable variants, which cannot be determined in the peripheral blood at all. A negative result makes the presence of a significant Hb variant in the peripheral blood improbable.