Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Lyapunov approach for transient stability analysis of droop inverter-based mesh microgrids using line-based model

This paper proposes a systematic approach to derive analytical and explicit certificates for transient stability analysis of inverter-based microgrids. We first derive a line-based model of microgrids with general mesh structure. Then by employing Lyapunov stability theory with a quadratic Lyapunov function, the region of attraction of any post-fault stable equilibrium point (EP) is estimated by a large domain which contains the well-known principle region inside, if a low-dimension convex LMI problem is feasible. Accordingly, it provides a very efficient and robust transient stability certificate which can be calculated off-line, easily, and very fast. Moreover, it can be applied to microgrids with any structure. Finally, numerous tests on a microgrid are then given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Death certification: an audit of practice entering the 21st century.

AIMS Death certification, a legal duty of doctors, continues to be poorly performed despite Royal College recommendations and increased education at an undergraduate level. Therefore, the current performance of certifying doctors was audited within a large teaching hospital entering the new century. METHODS A total of 1000 completed certificate counterfoils were examined retrospectively for appropriateness of completion and the ability to construct a logical cause of death cascade. RESULTS Only 55% of certificates were completed to a minimally accepted standard, and many of these failed to provide relevant information to allow adequate ICD-10 coding. Nearly 10% were completed to a poor standard, being illogical or inappropriately completed. CONCLUSIONS The results show no improvement in the state of certification. Possible interventions to improve outcomes are discussed; however, in light of a recent high profile legal case a current Home Office review of death certification may suggest the passing of statutory law to ensure accurate completion.
Male reproductive investment and queen mating-frequency in fungus-growing ants

Sperm number and male accessory gland compounds are often important determinants of male mating success but have been little studied in social insects. This is because mating in social insects is often difficult to manipulate experimentally, and first evidence for an explicit influence of accessory gland secretions on male mating success in social insects was obtained only recently. Here we perform a comparative analysis of male sexual organs across 11 species of attine fungus-growing ants, representing both genera with single- and multiple-queen mating. We found that the general morphology of the male sexual organs was very similar across all species, but the relative sizes of the accessory glands and the sperm-containing accessory testes vary significantly across species. Small testes and large accessory glands characterize species with singly mated queens, whereas the opposite is found in species with multiply mated queens. However, in the social parasite Acromyrmex insinuator, in which queens have secondarily reverted to single mating, males have accessory gland characteristics reminiscent of the lower attine ants, but without having significantly reduced their investment in sperm production. We hypothesize that the main function of accessory gland compounds in attine ants is to monopolize male paternity in similar ways as known from other social insects. This would imply that the evolution of polyandry in the terminal clade of the fungus-growing ants (the leafcutter ants) has resulted in selection for decreased investment by males in accessory gland secretions and increased investment in sperm number, in response to sperm competition for sperm storage. Copyright 2004.
Entrepreneurship and Market Size: The Case of Young College Graduates in Italy

We analyse empirically the effects of urbanization on Italian college graduates' work possibilities as entrepreneurs three years after graduation. We find that doubling the population density of the province of work reduces the chances of being an entrepreneur by 2-3 percentage points. This result holds after controlling for regional fixed effects and is robust to instrumenting urbanization. Provincial competition, urban amenities and disamenities, cost of labour, earning differentials between employees and self-employed workers, unemployment rates and value added per capita account for more than half of the negative urbanization penalty. Our result cannot be explained by the presence of negative differentials in returns to entrepreneurship between the most and the least densely populated areas either. In fact, as long as they succeed in entering the most densely populated markets, young entrepreneurs are able to reap the benefits of urbanization externalities: doubling the population density of the province of work increases entrepreneurs' net monthly earnings by 2-3 per cent.
A study over the importance of arterial phase temporal parameters in focal liver lesions CEUS based diagnosis

This paper studies the problem of the temporal features extracted from contrast-enhanced ultrasound video frames in order to find discriminative parameters which will be used later, in conjunction with other feature types, in the development of a computer-aided diagnosis system for focal liver lesions. The created tool will enable safe, cheap, early and largely accessible detection of many hepatic diseases. Our work improves on and broadens previous work in the field in several aspects, e.g. a novel robust fitting procedure and the definition and selection procedure for temporal descriptors.
FCGR polymorphisms and cetuximab efficacy in chemorefractory metastatic colorectal cancer: an international consortium study

Objective We aimed to better clarify the role of germline variants of the FCG2 receptor, FCGR2A-H131R and FCGR3A-V158F, on the therapeutic efficacy of cetuximab in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). A large cohort with sufficient statistical power was assembled. Design To show a HR advantage of 0.6 in progression-free survival (PFS) for FCGR2A-HH versus the rest and FCGR3A-VV versus the rest, with an 80% power, 80 Kirsten Rat Sarcoma Viral Oncogene Homolog (KRAS) wild-type (KRAS-WT) and 52 KRAS-WT patients are required, respectively. This leads to a total sample size of 952 and 619 patients, respectively. Samples were collected from 1123 mCRC patients from 15 European centres treated with cetuximab alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Fc gamma receptor (FCGR) status was centrally genotyped. Two additional externally genotyped series were included. Results Incidences of FCGR2A-HH and FCGR3A-VV in KRAS-WT patients were 220/660 (33%) and 109/676 (16.1%) respectively. There was no difference in median PFS (mPFS) for KRAS-WT patients with FCGR2A-HH (22.0 weeks; 95% CI18.8 to 25.2) versus non-HH (22.0 weeks; 95% CI 19.4 to 24.6) or for FCGR3A-VV (16.4 weeks; 95% CI 13.0 to 19.8) versus non-VV (23 weeks; 95% CI 21.1 to 24.9) (p=0.06). Median overall survival, response rate and disease control rate assessments showed no benefit for either HH or VV. Conclusions No differences in mPFS were found between the FCGR polymorphisms HH and the others and VV versus the others in KRAS-WT mCRC patients refractory to irinotecan, oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil treated with cetuximab. We cannot confirm the effects of other IgG1 antibodies, which may be weaker than previously suggested. Other markers may be needed to study the actual host antibody response to cetuximab.
Inelastic vascular prosthesis for proximal aorta increases pulsatile arterial load and causes left ventricular hypertrophy in dogs.

OBJECTIVES Elastic property of the proximal aorta plays an important role in reducing pulsatile load to the ventricle. When a stiff vascular prosthesis is used for the proximal aorta, the pulsatile load increases. We designed this study to elucidate whether the increase in pulsatile load caused left ventricular hypertrophy. METHODS We created an ascending aorta-abdominal aorta bypass in 9 dogs with a noncompliant vascular prosthesis. The aortic arch proximal to the left subclavian artery was occluded to direct blood flow into the bypass. Closed chest studies were performed after a median of 139 days (range 45-588) days. We assessed the pulsatile load of the ventricle by calculating characteristic impedance from pressure and flow velocity in the ascending aorta. The left ventricle was weighed, normalized with body weight, and compared with the control group, which had sham operations (7 dogs). RESULTS Characteristic impedance of the bypassed dogs was 175% higher than the control (0.146 +/- 0.056 vs 0.053 +/- 0.014 mm Hg. s. mL(-1), P =. 009), which resulted in wider pulse pressure (57 +/- 11 vs 25 +/- 11 mm Hg, P <.001). No difference was found in arterial resistance, cardiac output, or systolic blood pressure. Left ventricular weight normalized by body weight was significantly heavier in the bypass group (5.61 +/- 0.75 vs 4.15 +/- 0.62 g/kg, P =.001). CONCLUSION Since there was no increase in arterial resistance, we conclude that the increase in pulsatile load was the cause of left ventricular hypertrophy. A stiff vascular prosthesis used for the proximal aorta may cause left ventricular hypertrophy.
Industry Platforms and Ecosystem Innovation

This paper brings together the recent literature on industry platforms and shows how it relates to managing innovation within and outside the firm as well as to dealing with technological and market disruptions and change over time. First, we identify distinct types of platforms. Our analysis of a wide range of industry examples suggests that there are two predominant types of platforms: internal or company-specific platforms, and external or industry-wide platforms. We define internal (company or product) platforms as a set of assets organized in a common structure from which a company can efficiently develop and produce a stream of derivative products. We define external (industry) platforms as products, services, or technologies that act as a foundation upon which external innovators, organized as an innovative business ecosystem, can develop their own complementary products, technologies, or services. Second, we summarize from the literature general propositions on the design, economics, and strategic management of platforms. Third, we review the case of Intel and other examples to illustrate the range of technological, strategic, and business challenges that platform leaders and their competitors face as markets and technologies evolve. Finally, we identify practices associated with effective platform leadership and avenues for future research to deepen our understanding of this important phenomenon and what firms can do to manage platform-related competition and innovation.
Ewing's sarcoma: its Roentgen classification and diagnosis.

In 1921, James Ewing identified a form of primary malignant bone tumor which he designated “diffuse endothelioma” or “endothelial myeloma” (7). This lesion is commonly known today as Ewing's sarcoma or Ewing's tumor. While the clinical and pathological aspects have been amply stressed in a number of reports covering large series of cases (4, 5, 14, 15, 21), the literature on roentgen diagnosis (1, 10, 11, 13, 16, 18, 20) is relatively incomplete; there is no study based on a sufficient volume of dependably proved material with x-ray diagnosis as the primary object. Much of the writing pertaining to the roentgen aspects has been done by those not fully oriented in this specialty. Furthermore, since the pathological identification of this lesion may be extremely difficult, some of the cases upon which discussion of x-ray diagnosis has been based are open to question. Material After careful scrutiny, 111 cases of Ewing's sarcoma from the files of Memorial Center (New York) were considered satisfactory for th.
Double Flying Capacitor Multicell Converter Based on Modified Phase-Shifted Pulsewidth Modulation

Multilevel converters are very interesting alternatives for medium and high-power applications. The main reason is the increase in the number of output voltage levels and its apparent frequency. This paper presents a new configuration of flying capacitor multicell (FCM) converter. The main advantages of the proposed converter, in comparison with FCM and stacked multicell converters, are doubling the rms and the number of output voltage levels, improving the output voltage frequency spectrum, and canceling the midpoint of dc source. This progress is achieved by adding only two low-frequency switches to the conventional configuration of FCM converter while the number of high-frequency switches and capacitors, voltage ratings of capacitors and switches, and the number of high-frequency switchings during a full cycle are kept constant. This converter is controlled by a modified phase-shifted pulsewidth modulation, therefore, the self-balancing property of the flying capacitor converter is maintained in the proposed converter. The circuit is simulated using power systems computer-aided design/electromagnetic transients in DC systems (EMTDC) software and simulation results are presented to validate the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed configuration as well as its control strategy. Additionally, measurements taken from an experimental setup are presented in order to study the practical configuration.
Insights in Bartonella Host Specificity

The genus Bartonella comprises a unique group of emerging gram‐negative, intracellular bacteria that can cause a long‐lasting intraerythrocytic bacteremia in their reservoir hosts. In recent years, the widespread occurrence and diversity of these bacteria has been increasingly recognized. This has resulted in a dramatic expansion of the genus Bartonella to 24 currently described species or subspecies, among which at least half have been associated with human disease. Bartonella infections have been observed in virtually all species examined, extending from humans to carnivores, ungulates, rodents, lagomorphs, insectivores, and bats. Adaptation by Bartonellae to such a diverse range of mammals has resulted in host specificity, and all validated Bartonella species described to date are capable of parasitizing only a limited number of animal species. In this review, the possible mechanisms explaining the specificity of each Bartonella species for its reservoir host are discussed.
A Numerical Study on Electrophoresis of a Soft Particle with Charged Core Coated with Polyelectrolyte Layer

Migration of a core-shell soft particle under the influence of an external electric field in an electrolyte solution is studied numerically. The soft particle is coated with a positively charged polyelectrolyte layer (PEL) and the rigid core is having a uniform surface charge density. The Darcy-Brinkman extended Navier-Stokes equations are solved for the motion of the ionized fluid, the non-linear Nernst-Planck equations for the ion transport and the Poisson equation for the electric potential. A pressure correction based iterative algorithm is adopted for numerical computations. The effects of convection on double layer polarization (DLP) and diffusion dominated counter ions penetration are investigated for a wide range of Debye layer thickness, PEL fixed surface charge density, and permeability of the PEL. Our results show that when the Debye layer is in order of the particle size, the DLP effect is significant and produces a reduction in electrophoretic mobility. However, the double layer polarization effect is negligible for a thin Debye layer or low permeable cases. The point of zero mobility and the existence of mobility reversal depending on the electrolyte concentration are also presented.
The Effectiveness of Sexual Offender Treatment for Juveniles as Measured by Recidivism: A Meta-analysis

Published and unpublished data from nine studies on juvenile sexual offender treatment effectiveness were summarized by meta-analysis (N=2986, 2604 known male). Recidivism rates for sexual, non-sexual violent, non-sexual non-violent crimes, and unspecified non-sexual were as follows: 12.53%, 24.73%, 28.51%, and 20.40%, respectively, based on an average 59-month follow-up period. Four included studies contained a control group (n=2288) and five studies included a comparison treatment group (n=698). An average weighted effect size of 0.43 (CI=0.33–0.55) was obtained, indicating a statistically significant effect of treatment on sexual recidivism. However, individual study characteristics (e.g., handling of dropouts and non-equivalent follow-up periods between treatment groups) suggest that results should be interpreted with caution. A comparison of odds ratios by quality of study design indicated that higher quality designs yielded better effect sizes, though the difference between groups was not significant.
Incidence and outcomes of malignancy in the HAART era in an urban cohort of HIV-infected individuals

Objective:To investigate trends, patient characteristics, and survival associated with AIDS-defining cancer (ADC) and non-AIDS defining cancer (NADC) in the HAART era. Design:Retrospective analysis of all incident malignancies occurring in 1996–2005 among 2566 patients in an urban HIV clinic. Methods:Clinical profiles of NADC were compared with ADC and the general cohort. Incidence was examined by Poisson analysis. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) compared cancer risk with that in the general population. Survival was analyzed by Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazards models. Results:Between 1996 and 2005, 138 ADC and 115 NADC were diagnosed. ADC rates decreased from 12.5 to 3.5 cases/1000 person-years (P < 0.001 for trend) while NADC rates increased from 3.9 to 7.1 cases/1000 person-years (P = 0.13 for trend). Incidence of the most common NADC was higher than expected, including cancers of the lung [n = 29; SIR, 5.5; 95% confidence interval (CI), 3.7–8.0], liver (n = 13, SIR, 16.5; 95% CI, 8.8–28.2), anus (n = 10; SIR, 39.0; 95% CI, 18.7–71.7), head and neck (n = 14; SIR, 5.1; 95% CI, 2.8–8.6), and Hodgkin's lymphoma (n = 8; SIR, 9.8; 95% CI, 4.2–19.2). Survival after cancer diagnosis did not differ between ADC and NADC. Advanced age was associated with NADC (P < 0.01 for trend) and increased mortality in ADC (age ≥ 50 years adjusted hazard ratio, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.00–4.89). Conclusions:Rates of ADC decreased while NADC increased within this cohort. Several NADC occurred at rates significantly higher than expected. Screening and suspicion for NADC should increase in care for HIV-infected patients.
A rapid method for generating cystic forms of Borrelia burgdorferi, and their reversal to mobile spirochetes

Mobile Borrelia burgdorferi were transferred to distilled water (106 per ml). The cultures were observed by dark field microscopy (DFM), interference contrast microscopy (ICM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). 95% of the spirochetes were converted to cysts after 1 min, and after 4 h no normal mobile borreliae were observed. When transferred to growth medium (BSK‐H), the cysts became smaller and more irregular, and were filled with organic substances. After 1 day, 1–5 thin structures sprouted from the cysts. They continued to grow in both length and thickness until they attained a normal spirochetal structure. Finally, these new‐born spirochetes detached from the cysts, by which time their mobility had become normal. The present method for producing large amounts of cystic forms of B. burgdorferi is well suited for further studies of this unique microbe.
RESERVOIR EFFECTS : LAKE MÝVATN , NORTHERN ICELAND

Lake Mývatn is an interior highland lake in northern Iceland that forms a unique ecosystem of international scientific importance and is surrounded by a landscape rich in archaeological and paleoenvironmental sites. A significant freshwater reservoir effect (FRE) has been identified in carbon from the lake at some Viking (about AD 870–1000) archaeological sites in the wider region (Mývatnssveit). Previous accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) measurements indicated this FRE was about 1500–1900 14C yr. Here, we present the results of a study using stable isotope and 14C measurements to quantify the Mývatn FRE for both the Viking and modern periods. This work has identified a temporally variable FRE that is greatly in excess of previous assessments. New, paired samples of contemporaneous bone from terrestrial herbivores and omnivores (including humans) from Viking sites demonstrate at least some omnivore diets incorporated sufficient freshwater resources to result in a herbivore-omnivore age offset of up to 400 14C yr. Modern samples of benthic detritus, aquatic plants, zooplankton, invertebrates, and freshwater fish indicate an FRE in excess of 5000 14C yr in some species. Likely geothermal mechanisms for this large FRE are discussed, along with implications for both chronological reconstruction and integrated investigation of stable and radioactive isotopes.
Assessment of the role of the humoral response to Plasmodium falciparum MSP2 compared to RESA and SPf66 in protecting Papua New Guinean children from clinical malaria

The prevalence and concentration of naturally acquired humoral response (IgG) to merozoite surface protein 2 (MSP2), RESA, SPf66 and crude schizont extract were measured in a population living in a malaria highly endemic area of Papua New Guinea. A prospective longitudinal study in 0–5–15 year old children was conducted for one year in order to examine the relationship between the humoral response to these antigens and subsequent susceptibility to clinical malaria using a series of clinical definitions. The prevalence and concentration of antibodies to all antigens increased with age. Such correlation with age was most marked for MSP2 recombinant proteins. When age and previous exposure were controlled for, only antibody levels to MSP2 recombinant proteins (3D7 andd3D7) and to RESA predicted a reduction in incidence rate of episodes of clinical malaria. Our results support the inclusion of the recombinant proteins of the 3D7 allelic family of merozoite surface antigen 2 and RESA into a subunit vaccine against malaria. ,
Pisa: What Makes the Difference? Explaining the Gap in Pisa Test Scores between Finland and Germany

The huge difference in the level and variance of student performance in the 2000 PISA study between Finland and Germany motivates this paper. It analyses why Finnish students performed so much better by estimating educational production functions for both countries. The difference in the reading proficiency scores is assigned to different effects, using Oaxaca-Blinder and Juhn-Murphy-Pierce decomposition techniques. The analysis shows that German students have on average a more favorable background except for the lowest deciles, but experience much lower returns to these background characteristics in terms of test scores than Finnish students. The results imply that early streaming in Germany penalizes students in lower school types and leads to a greater inequality of educational achievement. It remains unclear, however, if this can be attributed to the effect of school types per se or student background and innate ability that determine the allocation process of students into school types. Overall, the variation in test scores can be explained much better by the observable characteristics in Germany than in Finland.