Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Novel Electrical Modeling, Design and Comparative Control Techniques for Wireless Electric Vehicle Battery Charging

Dynamic wireless power systems are an effective way to supply electric vehicles (EVs) with the required power while moving and to overcome the problems of low mileage and extensive charging times. This paper targets modeling and control for future dynamic wireless charging using magnetic resonance coupling because of the latter’s efficiency. We present a 3D model of transmitter and receiver coils for EV charging with magnetic resonance wireless power developed using ANSYS Maxwell. This model was incorporated into the physical design of the magnetic resonance coupling using ANSYS Simplorer in order to optimize the power. The estimated efficiency was around 92.1%. The transient analysis of the proposed circuit was investigated. A closed-loop three-level cascaded PI controller- was utilized for wireless charging of an EV battery. The controller was designed to eliminate the voltage variation resulting from the variation in the space existing between coils. A single-level PI controller was used to benchmark the proposed system’s performance. Furthermore, solar-powered wireless power transfer with a maximum power point tracker was used to simulate the wireless charging of an electric vehicle. The simulation results indicated that the EV battery could be charged with a regulated power of 12 V and 5 A through wireless power transfer. Fuzzy logic and neuro-fuzzy controllers were employed for more robustness in the performance of the output. The neuro-fuzzy controller showed the best performance in comparison with the other designs. All the proposed systems were checked and validated using the OPAL Real-Time simulator. The stability analysis of the DC–DC converter inside the closed-loop system was investigated.
Numerical and Experimental Investigation of Trailing Edge Vortex Shedding Downstream of a Linear Turbine Cascade

In this study, the evolution of the unsteady trailing edge vortex street downstream a linear turbine cascade is experimentally and computationally investigated. In a transonic cascade test stand, Laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) measurements were acquired in several axial planes downstream of the blade trailing edge. In addition, direct detection of density changes near the trailing edge provide information about the frequency of a vortex shedding cycle.A two-dimensional upwind-biased Navier-Stokes solver has then been used to perform a series of steady and unsteady cascade simulations, allowing an in-depth study into the mechanisms of the trailing edge vortex shedding.The numerical results are compared with the experimental data to test the quality of the numerical simulations.Copyright © 2000 by ASME
Comparison of effects of dexmedetomidine added to ropivacaine versus ropivacaine alone infiltration scalp block for attenuation of the haemodynamic response to skull pin placement in neurosurgical procedures: A double-blind, randomised clinical trial

Background and Aims: Skull pin head holder application is intensely painful and is accompanied with abrupt increase in heart rate and arterial blood pressure. We aimed to determine the effects of adding dexmedetomidine to ropivacaine scalp block in attenuating the haemodynamic response to skull pin insertion in neurosurgical procedures. Methods: Sixty patients were randomly allocated to receive scalp block with 25 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine added with either normal saline (control group) or dexmedetomidine (1 μg/kg) after anesthesia induction. A standard uniform general endotracheal anaesthesia protocol was followed in all study subjects. Heart rate and blood pressure measurements were made at baseline, 1, 3, 5, 10, and 15 min following skull pin placement. Student's independent t-test, Chi-square test and repeated measure analysis of variance were used to analyse the obtained data. Results: There was no significant attenuation of heart rate (P = 0.418), systolic (P = 0.542), diastolic (P = 0.793) and mean blood pressure (P = 0.478) with addition of dexmedetomidine to ropivacaine. Conclusions: The addition of dexmedetomidine (1 μg/kg) to 25 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine offers no additional benefit over 25 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine alone scalp block in attenuating the haemodynamic response to skull pin placement in neurosurgical procedures.
Development of a Self-Evaluation Scale of Medical Accident Prevention Behaviors for Head Nurses with the Aim of Ensuring Patient Safety

Purpose: To develop a “Self-Evaluation Scale of Medical Accident Prevention Behaviors for Head Nurses” with the aim of ensuring patient safety. Methods: The items of the scale were generated based on the result of a qualitative study. A national survey was conducted using a 29-item scale reconstructed by a panel of experts and a pilot study. The reliability and validity of the scale were verified by statistical methods using the collected data. Results: A total of 1,154 questionnaires were distributed, 672 (58.2%) questionnaires were returned, and 580 valid data sets were analyzed. The results of confirmation of the score distribution of the scale showed that there were no question items with a notable response concentrated on specific options. The item-total correlation coefficients ranged from . 39 to . 64. Cronbach’s alpha of the scale was . 91. The hypotheses which were used to evaluate construct validity by known-groups method were supported. The test-retest reliability was . 85. The results of principal component analysis showed a loading of . 37 or more for the first component. The contribution rate was 28.3%. Conclusion: The results support the fact that this 29-item scale has adequate reliability and validity.
Chronic Effects of Maternal Low-Protein and Low-Quality Protein Diets on Body Composition, Glucose-Homeostasis and Metabolic Factors, Followed by Reversible Changes upon Rehabilitation in Adult Rat Offspring

Several studies suggest that the maternal protein content and source can affect the offspring’s health. However, the chronic impact of maternal quality and quantity protein restriction, and reversible changes upon rehabilitation, if any, in the offspring, remains elusive. This study examined the effects of maternal low-quality protein (LQP) and low-protein (LP) intake from preconception to post-weaning, followed by rehabilitation from weaning, on body composition, glucose-homeostasis, and metabolic factors in rat offspring. Wistar rats were exposed to normal protein (NP; 20% casein), LQP (20% wheat gluten) or LP (8% casein) isocaloric diets for 7 weeks before pregnancy until lactation. After weaning, the offspring were exposed to five diets: NP, LQP, LQPR (LQP rehabilitated with NP), LP, and LPR (LP rehabilitated with NP) for 16 weeks. Body composition, glucose-homeostasis, lipids, and plasma hormones were investigated. The LQP and LP offspring had lower bodyweight, fat and lean mass, insulin and HOMA-IR than the NP. The LQP offspring had higher cholesterol, T3 and T4, and lower triacylglycerides and glucose, while these were unaltered in LP compared to NP. The majority of the above outcomes were reversed upon rehabilitation. These results suggest that the chronic exposure of rats to maternal LQP and LP diets induced differential adverse effects by influencing body composition and metabolism, which were reversed upon rehabilitation.
Simple Methodology for Electric and Magnetic Shielding Effectiveness Computation of Enclosures for Electromagnetic Compatibility use

A simple methodology for computation of shielding effectiveness (SE) of conducting enclosures with apertures under external illumination is proposed. The methodology is suitable for prediction of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) of the final product in the design stage. The exterior and interior regions of the enclosure are analyzed separately by employing the boundary conditions of Bethe's small aperture coupling theory [1]. The electric and magnetic SE of the enclosures is discretized using the finite elements method (FEM). Selected numerical results for the shielding effectiveness of rectangular cavity with apertures calculated by the new methodology are provided and compared with measured published data in order to show the effectiveness and the reliability of the proposed approach.
A Load-Bearing Structural Element With Energy Dissipation Capability Under Harmonic Excitation

This paper focuses on the design, fabrication, testing and analysis of a novel load-bearing element with good energy dissipation capability over a decade of variation in frequency and harmonic load amplitude. A single layer of the compact sandwiched-plate-like element is comprised of two von-Mises trusses (VMTs) between an upper and lower plate, connected to two dampers which stroke in the in-plane direction as the VMTs cycle between the two stable equilibrium states. The elements can be assembled in-plane to form a large plate-like structure or stacked with different properties in each layer for improved load-adaptability. Also introduced in the elements are pre-loaded springs (PLSs) that provide very high initial stiffness and allow the element to carry a design static load even when the VMTs lose their load carrying capability under harmonic disturbance input. Simulations of the system behavior using the Simscape environment show good overall correlation with test data. Good energy dissipation capability is observed over a frequency range from 0.1 Hz to 2 Hz. While the VMT parameters of a single layer can be optimized to a particular harmonic load amplitude, having two layers with softer and stiffer VMTs allow the system to show good energy dissipation characteristics at different harmonic load amplitude levels. The test and simulation results show that a two layer prototype can provide good energy dissipation over a decade of variation in harmonic load amplitude, while retaining the ability to carry static load on account of the PLSs. The paper discusses how system design parameter changes affect the static load capability and the hysteresis behavior.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
An Intervention to Address Gender Issues in a Course on Design, Engineering, and Technology for Science Educators

A course on design, engineering, and technology based on Bandura's theory of self‐efficacy was taught to nine science education graduate students who were also practicing teachers. The interpretive analysis method was used to code and analyze qualitative data from focus groups, weekly reflections on classes and readings, and pre‐, post‐, and delayed‐post course questions. The improvement in tinkering and technical self‐efficacies for five males was limited because of initially higher self‐efficacies while that for four females was moderate to high, especially when working in same‐sex teams in a non‐competitive environment. All students also increased their understanding of the societal relevance of engineering and their ability to transfer engineering concepts to pre‐college classrooms. Implementing the principles employed in this intervention in pre‐college science and university engineering classrooms could help recruit students into engineering as well as help retain both male and female undergraduate engineering students.
Longitudinal Dynamics of Human B-Cell Response at the Single-Cell Level in Response to Tdap Vaccination

To mount an adequate immune response against pathogens, stepwise mutation and selection processes are crucial functions of the adaptive immune system. To better characterize a successful vaccination response, we performed longitudinal (days 0, 5, 7, 10, and 14 after Boostrix vaccination) analysis of the single-cell transcriptome as well as the B-cell receptor (BCR) repertoire (scBCR-rep) in plasma cells of an immunized donor and compared it with baseline B-cell characteristics as well as flow cytometry findings. Based on the flow cytometry knowledge and literature findings, we discriminated individual B-cell subsets in the transcriptomics data and traced over-time maturation of plasmablasts/plasma cells (PB/PCs) and identified the pathways associated with the plasma cell maturation. We observed that the repertoire in PB/PCs differed from the baseline B-cell repertoire e.g., regarding expansion of unique clones in post-vaccination visits, high usage of IGHG1 in expanded clones, increased class-switching events post-vaccination represented by clonotypes spanning multiple IGHC classes and positive selection of CDR3 sequences over time. Importantly, the Variable gene family-based clustering of BCRs represented a similar measure as the gene-based clustering, but certainly improved the clustering of BCRs, as BCRs from duplicated Variable gene families could be clustered together. Finally, we developed a query tool to dissect the immune response to the components of the Boostrix vaccine. Using this tool, we could identify the BCRs related to anti-tetanus and anti-pertussis toxoid BCRs. Collectively, we developed a bioinformatic workflow which allows description of the key features of an ongoing (longitudinal) immune response, such as activation of PB/PCs, Ig class switching, somatic hypermutation, and clonal expansion, all of which are hallmarks of antigen exposure, followed by mutation & selection processes.
The Necessity of CT Hip Scans in the Investigation of Occult Hip Fractures and Their Effect on Patient Management

The diagnostic challenge of negative plain radiography in the context of a previously ambulatory patient is increasing with the rise in geriatric trauma. These patients are often diagnosed with small undisplaced fractures of the pelvis and femur which may not alter management. This study aims to assess the frequency at which computed tomography (CT) hip scans altered patient management and whether two X-ray projections of the hip affected fracture detection rate. All CT hip scans performed over a three-year period were identified retrospectively. Only CT hips pertaining to the identification of occult fractures were included in the study. A total of 447 (63.6%) CT hips were performed to exclude an occult fracture, which was only detected in 108 (24.1%) of the scans requested. The majority were subcapital (n = 58, 53.7%) or intertrochanteric (n = 39, 36.1%). There was no significant difference between fracture detection rates when comparing one and two views of the pelvis. 82.4% (n = 89) of occult hip fractures were managed operatively. CT imaging led to a change in patient management in 20% of cases. The frequency at which CT scan detects and alters management in occult hip fractures confirms the justification for its use. Increasing the number of X-ray projection views does not decrease the reliance on CT. Pelvic ring fractures are common in nonambulatory patients following trauma, and if confirmed on initial imaging, subsequent imaging to exclude a concurrent occult hip is unnecessary. The focus of further research should be towards the development of investigation algorithms which decrease the reliance on CT and defining the optimal surgical criteria for occult hip fractures.
Short arc duration laws and distributions at low current (<1 A) and voltage (14-42 VDC)

In the automobile industry, safety and comfort equipment require more and more switches which are operated over a wide range of electrical, mechanical and ambient conditions. In the low electrical power range, i.e., near minimum current and voltage, shorts and fluctuating arcing may occur. Using a testing apparatus capable of rapid measurements with high temporal resolution (0.2 ns) we have measured and analyzed arc durations on break in a pure resistive circuit near minimum arc current and voltage O<I<1 A, and V=14 VDC. For all contact materials tested (Ag, Cu, Pd, Au, Sn, Ni), average arc duration values versus current are grouped around two exponential curves corresponding to two anodic arc regimes. The analytical expressions for these curves are found to be in good agreement with the multiburst arc operating model [T=t/sub b/ exp(I//i/sub b/)]. The lifetime and current intensity of the burst (t/sub b/, i/sub b/) are deduced for various contact materials. In addition, the histogram of arc duration fluctuations is well fitted by multiGaussian distributions centered around a multiple of the burst time. This confirms the burst mechanism and introduces the concept that arc duration values are discrete. On the other hand, the plot of arc occurrence in the first regime clarifies the significance of the minimum arc current (100%) and yields the current limit for arc appearance (0%). Finally, high voltages (14-28-42 V) and inductances (1 /spl mu/H-10 mH) can produce long arc durations with the result that we may enter into the cathodic arc.
Wireless resonant magnetic microactuator for untethered mobile microrobots

Power and propulsion are primary challenges in building untethered submillimeter robots. We present a class of actuators utilizing wireless resonant magnetic actuation which accomplishes both tasks with a high degree of control. The actuator harvests magnetic energy from the environment and transforms it to impact-driven mechanical force. It can be powered and controlled with oscillating fields in the kilohertz range and strengths as low as 2mT. The wireless resonant magnetic microactuator was incorporated in microrobots, which measure 300×300×70μm3, that are capable of moving forward, backward, and turning in place while reaching speeds in excess of 12.5mm∕s.
Pellet triggering of edge localized modes in low collisionality pedestals at DIII-D

Edge localized modes (ELMs) are triggered using deuterium pellets injected into plasmas with ITER-relevant low collisionality pedestals, and the resulting peak ELM energy fluence is reduced by approximately 25%–50% relative to natural ELMs destabilized at similar pedestal pressures. Cryogenically frozen deuterium pellets are injected from the low-field side of the DIII-D tokamak at frequencies lower than the natural ELM frequency, and heat flux is measured by infrared cameras. Ideal MHD pedestal stability calculations show that without pellet injection, these low collisionality pedestals were limited by their current density (peeling-limited) rather than their pressure gradient (ballooning-limited). ELM triggering success correlates strongly with pellet mass, consistent with the theory that a large pressure perturbation is required to trigger an ELM in low collisionality discharges that are far from the ballooning stability boundary. For sufficiently large pellets, both instantaneous and time-integrated ELM energy deposition measured by infrared cameras is reduced with respect to naturally occurring ELMs at the inner strike point, which is the position where it is largest for natural ELMs. Energy fluence at the outer strike point is less effected. Cameras observing both heat flux and D-alpha emission often find significant toroidally asymmetric striations in the outboard far scrape-off layer resulting from ELMs that are triggered by pellets. Toroidal asymmetries at the inner strike point are similar between natural and pellet-triggered ELMs, suggesting that the reduction in peak heat flux and total fluence at that location is robust for the conditions reported here.
Integration of suspended carbon nanotubes into micro-fabricated devices

The integration of suspended carbon nanotubes into micron-scale silicon-based devices offers many exciting advantages in the realm of nano-scale sensing and micro- and nano-electromechanical systems (MEMS and NEMS). To realize such devices, simple fabrication schemes are needed. Here we present a new method to integrate carbon nanotubes into silicon-based devices by applying conventional micro-fabrication methods combined with a guided chemical vapor deposition growth of single-wall carbon nanotubes. The described procedure yields clean, long, taut and well-positioned tubes in electrical contact to conducting electrodes. The positioning, alignment and tautness of the tubes are all controlled by the structural and chemical features of the micro-fabricated substrate. As the approach described consists of common micro-fabrication and chemical vapor deposition growth procedures, it offers a viable route toward MEMS–NEMS integration and commercial utilization of carbon nanotubes as nano-electromechanical transducers.
Regulation of Ig Production Role of CD40 in a T Cell-Mediated Negative

To investigate the possible role of CD40 in a negative regulation of Ig production, we used the mouse Ig allotype suppression model. T splenocytes from Igh a/a mice are able in vivo to totally and chronically inhibit the production of IgG 2ab (IgG2a from the Igh b haplotype). Accordingly, postnatal transfer of Igh a/a T splenocytes into histocompatible Igh a/b F 1 or congenic Igh b/b mice leads to a characteristic IgG 2ab suppression. The helper action of anti-IgG 2ab CD4 1 T cells is required for the recruitment of anti-IgG 2ab CD8 1 T suppression effectors. The latter use perforin (pore-forming protein, Pfp)- and/or Fas-dependent cytotoxic pathways to continuously eliminate B cells recently committed to IgG 2ab production. In the present study we ﬁrst showed that in vivo agonistic anti-CD40 mAb treatment of Igh a/a mice, deprived of their CD4 1 T cell compartment, could bypass the help of Ig allotype-speciﬁc CD4 1 T cells and generate CD8 1 T effector cells able to strongly inhibit IgG 2ab production. This result demonstrates the usefulness of CD40 triggering in setting up an immune regulatory mechanism. Furthermore, with regard to the suppression-effector mechanism, we demonstrated that B cell CD40 expression was required for full suppression establishment via the Fas-dependent pathway. Indeed, Igh a/a Pfp °/° T cells (using exclusively the Fas pathway) induced full IgG 2a b suppression against Igh b/b CD40 1 / 1 B cells, but only partial inhibition of IgG 2a b production against Igh b/b CD40 °/° B cells. This ﬁnding provides the ﬁrst demonstration of direct involvement of B cell CD40 expression in in vivo negative control of an Ig production. The Journal of Immunology, 2001, 166: 841–847.
Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Wild Beets (Beta spp.) from the Western Iberian Peninsula and the Azores and Madeira Islands

In this work, using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers, we present new insights into the genetic diversity, differentiation, and structure of Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima of western Iberia and the Azores and Madeira islands and of B. macrocarpa from southern Portugal. B. macrocarpa occurs only in southern Portugal and frequently in sympatry with B. vulgaris subsp. maritima, showing genetic introgression. B. macrocarpa has a better-defined structure than B. vulgaris subsp. maritima, which has a high degree of admixture. A great differentiation (FST ranging from 0.277 to 0.184) was observed among the northern populations of B. vulgaris subsp. maritima. In contrast, only a small differentiation (FST ranging from 0.000 to 0.026) was detected among the southern B. vulgaris subsp. maritima populations. The inland B. vulgaris subsp. maritima populations (“RIO” and “VMT”) are distinct from each other, which also occurs with the two islands’ populations (“MAD” and “AZO”). The existence of two distinct Atlantic Sea currents can explain the fact that Madeira is related to the southern populations, while the Azores is related to the northern populations. We consider that understanding the relationships existing within Beta spp. is key to future genetic studies and for the establishment of conservation measures. Our results show that the southern coastal areas of Portugal should be considered as a potential site for in situ conservation of the beet wild relatives. Special attention is needed in what concerns B. macrocarpa because this is a rare species that also occurs in a sympatric relationship with B. vulgaris subsp. maritima.