Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Vector control strategy for maximum wind-power extraction of a grid-connected wind-driven Brushless Doubly-Fed Reluctance Generator

This paper proposes a vector-control (power-winding flux orientation) strategy for maximum wind-power extraction of a grid-connected wind-driven Brushless Doubly-Fed Reluctance Generator (BDFRG) system. The adopted generator has two stator windings namely; power winding, directly connected to the grid, and control winding, connected to the grid through a bi-directional converter. In addition, a unity power-factor operation is also provided based on the proposed vector-control strategy. Moreover, a soft starting method is suggested to avoid the over-current of the bi-directional converter. A sample of the obtained simulation results is presented to check the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.
An Introduction to Theology

A contemporary approach to theological questions. It deals with a number of significant theological issues including the Enlightenment, biblical criticism, problems with the Creeds, modern explanations of life and its questions, and rebuilding theology in the modern world. The approach is essentially "problem centred", in the sense that it seeks to analyze and explore the difficulties with certain aspects of Christian theology. The reader is asked to engage in and grapple with important challenges to theology from the philosophical to the psychological and sociological, including: philosophical challenges to theology from Plato to the present; the relevance of Creeds for contemporary theology; the conflict between scientific and religious explanations of events; the existence of other religions; and challenges from Marxism, liberalism and feminism. The book throws up questions for students to think about and maintains a contemporary flavour by drawing on current examples and events. Wide-ranging in its content, it is structured to act as a teaching guide: each chapter concludes with a list of essay questions as well as a selection of issues suitable for debate. Each issue is dealt with succinctly, providing a base from which students can engage in wider reading.
Juvenile Sexual Homicide

PREFACE PART ONE: INTRODUCTION 1. The Origins and Framework of this Book 2. Overview of Sexual Homicide 3. Case Report of an Adult Sadistic Murderer PART TWO: THE STUDY 4. Criminal Aspects 5. DSM-IV Axis I and Related Disorders 6. Personality Findings and Psychopathy (with Roger Blashfield) 7. The Role of Anger and its Relationship to Sadistic Personality Disorder and Psychopathy (with Linda Monaco) PART THREE: SPECIAL ISSUES 8. A Typology of Juvenile Sexual Homicide Offenders 9. The Elderly Victim (Mark E. Safarik) 10. Concluding Remarks APPENDIX: SUPPLEMENTARY CLINICAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
A Recombinant Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Envelope Glycoprotein Complex Stabilized by an Intermolecular Disulfide Bond between the gp120 and gp41 Subunits Is an Antigenic Mimic of the Trimeric Virion-Associated Structure

ABSTRACT The few antibodies that can potently neutralize human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) recognize the limited number of envelope glycoprotein epitopes exposed on infectious virions. These native envelope glycoprotein complexes comprise three gp120 subunits noncovalently and weakly associated with three gp41 moieties. The individual subunits induce neutralizing antibodies inefficiently but raise many nonneutralizing antibodies. Consequently, recombinant envelope glycoproteins do not elicit strong antiviral antibody responses, particularly against primary HIV-1 isolates. To try to develop recombinant proteins that are better antigenic mimics of the native envelope glycoprotein complex, we have introduced a disulfide bond between the C-terminal region of gp120 and the immunodominant segment of the gp41 ectodomain. The resulting gp140 protein is processed efficiently, producing a properly folded envelope glycoprotein complex. The association of gp120 with gp41 is now stabilized by the supplementary intermolecular disulfide bond, which forms with approximately 50% efficiency. The gp140 protein has antigenic properties which resemble those of the virion-associated complex. This type of gp140 protein may be worth evaluating for immunogenicity as a component of a multivalent HIV-1 vaccine.
Total-Order Multi-Agent Task-Network Planning for Contract Bridge

This paper describes the results of applying a modified version of hierarchical task-network (HTN) planning to the problem of declarer play in contract bridge. We represent information about bridge in a task network that is extended to represent multi-agency and uncertainty. Our game-playing procedure uses this task network to generate game trees in which the set of alternative choices is determined not by the set of possible actions, but by the set of available tactical and strategic schemes. This approach avoids the difficulties that traditional game-tree search techniques have with imperfect-information games such as bridge--but it also differs in several significant ways from the planning techniques used in typical HTN planners. We describe why these modifications were needed in order to build a successful planner for bridge. This same modified HTN planning strategy appears to be useful in a variety of application domains--for example, we have used the same planning techniques in a process-planning system for the manufacture of complex electro-mechanical devices (Hebbar et al. 1996). We discuss why the same technique has been successful in two such diverse domains.
Optimization of noisy fitness functions by means of genetic algorithms using history of search with test of estimation

The authors discuss optimization of functions with uncertainty by means of genetic algorithms (GAs). In practical application of such GAs, the possible number of fitness evaluations is quite limited. The authors have proposed a GA utilizing history of search (Memory-based Fitness Evaluation GA: MFEGA) so as to reduce the number of fitness evaluations for such applications of GAs. However, it is also found that the MFEGA faces difficulty when the optimum resides outside of the region where population covers because the MFEGA uses the history of search for estimation of fitness values. The authors propose the tested-MFEGA, an extension of the MFEGA that tests validity of the estimated fitness value so as to overcome the aforesaid problem. Numerical experiments show that the proposed method outperforms a conventional GA of sampling fitness values several times even when the original MFEGA fails.
Modeling Negotiation Subdialogues

This paper presents a plan-based model that handles negotiation subdialogues by inferring both the communicative actions that people pursue when speaking and the beliefs underlying these actions. We contend that recognizing the complex discourse actions pursued in negotiation subdialogues (e.g., expressing doubt) requires both a multistrength belief model and a process model that combines different knowledge sources in a unified framework. We show how our model identifies the structure of negotiation subdialogues, including recognizing expressions of doubt, implicit acceptance of communicated propositions, and negotiation subdialogues embedded within other negotiation subdialogues.
Electrical stimulation and testosterone enhance recovery from recurrent laryngeal nerve crush.

OBJECTIVE This study investigated the effects of a combinatorial treatment, consisting of a brief period of nerve electrical stimulation (ES) and systemic supraphysiologic testosterone, on functional recovery following a crush of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN). STUDY DESIGN Prospective, controlled animal study. METHODS After a crush of the left RLN, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four treatment groups: 1) no treatment, 2) ES, 3) testosterone propionate (TP), and 4) ES + TP. Each group was subdivided into 1, 2, 3, or 4 weeks post-operative survival time points. Groups had an n of 4- 9. Recovery of vocal fold mobility (VFM) was assessed. RESULTS Brief ES of the proximal nerve alone or in combination with TP accelerated the initiation of functional recovery. TP administration by itself also produced increased VFM scores compared to controls, but there were no statistical differences between the ES-treated and TP-treated animals. Treatment with brief ES alone was sufficient to decrease the time required to recover complete VFM. Animals with complete VFM were seen in treatment groups as early as 1 week following injury; in the untreated group, this was not observed until at least 3 weeks post-injury, translating into a 66% decrease in time to complete recovery. CONCLUSIONS Brief ES, alone or in combination with TP, promise to be effective therapeutic interventions for promoting regeneration following RLN injury.
Distribution and Properties of a Potassium-dependent Asparaginase Isolated from Developing Seeds of Pisum sativum and Other Plants.

Asparaginase (EC 3.5.1.1) was isolated from the developing seed of Pisum sativum. The enzyme is dependent upon the presence of K(+) for activity, although Na(+) and Rb(+) may substitute to a lesser extent. Maximum activity was obtained at K(+) concentrations above 20 millimolar. Potassium ions protected the enzyme against heat denaturation. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 68,300.Asparaginase activity developed initially in the testa, with maximum activity (3.6 micromoles per hour per seed) being present 13 days after flowering. Maximum activity (1.2 micromoles per hour per seed) did not develop in the cotyledon until 21 days after flowering. Glutamine synthetase and glutamate dehydrogenase were also present in the testae and cotyledons but maximum activity developed later than that of asparaginase.Potassium-dependent asparaginase activity was also detected in the developing seeds of Vicia faba, Phaseolus multiflorus, Zea mays, Hordeum vulgare, and two Lupinus varieties. No stimulation of activity was detected with the enzyme isolated from Lupinus polyphyllus, which has previously been shown to contain a K(+)-independent enzyme.
Media use in support of communication networks in an academic research environment

This research examines communication among members of an academic research group, placing their information exchange and media use in the context of their work requirements and work habits. In contrast to earlier studies in computer-mediated communication, this research uses a social network approach which asks about specific kinds of interactions between people rather than about the habits of categories of people. The research examines what types of information are exchanged to support work in the group, how group members make use of the available media to exchange these kinds of information, and how differences in work relations, friendship relations, and organizational status affect the types of information exchanged and the media used by pairs. While past research has emphasized media attributes and group communication norms as distinguishing patterns of media use, this research found that interpersonal work and friendship ties play a large role in media use. Pairs in more well-developed work and social relations--those in formal work ties, closer friendship ties, and pairs that include a faculty member--maintain a wider range of information exchange relationships, use more media, and communicate more frequently per relationship and per medium. Pairs also communicate more frequently and use more media for information exchange relationships important to the pair tie. Previous research suggests that a medium will be chosen because of the type of information to be conveyed. Results here suggest instead that across ties and across relationships media use differs more in number than in type, and what differences are observed are attributable to the pair tie. The more pairs communicate, whether because of their work tie, their friendship tie, or their status, the more media they use to communicate.
Automatic Blinking Detection towards Stress Discovery

We present a robust method to automatically detect blinks in video sequences of conversations, aimed to discovering stress. Psychological studies have shown a relationship between blink frequency and dopamine levels, which in turn are affected by stress. Task performance correlates through an inverted U shape to both dopamine and stress levels. This shows the importance of automatic blink detection as a way of reducing human coding burden. We use an off-the-shelf face tracker in order to extract the eye region. Then, we perform per-pixel classification of the extracted eye images to later identify blinks through their dynamics. We evaluate the performance of our system with a job interview database with annotations of psychological variables, and show statistically significant correlation between perceived stress resistance and the automatically detected blink patterns.
Relationship between job stress, occupational position and job satisfaction using a brief job stress questionnaire (BJSQ).

OBJECTIVE Subjects with higher occupational position are speculated to have higher ability to handle with stress, and they were less affected by job stress. This study focused on the relationship between job satisfaction and three sub-scales of a brief job stress questionnaire (BJSQ) related to workload. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS This self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 371 employees of a company, and all the workers sent back their responses. Among the 57 items graded on a 4-point Likert-type scale to measure job stressors, psycho-physical complaints, and support for workers, the authors studied the influence of quantitative and qualitative job overload (six items), job control (three items), and support port (six items). The job satisfaction score estimated on a 4-point Likert-type scale was also used in relation to job stress determined using a 15-item scale from the BJSQ based on demand-control-support model. Occupational positions were classified into directors, managers, and general workers, and the content of job was classified into clerical workers, skilled technicians, and unskilled manual workers. RESULTS All the scales on job stress presented acceptable alpha coefficients reflecting high internal consistency (job demand: 0.855, job control: 0.644, and support: 0.878, respectively). Principal axis factor analysis was conducted, and three factors were extracted; support, job demand and job control. There was a significant difference in the mean score among four groups divided by the job satisfaction level as evaluated by Dunnett's multiple comparison, and members who were dissatisfied with their job showed a high job demand, limited job control, and poor support. The mean score of support for managers were significantly higher (lower support) than that for general workers. The logistic regression analysis revealed that job control and support contributed significantly to job satisfaction. In addition, unskilled manual workers showed significantly higher job dissatisfaction compared with clerical workers. CONCLUSIONS Worsening of job satisfaction was related to poor job control and lack of support. Strategies to alleviate job stress are therefore urgently needed.
Clinical and Microbiologic Outcomes of Quinolone Prophylaxis in Children With Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Background: Intensifying treatment for pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has improved survival, with infections now being a leading cause of morbidity. Because quinolone prophylaxis is effective in adults with AML and in transplant populations, ciprofloxacin prophylaxis (CPx) was introduced as the standard for pediatric AML. We report here the impact of CPx in this population. Methods: Prevalence of fever and neutropenia, frequency and pathogen spectrum of infections, antibiotic use, supportive care and mortality before and after implementation of CPx were retrospectively compared in children with AML. Results: The cohort included 35 patients with de novo and 10 with relapsed AML, who together underwent 153 chemotherapy courses. Fever and neutropenia resulting in the use of empiric antibiotics occurred in 90% of chemotherapy courses (137/153); this was associated with proven bacteremia in 26%. The use of CPx did not change the incidence of febrile or infectious episodes, number of days of fever or antibiotic treatment or mortality. CPx was associated with a significant decrease in infections caused by Gram-negative rods (13.4% vs 4.7%) but a concomitant significant increase in bacteremia caused by viridans streptococci (12% vs 28%), resulting in no significant overall difference in the incidence of bacteremia between the 2 groups (35.9% vs 31.5%). Conclusions: CPx neither alter the incidence of overall bacteremia nor change the pattern of fever or use of supportive care. Our experience supports further investigation into the use of extended-spectrum quinolone prophylaxis during therapy for pediatric AML.
Future Anxiety and its Relationship to Students' Attitude toward Academic Specialization

Future anxiety is considered one of the main features as a result of economic and social changes, and increasingly emerges among university students not only because of the fear of failure in the study, but also because of the fear of lack of job opportunities – the thing that affects joining their specializations. Hence this study examines the relationship between future anxiety and specialization in the light of variables of gender and specialization. The sample consists of 380 males and females at Najran University (200 students in Humanities and 180 students in Scientific specializations), and their age ranged between 18 to 22 years. The two scales of future anxiety and specialization have been applied. The results showed a negative correlation between future anxiety and specialization, and there are differences in future anxiety for students of Humanity specializations, and gender differences in favor of males; the study also resulted in differences in the attitude towards specialization in favor of students of scientific specializations that have no differences due to gender. Keywords: future anxiety, attitudes, specialization and university students
Immunogenic Mycobacterium africanum Strains Associated with Ongoing Transmission in The Gambia

In West Africa, Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains co-circulate with M. africanum, and both pathogens cause pulmonary tuberculosis in humans. Given recent findings that M. tuberculosis T-cell epitopes are hyperconserved, we hypothesized that more immunogenic strains have increased capacity to spread within the human host population. We investigated the relationship between the composition of the mycobacterial population in The Gambia, as measured by spoligotype analysis, and the immunogenicity of these strains as measured by purified protein derivative–induced interferon-γ release in ELISPOT assays of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We found a positive correlation between strains with superior spreading capacity and their relative immunogenicity. Although our observation is true for M. tuberculosis and M. africanum strains, the association was especially pronounced in 1 M. africanum sublineage, characterized by spoligotype shared international type 181, which is responsible for 20% of all tuberculosis cases in the region and therefore poses a major public health threat in The Gambia.
Development and Characterization of Lyophilized Diazepam-Loaded Polymeric Micelles

Polymeric micelles were studied as delivery carriers of diazepam, a practically insoluble drug in water, for rectal administration. The diazepam-loaded polymeric micelles were developed by using poloxamer 407 (P407), poloxamer 188, and d-α-tocopheryl poly(ethylene glycol) 1000 succinate (TPGS). Among the used polymers, TPGS resulted in polymeric micelles with good characteristics for encapsulation of diazepam which had the small particle size of 8–12 nm and narrow size distribution (PI 0.053–0.275). Additionally, 7.5% w/v of TPGS could entirely entrap the desired concentration of diazepam (5 mg/mL). To improve the physical stability upon lyophilization, an addition of P407 of 1% w/v prevented aggregation, increased physical stability, and maintained chemical stability of the lyophilized powders of diazepam-loaded polymeric micelles for 3 months storage at 4°C. The rate and amount of diazepam release from TPGS polymeric micelles mainly depended on the concentration of TPGS. The release data were fitted to Higuchi's model suggesting that the drug release mechanism was controlled by Fickian diffusion. In conclusion, 10% w/v TPGS and 1% w/v P407 were the optimum formulation of lyophilized diazepam-loaded polymeric micelles.
A framework to rapidly test SDN use-cases and accelerate middlebox applications

Software-defined networking (SDN) is envisioned to provide a centralized interface to programmatically manage networking elements. However, despite its conceptual simplicity, current switch and SDN architectures have poor performance with little support to innovate and test novel SDN applications. We propose an application extensibility framework that allows researchers to build new SDN applications without requiring modification to the OpenFlow-based plumbing available today. We also employ both hardware and software packet processing capabilities of switching elements by offloading intensive per-packet processing onto the switch processing pipeline using dynamically loadable packet processing modules (PPMs). Our architecture thus allows flexibility in the type of applications alongside high switching performance. We believe that our architecture will unleash the potential of SDN by inspiring the SDN “killer app”. We evaluate our framework using an encryption middlebox application and show a two orders-of-magnitude improvement over an implementation using the current SDN architecture when using hardware offload blocks.
Fast and Simple Iterative Algorithm of Lp-Norm Minimization for Under-Determined Speech Separation

This paper presents an efficient algorithm to solve Lp-norm minimization problem for under-determined speech separation; that is, for the case that there are more sound sources than microphones. We employ an auxiliary function method in order to derive update rules under the assumption that the amplitude of each sound source follows generalized Gaussian distribution. Experiments reveal that our method solves the L1-norm minimization problem ten times faster than a general solver, and also solves Lp-norm minimization problem efficiently, especially when the parameter p is small; when p is not more than 0.7, it runs in real-time without loss of separation quality. Index Terms: speech separation, under-determined condition, Lp-norm minimization, auxiliary function method