Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of inertial response requirements on a multi area renewable network

Developments in renewable integration are continuously changing power system portfolios globally. Higher volatility of the networks might pose a threat to grid stability and thus increase the need for ancillary services. In this paper one such service — the provision of inertial frequency response (in short referred to as inertia) — is analyzed. An additional demand constraint is added to a SMIP (Stochastic Mixed Integer Problem) formulation of an interconnected two-area system consisting of wind, hydro and conventional thermal plants. Environmental stochastic influences — wind curtailment and hydrological inflow — as well as demand fluctuation, forecasting errors and inter-area congestion are incorporated. The potential of cross-border trade of inertial response such as the impact of inertia requirements on traditional scheduling is analyzed and discussed.
Asynchronous control of orientation and displacement in a robot vehicle

The design of a general-purpose vehicle controller is presented. The controller organization is presented as a three-layer structure. The top layer is an interpreter which assures a control protocol based on asynchronous commands and independent control of orientation and forward displacement. The middle layer is control loop which maintains an estimate of the vehicle's position and orientation, as well as their uncertainties. This control loop generates commands for vehicle displacements in terms of a 'virtual vehicle'. The bottom layer is a translator between the 'virtual vehicle' and the physical vehicle on which the controller is implemented. <<ETX>>
Transfection of molecular beacons in microchannels for single-cell gene-expression analysis.

BACKGROUND Efficient transfection of molecular beacons has to be performed in the microscale in order to fully utilize the potential of molecular beacons and microfluidics for studying the real-time gene-expression dynamics in living cells. Nevertheless, there has been relatively little study on transfection of molecular beacons in microfluidic channels. RESULTS In this work, the differences between transfection in conventional cell culture systems and in microfluidic cell culture systems were investigated systematically with a combination of computational and experimental methods. Comparison between a no-flow microchannel and a 96-well plate revealed that the scale-dependence of reaction-diffusion kinetics contributes to the reduced transfection efficiency in the no-flow microchannel. Study on transfection in the microfluidic system under flow conditions suggested that the fluid flow enhances mass transfer, while the fluid shear stress can reduce the transfection efficiency. CONCLUSION The results of this study will provide useful guidelines in optimizing molecular beacon transfection efficiency in microfluidic systems for studying gene-expression dynamics in living cells.
Knowing What You Don't Know - Novelty Detection for Action Recognition in Personal Robots

Novelty detection is essential for personal robots to continuously learn and adapt in open environments. This paper specifically studies novelty detection in the context of action recognition. To detect unknown (novel) human action sequences we propose a new method called background models, which is applicable to any generative classifier. Our closed-set action recognition system consists of a new skeleton-based feature combined with a Hidden Markov Model (HMM)-based generative classifier, which has shown good earlier results in action recognition. Subsequently, novelty detection is approached from both a posterior likelihood and hypothesis testing view, which is unified as background models. We investigate a diverse set of background models: sum over competing models, filler models, flat models, anti-models, and some reweighted combinations. Our standard recognition system has an inter-subject recognition accuracy of 96% on the Microsoft Research Action 3D dataset. Moreover, the novelty detection module combining anti-models with flat models has 78% accuracy in novelty detection, while maintaining 78% standard recognition accuracy as well. Our methodology can increase robustness of any current HMM-based action recognition system against open environments, and is a first step towards an incrementally learning system.
Parallelization of Radix-2 Montgomery Multiplication on Multicore Platform

Montgomery multiplication is the kernel operation in public key ciphers. Aiming at parallel implementation of Montgomery multiplication, this brief presents an improved task partitioning of the Montgomery multiplication algorithm for the multicore platform with area-efficient processors. Several multicore platforms are designed to verify the efficiency of parallelization. The fastest platform takes 3460 cycles to finish a 1024-b Montgomery multiplication, which is six times faster than a single MIPS processor and three times faster than the pSHS parallelization based on a platform with eight MicroBlaze cores.
Determination of hub port attenuation satisfying radio link path losses for hardware emulation

In this paper we introduce a framework to emulate the path loss of radio network links in a laboratory environment. The emulator network comprises one or more multiport radio frequency hubs, with variable attenuation on each port, in order to emulate the radio path loss between any two radios. The problem in this emulation approach is the determination of the appropriate port attenuation to match the multi-dimensional link losses (signal attenuations) and signal-to-interference ratios between multiple radios of a practical network. This has been structured as a constraint satisfaction problem (CSP) for both single-hub and multiple-hub emulation. We describe an algorithm based on Freuder’s solution synthesis to find the solution to the CSP. For emulation with multiple hubs, a clustering algorithm is described to assign radios to different hubs. Experimental results are also presented to validate the accuracy of emulation.
A 14b 80MS/s SAR ADC with 73.6dB SNDR in 65nm CMOS

Successive-approximation ADCs (SARs) have excelled in two spaces: in very-high-SNR applications where the precision and stability of capacitors are leveraged along with the use of large signal swings and in high-speed, low-resolution applications in which the SAR's low power and simplicity has enabled high levels of time-interleaving. In between, ADCs with greater than 10 effective bits and sample rates above 20MS/s are typically not based on the SAR architecture. The sequential nature of the SAR algorithm makes it difficult to achieve both high speed and high accuracy, as increasing the resolution requires each bit decision to be both faster and lower noise. This paper presents a SAR that overcomes some of the conventional speed limitations; it uses a 1.2V-only supply and achieves >70dB SNDR at 80MS/s, which extends the state of the art while maintaining comparable FoM.
Nutritional management of the gastrointestinal tract to reduce enteric diseases in pigs

Summary This paper discusses the general hypothesis that certain enteric diseases in pigs can be controlled, or at least ameliorated, by nutritional management of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The impetus for such an approach is the mounting concerns amongst retailers, the public, feed manufacturers, producers and regulatory bodies regarding the ‘safety’ of the production chain supplying pig meat. The prime concern is the use of antibiotics, recent events in Europe sending a clear signal that alternatives to the use of viable and cost– effective growth–promoting antibiotics will be required sooner rather than later. Results of research summarized in this paper suggest that associations, currently largely undefined, exist between bacterial pathogens, the host, and dietary substrates to cause diseases in the GI tract. Available data implicate the non–starch polysaccharide (NSP) and amylase–resistant starch in the clinical expression of a number of economically important bacterial diseases. The use of highly–digestible cereal sources such as cooked white rice limits the severity of enteric diseases such as post–weaning diarrhoea, swine dysentery and porcine intestinal spirochaetosis. Interactions with other dietary components in the aetiology of enteric diseases also are possible, including the level and type of protein fed to pigs.
Mixed Type Multi-attribute Pairwise Comparisons Learning

Building a proactive and unobtrusive recom- mender system is still a challenging task. In the real world, buyers may be offered a lot of choices while trying to choose the item that best suits their preference. Such items may have many attributes, which can complicate the process. The classic approach in decision support systems – to put weights on the importance of each attribute – is not always helpful here. For instance, there are cases when users find it is hard to formulate their priorities explicitly. In this paper, we promote the use of pairwise comparisons, which allow the user preferences to be inferred rather than spell out. Our system aims to learn from a limited number of examples and using clustering to guide the selection of pairs for annotation. The approach is demonstrated in the case of purchasing a used car using a large, real-world data set.
An anisotropic perfectly matched layer (APML) absorber for mesh truncation in the context of a multiresolution time domain scheme

We have applied an anisotropic perfectly matched layer (APML) type of absorber for mesh truncation in the context of a three-dimensional multiresolution time domain (MRTD) scheme. We have developed a generalized APML update algorithm to handle the faces, edges and corners of the APML regions in the MRTD formulation that retains the philosophy of the leapfrog algorithm of the conventional finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. We have validated the algorithm by analyzing the performance of an open microstrip line, and have shown that the APML does an excellent job of absorbing the electromagnetic waves when implemented in the MRTD algorithm.
The X-ray Structure of Ferric Escherichia coliFlavohemoglobin Reveals an Unexpected Geometry of the Distal Heme Pocket*

The x-ray structure of ferric unliganded lipid-free Escherichia coli flavohemoglobin has been solved to a resolution of 2.2 Å and refined to anR-factor of 19%. The overall fold is similar to that of ferrous lipid-bound Alcaligenes eutrophusflavohemoglobin with the notable exception of the E helix positioning within the globin domain and a rotation of the NAD binding module with respect to the FAD-binding domain accompanied by a substantial rearrangement of the C-terminal region. An inspection of the heme environment in E. coli flavohemoglobin reveals an unexpected architecture of the distal pocket. In fact, the distal site is occupied by the isopropyl side chain Leu-E11 that shields the heme iron from the residues in the topological positions predicted to interact with heme iron-bound ligands, namely Tyr-B10 and Gln-E7, and stabilizes a pentacoordinate ferric iron species. Ligand binding properties are consistent with the presence of a pentacoordinate species in solution as indicated by a very fast second order combination rates with imidazole and azide. Surprisingly, imidazole, cyanide, and azide binding profiles at equilibrium are not accounted for by a single site titration curve but are biphasic and strongly suggest the presence of two distinct conformers within the liganded species.
Magnetization switching by spin-polarized current in low-resistance magnetic tunnel junction with MgO [001] barrier

Current-induced magnetization switching (CIMS) was demonstrated in low resistance magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) with thin MgO [001] barrier. The resistance change by CIMS was more than 100%, which is much larger than the previous report in Al-O based MTJs. The switching current density was about 2/spl times/10/sup 7/ A/cm/sup 2/, which was comparable with that reported values in metallic multilayers.
Mechanical properties and formation mechanisms of a wire of single gold atoms

A scanning tunneling microscope supplemented with a force sensor is used to study the mechanical properties of a novel metallic nanostructure: a freely suspended chain of single gold atoms. We find that the bond strength of the nanowire is about twice that of a bulk metallic bond. We perform ab initio calculations of the force at chain fracture and compare quantitatively with experimental measurements. The observed mechanical failure and nanoelastic processes involved during atomic wire fabrication are investigated using molecular dynamics simulations, and we find that the total effective stiffness of the nanostructure is strongly affected by the detailed local atomic arrangement at the chain bases.
New locus (ttr) in Escherichia coli K-12 affecting sensitivity to bacteriophage T2 and growth on oleate as the sole carbon source

The nature of resistance to phage T2 in Escherichia coli K-12 was investigated by analyzing a known phage T2-resistant mutant and by isolating new T2-resistant mutants. It was found that mutational alterations at two loci, ompF (encoding the outer membrane protein OmpF) and ttr (T-two resistance), are needed to give full resistance to phage T2. A ttr::Tn10 mutation was isolated and was mapped between aroC and dsdA, where the fadL gene (required for long-chain fatty acid transport) is located. The receptor affected by ttr was the major receptor used by phage T2 and was located in the outer membrane. Phage T2 was thus able to use two outer membrane proteins as receptors. All strains having a ttr::Tn10 allele and most of the independently isolated phage T2-resistant mutants were unable to grow on oleate as the sole carbon and energy source, i.e., they had the phenotype of fadL mutants. The gene fadL is known to encode an inner membrane protein. The most likely explanation is that fadL and ttr are in an operon and that ttr encodes an outer membrane protein which functions in translocating long-chain fatty acids across the outer membrane and also as a receptor for phage T2.
Acoustical enrichment during early postnatal development changes response properties of inferior colliculus neurons in rats

The structure and function of the auditory system may be influenced by acoustic stimulation, especially during the early postnatal period. This study explores the effects of an acoustically enriched environment applied during the third and fourth week of life on the responsiveness of inferior colliculus neurons in rats. The enrichment comprised a spectrally and temporally modulated complex sound reinforced with several target acoustic stimuli, one of which triggered a reward release. The exposure permanently influenced neuronal representation of the sound frequency and intensity, resulting in lower excitatory thresholds at neuronal characteristic frequency, an increased frequency selectivity, larger response magnitudes, steeper rate–intensity functions and an increased spontaneous activity. The effect was general and non‐specific, spanning the entire hearing range – no changes specific to the frequency band of the target stimuli were found. The alterations depended on the activity of animals during the enrichment – a higher activity of rats in the stimulus–reward paradigm led to more profound changes compared with the treatment when the stimulus–reward paradigm was not used. Furthermore, the exposure in early life led to permanent changes in response parameters, whereas the application of the same environment in adulthood influenced only a subset of the examined parameters and had only a temporary effect. These findings indicate that a rich and stimulating acoustic environment during early development, particularly when reinforced by positive feedback, may permanently affect signal processing in the subcortical auditory nuclei, including the excitatory thresholds of neurons and their frequency and intensity resolution.
Si-passivated Ge nMOS gate stack with low Dit and dipole-induced superior PBTI reliability using 3D-compatible ALD caps and high-pressure anneal

We demonstrate a Si-passivated Ge nMOS gate stack with Dit of ∼5×10<sup>10</sup> cm<sup>−2</sup>eV<sup>−1</sup> around midgap and unnoticeable C-V hysteresis at an operating condition (oxide trap density of ∼1×10<sup>8</sup> cm<sup>−2</sup> at V<inf>ov</inf>/CET=3.5 MV/cm). Insertion of a 3D-compatible thin ALD LaOx, MgOx and LaSiO layer at the interface between HfO2 and SiO2/Si/Ge improves PBTI reliability thanks to the interface dipole-induced band engineering. The high DIT of Si-passivated Ge nFET is dramatically reduced by ∼40x around midgap using a combination of the LaSiO insertion and a H2 high-pressure anneal (HPA). These key gate stack technologies realize further improvements in mobility (∼50% at peak) and PBTI reliability (V<inf>ov</inf>=0.32 V for 10 years) of Si-passivated Ge nFETs.
The effect of power control on the average power amplifier efficiency

We present a study on the effect of power control algorithms on the average efficiency of a power amplifier (PA). The efficiencies are analytically calculated. Several efficiency curves of PAs are considered. The power control algorithms are the water-filling algorithm and the full and truncated channel inversion algorithms. The algorithms have an ideal knowledge of the power gain of the channel. Constant amplitude and also Gaussian distributed data signals simulating orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) are used. Several channel models are considered. The analysis is verified via Monte Carlo simulations. We obtain realistic average power amplifier efficiency performance that takes into account the power control algorithm as well as the input signal power distribution, for various types of channels and signals. The study shows that the power control should be reckoned with when investigating the average power amplifier efficiency. Using power control improves the PA average efficiency. The higher the cut-off value, the higher the PA average efficiency, at the expense of the throughput.
Daily energy expenditure and plasmatic lipid-lipoprotein levels in adolescents *

The aim of the present study was to analyze the impact of regular practice of physical activity facing estimates of daily energy expenditure (EEdaily ) in the plasmatic lipid-lipoprotein profile in a representative sample of adolescents. The sample consisted of 452 subjects (246 females and 206 males), age between 15 and 18 years. The plasmatic lipid-lipoprotein concentrations were established through laboratory procedures. The data concerning the regular practice of physical activity were obtained though a retrospective instrument of self-recording. Estimates concerning the EEdaily were established based on the caloric cost associated with the type and the duration of the activities registered by the adolescents. The sample was divided in three groups of regular practice of physical activity: the least active, < 25o percentile of the EEdaily; the moderately active, 25-75o percentile of the EEdaily; and the most active, > 75o percentile of the EEdaily. Cutting points for an atherogenic lipid-lipoprotein risk were also established. The results of the analysis of covariance, having the participation of the body mass index controlled, showed that the HDL-C concentrations were significantly different according to the growing groups of EEdaily in females (p = 0.009) and in males (p = 0.010). However, the variation behavior of the values observed was different in the two sexes. The analysis of logistic regression showed that the relative risk for lower values of HDL-C was two times higher among the least active adolescents comparing with the most active ones. In both sexes the concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL-C and triglycerides did not present significant differences among the groups of EEdaily. In conclusion, more intense regular practice of physical activity as well as higher EEdaily are associated with higher concentrations of HDL-C in adolescents of both sexes, regardless of the variations of body weight. The associations between EEdaily and the other plasmatic components of lipid-lipoproteins treated in the present study were weak and inconsistent.
The dynamics of western North America: stress magnitudes and the relative role of gravitational potential energy, plate interaction at the boundary and basal tractions

SUMMARY We investigate the forces involved in driving long-term large-scale continental deformation in western North America, and quantify the vertically averaged deviatoric stress field arising from internal buoyancy forces and the accommodation of relative plate motions. In addition, we investigate the ability of regional models to resolve the level of tractions acting at the base of the lithosphere. We directly solve force-balance equations for vertically averaged deviatoric stresses associated with differences in values of 1/(lithospheric thickness) times the gravitational potential energy per unit area (GPE). The GPE values are inferred using both the ETOPO5 topographic data set and the CRUST2.0 crustal thickness model. Deviatoric stresses associated with basal tractions are calculated globally, with inputs determined from an isoviscous upper mantle (η = 10 21 Pa s) 3-D large-scale convection model in which mantle density variations were inferred from tomographic data and the history of subduction. In a 211parameter iterative inversion we then solve for a stress field boundary condition by fitting stress field indicators (i.e. the directions and relative magnitudes of the principal axes of kinematic strain rates). Magnitudes of the total vertically averaged deviatoric stress field (sum of GPE solution with the boundary condition solution) range from 5 to 10 MPa within a 100-km thick lithosphere. These magnitudes are calibrated by the GPE differences, along with the spatial variation in deformation style. There is a trade-off between the scaling of the basal traction deviatoric stress field and the boundary condition solution. However, the combined boundary conditions plus basal traction solution is robust (in both magnitude and style), and when added to the contribution from GPE differences provides a global minimum of misfit between the total deviatoric stress solution and the stress field indicators. GPE variations account for ∼50 per cent of the deviatoric stress magnitudes driving deformation, while boundary condition stresses account for the remaining ∼50 per cent of deviatoric stress magnitude. By comparing possible end-member strength profiles with our vertically averaged deviatoric stresses we infer that the bulk of the strength within the lithosphere in western North America lies within the brittle seismogenic layer.
Plasma sodium stiffens vascular endothelium and reduces nitric oxide release

Dietary salt plays a major role in the regulation of blood pressure, and the mineralocorticoid hormone aldosterone controls salt homeostasis and extracellular volume. Recent observations suggest that a small increase in plasma sodium concentration may contribute to the pressor response of dietary salt. Because endothelial cells are (i) sensitive to aldosterone, (ii) in physical contact with plasma sodium, and (iii) crucial regulators of vascular tone, we tested whether acute changes in plasma sodium concentration, within the physiological range, can alter the physical properties of endothelial cells. The tip of an atomic force microscope was used as a nanosensor to measure stiffness of living endothelial cells incubated for 3 days in a culture medium containing aldosterone at a physiological concentration (0.45 nM). Endothelial cell stiffness was unaffected by acute changes in sodium concentration <135 mM but rose steeply between 135 and 145 mM. The increase in stiffness occurred within minutes. Lack of aldosterone in the culture medium or treatment with the epithelial sodium channel inhibitor amiloride prevented this response. Nitric oxide formation was found down-regulated in cells cultured in aldosterone-containing high sodium medium. The results suggest that changes in plasma sodium concentration per se may affect endothelial function and thus control vascular tone.