Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Novel Flux Estimator Based on Multiple Second-Order Generalized Integrators and Frequency-Locked Loop for Induction Motor Drives

Accurate flux estimation is essential for the implementation of a high-performance ac motor drive. However, it still faces some problems, which can better be projected by analyzing performances of existing flux estimators, implemented with either a pure integrator or a low-pass filter (LPF). To solve the problems, an alternative flux estimator, implemented with a single second-order generalized integrator (SOGI) and a frequency-locked loop (FLL), is discussed for induction motor drives. The SOGI block included in this algorithm works for integrating the back-electromotive force, which unlike the pure integrator and LPF, does not experience saturation and significant dc offsets caused by different initial conditions. The single-SOGI-FLL estimator does not need additional magnitude and phase compensation, while its performance may deteriorate at low speed, caused by the inverse proportional relationship between its estimated flux and the frequency. A multi-SOGI-FLL flux estimator is, thus, proposed for uncompromised attenuation of dc and harmonic errors even under low-speed condition. Excellent flux estimation can, hence, be offered over the full-speed range, as proven through theoretical studies and experiments.
DNA synthesis determines the binding mode of the human mitochondrial single-stranded DNA-binding protein

Abstract Single-stranded DNA-binding proteins (SSBs) play a key role in genome maintenance, binding and organizing single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) intermediates. Multimeric SSBs, such as the human mitochondrial SSB (HmtSSB), present multiple sites to interact with ssDNA, which has been shown in vitro to enable them to bind a variable number of single-stranded nucleotides depending on the salt and protein concentration. It has long been suggested that different binding modes might be used selectively for different functions. To study this possibility, we used optical tweezers to determine and compare the structure and energetics of long, individual HmtSSB–DNA complexes assembled on preformed ssDNA and on ssDNA generated gradually during ‘in situ’ DNA synthesis. We show that HmtSSB binds to preformed ssDNA in two major modes, depending on salt and protein concentration. However, when protein binding was coupled to strand-displacement DNA synthesis, only one of the two binding modes was observed under all experimental conditions. Our results reveal a key role for the gradual generation of ssDNA in modulating the binding mode of a multimeric SSB protein and consequently, in generating the appropriate nucleoprotein structure for DNA synthetic reactions required for genome maintenance.
Point-of-care testing in diabetes management

Abstract The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has rapidly increased over the last decades, reaching epidemic magnitudes, particularly in lowand middle-income countries. Point-of-care (POC) technology enables decision making near or at the site of patient care. Portable blood glucose meters and HbA1c testing are used by the healthcare provider and millions of patients with diabetes to monitor the safety and effectiveness of the diabetes treatment. However, POC capillary blood glucose and POC HbA1c testing are not recommended for diabetes diagnosis. Rather, they have been used for screening diabetes in lowand middle-income countries to decrease the disease burden.
Terraços versus litostratigrafia e geocronologia do Plistocénico e do Holocénico da zona costeira do Minho (Portugal)

Na zona costeira norte de Portugal (entre o rio Minho e o cabo Mondego) tem-se procedido a investigacoes acerca das suas formacoes plistocenicas c holocenicas, cujos resultados se tentam aplicar no estudo da sua evolucao geomorfologica nos ultimos milhares de anos. Comparam-se resultados obtidos por uma metodologia que conduz a definicao de varios terracos considerados marinhos, aos quais sao atribuidas cotas supostamente significativas na sua caracterizacao, com os resultados baseados em principios e regras da litostratigrafia. Controlados por datacoes absolutas (metodos do radiocarhono e da luminescencia - OSL). Atraves da ultima metodologia referida, foi possivel estabelecer uma sucessao litostratigrafica, a evolucao dos paleoambientes durante os ultimos milhares de anos e a intervencao da neotectonica nessa mesma evolucao, a partir da interpretacao de cortes geologicos, de sondagens e dos resultados preliminares obtidos pela aplicacao de prospeccao geofisica.
Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Biomedicine: Applications and Developments in Diagnostics and Therapy

Abstract Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIO) can be used to image physiological processes and anatomical, cellular and molecular changes in diseases. The clinical applications range from the imaging of tumors and metastases in the liver, spleen and bone marrow, the imaging of lymph nodes and the CNS, MRA and perfusion imaging to atherosclerotic plaque and thrombosis imaging. New experimental approaches in molecular imaging describe undirected SPIO trapping (passive targeting) in inflammation, tumors and associated macrophages as well as the directed accumulation of SPIO ligands (active targeting) in tumor endothelia and tumor cells, areas of apoptosis, infarction, inflammation and degeneration in cardiovascular and neurological diseases, in atherosclerotic plaques or thrombi. The labeling of stem or immune cells allows the visualization of cell therapies or transplant rejections. The coupling of SPIO to ligands, radio- and/or chemotherapeutics, embedding in carrier systems or activatable smart sensor probes and their externally controlled focusing (physical targeting) enable molecular tumor therapies or the imaging of metabolic and enzymatic processes. Monodisperse SPIO with defined physicochemical and pharmacodynamic properties may improve SPIO-based MRI in the future and as targeted probes in diagnostic magnetic resonance (DMR) using chip-based µNMR may significantly expand the spectrum of in vitro analysis methods for biomarker, pathogens and tumor cells. Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) as a new imaging modality offers new applications for SPIO in cardiovascular, oncological, cellular and molecular diagnostics and therapy. Key Points: SPIO can be used for diagnosis, MR imaging, and treatment. Monodisperse SPIO improve physicochemistry and pharmacodynamics. SPIO in targeted probes can be used in in-vitro diagnostic imaging (µNMR). The potential to use SPIO in magnetic particle imaging (MPI) must be evaluated. Citation Format: Ittrich H, Peldschus K, Raabe N et al. Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles in Biomedicine: Applications and Developments in Diagnostics and Therapy. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2013; 185: 1149 – 1166
Determination of aqueous solubility by heating and equilibration: A technical note

Summary and ConclusionA modified shake-flask solubility method, where the equilibration time was shortened through heating, was used to determine the solubility of 48 different drugs and pharmaceutical excipients in pure water at room temperature. The heating process accelerates dissolution of the solid compound and frequently results in supersaturated solution. Seeding with the solid compound after heating and cooling to room temperature promotes precipitation of the solid compound in its original stable form. This modified shake-flask method generates reliable and reproducible solubility data.
Flaxseed Protects Against Diabetes-Induced Glucotoxicity by Modulating Pentose Phosphate Pathway and Glutathione-Dependent Enzyme Activities in Rats

ABSTRACT This study investigated the effects of flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) intake on general metabolism, pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and glutathione-dependent enzymes in diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection (40 mg/kg, i.p.) and the enzyme activities were determined spectrophotometrically. Diabetic and control rats were divided in two subgroups, one untreated, and one treated with flaxseed (0.714 g/kg body weight/day; orally) for 12 weeks. Flaxseed ameliorated decreased body weight (p < .05) and increased blood glucose (p < .001), triglyceride (p < .001), ALT (p < .001) and AST (p < .001) in diabetic rats. Diabetes resulted in increased glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) (p < .05) and decreased glutathione-S-transferase (GST) (p < .01), but unchanged 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) and glutathione reductase (GR) in the brain of rats. These alterations were partially improved by flaxseed in comparison to diabetic untreated group (p < .05). G6PD, 6PGD, GR were elevated (p < .001), while GST unchanged in the lung of diabetic untreated group compared to control. Flaxseed partially prevented the increase in 6PGD (p < .05) and GR (p < .01), but unaffected G6PD in the lung of diabetic rats. G6PD (p < .001), 6PGD (p < .05), GR (p < .001) were augmented, while GST showed a significant (p < .001) depletion in the pancreas of diabetic untreated rats compared to control. Diabetic alterations observed in pancreatic enzyme activities were significantly prevented by flaxseed. Furthermore, a remarkable decrease in 6PGD (p < .001) and an increase in G6PD (threefold of control) were found in the lens of diabetic untreated group that were completely prevented by flaxseed (p < .001). Flaxseed has beneficial effects against diabetes-induced glucotoxicity by modulating G6PD, 6PGD, GR and GST activities in tissues.
Classification Accuracies of Physical Activities Using Smartphone Motion Sensors

Background Over the past few years, the world has witnessed an unprecedented growth in smartphone use. With sensors such as accelerometers and gyroscopes on board, smartphones have the potential to enhance our understanding of health behavior, in particular physical activity or the lack thereof. However, reliable and valid activity measurement using only a smartphone in situ has not been realized. Objective To examine the validity of the iPod Touch (Apple, Inc.) and particularly to understand the value of using gyroscopes for classifying types of physical activity, with the goal of creating a measurement and feedback system that easily integrates into individuals’ daily living. Methods We collected accelerometer and gyroscope data for 16 participants on 13 activities with an iPod Touch, a device that has essentially the same sensors and computing platform as an iPhone. The 13 activities were sitting, walking, jogging, and going upstairs and downstairs at different paces. We extracted time and frequency features, including mean and variance of acceleration and gyroscope on each axis, vector magnitude of acceleration, and fast Fourier transform magnitude for each axis of acceleration. Different classifiers were compared using the Waikato Environment for Knowledge Analysis (WEKA) toolkit, including C4.5 (J48) decision tree, multilayer perception, naive Bayes, logistic, k-nearest neighbor (kNN), and meta-algorithms such as boosting and bagging. The 10-fold cross-validation protocol was used. Results Overall, the kNN classifier achieved the best accuracies: 52.3%–79.4% for up and down stair walking, 91.7% for jogging, 90.1%–94.1% for walking on a level ground, and 100% for sitting. A 2-second sliding window size with a 1-second overlap worked the best. Adding gyroscope measurements proved to be more beneficial than relying solely on accelerometer readings for all activities (with improvement ranging from 3.1% to 13.4%). Conclusions Common categories of physical activity and sedentary behavior (walking, jogging, and sitting) can be recognized with high accuracies using both the accelerometer and gyroscope onboard the iPod touch or iPhone. This suggests the potential of developing just-in-time classification and feedback tools on smartphones.
Eco-routing: An Ant Colony based Approach

Global warming, environmental pollution, and fuel shortage are currently major worldwide challenges. Ecorouting is one of several tools that attempt to address this challenge by minimizing network-wide vehicle fuel consumption and emission levels. Eco-routing systems select the most environmentally friendly route. The subpopulation feedback eco-routing (SPF-ECO) algorithm that is implemented in the INTEGRATION software can produce a reduction in fuel consumption levels by approximately 17%. However, in some cases, due to delayed updates or the lack for updates, its performance degrades. In this paper, we propose the ant colony based eco-routing technique (ACO-ECO), which is a novel feedback eco-routing and cost updating algorithm to overcome these shortcomings. In the ACO-ECO algorithm, real-time performance measures on various roadway links are shared. Vehicles build their minimum path routes using the latest real-time information to minimize their fuel consumption and emission levels. ACO-ECO is also able to capture randomness in route selection, pheromone updating, and pheromone evaporation. The results show that the ACO-ECO algorithm and SPF-ECO have similar performances in normal cases. However, in the case of link blocking, the ACO-ECO algorithm reduces the network-wide fuel consumption and CO2 emission levels in the range of 2.3% to 6.0%. It also reduces the average trip time by approximately 3.6% to 14.0%.
INTEGRATING SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS AND DATA MINING TECHNIQUES INTO EFFECTIVE E-MARKET FRAMEWORK

E-commerce has been considered to be a very important source to share business information and establish a relationship between people on a communication network especially the Web which is driven by the internet. Many retailers have introduced online shopping as a powerful tool to increase revenue either by marketing or analyzing the customers shopping behavior to make the right sales decisions. In this paper, we introduce data mining techniques including clustering, association rules, and social network analysis integrated into a a recommendation system to increase revenue for those companies that use online shopping. Our proposed recommendation system consists of the following recommenders: (a) Shopping List Recommender (b) Checkout Recommender (c) and e-Navigation Recommender. By understanding the customers behavior, we can offer deals to targeted customers which will lead to increase revenue. We have tested our proposed modules using a real online music store and the results are outstanding.
Empowering the Cancer Patient or Controlling the Tumor? A Qualitative Study of How Cancer Patients Experience Consultations With Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practitioners and Physicians, Respectively

Objectives: The authors describe how patients with cancer, who have had consultations with both a conventional physician and a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioner, experience these consultations. The theoretical background of this study is inspired by a description of 2 models of principles of treatment. In the first model, the instrumental intervention (eg, the medicine) is defined as the causal factor for outcome. In the second model, the patient is defined as the causal factor; the outcomes of the treatment are dependent on the resources of the patient (eg, the body’s ability to heal itself) and the impact of the patient’s situation. Methods: Semistructured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 17 Norwegian cancer patients who had visited both a CAM practitioner and a physician. The patients were recruited from both an oncology department at a university hospital and a newspaper advertisement in the area of Trondheim in central Norway. Methods of data analysis used were open coding, relational coding, and categorizing of themes. Results: The cancer patients have experienced 2 different modes of consultations: one characterized by practitioners focusing on controlling the tumor and another characterized by practitioners focusing on the patient. The patients’ accounts of these 2 modes of consultation differ in a number of ways: which issues are discussed during the consultation, who is in control of the consultation agenda, what are the patients’ perceptions of the practitioners’ health and disease understanding (ontology), what are the practitioners’ communication skills, and how empowered the patient feels during the consultation. Conclusions: Patients in this study ask for a consultation style that conveys a focus on both the disease and the whole patient. The results of this study point to a possible connection between the practitioners’ understanding of health and disease and the content and form of the consultations. Future research should test this connection.
Side differences of knee joint cartilage volume, thickness, and surface area, and correlation with lower limb dominance--an MRI-based study.

OBJECTIVE To test the hypotheses that absolute side differences in knee joint cartilage morphology are substantially smaller than intersubject variability, and that systematic side differences are determined by (force) dominance of the lower limbs. METHODS Fifteen healthy volunteers with definite dominance of one lower limb were studied. Knees were imaged sagittally with a validated, high-resolution MR sequence. Transverse MR images of the thigh and calf were acquired with a spin echo sequence. Knee joint cartilage volume, thickness and joint surface areas, as well as muscle cross sectional areas were determined with in house post-processing software. RESULTS Absolute side differences amounted to 5.0+/-3.7% for the knee cartilage volume, 3.8+/-3.1% for cartilage thickness, and 3.4+/-1.7% for joint surface areas. The intersubject variability was 24.8%, 14.4%, and 14.1%, respectively. Volunteers with dominance of one of both lower limbs did not display significant side differences in cartilage morphology, but the side differences of the thigh musculature correlated positively with side differences of knee joint cartilage volume (r=+0.68; P< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS The results advocate the use of cartilage parameters from the contra-lateral limb for retrospectively estimating cartilage loss in patients with unilateral osteoarthritis (OA), and for determining local risk factors of OA in cross-sectional epidemiological studies, which are specific to pre-morbid cartilage morphology. Functional (force) dominance of one of both lower limbs does not explain side differences of articular cartilage morphology, but side differences are positively associated with side differences in muscle cross sectional areas.
FERMI LARGE AREA TELESCOPE VIEW OF THE CORE OF THE RADIO GALAXY CENTAURUS A

We present γ-ray observations with the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope of the nearby radio galaxy Centaurus A (Cen A). The previous EGRET detection is confirmed, and the localization is improved using data from the first 10 months of Fermi science operation. In previous work, we presented the detection of the lobes by the LAT; in this work, we concentrate on the γ-ray core of Cen A. Flux levels as seen by the LAT are not significantly different from that found by EGRET, nor is the extremely soft LAT spectrum (Γ = 2.67 ± 0.10stat ± 0.08sys where the photon flux is Φ ∝ E−Γ). The LAT core spectrum, extrapolated to higher energies, is marginally consistent with the non-simultaneous HESS spectrum of the source. The LAT observations are complemented by simultaneous observations from Suzaku, the Swift Burst Alert Telescope and X-ray Telescope, and radio observations with the Tracking Active Galactic Nuclei with Austral Milliarcsecond Interferometry program, along with a variety of non-simultaneous archival data from a variety of instruments and wavelengths to produce a spectral energy distribution (SED). We fit this broadband data set with a single-zone synchrotron/synchrotron self-Compton model, which describes the radio through GeV emission well, but fails to account for the non-simultaneous higher energy TeV emission observed by HESS from 2004 to 2008. The fit requires a low Doppler factor, in contrast to BL Lac objects which generally require larger values to fit their broadband SEDs. This indicates that the γ-ray emission originates from a slower region than that from BL Lac objects, consistent with previous modeling results from Cen A. This slower region could be a slower moving layer around a fast spine, or a slower region farther out from the black hole in a decelerating flow. The fit parameters are also consistent with Cen A being able to accelerate ultra-high energy cosmic-rays, as hinted at by results from the Auger observatory.
Agonist-induced Ca2+ mobilization in cultured bovine and human corneal endothelial cells.

We investigated the possibility that cultured corneal endothelial cells express receptors that are coupled to the phosphoinositide cycle/intracellular Ca2+ signaling pathway. Agonist-stimulated changes in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in single bovine and human corneal endothelial cells (BCEC and HCEC, respectively) derived from confluent cultures were measured by microspectrofluorimetry using the Ca(2+)-sensitive probe, fura-2. Total inositol phosphates accumulated during a 30 min incubation in the presence or absence of agonists was determined in Li+ containing medium with cells pre-labelled for 48 hrs with 10 microCi/ml 3H-myoinositol. Histamine (HA), ADP and ATP induced a rapid increase in [Ca2+]i. Subsequently, [Ca2+]i decreased to either a stable, agonist-dependent sustained elevation, or fell back to baseline to begin oscillatory fluctuations. The initial rise in [Ca2+]i was insensitive to removal of extracellular calcium (Ca2+o), whereas the stable elevations in [Ca2+]i and the [Ca2+]i oscillations required Ca2+o. In contrast, bradykinin (BK) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) elicited an initial rise in [Ca2+]i that returned to prestimulatory levels within 2 min despite the continued presence of agonist. The Ca(2+)-mobilizing agonists carbachol, phenylephrine, adenosine and substance P were all ineffective in elevating [Ca2+]i. Histamine-induced Ca2+ mobilization was inhibited by the H1-receptor antagonist triprolidine, but triprolidine had no effect on either BK or ATP stimulation of Ca2+ mobilization. In BCEC, 100 microM HA significantly increased total inositol phosphate accumulation (18.8-fold over unstimulated controls) and was 90% inhibited by 0.5 microM triprolidine. BK and ATP also significantly increased formation of inositol phosphates in BCEC. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Hepatitis C Virus Core Protein: An Update on Its Molecular Biology, Cellular Functions and Clinical Implications

The present review article is an update on various features of hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein including its molecular biology, role in HCV replication, involvement in HCV pathogenesis, etiological role in hepatocellular carcinogenesis, significance in diagnosis and vaccination against HCV infection. Core protein is a structural protein of HCV virus and has only recently been characterized. It was found to play a major role in HCV-induced viral hepatitis. Although published information shows a lot about the clinical significance of HCV core protein, several studies are still needed to demonstrate its exact significance in viral biology and underlying HCV pathogenesis.
Surface-induced phenomena in uncompensated collinear antiferromagnets

The net spontaneous magnetization of antiferromagnets with modified surfaces was computed using mean-field theory. For ordinary phase transitions the net magnetization of uncompensated AFM is smaller than the surface magnetization and the Néel vector, whereas for extraordinary phase transitions the net magnetization is larger than the surface magnetization and the Néel vector at finite temperature. Moreover, the temperature dependence of these three observable internal parameters changes drastically with the surface properties, i.e. the surface exchange coupling JS. Based on these findings, contour plots showing different regions of magnetization and Néel vector behavior as functions of temperature and surface exchange strength are proposed.