Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Wind-solar energy potentials for three free trade and industrial zones of Iran

This paper presents analysis of wind-solar potential for major three free trade and industrial zones in Iran. For this purpose, the available measured solar and wind data of the cities (Chabahar, Kish and Salafchegan) including horizontal global solar radiation, and wind speed data at 10 m elevation were analyzed. Also, key solar parameters like monthly mean global, beam and diffuse solar radiation as well as clearness index were investigated too. For analyzing the wind potentials, Weibull Distribution Function (WDF) was performed at different heights. The annual wind speeds and wind powers of locations at 20, 30 and 40 m heights were calculated. The study results clearly demonstrate that wind as a renewable energy source can supply a portion of the energy demands for Kish and Salafchegan with yearly wind powers of 111.28 W/m2 and 114.34 W/m2, respectively ranked in class 2 which are considered marginal for wind power development. It was also illustrated that all three locations had great potentials for utilizing different solar energy applications. In addition, the monthly, seasonal, seim-yearly and yearly optimum tilt angles of south facing solar collectors and panels were determined. For all locations adjusting the tilt angle twice a year or in other words, the semi-yearly tilt adjustment for two periods of warm and cold were suggested.
Transgenic Models in Renal Tubular Physiology

Animal transgenesis has proven to be useful for physiological as well as physiopathological studies. Besides the classical approach based on the random integration of a DNA construct in the mouse genome, gene targeting can be achieved using totipotent embryonic stem (ES) cells for targeted transgenesis. Transgenic mice are then derived from the transgenic ES cells. This allows the introduction of null mutations in the genome (so-called knock-out) or the control of the transgene expression by the endogenous regulatory sequences of the gene of interest (so-called knock-in). Development of these transgenic animals leads to a better understanding of the cellular function of many genes or to the generation of animal models for human diseases. The purpose of this short review is to describe animal models in renal tubular physiopathology. Recent progresses will allow the generation of animal models with conditional expression of the transgene of interest or with a conditional gene mutation. This permits spatial and temporal control of the expression of the transgene or of the mutation. This should allow the generation of models suitable for physiological analysis or closer to disease state.
Heart Rate Response to Submaximal and Maximal Workloads During Running and Swimming

The purpose of the present study was to determine if common indexes of exercise intensity, assessed with land-based exercise, could be applied to swimming. Consequently, the heart rate (HR) and oxygen uptake (VO2) responses to submaximal and maximal treadmill running (TR) and free swimming (SW) in 11 fitness swimmers were assessed to determine if the responses to TR could be used to predict those of SW. A maximal graded exercise test using a discontinuous protocol was used for TR, while four graded submaximal 200 yd swims and one 400 yd maximal swim was used for SW. Rest periods were similar for each mode. Significantly lower (p < 0.05) peak values were found in SW compared to TR for both HR (174 +/- 3 vs 183 +/- 3 bt x min(-1)) and VO2 (3.58 +/- 0.18 vs 3.97 +/- 0.22 L x min(-1)), SW vs TR; +/- SE, respectively. However, regression analyses of submaximal HR vs VO2 for each subject revealed similar slopes for TR and SW (30.5 +/- 1.7 vs 29.9 +/- 3.5 bt x L(-1), p > 0.05) and similar intercepts (67.3 +/- 2.6 vs 66.5 +/- 11.5 bt x min(-1), p > 0.05). At the VO2 equivalent to 50% treadmill VO2max, the heart rate predicted from SW did not differ significantly from TR (118 +/- 5 vs 124 +/- 1 bt x min(-1), p > 0.05). This was also true at 85% treadmill VO2max (171 +/- 4 vs 166 +/- 3 bt x min(-1), SW vs TR, respectively; p > 0.05). These data suggest that peak heart rate and oxygen uptake appear to be mode specific, but exercising at a given submaximal oxygen uptake will elicit a similar heart rate regardless of the mode. Thus, target heart rate ranges designed for land-based exercise appear to be appropriate for fitness swimmers during swimming.
The Impact on U.S. industries of Carbon Prices with Output Based Rebates

The House of Representatives has passed a bill (Waxman-Markey) that would establish a cap-and-trade system and institute a number of other polices to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States. In order for this to become law, the U.S. Senate must pass a similar bill, the two bills must be reconciled, and the president must sign the final bill. A major point of controversy is the impact that these policies may have on U.S. industry, especially in the absence of an international agreement that includes all major GHG emitters. In this paper we use two methodologies to assess the short and longer run impacts of domestic climate policies on U.S. industries. The first methodology, input-output analysis, is used to assess the short run impacts. The second methodology, a global CGE model, based on GTAP data, is used to assess the longer run impacts. In addition to assessing the impacts of policies that establish a price for carbon in the U.S., we also examine the effects of additional policies, such as border measures, that have been proposed.
Comparative analysis of the process for compliance with the European Charter of Local Self-Government in The Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia - with special emphasis on economic conditions and Hungarian atypical features

The aim of this paper is to analyse legal and financial dynamics of the self-governance in three countries of the Visegrad Group: The Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia. The paper explores compliance with the European Charter of Local Self-Government, financial independence and operational features of self-governance. The paper provides an overview of the regulatory environment that was set up for the local government in the Visegrad countries, examines the powers by local government, and the degree of its financial independence. The financial aspects of self-government are compared, and compliance with major fiscal rules is examined.
Shuffled Complex Evolution on Photovoltaic Parameter Extraction: A Comparative Analysis

This paper proposes a method for extracting the intrinsic parameters of a photovoltaic (PV) generator by using shuffled complex evolution (SCE) technique for a double-diode PV model. The characteristic equation of a double-diode PV presents a nonlinear behavior and the determination of the intrinsic parameters from a $I \times V$ experimental curve requires the use of nonlinear optimization methods. To evaluate the accuracy of the SCE technique for extracting the intrinsic PV parameters, a comparison with other well-known methods is presented; in particular, analytic method, Levenberg–Marquardt, genetic algorithms (GA), differential evolution (DE), and particle swarm optimization (PSO) are considered. This comparison is performed by using statistical analysis and by estimating the relative error of parameter values; it has been applied to an unknown PV module and to a known PV cell. The obtained results showed that, compared with other evolutionary methods (GA, DE and PSO), the SCE presents the lowest computational time and requires less iterations/generations to converge. All the results prove that the proposed method is feasible, faster, and presents better results than the conventional ones.
The Angiotensin Receptor Blocker, Azilsartan Medoxomil (TAK-491), Suppresses Vascular Wall Expression of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Type-I Protein Potentially Facilitating the Stabilization of Atherosclerotic Plaques

Increased expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-I (PAI-1) in vessel walls seems to accelerate atherosclerosis. Angiotensin II can increase the synthesis of PAI-1. Inhibition of this process may facilitate migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) stabilizing atherosclerotic plaques. To determine whether the inhibition of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor can blunt the expression of PAI-1 protein in the aortic wall, we administered azilsartan medoxomil (AZL-M), a prodrug of an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker developed by the Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, for 16 weeks to ApoE knockout mice on a high fat diet rendered overexpressors of PAI-1 in VSMCs. Homogenates of the pooled aortas from each group were assayed for PAI-1 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cellularity of atherosclerotic lesions was assessed by 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining in sections of aortic lesions, and collagen content in the lesions was quantified by immunohistochemistry. Aortic wall PAI-1 was decreased by each of the 3 dosage regimens of AZL-M (0.1-10 mg/kg). Cellularity and collagen were increased in lesions from mice given AZL-M, consistent with the development of more stable plaques. Accordingly, the suppression of PAI-1 expression by AZL-M may attenuate the evolution of atherosclerotic plaques vulnerable to rupture.
Learning and transfer of working memory gating policies

Abstract knowledge about the tasks we encounter enables us to rapidly and flexibly adapt to novel task contexts. Previous research has focused primarily on abstract rules that leverage shared structure in stimulus-response (S-R) mappings as the basis of such task knowledge. Here we provide evidence that working memory (WM) gating policies – a type of control policy required for internal control of WM during a task – constitute a form of abstract task knowledge that can be transferred across contexts. In two experiments, we report specific evidence for the transfer of selective WM gating policies across changes of task context. We show that this transfer is not tied to shared structure in S-R mappings, but instead in the dynamic structure of the task. Collectively, our results highlight the importance of WM gating policies in particular, and control policies in general, as a key component of the task knowledge that supports flexible behavior and task generalization.
An exploratory instrumental variable analysis of the outcomes of localized breast cancer treatments in a medicare population.

This study is motivated by the potential problem of using observational data to draw inferences about treatment outcomes when experimental data are not available. We compare two statistical approaches, ordinary least-squares (OLS) and instrumental variables (IV) regression analysis, to estimate the outcomes (three-year post-treatment survival) of three treatments for early stage breast cancer in elderly women: mastectomy (MST), breast conserving surgery with radiation therapy (BCSRT), and breast conserving surgery only (BCSO). The primary data source was Medicare claims for a national random sample of 2907 women (age 67 or older) with localized breast cancer who were treated between 1992 and 1994. Contrary to randomized clinical trial (RCT) results, analysis with the observational data found highly significant differences in survival among the three treatment alternatives: 79.2% survival for BCSO, 85.3% for MST, and 93.0% for BCSRT. Using OLS to control for the effects of observable characteristics narrowed the estimated survival rate differences, which remained statistically significant. In contrast, the IV analysis estimated survival rate differences that were not significantly different from 0. However, the IV-point estimates of the treatment effects were quantitatively larger than the OLS estimates, unstable, and not significantly different from the OLS results. In addition, both sets of estimates were in the same quantitative range as the RCT results.We conclude that unadjusted observational data on health outcomes of alternative treatments for localized breast cancer should not be used for cost-effectiveness studies. Our comparisons suggest that whether one places greater confidence in the OLS or the IV results depends on at least three factors: (1) the extent of observable health information that can be used as controls in OLS estimation, (2) the outcomes of statistical tests of the validity of the instrumental variable method, and (3) the similarity of the OLS and IV estimates. In this particular analysis, the OLS estimates appear to be preferable because of the instability of the IV estimates.
Localization of an NH2-terminal Disease-causing Mutation Hot Spot to the “Clamp” Region in the Three-dimensional Structure of the Cardiac Ryanodine Receptor*

A region between residues 414 and 466 in the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) harbors more than half of the known NH2-terminal mutations associated with cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death. To gain insight into the structural basis of this NH2-terminal mutation hot spot, we have determined its location in the three-dimensional structure of RyR2. Green fluorescent protein (GFP), used as a structural marker, was inserted into the middle of this mutation hot spot after Ser-437 in the RyR2 sequence. The resultant GFP-RyR2 fusion protein, RyR2S437-GFP, was expressed in HEK293 cells and characterized using Ca2+ release, [3H]ryanodine binding, and single cell Ca2+ imaging studies. These functional analyses revealed that RyR2S437-GFP forms a caffeine- and ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ release channel that possesses Ca2+ and caffeine dependence of activation indistinguishable from that of wild type (wt) RyR2. HEK293 cells expressing RyR2S437-GFP displayed a propensity for store overload-induced Ca2+ release similar to that in cells expressing RyR2-wt. The three-dimensional structure of the purified RyR2S437-GFP was reconstructed using cryo-electron microscopy and single particle image processing. Subtraction of the three-dimensional reconstructions of RyR2-wt and RyR2S437-GFP revealed the location of the inserted GFP, and hence the NH2-terminal mutation hot spot, in a region between domains 5 and 9 in the clamp-shaped structure. This location is close to a previously mapped central disease-causing mutation site located in a region between domains 5 and 6. These results, together with findings from previous studies, suggest that the proposed interactions between the NH2-terminal and central regions of RyR2 are likely to take place between domains 5 and 6 and that the clamp-shaped structure, which shows substantial conformational differences between the closed and open states, is highly susceptible to disease-causing mutations.
Macroeconomic Shocks and Changing Dynamics of the U.S. REITs Sector

Unlike the existing literature, which primarily studies the impact of only monetary policy shocks on real estate investment trusts (REITs), this paper develops a change-point vector autoregressive (VAR) model and then analyzes, for the first time, regime-specific impact of demand, supply, monetary policy, and spread yield shocks, identified using sign-restrictions, on US REITs returns. The model first isolates four major macroeconomic regimes in the US since the 1970s and discloses important changes to the statistical properties of REITs returns and its responses to the identified shocks. A variance decomposition analysis revealed aggregate supply shocks to have dominated in the early part of the sample period, and monetary policy and spread shocks at the end. Our results imply that ignoring other possible shocks in the model is likely to lead to incorrect inferences, and over-reliance on (conventional) monetary policy in correcting for possible bubbles in the REITs sector, which it will fail to rectify, given the importance of other shocks driving the REITs sector.
Modelling Stock Indexes Volatility of Emerging Markets

INTRODUCTION Farhan Ahmed 1 Samia Muhammed Umer 2 Raza Ali 3 1Department of Management Sciences, SZABIST Karachi Email: farhan.ahmed@szabist.edu. pk 2CFA Institute, USA 3Department of Management Sciences, SZABIST Larkana Stock market plays an important role in any countries economy. Lately stock market forecasting (or prediction) is one of the hottest research topics because of its commercial applications owing to the high stakes and the kinds of lucrative benefits that it offers (Majhi et al., 2007). In addition, it is considered as a challenging job of financial time-series forecast and one of the most important issues in finance. The stock market however, has been investigated by numerous researches, is fundamentally non-linear, nonparametric, and dynamic rather complicated environment (Tan et al., 2005). Miao et al. (2007) and Wang (2002) presented that stock market’s movements and fluctuations are affected by several factors like firms’ policies, political events, general economic conditions, bank rate, commodity price index, bank exchange rate, investors’ expectations, institutional investors’ preferences, movements of stock market, psychology and behavior of investors, etc. The understanding and the explanation adequate of the returns of stock markets volatility establishes a fundamental to the study of finance. Investigating data generating process in stock returns, modern research has argued that the factors affecting the asset pricing behavior of investors are explained by non-parametric relationships with expected returns. The predicate of returns of stock markets have showed a significant nonlinearity encouraged from an asymmetric process (Nam et al., 2002; Nam & Kim, 2003). Forecasting and prediction of stock market returns in today’s volatile markets have become a challenging task and represent a major task for traditional time-series estima
Cutaneous vascular responses to isometric handgrip exercise.

Cutaneous vascular responses to dynamic exercise have been well characterized, but it is not known whether that response pattern applies to isometric handgrip exercise. We examined cutaneous vascular responses to isometric handgrip and dynamic leg exercise in five supine men. Skin blood flow was measured by laser-Doppler velocimetry and expressed as laser-Doppler flow (LDF). Arterial blood pressure was measured noninvasively once each minute. Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was calculated as LDF/mean arterial pressure. LDF and CVC responses were measured at the forearm and chest during two 3-min periods of isometric handgrip at 30% of maximum voluntary contraction and expressed as percent changes from the preexercise levels. The skin was normothermic (32 degrees C) for the first period of handgrip and was locally warmed to 39 degrees C for the second handgrip. Finally, responses were observed during 5 min of dynamic two-leg bicycle exercise (150-175 W) at a local skin temperature of 39 degrees C. Arm LDF increased 24.5 +/- 18.9% during isometric handgrip in normothermia and 64.8 +/- 14.1% during isometric handgrip at 39 degrees C (P less than 0.05). Arm CVC did not significantly change at 32 degrees C but significantly increased 18.1 +/- 6.5% during isometric handgrip at 39 degrees C (P less than 0.05). Arm LDF decreased 12.2 +/- 7.9% during dynamic exercise at 39 degrees C, whereas arm CVC fell by 35.3 +/- 4.6% (in each case P less than 0.05). Chest LDF and CVC showed similar responses. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Projection patterns of commissural interneurons in the lumbar spinal cord of the neonatal rat

We have studied the axonal projection patterns of commissural interneurons (CINs) in the neonatal rat spinal cord. Some CINs are integral components of the neuronal networks in the vertebrate spinal cord that generate locomotor activity. By using differential retrograde labeling protocols with fluorescent dextran amines, we show that CINs with ascending axons (ascending CINs, or aCINs) and CINs with descending axons (descending CINs, or dCINs) constitute largely different populations. We show that aCINs and dCINs occupy partially overlapping domains in the transverse plane. The aCINs are located at the dorsal margin, within the dorsal horn, centrally within the intermediate zone, and in the medial region of the ventral horn, whereas the dCINs are located predominantly among the ventral and central aCINs and in smaller numbers within the dorsal horn. The labeled aCINs and dCINs project for at least one and a half segment rostrally or caudally and are present in roughly equal numbers. We also demonstrate the presence of a third, smaller population of CINs whose axons bifurcate to project for at least one and a half segment both rostrally and caudally (adCINs). The adCINs are located predominantly among the central and ventral groups of aCINs and dCINs. Finally, we demonstrate the presence of CINs with axons projecting for fewer than one and a half segment in either direction. These “short‐range CINs” are intermingled with the aCINs, dCINs, and adCINs. Our results provide an anatomical framework for further electrophysiological studies aimed at identifying the CINs that participate in the mammalian locomotor central pattern generator. J. Comp. Neurol. 447:349–359, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Mapping Methodology of Public Urban Green Spaces Using GIS: An Example of Nagpur City, India

Faced with a lack of fine grain data availability, in rapidly emerging urban centers of developing nations, the study explored a mapping methodology to create thematic map of public urban green space (UGS). Using GIS, a thematic map of Nagpur city, India was prepared. The objective was to prepare spatial data that are relevant for planners and policy makers, with detailed UGS typologies and to update the status of overall availability and distribution of hierarchical recreational green spaces in the city. The spatial and non-spatial data with added attributes gathered through fieldwork resulted in a holistic dataset, with high accuracy of thematic map (0.93 kappa coefficient). The recorded status of different typologies as well as the distribution of recreational UGS shows disparity in the distribution of UGS. The eastern part of the city grossly lacks UGS provisions, which is compensated by the western part with larger availability of natural green spaces. The mapping methodology is novel and effective for recording qualitative status, analyzing their spatial distribution and prioritizing the provisions of UGS. Future research integrating these spatial data with more qualitative research can provide a holistic view on benefits of UGS provisions and thus facilitate effective UGS governance aiming towards better green infrastructure and hence broader urban sustainability.
Measuring pretest-posttest change with a Rasch Rating Scale Model.

When measures are taken on the same individual over time, it is difficult to determine whether observed differences are the result of changes in the person or changes in other facets of the measurement situation (e.g., interpretation of items or use of rating scale). This paper describes a method for disentangling changes in persons from changes in the interpretation of Likert-type questionnaire items and the use of rating scales (Wright, 1996a). The procedure relies on anchoring strategies to create a common frame of reference for interpreting measures that are taken at different times and provides a detailed illustration of how to implement these procedures using FACETS.