Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Voltage Balancing Control of a Four-Level Hybrid-Clamped Converter Based on Zero-Sequence Voltage Injection Using Phase-Shifted PWM

Four-level hybrid-clamped (4L-HC) inverter is a newly proposed topology which is suitable for high-performance medium-voltage drives. Each phase of this topology consists of eight switches and a flying capacitor and the dc-link is split into three parts by two neutral points. In order to ensure the topology operating properly, the voltages across the flying capacitors and three dc-link capacitors should be controlled and maintain balanced at their nominal values. This paper presents a decoupled voltage balancing method for this 4L-HC inverter, including the voltage balancing of dc-link capacitors and flying capacitors. A modified phase-shifted pulse-width modulation method is used to regulate the voltages of flying capacitors and the central dc-link capacitor. The relationship between the neutral-point currents and the output voltage is studied and the upper and lower dc-link capacitor voltages are balanced by injecting an optimum zero-sequence voltage. Simulation and experimental results are presented to verify the validity of this method.
Paradigm free mapping: detection and characterization of single trial fMRI BOLD responses without prior stimulus information

The increased contrast to noise ratio available at Ultrahigh (7T) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) allows mapping in space and time the brain's response to single trial events with functional MRI (fMRI) based on the Blood Oxygenation Level Dependent (BOLD) contrast. This thesis primarily concerns with the development of techniques to detect and characterize single trial event-related BOLD responses without prior paradigm information, Paradigm Free Mapping, and assess variations in BOLD sensitivity across brain regions at high field fMRI. Based on a linear haemodynamic response model, Paradigm Free Mapping (PFM) techniques rely on the deconvolution of the neuronal-related signal driving the BOLD effect using regularized least squares estimators. The first approach, named PFM, builds on the ridge regression estimator and spatio-temporal t-statistics to detect statistically significant changes in the deconvolved fMRI signal. The second method, Sparse PFM, benefits from subset selection features of the LASSO and Dantzig Selector estimators that automatically detect the single trial BOLD responses by promoting a sparse deconvolution of the signal. The third technique, Multicomponent PFM, exploits further the benefits of sparse estimation to decompose the fMRI signal into a haemodynamical component and a baseline component using the morphological component analysis algorithm. These techniques were evaluated in simulations and experimental fMRI datasets, and the results were compared with well-established fMRI analysis methods. In particular, the methods developed here enabled the detection of single trial BOLD responses to visually-cued and self-paced finger tapping responses without prior information of the events. The potential application of Sparse PFM to identify interictal discharges in idiopathic generalized epilepsy was also investigated. Furthermore, Multicomponent PFM allowed us to extract cardiac and respiratory fluctuations of the signal without the need of physiological monitoring. To sum up, this work demonstrates the feasibility to do single trial fMRI analysis without prior stimulus or physiological information using PFM techniques.
Navigator accuracy requirements for prospective motion correction

Prospective motion correction in MRI is becoming increasingly popular to prevent the image artifacts that result from subject motion. Navigator information is used to update the position of the imaging volume before every spin excitation so that lines of acquired k‐space data are consistent. Errors in the navigator information, however, result in residual errors in each k‐space line. This paper presents an analysis linking noise in the tracking system to the power of the resulting image artifacts. An expression is formulated for the required navigator accuracy based on the properties of the imaged object and the desired resolution. Analytical results are compared with computer simulations and experimental data. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Deficient recognition of emotional prosody in primary focal dystonia

Background: Primary dystonia is a movement disorder attributed mainly to basal ganglia dysfunction. Besides motor control, striatopallidal structures are known to implement also non‐motor functions including processing of cognitive and emotional information. Previous research has already demonstrated deficient recognition of emotional faces in patients with primary focal dystonia. However, it remains elusive if emotional prosody processing in dystonia is also affected.
Detection of latent cytomegalovirus in murine salivary and prostate explant cultures and cells

After infection of adult mice, cytomegalovirus was detectable in salivary gland suspensions by tissue culture inoculation for up to 3 months. After these cultures had become negative, virus apparently latent in these tissues could be detected in explants of salivary and prostate glands and in cell lines derived from these explants. In some cases cycles of virus-induced cell injury and regrowth were observed. Murine cytomegalovirus plaque efficiency and morphology were evaluated in prostate and salivary gland cell cultures derived from previously infected and uninfected mice. No evidence of interference was detected, although plaques size was altered (larger) in prostate cells from previously infected mice. These studies indicate the presence of a range of suppression, latency, or effects of murine cytomegalovirus detectable after the resolution of active infection and provide methods for additional study of the establishment and activation of virus latency.
The effect of spin-orbit coupling on the magnetic properties of H2Ti(μ–H)2TiH2

Excited states of singlet and triplet H2Ti(μ−H)2TiH2 have been calculated using multiconfigurational wave functions. The effects of orbital relaxation are determined by optimizing orbitals for all states separately and comparing to state-averaged calculations, and are found to be small. Dynamic electron correlation included through second-order perturbation theory is found to have a considerable effect on excited state relative energies, but not on the ordering of states. Spin-orbit coupling effects are introduced by a one-electron operator which uses an effective nuclear charge to replace two-electron effects. The resulting splittings of the lowest energy triplet state components are 0.027 and 0.199 cm−1, respectively. The former is due to the angular momentum operator which acts along the Ti–Ti axis; the latter is due almost entirely to the angular momentum operator which acts in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the Ti–H–Ti bridge. An overall ferromagnetic effect of 0.660 cm−1 on the ground s.
Underground wireless sensor networks

In this paper the possibility to construct wireless sensor networks buried in the terrain is discussed. Advantages and drawbacks are pointed out, and an analysis of the most efficient method to evaluate the effect of radio-link parameters on radio propagation is provided. As it is unsuitable for fixed monitoring applications, because of the need to power the equipment, this technological solution may become effectively convenient, when the sensor is mobile and its permanence in the ground is time-limited. For all these reasons, the solution becomes attractive, applied to detect breaks and reveal unknown tracks in water distribution networks, monitoring the pressure of the fluid flowing in the pipe and tracking the path of the sensor through the conduits.
Vitamin D intake and breast cancer risk: a case-control study in Italy.

BACKGROUND Vitamin D has been suggested to play a protective role against several cancers, including breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS We used data from a case-control study conducted in Italy from 1991 to 1994 to study the relation between dietary intake of vitamin D and breast cancer risk. Subjects were 2569 women with incident, histologically confirmed breast cancer and 2588 hospital controls. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) according to deciles of vitamin D intake were estimated by multiple logistic regression models. RESULTS After allowance for major risk factors for breast cancer and dietary covariates including calcium and energy intake, there was no association with vitamin D up to the seventh decile. Thereafter, the OR declined, so that the overall trend was statistically significantly inverse. The OR for subjects in the three highest deciles of consumption compared with those in the lowest ones combined was 0.79 (95% CI 0.70-0.90). Intake of vitamin D >3.57 microg or 143 IU appeared to have a protective effect against breast cancer. The inverse association was consistent across strata of menopausal status. CONCLUSIONS This study adds to the existing evidence that vitamin D intake in inversely associated with breast cancer risk.
Spatial Characteristics of Twitter Users - Toward the Understanding of Geosocial Media Production

Social media is a rich source of spatial data but it has also many flaws and well-known limitations, especially in regard to representation and representativeness, since very little is known about the demographics of the user population. At the same time, the use of locational services, is in fact, dependent on those characteristics. We address this gap in knowledge by exploring divides between Twitter users, based on the spatial and temporal distribution of the content they produce. We chose five cities and data from 2015 to represent different socio-spatial contexts. Users were classified according to spatial and non-spatial measures: home range estimation; standard distance; nearest neighbor index, and; proposed localness index. There are distinct groups of geosocial media producers, which suggests that such datasets cannot be treated as uniform representations. We found a positive correlation between spatial behavior and posting activity. It is suggested that there are universal patterns of behavior that are conditioned by software services—the example of Foucauldian “technologies of self”. They can also represent the dominance of the most prolific users over the whole data stream. Results are discussed in the context of the importance and role of user location in social media.
Gαq-containing G proteins regulate B cell selection and survival and are required to prevent B cell–dependent autoimmunity

Survival of mature B cells is regulated by B cell receptor and BAFFR-dependent signals. We show that B cells from mice lacking the Gαq subunit of trimeric G proteins (Gnaq−/− mice) have an intrinsic survival advantage over normal B cells, even in the absence of BAFF. Gnaq−/− B cells develop normally in the bone marrow but inappropriately survive peripheral tolerance checkpoints, leading to the accumulation of transitional, marginal zone, and follicular B cells, many of which are autoreactive. Gnaq−/− chimeric mice rapidly develop arthritis as well as other manifestations of systemic autoimmune disease. Importantly, we demonstrate that the development of the autoreactive B cell compartment is the result of an intrinsic defect in Gnaq−/− B cells, resulting in the aberrant activation of the prosurvival factor Akt. Together, these data show for the first time that signaling through trimeric G proteins is critically important for maintaining control of peripheral B cell tolerance induction and repressing autoimmunity.
Phytoremediation of MTBE with Hybrid Poplar Trees

ABSTRACT This research investigates the fate and transport of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in phytoremediation, particularly the uptake and volatilization of MTBE in lab-scale hydroponic systems. The research reveals that MTBE was taken up by hybrid poplar cuttings and volatilized to the atmosphere. Volatilization of MTBE occurred through both stems and leaves. The concentration of MTBE in the transpiration stream declined exponentially with height, indicating that the uptake and volatilization along the stems are an important removal mechanism of MTBE in phytoremediation. Volatilization, via diffusion from the stems, has not been directly measured previously. No volatile MTBE metabolites were detected; however, mass balance closure and metabolite detection were not primary objectives of this study. The greatest amount of MTBE in plant biomass was associated with the woody stems from the previous year's growth, owing in part to the large biomass of stems. MTBE in the plant tissues appears to reach a steady state concentration and there does not appear to be an accumulation process that could lead to highly elevated concentrations relative to the groundwater source.
Accurate and Fast Similarity Detection in Time Series

This paper addresses the problem of similarity detection in time series from both an eﬀectiveness and eﬃciency viewpoint. A main motivation underlying our work is that, as we experimentally proved, no state-of-the-art method has capabilities for both fast and accurate similarity detection in time series. Viewed in this respect, we propose DSA (Derivative time series Segment Approximation) , a representation model for time series that suitably combines the notions of derivative estimation, segmentation and segment approximation to support eﬀective and eﬃcient similarity detection. Experiments conducted in a hierarchical clustering framework show that DSA based similarity detection is as good or better than both the most accurate and the fastest methods among the competing ones.
Carry select adder with sub-block power gating for reducing active-mode leakage in sub-32-nm VLSIs

: In this paper, we propose the sub-block Active-Mode Power Gating (AMPG) scheme to reduce the active-mode leakage and apply it to the 32-bit Carry Select Adder (CSA), where the sub-blocks are activated and deactivated according to the idleness during the active time. By doing so, we can reduce the active-mode energy by 21% at the cycle time of 10 ns for the 22-nm node compared to the conventional AMPG. The critical path delay is degraded as little as 1% in the sub-block AMPG. For a given power budget as small as 100 μ W, the new sub-block AMPG with 32-nm node can run faster by 47% than the conventional AMPG.
Expression of the B7.1 Costimulatory Molecule on Pancreatic β Cells Abrogates the Requirement for CD4 T Cells in the Development of Type 1 Diabetes1

Although HLA-DQ8 has been implicated as a key determinant of genetic susceptibility to human type 1 diabetes, spontaneous diabetes has been observed in HLA-DQ8 transgenic mice that lack expression of murine MHC class II molecules (mII−/−) only when the potent costimulatory molecule, B7.1, is transgenically expressed on pancreatic β cells. To study the contribution of HLA-DQ8 to the development of diabetes in this model, we crossed RIP-B7.1mII−/− mice with a set of transgenic mouse lines that differed in their HLA-DQ8 expression patterns on APC subpopulations, in particular dendritic cells and cortical thymic epithelial cells. Surprisingly, we found that even in the absence of HLA-DQ8 and CD4 T cells, a substantial fraction of the RIP-B7.1mII−/− mice developed diabetes. This disease process was remarkable for not only showing insulitis, but also inflammatory destruction of the exocrine pancreas with diffusely up-regulated expression of MHC class I and ICAM-1 molecules. Expression of HLA-DQ8 markedly increased the kinetics and frequency of diabetes, with the most severe disease in the lines with the highest levels of HLA-DQ8 on cortical thymic epithelial cells and the largest numbers of CD4 T cells. However, the adoptive transfer of diabetes was not HLA-DQ8-dependent and disease could be rapidly induced with purified CD8 T cells alone. Expression of B7.1 in the target tissue can thus dramatically alter the cellular and molecular requirements for the development of autoimmunity.
PROTEIN FRACTIONATION AND IN VITRO DIGESTIBILITY OF AZOLLA IN RUMINANTS

A study was undertaken to evaluate the nutritive value and digestibility of Azolla in ruminants by in vitro techniques. The crude protein, crude fibre and ether extract contents were at a level of 21.37%, 12.5% and 2.3%, respectively. The neutral and acid detergent fibre levels were about 35.4 and 23.9%, respectively. The average in vitro dry matter digestibility, in vitro organic matter digestibility and metabolozable energy contents were 79.5%, 63.8 mg/200mg and 7.36 MJ/kg DM (1759 kcal/kg), respectively. The various protein fractions A, B1, B2, B3 and C estimated by Cornell net crude protein solubility system were 18.22, 42.56, 15.15, 7.47 and 16.61% of total protein, respectively. The Azolla contained significantly higher B1 fraction followed by A, B2 and C and lowest fraction of C. Thus in view of above, present study indicated Azolla to be a good source protein supplement with 21.37% crude protein with highest B protein fractions, moderate source of energy (1759 kcal ME/kg), high dry matter and organic matter digestibilities and rich in trace minerals thus could be used as an alternate protein supplement or as supplementary protein supplement to ruminants.
Recommendation Quality Evolution Based on Neighbors Discrimination

An "automated recommender system" plays an essential role in e-commerce applications. Such systems try to recommend items (movies, music, books, news, etc.) which the user should be interested in. The spectrum of proposed recommendation algorithms are based on information including content of the items, ratings of the users, and demographic information about the users. These systems hold the promise of delivering high quality recommendations. However, the incredible growth of users and applications bring some key challenges for recommender systems. One of the concerns in current recommenders is that the quality of recommendations is strongly dependant on the neighborhood size and quality. In this paper, we propose a new peer-to-peer architecture based on prior selection of the neighbors. We investigate the evolution of different recommendation techniques performance, coverage and quality of prediction. Also, we identify which recommendation method would be the most efficient with this new peer-to-peer architecture.
A food portion size measurement system for image-based dietary assessment

A novel system consisting of a camera and a light emitting diode (LED) is presented for measuring food portion size. The LED is positioned at a fixed distance besides the camera with its optical axis parallel to the optical axis of the camera. The distance to and oblique angle of the object plane are calculated according to the deformation of the projected spotlight pattern. Experimental results show that satisfactory measurements of food portion size can be obtained with this simple system.
WebDocs: a real-life huge transactional dataset

The resulting dataset has a size of about 1; 48GB. It contains exactly 1:692:082 transactions with 5:267:656 distinct items. The maximal length of a transaction is 71:472. Figure 1 plots the number of frequent itemsets as a function of the support threshold, while Figure 2 shows a bitmap representing the horizontal dataset, where items were sorted by their frequency. Note that to reduce the size of the bitmap, it was obtained by evaluating the number of occurrences of a group of items having subsequent Id’s in a subset of subsequent transactions and assigning a level of gray proportional to such count. 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 10 1 10 2 10 3 10 4 10 5 10 6 10 7 FREQUENT ITEMSETS IN THE WEBDOCS DATASET
Alterations to influenza virus hemagglutinin cytoplasmic tail modulate virus infectivity

The influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) contains a cytoplasmic domain that consists of 10 to 11 amino acids, of which five residues have sequence identity for 10 of 13 HA subtypes. To investigate properties of these conserved residues, oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis was performed, using an HA cDNA of influenza virus A/Udorn/72 (H3N2) to substitute the conserved cysteine residues with other residues, to delete the three C-terminal conserved residues, or to remove the entire cytoplasmic domain. The altered HAs were expressed in eukaryotic cells, and the rates of intracellular transport were examined. It was found that substitution of either conserved cysteine residue within the cytoplasmic domain did not affect the rate of intracellular transport, whereas deletion of residues within the C-terminal domain resulted in delayed cell surface expression. All the altered HAs were biologically active in hemadsorption and fusion assays. To investigate whether the wild-type HA and HAs with altered cytoplasmic tails could complement the influenza virus temperature-sensitive transport-defective HA mutant A/WSN/33 ts61S, the HA cDNAs were expressed by using a transient expression system and released virus was assayed by plaque analysis. The wild-type HA expression resulted in a release of approximately 10(3) PFU of virus per ml. Antibody neutralization of complemented virus indicated that the infectivity was due to incorporation of wild-type H3 HA into ts61S virions. Sucrose density gradient analysis of released virions showed that each of the HA cytoplasmic domain mutants was incorporated into virus particles. Virions containing HAs with substitution of the cysteine residues in the cytoplasmic domain were found to be infectious. However, no infectivity could be detected from virions containing HAs that had deletions in their cytoplasmic domains. Possible roles of the HA cytoplasmic domain in forming protein-protein interactions in virions and their involvement in the initiation of the infection process in cells are discussed.
Exploring the relationship between white matter microstructure and working memory functioning following stroke: A single case study of computerized cognitive training

Cognitive impairment is a well-known consequence of acquired brain injuries, including stroke. Computerized cognitive training (CCT) is a rehabilitation approach intended to enhance cognitive functioning. It is unclear whether CCT leads to generalized cognitive improvements in daily life functioning, or if the subjects improve performance only on the exercises involved in the training. The current study explores whether fractional anisotropy (FA), a measure of white matter microstructure, may serve as an indirect biological indicator of enhanced neuropsychological functioning, particularly working memory, following CCT. The findings suggest a possible relationship between changes in FA measures and working memory.
To frame is to explain: A deductive frame-analysis of Dutch and French climate change coverage during the annual UN Conferences of the Parties

This study examines the way Dutch and French newspapers frame climate change during the annual United Nations Conferences of the Parties. The methods used in previous studies on the framing of climate change do not allow for general cross-national comparisons. We conduct a quantitative deductive framing analysis on 257 quality Dutch and French newspaper articles between 2001 and 2007. Both countries’ newspapers seem to frame climate change through mainly the same lens. The majority of the articles make reference to the consequences of the (non-)pursuit of a certain course of action and of possible losses and gains (consequences frame). Additionally, many articles mention the need for urgent actions, refer to possible solutions and suggest that governments are responsible for and/or capable of alleviating climate change problems (responsibility frame). Finally, the conflict frame was found to be used less often than the aforementioned frames, but more regularly than the human interest frame.