Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Analysis and Design of a Current-Fed Resonant Inverter for Sinusoidal Excitation of Magnetic Components in the Megahertz Range

This paper deals with the theoretical analysis and construction of an inverter that is suitable as an excitation source for high-frequency measurements (up to 1.3 MHz) on magnetic components. Quantities as output current, operation frequency range, and harmonic content of the output voltage are discussed. The interaction between the power part and the control circuit is investigated by experimental verification of the theoretically extracted equations that describe the inverter's operation. As an application example, the proposed inverter is used for the implementation of ferrite core specific loss measurements in a frequency range not included in the data sheet and for the investigation of high-frequency insulation performance of enameled wires.
A Comparison of the Effects of Stabilization Exercises Plus Manual Therapy to Those of Stabilization Exercises Alone in Patients With Nonspecific Mechanical Neck Pain: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

STUDY DESIGN Randomized clinical trial. BACKGROUND Little is known about the efficacy of providing manual therapy in addition to cervical and scapulothoracic stabilization exercises in people with mechanical neck pain (MNP). Objectives To compare the effects of stabilization exercises plus manual therapy to those of stabilization exercises alone on disability, pain, range of motion (ROM), and quality of life in patients with MNP. METHODS One hundred two patients with MNP (18-65 years of age) were recruited and randomly allocated into 2 groups: stabilization exercise without (n = 51) and with (n = 51) manual therapy. The program was carried out 3 days per week for 4 weeks. The Neck Disability Index, visual analog pain scale, digital algometry of pressure pain threshold, goniometric measurements, and Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey were used to assess participants at baseline and after 4 weeks. RESULTS Improvements in Neck Disability Index score, night pain, rotation ROM, and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey score were greater in the group that received stabilization exercise with manual therapy compared to the group that only received stabilization exercise. Between-group differences (95% confidence interval) were 2.2 (0.1, 4.3) points for the Neck Disability Index, 1.1 (0.0, 2.3) cm for pain at night measured on the visual analog scale, -4.3° (-8.1°, -0.5°) and -5.0° (-8.2°, -1.7°) for right and left rotation ROM, respectively, and -2.9 (-5.4, -0.4) points and -3.1 (-6.2, 0.0) points for the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey physical and mental components, respectively. Changes in resting and activity pain, pressure pain threshold, and cervical extension or lateral flexion ROM did not differ significantly between the groups. Pressure pain threshold increased only in those who received stabilization exercise with manual therapy (P<.05). CONCLUSION The results of this study suggest that stabilization exercises with manual therapy may be superior to stabilization exercises alone for improving disability, pain intensity at night, cervical rotation motion, and quality of life in patients with MNP. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapy, level 1b.
Serum proteomic profiling of obese patients: correlation with liver pathology and evolution after bariatric surgery

Objective: Chronic liver diseases, including cirrhosis, may develop in obese patients. Steatosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are risk factors for progression to fibrosis. To date, diagnosis of steatosis and NASH relies on liver biopsy. The aim of the study was to identify serum markers of steatosis and NASH in obese patients using SELDI–TOF ProteinChip. Patients: Eighty obese non-alcoholic patient candidates for bariatric surgery and devoid of hepatitis B and C infection were selected. Serum samples were collected before surgery and at 6 months after surgery for 33 of these patients. Wedge liver biopsy was performed at the time of bariatric surgery. Twenty-four serum samples from healthy blood donors served as controls. The protein profiles of each serum were assessed using SELDI–TOF ProteinChip technology and were compared according to liver histological lesions. Results: Twenty-four obese patients (30%) had non-significant liver lesions, 32 (40%) had significant steatosis and 24 (30%) had NASH. Comparison of serum protein profiles according to liver lesions identified three peaks (CM10-7558.4, CM10-7924.2 and Q10-7926.9) the intensity of which significantly increased according to the severity of the liver lesions (steatosis and NASH) and returned to normal after bariatric surgery. None was correlated with either liver function tests or metabolic parameters. Identification using immunoSELDI assay characterised these peaks as the double charged ions of α- and β-haemoglobin subunits. Conclusion: The differential proteomic method demonstrated changes in serum protein profiles in obese patients according to severity of liver lesions. Free haemoglobin subunits may serve as a serum biomarker of the severity of liver damages.
Sentiment Analysis to Track Emotion and Polarity in Student Fora

The purpose of this paper is to propose a data mining methodology for analysing data relating to the participation of students in the online forum of a postgraduate course at the Hellenic Open University. Data is migrated to MongoDB, a NoSQL database management system, and analysed using the rmongodb package of R statistical environment. We focus in sentiment analysis to extract the emotional knowledge of students' fora. Polarity and emotion are identified in messages and are classified as positive, negative or neutral. Messages are categorized and visualized in six basic emotions, as a multiclass approach in understanding students' written opinion. By identifying sentiment behaviour from students' discussion fora, we are able to assess the effectiveness of the learning environment to improve students' learning experience, tutors' instructional experience and the university's institutional strategic view.
A CPW-Fed Broadband Circularly Polarized Regular-Hexagonal Slot Antenna With L-Shape Monopole

A regular-hexagonal structure of wide-slot antenna for broadband circular polarization (CP) based on coplanar waveguide (CPW) feed is presented. By protruding into the slot an L-shape monopole patch, and featuring two inverted-L grounded strips around two opposite sides of the slot, wide impedance bandwidth and wide axial-ratio (AR) bandwidth can be obtained simultaneously. By notching a rectangle in the ground conductor near the feed line, the antenna performance is further improved. The proposed antenna can provide an impedance bandwidth (S11 <; -10 dB) of 86% and a 3-dB AR bandwidth of 50%, respectively.
Lysine 156 promotes the anomalous proenzyme activity of tPA: X‐ray crystal structure of single‐chain human tPA

Tissue type plasminogen activator (tPA) is the physiological initiator of fibrinolysis, activating plasminogen via highly specific proteolysis; plasmin then degrades fibrin with relatively broad specificity. Unlike other chymotrypsin family serine proteinases, tPA is proteolytically active in a single‐chain form. This form is also preferred for therapeutic administration of tPA in cases of acute myocardial infarction. The proteolytic cleavage which activates most other chymotrypsin family serine proteinases increases the catalytic efficiency of tPA only 5‐ to 10‐fold. The X‐ray crystal structure of the catalytic domain of recombinant human single‐chain tPA shows that Lys156 forms a salt bridge with Asp194, promoting an active conformation in the single‐chain form. Comparisons with the structures of other serine proteinases that also possess Lys156, such as trypsin, factor Xa and human urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), identify a set of secondary interactions which are required for Lys156 to fulfil this activating role. These findings help explain the anomalous single‐chain activity of tPA and may suggest strategies for design of new therapeutic plasminogen activators.
Abbreviating Text Labels on Demand

Long text labels is a known challenge in information visualizations. There are some techniques used in order to solve this problem like setting a very small font size. On the other hand, sometimes the font size is so small that the text can be difficult to read. Wrapping sentences, dropping letters and text truncation are some techniques do deal with this problem. In order to investigate a solution for labeling long words we ran a study on how people create and interpret word abbreviations. Based on the study data we designed a new algorithm to automatically make words as short as they need to fit the text. Examples applications of this algorithm are presented in this paper.
Thrust Allocation With Dynamic Power Consumption Modulation for Diesel-Electric Ships

Modern ships and offshore units built for dynamic positioning (DP) are often powered by an electric power plant consisting of two or more diesel-electric generators. Actuation in any desired direction is achieved by placing electrical thrusters at suitable points on the hull. Usually, such ships also have other large electrical loads. Operations in the naturally unpredictable marine environment often necessitate large variations in power consumption, both by the thrusters and by the other consumers. This wears down the power plant and increases the fuel consumption and pollution. This paper introduces a thrust allocation algorithm that facilitates more stable loading on the power plant. This algorithm modulates the power consumption by coordinating the thrusters to introduce load variations that counteract the load variations from the other consumers on the ship. To reduce load variations without increasing the overall power consumption, it is necessary to deviate from the thrust command given by the DP system. The resulting deviations in the position and velocity of the vessel are tightly controlled, and the results show that small deviations are sufficient to fulfill the objective of reducing the load variations. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm has been demonstrated on a simulated vessel with a diesel-electric power plant. A model for the simulation of a marine power plant for control design purposes has been developed.
Erratum: Effect of element directivity on adaptive beamforming applied to high-frame-rate ultrasound.

High-frame-rate ultrasound is a promising technique for measurement and imaging of cardiovascular dynamics. In high-frame-rate ultrasonic imaging, unfocused ultrasonic beams are used in transmit and multiple focused receiving beams are created by parallel beamforming using the delay and sum (DAS) method. However, the spatial resolution and contrast are degraded compared with conventional beamforming using focused transmit beams. In the present study, the minimum variance beamformer was examined for improvement of the spatial resolution in high-frame-rate ultrasound. In conventional minimum variance beamforming, the spatial covariance matrix of ultrasonic echo signals received by individual transducer elements is obtained without considering the directivity of the transducer element. By omitting the element directivity, the error in estimation of the desired signal (i.e., the echo from the focal point) increases, and as a result, the improvement of the spatial resolution is degraded. In the present study, the element directivity was taken into account in estimation of the spatial covariance matrix used in minimum variance beamforming. The effect of the element directivity on adaptive beamforming was evaluated by computer simulation and basic experiments using a phantom. In parallel beamforming with the conventional DAS beamformer, the lateral spatial resolution, which was evaluated from the lateral full width at half maximum of the echo amplitude profile in the basic experiment, was 0.50 mm. Using conventional amplitude and phase estimation (APES) beamforming, the lateral spatial resolution was improved to 0.37 mm. The lateral spatial resolution was further improved to 0.30 mm using the modified APES beamforming by considering the element directivity. Image contrast and contrast-to-noise ratios, respectively, were −12.3 and 6.5 dB (DAS), −32.8 and −11.3 dB (APES), and −7.0 and 3.1 dB (modified APES).
Investigating computing students' identity development

A better understanding of computing students' identity development during higher education is important to improve student retention, as well as to better support learners' development. Written reflections and interview data were collected from students in two computing study programmes at Uppsala University, in the beginning of their studies, and at the end of each of the first three academic years. Lave and Wenger's social theory of learning and phenomenography have been used in the data analysis. The results contribute to a better understanding of first and second year students' experiences of participation in the discipline, in particular how they affect individuals' study experience, learning, and perception of self as a computing person.
Information Systems Management: an Australian view of the key issues

Studies investigating the key issues in IS management serve to better understand the concerns of IS managers and help to guide IS researchers in choosing IS management problems worthy of investigation. This paper presents results from a study of the key issues facing the IS managers of Australia's largest 300 organisations which is part of a three-yearly longitudinal study. In order to gain consensus on the relative importance of the key issues, a three-round Delphi method was applied. The results reveal that IS strategic planning continues to be the paramount issue in our industry, as are many issues associated with IS strategic planning, including responsiveness of the IT infrastructure, effective use of the data resource, IS for competitive advantage, and a comprehensive information architecture. A greater emphasis on quality is also revealed in highly rated issues such as effective use of the data resource, data integrity and quality assurance, and the quality of software development
Inelastic neutron scattering study on bioprotectant systems

We collected inelastic neutron scattering (INS) spectra of homologous disaccharide (C12H22O11)/H2O mixtures at a very low temperature by using indirect geometry time-of-flight spectrometer TOSCA at the ISIS pulse neutron facility (DRAL, UK). The aim of this work is to investigate the vibrational behaviour of trehalose, maltose and sucrose/H2O mixtures with INS in order to characterize the structural changes induced by these disaccharides on the H2O hydrogen-bonded network. A higher degree of ‘crystallinity’ for the trehalose/H2O system is observed in the vibrational region corresponding to the ice bending modes. This feature could justify the better cryptobiotic action of trehalose compared with maltose and sucrose. On the other hand, the better bioprotective effectiveness could be explained by the higher destructuring effect of trehalose, emphasized by the analysis of the librational modes region.
Emerging anti-cancer antibodies and combination therapies targeting HER3/ERBB3

ABSTRACt Cancer progression depends on stepwise accumulation of oncogenic mutations and a select group of growth factors essential for tumor growth, metastasis and angiogenesis. Agents blocking the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR, also called HER1 and ERBB1) and the co-receptor called HER2/ERBB2 have been approved over the last decade as anti-cancer drugs. Because the catalytically defective member of the family, HER3/ERBB3, plays critical roles in emergence of resistance of carcinomas to various drugs, current efforts focus on antibodies and other anti-HER3/ERBB3 agents, which we review herein with an emphasis on drug combinations and some unique biochemical features of HER3/ERBB3.
Improved protein solubility in two‐dimensional electrophoresis using tributyl phosphine as reducing agent

In this study, dithiothreitol was replaced by tributyl phosphine as the reducing agent in both the sample solution for the first‐dimensional isoelectric focusing and during the immobilised pH gradient (IPG) equilibration procedure. Tributyl phosphine improves protein solubility during isoelectric focusing, which results in shorter run times and increased resolution. Tributyl phosphine is nonionic and thus does not migrate in the IPG, therefore maintaining reducing conditions during the course of the first‐dimensional separation. The increased solubility provided by the maintenance of reducing conditions gives improved focusing and decreased horizontal streaking on the subsequent second‐dimension gel. The use of tributyl phosphine in the equilibration step allows the procedure to be simplified, incorporating reduction and alkylation in a single step. This is possible because, in direct contrast to dithiothreitol (DTT), tributyl phosphine does not contain a free thiol and therefore does not react with thiol‐specific alkylating reagents.
Expression of Calretinin in Human Ovary, Testis, and Ovarian Sex Cord-Stromal Tumors

Calretinin, a calcium-binding protein, is primarily expressed in certain subtypes of neurons. It has also been found to be present in mesothelial cells and mesotheliomas but not in many types of carcinomas. Using a polyclonal anti-calretinin antibody, we investigated the expression of calretinin immunohistochemically in nonneoplastic human ovaries and testes and ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors (SCSTs). In ovaries, calretinin was expressed in theca interna cells, hilus cells, and scattered individual stromal cells. Oocytes, granulosa cells, theca externa cells, rete ovarii, and most stromal cells were negative. Expression of calretinin was also seen in the ovarian surface epithelium and in collapsed and flat epithelial inclusion glands (EIGs), but not in round, columnar, and ciliated EIGs. In some glands, a transition from calretinin-positive to calretinin-negative epithelium was observed. In postpubertal testes, calretinin was expressed in Leydig cells, but not in germ cells or most rete testes and Sertoli cells. In ovarian SCSTs, strong calretinin staining was seen in all hilus cell tumors (4/4) and the Leydig cell component of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors (10/10). The Sertoli cell component showed focal weak positivity in 5/10. Fibrothecomas were completely negative (0/8). In granulosa cell tumors, the tumor cells were either completely negative (8/14) or weakly positive at the periphery of the tumor (6/14) while scattered stromal cell staining was seen in 9/14 cases. The expression of calretinin in normal Leydig cells, theca interna cells, the Leydig cell component of Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors, and hilus cell tumors suggests its functional relationship with androgen production. Its pattern of expression in ovarian SCSTs is useful in the differential diagnosis of these tumors. The presence of a transition from calretinin-positive, flat, nonciliated epithelium to calretinin-negative, columnar, ciliated epithelium in the same glands provides strong evidence for mullerian metaplasia.
RECOGNIZING TEXTUAL ENTAILMENT USING DESCRIPTION LOGIC AND SEMANTIC RELATEDNESS

Textual entailment (TE) is a relation that holds between two pieces of text where one reading the first piece can conclude that the second is most likely true. Accurate approaches for textual entailment can be beneficial to various natural language processing (NLP) applications such as: question answering, information extraction, summarization, and even machine translation. For this reason, research on textual entailment has attracted a significant amount of attention in recent years. A robust logical-based meaning representation of text is very hard to build, therefore the majority of textual entailment approaches rely on syntactic methods or shallow semantic alternatives. In addition, approaches that do use a logical-based meaning representation, require a large knowledge base of axioms and inference rules that are rarely available. The goal of this thesis is to design an efficient description logic based approach for recognizing textual entailment that uses semantic relatedness information as an alternative to large knowledge base of axioms and inference rules. In this thesis, we propose a description logic and semantic relatedness approach to textual entailment, where the type of semantic relatedness axioms employed in aligning the description logic representations are used as indicators of textual entailment. In our approach, the text and the hypothesis are first represented in description logic. The representations are enriched with additional semantic knowledge acquired by using the web as a corpus. The hypothesis is then merged into the text representation by learning semantic relatedness axioms on demand and a reasoner is then used to reason over the aligned representation. Finally, the types of axioms employed by the reasoner are used to learn if the text entails the hypothesis or not. To validate our approach we have implemented an RTE system named AORTE, and evaluated its performance on recognizing textual entailment using the fourth recognizing textual entailment challenge. Our approach achieved an accuracy of 68.8 on the two way task and 61.6 on the three way task which ranked the approach as 2nd when compared to the other participating runs in the same challenge. These results show that our description logical based approach can effectively be used to recognize textual entailment.
Why are there limits on theory of mind use? Evidence from adults’ ability to follow instructions from an ignorant speaker

Keysar et al. (Keysar, Barr, Balin, & Brauner, 2000; Keysar, Lin, & Barr, 2003) report that adults frequently failed to use their conceptual competence for theory of mind (ToM) in an online communication game where they needed to take account of a speaker's perspective. The current research reports 3 experiments investigating the cognitive processes contributing to adults’ errors. In Experiments 1 and 2 the frequency of adults’ failure to use ToM was unaffected by perspective switching. In Experiment 3 adults made more errors when interpreting instructions according to the speaker's perspective than according to an arbitrary rule. We suggest that adults are efficient at switching perspectives, but that actually using what another person knows to interpret what they say is relatively inefficient, giving rise to egocentric errors during communication.
Social robots and ECAs for accessing smart environments services

As far as interaction is concerned Ambient Intelligence (AmI) research emphasizes the need of natural and friendly interfaces for accessing services provided by the environment. In this paper we present the result of an experimental study aiming at understanding whether Embodied Conversational Agents (ECAs) and Social Robots may improve the naturalness and effectiveness of interaction by playing different roles when acting as interface between users and smart environment services. Results obtained so far show that ECAs seem to have a better evaluation than robots for information related tasks. On the other side, Social Robots are preferred for welcoming people and for guiding them in the smart environment, due to their possibility to move and to the perceived sense of presence. Moreover, the robot seems to elicit a more positive evaluation in terms of user experience.