Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multivariate modelling of complex simulation-based systems

Complex computer simulations can take a long time to complete. Often one can vary several input parameters for the simulation. In such case, one wants to know the output of the simulation as a function of the input parameters in order to characterize and explore the whole design space. Traditionally, simulations are performed on a rectangular grid in the input space. This approach quickly becomes infeasible as too many simulations are needed. This paper presents an adaptive methodology to capture the complex input-output behaviour of the simulator in a multivariate surrogate model.
Wide speed range V/f with stabilizing loops control of tooth-wound IPMSM drives

Novel or modified sensorless control methods, credited with fast dynamic response, better drive efficiency and short computation time are just a few of nowadays main concerns. Therefore, this paper aims to theoretically characterize and digitally investigate through comprehensive Matlab/Simulink simulations three different V/f control strategies, with correction loops. The proposed control methods are all characterized by the missing of the vector current control standard speed and current controllers and they all use the Maximum Torque per Ampere condition (MTPA); coordinate transformations are not necessary. The most important claims of these new control strategies are fast dynamic speed and torque response, low computation effort and the bypassing of initial rotor position problem. To prove the previous claims, a fractionary winding interior permanent magnet synchronous motor (IPMSM) 42Vdc prototype was made and its parameters were previously determined by standstill and load performance laboratory tests. Preliminary test results with proposed method three are available at this point.
Differential cytokine responses in human and mouse lymphatic endothelial cells to cytokines in vitro.

BACKGROUND Inflammatory cytokines dysregulate microvascular function, yet how cytokines affect lymphatic endothelial cells (LEC) are unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS We examined effects of TNF-α, IL-1 beta, and IFN-gamma on LEC proliferation, endothelial cell adhesion molecule (ECAM) expression, capillary formation, and barrier changes in murine (SV-LEC) and human LECs (HMEC-1a). RESULTS All cytokines induced ICAM-1, VCAM-1, MAdCAM-1, and E-selectin in SV-LECs; TNF-α, IL-1 beta; and IFN-gamma induced ECAMs (but not MAdCAM-1) in HMEC-1a. IL-1 beta increased, while IFN-gamma and TNF-α reduced SV-LEC proliferation. While TNF-α induced, IFN-gamma decreased, and IL-1 beta did not show any effect on HMEC-1a proliferation. TNF-α, IL-1 beta, and IFN-gamma each reduced capillary formation in SV-LEC and in HMEC-1a. TNF-α and IL-1 beta reduced barrier in SV-LEC and HMEC-1a; IFN-gamma did not affect SV-LEC barrier, but enhanced HMEC-1a barrier. Inflammatory cytokines alter LEC growth, activation and barrier function in vitro and may disturb lymphatic clearance increasing tissue edema in vivo. CONCLUSION Therapies that maintain or restore lymphatic function (including cytokines blockade), may represent important strategies for limiting inflammation.
Mapping the Interaction of the STT3 Subunit of the Oligosaccharyl Transferase Complex with Nascent Polypeptide Chains*

Many secretory and membrane proteins are N-glycosylated by the oligosaccharyl transferase complex during their translocation across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Several experimental observations suggest that the highly conserved STT3 subunit contains the active site of the oligosaccharyl transferase. Here, we report a detailed study of the interaction between the active site of the STT3 protein and nascent polypeptide chains using an in vitro photocrosslinking technique. Our results show that the addition of a glycan moiety in a stretch of ∼15 residues surrounding a QK*T cross-linking site impairs the interaction between the nascent chain and STT3.
Enhanced Channel Coding for OFDM-based UWB Systems

In this paper the authors present an enhanced channel coding scheme and architecture providing LDPC codes for the use in future generations of the WIMEDIA UWB industry standard. Main emphasis is put on the development of a low complex LDPC code which provides a throughput of at least 1.1 Gbit/s, with a reduced number of iterations even up to 1.6 Gbit/s. By using such an enhanced channel coding scheme the range or the data rate of the WIMEDIA UWB system could be remarkably increased with a limited increase in implementation complexity with respect to silicon area
Concurrent Negotiation using Software Agents in Cloud

In today’s cloud environment, multiple service providers are available; among these most favorable service should be allocated to consumers as per their requirement. By introducing software agents, consumer and the provider are negotiating with each other to meet the requirement. The exactly favorable market discovered using cloud ontology, which gives the similarities between consumer services and provider services. Based on similarity reasoning, compatibility reasoning and numerical reasoning multiple cloud services are extracted by agents. Agents can negotiate with providers by focused selection of contract based on service capability tables (SCT) of consumer, provider and broker agents. Agents can also supports parallel negotiation between consumer-broker and multiple broker-producers. Concurrent negotiation helps to understand the bargaining position of consumer and regression based coordination will be done at broker side by considering minimum amount of penalty. The result shows that RBC at broker side gives higher performance in terms of utility and approves proposal with minimum penalty fee. It gives best results as compare to traditional utility oriented coordination.
Abrupt NMOS Inverter Based on Punch-Through Impact Ionization With Hysteresis in the Voltage Transfer Characteristics

In this letter, an abrupt NMOS inverter based on punch-through impact ionization is demonstrated for the first time. The slopes for both the rising and the falling edge of the ID(V GS) device characteristics are less than 10 mV/decade steep which translates into a gain of -80 for the inverter. In addition, the voltage transfer characteristic shows a hysteresis whose width depends on the biasing. The output swing is approximately twice the input voltage swing, which assures proper cascadability of logic gates.
MatrixDCN: a high performance network architecture for large-scale cloud data centers

With the widespread deployment of cloud services, data center networks are developing toward large-scale, multi-path networks. Conventional switching-oriented data center network meets difficulties in terms of scalability and flexibility to support increasing bandwidth requirements for cloud services. To solve this problem, a simple and scalable architecture, MatrixDCN, is proposed in this paper. MatrixDCN is an approximate non-blocking network, in which switches and servers are arranged in rows and columns that compose a matrix structure. A MatrixDCN network can accommodate up to hundreds of thousands of servers without bandwidth bottlenecks. Furthermore, the physical topology of a MatrixDCN network can be designed consistently with its logic topology, which helps to reduce the complexity of the management and maintenance of a data center. An efficient routing algorithm, named fault-avoidance routing FAR, is well designed for MatrixDCN to fully leverage the regularity in the topology. FAR builds two routing tables for a router. A BRT is built based on local topology, and a novel negative routing table NRT is increasingly built based on learned partial network failures, which really avoids the problem of network convergence and further shortens the calculating time of routing tables. FAR also greatly reduces the size of routing tables by introducing NRTs at routers. Theoretical analysis and simulations show that MatrixDCN has advantages on the scalability of topology, network throughput, and the performance of FAR. Copyright © 2015John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sensor Array for Water Analysis Based on Interdigitated Electrodes Modified With Fiber Films of Poly(Lactic Acid)/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

A disposable low cost and simple flow-cell electronic tongue for water analysis is described. A sensor array is used that is comprised of six interdigitated microelectrodes coated with nanofiber films of poly(lactic acid)/mutliwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composites. Fiber films are deposited directly on the interdigitated electrodes surface by solution blow spinning. Fiber film thickness is varied by using different deposition times (1, 3, and 15 min). Analysis of scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy micrographs indicates that average fiber diameters are 400 nm for neat poly lactic acid (PLA) and 200 nm for the PLA/MWCNT composite. The MWCNT is poorly dispersed in the PLA fiber matrix and formed aggregates interspersed throughout the fiber length. There are also MWCNTs exposed or partially exposed at the fiber surface. Fiber films containing MWCNT (1%) give the highest dc conductivity values and the most linear I-V profiles at room temperature. Sensor arrays with thin fiber film coatings (1 min deposition time) provide the best result for discriminating potable water samples using principal component analysis (PCA). The flow-cell electronic tongue coupled with PCA is used to discriminate potable water samples from non-potable water contaminated with metals or traces of pesticides.
Decoupled capacitor voltage control of modular multilevel converters

Modular multilevel converters have several attractive features such as high voltage capability and scalability, the excellent quality of the output voltage waveforms, a modular structure and the utilisation of standard components. Despite of all these benefits, the main drawback of this converter is the control system complexity due to the multiple external and internal control objectives. One of these objectives is the control of the capacitor voltages which is usually divided into average voltage control and balancing voltage control. This control scheme cannot manage independent voltage references, as required for example in photovoltaic applications, where each arm capacitor voltage must be controlled independently to achieve maximum power point tracking. This paper proposes a voltage control strategy of a MMC capable to manage the average capacitor voltage of each arm independently. Results validating the performance of the proposed control scheme are shown.
Modeling Passing Maneuver Based on Vehicle Characteristics for In-Vehicle Collision Warning Systems on Two-Lane Highways

Modern vehicles are equipped with various sensors of high accuracy and sensitivity, based on which it is possible to implement passing collision warning systems (PCWS) for two-lane highways. In previous systems, the time required to complete the passing maneuver safely was formulated based on pre-established regression models. In this paper, this time is formulated based on actual vehicle characteristics. The new vehicle dynamics model for the PCWS prototype includes steering control and drivetrain models, and allows more accurate prediction of the required passing time. The geometry of the passing maneuver (for the case of an impeding truck), the main phases of the passing process, and the distances related to the conditions for predicting passing time are described. The interactions between the PCWS and driver actions are formulated. The steering control model is based on a two-dimensional perspective representation of the three-dimensional reality perceived by the driver. The drivetrain model, including inertial and mechanical losses in the drivetrain, considers automatic gear shift and the presence of a torque converter to simulate vehicle performance accurately. The proposed PCWS was tested using MATLAB Simulink.
Moisture and mineral content of human feces--high fecal moisture is associated with increased sodium and decreased potassium content--.

BACKGROUND The origin of moisture in diarrhea feces is unknown but may represent the unabsorbed part of intestinal contents or alternatively, body fluid excreted into the digestive canal. If the latter mechanism contributes to moisture in the feces, active transport of water (H2O) associated with ion exchange channels may be involved. OBJECTIVE To investigate this possibility we measured the content of moisture and minerals (sodium [Na], potassium [K], calcium [Ca], magnesium [Mg], phosphorus [P], zinc [Zn], iron [Fe], copper [Cu] and manganese [Mn]) in feces collected during a 12-d metabolic study on 11 young Japanese female students. DESIGN The study was carried out as part of a human mineral balance study. The same quantity of food was supplied to each of the subjects throughout the study without consideration of body weight. Fecal specimens were collected throughout the study and were separated into those originating from the diet during the balance period based on the appearance of the ingested colored marker in the feces. RESULTS The moisture content of the feces ranged between 53 and 92%. Na content in the feces was low and stable when the moisture content was below 80%, whereas it increased up to serum levels when the moisture content increased above 80%. On the other hand, K content increased when compared to dry matter base. However, when comparing concentration/g moisture, K content increased when moisture was below 70%, but decreased when this rose above 70%.
Is Reuse Financially Worthwhile?

The issue of pacemaker reuse is a complicated one. While reuse of other medical devices is feasible, the reuse of implanted pacemakers is dependent upon multiple variables. Among these are battery life, availability of units, and costs of refurbishment When considered using current cost codes, the savings associated with pacemaker reuse are generally negligible and generally do not encourage widespread adoption of this practice.
Active rate management in DiffServ

The inability of TCP aggregates, belonging to assured forwarding per-hop-behavior, to reach guaranteed rates remains an impediment to the successful deployment of DiffServ. Active rate management (ARM) Y. Chait et al., (2002) has been proposed to overcome this deficiency; basically it introduces a feedback structure around the classical token bucket marker. Its behavior in an over-provisioned network is of importance, as most networks will be over-provisioned due to admission control. Although guaranteed rates are achieved, in an over-provisioned network ARM adversely affects DiffServ functionality. We determine that this is primarily due to the inappropriate error measure used in its structure, and propose an alternative marker that resembles ARM but uses a different error measure and so enables retention of all DiffServ functionality as validated by simulations
Behavior Change Techniques Implemented in Electronic Lifestyle Activity Monitors: A Systematic Content Analysis

Background Electronic activity monitors (such as those manufactured by Fitbit, Jawbone, and Nike) improve on standard pedometers by providing automated feedback and interactive behavior change tools via mobile device or personal computer. These monitors are commercially popular and show promise for use in public health interventions. However, little is known about the content of their feedback applications and how individual monitors may differ from one another. Objective The purpose of this study was to describe the behavior change techniques implemented in commercially available electronic activity monitors. Methods Electronic activity monitors (N=13) were systematically identified and tested by 3 trained coders for at least 1 week each. All monitors measured lifestyle physical activity and provided feedback via an app (computer or mobile). Coding was based on a hierarchical list of 93 behavior change techniques. Further coding of potentially effective techniques and adherence to theory-based recommendations were based on findings from meta-analyses and meta-regressions in the research literature. Results All monitors provided tools for self-monitoring, feedback, and environmental change by definition. The next most prevalent techniques (13 out of 13 monitors) were goal-setting and emphasizing discrepancy between current and goal behavior. Review of behavioral goals, social support, social comparison, prompts/cues, rewards, and a focus on past success were found in more than half of the systems. The monitors included a range of 5-10 of 14 total techniques identified from the research literature as potentially effective. Most of the monitors included goal-setting, self-monitoring, and feedback content that closely matched recommendations from social cognitive theory. Conclusions Electronic activity monitors contain a wide range of behavior change techniques typically used in clinical behavioral interventions. Thus, the monitors may represent a medium by which these interventions could be translated for widespread use. This technology has broad applications for use in clinical, public health, and rehabilitation settings.
Degradation of Internal Organic Matter is the Main Control on Pteropod Shell Dissolution After Death

The potential for preservation of thecosome pteropods is thought to be largely governed by the chemical stability of their delicate aragonitic shells in seawater. However, sediment trap studies have found that significant carbonate dissolution can occur above the carbonate saturation horizon. Here we present the results from experiments conducted on two cruises to the Scotia Sea to directly test whether the breakdown of the organic pteropod body influences shell dissolution. We find that on the timescales of 3 to 13 days, the oxidation of organic matter within the shells of dead pteropods is a stronger driver of shell dissolution than the aragonite saturation state of seawater. Three to four days after death, shells became milky white and nano scanning electron microscope images reveal smoothing of internal surface features and increased shell porosity, both indicative of aragonite dissolution. These findings have implications for the interpretation of the condition of pteropod shells from sediment traps and the fossil record, as well as for understanding the processes controlling particulate carbonate export from the surface ocean.
Transcriptional and Molecular Pathways Activated in Mesenteric Adipose Tissue and Intestinal Mucosa of Crohn's Disease Patients

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder, characterized by cytokine imbalance and transcription signaling pathways activation. In addition, the increase of mesenteric adipose tissue (MAT) near the affected intestinal area is a hallmark of CD. Therefore, we evaluated the transcription signaling pathways and cytokines expression in intestinal mucosa and MAT of active CD patients. Ten patients with ileocecal CD and eight with noninflammatory diseases were studied. The biopsies of intestinal mucosa and MAT were snap-frozen and protein expression was determined by immunoblotting. RNA levels were measured by qPCR. The pIkB/IkB ratio and TNFα level were significantly higher in intestinal mucosa of CD when compared to controls. However, STAT1 expression was similar between intestinal mucosa of CD and controls. Considering the MAT, the pIkB/IkB ratio was significantly lower and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL10 was significantly higher in CD when compared to controls. Finally, the protein content of pSTAT1 was higher in MAT of CD compared to controls. These findings reinforce the predominance of the proinflammatory NF-kB pathway in CD intestinal mucosa. For the first time, we showed the activation of STAT1 pathway in MAT of CD patients, which may help to understand the physiopathology of this immune mediated disease.
Organizational legitimacy and resource acquiring in new venture: The case of organic food social enterprises

Most new ventures suffer from the liability of newness. They usually have limited resources to compete effectively against established organizations, so they need external resource for their survival and growth. However, the ventures with high organizational legitimacy may overcome the predicament. Sometimes, legitimacy is as a means to catch gatekeepers' eyes if ventures address one norm or social value fitting those gatekeepers. Few literatures empirically evidenced that the relationship between survive and legitimacy of organizations. Nevertheless, the research about how new ventures get their benefit from legitimating activities is seldom to be studied. This study proposes four types of legitimacy, which are regulatory, normative, pragmatic, and cognitive legitimacy alternately, for new ventures' survival and growth. It also analyzes the influence for their entrepreneurial network members. This study used the case study methodology, inductive study of two organic food shops. It found that legitimacy was useful obviously for new ventures to get resources from exterior organizations, when the claim of legitimating activities was similar to the faith of cooperate partners. The stakeholder supported or not to the new ventures after observing the legitimacy-management activity, but it all depended. Diverse perceptions and reactions of the stakeholders of two ventures emerged consequence to the slight difference of the claims. The entrepreneurial network which the claim of ventures was directly bonded with some members would grow slower than one without. Moreover, the new venture which the legitimacy-management actions were comprehensive or not relative to any members would gain high legitimacy, and its entrepreneurial network may grow rapidly.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor val66met polymorphism affects prefrontal energy metabolism in bipolar disorder

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor val66met polymorphism has been implicated in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. We investigated the neurochemistry of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of bipolar disorder and healthy participants in relation to the brain-derived neurotrophic factor val66met polymorphism using 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Absolute N-acetyl-aspartate, phosphocreatine+creatine (PCr+Cr), choline-containing compounds, myo-inositol, and glutamate levels were measured. Bipolar disorder met-carriers had lower PCr+Cr levels than bipolar disorder val/val patients, and bipolar disorder val/val patients had higher PCr+Cr levels than val/val healthy controls. These results indicate that bipolar disorder met-carriers have abnormal energy metabolism in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
The Potential Anti Helicobacter pylori and antioxidant effects of

Artemisia judaica (AJ) is one of the common species of the genus Artemisia that grows in Saudi Arabia desert and Sinai, Egypt where animals graze on it. It is widely used in traditional medicine and by Bedouins there. (AJ) has anthelmintic, antibacterial, antiinflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects. The present study aimed to (1) elucidates the antibacterial action of AJ against H. pylori and different other bacterial species (2) delineate the potential antibacterial mechanism of action of AJ in comparison with tetracycline and cefotaxime (3) measure the trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) of the AJ water extract. Preparation of the (AJ) extracts was done by three different methods two of them are usually performed by population in Middle East by boiling of the shade- dried herb in water as tea (decoction), or soaked in tap water for over night (infusion), other method was done by concentrating the aqueous extract of Artemisia judaica under vacuum. The results of this study revealed that (AJ) has neither antibacterial effects either against H. pylori nor any other bacterial species. On the other hand the extract of AJ prepared by any of the above mentioned methods shows significant (p<0.005) antioxidant action as compared with blank and related to trolox antioxidant capacity.