Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Non-linear control of a three-phase front end converter

The design of a non-linear controller for a three-phase front end converter used to connect renewable energy sources to the grid is presented in this paper. The objectives of this controller are the injection of all the generated power into the grid and the control of the reactive power exchanged with the power system. The system is represented through Park coordinates and port controlled Hamiltonian models. The controller is designed by interconnection and damping assignment (IDA), and feedback linearization (FL). It is demonstrated that for the particular case of selecting interconnection and damping matrixes, then coupling can be eliminated from the system model and therefore the controller designed using interconnection and damping assignment results the same as that using feedback linearization. The control strategy proposed in the present work is validated through simulation.
A K+-selective CNG channel orchestrates Ca2+ signalling in zebrafish sperm

Calcium in the flagellum controls sperm navigation. In sperm of marine invertebrates and mammals, Ca2+ signalling has been intensely studied, whereas for fish little is known. In sea urchin sperm, a cyclic nucleotide-gated K+ channel (CNGK) mediates a cGMP-induced hyperpolarization that evokes Ca2+ influx. Here, we identify in sperm of the freshwater fish Danio rerio a novel CNGK family member featuring non-canonical properties. It is located in the sperm head rather than the flagellum and is controlled by intracellular pH, but not cyclic nucleotides. Alkalization hyperpolarizes sperm and produces Ca2+ entry. Ca2+ induces spinning-like swimming, different from swimming of sperm from other species. The “spinning” mode probably guides sperm into the micropyle, a narrow entrance on the surface of fish eggs. A picture is emerging of sperm channel orthologues that employ different activation mechanisms and serve different functions. The channel inventories probably reflect adaptations to species-specific challenges during fertilization. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.07624. 001
Prototype of a sensor device for learning environments

This paper presents a prototype of a sensor device including heart rate, EDA and accelerometer sensors to investigate learners' internal state. Through experiments, sensor data were collected, visualized and correlated with information on learner's' emotional state derived from a self-report questionnaire. The results can be used to improve signal processing, and help find appropriate indicators from physiological data for learning environment design.
EFFECTS OF SLOW-RELEASE UREA ON IN VITRO DEGRADATION OF FORAGES

The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro effects of slow release urea on gas production and degradation of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber for alfalfa hay, oat straw and corn silage and Stover. The addition of the slow release urea in alfalfa and oat cultures did not improve the degradation of these substrates. However in forages with low content of crude protein, e.g. corn sila ge and stover, the addition of slow-release urea alone or in combination with urea resulted in a significant increase in degradation and gas production.
Modelling Learning to Count in Humanoid Robots

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Balancing Energy Consumption with Hybrid Clustering and Routing Strategy in Wireless Sensor Networks †

Multi-hop data collection in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is a challenge issue due to the limited energy resource and transmission range of wireless sensors. The hybrid clustering and routing (HCR) strategy has provided an effective solution, which can generate a connected and efficient cluster-based topology for multi-hop data collection in WSNs. However, it suffers from imbalanced energy consumption, which results in the poor performance of the network lifetime. In this paper, we evaluate the energy consumption of HCR and discover an important result: the imbalanced energy consumption generally appears in gradient k=1, i.e., the nodes that can communicate with the sink directly. Based on this observation, we propose a new protocol called HCR-1, which includes the adaptive relay selection and tunable cost functions to balance the energy consumption. The guideline of setting the parameters in HCR-1 is provided based on simulations. The analytical and numerical results prove that, with minor modification of the topology in gradient k=1, the HCR-1 protocol effectively balances the energy consumption and prolongs the network lifetime.
High-throughput stem-loop RT-qPCR miRNA expression profiling using minute amounts of input RNA

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an emerging class of small non-coding RNAs implicated in a wide variety of cellular processes. Research in this field is accelerating, and the growing number of miRNAs emphasizes the need for high-throughput and sensitive detection methods. Here we present the successful evaluation of the Megaplex reverse transcription format of the stem-loop primer-based real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) approach to quantify miRNA expression. The Megaplex reaction provides simultaneous reverse transcription of 450 mature miRNAs, ensuring high-throughput detection. Further, the introduction of a complementary DNA pre-amplification step significantly reduces the amount of input RNA needed, even down to single-cell level. To evaluate possible pre-amplification bias, we compared the expression of 384 miRNAs in three different cancer cell lines with Megaplex RT, with or without an additional pre-amplification step. The normalized Cq values of all three sample pairs showed a good correlation with maintenance of differential miRNA expression between the cell lines. Moreover, pre-amplification using 10 ng of input RNA enabled the detection of miRNAs that were undetectable when using Megaplex alone with 400 ng of input RNA. The high specificity of RT-qPCR together with a superior sensitivity makes this approach the method of choice for high-throughput miRNA expression profiling.
Bayes-Ball: The Rational Pastime (for Determining Irrelevance and Requisite Information in Belief Networks and Influence Diagrams)

One of the benefits of belief networks and influence diagrams is that so much knowledge is captured in the graphical structure. In particular, statements of conditional irrelevance (or independence) can be verified in time linear in the size of the graph. To resolve a particular inference query or decision problem, only some of the possible states and probability distributions must be specified, the "requisite information. " This paper presents a new, simple, and efficient "Bayes-ball" algorithm which is wellsuited to both new students of belief networks and state of the art implementations. The Bayes-ball algorithm determines irrelevant sets and requisite information more efficiently than existing methods, and is linear in the size of the graph for belief networks and influence diagrams.
Taxonomy of Java Web Application Frameworks

This paper describes various Web application frameworks and related emerging technologies pertinent to the Java EE model from a technical perspective. A definition of "Web application framework" is specified, as this terminology has been widely used and implies drastically different meanings in different contexts. The value proposition of a Web application framework is presented to illustrate how a framework can improve the application development productivity and quality. The design philosophy of Web application frameworks is articulated. A comprehensive taxonomic scheme is defined to classify various software frameworks and Web application frameworks into appropriate categories. Among dozens of Web application frameworks available as commercial and open source solutions, the predominant products are investigated, followed by the selection guidelines and recommendations. A reference card is constructed to summarize the key aspects of Web application frameworks. Relevant technologies and future trends are also discussed
DEFT-Cache: A Cost-Effective and Highly Reliable SSD Cache for RAID Storage

This paper proposes a new SSD cache architecture, DEFT-cache, Delayed Erasing and Fast Taping, that maximizes I/O performance and reliability of RAID storage. First of all, DEFT-Cache exploits the inherent physical properties of flash memory SSD by making use of old data that have been overwritten but still in existence in SSD to minimize small write penalty of RAID5/6. As data pages being overwritten in SSD, old data pages are invalidated and become candidates for erasure and garbage collections. Our idea is to selectively delay the erasure of the pages and let these otherwise useless old data in SSD contribute to I/O performance for parity computations upon write I/Os. Secondly, DEFT-Cache provides inexpensive redundancy to the SSD cache by having one physical SSD and one virtual SSD as a mirror cache. The virtual SSD is implemented on HDD but using log-structured data layout, i.e. write data are quickly logged to HDD using sequential write. The dual and redundant caches provide a cost-effective and highly reliable write-back SSD cache. We have implemented DEFT-Cache on Linux system. Extensive experiments have been carried out to evaluate the potential benefits of our new techniques. Experimental results on SPC and Microsoft traces have shown that DEFT-Cache improves I/O performance by 26.81% to 56.26% in terms of average user response time. The virtual SSD mirror cache can absorb write I/Os as fast as physical SSD providing the same reliability as two physical SSD caches without noticeable performance loss.
The oxidative response of mouse hearts is modulated by genetic background.

BACKGROUND Smoking plays an important role in cardiovascular diseases. However, the reasons why some individuals develop those diseases and others do not remain to be explained. OBJECTIVE This study aimed at assessing the redox profile of the heart of different mouse strains after exposure to cigarette smoke. METHODS Male mice of the Swiss (n = 10), C3H (n = 10), BALB/c (n = 10) and C57BL/6 (n = 10) strains were exposed to cigarette smoke (12 cigarettes/day), while their respective controls (n = 10) were exposed to ambient air for 60 days. After being euthanized, their heart was removed for biochemical analyses. RESULTS Although the malondialdehyde content did not increase in any of the groups, catalase activity decreased in the Swiss (p < 0.05) and BALB/c (p < 0.05) strain mice as compared with their respective control groups, while myeloperoxidase decreased in the C3H (p < 0.05) and C57BL/6 (p < 0.001) strain mice as compared with their respective control groups. The reduced glutathione content decreased in the Swiss, C3H, C57BL/6 (p < 0.05) and BALB/c (p < 0,001) strain mice as compared with their respective control groups. Regarding reduced glutathione content, an increase was observed in the Swiss strain mice (p < 0.05), while a decrease was observed in the C3H (p < 0.05) and BALB/c (p < 0.001) strain mice as compared with their respective control groups. The reduced glutathione/reduced glutathione ratio showed a reduction in the Swiss and C57BL/6 (p < 0.05) strain mice as compared with their respective control groups. CONCLUSIONS The genetic background of mice can influence the antioxidant response after exposure to cigarette smoke and seems to be a determinant factor for redox imbalance in Swiss and C57BL/6 strain mice. Understanding antioxidant responses and genetic background of C3H and BALB/c strain mice might provide important information regarding cardiac resistance to cigarette smoke.
Reading Competence of Visually Impaired Pupils in Sweden

This article reports on a study of the reading competence of 25 visually impaired pupils in Sweden, who were followed from 1988 to 1991. Neither visual acuity, reading media, optical aids, nor reading distance were clearly related to reading competence. Rather, good readers were pupils who scored higher on verbal cognitive tests and had a greater interest in reading as a leisure activity.
Event-based prospective memory is independently associated with self-report of medication management in older adults

Background: Identifying potentially modifiable risk factors for medication non-adherence in older adults is important in order to enhance screening and intervention efforts designed to improve medication-taking behavior and health outcomes. The current study sought to determine the unique contribution of prospective memory (PM) (i.e. ‘remembering to remember’) to successful self-reported medication management in older adults.Methods: Sixty-five older adults with current medication prescriptions completed a comprehensive research evaluation of sociodemographic, psychiatric, and neurocognitive functioning, which included the memory for adherence to medication scale (MAMS), prospective and retrospective memory questionnaire (PRMQ), and a performance-based measure of PM that measured both semantically related and semantically unrelated cue–intention (i.e. when–what) pairings.Results: A series of hierarchical regressions controlling for biopsychosocial, other neurocognitive, and medication-related factors showed that elevated complaints on the PM scale of the PRMQ and worse performance on an objective semantically unrelated event-based PM task were independent predictors of poorer medication adherence as measured by the MAMS.Conclusions: PM plays an important role in self-report of successful medication management among older adults. Findings may have implications for screening for older individuals ‘at risk’ of non-adherence, as well as the development of PM-based interventions to improve medication adherence and, ultimately, long-term health outcomes in older adults.
Fast Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography (MSOT) for Dynamic Imaging of Pharmacokinetics and Biodistribution in Multiple Organs

The characterization of pharmacokinetic and biodistribution profiles is an essential step in the development process of new candidate drugs or imaging agents. Simultaneously, the assessment of organ function related to the uptake and clearance of drugs is of great importance. To this end, we demonstrate an imaging platform capable of high-rate characterization of the dynamics of fluorescent agents in multiple organs using multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT). A spatial resolution of approximately 150 µm through mouse cross-sections allowed us to image blood vessels, the kidneys, the liver and the gall bladder. In particular, MSOT was employed to characterize the removal of indocyanine green from the systemic circulation and its time-resolved uptake in the liver and gallbladder. Furthermore, it was possible to track the uptake of a carboxylate dye in separate regions of the kidneys. The results demonstrate the acquisition of agent concentration metrics at rates of 10 samples per second at a single wavelength and 17 s per multispectral sample with 10 signal averages at each of 5 wavelengths. Overall, such imaging performance introduces previously undocumented capabilities of fast, high resolution in vivo imaging of the fate of optical agents for drug discovery and basic biological research.
Assembly of Microtubules and Actomyosin Rings in the Absence of Nuclei and Spindle Pole Bodies Revealed by a Novel Genetic Method

Background The nucleus and the centrosomes (spindle pole bodies; SPBs in yeast) are believed to play key roles in the organization of various cellular structures, such as the actomyosin ring and microtubules. The ability to generate cells lacking nuclei and centrosomes (SPBs) is key to the elucidation of the role of these structures in various cellular processes. Methodology/Principal Findings Here we describe a genetic method, using the Schizosaccharomyces pombe cdc16-116 mutant, to reliably and efficiently generate fission yeast cells lacking nuclei and SPBs. We use this approach to show that the assembly of microtubules does not require nuclear associated microtubule organizing centers and SPBs. We also show that actomyosin rings can assemble albeit inefficiently in the absence of nuclei and SPBs. Conclusion We conclude that key cytoskeletal elements can be assembled in the absence of nuclei and SPBs. In addition, the approach we describe, taken together with physical approaches such as centrifugation, should facilitate the investigation of the role of the nucleus and SPBs in the assembly and inheritance of various cellular structures and organelles.
Functional diversity appropriateness: members' and managers' differential perceptions

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how perceptions of team performance and teamwork processes relate to functional diversity appropriateness perceptions (FDAP), that is, whether one believes that the right functions are represented in a team. Thereby, the authors distinguish between perceptions of team managers and team members. Design/methodology/approach – The study involved a cross-sectional survey study among 48 sourcing teams from 12 multinational companies, all from different industries. Findings – Members’ and managers’ congruent perceptions of performance showed differential relationships with their perceptions of the team’s functional diversity appropriateness. For managers, perceptions of team performance and functional diversity appropriateness were directly and positively related. For team members, this relationship was moderated by teamwork behavior. Moreover, unlike team members, purchasing managers did not consider functionally diverse teams to be more suitable for execut.
Genetic Basis of Familial Valvular Heart Disease

Valvular heart disease (VHD) is a major cause of morbidity and premature death from cardiovascular diseases, making it an important clinical entity. Despite a dramatic decline in the incidence of rheumatic heart disease in industrialized countries, VHD remains highly prevalent. Although many VHDs are acquired during adult life, familial clustering and heritability have been noted for common heart valve defects, such as bicuspid aortic valve and myxomatous mitral valve prolapse, denoting an underlying genetic basis. Over the past decade, advances in our understanding of the genetic basis of familial VHD have been made through the unraveling of gene network and molecular mechanisms regulating normal valve development. Important progress has also arisen from a series of elegant studies that have focused on linkage analyses of large families with VHD, transgenic animal models, in vitro studies, and, more recently, microRNA and transcriptomic assessment of diseased tissues. Identification of the genes and molecular pathways responsible for the development of VHD has important implications in terms of improving current therapeutic strategies, as well as guiding the management of at-risk family members, with the ultimate aim to reduce the health burden of VHD. This article will summarize the current state of knowledge regarding the genetic basis of 2 common familial VHDs, namely mitral valve prolapse and bicuspid aortic valve, and highlight some of the recent findings that shed light on the pathogenesis of these diseases. Valvular heart disease (VHD) is a major cause of disability, diminished quality of life, and premature death from cardiovascular disease,1 making it an important clinical entity. Despite a dramatic decline in the incidence of rheumatic heart disease in industrialized countries, VHD remains highly prevalent.2 Although many VHDs are acquired during adult life, congenital forms present with abnormal valve structures at birth, yet may not manifest as valvular dysfunction …
Visual outcome and optical quality after bilateral implantation of aspheric diffractive multifocal, aspheric monofocal and spherical monofocal intraocular lenses: a prospective comparison.

AIM To evaluate the visual function after bilateral implantation of aspheric diffractive multifocal Tecnis ZMA00, aspheric monofocal ZA9003 versus spherical monofocal Akreos Adapt intraocular lenses (IOLs). METHODS Tecnis ZMA00, Tecnis ZA9003 or Akreos Adapt IOLs were bilaterally implanted in 180 eyes from 90 patients. The following parameters were assessed 3 months postoperatively: monocular and binocular uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and distance-corrected visual acuity (DCVA) for distance, intermediate and near, spherical aberration (SA), contrast and glare sensitivity, near point refractive power, uncorrected and best-corrected near stereoscopic acuity (NSA). Patient satisfaction was assessed by a questionnaire. RESULTS Three months postoperatively, the monocular and binocular UCVA and DCVA at near of Tecnis ZMA00 were significantly better than other two groups. The mean SA for 5.0mm optical zone in Tecnis ZMA00 and Tecnis ZA9003 was significantly lower than that in Akreos Adapt. Mean contrast sensitivity and glare sensitivity were better for Tecnis ZA9003 group than for other two groups. Patients with Tecnis ZMA00 had higher monocular and binocular near point refractive power and uncorrected NSA than monofocal groups. The patients in Tecnis ZMA00 had higher mean values for halo compared with other two groups. CONCLUSION Tecnis ZMA00 provided better near VA and uncorrected NSA and higher near point refractive power than monofocal IOLs and patients were spectacle independent. The IOLs with Tecnis aspheric design improved contrast and glare sensitivity. Patients with Tecnis ZMA00 reported more disturbances on visual phenomena of halo.
Estrés en madres de personas con trastornos del espectro autista

El objetivo de este estudio consistia en analizar el estres maternal en familias de personas con autismo. Se propuso un modelo multifactorial y global basado en el modelo teorico de estres familiar Doble ABCX, en el cual el factor aA (estresor) en interaccion con bB (apoyos) y cC (percepcion, en nuestro estudio sentido de la coherencia o SOC) produce un resultado o factor xX (nivel de estres). Treinta y nueve madres con hijos diagnosticados de trastornos del espectro autista completaron cuatro cuestionarios referidos a los factores. Los datos fueron analizados estadisticamente mediante analisis path. Los resultados indicaron que el modelo empirico se ajusto al teorico propuesto. Existia una relacion directa y positiva entre estresor y estres. Los apoyos y el SOC tenian una relacion directa y negativa con el estres, actuando como variables moduladoras.
A Retrospective Analysis of STEM Career Interest Among Mathematics and Science Academy Students

Data reflecting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) dispositions and reported reasons for interest in STEM were gathered in April 2013 from 342 high school students participating in a residential mathematics and science academy on a university campus. Student participants were enrolled in a program where finish their last two years of high school in conjunction with their first two years in college. Analysis of these data indicated that factors influencing student interest in STEM and STEM careers include the student’s own self-motivation, support from a parent or family member, science and mathematics coursework offered in school, and exposure to a high quality, motivating teacher. STEM career interest can be reasonably well predicted from a linear combination of four measures of STEM dispositions, but weightings of predictors and total variance accounted for differ for females when compared to males.