Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transformerless power supply based on single switch resonant inverter for ozone generation

This work proposes a transformerless power supply for ozone generation, based on single switch resonant inverter. It is used in conjunction with a LC resonant circuit to achieve high voltage (up to 4 kV) that provides sufficiently high voltage to break the oxygen molecule. Furthermore, the dielectric of the chamber is constructed using muscovite mica that allows for a lower initiation voltage. Due to the absence of the transformer, the system has a smaller footprint and more efficient. A prototype ozone generator is constructed and typical results are presented. It is found that the ozonizer draws very little power, i.e. less than 8 W with very high ozone yield (over 120 g/kWh at 1.0 L/min).
Effects of informal competition on innovation performance: the case of pacific alliance

This study evaluates the impact of informal competition on the innovation performance of formal firms in emerging economies. A theoretical model under the strategy tripod framework is proposed. It analyzes the effects of Institutional factors as the quality of governance and market labor rigidities on innovation performance, and the mediating effect of informal competition. It is used the Causal Mediation Analysis with data from 3,268 companies from the World Bank Enterprise Survey from countries of the Pacific Alliance (Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru). The results state that informal competition has a negative effect on the innovation performance of formal companies. Based on these findings, It is suggested some promising avenues for future research and managerial implications.
Reconfigurable security architecture for disrupted protection zones in NoC-based MPSoCs

Ensuring security in Multi-processors Systems-on-Chip (MPSoCs) leads to several design challenges due to their intrinsic complexity. Distributed and collaborative MPSoC computing forces the application spreading on the computing resources. As a result sensitive information is exchanged among the different computation components through the Networks-on-Chip (NoCs). Security zones can be built for wrapping the sensitive IPs. However, these zones may not always be physically close. In this work we propose for the first time a NoC architecture for creating NoC-based disrupted security zones. A group-wise key agreement technique at NoC level is employed to create secure and dynamic communication channels among the hardware components. We evaluate our approach under synthetic traffic patterns and the execution of SPLASH2 benchmarks. We show that our architecture is able to efficiently manage dynamic security domains while presenting low impact on the performance and cost of MPSoCs.
Inverted topology of the Toxoplasma gondii ROP5 rhoptry protein provides new insights into the association of the ROP2 protein family with the parasitophorous vacuole membrane

Toxoplasma gondii, as many intracellular parasites, is separated from the cytosol of its host cell by a parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM). This vacuole forms during host cell invasion and parasite apical organelles named rhoptries discharge proteins that associate with its membrane during this process. We report here the characterization of the rhoptry protein ROP5, which is a new member of the ROP2 family. Contrasting with what is known for other ROP2 family proteins, ROP5 is not processed during trafficking to rhoptries. We show here that ROP5 is secreted during invasion and associates with the PVM. Using differential permeabilization of infected cells, we have shown that ROP5 exposes its C‐terminus towards the host cell cytoplasm, which corresponds to a reverse topology compared with ROP2 and ROP4. Taken together with recent modelling data suggesting that the C‐terminal hydrophobic domain hitherto described as transmembrane may correspond to a hydrophobic helix buried in the catalytic domain of kinase‐related proteins, these findings call for a reappraisal of the current view of ROP2 family proteins association with the PVM.
Superficial Equality: Gender and immigration in Asian American political participation

ABSTRACT Asian American men and women have voted at roughly similar rates across the last three presidential elections. This sets Asian Americans apart; women in America have generally voted at higher rates than men since the 1980s. The women in politics and immigrant incorporation literatures suggest that pathways to participation may be distinct for women and men. Yet, there is scant attention to gender in studies of Asian American political participation. As a result, little theoretical or empirical foundation exists for explaining why the gender gap in participation is so different for Asian Americans. To better understand this puzzle, we analyze pooled data from the National Asian American Surveys of 2008, 2012, and 2016. The data show that women are less likely to vote than men once we account for variables related to resources, mediating institutions, and immigrant incorporation. We also demonstrate that Asian American women who are foreign-born citizens are less likely to participate across a range of modes of political action, and across ethnic groups. We argue that this is evidence that gender and ethnicity simultaneously condition the processes of immigrant political incorporation, and the study of gender gaps must be approached more broadly as a political and comparative phenomenon.
Treg responses are associated with PM2.5-induced exacerbation of viral myocarditis

Abstract The adverse cardiovascular events induced by ambient fine particles (PM2.5) are paid more attention in the world. The current study was conducted to explore the mechanisms of T regulatory cells (Treg) responses in PM2.5-induced exacerbation of viral myocarditis. The male BALB/c mice were administered an intratracheal (i.t.) instillation of 10 mg/kg b.w. PM2.5 suspension. Twenty-four hours later, the mice were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 100 μl of coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) diluted in Eagle's minimal essential medium (EMEM). Seven days after the treatment, serum, splenetic, and cardiac tissues were examined. The results showed that pre-exposure to PM2.5 aggravated the cardiac inflammation in the CVB3-infected mice along with an increase of Treg cells in the spleen. The mRNA expressions of interleukin-6 (IL-6), TNF-α, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and Foxp3 were up-regulated in the PM2.5-pretreated mice than that in the CVB3-treated mice. Similar results were found in the sera. In addition, compared with the CVB3-treated mice, the cardiac protein expression of TGF-β increased in the PM2.5-pretreated mice. These results demonstrated that preexposure to PM2.5 exacerbated virus-induced myocarditis possibly through the depression of the immune response and increase of inflammation in myocardium through the Treg responses.
Welfare Phenotyping of Genetically-Modified Mice

Technologies that enable the targeted manipulation of the genome have created new opportunities to study the role and interplay of specific genes in both the regulation and function of physiological and behavioural processes and in the development of pathological conditions. Despite the potential benefits, there are ethical issues in relation to the application of these technologies, some of which relate to the impact on the welfare of the animals involved. Matters of concern include the methods involved in the derivation and production of genetically-modified (GM) animals and resulting phenotypes, where animal welfare is compromised. In the case of the latter, this may be the predicted consequence of the genetic modification, but the occurrence of unforeseen animal welfare complications is a major challenge in the management of GM animals. There has been a rapid escalation in the development of new GM lines, most of them involving mice. Databases of available lines have been developed by national and international consortia, and researchers have developed standard protocols to describe the phenotype of a new line; increasingly, such data are entered into these databases. The inclusion of animal welfare assessments with these data would provide a powerful and sophisticated tool to promote refinement. The scope, level and frequency of monitoring would facilitate the identification of unpredicted effects and the management of humane endpoints, and would identify opportunities to manage the animals so as to ameliorate negative impacts. Furthermore, by highlighting the subtleties of gene–environment interactions, such data have wider implications in achieving the goals of refinement.
Ras mutations are rare in solitary cold and toxic thyroid nodules

OBJECTIVE Activation of ras proto‐oncogenes as a result of point mutations is detectable in a significant percentage of most types of tumour. Similar to neoplasms of other organs, mutations of all three ras genes can be found in thyroid tumours. H‐, K‐ and N‐ras mutations have been detected in up to 20% of follicular adenomas and adenomatous nodules which were not functionally characterized. This raises the question as to whether ras mutations are specific for hypofunctional nodules and TSH receptor mutations for hyperfunctioning nodules.
Riboflavin lowers blood pressure in cardiovascular disease patients homozygous for the 677C→T polymorphism in MTHFR

Objective The purpose was to examine the effect of intervention with riboflavin (a cofactor for MTHFR) on blood pressure in patients homozygous (TT genotype) for the common 677C→T polymorphism in MTHFR. Methods We investigated 197 premature cardiovascular disease patients, prescreened for the MTHFR 677C→T polymorphism, from an original cohort of 404 to select those with the TT genotype (n = 60) and a similar number with heterozygous (CT; n = 85) or wild-type (CC; n = 75) genotypes. Of these, 181 completed an intervention in which participants were randomized within each genotype group to receive 1.6 mg per day riboflavin or placebo for 16 weeks. Results Among patients taking one or more antihypertensive drugs at recruitment (82%), we observed that target blood pressure (<140/90 mmHg) had been achieved in only 37% patients with the TT genotype compared with 59% with the CT and 64% with the CC genotype (P < 0.001). Riboflavin intervention reduced mean blood pressure specifically in those with the TT genotype (from 144/87 to 131/80 mmHg; P < 0.05 systolic; P < 0.05 diastolic), with no response observed in the other genotype groups. Conclusion Riboflavin is effective in reducing blood pressure specifically in patients with the MTHFR 677 TT genotype. The findings, if confirmed, may have important implications for the prevention and treatment of hypertension.
Assisted Reproductive Technology and the Incidence of Ovarian Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the available literature regarding the relationship between assisted reproductive technology and ovarian cancer. DATA SOURCES: Computerized search of 6 databases from 1966 (or closest) to present: Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Cancerlit, CINHAL, Current Contents, PubMed in process (formerly called PreMEDLINE), and MEDLINE. We collected references from the bibliographies of reviews, original research articles, content experts, and conference proceedings to find published and unpublished literature. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: Case-control and cohort studies are included. The population of interest is treated infertile women, the control population is untreated infertile women, and the intervention or exposure of interest includes the following fertility medications: clomiphene citrate, gonadotropins, human chorionic gonadotropin, and gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists. The primary outcome is incident, primary ovarian cancer. Three cohort and 7 case-control studies were included in the quantitative analyses. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: The Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scales were used. Two investigators independently extracted study methods, sources of bias, and outcomes. The following information was recorded: publication information, subject characteristics, intervention information and outcomes. Studies combined were sufficiently homogeneous for quantitative summary. Case-control and cohort data showed a significantly elevated risk for exposure of infertility medications and ovarian cancer in subjects who underwent assisted reproductive technology compared with general population controls (1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18 to 1.97). When cases of ovarian cancer were compared with infertile controls for exposure to infertility medications, the odds ratio (0.99; 95% CI 0.67, 1.45) was not elevated. However, cohort data comparing outcome in treated infertile patients with untreated infertile patients suggests that treated patients may tend to a lower incidence of ovarian cancer—odds ratio = 0.67 (95% CI 0.32, 1.41). CONCLUSION: Ovarian cancer does not appear to be increased in treated infertile patients versus untreated infertile patients. Treated infertile patients may have a lower incidence of ovarian cancer than untreated infertile patients.
Analysis of human capital in the region as a source of import substitution

As a basis for the growth of the modern Russian economy, we considered the indicator “human capital of the region”. The actualization of the modern import substitution policy, caused by Western sanctions against Russia, and the targeted growth in labor productivity have led to the special importance of the “human capital” indicator for the regions of the central part of Russia. The authors made an excursion into the historical period and the international aspect of the study of this indicator. The article concludes that the value of human capital is determined by the values of labor resources. The total number of labor resources in the Voronezh region, the number of the employed able-bodied population in the division into groups (adolescents, people of pre-retirement age, migrants, etc.) are analyzed. The groups and the number of economically active population, the main trends of increasing real incomes of the population in the Voronezh region are identified. The forecast of the labor market is formulated in the form of identified trends in the reduction of the main component of labor resources: the number of able-bodied working-age population from among the employed citizens of older working-age and foreign labor migrants, which will provide some compensation for losses in the number of labor resources. According to the results of the study period, in the social sphere, trends were identified to improve a number of indicators and a forecast was prepared for the development of human capital in the region and its stimulation by the state.
Layout Scaling of $\hbox{Si}_{1-x}\hbox{Ge}_{x} \hbox{-Channel}$ pFETs

Through a combination of electrical measurements, technology computer-aided design simulations, and wafer bending experiments, the effect of elastic stress relaxation on the layout dependence of Si1-xGex-channel p-channel field-effect transistors (pFETs) is studied. This work focuses on scaling of the transistor width W, the active-area length (length of diffusion, LOD) for isolated transistors, and poly-to-poly length LP/P of nested configurations. A strong narrow-width current enhancement is reported, even for relatively large widths, above 100 nm. On the other hand, the layout dependence on LOD or LP/P is also predicted but only for aggressively scaled layouts (LOD or LP/P below 100 nm). W and LP/P scaling lead to current enhancement, whereas LOD scaling is expected to degrade performance. No significant dependence of short-channel threshold voltage on W, LOD, or LP/P was observed. This study indicates that, as higher germanium concentrations of the channel lead to more layout dependence, this concentration may need to be optimized carefully to combine high channel mobility with limited added design complexity. Moreover, the channel thickness should be kept as thin as possible, as layout dependence is enhanced for thicker channels.
Effects of estrogen and venlafaxine on menopause-related quality of life in healthy postmenopausal women with hot flashes: a placebo-controlled randomized trial

ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate the effects of low-dose estradiol (E2) or venlafaxine on menopause-related quality of life and associated symptoms in healthy perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with hot flashes. MethodsA double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of low-dose oral 17&bgr;-E2 0.5 mg/day and venlafaxine XR 75 mg/day, versus identical placebo, was conducted among 339 women (aged 40-62 y) experiencing two or more vasomotor symptoms (VMS) per day (mean [SD], 8.07 [5.29]) who were recruited at three clinical sites from November 2011 to October 2012. The primary trial outcome, as reported previously, was frequency of VMS at 8 weeks. Here, we report on secondary endpoints of total and domain scores from the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (MENQOL) and from measures of pain (Pain, Enjoyment in life, and General activity scale), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7), and perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale). ResultsTreatment with both E2 and venlafaxine resulted in significantly greater improvement in quality of life, as measured by total MENQOL scores, compared with placebo (E2: mean difference at 8 wk, −0.4; 95% CI, −0.7 to −0.2; P < 0.001; venlafaxine: mean difference at 8 wk, −0.2; 95% CI, −0.5 to 0.0; P = 0.04). Quality-of-life domain analyses revealed that E2 had beneficial treatment effects on all domains of the MENQOL except for the psychosocial domain, whereas venlafaxine benefits were observed only in the psychosocial domain. Neither E2 nor venlafaxine improved pain, anxiety, or depressive symptoms, although baseline symptom levels were low. Modest benefits were observed for perceived stress with venlafaxine. ConclusionsBoth low-dose E2 and venlafaxine are effective pharmacologic agents for improving menopause-related quality of life in healthy women with VMS.
The twenty year anniversary of Australia’s Oceans Policy: achievements, challenges and lessons for the future

ABSTRACT In 1998 the Australian government released Australia’s Oceans Policy. The oceans policy was a policy experiment that attempted new and untried methods of policy implementation through ecosystem based management approaches. However, the government’s initial goal to achieve ‘full’ integration across sectors and jurisdictions was never achieved. This paper examines the achievements, challenges and lessons learned from this complex and historically significant policy process that spanned over a decade. It reveals that despite the attempt at a holistic policy approach, the challenges to reconcile the jurisdictional and sectoral issues that are entrenched in Australian oceans governance contributed to the policy’s demise. These issues continue to shape ocean and marine resources management in Australia and given the timely event of the twenty-year anniversary of the launch of the policy the question is asked – what is the way for forward for Australian oceans governance?
A phase 1 study of buparlisib and bevacizumab in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma progressing on vascular endothelial growth factor‐targeted therapies

The phosphatidylinositol‐3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is dysregulated in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Buparlisib is a pan‐PI3K inhibitor with activity in advanced solid tumors. The primary objective of the current study was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and dose‐limiting toxicities of buparlisib and bevacizumab in patients with mRCC. Secondary objectives included efficacy, biomarker discovery, and additional toxicity.
Liquidity and size effects on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE)

ABSTRACT This study explores the existence of a liquidity premium on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and its potential interaction with the well-documented size effect. It builds on the stream of South African literature that examines liquidity as a standalone factor and adds further weight to its existence. Over the 2000-2015 sample period, this study finds evidence of a significant liquidity effect. Importantly, the liquidity premium is found to be separate from the size effect. Furthermore, the liquidity premium captures a different underlying effect than the value premium. The efficacy of Liu’s (2006) Liquidity-Augmented Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) as a useful asset-pricing model for the cross-section of returns on the JSE is examined and found to perform better than the Fama-French 3-Factor model.
A novel HVDC-link based on hybrid voltage-source converters

In this paper, a novel topology of the HVDC converter is proposed for offshore wind farm applications. A combined structure of a voltage-source converter (VSC) and a 12-pulse diode rectifier is applied to the sending-end station on the offshore side and a hybrid topology of a VSC and 12-pulse SCR converters is employed for a receiving station. The VSC is used not only to control the high DC-link voltage, but also to compensate for the reactive power of the SCR converter without requiring the capacitor banks. In addition, the current harmonics due to the SCR converter can be mitigated, by which the AC filters are not required for the SCR converter. The potential benefits of this hybrid topology include low power losses, low costs, and smaller footprint resulting from using the diode and SCR. The simulation results for 500-MW HVDC transmission system are shown to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Validation assessment of the Chinese (Taiwan) version of the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index for patients with symptomatic gallstone disease.

BACKGROUND Symptomatic gallstone is one of the most common diseases in Taiwan. The aim of this study was to develop a Mandarin Chinese outcomes measure for the assessment on quality of life among gallstone patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI) is a valid, disease-specific measure for the evaluation of health status and treatment effectiveness for adults with chronic gastrointestinal condition. The GIQLI was translated into Mandarin Chinese using a parallel model. The Chinese (Taiwan) version of the GIQLI (CGIQLI) was administered to 102 patients with symptomatic gallstone disease in a prospective manner; the CGIQLI then was validated according to established criteria for reliability, validity, and longitudinal sensitivity. RESULTS The CGIQLI demonstrates good test-retest reliability (r = 0.92, P = 0.001) and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.92). The CGIQLI significantly correlates with the Mandarin Chinese (Taiwan) version of the generic 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). The standardized response mean for the CGIQLI total score is 0.96, indicating excellent sensitivity to clinical change in the study group. CONCLUSION This validation study demonstrated that the performance characteristics of the CGIQLI are equivalent to the English version, the GIQLI. This study demonstrates that the CGIQLI is a valid tool to evaluate adults with chronic gastrointestinal problems among the Chinese-speaking population.