Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cascaded Multilevel Converters: Optimal Asymmetries and Floating Capacitor Control

Cascaded multilevel (CM) converter is a series connection of several inverters that together generate multiple voltage levels with controllable frequency, phase, and amplitude. Its main advantages are high power, reliability, and power quality. However, it has considerable drawbacks such as high number of components, many isolated power sources, decreasing voltage quality with the modulation index, and regeneration in some series inverters at specific modulation indexes, even when the machine is motoring. The authors propose to improve any CM topology through two solutions: use optimal voltage asymmetries (ratios), higher than conventional ones; replace the voltage sources by floating capacitors balanced with a new control (PI controller) and/or a high-frequency link. This paper presents theoretical analysis and experimental results of CM converters with increased voltage-quality (levels), some of them keeping this high quality and avoiding regeneration in motor mode at any motor operation point, using the proposed voltage asymmetries and simplifying or eliminating some voltage sources. Experimental results show a reduction of components, an improved voltage quality, and a satisfactory behavior in stationary and dynamic operation.
Left ventricular remodeling and hypertrophy in patients with aortic stenosis

Background: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is the gold standard non-invasive method for determining left ventricular (LV) mass and volume but has not been used previously to characterise the LV remodeling response in aortic stenosis. We sought to investigate the degree and patterns of hypertrophy in aortic stenosis using CMR. Methods: Patients with moderate or severe aortic stenosis, normal coronary arteries and no other significant valve lesions or cardiomyopathy were scanned by CMR with valve severity assessed by planimetry and velocity mapping. The extent and patterns of hypertrophy were investigated using measurements of the LV mass index, indexed LV volumes and the LV mass/volume ratio. Asymmetric forms of remodeling and hypertrophy were defined by a regional wall thickening ≥13 mm and >1.5-fold the thickness of the opposing myocardial segment. Results: Ninety-one patients (61±21 years; 57 male) with aortic stenosis (aortic valve area 0.93±0.32cm2) were recruited. The severity of aortic stenosis was unrelated to the degree (r=0.012, P=0.43) and pattern (P=0.22) of hypertrophy. By univariate analysis, only male sex demonstrated an association with LV mass index (P=0.02). Six patterns of LV adaption were observed: normal ventricular geometry (n=11), concentric remodeling (n=11), asymmetric remodeling (n=11), concentric hypertrophy (n=34), asymmetric hypertrophy (n=14) and LV decompensation (n=10). Asymmetric patterns displayed considerable overlap in appearances (wall thickness 17 ±2mm) with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Conclusions: We have demonstrated that in patients with moderate and severe aortic stenosis, the pattern of LV adaption and degree of hypertrophy do not closely correlate with the severity of valve narrowing and that asymmetric patterns of wall thickening are common. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Reference Number: NCT00930735
A Compact Wideband Patch Antenna for Ultra High Frequency RFID Tag

A compact and simple patch antenna for ultra high frequency band is current demand for RFID tag. By embedding a pair of symmetrical key-shaped slot near the non-radiating edge of the rectangular patch, a new adjacent resonant mode close to the fundamental mode is excited to form a wide half-power impedance bandwidth (Return loss ≥ 3 dB) of 122 MHz to cover the entire frequency range of ultra high frequency RFID operation (860–960 MHz). The structure of the antenna is completely planar without any cross or multi-layered construction thus it provides ease of fabrication and reduced cost. Performance of the antenna is evaluated by using a commercial electromagnetic simulator, Ansoft HFSS v13. Simulation results demonstrate that the antenna is able to perform considerably well when mounted on different size of metallic plate as well as in free space.
Exact analysis of the propagation of acoustic waves in multilayered anisotropic piezoelectric plates

Exact analysis of the propagation of acoustic waves in multilayered piezoelectric plates is performed using the transfer matrix method. A general technique for analyzing layered piezoelectric resonators under thickness and lateral field excitation is presented and is applied to the study of zinc oxide on silicon thin film resonators. Both one and two-dimensional analysis with general material anisotropy is performed, and a simplified method for incorporating thin conducting electrodes on the plate's free surfaces is presented. The general methodology described is summarized into efficient algorithms to aid in the implementation of the procedures and some computational aspects are discussed. Results are presented for cutoff behavior as well as general dispersion characteristics for two and three layered plates. <<ETX>>
Optimal RTU placement in power distribution systems using a novel method based on analytical hierarchical process (AHP)

In a practical power system, automating all the substations is neither affordable nor economically justifiable. On the other hand, the trend for electric power subsidies elimination in some regions, such as Iran, aggravates this situation. To enhance the cost effectiveness of distribution automation system, this paper proposes a novel applicable qualitative-quantitative method using analytical hierarchical process (AHP) to find the optimum placement of remote terminal units (RTU). Entire attempt is to contribute all the crucial technical and practical parameters related to this problem in order to find the most reliable solution. Optimum number of RTUs is determined using the concepts of reliability cost/worth taking into account the total cost of customer interruption and investment cost of RTUs. The effectiveness of the proposed technique is validated on a real distribution feeder of Iran's power grid.
Stabilization of an underactuated AUV with physical damping on SE(3) via SIDA method

This paper presents the stabilization of a relative equilibrium of an underactuated autonomous underwater vehicle(AUV) that has three independent inputs: surge moment, yaw moment and pitch moment in the context of Hamilton system on Lie group SE(3) while physical damping terms appear. The control law that consists of two parts is derived from reshaping kinetic energy and reassigning damping terms via simultaneous interconnection and damping assignment(SIDA) method. It can globally stabilize an underactuted AUV that moves along its longitudinal axis with arbitrary designed body velocities, which is a nongeneric relative equilibrium. Further more, the designed relative equilibrium is globally exponentially stable. Simulation results complete the work.
Angiogenesis , Metastasis , and the Cellular Microenvironment Overexpression of Aurora-A Enhances Invasion and Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 Expression in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of themost aggressive cancers, andmetastasis is the principal cause of death in ESCC patients. It has been shown that amplification and overexpression of mitotic serine/ threonine kinase Aurora-A occur in several types of human tumors, including ESCC. Moreover, increase in expression levels of Aurora-A has been predicted to correlate with the grades of tumor differentiation and invasive capability. However, the mechanisms by which Aurora-A mediates its invasive effects still remain elusive. In this article, we showed that Aurora-A overexpression significantly increased cell migration and invasion as well as secretion and expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2). Conversely, siRNA-mediated knockdown of Aurora-A expression in human ESCC cells led to inhibition of cell invasiveness as well as secretion and expression of MMP-2. In addition, Aurora-A overexpression increased phosphorylation levels of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Akt, and the knockdown of Aurora-A by siRNA decreased the activity of p38MAPK and Akt. Moreover, the blocking of the activity of above kinases using chemical inhibitors suppressed the ability of Aurora-A to induceMMP-2 secretion and expression as well as cell invasion. These data show that overexpression of Aurora-A contributes to the malignancy development of ESCC by enhancing tumor cell invasion as well as MMP-2 activity and expression, which can occur through signaling pathways involving p38MAPK and Akt protein kinases. Taken together, these studies provide a molecular basis for promoting the role of Aurora-A in malignancy development of ESCC. Mol Cancer Res; 10(5); 588–96. 2012 AACR.
An extension of the analytic hierarchy process for industrial R&D project selection and resource allocation

The research and development project selection decision is concerned with the allocation of resources to a set of proposals for scientific and engineering activities. The project selection and resource allocation process can be viewed as a multiple-criteria decision-making problem, within the context of the long-range and strategic planning process of the firm. The purpose of this paper is explore the applicability of an extension of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for priority setting and resource allocation in the industrial R&D environment. In this paper, an AHP modeling framework for the R&D project selection decision is developed, and is linked to a spreadsheet model to assist in the ranking of a large number of project alternatives. Next, cost-benefit analysis and integer programming are used to assist in the resource allocation decision. The paper concludes with an evaluation of the suitability of this approach as an expert support system, and directions for future research and testing.
Effect of simultaneous high temperature and vibration on MEMS based vibratory gyroscope

Combined effects of high temperature and vibration can significantly attenuate the life of electronics used in automotive, military and navigation applications. No prior studies exist which examine the simultaneous effects of high temperature plus vibration and analyze failure modes and failure criterion for MEMS based gyros and accelerometers. Accelerometers and gyroscopes make a great complement to one another, as the latter is not affected by gravity. Both are used alongside each other in motion-capture, vehicle navigation, and missile-control and flight guidance applications. In order to have a reliable harsh environmental reliability data set these MEMS devices need to be monitored under conditions mimicking their areas of applications. In this paper a test vehicle with a, MEMS gyroscope, LPY510AL, has been tested under: high temperature exposure at 55°C combined with vibration profile(s) set at 14G. The test boards with gyroscopes were later subjected to rotations between 07s and 1007s. Scale Factor(s) were computed for both the pristine and vibration conditions. This paper also highlights the effect of thermal cycling on zero bias stability of LPY510AL. The test boards were subjected to a standard thermal cycling profile, −40°C to 85°C for 250 loops. Shift in output parameters for the gyro has been examined incrementally until failure. The survivability of LPY510AL has been demonstrated as a function of change in the output parameters.
Reconstruction method for Reed-Muller codes using Fast Hadamard Transform

The use of an error-correcting code is essential in communication systems where the channel is noisy. We present a new technique to reconstruct RM (Reed-Muller) codes from a noisy intercepted bit stream. RM codes have several decoding methods, including a method that uses the FHT (Fast Hadamard Transform). The FHT algorithm is composed of several butterfly operations. To verify whether or not a received code is RM, FHT is first performed assuming that the code is first-order RM. If the received code is a higher order RM other than first-order, we perform FHT after the removal of the masking components. We verified our proposed algorithm by performing intensive computer simulations.
Infection due to Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and Haemophilus aphrophilus.

OVER a period of ten years the laboratory responsible for the identification of miscellaneous types of bacteria at the Communicable Disease Center received 63 strains of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and 83 strains of Haemophilus aphrophilus. The cultural and serologic studies of 67 of these strains have been the subject of a previous report.1 These organisms are seldom encountered and infrequently identified even when isolated. Although seemingly unrelated by generic designation, they are in fact closely related and frequently confused. It is unlikely that any physician would be able to collect a comparable number of cases of either infection to report. For .
Muscle Spindle Reinnervation following Phenol Block

Infusion of phenol into peripheral nerves is used clinically to manage spasticity. It produces relief of symptoms by chemical denervation. We simulated the clinical procedure by bathing the lateral plantar nerve of rats in 7% phenol solution for 20 min. We studied the innervation of muscle spindles in the plantar lumbrical muscles of untreated rats and in rats 4 and 6 weeks after a single phenol block. Spindles were identified by the immunoreactivity of nuclear bag1 fibers to slow tonic myosin (antibody ALD 19). The integrity of the sensory and motor reinnervation of spindles was evaluated using a monoclonal antibody specific for a high molecular weight neurofilament protein. Four weeks after phenol block, muscle spindles were difficult to find, as their immunoreactivity to antibody ALD 19 was reduced. In those spindles studied, most (>80%) were completely denervated. The remainder of which were innervated by afferents only. None received efferent (gamma) innervation. After 6 weeks, spindles were readily identified and nearly all (>90%) received recognizable afferent innervation. A much smaller number (38%) received gamma innervation. Phenol block thus results in a complete denervation of muscle spindles, followed by a fairly rapid sensory reinnervation. Reinnervation by gamma motor neurons is either incomplete or significantly delayed.
Effect of Mercuric Chloride on Biochemical and Hematological Parameters in Male Albino Mice

This study was designed to investigate the effect of inorganic mercury (mercuric chloride) on biochemical, hematological parameters, and examining the histological changes in liver, and kidney tissues in male albino mice as a laboratory animal Model. The animals used for the sub-chronic study for mercuric chloride received 1/100 , 1/50, 1/20 and 1/10 of the calculated LD50 which were equivalent to 0.25, 0.5, 1.25, and 2.5 mg /kg respectively. At four concentrations, levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), urea and creatinine were high significantly increase in mice treated with HgCl2 compared with control group. Whereas, the parameters cholesterol, glutathione (GSH), total protein, hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cells (RBC), and white blood cells (WBC) were significantly decrease in examined samples for animals treated with HgCl2 as compared with control group. It can be concluded that the altered biochemical and hematological parameters can be used as efficient bioindicators on the toxicity of mercury. Also, Mercuric chloride induced various histological alterations in liver, and kidney of mice.
Simultaneous elevation of the serum concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin‐6 as independent predictors of prognosis in aggressive non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma

Abstract: Therapeutic approaches for non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) are currently based on the International Prognostic Index (IPI). Research on biological prognostic factors has been actively pursued in recent years, with serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) being identified as prognostic factors for NHL. Here, we determined that serum VEGF and IL‐6 levels are independent prognostic factors for aggressive lymphoma. Compared with normal controls, serum VEGF and IL‐6 levels were significantly higher in patients with aggressive lymphoma or adult T‐cell leukemia/lymphoma. Furthermore, overall and disease‐free survival rates for patients with high levels of VEGF or IL‐6 were significantly poorer than for patients with low levels. In addition, the prognosis for patients with high levels of both serum VEGF and IL‐6 was significantly poorer than that for patients with high levels of either VEGF or IL‐6 or with low levels of both VEGF and IL‐6. Multivariate analyses of a variety of prognostic factors, including the five IPI factors, revealed that serum VEGF and IL‐6 were both independent prognostic factors for overall survival of aggressive lymphoma. Therefore, a combination of VEGF and IL‐6 represents a useful prognostic factor for aggressive lymphoma.
Biologic enhancement of spinal fusion with bone morphogenetic proteins: current position based on clinical evidence and future perspective.

Spinal fusion may be indicated for spinal instability and/or deformity. Advancements in spinal fusion have significantly increased the fusion rate. However, the validated biomechanical properties of modern instrumentation cannot attain 100% fusion because induction of heterotopic bone formation requires a complex balance of biologic factors and operative techniques. Currently, iliac crest autologous bone grafting (ICBG) is the gold standard to enhance biologic spinal fusion. Autogenous bone has osteogenic, osteoinductive, and osteoconductive abilities. However, ICBG is associated with several disadvantages, including increased procedure time, limited donor-site availability, and donor-site pain, with rates that vary significantly in the literature.
Scalable Clean Exfoliation of High‐Quality Few‐Layer Black Phosphorus for a Flexible Lithium Ion Battery

Few-layer black phosphorus (BP) nanosheets that are clean and of high quality, are efficiently produced by exfoliating bulk BP crystals, which are prepared by a scalable gas-phase catalytic transformation method in water. They are stable enough in water for further processing and applications. As an example, these BP nanosheets are combined with graphene to give high-performance flexible lithium-ion batteries.
Targeted chromatin ligation, a robust epigenetic profiling technique for small cell numbers

Abstract The complexity and inefficiency of chromatin immunoprecipitation strategies restrict their sensitivity and application when examining rare cell populations. We developed a new technique that replaces immunoprecipitation with a simplified chromatin fragmentation and proximity ligation step that eliminates bead purification and washing steps. We present a simple single tube proximity ligation technique, targeted chromatin ligation, that captures histone modification patterns with only 200 cells. Our technique eliminates loss of material and sensitivity due to multiple inefficient steps, while simplifying the workflow to enhance sensitivity and create the potential for novel applications.
Replication of bovine viral diarrhoea virus in the bovine reproductive tract and excretion of virus in semen during acute and chronic infections

Five mature bulls were studied during an acute transient infection with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV). The bulls had been infected experimentally by the intranasal instillation of blood and serum from a cow which was a persistent carrier of the virus. Infection was confirmed by the demonstration of a low titred viraemia in four of the five animals and by the seroconversion of all five. Semen samples were collected from each bull on four occasions between seven and 14 days after infection. The virus was isolated from the semen of three of the five bulls and from nine of 12 batches of semen from them. In contrast to other studies of the infection of semen, BVDV was isolated with similar efficiency from raw, unprocessed semen and from diluted, extended semen. The titres of virus in the semen ranged from 5 to 75 TCID50/ml. The infection did not appear to affect the quality of the semen. Shedding of virus continued after the end of the period of viraemia and appeared to be a consequence of the replication of the virus in the reproductive tract and its subsequent excretion in the seminal fluid. Virological studies of the reproductive tracts of these bulls suggested that the most productive sites of virus replication were the seminal vesicles and the prostate gland. Concurrent studies in a persistently infected bull supported these findings.
Traumatic arthritis of the hip after dislocation and acetabular fractures: treatment by mold arthroplasty. An end-result study using a new method of result evaluation.

An end-result analysis is presented of thirty-nine mold arthroplasties performed at the Massachusetts General Hospital between 1945 and 1965 in thirty-eight consecutive private patients for arthritis of the hip following fractures of the acetabulum or dislocations of the hip. Of the nineteen unilateral cases in the second half of the series, sixteen were rated good or excellent. Results in the second half of the series were significantly better statistically than those in the first half of the series. Possible reasons for this improvement are discussed. No significant deterioration occurred with the passage of time. Among the thirty-nine hips, three revisions were required. One patient had postoperative sepsis after arthroplasty. Four patients who had had intra-articular sepsis prior to arthroplasty showed no evidence of sepsis postoperatively. Factors influencing the choice between hip fusion and hip arthroplasty in these cases are presented. A new system for rating hip function is proposed and is compared with the systems of Larson and Shepherd.
Fine-coarse vector quantization

A fast method for searching an unstructured vector quantization (VQ) codebook is introduced and analyzed. The method, fine-coarse vector quantization (FCVQ), operates in two stages: a 'fine' structured VQ followed by a table lookup 'coarse' unstructured VQ. Its rate, distortion, arithmetic complexity, and storage are investigated using analytical and experimental means. Optimality condition and an optimizing algorithm are presented. The results of experiments with both uniform scalar quantization and tree-structured VQ (TSVQ) as the first stage are reported. Comparisons are made with other fast approaches to vector quantization, especially TSVQ. It is found that when rate, distortion, arithmetic complexity, and storage are all taken into account, FCVQ outperforms TSVQ in a number of cases. In comparison to full search quantization, FCVQ has much lower arithmetic complexity, at the expense of a slight increase in distortion and a substantial increase in storage. The increase in mean-squared error (over full search) decays as a negative power of the available storage. >
Positive regard.

This article reviews the research on the association between therapists' provision of positive regard and therapeutic outcome. Rogers' attempts to define the concept of positive regard are noted and two examples of positive regard are presented. A new meta-analysis, focusing on 18 studies, yielded an aggregate effect size of . 27 (CI = .16, .38; p < .000; k = 18; N = 1067), indicating that positive regard has a moderate association with psychotherapy outcomes; like many other relational factors, it is a significant but not exhaustive part of the process-outcome equation. Therapists' provision of positive regard is strongly indicated in practice; at a minimum, it provides the basis for other mutative interventions.