Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Increasing distributed generation using automatic voltage reference setting technique

The increasing connection of distributed energy generation in a distribution network may lead to unacceptable voltage rise. An automatic voltage reference setting technique, acting on the tap change control of the transformer supplying the network, can be used to address this problem. By measuring essential voltage points along the distribution network, an automatic voltage reference setting technique is applied to the automatic voltage control (AVC) relay. The AVC relay then controls an on-load tap changing (OLTC) transformer in order to maximise distributed generation while maintaining the feeder voltage within limits. The automatic voltage reference setting technique and its implementation are described. A closed-loop testing facility, based on a real time digital simulator (RTDS), was constructed and used to test the technique. The paper presents and discusses the results obtained and shows how this technique may be used to maximise the distributed generation that can be connected to a distribution feeder.
Efficacy of ciprofloxacin against Leptospira interrogans serogroup icterohaemorrhagiae

Ciprofloxacin activity against Leptospira interrogans serogroup icterohaemorrhagiae was studied in vitro and in an animal model. The MBC of ciprofloxacin was 0.6 microgram/ml. Three of three Syrian hamsters died 8 to 9 days after intraperitoneal challenge with 10(6) leptospires. In contrast, five of six animals given ciprofloxacin 3 or 5 days after challenge survived.
Examining the utility of the PCL:SV as a screening measure using competing factor models of psychopathy.

The correspondence between the Hare Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL:SV; S. D. Hart, D. N. Cox, & R. D. Hare, 1995) and the Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R; R. D. Hare, 1991, 2003) was examined in forensic (N = 175) and correctional (N = 188) samples. Intermeasure correlations for Total scores (.95 forensic, .94 correctional) and the original 2-factor, D. J. Cooke and C. Michie's (2001) 3-factor, and R. D. Hare's (2003) 4-facet models (range = .87-.95) were high. Area under the curve values for the PCL:SV were . 98 in both samples (cutoff = PCL-R Total score of 25). The PCL:SV performed well as a screen, maximizing false positive relative to false negative errors. Close correlations for prediction of violent recidivism in the correctional sample were obtained for the PCL-R (.42) and PCL:SV (.37). Results indicate the robust relation between the measures is maintained whether they are completed on the basis of file review only or file plus interview and whether the same or different raters score the measures.
Substance P inhibits GABAB receptor signalling in the ventral tegmental area

Substance P (SP) and its receptors are involved in anxiety‐related behaviours and regulate the intake of drugs of abuse and alcohol. Within the midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA), a region that is clearly involved in the control of these behaviours, SP is released by stress and has been shown to trigger relapse. SP activates neurokinin (NK) receptors, which excites midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons and leads to increased DA in target regions. In this study, we have investigated the mechanisms underlying SP actions in the VTA, specifically investigating interactions between SP and GABAB receptors. We show that in VTA neurons, NK receptor activation closes an inwardly rectifying potassium channel, and moreover inhibits GABAB receptor‐mediated transmission through an interaction that depends upon phospholipase C (PLC), intracellular calcium and protein kinase C (PKC).
Practical strategies for agent-based negotiation in complex environments

Agent-based negotiation, whereby the negotiation is automated by software programs, can be applied to many different negotiation situations, including negotiations between friends, businesses or countries. A key benefit of agent-based negotiation over human negotiation is that it can be used to negotiate effectively in complex negotiation environments, which consist of multiple negotiation issues, time constraints, and multiple unknown opponents. While automated negotiation has been an active area of research in the past twenty years, existing work has a number of limitations. Specifically, most of the existing literature has considered time constraints in terms of the number of rounds of negotiation that take place. In contrast, in this work we consider time constraints which are based on the amount of time that has elapsed. This requires a different approach, since the time spent computing the next action has an effect on the utility of the outcome, whereas the actual number of offers exchanged does not. In addition to these time constraints, in the complex negotiation environments which we consider, there are multiple negotiation issues, and we assume that the opponents’ preferences over these issues and the behaviour of those opponents are unknown. Finally, in our environment there can be concurrent negotiations between many participants. Against this background, in this thesis we present the design of a range of practical negotiation strategies, the most advanced of which uses Gaussian process regression to coordinate its concession against its various opponents, whilst considering the behaviour of those opponents and the time constraints. In more detail, the strategy uses observations of the offers made by each opponent to predict the future concession of that opponent. By considering the discounting factor, it predicts the future time which maximises the utility of the offers, and we then use this in setting our rate of concession. Furthermore, we evaluate the negotiation agents that we have developed, which use our strategies, and show that, particularly in the more challenging scenarios, our most advanced strategy outperforms other state-of-the-art agents from the Automated Negotiating Agent Competition, which provides an international benchmark for this work. In more detail, our results show that, in one-to-one negotiation, in the highly discounted scenarios, our agent reaches outcomes which, on average, are 2.3% higher than those of the next best agent. Furthermore, using empirical game theoretic analysis we show the robustness of our strategy in a variety of tournament settings. This analysis shows that, in the highly discounted scenarios, no agent can benefit by choosing a different strategy (taken from the top four strategies in that setting) than ours. Finally, in the many-to-many negotiations, we show how our strategy is particularly effective in highly competitive scenarios, where it outperforms the state-of-the-art many-to-many negotiation strategy by up to 45%.
Intestinal Parasite Infections in Western Australian Aborigines

Giardia intestinalis (15.2%) and Hymenolepis nana (20.4%) were the two most frequently reported species in a study of intestinal parasites from 1683 Aboriginal people in Western Australia. Concurrent infection with the two species was statistically significant in the 0 to three years age group only (P0.01), and it is suggested that in older age groups the presence of one of these parasites may in some way inhibit the development of the other. Hymenolepis nana infection was more common in males than in females (P0.001). Hookworm and Strongyloides stercoralis infections were confined to the tropical north of the State. The total or near‐total absence of infection with Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Entamoeba spp. (all frequent in eastern Australian Aboriginal communities) is noted, and possible reasons are discussed.
The use of perlite to remove dark colour from repeatedly used palm oil

Expanded perlite was used as a bleaching agent to remove dark colour from repeatedly used palm oil. It was found that non-activated expanded perlite was able to bleach the dark colour. The expanded perlite samples were also activated by acid and base before use. The base-activated perlite was able to bleach the dark colour of the repeatedly used palm oil but acid-activated perlite was not. The efficiency of base activated perlite was slightly better than that of non-activated expanded perlite. The bleaching mechanism could be explained mainly by physical adsorption. It was found that not only the colour of used oil was reduced but also the peroxide and acid values. Perlite could also adsorb the toxic compound benzo(a)pyrene from palm oil. Apart from measurement of the colour of oil, the peroxide and acid values as well as compositions of oil before and after bleaching were studied. Perlite samples before and after use were studied by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The non-activated and activated perlite samples were also studied with X-ray diffraction.
Serum Mac-2 Binding Protein Levels Associate with Metabolic Parameters and Predict Liver Fibrosis Progression in Subjects with Fatty Liver Disease: A 7-Year Longitudinal Study

Background: Mac-2 binding protein (M2BP) is a highly glycosylated secreted glycoprotein that is involved in immune defense and regulation. Our cross-sectional studies indicated that serum M2BP was a useful liver fibrosis biomarker for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this study, we conducted a 7-year longitudinal study to investigate the significance of serum M2BP levels (baseline and at 7-year follow-up) and their relationships with other metabolic parameters of fatty liver disease. Methods: We enrolled 715 study subjects (521 male and 194 female) during health examinations. Study subjects received blood sampling tests and abdominal ultrasound tests at baseline and follow-up. Results: Univariate analyses demonstrated that serum M2BP levels were significantly correlated with various parameters related to metabolic risk (body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol) and metabolic syndrome diseases (obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, fatty liver (FL)). Multiple logistic regression analyses demonstrated that BMI and FL were independent determinants for serum M2BP levels. Baseline serum M2BP levels were significant independent determinants for changes in platelet count, Fibrosis-4 (FIB4) index, and NAFLD fibrosis score. Higher serum M2BP levels (>1.80 μg/mL) strongly correlated with changes in the FIB4-index. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that changes in serum M2BP levels reflect changes in specific metabolic disease-related parameters, and baseline serum M2BP levels could predict changes in liver fibrosis.
Expanding the phenotype of cardiovascular malformations in Adams–Oliver syndrome

We describe a newborn with a phenotype consistent with Adams–Oliver syndrome and truncus arteriosus. Although cardiovascular malformations associated with this syndrome have been previously published in the literature, this is the first description of truncus arteriosus in a patient with Adams–Oliver syndrome. We review other reports of Adams–Oliver syndrome previously described with cardiovascular malformations, consider possible genetic and embryologic mechanisms, and emphasize the need for cardiology consultation when a diagnosis of Adams–Oliver syndrome is suspected in the differential diagnosis. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Survey on Spectrum Utilization in Wireless Sensor Networks

In recent years, the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) bands have been intensively shared with unlicensed wireless communications applications such as wireless sensor networks (WSNs). With flourishing popularity of sensor devices and increasing installation of wireless sensor nodes, the cross technology interference (CTI) has become a considerable real-world problem. Because of CTI, wireless devices suffer significant communication dilemma. Moreover, ISM band, as the main communication medium of WSN, should be reasonably utilized in an efficient and effective manner. Extensive approaches have been proposed to explore spectrum utilization in WSN. However, there is no such one, which systematically organizes these works. In this paper, we present a comprehensive survey on spectrum utilization in WSNs. To achieve this goal, We first illustrate the background of WSN and spectrum utilization. Our concern on CTI is then noted. Later we demonstrate the importance of efficient spectrum utilization. Eventually, through classification and summary of recent related works, we provide an essential structure of research in titled field and detailed intellectual merits of published works. Our survey covers more than 80 studies in the scope of spectrum utilization in WSN.
Hypericin and Photodynamic Treatment do not Interfere with Transport of Vitamin C during Respiratory Burst

Hypericin is a photosensitizing pigment found in St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) displaying a high toxicity towards certain tumors. The fact that some non-tumor cells, especially monocytes and granulocytes, are resistant to its photocytotoxic effects, posed the question whether this insensitivity is due to their ability to accumulate vitamin C, an antioxidant which alleviates the deleterious work of free radicals. HL-60 promyelocytic tumor cells can be differentiated to neutrophilic granulocytes by treatment with dimethylsulfoxide and were used as cell model. In the differentiated cells, treatment with phorbol esters (PMA) stimulates vitamin C (ascorbate) transport. The uptake rates were unaltered by hypericin at concentrations below 1 μM and irradiation with visible light at a light dose of 6 J/cm2. Inhibition by higher concentrations of hypericin was most probably due to a combination of photocytotoxic properties of the dye and oxygen radicals generated during respiratory burst. Superoxide production by NADPH oxidase followed by reduction of ferricytochrome c was inhibited by hypericin. The degree of inhibition was dependent on the concentration of hypericin and light intensity: IC50-values were 1.7 and 0.7 μM under light doses of 3.6 and 10.8 J/cm2, respectively. Oxidative stress, monitored with 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein (DCF) was only slightly decreased by ascorbate even at higher concentrations of hypericin. In contrast to its effect on the ferricytochrome c-reduction, irradiation had no significant influence on DCF-fluorescence. However, the viability of the cells was strongly decreased after photosensitization and no significant improvement was obtained by ascorbate. Results from this work indicate that ascorbate transport per se is not altered during photodynamic therapy and vitamin C does not interfere with hypericin-induced photodamage of cellular targets.
Women's Health Groups: Alternatives to the Health Care System

This article describes an empirical study of 28 alternative women's health organizations. These organizations were formed by women who rejected the existing institutions of health care, especially the nature and quality of reproductive health services. The study examined their philosophy of health care, the range of services provided and the characteristics of women who use them, their internal organization in terms of the distribution of power and authority, and the problems and challenges involved in their existence. Implications and impacts resulting from their continuing existence into the 1980s on the delivery of health care for women are addressed.
Strategies to enhance nanoparticle-endothelial interactions under flow

Recent years have brought about substantial advances in nanomedical approaches to human diseases. Novel thera- peutic and diagnostic nanoparticulate agents can be delivered via several routes, including enteral, transdermal, inhalational, as well as parenteral application. For nanoparticles administered via intravascular route, endothelial cells represent the first- contact cells and their responses to the candidate nanosystems should be considered before clinical applications. Additionally, a number of drug-delivery nanosystems that target endothelium are currently proposed. It is increasingly evident that the future progress in the treatment of many human maladies, including cardiovascular diseases and cancer, will be closely bound with the development of endothelium-targeting nanosystems. As endothelial cells in circulation are constantly exposed to shear stress, investigating nanoparticle-endothelial interactions under flow conditions is necessary to estimate the cell responses in physiological-like settings. This mini-review focuses on the recently reported studies assessing the uptake of circulating nanoparticles and their biological effects on endothelial cells, and summarizes the targeting approaches to enhance endothelial internalization of nanoparticles under flow conditions.
Activated protein C and hospital mortality in septic shock: A propensity-matched analysis*

Objective:Evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of human recombinant activated protein C in severe sepsis is limited, especially outside of clinical trials. We sought to compare the outcomes of patients with septic shock who received early treatment with activated protein C to those who did not. Design, Setting, and Patients:A retrospective cohort study at 404 U.S. hospitals. We studied 33,749 patients with sepsis who were admitted to intensive care and administered antibiotics and vasopressors within 2 days of admission. Measurements and Main Results:Hospital mortality, intracranial and gastrointestinal hemorrhage, major transfusion. Compared to the entire cohort, the 1576 activated protein C-treated patients included in the matched analysis were younger (mean age, 61 vs. 67), more likely to be white (70% vs. 63%), and had fewer comorbidities. Treated patients were more likely to require mechanical ventilation (77% vs. 48%), to be administered two or more vasopressors (68% vs. 41%), to undergo pulmonary artery catheterization (9% vs. 4%), and to die in the hospital (40.7% vs. 38.1%). In a propensity-matched sample in which all covariates achieved balance, receipt of activated protein C was associated with reduced hospital mortality (40.7% vs. 46.6%; risk ratio, 0.87; 95% confidence interval, 0.80-0.95). This result was insensitive to a hypothetical unmeasured confounder. A similar pattern was observed across groups stratified by age and number of organ-supportive therapies. Four activated protein C-treated patients (0.25%) had hemorrhagic stroke, 107 (6.8%) had gastrointestinal bleeding, and five (0.3%) required major transfusion. Conclusions:Among patients presenting with septic shock, early treatment with activated protein C may be associated with reduced hospital mortality.
Turnover and fractionation of nitrogen stable isotope in tissues of grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idellus

Determination of the isotopic turnover rate in the various tissues of an organism is one of the essential prerequisites for tracing the food sources of consumers and for elucidating trophic interactions in ecological studies using stable isotope analysis (SIA). Isotopic turnover and fractionation in the commercially important freshwater teleost grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idel- lus, however, are poorly understood so far. In the present study, we conducted a diet-switch exper- iment of C. idellus for 3 mo to assess nitrogen isotopic turnover and fractionation in different tis- sues of this species, including liver, muscle, and gill. The results revealed that turnover rates exhibited significant differences between tissues and increased in the sequence of gill < muscle < liver, owing to the differences in metabolic activities between the tissues. Contribution to long- term nitrogen isotopic turnover rates from metabolism was greatest for the liver (~70 to 77% meta- bolic contribution) and greatest from growth for the gill (86 to 90% contribution of net tissue increase). Nitrogen half-lives estimated with time- or growth-based models were, respectively, 29.9 d and 1.18-fold mass increase for liver, 68.3 d and 1.45-fold mass increase for muscle, and 115.4 d and 1.81-fold mass increase for gill. The nitrogen isotopic fractionation of all tissues was enriched by 3 to 4‰ relative to the nitrogen isotopic signature of the diet, with significant differ- ences between the 3 types of tissues, probably owing to the different biochemical pathways and constituents between the various tissues.
Recruitment of Transcription Complexes to the β-Globin Gene Locus in Vivo and in Vitro*

Erythroid-specific, high level expression of the β-globin genes is regulated by the locus control region (LCR), composed of multiple DNase I-hypersensitive sites and located far upstream of the genes. Recent studies have shown that LCR core elements recruit RNA polymerase II (pol II). In the present study we demonstrate the following: 1) pol II and other basal transcription factors are recruited to LCR core hypersensitive elements; 2) pol II dissociates from and re-associates with the globin gene locus during replication; 3) pol II interacts with the LCR but not with the β-globin gene prior to erythroid differentiation in embryonic stem cells; and 4) the erythroid transcription factor NF-E2 facilitates the transfer of pol II from immobilized LCR constructs to a β-globin gene in vitro. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that the LCR serves as the primary attachment site for the recruitment of macromolecular complexes involved in chromatin structure alterations and transcription of the globin genes.
Adjunctive Melatonin for Tardive Dyskinesia in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Meta-Analysis

Background Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is characterized by abnormal and involuntary movements. Importantly, TD could cause considerable personal suffering and social and physical disabilities. Aims This meta-analysis based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) systematically assessed the therapeutic effect and tolerability of melatonin for TD in schizophrenia. Methods A computerized and systematical search of both Chinese (Wanfang Data, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), SINOMED) and English (PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, Cochrane Library databases) databases, from their inception until June 8, 2017, was conducted by two independent authors. The severity of TD symptoms were the primary outcome measure and analyzed using a random effects model by the Review Manager (RevMan) Version 5.3. Quality evaluation of included RCTs was conducted using the Cochrane risk of bias and Jadad scale. The GRADE (Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) system recommendation grading method was used to assess the overall quality level of meta-analytic outcomes. Results Four RCTs (n=130) were identified and analyzed. Three RCTs used double blind and 1 RCT used masked assessors using the Cochrane risk of bias, and 3 RCTs were rated as high quality based on Jadad scale. Compared with the control group, adjunctive melatonin was superior in reducing the severity of TD as measured by the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) (4 RCTs, n=130, weighted mean difference (WMD): -1.52 (95% confidence intervals (CI): -3.24, 0.20), p=0.08; I2=0%) although the improvement did not reach a significant level. The overall evidence quality of the improvement of TD symptoms, according to GRADE approach, was rated as “Low”. The data on the ADRs and cognitive effect were limited. Conclusions This meta-analysis shows that melatonin has potential for improving TD symptoms in schizophrenia. Future higher quality and larger RCTs are warranted to confirm the findings.