Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance evaluation of 15 kV SiC IGBT based medium voltage grid connected three-phase three-level NPC converter

Cascaded converters are generally used for Medium Voltage (MV) grid connected applications due to the limitation in the voltage rating of available Silicon (Si) power devices. These converters find application in Active Power Filters, STATCOM or as Active Front End Converters for Solid State Transformers at the distribution voltage levels. The wide bandgap semiconductor devices have enabled the grid connected operation of non-cascaded converters. This results in high power density, less number of switching devices, high efficiency and control simplicity for three-phase MV grid interface. 15 kV SiC IGBT is one such device which can be switched at 5 kHz between MV and zero levels with forced air cooling. However, this device in a grid connected non-cascaded converter introduces few additional challenges which are analyzed in this paper. The paper investigates the performance of the grid connected converter using 15 kV SiC IGBT through simulations and experiments till 4.16 kV, 3-phase operation. The concerned areas of study are Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) at low currents, effect of practical sensor-feedback path errors, effect of switching ripple on the distribution transformer, effect of filter parasitic capacitance and elimination of high common mode current.
Chinese Preschoolers as Design Partners -- Lessons Learned

Participatory design (PD) with preschoolers is an emerging and challenging research topic. This paper reports findings from a series of PD activities with children aged 4-6 years in China. China is an interesting culture for PD, and there is a hole in PD research with Chinese children of this age group. PD sessions were found challenging to conduct in this context, but techniques such as using a familiar comic character as a metaphor, the facilitator as the drawer, and one-on-one communication in a group setting seemed to alleviate the difficulties. Based on the case study findings, the pros and cons of each tested technique in designing child-computer interaction are discussed.
Enzymes (β-glucanase and arabinoxylanase) and/or sepiolite supplementation and the nutritive value of maize-barley-wheat based diets for broiler chickens

1. Two experiments were conducted to study the effects of crude enzyme preparations ( β -glucanase and arabinoxylanase) and/or 20 g/kg Sepiolite (Exal®) on the performance and nutrient digestion of broiler chickens fed on maize-barley-wheat based diets. 2. In experiment 1, enzymes improved daily bodyweight gain (by 14%; P <0.001) and food:gain ratios (8%; P <0.001). Sepiolite improved bodyweight gain on the diets not supplemented simultaneously with enzymes (by 6% in 21-d-old chickens, P <0.05) but reduced it for enzymes-supplemented diets. Changes in productive performance with both additives were associated with changes in diet digestibility and nitrogen balance. 3. In experiment 2, enzyme supplementation reduced viscosity in jejunum and ileum and the mean retention time of digesta in the gut. Sepiolite inclusion significantly reduced the viscosity of jejunum digesta and modified the retention times of digesta in the gut, depending upon whether enzymes had been added. There was a decreased retention time without enzymes but an increase with enzyme supplementation. 4. Although different mechanisms are presumed for enzymes and sepiolite, both seem to counteract the negative effects of soluble, non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) in the diet by modifying jejunal viscosity and improving organic matter digestibility.
Identification of Machine-Printed and Handwritten Words in Arabic and Latin Scripts

Our ultimate objective is to contribute to the field of script and nature identification to be able to differentiate, at word level, handwritten or machine-printed, Arabic and Latin scripts. Different sets of features have been employed successfully for discriminating between Arabic and Latin words. They include few well-established features previously used and adapted in our case and new structural features which are intrinsic features of Arabic and Latin scripts. We select features that maximize the distinction between Arabic and Latin words. Experiments have been conducted with 1320 handwritten and printed words, covering a wide range of fonts, and encouraging results have been obtained. We achieved a correct classification of 98.4 percent for word level script and nature identification using Bayes classifier.
Phosphorylation and Sulfation of Oligosaccharide Substrates Critically Influence the Activity of Human β1,4-Galactosyltransferase 7 (GalT-I) and β1,3-Glucuronosyltransferase I (GlcAT-I) Involved in the Biosynthesis of the Glycosaminoglycan-Protein Linkage Region of Proteoglycans*

We determined whether the two major structural modifications, i.e. phosphorylation and sulfation of the glycosaminoglycan-protein linkage region (GlcAβ1–3Galβ1–3Galβ1–4Xylβ1), govern the specificity of the glycosyltransferases responsible for the biosynthesis of the tetrasaccharide primer. We analyzed the influence of C-2 phosphorylation of Xyl residue on human β1,4-galactosyltransferase 7 (GalT-I), which catalyzes the transfer of Gal onto Xyl, and we evaluated the consequences of C-4/C-6 sulfation of Galβ1–3Gal (Gal2-Gal1) on the activity and specificity of β1,3-glucuronosyltransferase I (GlcAT-I) responsible for the completion of the glycosaminoglycan primer sequence. For this purpose, a series of phosphorylated xylosides and sulfated C-4 and C-6 analogs of Galβ1–3Gal was synthesized and tested as potential substrates for the recombinant enzymes. Our results revealed that the phosphorylation of Xyl on the C-2 position prevents GalT-I activity, suggesting that this modification may occur once Gal is attached to the Xyl residue of the nascent oligosaccharide linkage. On the other hand, we showed that sulfation on C-6 position of Gal1 of the Galβ1–3Gal analog markedly enhanced GlcAT-I catalytic efficiency and we demonstrated the importance of Trp243 and Lys317 residues of Gal1 binding site for enzyme activity. In contrast, we found that GlcAT-I was unable to use digalactosides as acceptor substrates when Gal1 was sulfated on C-4 position or when Gal2 was sulfated on both C-4 and C-6 positions. Altogether, we demonstrated that oligosaccharide modifications of the linkage region control the specificity of the glycosyltransferases, a process that may regulate maturation and processing of glycosaminoglycan chains.
Mutants of Rhodobacter sphaeroides lacking one or more pigment‐protein complexes and complementation with reaction‐centre, LH1, and LH2 genes

The photosynthetic apparatus of Rhodobacter sphaeroides is comprised of three types of pigment‐protein complex: the photochemical reaction centre and its attendant LH1 and LH2 light‐harvesting complexes. To augment existing deletion/insertion mutants in the genes coding for these complexes we have constructed two further mutants, one of which is a novel double mutant which is devoid of all three types of complex. We have also constructed vectors for the expression of either LH1, LH2 or reaction‐centre genes. The resulting system allows each pigment‐protein complex to be studied either as part of an intact photosystem or as the sole complex in the cell. In this way we have demonstrated that reaction centres can assemble independently of either light‐harvesting complex in R sphaeroides. In addition, the isolation of derivatives of the deletion/insertion mutants exhibiting spontaneous mutations in carotenoid biosynthesis provides an avenue for examining the role of carotenoids in the assembly of the photo‐synthetic apparatus. We show that the LH1 complex is assembled regardless of the carotenoid background, and that the type of carotenoid present modifies the absorbance of the LH1 bacteriochlorophylls.
Interacting with mobile devices via VoiceOver: usability and accessibility issues

In this paper we analyze the interaction of blind users with Apple touchscreen devices iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, accessible to the visually-impaired thanks to their pre-installed VoiceOver screen reader or magnifier. Specifically, we focus on the gestures offered by VoiceOver to simplify interaction for blind users. A usability inspection of the devices' user interfaces has been performed and integrated with user feedback collected via an online survey taken by 55 totally blind users. Results confirm that VoiceOver makes the Apple devices basically accessible to blind users, but there are still some issues related to usability. Users normally believe that accessibility integrated with VoiceOver is an important innovation, but some operations, such as the writing of long text, take too long or are not comfortable. Results suggest that a multimodal approach on mobile touchscreen devices does not offer a simple and satisfactory interaction paradigm for all and it deserves further investigation. Three possible solutions for improving user interface interaction and offering a simpler and more comfortable experience for blind individuals were proposed to the survey participants, gathering their positive feedback.
KLOVER: Automatic Test Generation for C and C Programs, Using Symbolic Execution

Fujitsu researchers have developed a methodology to automate testing of industrial-strength embedded software implemented in C or C++. The methodology’s core is a program analysis technique called symbolic execution, which the researchers have customized to automate testing. The methodology generates unit-level tests, greatly reducing test generation time and cost while providing excellent test coverage.
Protein kinase G‐dependent mechanisms modulate hypoglossal motoneuronal excitability and long‐term facilitation

Since protein kinase‐dependent modulation of motoneuronal excitability contributes to adaptive changes in breathing, we hypothesized that cGMP‐dependent pathways activating protein kinase G (PKG) modulate motoneuronal inspiratory drive currents and long‐term plasticity. In a medullary slice preparation from neonatal rat (postnatal days 0–4) generating spontaneous respiratory‐related rhythm, hypoglossal (XII) motoneuronal inspiratory drive currents and respiratory‐related XII nerve activity were recorded. Focal application of a PKG activator, 8‐bromoguanosine‐3′,5′‐cyclomonophosphate (8‐Br‐cGMP), to voltage‐clamped XII motoneurones decreased inspiratory drive currents. In the presence of tetrodotoxin (TTX), 8‐Br‐cGMP decreased the exogenous postsynaptic inward currents induced by focal application of AMPA. Intracellular dialysis of XII motoneurones with an inhibitory peptide to PKG (PKGI) increased endogenous inspiratory‐drive currents and exogenous AMPA‐induced currents. Application of 8‐Br‐cGMP with PKGI had no further effect on spontaneous or evoked currents, confirming that the observed effects were induced by PKG. However, PKG differentially increased longer‐term plasticity. Three 3 min applications (separated by 5 min) of the α1‐adrenergic agonist phenylephrine (PE) in combination with 8‐Br‐cGMP yielded greater in vitro long‐term facilitation than PE alone. These data indicate the presence of a cGMP/PKG‐dependent signalling pathway in XII motoneurones that modulates inspiratory drive currents and plasticity of XII motoneurones, possibly contributing to their adaptation during physiological challenges, such as sleep and exercise.
Title Reconsideration of progression to CRPC during androgen deprivationtherapy

*KURAに登録されているコンテンツの利用については,著作権法に規定されている私的使用や引用などの範囲内で行ってください。 *著作権法に規定されている私的使用や引用などの範囲を超える利用を行う場合には,著作権者の許諾を得てください。 ただし,著作権者 から著作権等管理事業者(学術著作権協会,日本著作出版権管理システムなど)に権利委託されているコンテンツの利用手続については ,各著作権等管理事業者に確認してください。 Title Reconsideration of progression to CRPC during androgen deprivation therapy Author(s) Mizokami, Atsushi; Namiki, Mikio Citation Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 145: 164-171 Issue Date 2015-01 Type Journal Article Text version author URL http://hdl.handle. net/2297/40590 Right
When less is more: gene loss as an engine of evolutionary change.

Evolutionary change results from differences in the reproductive success of individuals with different genotypes. The downside of this process is easy to grasp: selection constantly purges deleterious mutations from the gene pool. However, we know remarkably little about evolution's upside—that is, about the types of mutations that commonly lead to increased fitness. To understand the biology of natural populations—including, most notably, that of the human—we need testable ideas about the types of mutations that evolution is likely to have favored in the recent past.
Sex difference of the prevalence and risk factors associated with prehypertension among urban Chinese adults from 33 communities of China: the CHPSNE study

Background: As a new category of blood pressure (BP) classification according to the Seventh Report of The Joint National Committee, prehypertension has aroused people's great concern in recent years due to its associations with increased incidence of cardiovascular disease. However, there is little information about the epidemiology of prehypertension in urban China. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of prehypertension and to identify its risk factors among urban Chinese men and women. Methods: A cross-sectional survey in a representative sample of 25 196 Chinese adults aged 18–74 years was conducted in three cities of northeast of China during 2009 and 2010. Body weight, height, waist circumference, and BP were measured by trained observers. Results: Overall, the prevalence of prehypertension was 56.9%, men 71.1% and women 44.6%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that higher education or a higher family income were risk factors of prehypertension among men, but shown as protective factors among women. Among men, high odds ratios (ORs) of prehypertension were found in overweight [OR 2.31; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.02–2.71] and obese (OR 7.92, 95% CI 4.36–14.42) adults (defined as body mass index), whereas abdominal obesity (OR 2.94, 95% CI 2.48–3.57) (defined as waist circumference) was the main determinant for prehypertension status in women. Conclusion: Our results indicate that hypertension is highly prevalent in urban China and there is a sex difference in the relationships between risk factors and prehypertension.
Melatonin attenuates (‐)‐epigallocatehin‐3‐gallate‐triggered hepatotoxicity without compromising its downregulation of hepatic gluconeogenic and lipogenic genes in mice

(‐)‐Epigallocatehin‐3‐gallate (EGCG), a major constituent of green tea, can ameliorate metabolic syndrome at least in part through reducing gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis. Green tea extracts, of which EGCG is a key constituent, have been used for weight loss in humans. A potential adverse effect of high‐dose EGCG or green tea extracts is hepatotoxicity. Melatonin, an endogenous antioxidant with a high safety profile, is effective in preventing various types of tissue damage. The current study investigated the influence of melatonin on EGCG‐triggered hepatotoxicity and EGCG‐downregulated hepatic genes responsible for gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis in mice. We found that (i) melatonin extended survival time of mice intoxicated with lethal doses of EGCG; (ii) melatonin ameliorated acute liver damage and associated hepatic Nrf2 suppression caused by a nonlethal toxic dose of EGCG; (iii) melatonin reduced subacute liver injury and hepatic Nrf2 activation caused by lower toxic doses of EGCG; and (iv) melatonin did not compromise the action of pharmacological doses of EGCG in downregulating a battery of hepatic genes responsible for gluconeogenesis and lipogenesis, including G6Pc, PEPCK, FOXO1α, SCD1, Fasn, leptin, ACCα, ACCβ, GAPT, and Srebp‐1. Taken together, these results suggest that the combination of EGCG and melatonin is an effective approach for preventing potential adverse effects of EGCG as a dietary supplement for metabolic syndrome alleviation and body weight reduction.
Sterol Regulatory Element–Binding Protein-1c Represses the Transactivation of Androgen Receptor and Androgen-Dependent Growth of Prostatic Cells

Sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that plays an important role in lipid homeostasis. Here, we show that SREBP-1c regulates androgen receptor (AR) transactivation through direct interaction with AR and represses androgen-dependent growth of prostatic cells. Transient transfection studies show that SREBP-1c specifically inhibits the transactivation of AR. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays reveal that SREBP-1c is recruited with AR onto the endogenous AR target promoter. Moreover, adenovirus-mediated overexpression of SREBP-1c decreases the mRNA level of the prostate-specific antigen gene, an endogenous target gene of AR, supporting SREBP-1c modulation of AR transactivation. In vivo and in vitro protein interaction assays show that SREBP-1c directly interacts with AR through the activation function-1 domain of AR. In addition, transfection studies and glutathione S-transferase pull-down competition experiments reveal that the SREBP-1c–mediated repression of AR transactivation is accomplished through competition with certain AR coactivators for AR interaction. The SREBP-1c–mediated inhibition of AR transactivation also involves the recruitment of histone deacetylase 1. Finally, adenovirus-mediated overexpression of SREBP-1c inhibits androgen-induced proliferation of prostatic cells in vitro and in vivo, and small interfering RNA–mediated down-regulation of SREBP-1 enhances androgen-induced proliferation of prostatic cells as well as the transactivation of AR. Taken together, these results suggest that SREBP-1c acts as an AR corepressor and may play an important role in the regulation of AR-dependent prostatic cell growth. (Mol Cancer Res 2008;6(2):314–24)
Image steganography based on block matching in DWT domain

This paper proposes an image concealment technique based on block matching (BM) in IWT domain. The BM algorithm had the advantage of embedding the high capacity image, but it had the disadvantage that quality of the reconstructed secret image varies depending on the cover image. Therefore, this paper focuses on improving the quality of the reconstructed secret image while preserving the embedding capacity.
Multiple sclerosis retrovirus particles and recombinant envelope trigger an abnormal immune response in vitro, by inducing polyclonal Vbeta16 T-lymphocyte activation.

A retroviral element (MSRV) defining a family of genetically inherited endogenous retroviruses (HERV-W) has recently been characterized in cell cultures from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). To address the possible relationship with MS, direct detection of circulating virion RNA was proposed but revealed technically difficult to perform in standardized conditions, in the face of multiple endogenous HERV-W copies. A parallel approach has evaluated MSRV potential pathogenicity in relation to characteristic features of multiple sclerosis, in particular, T-lymphocyte-mediated immunopathology. We report here that MSRV particles induce T-lymphocyte response with a bias in the Vbeta16 chain usage in surface receptor, whatever the HLA DR of the donor. A recombinant MSRV envelope-but not core-protein reproduced similar nonconventional activation. Molecular analysis of Vbeta CDR3 showed that Vbeta16 expansions are polyclonal. Our results thus provide evidence that MSRV envelope protein can trigger an abnormal immune response with similar characteristics to that of superantigens.
Validity and responsiveness of the self-administered computerized versions of the baseline and transition dyspnea indexes.

BACKGROUND Numerous instruments have been developed to examine the impact of activities on breathlessness. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the validity and responsiveness of the self-administered computerized (SAC) versions of the multidimensional baseline dyspnea index (BDI) and the transition dyspnea index (TDI). METHODS Sixty-five patients with COPD who complained of exertional breathlessness were evaluated at an initial visit and after receiving standard therapy at two academic medical centers. Dyspnea scores from the SAC versions were compared with those obtained with the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale and with the original interview versions of the BDI and TDI. RESULTS At the initial visit, all three dyspnea instruments showed similar correlations among themselves and with lung function. At the follow-up visit (mean [+/- SD] time after initial visit, 48 +/- 16 days), breathlessness scores were improved on all three instruments. Correlations were consistently higher for both versions of the TDI, and changes in lung function compared with corresponding values for DeltaMRC scale. Although 55% of patients reported no change in breathlessness on the MRC scale following treatment, the mean SAC and interview TDI scores were increased by 1.0 +/- 2.4 and 1.4 +/- 2.5, respectively, in these same patients. CONCLUSIONS Both versions of the BDI and the MRC scale showed concurrent validity at the initial visit. The SAC TDI demonstrated responsiveness to standard therapy that was comparable with the findings of the interview TDI, but was better than that recorded with the MRC scale. The advantages of the SAC TDI include a patient-reported score on a continuous scale using computer technology.
Response to Letter from Shin and Lee, entitled "FDDNP PET patterns in nondemented populations"

We appreciate the comments of Dr. Shin and Dr. Lee in response to our recent report describing potential high-risk imaging cluster patterns in FDDNP binding (1), and we wish to clarify that our group's experience with FDDNP imaging is consistent with the important results from Dr. Shin's group pointing to medial temporal FDDNP binding as a potential marker for high-risk subgroups of non-demented individuals (2). In previous analyses of a similar subject group, we found that individuals with mild cognitive impairment who were apolipoprotein E-4 carriers had higher medial temporal binding than non-carriers (3). These results suggest that combining genetic risk measures and medial temporal FDDNP binding values in non-demented individuals could be a useful tool for predicting subsequent neurodegenerative decline. in higher FDDNP subgroups, other the overall findings are consistent with the hypothesis that medial temporal FDDNP binding values are important for distinguishing high from low risk subjects. our initial analyses of two-year longitudinal follow-up of 24 non-demented subjects with mild memory complaints (mean [SD] age 67.7 [9.9] years) that higher medial temporal FDDNP binding values do predict cognitive decline, including verbal memory (Buschke-Fuld total, t(21) = -2.20, p =. 04) and executive function ability (Stroop Interference t(21) = 2.36, p =. 03).