Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
3-D-Printed Air-Core Inductors for High-Frequency Power Converters

This paper presents the design, modeling, and characterization of 3-D-printed air-core inductors for high-frequency power electronics circuits. The use of 3-D modeling techniques to make passive components extends the design flexibility and addresses some of the fabrication limitations of traditional processes. Recent work [1]- [9] has demonstrated the feasibility of incorporating air-core inductors in high-frequency (>10 MHz) switching power converters. These implementations have used discrete wire wound solenoids and toroids, and planar components that use printed circuit board traces or microfabrication techniques to make air-core inductors. However, realizations of such components have limitations in performance and applicability including open paths conducive to the flow of leakage fields, and difficulties in achieving optimal cross section to minimize loss. Along with the current effort of involving 3-D printing technology to make inductors [10], [11], we propose the use of 3-D printing and casting/plating techniques as a simple and accessible alternative that adds flexibility and functionality to the air-core inductor design for high-frequency power conversion at moderate to high-power (e.g., tens to thousands of watts) and high-voltage (greater than 100 V) levels. In this paper, we present several examples of air-core inductors realized using 3-D printing and casting/plating techniques to give an idea of the geometries that are possible to design. Moreover, we show that some of these designs can lead to improved electrical performance. This paper also describes the tools used by the authors to design, fabricate, and characterize the electromagnetic performance of the air-core inductors. The software used to generate the 3-D scaffolds for the inductors are freely available and easily accessible. Readers are encouraged to explore more possibilities of geometries that can lead to better performance with the ease of manufacturing. As progress in additive manufacturing continues, we envision 3-D printing of a complete scaffold structure that after plating (or casting) will contain all resonant passive components of an RF switching converter. Toward this goal, we present a 70-W prototype 27.12-MHz resonant inverter that incorporates some of the 3-D-printed components developed for this paper.
Investigation of in vivo fatty acid metabolism in AFABP/aP2(-/-) mice.

The metabolic impact of the murine adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (AFABP/aP2) on lipid metabolism was investigated in the AFABP/aP2(-/-) mouse and compared with wild-type C57BL/6J littermates. Mice were weaned on a high-fat diet (59% of energy from fat) and acclimated to meal feeding. Stable isotopes were administered, and indirect calorimetry was performed to quantitate fatty acid flux, dietary fatty acid utilization, and substrate oxidation. Consistent with previous in situ and in vitro studies, fasting serum nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) release was significantly reduced in AFABP/aP2(-/-) (17.1 +/- 9.0 vs. 51.9 +/- 22.9 mg.kg(-1). min(-1)). AFABP/aP2(-/-) exhibited higher serum NEFA (1.4 +/- 0.6 vs. 0.8 +/- 0.4 mmol/l, AFABP/aP2(-/-) vs. C57BL/6J, respectively) and triacylglycerol (TAG; 0.23 +/- 0.09 vs. 0.13 +/- 0.10 mmol/l) and accumulated more TAG in liver tissue (2.9 +/- 2.3 vs. 1.1 +/- 0.8% wet wt) in the fasted state. For the liver-TAG pool, 16.4 +/- 7.3% of TAG-fatty acids were derived from serum NEFA in AFABP/aP2(-/-). In contrast, a significantly greater portion of C57BL/6J liver-TAG was derived from serum NEFA (42.3 +/- 25.5%) during tracer infusion. For adipose-TAG stores, only 0.29 +/- 0.04% was derived from serum NEFA in AFABP/aP2(-/-), and, in C57BL/6J, 1.85 +/- 0.97% of adipose-TAG was derived from NEFA. In addition, AFABP/aP2(-/-) preferentially oxidized glucose relative to fatty acids in the fed state. These data demonstrate that in vivo disruption of AFABP/aP2(-/-) leads to changes in the following two major metabolic processes: 1) decreased adipose NEFA efflux and 2) preferential utilization of glucose relative to fatty acids.
Model reference adaptive system observer based sensorless control of doubly-fed induction machine

This paper presents a sensorless algorithm for the vector control of doubly-fed induction Machine (DFIM) using rotor current based model reference adaptive system (MRAS) observer. The stator flux oriented vector control is employed to achieve variable-speed drive and decoupled active/reactive power control. In the proposed MRAS observer, the reference model is the measured rotor current, which compared to the estimation of the rotor current obtained from measured stator voltages and currents. A proportional-integral (PI) control adjusts the rotational rotor angle, driving the error between the measured and estimated rotor currents to zero. A 50kW DFIM prototype system is built to verify the theoretical analysis. Through variable speed tracking control in motoring mode and decoupled active/ reactive power control in generating mode for simulation and laboratory experimental study, even if the magnitude of rotor current is very low, closing to zero, the estimation of rotational speed and rotor position at different speed and power condition can still track the actual value. The simulation and laboratory experimental results have shown the effectiveness of the proposed sensorless control scheme.
Genotypic subtypes of HIV‐1 in Cameroon

ObjectiveThe only two HIV-1 strains (ANT70 and MVP5180) reported to date from Cameroon are members of the outlier clade (group O). In this study, we assessed the prevalence of group O viruses and other HIV-1 subtypes in Cameroon. DesignA phylogenetic analysis of 18 HIV-1 strains isolated from seropositive individuals from Yaoundé and Douala, Cameroon. MethodsA 900 base-pair fragment of the env gene coding for V3, V4, V5, and the beginning of gp41 of 17 out of 18 HIV-1 isolates from Cameroon was amplified, cloned and sequenced using polymerase chain reaction. A phylogenetic tree was constructed. ResultsThe overall env nucleotide sequence divergence among the Cameroon isolates ranged from 6.1 to 27.5%. In a phylogenetic tree, six subtypes were identified when compared with 23 reference strains of different geographic origin. Of these 17 Cameroonian strains, 11 (61%) were of subtype A of which the interpatient distances at the sequence level varied from 6.1% to 18.3% (average, 11.9%). Three (17%) strains were of subtype F, and the other three strains (6% each) belonged to subtypes B, E and H, respectively. The remaining isolate was classified as belonging to group O, on the basis of the sequence of part of the pol gene. A very broad spectrum of different tetrameric amino-acid sequences was observed at the apex of the V3 loop. Eleven strains contained the tetrameric globally predominant GPGQ sequence at the tip of the V3 motif. Two strains had the GPGR sequence typical of the American and European HIV-1 strains. The remaining tetrameric sequences included GPGS, GSGQ, GRGQ, and GLGR. ConclusionThese findings on a limited number of viruses suggest extensive env gene diversity of HIV-1 strains from Cameroon, and could have implications for vaccine development in Africa.
The Determinants of Tax Morale in Comparative Perspective: Evidence from a Multilevel Analysis

Applying a multilevel econometric model, we argue that tax morale is a function of individual and contextual-level variables. Evidence presented in this article, based on the 2004-2005 European Social Survey and information on institutional settings, shows that tax morale in European countries varies systematically with socio-demographic characteristics, personal financial experiences, political attitudes, on the one hand, and regional GDP and tax arrangements on the other hand. In contrast, cross-national differences in tax morale are not related to ethnic and linguistic fractionalizations.
Attrition and Adherence in a Web-Based Distress Management Program for Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Patients (WEBCARE): Randomized Controlled Trial

Background WEB-Based Distress Management Program for Implantable CARdioverter defibrillator Patients (WEBCARE) is a Web-based randomized controlled trial, designed to improve psychological well-being in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). As in other Web-based trials, we encountered problems with attrition and adherence. Objective In the current study, we focus on the patient characteristics, reasons, and motivation of (1) completers, (2) those who quit the intervention, and (3) those who quit the intervention and the study in the treatment arm of WEBCARE. Methods Consecutive first-time ICD patients from six Dutch referral hospitals were approached for participation. After signing consent and filling in baseline measures, patients were randomized to either the WEBCARE group or the Usual Care group. Results The treatment arm of WEBCARE contained 146 patients. Of these 146, 34 (23.3%) completed the treatment, 88 (60.3%) dropped out of treatment but completed follow-up, and 24 (16.4%) dropped out of treatment and study. Results show no systematic differences in baseline demographic, clinical, or psychological characteristics between groups. A gradual increase in dropout was observed with 83.5% (122/146) completing the first lesson, while only 23.3% (34/146) eventually completed the whole treatment. Reasons most often given by patients for dropout were technical problems with the computer, time constraints, feeling fine, and not needing additional support. Conclusions Current findings underline the importance of focusing on adherence and dropout, as this remains a significant problem in behavioral Web-based trials. Examining possibilities to address barriers indicated by patients might enhance treatment engagement and improve patient outcomes. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00895700; http://www.clinicaltrials. gov/ct2/show/NCT00895700 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6NCop6Htz).
Varieties of Capitalism and Business

Business is one of the major power centres in modern society. The state seeks to check and channel that power so as to serve broader public policy objectives. However, if the way in which business is governed is ineffective or over burdensome, it may become more difficult to achieve desired goals such as economic growth or higher levels of employment. In a period of international economic crisis, the study of how business and government relate to each other in different countries is of more central importance than ever. These relationships have been studied from a number of different disciplinary perspectives - business studies, economics, economic history, law, and political science - and all of these are represented in this handbook. The first part of the book provides an introduction to the ways in which five different disciplines have approached the study of business and government. The second section, on the firm and the state, looks at how these entities interact in different settings, emphasising such phenomena as the global firm and varieties of capitalism. The third section examines how business interacts with government in different parts of the world, including the United States, the EU, China, Japan and South America. The fourth section reviews changing patterns of market governance through a unifying theme of the role of regulation. Business-government relations can play out in divergent ways in different policy and the fifth section examines the contrasts between different key arenas such as competition policy, trade policy, training policy and environmental policy.
Resolution of Integer Ambiguity in GPS Attitude Determination

In order to resolve the carrier phase ambiguity in attitude determination, a new approach is proposed and discussed. A method for static baseline vector estimation is derivate based on the epoch-difference carrier phase and a receiver clock bias model. By using the estimated baseline vector, a float solution of ambiguity is computed. The range of potential integer ambiguity can be obtained with the error of estimated baseline. The implemented algorithm is tested with measurement data collected on static baselines. Experimental results indicate that, the integer ambiguity can be accurately determined after about 40 seconds with the present algorithm.
Non-viral nucleic acid containing nanoparticles as cancer therapeutics

ABSTRACT Introduction: The delivery of nucleic acids such as DNA and short interfering RNA (siRNA) is promising for the treatment of many diseases, including cancer, by enabling novel biological mechanisms of action. Non-viral nanoparticles are a promising class of nucleic acid carriers that can be designed to be safer and more versatile than traditional viral vectors. Areas covered: In this review, recent advances in the intracellular delivery of DNA and siRNA are described with a focus on non-viral nanoparticle-based delivery methods. Material properties that have enabled successful delivery are discussed as well as applications that have directly been applied to cancer therapy. Strategies to co-deliver different nucleic acids are highlighted, as are novel targets for nucleic acid co-delivery. Expert opinion: The treatment of complex genetically-based diseases such as cancer can be enabled by safe and effective intracellular delivery of multiple nucleic acids. Non-viral nanoparticles can be fabricated to deliver multiple nucleic acids to the same cell simultaneously to prevent tumor cells from easily compensating for the knockdown or overexpression of one genetic target. The continued innovation of new therapeutic modalities and non-viral nanotechnologies to provide target-specific and personalized forms of gene therapy hold promise for genetic medicine to treat diseases like cancer in the clinic.
Near optimal detection of signals in impulsive noise modeled with a symmetric /spl alpha/-stable distribution

There has been great interest in symmetric /spl alpha/-stable distributions which have proved to be very good models for impulsive noise. However, most of the classical non-Gaussian receiver design techniques cannot be extended to the symmetric /spl alpha/-stable noise case since these techniques require an explicit compact analytical form for the probability density function (PDF) of the noise distribution which /spl alpha/-stable distributions do not possess. A new analytical representation has been suggested for the symmetric /spl alpha/-stable PDF which is based on scale mixtures of Gaussians. Based on this new analytical representation, this paper introduces a novel near-optimal receiver for the detection of signals in symmetric /spl alpha/-stable noise. The performance of the new receiver is very close to the locally optimum receiver and is significantly better than the performance of previously suggested sub-optimum receivers. The new technique has important potential in radar, sonar, and other applications.
Next-generation indoor infrared LANs: issues and approaches

The design issues for the next-generation wireless infrared systems are discussed. An advanced infrared system is proposed to provide reliable high-speed short-range wireless communication throughout indoor environments. In the physical layer, the range of communication is extended for L-PPM infrared links by using repetition rate coding, which greatly increases the symbol capture probability at the receiver. Repetition rate coding is used in an adaptive way to update the data rate over a channel based on the channel parameters. The receiver symbol capture characteristics and signal-to-noise ratio gain due to the use of a repetition rate scheme are presented. The infrared media access control layer must be designed to establish fair and robust communications over the proposed physical layer. The fairness problem is described in detail, including the impact of the topology on the performance of the wireless system. Balanced media access methods are presented as a solution to the fairness problem. The link access control layer uses retransmission to provide reliable connections over infrared links.
Sex differences in the medical care of VA patients with chronic non-cancer pain.

OBJECTIVE Despite a growing number of women seeking medical care in the veterans affairs (VA) system, little is known about the characteristics of their chronic pain or the pain care they receive. This study sought to determine if sex differences are present in the medical care veterans received for chronic pain. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study using VA administrative data. SUBJECTS The subjects were 17,583 veteran patients with moderate to severe chronic non-cancer pain treated in the Pacific Northwest during 2008. METHODS Multivariate logistic regression assessed for sex differences in primary care utilization, prescription of chronic opioid therapy, visits to emergency departments for a pain-related diagnosis, and physical therapy referral. RESULTS Compared with male veterans, female veterans were more often diagnosed with two or more pain conditions, and had more of the following pain-related diagnoses: fibromyalgia, low back pain, inflammatory bowel disease, migraine headache, neck or joint pain, and arthritis. After adjustment for demographic characteristics, pain diagnoses, mental health diagnoses, substance use disorders, and medical comorbidity, women had lower odds of being prescribed chronic opioid therapy (adjusted OR [AOR] 0.67, 95% CI 0.58-0.78), greater odds of visiting an emergency department for a pain-related complaint (AOR 1.40, 95% CI 1.18-1.65), and greater odds of receiving physical therapy (AOR 1.19, 95% CI 1.05-1.33). Primary care utilization was not significantly different between sexes. CONCLUSIONS Sex differences are present in the care female veterans receive for chronic pain. Further research is necessary to understand the etiology of the observed differences and their associations with clinical outcomes.
Melatonin alleviates cadmium‐induced cellular stress and germ cell apoptosis in testes

Abstract: Increasing evidence demonstrates that melatonin has an anti‐apoptotic effect in somatic cells. However, whether melatonin can protect against germ cell apoptosis remains obscure. Cadmium (Cd) is a testicular toxicant and induces germ cell apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the effects of melatonin on Cd‐evoked germ cell apoptosis in testes. Male ICR mice were intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected with melatonin (5 mg/kg) every 8 hr, beginning at 8 hr before CdCl2 (2.0 mg/kg, i.p.). As expected, acute Cd exposure resulted in germ cell apoptosis in testes, as determined by terminal dUTP nick‐end labeling (TUNEL) staining. Melatonin significantly alleviated Cd‐induced testicular germ cell apoptosis. An additional experiment showed that spliced form of XBP‐1, the target of the IRE‐1 pathway, was significantly increased in testes of mice injected with CdCl2. GRP78, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone, and CHOP, a downstream target of the PERK pathway, were upregulated in testes of Cd‐treated mice. In addition, acute Cd exposure significantly increased testicular eIF2α and JNK phosphorylation, indicating that the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway was activated by CdCl2. Interestingly, melatonin almost completely inhibited Cd‐induced ER stress and the UPR in testes. In addition, melatonin obviously attenuated Cd‐induced heme oxygenase (HO)‐1 expression and protein nitration in testes. Taken together, these results suggest that melatonin alleviates Cd‐induced cellular stress and germ cell apoptosis in testes. Melatonin may be useful as pharmacological agents to protect against Cd‐induced testicular toxicity.
Cooperative Output Regulation of Heterogeneous Multi-Agent Systems: An $H_{\infty}$  Criterion

In this note, the cooperative output regulation problem of heterogeneous linear multi-agent systems is investigated. Our approach is based on internal model and dynamic error feedback among the agents. Under some standard assumptions, the problem is solved by an internal model and a stabilizing H∞ controller. We showed that the exo-signal-free system is stabilized if each controlled agent is robust (in the sense of H∞ norm) to resist the disturbance measured by the second largest eigenvalue of the graph adjacency matrix. Then the synthesis problem is solved using algebraic Riccati equation. Furthermore, we showed that this condition is a generalization of existing results.
Organic Carbon Generation Mechanisms in Main and Premise Distribution Systems

Assimilable organic carbon (AOC) is a suspected contributor to growth of microbes, including pathogens, in plumbing systems. Two phases of research were completed to improve knowledge of AOC and other forms of organic carbon in premise plumbing. In the first phase, the AOC Standard Method 9217B was compared to a new luminescence-based AOC in terms of time, cost, convenience, and sources of error. The luminescence method was generally more accurate, as it better captured the peak growth of the test organisms. It was also less expensive and less time-consuming. A few approaches to improving the accuracy of the method and detect possible errors were also presented. In the second phase of research, the possibility of AOC generation in premise plumbing was reviewed and then tested in experiments. It has been hypothesized that removal of AOC entering distribution systems might be a viable control strategy for opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens (OPPPs), but if AOC was generated in premise plumbing systems this approach would be undermined. Possible sources of AOC creation in premise plumbing, which is herein termed “distribution system derived biodegradable organic carbon (DSD-BDOC),” include: leaching of organic matter from cross linked polyethylene (PEX) pipes, autotrophic oxidation of H2 generated from metal corrosion (e.g. sacrificial magnesium anode rods and iron pipes), rendering of humic substances more biodegradable by sorption to oxides such as Fe(OH)3, and accumulation of AOC on filters and sediments. The potential for various plumbing and pipe materials to generate AOC was compared in controlled simulated water heater experiments. Under the worst-case condition, generation up to 645 μg C/L was observed. IT was not possible to directly confirm the biodegradability of the generated organic carbon, and there were generally no correlations between suspected generation of organic carbon and either heterotrophic plate counts (HPC) or of bacterial 16S rRNA genes. DSD-BDOC was also explored in a simulated distribution system with two disinfectant types (chlorine and chloramine) and three pipe materials (PVC, cement, and iron). TOC increased with water age, probably due to leaching of organics from PVC and possibly the aforementioned DSD-BDOC due to autotrophic reactions of nitrifiers and iron-related bacteria. As before, relationships between the higher levels of organic carbon and either HPC or 16S were not observed.
Myofibroblastoma of the breast: genetic link with spindle cell lipoma

Mammary myofibroblastoma is a rare tumour, mainly occurring in male patients. This paper describes two cases of mammary myofibroblastoma, with typical histological features, including the presence of fat cells and mast cells. Immunohistochemically, the spindle cells stained positively for desmin and CD34. Cytogenetically, both tumours showed partial monosomy 13q and in case 1, there was, in addition, partial monosomy 16q. Rearrangements affecting 13q and 16q occur typically in spindle cell lipomas. In addition to histological similarities, the hitherto unreported chromosomal changes in mammary myofibroblastoma, which are similar to the chromosomal aberrations in spindle cell lipoma, strongly suggest a link between these two tumours and are not in favour of myofibroblastoma being a primary solitary fibrous tumour of the breast. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.