Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reversing the power flow in the looped electrical distribution network by using a Cascaded H-bridge D-SSSC

In new configuration of electrical distribution network the distributed generation is connected directly to the medium voltage link. For achieving the total generation of DGs the distribution network radial configuration is changed to the loop or meshed configuration by using a power electronic device in the connection point to control the power flow. Distribution Static Synchronous Series Compensator (D-SSSC) is able to control the power flow between two feeders from different substations. Thanks to use the multilevel converter topology, D-SSSC is connected directly to the line, omitting bulky transformer. Cascaded H-bridge is the best option for this kind of realization. Controlling the power flow in new configuration of electrical distribution system is source of advantages. One of the great impacts of D-SSSC is balancing the power flows of connected feeders, avoiding congestion of feeders and cables damages. This system sometimes needs to reverse the power flow in the line despite of the phase angle between the feeders. The conventional SSSC control strategy uses current phase to inject a voltage in phase with the current to maintain the DC bus voltage at its reference value and a quadratic component to control the power flow. This control strategy is fail to operation while the power reference is reversing due to loosing the current phase track at low and zero line current. In this paper the feasibility of a DSSSC for reversing the power flow is discussed and a new control strategy based on voltage phase track is introduced.
Discrimination experienced by landed immigrants in Canada

Immigrants land in Canada with great hopes and multiple dreams, but the General Social Survey 2009 shows that one-fifth of them face discrimination in various situations once they have arrived. Ethnicity, race, language, and religion are the major grounds of discrimination. In this paper, the experiences of discrimination of landed immigrants are compared with those of non-immigrants. A logistic regression analysis is used on GSS data to predict the probability of facing discrimination based on the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of a person. Separate models are prepared for landed immigrants and non-immigrants. Results show that immigrants are much more likely to face discrimination than non-immigrants. Visible minorities and younger persons face higher levels of discrimination compared to non-visible minorities and older persons. Irrespective of their gender, household income, language, region of domicile, and number of evening activities, landed immigrants have similar chances of facing discrimination; whereas, for non-immigrants, these characteristics make a significant difference in their experiences of discrimination. Key Words: Discrimination, immigrant, race, ethnicity, and human rights.
Substitution Between Formally and Informally Provided Care for the Impaired Elderly in the Community

This article assesses the extent to which formally provided comprehensive community care tends to substitute for informal care provided by family and friends to impaired elderly persons living in the community. Using simultaneous equations causal modeling techniques to control for selective targeting and other intervening factors, results indicate a substantial tendency for formally provided care to be substituted for informal care. Other results indicate that unmet need appears to be the major variable predicting both informal and formal support levels, with informal care providers appearing to be somewhat more precise in conditioning support levels on need than formal care providers. Policy implications of these findings are discussed.
Spinophilin-Targeted Protein Phosphatase-1 Alleviated Inflammatory Pain by Negative Control of MEK/ERK Signaling in Spinal Cord Dorsal Horn of Rats

Protein phosphatase-1 (PP1), anchored by regulatory or targeting proteins at excitatory glutamatergic synapses, controls the phosphorylation of postsynaptic substrates and regulates the neurotransmission and plasticity. Here, we found that spinophilin, an actin-binding protein that targets PP1 at postsynaptic density, served as a scaffold for extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling components. Through the C-terminal PDZ domain, spinophilin directly interacted with ERK and its upstream mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK). PP1, recruited by spinophilin, gained access to and dephosphorylated these kinases, exerting a tonic inhibition of ERK signaling. The removal of PP1 inhibition by disturbing spinophilin/PP1 interaction allowed a restricted activation of MEK/ERK at synapses, which in turn augmented the synaptic transmission specifically mediated by GluN2B subunit-containing N-methyl-d-aspartate subtype of glutamate receptors. We provided evidence that in pain-related spinal cord dorsal horn, the scaffolding function of spinophilin played an important role in the negative control of ERK-dependent and GluN2B-dependent pain sensitization. Expression of wild-type spinophilin produced an effective analgesic action against chronic inflammatory pain induced by complete Freund's adjuvant in rats. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) relays the signals from multiple transmembrane receptors to a wide range of downstream effectors critical for the regulation of neuronal excitability and plasticity. The strength and duration of ERK signaling is spatiotemporally controlled by protein phosphatases. Sustained activation of ERK has been implicated in a variety of pathological processes. The current study revealed that spinophilin, a well characterized protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) synaptic targeting protein, was able to scaffold mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) and ERK for dephosphorylation and inactivation by PP1. The loss of PP1 inhibition, as a result of spinophilin/PP1 dissociation, led to aberrant activation of MEK/ERK signaling, which had important implications for the exaggeration of NMDA receptor-dependent nociceptive synaptic transmission in spinal cord dorsal horn.
Hearing Preservation Outcomes with Different Cochlear Implant Electrodes: Nucleus® Hybrid™-L24 and Nucleus Freedom™ CI422

Objectives: In recent years, it has been possible to preserve hearing after cochlear implantation in patients with significant amounts of low-frequency residual hearing. Due to the dimensions and characteristics of the cochlear implants (CIs) Nucleus® Hybrid™-L24 and Nucleus Freedom™ CI422, both can be used to preserve residual hearing. The aim was to investigate the degree and progression of hearing preservation over a longitudinal postoperative period in a large consecutive cohort of implanted patients with preoperative residual hearing who received either the Nucleus Hybrid-L24 or the Nucleus Freedom CI422 implant. The intention was to examine potential characteristics and triggers of resulting postoperative hearing loss which may support a differentiation of CI candidacy criteria for a certain implant type. Methods: A retrospective data analysis of patient files on consecutively implanted subjects presenting with a severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss at frequencies >1,500 Hz and substantial residual hearing at frequencies ≤1,500 Hz, implanted with a Nucleus Hybrid-L24 (n = 97) or a CI422 implant (n = 100), was undertaken. A single-subject repeated-measure design comparing the mean threshold shift for pure-tone thresholds under headphones up to 24 months after implantation was used. Results: Hearing preservation is observed in the majority of subjects with either implant (250-1,500 Hz frequency range). Hybrid-L24 patients exhibited a median hearing loss of 10 dB at initial fitting (n = 97) and of 15 dB after 24 months (n = 51). A 14.4-dB decrease in median hearing loss at initial fitting (n = 100) and a 30-dB decrease after 24 months (n = 28) was observed with the CI422 electrode. At initial fitting, 54.6% of the Hybrid-L24 (n = 97) and 49.0% of the CI422 (n = 100) subjects showed a mean threshold shift <15 dB. After 24 months, 58.8% (Hybrid-L24, n = 51) and 28.6% (CI422, n = 28) of the patients showed a mean threshold shift <15 dB. Conclusions: The results indicate that residual hearing was preserved for the majority of implanted patients with the Hybrid-L24 and the CI422 implant. Patients implanted with the Hybrid-L24 implant demonstrate greater stability and less median hearing loss over time than those with the CI422 implant. Assessments of onset and stability of hearing loss prior to implantation are important factors to consider during candidacy evaluation for electrode selection to potentially maximize the performance outcome for each patient.
Peacebuilding among Transnational Youth in Migrant-Receiving Border Regions of Ecuador

This article explores the factors that contribute to the effectiveness of peacebuilding initiatives in border regions where refugees and citizens coexist and sometimes come into conflict. It does so by comparing two programmes seeking to build conflict resolution capacity among youth in Ecuador near the Colombian border. The initiatives were funded by the same donor and took place in the same region. Their programme design differed, however, and one was more successful than the other in institutionalising positive and sustainable subsystem-level changes. Using John Paul Lederach's framework for building peace as a theoretical point of departure, the article argues for the importance of embedding peacebuilding processes within a network of existing local institutions, sequencing multiple projects that align with a long-range strategic plan targeting subsystem change, and creating inclusive spaces for participation by migrants and citizens.
Quantitative proteomics of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum and its application to studies of development and inhibition

The ability to measure accurately comparative levels of protein expression after drug challenge, metabolic stress, developmental programming or other perturbation represents one of the most important goals in post‐genomics malaria research. We describe here a simple and robust quantitative methodology that is ideally suited to in vitro experiments designed to study changes in the proteome of the most important of the human parasites, the lethal species Plasmodium falciparum. The metabolic labelling technique we have developed uses parasite uptake of heavy isotope‐containing isoleucine during normal growth followed by two‐dimensional separation of individual proteins and mass spectrometry. The method is applicable to essentially each of the ≈ 5300 proteins of P. falciparum predicted from the completed genome sequence, permitting facile identification and accurate comparative quantification of labelled peptides from any of these proteins synthesized by in vitro cultures subjected to different stimuli. We demonstrate its application to the study of cell cycle changes, where we observe divergent patterns of protein and reported transcript levels indicative of modulation at the translational level. Our data also provide evidence for significant levels of post‐translational modification in the parasite, and we measure differences among variants of phosphoethanolamine N‐methyltransferase and actin‐I across the cell cycle. We have also monitored parasite responses to equipotent doses of the clinical antimalarial inhibitors pyrimethamine and tetracycline and observed differential effects for a number of proteins unrelated to likely targets of these drugs.
Effects of ketoconazole on cholesterol precursors and low density lipoprotein kinetics in hypercholesterolemia.

Ketoconazole, an inhibitor of cholesterol synthesis at 14 alpha-demethylation of lanosterol, effectively reduces serum total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. We studied the effects of ketoconazole (400 mg/day for 5 weeks) on serum lipids, free and esterified noncholesterol sterols, and kinetics of LDL apolipoprotein B (apoB) in seven patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and in three patients with primary hypercholesterolemia (nonFH). The total, intermediate density, and LDL cholesterol levels were significantly reduced by 24, 27, and 29%, respectively, and LDL apoB by 23%. Serum total and lipoprotein triglycerides were unchanged. The LDL cholesterol/apoB ratio decreased significantly. Serum ratios of lanosterols to cholesterol were increased over 50 times, almost the same in all lipoproteins and mainly as the unesterified form; free delta 8-precursor sterols, 2-5 times; cholestanol, slightly; while ratios of lanosterol of desmosterol, lathosterol, and plant sterols were virtually unchanged. Inconsistent esterification of methyl sterols might indicate unaltered acyl CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activity. LDL apoB transport was decreased in all nonFH subjects but inconsistently in FH. The fractional catabolism rate (FCR) for LDL apoB was increased significantly in FH by 13% and inconsistently by 4% in nonFH. In a subgroup of three FH patients, more dense LDL (d 1.037-1.055 g/ml) was transported and catabolized faster on than off ketoconazole so that the serum level of this more dense LDL subfraction was unchanged, the decrease of LDL being due to a reduction of the less dense LDL subfraction. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Impedance changes in chronically implanted and stimulated cochlear implant electrodes

Abstract Objectives Electrode impedance increases following implantation and undergoes transitory reduction with onset of electrical stimulation. The studies in this paper measured the changes in access resistance and polarization impedance in vivo before and following electrical stimulation, and recorded the time course of these changes. Design Impedance measures recorded in (a) four cats following 6 months of cochlear implant use, and (b) three cochlear implant recipients with 1.5–5 years cochlear implant experience. Results Both the experimental and clinical data exhibited a reduction in electrode impedance, 20 and 5% respectively, within 15–30 minutes of stimulation onset. The majority of these changes occurred through reduction in polarization impedance. Cessation of stimulation was followed by an equivalent rise in impedance measures within 6–12 hours. Conclusions Stimulus-induced reductions in impedance exhibit a rapid onset and are evident in both chronic in vivo models tested, even several years after implantation. Given the impedance changes were dominated by the polarization component, these findings suggest that the electrical stimulation altered the electrode surface rather than the bulk tissue and fluid in the cochlea.
Mutation spectrum in a large cohort of unrelated consecutive patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Defects in nine sarcomeric protein genes are known to cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Mutation types and frequencies in large cohorts of consecutive and unrelated patients have not yet been determined. We, therefore, screened HCM patients for mutations in six sarcomeric genes: myosin‐binding protein C3 (MYBPC3), MYH7, cardiac troponin T (TNNT2), α‐tropomyosin (TPM1), cardiac troponin I (TNNI3), and cardiac troponin C (TNNC1). HCM was diagnosed in 108 consecutive patients by echocardiography (septum >15 mm, septal/posterior wall >1.3 mm), angiography, or based on a state after myectomy. Single‐strand conformation polymorphism analysis was used for mutation screening, followed by DNA‐sequencing. A total of 34 different mutations were identified in 108 patients: 18 mutations in MYBPC3 in 20 patients [intervening sequence (intron) 7 + 1G > A and Q1233X were found twice], 13 missense mutations in MYH7 in 14 patients (R807H was found twice), and one amino acid change in TPM1, TNNT2, and TNNI3, respectively. No disease‐causing mutation was found in TNNC1. Cosegregation with the HCM phenotype could be demonstrated for 13 mutations (eight mutations in MYBPC3 and five mutations in MYH7). Twenty‐eight of the 37 mutation carriers (76%) reported a positive family history with at least one affected first‐grade relative; only eight mutations occurred sporadically (22%). MYBPC3 was the gene that most frequently caused HCM in our population. Systematic mutation screening in large samples of HCM patients leads to a genetic diagnosis in about 30% of unrelated index patients and in about 57% of patients with a positive family history.
Carcass composition in mature Hereford cows: estimation and effect on daily metabolizable energy requirement during winter.

Seventy-two mature, nonpregnant, nonlactating Hereford cows (400 kg) were utilized in a comparative slaughter trial to investigate the effects of carcass composition on the metabolizable energy (ME) required for maintenance in winter. Body condition score (CS), live weight (LW) and weight:height ratio (WTHT) were evaluated and compared as estimators of carcass composition in cows. Cows ranged in LW, CS and WTHT from 275 to 595 kg, 2.0 to 8.0 units and 2.29 to 4.62 kg/cm, respectively. Live weight, CS and WTHT predicted total carcass energy (TMCAL, r2 = .81, .85 and .83), carcass fat (FAT, r2 = .78, .82 and .80), carcass protein (PRO, r2 = .71, .74 and .70) and carcass water (WAT, r2 = .78, .71 and .77) with similar accuracy. When composition was expressed on a per unit weight basis, CS was superior to LW and WTHT as predictors of TMCAL/hot carcass weight, TMCAL/LW and FAT/hot carcass weight (r2 = .82, .60 and .64; .83, .58 and .62; and .82, .64 and .68, respectively). Forty-seven cows were individually fed a complete diet (2.50 Mcal ME/dry matter) in drylot for 114 d in yr 1 and 115 d in yr 2. Daily feed intakes were adjusted each week to maintain constant LW throughout the winter. Data were analyzed by fitting the model: ME intake = k-1 (carcass energy change) + f(CS)LW.75, where k = efficiency of ME use for carcass energy change and f(CS) = function of CS. Year as a class variable and the expression . 1028 + . 0234(CS) - . 0025(CS)2 accounted for 41% of the variation in Mcal ME for maintenance/LW.75. Condition score was more closely related to carcass composition in mature cows than was LW or WTHT and cows in either a thin (CS = 3) condition or a fat (CS = 7) condition required less (4.4% and 8.9%) Mcal ME/LW.75 for maintenance than cows in moderate (CS = 5) condition.
Caffeine Enhances Heart Rate Variability in Middle-Aged Healthy, But Not Heart Failure Subjects.

BACKGROUND In chronic heart failure (CHF) due to left ventricular dysfunction, diminished heart rate variability (HRV) is an independent predictor of poor prognosis. Caffeine has been shown to increase HRV in young healthy subjects. Such an increase may be of potential benefit to patients with CHF. OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that intravenous infusion of caffeine would increase HRV in CHF, and in age-matched healthy control subjects. METHODS On two separate days, 11 patients (1F) with CHF (age=51.3±4.6 years; left ventricular ejection fraction=18.6±2.7%; mean±standard error) and 10 healthy control subjects (age=48.0±4.0) according to a double-blind randomization design, received either saline or caffeine (4 mg/kg) infusion. We assessed HRV over 7 minutes of supine rest (fast Fourier Transform analysis) to determine total spectral power as well as its high-frequency (HF) (0.15-0.50 Hz) and low-frequency (LF) (0.05-0.15 Hz) components, and recorded muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) directly from the peroneal nerve (microneurography). RESULTS In healthy control subjects, compared with saline, caffeine reduced both heart rate and sympathetic nerve traffic (p≤0.003) and increased the ratio of HF/total power (p≤0.05). Baseline LF power and the ratio LF/HF were significantly lower in CHF compared with controls (p=0.02), but caffeine had no effect on any element of HRV. CONCLUSIONS Caffeine increases cardiac vagal heart rate modulation and reduces MSNA in middle-aged healthy subjects, but not in those with CHF.
A nonlinear complementary filter for underwater navigation using inertial measurements

This paper describes a nonlinear complementary filter capable of estimating the course motion variables namely the position, velocity, heading and accelerometers bias of an agile, over-actuated AUV during underwater operations, using the inertial sensors (IMU), the DVL, the depth sensor and the compass. The proposed work is within the framework of the V-Fides project, co-funded by Tuscany Region (Italy) and developed by a team lead by WASS S.p.A. (Whitehead Sistemi Subacquei, Livorno). The aim of the project was to develop and evaluate an high-depth, over-actuated, long endurance Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). The paper proposes the mathematical development of the observer, together with some experimental results, able to demonstrate the capabilities of the estimation scheme, compared with the estimations obtained via a standard Kalman Filter.
Comparison of Image Quality, Myocardial Perfusion, and Left Ventricular Function Between Standard Imaging and Single-Injection Ultra-Low-Dose Imaging Using a High-Efficiency SPECT Camera: The MILLISIEVERT Study

SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging plays a central role in coronary artery disease diagnosis, but concerns exist regarding its radiation burden. Compared with standard Anger SPECT (A-SPECT) cameras, new high-efficiency (HE) cameras with specialized collimators and solid-state cadmium-zinc-telluride detectors offer potential to maintain image quality (IQ), while reducing administered activity and thus radiation dose to patients. No previous study has compared IQ, interpretation, total perfusion deficit (TPD), or ejection fraction (EF) in patients receiving both ultra-low-dose (ULD) imaging on an HE SPECT camera and standard low-dose (SLD) A-SPECT imaging. Methods: We compared ULD HE SPECT with SLD A-SPECT imaging by dividing the rest dose in 101 patients at 3 sites scheduled to undergo clinical A-SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging using a same day rest–stress 99mTc protocol. Patients underwent HE SPECT imaging after an initial approximately 130-MBq (3.5 mCi) dose and SLD-A-SPECT imaging after the remainder of the planned dose. Images were scored visually by 2 masked readers for IQ and summed rest score. TPD and EF were assessed quantitatively. Results: Mean activity was 134 MBq (3.62 mCi) for ULD HE SPECT (effective dose, 1.15 mSv) and 278 MBq (7.50 mCi, 2.39 mSv) for SLD A-SPECT. Overall IQ was superior for ULD HE SPECT (P < 0.0001), with twice as many studies graded excellent quality. Extracardiac activity and overall perfusion assessment were similar. Between-method correlations were high for summed rest score (r = 0.87), TPD (r = 0.91), and EF (r = 0.88). Conclusion: ULD HE SPECT rest imaging correlates highly with SLD A-SPECT. It has improved image quality, comparable extracardiac activity, and achieves radiation dose reduction to 1 mSv for a single injection.