Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using optimized flow based market capacity indices in TSO investment evaluation

The current flow-based capacity calculation methodology applied in the European electricity market forces the TSOs to re-think their concepts and methodologies for network planning and investment justification. Until now, these methods have been based on methods for de-coupling of TSOs zones, based on cross-border bilateral exchanges, with reduced complexity. The main instrument of de-coupled planning is the determination of cross-zonal Net Transfer Capacity (NTC) values, as planning targets. Each TSO would thus individually plan for its own borders, where NTC targets would ensure a secure cross-zonal transmission capacity. Nowadays the market coupling has intensified the cross-zonal trade and emphasized the interdependencies between TSO borders. A more integrated planning is now required, aligning network planning and capacity calculation methodologies. The relationship between local investments and “regional” network constraints to the inter-zonal transmission capacities needs to be addressed. The method that is proposed in this paper directly relates to the flow-based market coupling methodology that is used today, complementing the assessment of network investments from a market perspective.
Comparison of functional outcomes in elderly who have sustained a minor trauma with or without head injury: a prospective multicenter cohort study.

OBJECTIVES The consequences of minor trauma involving a head injury (MT-HI) in independent older adults are largely unknown. This study assessed the impact of a head injury on the functional outcomes six months post-injury in older adults who sustained a minor trauma. METHODS This multicenter prospective cohort study in eight sites included patients who were aged 65 years or older, previously independent, presenting to the emergency department (ED) for a minor trauma, and discharged within 48 hours. To assess the functional decline, we used a validated test: the Older Americans' Resources and Services Scale. The cognitive function of study patients was also evaluated. Finally, we explored the influence of a concomitant injury on the functional decline in the MT-HI group. RESULTS All 926 eligible patients were included in the analyses: 344 MT-HI patients and 582 minor trauma without head injury. After six months, the functional decline was similar in both groups: 10.8% and 11.9%, respectively (RR=0.79 [95% CI: 0.55-1.14]). The proportion of patients with mild cognitive disabilities was also similar: 21.7% and 22.8%, respectively (RR=0.91 [95% CI: 0.71-1.18]). Furthermore, for the group of patients with a MT-HI, the functional outcome was not statistically different with or without the presence of a co-injury (RR=1.35 [95% CI: 0.71-2.59]). CONCLUSION This study did not demonstrate that the occurrence of a MT-HI is associated with a worse functional or cognitive prognosis than other minor injuries without a head injury in an elderly population, six months after injury.
Terrain Analysis and Stochastic modelling for Archaeological site prediction and landscape reconstruction in the Lake Manyara area, Northern Tanzania

In this study we focus on paleontological sites in the area of Lake Manyara and the Makuyuni River Basin, Northern Tanzania. This region is known for Middle Pleistocene fossil finds and artefacts. To analyze the spatial distribution of potential paleontological find locations we applied two different methodologies based on statistical mechanics and on boosted regression trees. The first one is able to handle presence-only datasets such as the locations proper. The second approach was used to study the variable importance and to derive information on the related geo-processes for classified paleontological sites. The locations and their spatial distribution were retrieved from literature and collected by own field work over the last years. For the modeling we utilized environmental information such as spatially continuous layers of topography (30 m SRTM DEM), derivatives of topography, vegetation information as well as ASTER multispectral data as predictor variables. The results reveal potential areas where further fossil sites may be located. Moreover, we assessed the processes that are related to sites with specific archaeological evidences. Therefore, the sites were grouped in three categories: i) artefacts sites, ii) fossil sites and iii) mixed sites. We applied boosted regression trees to analyse the processes related to the classified sites. The methodology considers not only site specific characteristics but implicitly also the related pedogenetic and morphogenetic processes. We were able to differentiate between artefact and fossil sites. Moreover, our analyses indicate an influence of transportation processes on the artefacts, whereas deposition of fossils does not seem to involve large scale transportation. Finally, we show that also the landscape can be reconstructed such as the former lake margin.
A Primary Care Study of the Correlates of Depressive Symptoms Among Jordanian Women

A standardized Arabic version of the Beck Depression Inventory-II was administered to 493 randomly selected Arab women attending primary care out-patient centers in West Amman, Jordan.Women were asked about demographic data as well as questions from a negative life events questionnaire. The mean Beck score was 13.02 (± 8.13). Demographic factors and negative life events accounted for 17.1% of the variance in the total Beck score. Self-reported financial problems and health problems as well as marital separation were the strongest contributors. Family problems and work stress made smaller contributions to depressive symptoms.
Original Innovation, Learnt Innovation and Cities: Evidence from UK SMEs

One of the key benefits of cities is that they allow the exchange of knowledge and information between economic actors. This may have two effects: it may create the conditions for entirely new innovations to emerge; and, it may allow firms to learn innovations from those nearby. Yet few studies have considered the impact of an urban location on whether innovations are original or learnt. This paper tests these hypotheses using survey evidence for over 1600 UK SMEs. It is shown that, while urban firms tend to be both product and process innovators, urban firms are disproportionately likely to introduce process innovations which are only new to the firm, rather than entirely original. Instead, the urban advantage in product innovation appears to come from a combination of the effects. The results highlight a need for a nuanced view of the link between cities and innovation.
Comparison of Two Porcine Collagen Membranes Combined with rhBMP-2 and rhBMP-9 on Osteoblast Behavior In Vitro.

PURPOSE To investigate the bone-inducing properties of two types of collagen membranes in combination with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (rhBMP)-2 and rhBMP-9 on osteoblast behavior. MATERIALS AND METHODS Porcine pericardium collagen membranes (PPCM) and porcine dermis-derived collagen membranes (PDCM) were coated with either rhBMP-2 or rhBMP-9. The adsorption and release abilities were first investigated via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay up to 10 days. Moreover, murine bone stromal ST2 cell adhesion, proliferation, and osteoblast differentiation were assessed by MTS assay; real-time polymerase chain reaction for genes encoding runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2); alkaline phosphatase (ALP); and osteocalcin, ALP assay, and alizarin red staining. RESULTS Both rhBMP-2 and rhBMP-9 adsorbed to collagen membranes and were gradually released over time up to 10 days. PPCM showed significantly less cell attachment, whereas PDCM demonstrated comparable cell attachment with the control tissue culture plastic at 8 hours. While both rhBMPs were shown not to affect cell proliferation, collagen membranes combined with rhBMP-9 significantly increased ALP activity at 7 days and ALP mRNA levels at either 3 or 14 days compared with the control tissue culture plastic. Furthermore, rhBMP-9 increased osteocalcin mRNA levels and alizarin red staining at 14 days compared with the control tissue culture plastic. CONCLUSION The results from this study suggest that both porcine-derived collagen membranes combined with rhBMP-9 accelerated the osteopromotive potential of ST2 cells. Interestingly, rhBMP-9 demonstrated additional osteogenic differentiation compared with rhBMP-2 and may serve as a suitable growth factor for future clinical use.
Semi-lumped Balun Transformer using Coupled LC Resonators

This paper presents a semi-lumped balun transformer using conventional PCB process and its design theory and geometry for the maximally flat response and wide bandwidth using magnetically coupled LC resonators. The proposed balun is comprised of two pairs of coupled resonators which share one among three LC resonators. It provides an identical magnitude and phase difference of 180° between two balanced ports with DC isolation and an impedance transformation characteristic. Theoretical design and analysis were performed to optimize the inductance and capacitance values of proposed balun device for obtaining the wide bandwidth and maximally flat response in its pass-band. Three balun transformers with a center frequency of 500 MHz were demonstrated for proving the concept of design proposed. They were fabricated by using lumped chip capacitors and planar inductors embedded into a conventional 4-layered PCB substrate. They exhibited a maximum magnitude difference of 0.8 dB and phase difference within 2.4 degrees.
Multipath Load Balanced Congestion Control Routing Techniques in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

In Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANET), the network congestion can severely reduce the network throughput. Also the network congestion results in the packet losses, bandwidth degradation and energy expenditure. Hence a load balancing scheme is required to prevent the network from congestion and exhaustion of resources of congested node. In this paper, we propose a congestion adaptive multi-path routing protocol for load balancing in MANET. When the source node wants to forward the data packet to the destination, it utilizes the reactive route discovery technique where the multiple paths are established using multi-path Dijkstra algorithm. By simulation results, a show that the proposed approach alleviates the multipath network congestion.
A single-arm spiral antenna with a tilted beam

A circularly polarized wave (CPW) radiation beam tilted from the direction normal to an antenna plane can be obtained using a spiral antenna [1]. The authors have numerically analyzed this type of spiral antenna [2], [3]. In Reference [2], the center of a two-arm spiral antenna is shifted towards the outer circumference, while in Reference [3] a single-arm spiral antenna is used without shifting the spiral center.
An output maneuvering approach to control the Cartesian position of the quadrotor helicopter

This paper proposes an output maneuvering control scheme for the Cartesian position of the quadrotor helicopter. The output maneuvering controller is used in conjunction with previously proposed altitude and attitude nonlinear controllers. It is shown that the closed-loop system enters to an invariant manifold where the path following error is equal zero while all other signals are bounded. The performance of the proposed controller is verified by means of numerical simulations.
SNPs genotyping technologies and their applications in farm animals breeding programs: review

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are DNA sequence variations that occur when a single nucleotide: adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C) or guanine (G) in the genome sequence is altered. Traditional and high throughput methods are two main strategies for SNPs genotyping. The SNPs genotyping technologies provide powerful resources for animal breeding programs.Genomic selection using SNPs is a new tool for choosing the best breeding animals. In addition, the high density maps using SNPs can provide useful genetic tools to study quantitative traits genetic variations. There are many sources of SNPs and exhaustive numbers of methods of SNP detection to be considered. For many traits in farm animals, the rate of genetic improvement can be nearly doubled when SNPs information is used compared to the current methods of genetic evaluation. The goal of this review is to characterize the SNPs genotyping methods and their applications in farm animals breeding.
High-Sensitivity Charge-Transfer-Type pH Sensor With Quasi-Signal Removal Structure

Charge-transfer-type pH sensors can be used to improve pH sensitivity with enhanced signal-to-noise ratio by applying the charge-accumulation technique. Theoretically, the pH sensitivity improves directly with the accumulated count. However, in a conventional sensor structure, a quasi-signal resulting from low charge transfer efficiency limits the accumulated count. In this paper, an effective solution to the problem of the quasi-signal and the novel sensor structure are investigated.
Migration from can coatings: Part 1. A size-exclusion chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of overall migration and migrating substances below 1000 Da

The Council of Europe Resolution on coatings suggests a limit of 10 mg dm−2 for the sum of substances migrating into food simulants from an internal can coating. The Scientific Committee on Food differentiates the migrants into the substances with a molecular weight below 1000 Da, potentially being of toxicological concern, and the less toxicologically relevant species above 1000 Da. Hitherto, the determination of overall migration was based on a gravimetric method. A new method is described for the simultaneous determination of both overall migration and the migration of substances below 1000 Da based on separation by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) followed by ultraviolet detection (UVD) and evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD). The method is suitable for all volatile extraction media and simulants recommended by the European Union. For statistical comparison of both methods, the slightly modified reference method was validated in-house and extended to an additional gravimetric measurement of the migrants below 1000 Da. For the determination of the overall migration, both methods provided similar reproducibility (validated gravimetry: standard deviation (SD) = 0.16 mg dm−2; SEC-ELSD/UVD: SD = 0.12 mg dm−2) but significantly better results were obtained by the SEC-ELSD/UVD method. For migrating substances below 1000 Da, the gravimetric determination provides a poor sensitivity (limit of detection = 0.35 mg dm−2) compared with the SEC-ELSD/UVD method (limit of detection = 0.04 mg dm−2). The new method offers a lower limit of detection and higher precision as well as being less time consuming and easier to use.
Phylogeny of the SARS Coronavirus

Several papers have been published on the genomic sequence and phylogeny of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus ([1][1]–[4][2]). We have determined the nucleotide sequence of the SARS coronavirus FRA isolate (accession number AY310120) and found the overall genome organization
Mutant Cu/Zn-Superoxide Dismutase Associated with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Destabilizes Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor mRNA and Downregulates Its Expression

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a neuroprotective role in mice harboring mutations of copper–zinc superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) in familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Conversely, the loss of VEGF expression through genetic depletion can give rise to a phenotype resembling ALS independent of SOD1 mutations. Here, we observe a profound downregulation of VEGF mRNA expression in spinal cords of G93A SOD1 mice that occurred early in the course of the disease. Using an in vitro culture model of glial cells expressing mutant SOD1, we demonstrate destabilization and downregulation of VEGF RNA with concomitant loss of protein expression that correlates with level of transgene expression. Using a luciferase reporter assay, we show that this molecular effect is mediated through a portion of the VEGF 3′-untranslated region (UTR) that harbors a class II adenylate/uridylate-rich element. Other mutant forms of SOD1 produced a similar negative effect on luciferase RNA and protein expression. Mobility shift assay with a VEGF 3′-UTR probe reveals an aberrantly migrating complex that contains mutant SOD1. We further show that the RNA stabilizing protein, HuR (human antigen R), is translocated from nucleus to cytoplasm in mutant SOD1 cells in vitro and mouse motor neurons in vivo. In summary, our data suggest that mutant SOD1 gains a novel function, possibly by altering the ribonucleoprotein complex with the VEGF 3′-UTR. We postulate that the resultant dysregulation of VEGF posttranscriptional processing critically reduces the level of this neuroprotective growth factor and accelerates the neurodegenerative process in ALS.
THE DECLINE OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC IN PYRRHUS-MARIUS

Plutarch’s Pyrrhus-Marius offers a self-contained, consistent portrait of Roman decline, a penetrating critique of the late Republic, which is elaborately prepared in Pyrrhus, then consummated in Marius. By concentrating upon one half of the pair in isolation, however, scholars have failed to appreciate the significance of Plutarch’s comparative method.1 It is only by interpreting each Life as part of an integrated whole that the political program of Pyrrhus-Marius may be understood.2 Plutarch’s analysis of Roman decline is presented largely within Pyrrhus, in that Life’s depiction of the idealized middle Republic, of Tarentum, and of the Sicilian Greek cities. This concentration of material in the earlier Life is reasonable within the scheme of the pair. The patterns for healthy and decadent states are established in Pyrrhus; once the reader reaches Marius, the framework for understanding the dys-
Secondary “Thin-DSEK” After Long-term Graft Failure in DLEK: A Double Transplanted Cornea

Purpose: To describe a case of secondary “thin Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty” (“Thin-DSEK”), for borderline decompensation 6 years after an initial deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty (DLEK). Methods: In a 31-year-old man, who initially underwent a DLEK for bullous keratopathy in the presence of a phakic intraocular lens, a secondary Thin-DSEK was performed, while leaving the entire DLEK graft (including the donor Descemet membrane and the endothelium) in situ. Results: After the initial DLEK, the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved from 20/200 (0.1) to 20/25 (0.8). Six years later, the transplanted cornea showed intermittent decompensation with a decrease in BCVA again to 20/200 (0.1). After the secondary Thin-DSEK, the BCVA improved again to 20/25 (0.8) at 1 month postoperatively and remained stable thereafter. Conclusions: Our case may show that a secondary DSEK may be a simple and effective treatment to manage secondary graft failure after DLEK. Despite the presence of a “double” stromal interface in the visual axis, secondary Thin-DSEK may provide visual rehabilitation similar to that after primary Thin-DSEK.
Population structure and diversity of the AA genome of rice based on Simple Sequence Repeats variation in organelle genome.

Maternally inherited mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes based Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) variations were examined for their contribution to diversity of rice genome. Population structure and diversity analysis based on mitochondria and chloroplast inherited genome has been studied less as compared to nuclear genome inheritance. The present study was designed to evaluate the population structure and diversity of rice grown in Pakistan along with other countries based on maternally inherited mitochondria and chloroplast genome. The mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes were analyzed by using 42 mitochondrial and 20 chloroplast pairs of SSR primers. A slightly higher percentage of polymorphism was observed in chloroplast (30%) than mitochondria (28.57%). The average gene diversity for both mitochondrial and chloroplast was 0.32 oscillating from 0.041 to 0.620. The Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) value ranged from 0.040 to 0.543 with an average of 0.282, while the allelic richness ranged from two to four alleles with an average of 2.779 alleles. Mononucleotide repeats stood first (50% polymorphic) for detecting polymorphism for organelle genomes followed by tri(25%), tetra(14.29%) and dinucleotide (12.5%), respectively. Cluster and population structure analysis revealed two groups of accessions. On the basis of our results the AA genome of Asian cultivated rice diverges from the same origin during evolution. Key words; Mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes; SSR variation; Oryza sativa; Population structure; Genetic diversity.
Polymorphic microsatellite loci for primitively eusocial wasp Ropalidia marginata

We report here development and characterization of 48 novel microsatellite markers for Ropalidia marginata, a tropical, primitively eusocial polistine wasp from peninsular India. Thirty‐two microsatellites showed polymorphism in a wild population of R. marginata (N = 38) collected from Bangalore, India. These markers will facilitate answering some interesting questions in ecology and evolutionary biology of this wasp, such as population structure, serial polygyny, intra‐colony genetic relatedness and the pattern of queen succession.
Testing for parameter constancy in general causal time‐series models

We consider a process belonging to a large class of causal models including AR(∞), ARCH(∞), TARCH(∞),… processes. We assume that the model depends on a parameter and consider the problem of testing for change in the parameter. Two statistics and are constructed using quasi‐likelihood estimator of the parameter. Under the null hypothesis that there is no change, it is shown that each of these two statistics weakly converges to the supremum of the sum of the squares of independent Brownian bridges. Under the alternative of a change in the parameter, we show that the test statistic diverges to infinity. Some simulation results for AR(1), ARCH(1), GARCH(1,1) and TARCH(1) models are reported to show the applicability and the performance of our procedure with comparisons to some other approaches.
Integrated synchronous electric charge extraction system for piezoelectric energy harvesters

This paper presents a self-powered interface circuit for micromachined piezoelectric energy harvesters (PEH). The system implements the Synchronous Electric Charge Extraction (SECE) technique. Micro- and millimeter-scale PEHs are usually limited to tens or hundreds of microwatts with output voltages that typically do not exceed 1-3 V. Through system- and circuit-level optimizations the proposed interface can operate from as little as 1.5 μW, and can cold-start from a completely discharged state with PEH open circuit AC voltages as small as 900 mVpk. The system can operate up to 7 Vpk with extraction efficiency as high as 86%. The circuit is designed for the XFAB 0.35 μm CMOS process.