Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
System-level lifetime-oriented power sharing control of paralleled DC/DC converters

Thermal cycling is a critical stressor on semiconductor elements as they are the main functional components of power electronic converters. Load variation of a converter causes temperature swing, which intensively affects the lifetime of semiconductor switches. In this paper, an active thermal controlling method is proposed in order to enhance the overall system reliability. The proposed strategy applies power sharing among the converters by taking into account the lifetime of the power switches in the paralleled converters under different loading conditions. Hence, the lifetime of the converters is equally consumed in terms of load variations, and the overall system reliability is improved. Simulations and experimental case studies on two parallel-connected power converters have demonstrated that the power sharing control is an effective solution in terms of enhancing the overall power system reliability.
Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy in the management of gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors: efficacy profile, safety, and quality of life

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), developed over the last two decades, is carried out using radiopharmaceuticals such as 90Y-DOTA-Tyr3-octreotide and 177Lu-DOTA-Tyr3-octreotate (177Lu-Dotatate). These radiocompounds are obtained by labeling a synthetic somatostatin analog with a β-emitting radioisotope. The compounds differ from each other in terms of their energetic features (due to the radionuclide) and peptide receptor affinity (due to the analog) but share the common characteristic of binding specific membrane somatostatin receptors that are (generally) overexpressed in neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) and their metastases. NENs are tumors arising from diffuse neuroendocrine system cells that are classified according to grading based on Ki67 percentage values (Grades 1 and 2 are classed as neuroendocrine tumors [NETs]) and to the anatomical site of occurrence (in this paper, we only deal with gastroenteropancreatic [GEP]-NETs, which account for 60%–70% of all NENs). They are also characterized by specific symptoms such as diarrhea and flushing (30% of cases). Despite substantial experience gained in the area of PRRT and its demonstrable effects in terms of efficacy, safety, and improvement in quality of life, these compounds are still not registered (registration of 177Lu-Dotatate for the treatment of midgut NETs is expected soon). Thus, PRRT can only be used in experimental protocols. We provide an overview of the work of leading groups with wide-ranging experience and continuity in data publication in the area of GEP-NET PRRT and report our own personal experience of using different dosage schedules based on the presence of kidney and bone marrow risk factors. Our results on the retreatment of patients previously administered 90Y-DOTA-Tyr3-octreotide with a low dosage of 177Lu-Dotatate are also included. A comment on potential future developments of PRRT in GEP-NETs is provided.
Triangulating context lemmas

The idea of a context lemma spans a range of programming-language models: from Milner’s original through the CIU theorem to ‘CIU-like’ results for multiple language features. Each shows that to prove observational equivalence between program terms it is enough to test only some restricted class of contexts: applicative, evaluation, reduction, etc. We formally reconstruct a distinctive proof method for context lemmas based on cyclic inclusion of three program approximations: by triangulating between ‘applicative’ and ‘logical’ relations we prove that both match the observational notion, while being simpler to compute. Moreover, the observational component of the triangle condenses a series of approximations covering variation in the literature around what variable-capturing structure qualifies as a ‘context’. Although entirely concrete, our approach involves no term dissection or inspection of reduction sequences; instead we draw on previous context lemmas using operational logical relations and biorthogonality. We demonstrate the method for a fine-grained call-by-value presentation of the simply-typed lambda-calculus, and extend to a CIU result formulated with frame stacks. All this is formalised and proved in Agda: building on work of Allais et al., we exploit dependent types to specify lambda-calculus terms as well-typed and well-scoped by construction. By doing so, we seek to dispel any lingering anxieties about the manipulation of concrete contexts when reasoning about bound variables, capturing substitution, and observational equivalences.
HIV-1 Nef Inhibits Protease Activity and Its Absence Alters Protein Content of Mature Viral Particles

Nef is an important player for viral infectivity and AIDS progression, but the mechanisms involved are not completely understood. It was previously demonstrated that Nef interacts with GagPol through p6*-Protease region. Because p6* and Protease are involved in processing, we explored the effect of Nef on viral Protease activity and virion assembly. Using in vitro assays, we observed that Nef is highly capable of inhibiting Protease activity. The IC50 for nef-deficient viruses in drug susceptibility assays were 1.7- to 3.5-fold higher than the wild-type counterpart varying with the type of the Protease inhibitor used. Indicating that, in the absence of Nef, Protease is less sensitive to Protease inhibitors. We compared the protein content between wild-type and nef-deficient mature viral particles by gradient sedimentation and observed up to 2.7-fold reduction in the Integrase levels in nef-deficient mature particles. This difference in levels of Integrase correlated with the difference in infectivity levels of wild type and nef-deficient viral progeny. In addition, an overall decrease in the production of mature particles was detected in nef-deficient viruses. Collectively, our data support the hypothesis that the decreased infectivity typical of nef-deficient viruses is due to an abnormal function of the viral Protease, which is in turn associated with less mature particles being produced and the loss of Integrase content in these particles, and these results may characterize Nef as a regulator of viral Protease activity.
Random Forest Classifier for Zero-Shot Learning Based on Relative Attribute

For the zero-shot image classification with relative attributes (RAs), the traditional method requires that not only all seen and unseen images obey Gaussian distribution, but also the classifications on testing samples are made by maximum likelihood estimation. We therefore propose a novel zero-shot image classifier called random forest based on relative attribute. First, based on the ordered and unordered pairs of images from the seen classes, the idea of ranking support vector machine is used to learn ranking functions for attributes. Then, according to the relative relationship between seen and unseen classes, the RA ranking-score model per attribute for each unseen image is built, where the appropriate seen classes are automatically selected to participate in the modeling process. In the third step, the random forest classifier is trained based on the RA ranking scores of attributes for all seen and unseen images. Finally, the class labels of testing images can be predicted via the trained RF. Experiments on Outdoor Scene Recognition, Pub Fig, and Shoes data sets show that our proposed method is superior to several state-of-the-art methods in terms of classification capability for zero-shot learning problems.
Mobile Emergency Generator Pre-Positioning and Real-Time Allocation for Resilient Response to Natural Disasters

Truck-mounted mobile emergency generators (MEGs) are critical flexibility resources of distribution systems (DSs) for resilient emergency response to natural disasters. However, they are currently under-utilized. For better utilization, this paper proposes dispatching MEGs as distributed generators in DSs to restore critical loads by forming multiple microgrids (MGs). As the travel time of MEGs on road networks (RNs) can greatly influence the outage duration of critical loads, a two-stage dispatch framework consisting of pre-positioning and real-time allocation is introduced, and the traffic issue is considered via the vehicle routing problem. Pre-positioning places MEGs in staging locations prior to a natural disaster, while real-time allocation sends MEGs from staging locations to restore critical loads by forming MGs in DSs after the natural disaster strikes. Specifically, with the objective of minimizing the expected outage duration of loads considering their priorities and demand sizes, pre-positioning is done via a scenario-based two-stage stochastic optimization problem, in which the first-stage pre-positioning decisions are evaluated by numbers of second-stage real-time allocation problems corresponding to considered scenarios of DS damage and RN damage/congestion. A scenario decomposition algorithm is applied to solve this problem. Illustrative cases demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed dispatch scheme and algorithm.
Incentivising High Quality Crowdsourcing Clinical Data for Disease Prediction

Predictive modeling is fundamental in transforming large clinical data sets into actionable knowledge which can guide clinical decision making and personalized medicine. Although several studies have merged data mining techniques with statistical analysis to extract hidden patterns from large database, these proposed mechanisms are excessively complex for practical use. Therefore, it is essential that a better tool is developed for disease progression and survival rate predictions. In this paper, we first present how carefully chosen clinical features with our proper data cleaning method improves the accuracy of the the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) disease progression and survival rate predictions. In addition, we present an incentive model which provides individual rationality and platform profitability features to encourage hospitals to share high quality data for such predictions. Our evaluation results show promising outcomes for our proposed approaches.
Hydraulic architecture and water flow in growing grass tillers (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.)

The water relations and hydraulic architecture of growing grass tillers (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) are reported. Evaporative flux density, E (mmol s -1 m -2 ), of individual leaf blades was measured gravimetrically by covering or excision of entire leaf blades. Values of E were similar for mature and elongating leaf blades, averaging 2.4 mmol s -1 m -2 . Measured axial hydraulic conductivity, K h (mmol s -1 mm MPa -1 ), of excised leaf segments was three times lower than theoretical hydraulic conductivity (K t ) calculated using the Poiseuille equation and measurements of vessel number and diameter. K t was corrected (K t * ) to account for the discrepancy between K h and K t and for immature xylem in the basal expanding region of elongating leaves. From base to tip of mature leaves the pattern of K t * was bell-shaped with a maximum near the sheath-blade joint ( 19 mmol s -1 mm MPa -1 ). In elongating leaves, immature xylem in the basal growing region led to a much lower K t * . As the first metaxylem matured, K t * increased by 10-fold. The hydraulic conductances of the whole root system, L proot (mmol s -1 MPa -1 ) and leaf blades, L Pblade (mmol s -1 MPa -1 ) were measured by a vacuum induced water flow technique. L proot and L Pblade were linearly related to the leaf area downstream. Approximately 65% of the resistance to water flow within the plant resided in the leaf blade. An electric-analogue computer model was used to calculate the leaf blade area-specific radial hydraulic conductivity, L p , (mmol s -1 m -2 MPa -1 ), using L Pbladc , K t * and water flux values. L p , values decreased with leaf age, from 21-2 mmol s -1 m -2 MPa -1 in rapidly elongating leaf to 7.2 mmol s -1 m -2 MPa -1 in mature leaf. Comparison of L Pblade and L pr values showed that 90% of the resistance to water flow within the blades resided in the liquid extra-vascular path. The same algorithm was then used to compute the xylem and extravascular water potential drop along the liquid water path in the plant under steady state conditions. Predicted and measured water potentials matched well.The hydraulic design of the mature leaf resulted in low and quite constant xylem water potential gradient ( 0-3 MPa m -1 ) throughout the plant. Much of the water potential drop within mature leaves occurred within a tenth of millimetre in the blade, between the xylem vessels and the site of water evaporation within the mesophyll. In elongating leaves, the low K t * in the basal growth zone dramatically increased the local xylem water potential gradient ( 2.0 MPa m -1 ) there. In the leaf elongation zone the growth-induced water potential difference was 0.2 MPa.
Association between p 53 Mutation and Clinicopathological Features of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Genetic alterations in exons 5–8 of the p53 gene, determined by single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequencing analyses, and the clinicopathological characteristics of 108 patients with non-small cell lung cancer were compared. Mutations in this gene were found in 37 of the 108 patients (34%): in 30% (23/76) of those with adenocarcinomas, 46% (12/26) of those with squamous cell, 33% (1/3) of those with large cell and 33% (1/3) of those with adenosquamous carcinomas. No associations between the incidence of p53 mutations and the histological or cytological subtypes of adenocarcinomas were found. The analysis of types of mutations, however, showed that GC transversion was relatively common in papillary and clara subtypes, whereas it accounted for only 17% at most of p53 mutations in tubular and bronchial surface epithelial cell subtypes of adenocarcinomas. Univariate analyses revealed that large tumor size, high nodal stage and positive vascular invasion of non-small cell lung cancers, and high nodal stage and high-grade nuclear atypia of adenocarcinomas were associated significantly with p53 mutations. Multivariate analyses showed that the tumor sizes of non-small cell lung cancer correlated with p53 mutations with marginal signif icance ( P = 0.099) whereas nuclear atypia of adenocarcinomas correlated significantly ( P = 0.028). No differences between the overall or relapse-free survival rates of patients with and without p53 mutations in non-small cell lung cancers or adenocarcinomas were found. These findings indicate that p53 mutations in adenocarcinomas of the lung are associated with the malignant phenotype of tumor cells, but not with patient survival.
Provably Secure Authenticated Key Agreement Scheme for Smart Grid

Due to the rapid development of wireless communication systems, authentication becomes a key security component in smart grid environments. Authentication then plays an important role in the smart grid domain by providing a variety of security services including credentials’ privacy, session-key (SK) security, and secure mutual authentication. In this paper, we analyze the security of a recent relevant work in smart grid, and it is unfortunately not able to deal with SK-security and smart meter secret credentials’ privacy under the widely accepted Canetti–Krawczyk adversary (CK-adversary) model. We then propose a new efficient provably secure authenticated key agreement scheme for smart grid. Through the rigorous formal security analysis, we show that the proposed scheme achieves the well-known security functionalities including smart meter credentials’ privacy and SK-security under the CK-adversary model. The proposed scheme reduces the computation overheads for both smart meters and service providers. Furthermore, the proposed scheme offers more security functionalities as compared to the existing related schemes.
A progressive k-d tree for approximate k-nearest neighbors

We present a progressive algorithm for approximate k-nearest neighbor search. Although the use of k-nearest neighbor libraries (KNN) is common in many data analysis methods, most KNN algorithms can only be run when the whole dataset has been indexed, i.e., they are not online. Even the few online implementations are not progressive in the sense that the time to index incoming data is not bounded and can exceed the latency required by progressive systems. This latency significantly restricts the interactivity of visualization systems especially when dealing with large-scale data. We improve traditional k-d trees for progressive approximate k-nearest neighbor search, enabling fast KNN queries while continuously indexing new batches of data when necessary. Following the progressive computation paradigm, our progressive k-d tree is bounded in time, allowing analysts to access ongoing results within an interactive latency. We also present performance benchmarks to compare online and progressive k-d trees.
Water Transport Activity of the Plasma Membrane Aquaporin PM28A Is Regulated by Phosphorylation

PM28A is a major intrinsic protein of the spinach leaf plasma membrane and the major phosphoprotein. Phosphorylation of PM28A is dependent in vivo on the apoplastic water potential and in vitro on submicromolar concentrations of Ca2+. Here, we demonstrate that PM28A is an aquaporin and that its water channel activity is regulated by phosphorylation. Wild-type and mutant forms of PM28A, in which putative phosphorylation sites had been knocked out, were expressed in Xenopus oocytes, and the resulting increase in osmotic water permeability was measured in the presence or absence of an inhibitor of protein kinases (K252a) or of an inhibitor of protein phosphatases (okadaic acid). The results indicate that the water channel activity of PM28A is regulated by phosphorylation of two serine residues, Ser-115 in the first cytoplasmic loop and Ser-274 in the C-terminal region. Labeling of spinach leaves with 32P-orthophosphate and subsequent sequencing of PM28A-derived peptides demonstrated that Ser-274 is phosphorylated in vivo, whereas phosphorylation of Ser-115, a residue conserved among all plant plasma membrane aquaporins, could not be demonstrated. This identifies Ser-274 of PM28A as the amino acid residue being phosphorylated in vivo in response to increasing apoplastic water potential and dephosphorylated in response to decreasing water potential. Taken together, our results suggest an active role for PM28A in maintaining cellular water balance.
Interim Evaluation of the Project P.A.T.H.S.: Findings Based on Different Datasets

Interim evaluation studies were carried out in order to examine the implementation details of the Tier 1 Program of the Project P.A. T.H. S. (Positive Adolescent Training through Holistic Social Programmes) in Hong Kong. Quantitative results of the interim evaluation findings based on eight datasets collected from 2006 to 2009 are reported in this paper. Three hundred and seventy-eight schools were randomly selected to provide information on the implementation details of the program via face-to-face interviews, telephone interviews, and self-completed questionnaires. Results showed that a majority of the workers perceived that the students had positive responses to the program and the program was helpful to the students. In conjunction with other process evaluation findings, the present study suggests that the implementation quality of the Tier 1 Program of the Project P.A. T.H. S. is high. The present study also provides support for the effectiveness of the Tier 1 Program of the Project P.A. T.H. S. in Hong Kong.
An improved modulation strategy for quasi-Z-source rectifier with minimum switching frequency and high efficiency

Quasi-Z-Source rectifier can achieve the traditional PWM rectifier's function, as well as implement buck and boost conversion of the input voltage. Due to the unique impedance source network, the shoot through (ST) state increases the reliability of rectifier impressively. As to three-phase Quasi-Z-source rectifier, many modulation strategies are proposed to achieve low output voltage and high efficiency. This paper proposes an improved modulation strategy that can minimize the voltage stress of switches and reduce the equivalent switching frequency of rectifier stage to about 1/3f (f is the frequency corresponding to the switching time period Ts). Minimum voltage conversion ratio is also obtained. During each sextant, only one phase leg operates at a high switching frequency to achieve ST interval control and output voltage regulation, while other two phase legs maintain the fixed switching states. Finally, the proposed modulation strategy is verified by simulation and experiment.
Miller plateau as an indicator of SiC MOSFET gate oxide degradation

This paper presents a new indicator of SiC MOSFET gate oxide degradation based on Miller plateau. The physical mechanism of Miller plateau shift with gate oxide electric field is first analyzed. The relationship between Miller plateau and ambient temperature is then explored by theoretical analysis. The electro-thermal simulation is conducted in LTSpice to verify the Miller plateau shift with ambient temperature. Besides, 20 groups of High Electric Field (HEF) acceleration tests are conducted with Vgs stress amplitude of 25 V, 30V, 35V, 40V and stress duration of 10, 40, 70, 85, 100 hours. 5 SCT2120AF SiC MOSEFTs from Rohm are stressed in each group. After ageing tests, the stressed devices are used to verify dynamic characteristic change in the designed double pulse test platform. After 100-hour HEF tests with 40V Vgs stress, Miller plateau shift can reach up to 1.5V. Finally, comparison is made among Miller plateau, threshold voltage and gate resistor turn-on energy. Analysis shows that Miller plateau can be used as an indicator of SiC MOSFET gate oxide degradation with detectable amplitude shift as well as inherent gate driver integration and online monitoring characteristics.
Multilevel inverter with unequal and selected DC voltage sources using modified absolute sinusoidal PWM technique

The multilevel H-bridge voltage source inverter is cascaded by using equal isolated DC voltage sources and is employed in the beginning with limited total harmonic distortions. In order to minimize distortions, it achieves different output voltages with less power switching devices and DC sources, an unequal and selected DC voltage sources are used in this paper. Single, three phase and three cells of H-bridge inverters with DC voltage source value equal to Vdc, 3Vdc and 9Vdc and it is modelled by MATLAB/SIMULINK. New control circuit based on a modified absolute sinusoidal PWM technique is employed. Embedded s-function is used and designed to regenerate and distribute PWM pulses. The controller is designed to produce thirteen different output voltage levels. The model results illustrate that, multilevel inverter with unequal selected DC voltage sources using modified absolute sinusoidal PWM technique generates output voltage levels higher than conventional type with acceptable total harmonic distortion.
Miniaturaization of fractal PI shaped quad-band patch antenna using superstrate configuration for S and C band applications

Antennas particularly patch have played a dominant role in in modern communication technologies. This study focuses on miniaturization and enhancement of bandwidth and other performance parameters like gain, directivity and return loss of quad band Pi-shaped patch antenna using superstrate configuration. A single miniaturaized element is designed and then its results are enhanced by implementing superstrate configuration on variable distance levels 12mm apart each. Computer Simulation Technology 2014 s is used for design and analysis of proposed structure. The proposed antenna showed satisfactory results and can be used for C and Ku band applications.