Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Tariff-Subsidy Method for PV and V2G Congestion Management in Distribution Networks

This paper proposes a dynamic tariff-subsidy (DTS) method for congestion management in distribution networks with high penetration of photovoltaics (PV), heat pumps and electric vehicles (EVs) with vehicle-to-grid (V2G) function. The DTS method is an extension of the dynamic tariff method proposed in the previous study. With the DTS, the regulation prices can be positive (tariff) or negative (subsidy). The study shows that the negative regulation price is necessary and very effective to solve congestion due to feed-in power flows, such as PVs and EVs in the V2G mode. In the study, dual decomposition of a convex quadratic model is proposed in addition to a conventional method for the DTS calculation. The case studies on the Roy Billinton test system demonstrate the efficacy of the DTS method for congestion management in distribution networks.
A Systematic Literature Synthesis of 19 Years of Bilingual Education in Chinese Higher Education: Where Does the Academic Discourse Stand?

In this three-phase, systematic review, we comprehensively synthesize research on bilingual education in higher education institutions over a 19-year period, starting from the initiation of this top-down educational provision across mainland China. In this context, although English has no official status, it is highly regarded and widely used as a medium of instruction alongside Chinese. We critically examine studies (n = 1,632) published in both English and Chinese outlets on academic discourse that deliberate on what was studied, how it was studied, and what the publication trend was. We argue that scholarly attention should continue to revolve around the benefits of bilingual programs, due to the lack of rigorous empirical evidence that attests to the effectiveness of bilingual education in Chinese higher education. Our review echoes similar research syntheses conducted in Europe and worldwide and is, therefore, expected to shed light on the policy implications and the practice of bilingual education in higher education on a global scale. Recommendations for future research are provided.
Evolution of Microbial Composition and Enzymatic Activities during the Composting of Textile Waste

The production of stable and mature compost often depends on the performance of microbes and their enzymatic activity. Environmental and nutritional conditions influence the characteristics of microbial communities and, therefore, the dynamics of major metabolic activities. Using three waste mixtures (textile waste mixed with either green, paper, or cardboard waste), the maturity of the compost produced was assessed by following the physico-chemical parameters and enzymatic activities provided by the microorganisms that were identified using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Among the three mixtures used, it was found that the two best mixtures showed C/N ratios of 16.30 and 16.96, total nitrogen of 1.37 and 1.39%, cellulase activities of 50.62 and 52.67 Ug−1, acid phosphatase activities of 38.81 and 68.77 Ug−1, and alkaline phosphatase activities of 51.12 and 56.86 Ug−1. In addition, several lignocellulosic species, together with those that are able to solubilize phosphate, were identified. Among those known for cellulase and acid/alkaline phosphatase activities, bacteria belonging to the Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes phyla were shown. The presence of species belonging to the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota phyla of Fungi, which are known for their ability to produce cellulase and acid/alkaline phosphatases, was demonstrated. These findings provide a basis for the production of stable and mature compost based on textile waste.
Diurnal Fluctuation in Tissue Nitrate Concentration of Field-grown Leafy Greens at Two Latitudes

Tissue nitrate (NO3) concentration (TNC) in leafy greens generally decreases with increasing light intensity and photoperiod in controlled environment studies. Harvesting late in the day has been recommended as a way to produce leafy greens with lower TNC, although data from field research do not support this recommendation. This study investigated the effect of time of day of harvest on TNC in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) grown in the field during the summer at Pullman, WA (lat. 468 N) and Fairbanks, AK (lat. 648 N). Whole plants were sampled every 2 h on three separate, 24-h harvest dates at each latitude. Plants were dried, ground, and analyzed for NO3-N. At the high-latitude location, TNC decreased linearly during the day (1000 to 2300 HR) on all three dates for spinach and one for lettuce. At the low-latitude location, TNC decreased linearly during the day (1000 to 1900 HR) on one date and increased linearly during the night (2000 to 0400 HR) on two dates for lettuce. The TNC (average 287 to 607 mg NO3-N/kg fresh weight for lettuce and 141 to 189 mg NO3-N/kg fresh weight for spinach) and magnitude of diurnal fluctuation (generally less than 25%) should not pose a human health risk regardless of when plants are harvested.
Do Healthcare Workers Need Cognitive Computing Technologies? A Qualitative Study Involving IBM Watson and Dutch Professionals

The healthcare ecosystem continually produces huge volumes of structured and unstructured data. Cognitive computing, a new computing paradigm, promises to effectively help healthcare researchers and practitioners to derive precious information from data. Arguably, the most famous cognitive computing system is called IBM Watson, which has been adapted to different domains, including healthcare. In this paper, we investigate whether there is a natural demand for cognitive computing systems coming from healthcare workers. Specifically, using the technology acceptance model to guide our efforts, we study different perceptions from healthcare professionals from the Netherlands regarding IBM Watson. The results from our interviews show that virtually all the perceptions are very negative. We list several reasons underlying these perceptions alongside potential ways of changing them. We believe our results are of great value to health information technology professionals trying to introduce a potentially groundbreaking product and to organizations that are contemplating investing in those technologies.
The Impact of Social Norms and Risk Assessment on Diners’ Reaction to Food Safety Concerns in Restaurants

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate the behavioral reactions of diners when witnessing a food safety violation in a restaurant. Protection motivation and social norms theories were used to identify risk-related behavior to measure risk assessment, appraisal of food safety health threats, and the impact of descriptive and injunctive norms on reaction behaviors of diners in response to unsanitary food handler behavior and restaurant conditions. A mixed-methods approach was used with focus groups to develop the survey instrument that was distributed to 1,800 recipients, resulting in 1,169 usable surveys. Results suggest that if customers perceive a threat to be severe or if they have a belief that responding in a certain way will reduce the risk of a food safety concern, they are more apt to intervene to eliminate the threat. This study also shows that social norms mediate the influence of intervention, despite the severity of threat assessment. Practical and academic implications are discussed.
Interpreting the low-frequency radio spectra of starburst galaxies: a pudding of Strömgren spheres

The low frequency radio emission of starburst galaxies is informative, but it can be absorbed in several ways. Most importantly, starburst galaxies are home to many H II regions, whose free-free absorption blocks low frequency radio waves. These H II regions are discrete objects, but most multiwavelength models of starbursts assume a uniform medium of ionized gas, if they include the absorption at all. I calculate the effective absorption coefficient of H II regions in starbursts, which is ultimately a cross section times the density of H II regions. The cross sections are calculated by assuming that H II regions are Str\"omgren spheres. The coefficient asymptotes to a constant value at low frequencies, because H II regions partially cover the starburst, and are buried part way into the starburst's synchrotron emitting material. Considering Str\"omgren spheres around either OB stars or Super Star Clusters, I demonstrate the method by fitting to the low frequency radio spectrum of M82. I discuss implications of the results for synchrotron spectrum shape, H II region pressure, and free-free emission as a star-formation rate indicator. However, these results are preliminary, and could be affected by systematics. I argue that there is no volume-filling warm ionized medium in starbursts, and that H II regions may be the most important absorption process down to ~10 MHz. Future data at low and high radio frequency will improve our knowledge of the ionized gas.
An analysis of metaphors used for inclusive education in South Africa

Metaphors may delay the implementation of inclusive education. They describe ideas, construct thinking, and have implications for practice. By drawing on various theories of metaphor, the article analyses metaphors that occur in White Paper Six: special needs education and in subsequent inclusive education discourse. It focuses on inclusion as a goal, a building, a process and hospitality, and describes what these metaphors offer in order to develop an understanding of inclusive education. These metaphors have conceptual limitations which may affect the way in which inclusion is practised in South Africa. Metaphors that convey inclusion are required as an urgent imperative to ensure that all South African children access quality education. 'n Ontleding van metafore wat vir inklusiewe onderwys in Suid-Afrika gebruik word Metafore mag moontlik die implementering van inklusiewe onderwys vertraag. Metafore beskryf idees en vorm denke, en het implikasies vir die praktyk. Met verskeie teoriee oor die metafoor as basis analiseer die artikel die metafore wat in die dokument White Paper Six: special needs education sowel as in die diskoers oor inklusiewe onderwys aangetref word. Die fokus is inklusiwiteit as 'n doelwit, 'n gebou, 'n proses en gasvryheid, en wat hierdie metafore bied vir die vorming van 'n begrip van wat inklusiewe onderrig beteken. Hierdie metafore het konseptuele tekortkominge wat moontlik 'n invloed sou kon he op die manier waarop inklusiewe onderwys in Suid-Afrika toegepas word. Metafore van insluiting word benodig as 'n dringende imperatief om te verseker dat alle Suid-Afrikaanse kinders toegang tot gehalte onderwys kry.
Study on Impedance Matching of 2.4 GHz Dipole Antenna

Understanding on matching impedance between feedline and load is important in many aplication. Theoritically, matching impedance can be calculated easily if charateristic impedances both load and line is known. Practically, when we do impedance matching at certain frequency we face a problem if the impedance of the feedline and antenna are unknown. by using vector network analyzer and anechoic chamber we tried to study and to approach the impedance match through measurement of return loss, VSWR, and antenna radiation pattern. The results of studies have shown that adjusting dipole antennas to lines can be done by optimizing antenna and lines length and subsequently optimizing the use of balun. In this reasearch we optimized 2.4 GHz dipole antenna and matched it to feedline by using bazooka and balun 1 : 1. To achieve good matching, the antenna length is 0.35 λ and the feedline length multiplies 0.5 λ. The length of the bazooka and balun for the best impedance adjustment are 0.25 λ and 0. 2λ.
Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Soybean : Regulated by ncRNA

Plants respond through a cascade of reactions resulting in varied cellular environment leading to alterations in the patterns of protein expression resulting in phonotypic changes. Single cell genomics and global proteomics came out to be powerful tools and efficient techniques in studying stress tolerant plants. Non-coding RNAs are a distinct class of regulatory RNAs in plants and animals that control a variety of biological processes. Small ncRNAs play a vital role in post transcriptional gene regulation by either translational repression or by inducing mRNA cleavage. The major classes of small RNAs include microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), which differ in their biogenesis. miRNAs control the expression of cognate target genes by binding to complementary sequences, resulting in cleavage or translational inhibition of the target RNAs. siRNAs too have a similar structure, function, and biogenesis like miRNAs but are derived from long double-stranded RNAs and can often direct DNA methylation at target sequences.In this review, we focus on the involvement of ncRNAs in comabting abiotic stresses of soybean. This review emphasis on previously known miRNAs as they play important role in several abiotic stresses like drought, salinity, chilling and heat stress by their diverse roles in mediating biological processes like gene expression, chromatin formation, defense of genome against invading viruses. This review attempts to elucidate the various kinds of non-coding RNAs explored, their discovery, biogenesis, functions, and response for different type of abiotic stresses and future aspects for crop improvement in the context of soybean, a representative grain legume.
Local-scale tree community ecotones are distinct vegetation types instead of mixed ones: a case study from the Cerrado–Atlantic forest ecotonal region in Brazil

The aim of this study was to evaluate the vegetation identity of local-scale ecotones and its importance to landscape biodiversity in a transition between savanna and forest vegetation types in Brazil. We surveyed the tree community (diameter at breast height ≥5 cm) within 25 plots of 400 m2 across three core vegetation types and two ecotones among them (totalling five vegetation types). We then evaluated similarities in species composition, community structure and phylogenetic diversity across the transitions in order to assess the relationship between the ecotones and the core areas. Ecotones were distinct floristic units with a high number of unique species and floristic and phylogenetic clustering, and hence these environments are additional vegetation types in relation to the core areas. Some species showed maximum abundance in ecotones, which harboured distinct ecological patterns, demonstrating the importance of the ecotones in the overall ecosystem. Results are related to the distribution of the species present in the regional pool across local-scale microhabitats, with ecotones being a product of a distinct environmental conditions resulting from the distinct adjacent biomes (savanna and forest), which enable the maintenance of biological diversity.
Proactive Escalation in Multi-Modal Automated Assistants

Existing research on escalation recommendation often relies on acoustic features, obtainable in Spoken Dialog Systems (SDS). It is less understood how multi-modal dialog systems can recommend escalations online without access to such features. Several machine learning techniques are evaluated using only text features common to all dialog systems. We then present and implement a general criteria for online escalation recommendation based on the conversation structure, presence of correctional language, user request repetition, user intent, and polarity. Our method is designed to work with any automated assistant using text or speech input, even where inputs can alternate between text and speech. We achieve higher precision using less training data than several standard machine learning techniques on a dataset consisting of 7,754 conversations with live multi-modal automated assistants.
Smooth approximations without critical points

In any separable Banach space containing c0 which admits a Ck-smooth bump, every continuous function can be approximated by a Ck-smooth function whose range of derivative is of the first category. Moreover, the approximation can be constructed in such a way that its derivative avoids a prescribed countable set (in particular the approximation can have no critical points). On the other hand, in a Banach space with the RNP, the range of the derivative of every smooth bounded bump contains a set residual in some neighbourhood of zero.
Growth and accumulation of dry mass in squashes with fruiting induced by cytokinin and auxin

The objective of this paper was to evaluate growth and accumulation of dry mass in “Atlas” squash plants with fruiting induced by cytokinin and auxin. The work was conducted from March to June 2018. The treatments were constituted of 6 proportions of plant growth regulators, 0/0 (control); 0/100; 25/75; 50/50; 75/25; 100/0% of the concentration of 2.5 and 10.0 mg L-1 CPPU cytokinin and IBA auxin, respectively, and applied in two different ways: via ovary and through the leaves. A randomizedcomplete block design with 4 replicates was used. The results showed that all treatments affected the studied variables. The proportions 25/75 and 50/50% applied through the leaves were the ones that best favored the growth. The use of 0/100% via ovary stimulates growth and accumulation of root mass, but it does not stimulate fruiting. The accumulation of fruit mass was elevated by treatments 50/50% via leaves and 75/25% via ovary.
Ad8232 Sensor Implementation To Detect Fatigue

Fatigue is a protection mechanism to avoid further damage, so that recovery occurs after a break. Fatigue (fatigue) is a subjective feeling. Work fatigue is a condition that is accompanied by a decrease in efficiency and the need to work. the effects of excessive activity result in fatigue. lack of knowledge results in excessive effects of fatigue. the way to overcome this problem is by utilizing an electrocardiograph (ECG) sensor. The use of electrocardiograph sensors (ECG) to determine the fatigue of smartphone users based on heart rate rhythm. The sensor used as a fatigue detection is the AD8232 type. The result of this process is safe or unsafe when using a smartphone. When BPM is worth 60 120, the condition of smartphone users is unsafe. Based on the results that have been tested on four samples there was a change in heart rate rhythm (BPM) during one hour and fifteen minutes of testing.
N ov 2 01 5 Numerical reconstruction of pulsatile blood flow from 4 D computer tomography angiography data

We present a novel numerical algorithm developed to reconstuct pulsatile blood flow from ECG-gated CT angiography data. A block-based optimization method was constructed to solve the inverse problem corresponding to the Riccati-type ordinary differential equation that can be deduced from conservation principles and Hooke’s law. Local flow rate for 5 patients was computed in 10 cm long aorta segments that are located 1 cm below the heart. The wave form of the local flow rate curves seems to be realistic. Our approach is suitable for estimating characteristics of pulsatile blood flow in aorta based on ECG gated CT scan thereby contributing to more accurate description of several cardiovascular lesions. 1
Genetic Diversity and Population Genetic Structure of Erythrophleum fordii Oliv., an Endangered Rosewood Species in South China

Erythrophleum fordii Oliv. is a valuable rosewood species indigenous to the tropical and warm sub-tropical zones of Vietnam, Laos, and South China. The natural forests have been heavily fragmented mostly due to over-exploitation and over-utilization, and alteration to croplands and fast-growing plantations. Therefore, it has been included in the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species as an endangered species. In the present study, genetic diversity and population genetic structure of 11 populations were estimated by SSR makers in South China. Five high polymorphic loci were studied with a total of 34 alleles, among which, seven were private alleles. The mean number of alleles per locus (A), the mean number of efficient alleles per locus (Ae), the observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosity, and Shannon’s index (I) of the 11 populations were 3.40, 2.31, 0.52, 0.56, and 0.90, respectively. Correlation analysis between genetic parameters and geographical factors showed that He and I were in significant negative correlation with longitude, indicating that genetic diversity of E. fordii reduced gradually from West to East in south China. FIS of eight populations with above five samples was on average 0.01, most loci conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in these populations; their genetic differentiation coefficient (FST) was 0.18, indicating that genetic differentiation among populations was relatively low and there existed 18% genetic variation among populations. Gene flow (Nm) between these populations was 1.28. The Mantel test showed that genetic distance was not significantly correlated with geographical distance (p > 0.05). It was concluded that populations with high genetic diversity or private alleles, especially Longmen, Wuming and Pingxiang populations should be a priority for in situ conservations, meanwhile more populations and as many families as possible in each population should be collected for ex situ conservations of germplasm resources of this species in the future.
The random Wigner distribution of Gaussian stochastic processes with covariance in S0(ℝ2d)

The paper treats time-frequency analysis of scalar-valued zero mean Gaussian stochastic processes on ℝd. We prove that if the covariance function belongs to the Feichtinger algebra S0(ℝ2d) then: (i) the Wigner distribution and the ambiguity function of the process exist as finite variance stochastic Riemann integrals, each of which defines a stochastic process on ℝ2d, (ii) these stochastic processes on ℝ2d are Fourier transform pairs in a certain sense, and (iii) Cohen's class, ie convolution of the Wigner process by a deterministic function Φ∈C(ℝ2d), gives a finite variance process, and if Φ∈S0(ℝ2d) then W∗Φ can be expressed multiplicatively in the Fourier domain.
Leptin modifies the pro-secretory and pro-kinetic effects of the inflammatory cytokine , interleukin-6 on colonic function in Sprague Dawley rats

In addition to its role in regulating energy homeostasis, the adipokine, leptin modifies gastrointestinal (GI) function. Indeed, leptin-resistant obese humans and leptin-deficient obese mice exhibit altered GI motility. In the functional GI disorder, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), circulating leptin levels are reported to differ from healthy controls. Additionally, IBS patients display altered cytokine profiles, including elevated circulating levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin (IL)-6, which bears structural homology and similarities in intracellular signalling to leptin. This study aims to investigate interactions between leptin and IL-6 in colonic neurons and their possible contribution to IBS pathophysiology. The functional effects of leptin and IL-6 on colonic contractility and absorpto-secretory function were assessed in organ baths and Ussing chambers in Sprague Dawley rat colons. Calcium imaging and immunohistochemical techniques were employed to investigate the neural regulation of GI function by these signalling molecules. Our findings provide a neuromodulatory role for leptin in submucosal neurons, where it inhibited the stimulatory effects of IL-6. Functionally, this translated to suppression of IL-6 evoked potentiation of veratridine-induced secretory currents. Leptin also attenuated IL-6induced colonic contractions, although it had little direct effect on myenteric neurons. Calcium responses evoked by IBS plasma in both myenteric and submucosal neurons were also suppressed by leptin, possibly through interactions with IL-6, which is elevated in IBS plasma. As leptin has the capacity to ameliorate the neurostimulatory effects of soluble mediators in IBS plasma and modulated IL-6-evoked changes in bowel function, leptin may have a role in immune-mediated bowel dysfunction in IBS patients.