Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reducing output voltage THD of a three-phase inverter with non-linear load using disturbance observer

Non-linear loads such as rectifiers are growing in industry. Three phase inverter with non-linear load can lead to highly distorted output voltage. This paper proposes a method for reducing voltage THD in three phase inverters with non-linear load. The proposed method considers the load current as a disturbance and provide a control strategy to reject it using the disturbance observer method. This method doesn't need any additional sensors or hardware and is implemented digitally in controller. Simulation results show that the presented method will reduce the total harmonic distortion of the output voltage.
Simplified artificial endometrial preparation, using oral estradiol and novel vaginal progesterone tablets: a prospective randomized study

There are various successful protocols for artificial endometrial preparation, comprising induction of endometrial proliferation with estrogens and secretory transformation with progestins. The aim of this prospective randomized study was to evaluate a simplified approach for endometrial preparation, comparing two constant doses of oral estradiol combined with a novel low-dose vaginal natural progesterone preparation (100 mg Endometrin® tablets). Twenty-nine patients were enrolled in the study and divided randomly into two groups. Both groups received oral estradiol tablets from the beginning of menstruation, group A (15 patients) receiving 4 mg/day divided into two doses of 2 mg each, and group B (14 patients) receiving 6 mg/day divided into three doses. Serum estradiol and progesterone and sonographic thickness of the endometrium were measured on the 1st day of menstruation and on the 6th, 11th, 16th and 21st days of the artificial cycle. Following the first 12 days of estradiol priming, with an endometrial thickness of ≥ 8 mm, Endometrin vaginal tablets 100 mg were added twice a day for 10 days. On the 21st cycle day, an endometrial biopsy was taken from all patients using Pipelle®. In all 29 patients, appropriate changes in estradiol, progesterone and endometrial thickness were observed. Estradiol levels were significantly higher in the 6 mg/day group on days 6 and 11, but no significant difference was noted in serum progesterone level and endometrial thickness between groups. Histological evaluation of endometrial biopsies, on the 21st day, revealed adequate late-secretory endometrium in 14/15 (93.3%) patients of group A and in 13/14 (92.9%) patients of group B. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that an appropriate endometrial secretory transformation may be induced using an economical regimen of fixed low-dose oral estradiol (4 mg/day) and low-dose vaginal progesterone tablets (Endometrin 100 mg twice daily).
PF-RBF based energy efficient target tracking routing algorithm for WSN

Here we have discuss the network coverage of sensors nodes and proposed th+○8e algorithm for energy efficiency, target tracking and optimization. In WSN network for achieving the high energy efficiency we need to avoid long distance communication. We focus on distributed deployment optimization, With optimized sensor deployment, and while target tracking for the optimize energy consumption we can utilize target motion information. To extract a prior information, particle filter (PF) can be considered. Taking into account energy optimization of sensor deployment and tracking a target in WSN. Our proposed algorithm focused on parallel energy-efficient coverage optimization and dynamic energy management. optimization task is distributed among the cluster heads.
Construction of phosphatidylethanolamine‐less strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Effect on amino acid transport

A triple yeast mutant was constructed which lacks BST1, the gene for sphingosine lyase, besides the phosphatidylserine decarboxylases PSD1 and PSD2. In this yeast mutant, which can only be grown in the presence of exogenous ethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine can be depleted to very low levels. Under those conditions, respiration as well as glucose and 3‐O‐methylglucose uptake proceed unaffected. Plasma membrane ATPase is as active in these cells as that of control cells grown in the presence of ethanolamine. Drastically decreased, however, are H+/amino acid symporters. The activities of arginine (Can1p), proline (Put4p) and general amino acid permease (Gap1p) are decreased more than 20‐fold. Amino acid transport in yeast is dependent on coupling to the proton motive force. It can be envisaged that phosphatidylethanolamine might play a role in this process or in the early steps of the secretion pathway common for all amino acid permeases or, eventually, it could affect the transport proteins directly at the plasma membrane Transformation of the triple mutant with a CEN plasmid harbouring BST1 wild‐type gene totally reversed its phenotype to that observed in the double mutant. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Treatment of episodic ataxia type 2 with the potassium channel blocker 4-aminopyridine

Patients with episodic ataxia type 2 (EA2) can often be successfully treated with acetazolamide. The authors report three patients with EA2 (two with proven mutations in the CACNA1A gene) whose attacks were prevented with the potassium channel blocker 4-aminopyridine (4-AP; 5 mg tid). Attacks recurred after treatment was stopped; subsequent treatment alleviated the symptoms (mean follow-up time 6 months). These effects might be due to an improvement of the impaired functioning of Purkinje cells.
Structural and functional characterization of the VirB5 protein from the type IV secretion system encoded by the conjugative plasmid pKM101

Type IV secretion systems mediate intercellular transfer of macro-molecules via a mechanism ancestrally related to that of bacterial conjugation machineries. TraC of the IncN plasmid pKM101 belongs to the VirB5 family of proteins, an essential component of most type IV secretion systems. Here, we present the structure of TraC. VirB5/TraC is a single domain protein, which consists of a three helix bundle and a loose globular appendage. Structure-based site-directed mutagenesis followed by functional studies indicates that VirB5 proteins participate in protein-protein interactions important for pilus assembly and function.
A star-based data structure to store efficiently 3D topography in a database

For storing and modeling three-dimensional (3D) topographic objects (e.g. buildings, roads, dykes, and the terrain), tetrahedralizations have been proposed as an alternative to boundary representations. While in theory they have several advantages, current implementations are either not space efficient or do not store topological relationships (which makes spatial analysis and updating slow, or require the use of an expensive 3D spatial index). We discuss in this paper an alternative data structure for storing tetrahedralizations in a database management system (DBMS). It is based on the idea of storing only the vertices and stars of edges; triangles and tetrahedra are represented implicitly. It has been used previously in main memory, but not in a DBMS. We describe how to modify it to obtain an efficient implementation in a DBMS, and we describe how it can be used for modeling 3D topography. As we demonstrate with different real-world examples, the structure is compacter than known alternatives, it permits us to store attributes for any primitives, and has the added benefit of being topological, which permits us to query it efficiently. The structure can be easily implemented in most DBMS (we describe our implementation in PostgreSQL), and we present some of the engineering choices we made for the implementation.
Biofilm Formation, icaADBC Transcription, and Polysaccharide Intercellular Adhesin Synthesis by Staphylococci in a Device-Related Infection Model

ABSTRACT Biofilm formation of Staphylococcus epidermidis and S. aureus is mediated by the polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA) encoded by the ica operon. We used a device-related animal model to investigate biofilm formation, PIA expression (immunofluorescence), and ica transcription (quantitative transcript analysis) throughout the course of infection by using two prototypic S. aureus strains and one S. epidermidis strain as well as corresponding ica mutants. During infection, the ica mutants were growth attenuated when inoculated in competition with the corresponding wild-type strains but not when grown singly. A typical biofilm was observed at the late course of infection. Only in S. aureus RN6390, not in S. aureus Newman, were PIA and ica-specific transcripts detectable after anaerobic growth in vitro. However, both S. aureus strains were PIA positive in vivo by day 8 of infection. ica transcription preceded PIA expression and biofilm formation in vivo. In S. epidermidis, both PIA and ica expression levels were elevated compared to those in the S. aureus strains in vitro as well as in vivo and were detectable throughout the course of infection. In conclusion, in S. aureus, PIA expression is dependent on the genetic background of the strain as well as on strong inducing conditions, such as those dominating in vivo. In S. epidermidis, PIA expression is elevated and less vulnerable to environmental conditions.
Enzymatic Measurement of Phosphatidyiglycerol in Amniotic Fluid

We describe an enzymatic method for measuring phosphatidyiglycerol (PG) at concentrations as low as 0.2 mol/L in amniotic fluid. Amniotic fluid (1.5 mL) is centrifuged at 10 000g for 20 mm to obtain a lamellar body pellet, which is reconstituted with 0.5 mL of buffer. The PG is measured by a two-step enzymatic scheme. Recovery studies demonstrated that the pellet contains >97% of the PG present in amniotic fluid. Between-run CVs were 28%, 5.7%, and 2.6% for amniotic fluid controls with means of 0.32, 3.9, and 10.7 moI/L, respectively (n = 20). The enzymatic procedure was not significantly affected by blood, meconium, bilirubin, or other phospholipids. Lecithmn/sphingomyelin ratio (n = 101) and fluorescence polarization (n = 127) compared with log(PG) showed correlation coefficients of 0.832 and -0.866, respectively. This test’s ability to detect low concentrations of PG in amniotic fluid may make it a better predictor of fetal lung immaturity than previous methods.
Robust stabilisation of uncertain systems with interval time-varying state and input delays

This article is concerned with robust stabilisation of uncertain systems with interval time-varying state and input delays. The system uncertainties under consideration are unknown and time-varying, but norm-bounded. The time delays vary in intervals. A robust stabilisation condition and the corresponding controller are constructed by solving two linear matrix inequalities. The auxiliary variables and generalised state methods are used to prove the asymptotic stability of the closed-loop system. In the proposed control design, there are no restrictions on the derivatives of the time delays, allowing fast time-varying delays. Examples and simulation results have confirmed the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method.
Colonization history of north European field voles (Microtus agrestis) revealed by mitochondrial DNA

The genetic structure of field vole (Microtus agrestis) populations from northern Europe was examined by restriction fragment length polymorphisms of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in 150 individuals from 67 localities. A total of 83 haplotypes was observed, most of which were rare and highly localized geographically. Overall nucleotide diversity was high (134%), but showed a tendency to decrease with higher latitude. Two major mtDNA lineages differing by 2% in nucleotide sequence were identified. A southern mtDNA lineage was observed in field voles from Britain, Denmark and southern and central Sweden, whereas voles from Finland and northern Sweden belonged to a northern lineage. The strict phylogeographic pattern suggests that the present population generic structure in field voles reflects glacial history: the two groups are derived from different glacial refugia, and recolonized Fennoscandia from two directions. A 150–200‐km‐wide secondary contact zone between the two mtDNA groups was found in northern Sweden. Distinct phylogeographic substructuring was observed within both major mtDNA groups.
Analytic Decision Analysis via Symbolic Dynamic Programming for Parameterized Hybrid MDPs

Decision analysis w.r. t. unknown parameters is a critical task in decision-making under uncertainty. For example, we may need to (i) perform inverse learning of the cost parameters of a multi-objective reward based on observed agent behavior; (ii) perform sensitivity analyses of policies to various parameter settings; or (iii) analyze and optimize policy performance as a function of policy parameters. When such problems have mixed discrete and continuous state and/or action spaces, this leads to parameterized hybrid MDPs (PHMDPs) that are often approximately solved via discretization, sampling, and/or local gradient methods (when optimization is involved). In this paper we combine two recent advances that allow for the first exact solution and optimization of PHMDPs. We first show how each of the aforementioned use cases can be formalized as PHMDPs, which can then be solved via an extension of symbolic dynamic programming (SDP) even when the solution is piecewise nonlinear. Secondly, we can leverage recent advances in non-convex solvers that require symbolic forms of the objective function for non-convex global optimization in (i), (ii), and (iii) using SDP to derive symbolic solutions for each PHMDP formalization. We demonstrate the efficacy and scalability of our optimal analytical framework on nonlinear examples of each of the aforementioned use cases.
Acute and delayed effects of the neonicotinoid insecticide thiacloprid on seven freshwater arthropods

Ecotoxicological risk assessment of contaminants often is based on toxicity tests with continuous‐exposure profiles. However, input of many contaminants (e.g., insecticides) to surface waters typically occurs in pulses rather than continuously. Neonicotinoids are a new group of insecticides, and little is known about their toxicity to nontarget freshwater organisms and potential effects on freshwater ecosystems. The aim of the present research was to assess effects of short‐term (24‐h) exposure to the neonicotinoid insecticide thiacloprid, including a postexposure observation period. A comparison of several freshwater insect and crustacean species showed an increase of sensitivity by three orders of magnitude in the following order: Daphnia magna < Asellus aquaticus = Gammarus pulex < Simpetrum striolatum < Culex pipiens = Notidobia ciliaris = Simulium latigonium, with median lethal concentrations (LC50s) of 4,400, 153, 190, 31.2, 6.78, 5.47, and 5.76 μg/L, respectively (postexposure observation 11–30 d). Thiacloprid caused delayed lethal and sublethal effects, which were observed after 4 to 12 d following exposure. Reduction in LC50s found when postexposure observation was extended from 1 d to a longer period (11–30 d) was up to >50‐fold. Hence, delayed effects occurring after short‐term exposure should be considered in risk assessment. The 5% hazardous concentration (HC5) of thiacloprid obtained in the present study (0.72 μg/L) is more than one order of magnitude below the currently predicted worst‐case environmental concentrations in surface water. Concerning the selection of test organisms, we observed that the widely employed test organism D. magna is least sensitive among the arthropods tested and that, for neonicotinoid insecticides, an insect like the mosquito C. pipiens would be more suitable for predicting effects on sensitive species.
Androgen Regulation of Stage-Dependent Cyclin D2 Expression in Sertoli Cells Suggests a Role in Modulating Androgen Action on Spermatogenesis1

Abstract Regulation of spermatogenesis involves stage-dependent androgen action on Sertoli cells, but the pathways involved are unclear. We assessed if cyclin D2 could play a role. In rats, Sertoli cell nuclear, stage-dependent immunoexpression of cyclin D2 switched on after Day 10 and persisted through Day 35, but disappeared by adulthood. However, ethane dimethane sulfonate (EDS)-induced testosterone withdrawal in adult rats for 6 days induced stage-dependent cyclin D2 immunoexpression in Sertoli cells, with highest expression at stages IX-XII and nondetectable at stages VI–VIII (opposite that for androgen receptor [AR] immunoexpression). In EDS-treated rats, a single injection of testosterone but not of estrogen reversed this change in 4 h, and testosterone administration from the time of EDS treatment prevented expression of cyclin D2 in Sertoli cells. The EDS-induced changes in cyclin D2 immunoexpression were matched by changes in expression of Ccnd2 (cyclin D2) mRNA in isolated stage-dissected tubules. Treatment of adult rats with flutamide induced stage-dependent cyclin D2 immunoexpression in Sertoli cells within 18 h, and confocal microscopy revealed that immunoexpression of AR and cyclin D2 were mutually exclusive within individual seminiferous tubules in these animals. Sertoli cell-selective ablation of the AR in mice using Cre/loxP technology also resulted in stage-dependent Sertoli cell cyclin D2 immunoexpression. Downstream from cyclin D2 action is retinoblastoma 1 (RB1), a tumor suppressor protein, immunoexpression of which paralleled stage-dependent AR expression in Sertoli cells; RB1 stage specificity disappeared after EDS treatment. These results point to a non-cell cycle role for cyclin D2 and RB1 in mature Sertoli cells in the stage-dependent mechanisms regulated by AR expression and androgen action.
Monitoring Precursor 16S rRNAs ofAcinetobacter spp. in Activated Sludge Wastewater Treatment Systems

ABSTRACT Recently, Cangelosi and Brabant used oligonucleotide probes targeting the precursor 16S rRNA of Escherichia coli to demonstrate that the levels of precursor rRNA were more sensitive to changes in growth phase than the levels of total rRNA (G. A. Cangelosi and W. H. Brabant, J. Bacteriol. 179:4457–4463, 1997). In order to measure changes in the levels of precursor rRNA in activated sludge systems, we designed oligonucleotide probes targeting the 3′ region of the precursor 16S rRNA of Acinetobacterspp. We used these probes to monitor changes in the level of precursor 16S rRNA during batch growth of Acinetobacter spp. in Luria-Bertani (LB) medium, filtered wastewater, and in lab- and full-scale wastewater treatment systems. Consistent with the previous reports for E. coli, results obtained with membrane hybridizations and fluorescence in situ hybridizations withAcinetobacter calcoaceticus grown in LB medium showed a more substantial and faster increase in precursor 16S rRNA levels compared to the increase in total 16S rRNA levels during exponential growth. Diluting an overnight culture of A. calcoaceticusgrown in LB medium with filtered wastewater resulted in a pattern of precursor 16S rRNA levels that appeared to follow diauxic growth. In addition, fluorescence in situ hybridizations with oligonucleotide probes targeting total 16S rRNA and precursor 16S rRNA showed that individual cells of A. calcoaceticus expressed highly variable levels of precursor 16S rRNA when adapting from LB medium to filtered sewage. Precursor 16S rRNA levels of Acinetobacterspp. transiently increased when activated sludge was mixed with influent wastewater in lab- and full-scale wastewater treatment systems. These results suggest that Acinetobacterspp. experience a change in growth activity within wastewater treatment systems.
Enteric Adenovirus and Norovirus Gastroenteritis among Under-5 years Children in Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria

Aim: Infant mortality attributable to diarrhea continue unabated, without the precise determination of the viral etiologies. Few studies exist on enteric adenoviruses and norovirus infections in infants and young children in Nigeria. This study was aimed at the detection and determination of the Original Research Article Babalola et al.; BJMMR, 9(8): 1-9, 2015; Article no.BJMMR. 14082 2 baseline prevalence of enteric adenoviruses and norovirus pathogens among under -5 years children hospitalized for acute diarrhea in Ondo state, Nigeria. Methods: In a cross sectional descriptive study conducted between November 2013 and April 2014, fifty (50) fecal specimens collected from diarrheic children below 5 years and age matched non-diarrheic controls were screened for the presence of enteric adenovirus and norovirus antigens using a 4 th generation quadruple Rapid Immunochromatographic Enzyme Immuno Assay kits. Results: Adenovirus antigen was detected in 9/50 (18%) in November 2013, and February to April 2014 while norovirus was found in 4/50 (8%) of the diarrheic children, in the months of December 2013 to February 2014. The prevalent age at infection were 0-6 months for adenovirus and 31-36 months for norovirus, while the male-to-female ratio was 1.8:1. Co-infection of adenovirus with rotavirus was detected in children between 7-12 months, while co-infection of adenovirus with norovirus was detected in children between 31-36 months old at a rate of 2% respectively. There was no significant difference in the induction of diarrhea in children by each of the two viruses (χ=1.78), and no significant difference in the rate of adenovirus (χ=0.605) and norovirus infections (χ 2 =1.09) between male and female, in the study population. Conclusion: The baseline prevalence of enteric adenovirus diarrhea was 18% (occurring in November, February to April), norovirus was 8% (occurring in December to February), dual infection by adenovirus cum rotavirus, and adenovirus cum norovirus was 2% respectively, in children below 3 years in Ondo state Nigeria. The findings suggests that human enteric adenoviruses and norovirus are becoming established etiologies of infantile diarrhea in southwest Nigeria, and vaccines should be developed and vaccination implemented alongside rotavirus.
Maternal and neonatal blood concentrations of bupivacaine

During continuous lumbar extradural analgesia in obstetrics, both tachyphylaxis and toxic side-effects from systemic absorption of the local analgesic may occur, should labour be prolonged. The advent of the long acting local analgesic bupivacaine (Marcain) has increased interest in extradural analgesia in labour in Great Britain. Less frequent doses are necessary and, since tachyphylaxis is not apparent, pain relief can be afforded almost indefinitely I . Early investigation in animals suggested that bupivacaine had a high systemic toxicityz, but although it has been used widely to produce extradural analgesia, usually in a single dose 1 ~ 3 9 there have been few reports of toxic side-effects and these were probably mostly due to inadvertent intravenous injection59 6 . However, during continuous extradural analgesia, intoxication might be more likely. Since systemic toxicity depends on absorption from the site of injection, blood concentrations of local analgesic drugs can be used to assess potential toxicity. Shnider & Way 10 and Thomas et al. 1 1 have measured plasma lignocaine levels following continuous extradural blockade, but they have only published estimations made at delivery and did not assess any tendency to accumulate. Moore et al. 1 2 found evidence of considerable systemic accumulation of mepivacaine (Carbocaine) during continuous caudal extradural block. Although for many years few neonatal side-effects were reported as a result of correctly administered extradural blockade using lignocaine, with the advent of mepivacaine (a homologue of bupivacaine), foetal and neonatal sideeeffects were noted increasinglyl3. Thus the risk of foetal intoxication cannot be ruled out with a new local analgesic. We have therefore studied the concentrations of bupivacaine and lignocaine both in the foetal blood at delivery and in the maternal blood at intervals during the administration of lumbar extradural analgesia.