Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Demystifying Energy Demand using a Practice-centric Agent-based Model

The rational choice framework is commonly used in many energy demand models and energy economic policy models. However, the notion of reasoned decision-making underpinning the rational actor models is less useful to explain the dynamics of routine household activities (e.g., cooking, showering, heating, etc.) which result in energy use. An alternative body of work collectively referred to as social practice theories offers a more practical explanation of routines. It is also argued that practices, i.e. the routine activities that people do in the service of normal everyday living, is at the centre of social change, and hence should be the focus of interventions concerned with demand reduction. One of the main criticisms of social practice theories, however, is that the concepts proposed are high-level and abstract and hence difficult to apply to real-world problems. Most existing practice-centric models are also abstract implementations. To address this gap, in this paper, we present a concrete, empirically-based practice-centric agent-based model to simulate the dynamics of household heating practices. We also use the model to explore consumer response to a simulated price-based demand response scheme. We show how a practice-centric approach leads to a more realistic understanding of the energy use patterns of households by revealing the underlying contexts of consumption. The overall motivation is that by gaining insight into the trajectories of unsustainable energy consuming practices, it might be possible to propose alternative pathways that allow more sustainable practices to take hold.
Human Plasma and Recombinant Factor VI1

Soeren BjoernS, Donald C. Foster$, Lars Thim$, Finn C. Wibergz, Mogens Christensen$, Yutaka Komiyamay, Anders H. Pedersenqll , and Walter KisielV** From $Bioscience Corporate Research and the 11 Biopharmaceuticals Division, Novo Nordisk AIS, Novo Alle, Bagsuaerd, Denmark, SZymoGenetics, Incorporated, Seattle, Washington 98105, and the 7Blood Systems Research Foundation Laboratory, Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131
Prediction of Aperture Efficiency Ripple in Clear Aperture Offset Gregorian Antennas

Electrically small clear aperture dual offset reflector systems often exhibit a directivity ripple over frequency due to the interference of the diffracted field from the sub-reflector with the main beam field. This paper investigates the cause of the ripple, and presents a technique to predict the expected system directivity, including the ripple, using the feed radiation pattern augmented by an efficient simulation strategy in a clear aperture offset Gregorian system. The method allows for accurate prediction of the directivity ripple using a severely under-sampled set of simulation results. Predicted results are compared to several simulations, and agreement to better than 0.5 % is found for the majority of configurations using both analytical and full wave simulated feed patterns.
Collaborative writing: the effects of metacognitive prompting and structured peer interaction.

BACKGROUND The structured system for peer assisted learning in writing named Paired Writing (Topping, 1995) incorporates both metacognitive prompting and scaffolding for the interactive process. AIM This study sought to evaluate the relative contribution of these two components to student gain in quality of writing and attitudes to writing, while controlling for amount of writing practice and teacher effects. SAMPLE Participants were 28 ten- and eleven-year-old students forming a problematic mixed ability class. METHODS All received training in Paired Writing and its inherent metacognitive prompting. Students matched by gender and pre-test writing scores were assigned randomly to Interaction or No Interaction conditions. In the Interaction condition, the more able writers became 'tutors' for the less able. In the No Interaction condition, the more able writers acted as controls for the tutors and the less able as controls for the tutees. Over six weeks, the paired writers produced five pieces of personal writing collaboratively, while children in the No Interaction condition did so alone. RESULTS On pre- and post-project analyses of the quality of individual writing, all groups showed statistically significant improvements in writing. However, the pre-post gains of the children who wrote interactively were significantly greater than those of the lone writers. There was some evidence that the paired writers also had more positive self-esteem as writers. CONCLUSION The operation and durability of the Paired Writing system are discussed.
Therapeutic Ultrasound: Its Effects on the lntegrity of a Nonpenetrating Wound*.

This study investigated the effect of ultrasound applied to traumatized muscle tissue of an adult male rat. Sixty-six rats were traumatized, treated, and sacrificed. The rats were assigned to one of 11 groups, to which experimental and control (two mock) ultrasound treatments were given at 3- and 7-minute time periods at 0.5 and 1.5 watts per square centimeter intensities (pulsed and continuous ultrasound). The rats were given a total of six treatments, once every other day three times a week. Treatments began on the third day following the receipt of a nonpenetrating wound on the right lateral thigh. The animals were subsequently analyzed histologically to determine the extent of healing cells present. The principal findings were as follows: 1) ultrasound intensities had a significant effect on healing, 2) there was no statistical difference between the overall means of the control and experimental groups, and 3) there was no difference between the pulsed and continuous modes of ultrasound or between treatment times.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1984;5(5):278-281.
miR-132 Down-regulates Methyl CpG Binding Protein 2 (MeCP2) During Cognitive Dysfunction Following Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion.

BACKGROUND Chronic Cerebral Hypoperfusion (CCH) is an important vascular risk factor for vascular-related dementia cognitive impairment and there are no effective measures for the prevention and treatment of cognitive deficit by CCH and the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. Methyl cytidine-phosphate-guanosine (CpG) binding protein 2 (MeCP2), regulated by microRNA 132 (miR-132), is as a transcriptional repressor in high concentrations in the brain, which regulates the expression of synaptic proteins and neuroplasticity, and may be involved in the cognitive deficit after CCH. But no relevant studies have been reported. The aim of this study is to investigate the status of MeCP2 expression after CCH and explore whether MeCP2 changes is associated with cognitive deficits after CCH. METHODS We investigated MeCP2 expression after CCH using Western blotting, quantitative Real- Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis and immunofluorescence technique in a rat model of permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (2VO) to mimic CCH. We determined the effect of MeCP2 expression on cognitive deficits and neuroplasticity after CCH through lenti-virus stereotaxic injection, the Morris water maze and electrophysiology. RESULTS CCH contributed to the down-regulation of MeCP2 and mecp2 expressions in the hippocampus and cortex. miR-132 up-regulated by 2VO was distinctly negatively correlated with MeCP2 down-regulation by miR-132 inhibitors. MeCP2 over-expression improved learning and memory impairment, as well as neuroplasticity after 2VO. Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and the activities of its downstream pathways moleculars, tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) and the cAMP Response Element Binding Protein (CREB) were down-regulated by 2VO and rescued by MeCP2 over-expression. CONCLUSION Our study found that miR-132 may participate in the down-regulation of MeCP2 after CCH and MeCP2 down-regulation was possibly involved in the cognitive deficit through regulation of BDNF and its downstream pathways after 2VO. Our findings expounded the underlying mechanisms of cognition deficit after CCH, which contributes to understanding the mechanisms of vascular dementia.
Inferior vena cava filling defects on CT and MRI.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this article is to describe the appearance and causes of inferior vena cava (IVC) filling defects, how such findings may be accurately characterized, and the clinical significance of IVC filling defects. Filling defects in the IVC observed at MDCT and MRI may be a result of flow artifacts, anatomic variants, or bland or malignant thrombus. CONCLUSION Familiarity with anatomy and flow effects is critical for distinguishing true from false filling defects in the IVC. Delayed imaging after administration of IV contrast material and dedicated MRI sequences may be helpful for further characterization of such findings. Once a true filling defect of the IVC is established, identification of the cause, whether benign or malignant, and extent will guide clinical treatment.
Child sexual abuse: immediate and long-term effects and intervention.

OBJECTIVE The primary purpose of this review is to highlight the progress made in the area of child sexual abuse during the recent decade and to identify the gaps in our current knowledge about this syndrome. METHOD More than 100 articles on child sexual abuse were reviewed, the majority written from 1980 to the present concerning the demographics of child sexual abuse, the psychological effects of child sexual victimization, the psychopathology encountered in adult survivors of child sexual abuse, hypotheses regarding the nature of the trauma, a critique of the research, and approaches to intervention. RESULTS Although a wide variety of psychological sequelae have been documented in sexually abused children referred for evaluation or treatment, there appears to be considerable variability in the severity of the symptoms, and we remain ignorant of sequelae in abused children who never enter the mental health system. However, some of these children may become symptomatic in adult life. Validation of sexual abuse is hampered by the lack of specific behavioral markers. Methodological difficulties in child sexual abuse research include problems with definition, failure to measure severity of the abuse, sampling problems, failure to use standardized or appropriate instruments, problems with validation, and failure to use control groups. CONCLUSIONS Despite an increased focus on child sexual abuse in the recent decade, many gaps remain in our knowledge. Prospective longitudinal follow-up studies of sexually abused children and treatment outcome studies are urgently needed.
Quantification of pelvic floor muscle strength in female urinary incontinence: A systematic review and comparison of contemporary methodologies

There remains no gold standard for quantification of voluntary pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength, despite international guidelines that recommend PFM assessment in females with urinary incontinence (UI). Methods currently reported for quantification of skeletal muscle strength across disciplines are systematically reviewed and their relevance for clinical and academic use related to the pelvic floor are described.
Alcohol use, drug use and alcohol-related problems among men who have sex with men: the Urban Men's Health Study.

AIMS To measure the prevalence and independent associations of heavy and problematic use of alcohol and recreational drugs among a household-based sample of urban MSM (men who have sex with men). DESIGN Cross-sectional survey. PARTICIPANTS Men who identified as being gay or bisexual or who reported sex with another man in the prior 5 years were included in this analysis (n = 2172). SETTING A probability telephone sample of MSM was taken within Zip Codes of four large American cities (Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco) estimated to have total concentrations of at least 4% of all households with one resident MSM. MEASUREMENTS Standard measures of alcohol use, problems associated with alcohol use, and recreational drug use were administered by trained telephone interviewers. FINDINGS Both recreational drug (52%) and alcohol use (85%) were highly prevalent among urban MSM, while current levels of multiple drug use (18%), three or more alcohol-related problems (12%), frequent drug use (19%) and heavy-frequent alcohol use (8%) were not uncommon. The associations of heavy and/or problematic substance use are complex, with independent multivariate associations found at the levels of demographics, adverse early life circumstances, current mental health status, social and sexual practices and connection to gay male culture. CONCLUSIONS The complex pattern of associations with heavy and/or problematic substance use among urban MSM suggests that heavy and/or problematic substance use is grounded in multiple levels: the individual, the interpersonal and the socio-cultural.
A novel design approach of dc voltage balancing controller for cascaded H-bridge converter-based STATCOM

In this paper, a novel design approach of the PI controller used for individual DC voltage balancing control of cascaded H-bridge converter-based STATic synchronous COMpensator(STATCOM) is presented. By means of phase shift sinusoidal pulse width modulation, using two control loops(DC voltage control loop and phase angle shift control loop) to ensure DC voltage balance, the proposed approach can calculate parameters of the PI controller of the two control loops relative accurately by finding the relationship of the input and output of PI controller, The simulation results verify that the proposed method has good effects of balancing individual DC voltage, meanwhile, it makes the system a good dynamic performance.
An empirical evaluation of statistical testing designed from UML state diagrams: the flight guidance system case study

This paper presents an empirical study of the effectiveness of test cases generated from UML state diagrams using transition coverage as the testing criterion. The test cases production is mainly based on an adaptation of a probabilistic method, called statistical testing based on testing criteria. This technique was automated with the aid of the Rational Software Corporation's Rose RealTime tool. The test strategy investigated combines statistical test cases with (few) deterministic test cases focused on domain boundary values. Its feasibility is exemplified on a research version of an avionics system implemented in Java: the Flight Guidance System case study (14 concurrent state diagrams). Then, the results of an empirical evaluation of the effectiveness of the created test cases are presented. The evaluation was performed using mutation analysis to assess the error detection power of the test cases on more than 1500 faults seeded one by one in the Java source code (115 classes, 6500 LOC). A detailed analysis of the test results allows us to draw first conclusions on the expected strengths and weaknesses of the proposed test strategy.
Contrasting effects of mitogenic growth factors on oligodendrocyte precursor cell migration

We have examined the effects of the mitogenic growth factors platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and glial growth factor‐2 (GGF‐2) on oligodendrocyte precursor migration. In an agarose drop migration assay PDGF and bFGF stimulated migration while GGF‐2 had no effect. The migration‐enhancing effect of bFGF cannot be blocked by neutralising antibodies against PDGF, confirming that this effect is direct and not mediated via upregulation of PDGF receptors. Based on our results, we propose a model in which the differing effects of PDGF and GGF‐2 ensure appropriate numbers of oligodendrocyte precursor cells in the vicinity of axons to be myelinated during development. GLIA 19:85–90, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Robotic-assisted Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery

Robotic assistance provides a number of potential benefits for laparoscopic surgery by addressing several inherent limitations. However, its utility in colorectal surgery has not been determined. This is a report of our initial experience with robot-assisted colon resections. We prospectively followed 10 patients who underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic colorectal surgery using Zeus Microwrist System. Surgical outcomes were compared with those of 10 consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal surgery in the same institution for similar indications prior to the start of robotic-assisted surgery. Six patients in each group had surgery for colorectal malignancy. All 10 robotic-assisted procedures were completed with no intraoperative complications, conversions, or mortality. The average blood loss was less than 150 mL in all cases. Morbidity and hospital stay were comparable to those for the patients undergoing standard laparoscopic procedures. Robotic surgery was associated with a significant increase in operative time of almost 1 hour. This time was reduced significantly after the first 4 cases. The value of robotic assistance in colorectal surgery needs to be further evaluated in a larger comparative study.
A compact millimeter-wave broadband stacked coupled balun

This paper presents a compact 27.6-65.5GHz broadband Marchand balun in a 65-nm 1P6M CMOS technology. It uses stacked coupled structure for millimeter-wave application. The stacked coupled structure uses different layers coupling signals, instead of a planar layer, to reduce Machand balun size The balun bandwidth is 81.2%, the amplitude imbalance is less than 0.8 dB, and the phase imbalance is less than 8°. The balun occupies a 0.12mm2 die area.
Optical fiber nanometer-scale Fabry-Perot interferometer formed by the ionic self-assembly monolayer process.

The ionic self-assembly monolayer process is a novel technique that has already been used to deposit ultrathin films on glass, polymer, and silicon substrates of different sizes and shapes. This technique is presented as a new tool with which to apply coatings on optical fibers. A nanometer-scale interferometric cavity was built up at the end of an optical fiber with discrete thickness increments of 4.75 nm for a total thickness of 1 mum . Theoretical and experimental aspects of the nanometer-scale Fabry-Perot cavity are described, and both theoretical and experimental results show good agreement.
A Systematic Mapping on the Learning Analytics Field and Its Analysis in the Massive Open Online Courses Context

Learning Analytics LA is a field that aims to optimize learning through the study of dynamical processes occurring in the students' context. It covers the measurement, collection, analysis and reporting of data about students and their contexts. This study aims at surveying existing research on LA to identify approaches, topics, and needs for future research. A systematic mapping study is launched to find as much literature as possible. The 127 papers found resulting in 116 works are classified with respect to goals, data types, techniques, stakeholders and interventions. Despite the increasing interest in field, there are no studies relating it to the Massive Open Online Courses MOOCs context. The goal of this paper is twofold, first we present the systematic mapping on LA and after we analyze its findings in the MOOCs context. As results we provide an overview of LA and identify perspectives and challenges in the MOOCs context.
Development of a fuzzy logic controller for a rotary dryer with self-tuning of scaling factor

The control of the drying process in a rotary dryer is difficult due to delay time and the very complex process that includes the movement of the solids in addition to thermal drying. Thus, even today rotary dryers are partly manually controlled based on the operator’s experience and partly automatically controlled relying on conventional control methods. In this paper, which applies advanced control to a rotary dryer, two different control systems are developed. The first is a selftuning PID-type pure fuzzy feedback and the second is a self-tuning PID-type hybrid feedback and feedforward. The performances are compared with a traditional PID controller and both control systems give much better results then a traditional PID controller.
Understanding how adolescents and young adults with cancer talk about needs in online and face-to-face support groups

We compared adolescent and young adult cancer patient and survivor language between mediated and face-to-face support communities in order to understand how the use of certain words frame conversations about family, friends, health, work, achievement, and leisure. We analyzed transcripts from an online discussion board (N = 360) and face-to-face support group (N = 569) for adolescent and young adults using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count, a word-based computerized text analysis software that counts the frequency of words and word stems. There were significant differences between the online and face-to-face support groups in terms of content (e.g. friends, health) and style words (e.g. verb tense, negative emotion, and cognitive process).
A Study of the Level of Knowledge About Diabetes Management of Low-Income Persons With Diabetes

Diabetes education has proven to be an effective intervention for the management of diabetes. Persons with lower education levels, the majority of whom have low incomes, receive less diabetes self-management education (DSME) than their peers. This study compared the diabetes knowledge level of low-income adults who did not have a high school diploma or general equivalency diploma with those who did. We conducted a survey among residents of 4 low-income neighborhoods in Cincinnati, Ohio, using a cross-sectional descriptive design. Surveys included information related to diabetes self-management and level of education. The only questions for which there was a significant difference between the 2 groups were those pertaining to the causes and treatment of hypoglycemia. Survey results were used to validate the need for a DSME program for low-income adults in Cincinnati, Ohio. A DSME program was developed specifically for persons with low literacy.
International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood. Results on rhinitis of first phase in Pamplona, Spain.

BACKGROUND The ISAAC (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood) was thought in order to maximize the value of epidemiological research into asthma and allergic diseases in childhood, establishing a standardized methodology and facilitating collaboration and comparison between several countries. METHODS AND RESULTS The written questionnaires in the group of children aged 6-7 years was answered by the parents and the group of children aged 13-14 years self-completed the written questionnaires. RESULTS 3,040 children aged 13-14 years answered the questionnaire and 3,002 in the group aged 6-7 years. In the group of children aged 13-14, 49.7% referred rhinitis symptoms some time, and 15.6% in the 6-7 year old group. The prevalence of nasal symptoms in the last year was 35.5% in the 13-14 year group and 10.6% in the 6-7 year group. The presence of nasal symptoms was more frequent in winter. The prevalence of seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever) was 6.1% in the 13-14 year group and 4.8% in the group of children aged 6-7 years. CONCLUSIONS These results can contribute to a better control of some factors and to future studies where the etiology and incidence of the disease could be investigated.