Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sliding-Mode Control for DFIG Rotor- and Grid-Side Converters Under Unbalanced and Harmonically Distorted Grid Voltage

Regarding doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) operation, unbalanced and harmonically distorted grid voltage conditions have been treated as two separate control problems. This paper reports a solution for the rotor- and grid-side power converters, which allows one to keep the DFIG successfully in operation under both grid voltage conditions. The proposed solution is based on sliding-mode control (SMC). The rotor-side converter is commanded so that the electromagnetic torque and the stator reactive power remain free of fluctuations that arise during grid voltage disturbances. Meanwhile, the grid-side converter ensures both constant DC-link voltage and steady active power output from the overall system. The developed algorithms turn out being robust against parameter variations and of fast dynamic response. In addition, none of the converters need either voltage or current positive and negative sequences extraction. The simulation results presented demonstrate the appropriateness of SMC to face such disturbed scenarios. Finally, the stability proof of both converters' control algorithms is provided in the appendices.
Hedonic Estimation and Policy Significance of the Impact of HOPE VI on Neighborhood Property Values

HOPE VI was designed as a program to revitalize distressed public housing. This study uses hedonic methods to test whether projects that are rebuilt with HOPE VI funds have a positive effect on surrounding property values. Comparisons are made between HOPE VI and other types of public housing programs using data on property values by census block groups from the 2000 census. We find that HOPE VI had a statistically significant positive impact on surrounding property values on the order of 8-10% for every quarter-mile closer that a housing unit was located to the development. Other public housing developments were found to have little if any effect on property values. Copyright 2005 by The Policy Studies Organization.
Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing and Vulnerability and Hospitalization in Older Community-Dwelling Patients

Background: The predictive validity of existing explicit process measures of potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) is not established. Objective: To determine the association between PIP, and vulnerability and hospital visits in older community-dwelling patients. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 931 community-dwelling patients aged ≥70 years in 15 general practices in Ireland in 2010. PIP was defined by the Beers 2012 criteria and the Screening Tool of Older Person’s Potentially Inappropriate Prescriptions (STOPP). Vulnerability was measured by the Vulnerable Elders Survey (score ≥3). The number of hospital visits was measured using patients’ medical records and self-report for the previous 6 months. Multilevel logistic and Poisson regression was used to examine the association between PIP, and vulnerability and hospital visits after adjusting for patient and practice level covariates, socioeconomic status, comorbidity, number of drug classes, social support, and adherence. Results: The prevalence of PIP determined by the Beers 2012 and STOPP criteria was 28% (n = 246) and 42% (n = 377), respectively. Patients with ≥2 PIP indicators were almost twice as likely to be classified as vulnerable (Beers adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.80; 95% CI = 1.08, 3.01; P < 0.05; STOPP adjusted OR = 1.86; 95% CI = 1.13, 3.04; P < 0.05). Patients with ≥2 STOPP indicators had an increased risk in the expected rate of hospital visits (adjusted incidence rate ratio = 1.32; 95% CI = 1.14, 1.54; P < 0.01). The Beers 2012 criteria were not associated with increased hospital visits. Conclusion: STOPP is a more sensitive measure of PIP than the Beers 2012 criteria and of clinical benefit in primary care settings.
GRADES/CLASSES OF HARD WHEATS EXPORTED FROM NORTH AMERICA: ANALYSIS OF DEMAND AND TRENDS

Export patterns for U.S. and Canadian hard wheats (HAD, HRS, HRW, CWRS, and CWAD) were examined. Analysis incorporated grade and non-grade factors from U.S. shipments and grades and classes of Canadian exports. Shift-share analysis was used to examine changes in market shares for classes and grades. Cluster analysis was used to group importers of U.S. wheat classes based on like grade and non- grade factors of wheat shipments. Canada exports most of its hard wheat as No. 1, while the U.S. exports predominately No. 2 or better. Classes experiencing increased market shares include HRS, CWRS, and CWAD. U.S. HRS, HRW, and HAD all showed patterns of increasing market shares for No. 1 over lesser grades from the early 1980s to 1990s. Importer comparisons indicated that in many cases, countries imported largely No. 1 from Canada and lesser grades from the U.S. (predominately No. 2 or better). Clustering analysis indicated an increase in the number of distinct segments of wheat importers from 1986-89 to 1991-94. Composition of market segments also changed with many countries moving from one segment to another from one year to the next.
Competition Policy in ASEAN: Case Studies

The overall conclusion for the case study sectors is as signalled for ease of economic activity more generally that there is a high but not perfect correlation between competition laws and market conditions and outcomes. Competition laws generally make a significant positive contribution, but are not the sole determinant of how well markets behave and perform. Other influences can compensate for less developed competition laws or detract from more developed competition laws. The implication for policy makers is that developing, implementing and enforcing competition laws may not be sufficient to achieve competitive market conditions and outcomes in all sectors, nor necessary for some sectors, but can generally be expected to be significantly conducive.
Evolutionary Optimization for Optimal Hopping of Humanoid Robots

Hopping motion is a prerequisite for running motion, and thus, there have been various approaches for running and/or hopping motion. However, no methods provide an optimal hopping motion for general humanoid robots although the hopping motions have been implemented successfully. Various considerations exist for the optimal hopping of the humanoid robot, and this complicated problem can be formulated as an optimization problem. In this paper, an evolutionary optimization problem for optimal hopping motion of the humanoid robot is formulated to achieve efficient hopping with maximum flight time as well as stable hopping. The validity of the proposed method is verified through a simulation and an experiment with an actual humanoid robot platform.
Measuring strategic planning effectiveness in hotels

Strategic planning is currently back in vogue as a key managerial process. However, despite the voluminous amount of strategic planning literature there has been a paucity of research that has measured planning effectiveness. This paper proposes a diagnostic tool developed for hotels called the strategic planning index (SPI) that measures planning effectiveness. Six factors were found to be critical to effective planning: planning implementation; future performance; past performance; functional coverage; reliance on analytical techniques; and staff planning assistance.
Curcumin alleviates IL‐17A‐mediated p53‐PAI‐1 expression in bleomycin‐induced alveolar basal epithelial cells

Bleomycin‐mediated inflammatory pathway is known to play an important role in the up regulation of oxidative stress. IL‐17A is a pro‐inflammatory cytokine involved in the modulation of fibrosis. The complex underlying mechanism for the said phenomenon remains unclear. This newly defined investigation was designed to understand the changes associated with 1L‐17A mediated up‐regulation of p53 and PAI‐1 expression and the role of curcumin in attenuating this process. A549 cells were treated with bleomycin (BLM) and IL‐17A to induce the inflammatory response in vitro. Curcumin, a known anti‐inflammatory bioactive compound was administered as an intervention. Cytotoxicity in the treatment groups was assessed using Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Cell migration was evaluated using scratch assay. Protein expressions were studied using Western blot analysis for the downstream effector molecules of IL‐17A mediated inflammatory pathways. In MTT assay, BLM treatment showed cytotoxicty upto 88% at a concentration of 1000 μM after 48 h of treatment. Cell migration assay results revealed that curcumin blocked the migration of cells to the area of the scratch. BLM treatment to the cells significantly induced the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐17A, which in turn modulated p53‐PAI‐1 expression. Bioactive compound curcumin showed anti‐inflammatory and anti‐apoptotic activity. Curcumin also regulated the BLM and IL‐17A mediated changes in p53–PAI‐1 expression. Curcumin has the ability to regulate inflammatory cytokines during BLM‐induced injury and their effect on p53‐PAI‐1 expression. It can be used as a potential anti‐inflammatory and anti‐fibrinolytic component for intervening the epithelial cell damage.Very little information is provided till date on the inflammatory mechanism controlling the fibrinolytic system in acute lung injury (ALI). Damage to alveolar epithelial cells during ALI is important in the development of pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Most forms of ALI are characterized by defective alveolar fibrinolysis, inflammation, and fibrotic lesions. Recent reports show that alveolar epithelial cells express uPA, uPAR, and p53‐mediated changes inhibit epithelial cell viability contributing to ALI. Thus, the roles of pulmonary epithelial cells in the inflammatory cascades activated after noninfectious injury, and the key signaling mediators of this process were actively investigated in this study. This investigation revealed that curcumin is an effective inhibitor of BLM‐induced inflammation, apoptosis, and migration of basal alveolar epithelial cells. These results throw an insight into the possibility of developing curcumin as a novel therapeutic for ALI.
[Effects of TNF on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and their modification by hyperthermia].

Firstly, using HCC cell lines, the effects of r-h TNF were investigated. The authors had already confirmed that these cell lines were derived from human HCC. Each cell line showed a different growth curve on addition of TNF to the culture medium. JHH-4 exhibited enhancement of growth under the optimum concentration of TNF. On the other hand, growth of JHH-5 and JHH-7 was inhibited by TNF. JHH-7 were more sensitive to TNF than JHH-5, however, the direct effect of TNF on JHH-7 was not potent, as 10(4) u/ml TNF could not prevent proliferation of JHH-7. Morphological examinations were also performed. Phase-contrast microscopy showed that the JHH-4 cells were enlarged and tended to pile up after the addition of TNF to the culture medium. JHH-7 cells became detached from the culture dish due to cell death. Electron microscopy showed irregular proliferation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum of JHH-4 cells and increased number of lysosomes in JHH-7 cells. Furthermore, hyperthermia exhibited an interesting reciprocal action. Proliferation of JHH-4 was inhibited by low concentrations of TNF together with 41.4 degrees C hyperthermia in contrast to the effects of TNF alone. JHH-7 became more sensitive to TNF under hyperthermia at 41.4 degrees C. On the other hand, normal human fibroblast 'HAIN-55' were not affected by TNF at 37.0 degrees C, 41.4 degrees C or 42.5 degrees C. In this paper, the authors tried to study the effects of TNF and hyperthermia on human HCC cell lines. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Management of anticoagulation and its reversal during paediatric cardiopulmonary bypass: a review of current UK practice

Protocols for management of heparin and protamine administration in patients undergoing open-heart surgery have been developed from experience gained mainly in adult practice. However, it has been demonstrated that there are marked differences between paediatric and adult patients in their response to systemic anticoagulation and its reversal. The aim of this study was to obtain an overview of current practice of management of anticoagulation and its reversal from paediatric cardiac surgical units of Great Britain and Ireland. All centres performing paediatric cardiac surgery agreed to participate in the survey (n = 16). Telephone interviews were carried out with the chief or a senior perfusionist from all participating institutions, which were based on a structured questionnaire compiled specifically for the purpose. The answers were anonymized. At present, in the UK and Ireland, unfractionated heparin is the anticoagulant of choice in all units, with a slight prevalence of porcine mucosal (9/16, 56.5%) versus bovine lung preparation (7/16, 44.0%). The policy for administration of heparin to the patient is uniform, with a dose of 300 IU/kg. However, there is great variability in the amount of heparin added to the prime and to the volume infused during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Monitoring of anticoagulation is achieved by activated coagulation time alone in all but one centre, with lower limits varying between 400 and 750 s. Use of aprotinin is widely accepted, but clinical indications are highly variable. No centre adopts heparin-bonded or heparin-coated circuitry for CPB. Calculation of initial and additional protamine doses followed a variety of criteria, resulting in a very wide distribution of doses. The data obtained highlighted the lack of uniformity among paediatric cardiac surgical units of Great Britain and Ireland with regard to most of the issues related to the management of anticoagulation and its reversal. The striking heterogeneity of our cross-sectional observations clearly underlines the need for prospective, multicentre studies on a national basis to relate different clinical practices to outcome measures.
Do Wrongful‐Discharge Laws Impair Firm Performance?

We estimate the effects on firm costs and profitability of wrongful‐discharge protections adopted by U.S. state courts during 1977–99. By examining the data of approximately 18,000 commercial banks, after controlling for local state economic conditions, we find evidence of a relationship between the adoption of the implied contract exception and the increase in labor expenses. In addition, adoption of the implied contract exception is found to have a significant and negative effect on overall profitability. The study corroborates previous findings that wrongful‐discharge laws place increased costs on employers.
High-density capacitors with conformal high-k dielectrics on etched-metal foils

This paper describes the fabrication and characterization of high-density capacitors using etched-metal foils as high-surface area electrodes. High permittivity films were conformally-formed over the metal foils using an anodization reaction. The approach was demonstrated with two material systems, viz., etched aluminum foils and porous titanium foils. Both the metal anodizations were carried out with aqueous solution of citric acid as electrolytes. The electrical properties of the etched-foil capacitor were measured using a sulfuric acid solution as the top contact. The high surface area electrodes yielded very high capacitance densities of 35-40 μF/cm2.
Uncoupling is without an effect on the production of reactive oxygen species by in situ synaptic mitochondria

Earlier reports that generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by isolated mitochondria supported by succinate was sensitive to small changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) served as a basis for the concept of ‘mild uncoupling’ suggesting that a few millivolts decrease in ΔΨm would be beneficial in neuroprotection because of reducing the production of ROS by mitochondria. In this study, we tested whether ROS generation by in situ mitochondria, which function in a normal cytosolic environment and oxidize glucose‐derived physiological substrates, is also dependent on changes in ΔΨm. The release of H2O2 was measured by the Amplex red fluorescence assay in freshly prepared isolated nerve terminals, synaptosomes incubated in a glucose‐containing medium. ΔΨm was decreased by the uncoupler carbonyl cyanide‐p‐trifluoromethoxyphenyl‐hydrazon (FCCP) (10–200 nmol/L), which accelerated the oxygen consumption, decreased the NADH level and induced depolarization, as shown by the fluorescence indicator JC‐1, in in situ mitochondria. These changes were detected at already the smallest FCCP concentration. H2O2 generation, however, was found to be unaltered by FCCP at any of the applied concentration. Depolarization of mitochondria was also induced by veratridine (40 μmol/L), which enhances the cytosolic Na+ concentration and imposes an ATP demand in synaptosomes. The accelerated oxygen consumption and the small depolarization of in situ mitochondria by veratridine were not paralleled by any significant alteration in the ROS generation. These findings indicate that a basal ROS generation by in situ mitochondria is not sensitive to changes in ΔΨm challenging the rational of the ‘mild uncoupling’ theory for neuroprotection and suggest that the ΔΨm‐dependent characteristics of ROS generation is limited mainly to well‐coupled succinate‐supported isolated mitochondria.
Modeling multlipath fading responses using multitone probing signals and polynomial approximation

We show in quite a general way that highly accurate modeling of multipath fading responses is possible using low-order complex polynormals. This applies to all terrestrial radio systems in the channelized common carrier bands below 15 GHz, where channel widths are 40 MHz or less. The context of the study is a new multipath experiment being conducted in New Jersey over a 23-mile path at 11 GHz. The transmitted signal consists of up to nine tones in a 40-MHz bandwidth. These tones are coherently processed, sampled, and digitized in the receiver and recorded, during fading events, for later off-line reductions. Simple routines can be used to determine polynomial coefficients from these recorded data. This paper describes the signal processing and data reduction methods and analyzes them to assess the accuracy of polynomial fitting. The analysis uses a mean-square error measure and assumes a representative form for the underlying response function. Our results predict that the vast majority of multipath fading responses can be accurately approximated over bandwidths of 40 (62) MHz using first- (second-) order complex polynomials.
Knowledge management critical success factors

Knowledge management (KM) is one of the growing interests in today's business, and the number of enterprises turning to knowledge management is increasing quickly, as they have found there are definite benefits. Therefore, with the importance of KM being realized, businesses are viewing KM as a critical success factor in today's dynamic borderless society. In the light of this, it is easy to understand why a multitude of factors become considerations in implementing a knowledge management function.
The reality of flexible work systems in Britain

Recent literature on human resource systems is predominantly focused on their links with performance. In contrast, this study steps back from this vogue and addresses the conceptualization and measurement of human resource systems and examines the nature of the collective use of human resource practices in Britain. Drawing on Bailey's (1993) three dimensions of ‘high performance work systems’, this paper uses data from Britain's Workplace Employee Relations Survey of 1998 on a full range of human resource practices to examine whether a managerial orientation underlies the triad, and any association that may exist between them and total quality management (TQM). Managerial orientations are unveiled via latent variable analyses and similarities in the adoption of human resource practices are addressed via cluster analyses. The results suggest the presence of managerial orientations that are centred on high involvement and are either integrated or associated with TQM. Although clusters suggest some similarity in the use of Bailey's motivational practices, this reflects neither managerial orientations nor high involvement management.
Anaerobic bacteria that dechlorinate perchloroethene

In this study, we identified specific cultures of anaerobic bacteria that dechlorinate perchlorethene (PCE). The bacteria that significantly dechlorinated PCE were strain DCB-1, an obligate anaerobe previously shown to dechlorinate chlorobenzoate, and two strains of Methanosarcina. The rate of PCE dechlorination by DCB-1 compared favorably with reported rates of trichloroethene bio-oxidation by methanotrophs. Even higher PCE dechlorination rates were achieved when DCB-1 was grown in a methanogenic consortium.
Hardware performance analysis of a parametric CORDIC IP

In this paper, a parametric CORDIC IP is presented, implementing fixed point arithmetic (sine, cosine, and arctangent) trigonometric functions evaluation. The VHDL design uses parameters to define the bitwidth and the precision of the input and output signals. Important design options for hardware implementation include iterative, unrolled and unrolled pipelined architectures of the CORDIC module. The design uses the VHDL '93 backwards-compatible version of the fixed point package, as defined according to the VHDL 2008 standard. Hardware performance analysis results are presented in this paper for more than 75 circuit variations implemented on a Virtex-5 Xilinx FPGA, each for different parameter values of the proposed CORDIC module. A maximum 47% increase of speed, and 57% area reduction are accomplished, in comparison with other designs.
Why is Employment Protection Stricter in Europe than in the United States?

I argue that the reason why the United States prefers a lower level of employment protection than the European countries lies in the differences in gains and costs from geographical mobility. I present a model in which labour migration and employment protection are both determined endogenously. The labour market is modelled within a matching framework, where the employment protection reduces both the job finding and job firing rates. Countries with low migration costs and high economic heterogeneity may prefer no employment protection so that workers can move quickly to better horizons rather than being maintained in low productive activities.
AlGaN solar-blind Schottky photodiodes fabricated on 4H-SiC

Solar-blind AlGaN-based Schottky photodiodes grown on 4H-SiC substrate are reported. The fabricated devices demonstrate dark current density as low as 2.2times10-10 A/cm2 at a reverse bias of 5 V. A zero-bias peak responsivity of 44 mA/W was achieved at 256 nm, corresponding to an external quantum efficiency of 21%. Under a low illumination power density of 10 nW/cm2, a rejection ratio of more than two orders of magnitude was observed in the wavelength range from 270 to 310 nm. A room-temperature solar-blind detectivity of 7.9times1014 cmmiddotHz1/2W-1 was estimated at 256 nm under zero bias