Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reformulating Power Components Definitions Contained in the IEEE Standard 1459–2000 Using Discrete Wavelet Transform

In nonsinusoidal situations, power components definitions contained in the IEEE standard 1459-2000 are based on a frequency-domain approach using Fourier transform (FT). The frequency-domain approach can provide amplitude-frequency spectrum while loosing time-related information. Moreover, the FT carries a heavier computational burden. To overcome these limitations, definitions of power components are reformulated in the wavelet domain using the discrete wavelet transform (DWT). Using the DWT preserves the information concerning time and frequency and also reduces the computational time and effort by dividing the frequency spectrum into bands or levels. The results of applying the reformulated definitions show that the problem of spectral leakage between wavelet levels can be minimized by suitably choosing the wavelet family along with suitable mother wavelet. The reformulated definitions could be useful for setting tariff and evaluating the quality of the electric energy supply especially when considering nonstationary waveforms where the Fourier transform-based power components definitions fail.
Fetal exposure to an intra-amniotic inflammation and the development of cerebral palsy at the age of three years.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine whether fetal exposure to intra-amniotic inflammation and a systemic fetal inflammatory response (funisitis) are associated with the development of cerebral palsy at the age of 3 years. STUDY DESIGN This cohort study included 123 preterm singleton newborns (gestational age at birth, </=35 weeks) born to mothers who underwent amniocentesis and were followed up for >/=3 years. The presence of intra-amniotic inflammation was determined by elevated amniotic fluid concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukins 6 and 8 and by amniotic fluid white blood cell count. Cytokine concentrations were measured with sensitive and specific immunoassays. Funisitis was diagnosed in the presence of neutrophil infiltration into the umbilical vessel walls or Wharton jelly. Cerebral palsy was diagnosed by neurologic examination at the age of 3 years. RESULTS Newborns with subsequent development of cerebral palsy had a higher rate of funisitis and were born to mothers with higher median concentrations of interleukins 6 and 8 and higher white blood cell counts in the amniotic fluid compared with newborns without subsequent development of cerebral palsy (funisitis: 75% [9/12] vs 23% [24/105]; interleukin 6: median, 18.9 ng/mL; range, 0. 02-92.5 ng/mL; vs median, 1.0 ng/mL; range, 0.01-115.2 ng/mL; interleukin 8: median, 13.0 ng/mL; range, 0.1-294.5 ng/mL; vs median, 1.2 ng/mL; range, 0.05-285.0 ng/mL; white blood cell count: median, 198 cells/mm(3); range, 0->1000 cells/mm(3); vs median, 3 cells/mm(3); range, 0-19,764 cells/mm(3); P <. 01 for each). After adjustment for the gestational age at birth, the presence of funisitis and elevated concentrations of interleukins 6 and 8 in amniotic fluid significantly increased the odds of development of cerebral palsy (funisitis: odds ratio, 5.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-24.5; interleukin 6: odds ratio, 6.4; 95% confidence interval, 1. 3-33.0; interleukin 8: odds ratio, 5.9; 95% confidence interval, 1. 1-30.7; P <.05 for each). CONCLUSION Antenatal exposure to intra-amniotic inflammation and evidence of a systemic fetal inflammatory response (funisitis) are strong and independent risk factors for the subsequent development of cerebral palsy at the age of 3 years.
Physical-Chemical Characteristics and Fatty Acids Composition in Dairy Goat Milk in Response to Roughage Diet

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the physical-chemical characteristics (density, pH, acidity, fat, protein, lactose and total of solids contents) and milk fatty acids composition (C: 4 to C: 20) in response to roughage sources (alfalfa hay T1; oat hay T2 and maize silage T3). Nine Saanen lactating goats were used, in a triple Youden square design (3 animals x 2 periods). There was no treatment effects in the physical-chemical variables in the univariate analyses; by multivariate analyses three distinct patterns of fatty acids could be defined: milk with greater quantity of short chain fatty acids and acids C17:1w7 e C18:2w6 (T1); milk with equivalent amounts of short, medium and long chain fatty acids (T2); and milk with greater amounts of acids C16:1w7, C17:0, C18:1w9 and C20:0 (T3). These results indicated that the roughage sources used in the diet of lactating dairy goats affected the fatty acids composition, without altering the milk physical-chemical characteristics. The acids more sensitive to the treatment effects were: C10:0, C12:0, C14:0, C16:0, C16:1w7, C18:0 and C18:3w6.
Environmental Air Pollution Has Decremental Effects on Pulmonary Function Test Parameters Up to One Week After Exposure

Background:Recent exposure to air pollution has a decremental effect on pulmonary function. This short-term effect has only been studied for up to a few days postexposure. Our objective was to analyze the effect of air pollution on spirometric parameters in varying lag times of up to 1 week from the time of exposure. Methods:Healthy subjects, never smokers, who were participants in the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center Inflammation Survey held between 2002 and 2007, were included if residing within an 11-km range to the nearest air pollution monitoring station. Linear regression models were applied to each lung function variable [first second of exhalation (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC] against air pollutant variables (particulate matter under 10 &mgr; in diameter, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and ozone) for increasing lag periods of up to 7 days, and they were adjusted for possible confounders that affect air pollution and spirometric measurements. Results:The study population comprised 2380 individuals. We found a statistically significant negative correlation between air pollutants, mainly SO2, and between FEV1 and FVC. This effect was significant from days 3 to 6, with a maximal effect noted for the fifth day and for the 7-day average before pulmonary function measurement. No significant change was found for FEV1/FVC ratio. Conclusions:Air pollution has a decremental effect on lung function parameters for up to 6 days after exposure in healthy adults. SO2 emerged as the most significant air pollutant affecting short-term lung function parameters.
Minimizing ventricular pacing to reduce atrial fibrillation in sinus-node disease.

BACKGROUND Conventional dual-chamber pacing maintains atrioventricular synchrony but results in high percentages of ventricular pacing, which causes ventricular desynchronization and has been linked to an increased risk of atrial fibrillation in patients with sinus-node disease. METHODS We randomly assigned 1065 patients with sinus-node disease, intact atrioventricular conduction, and a normal QRS interval to receive conventional dual-chamber pacing (535 patients) or dual-chamber minimal ventricular pacing with the use of new pacemaker features designed to promote atrioventricular conduction, preserve ventricular conduction, and prevent ventricular desynchronization (530 patients). The primary end point was time to persistent atrial fibrillation. RESULTS The mean (+/-SD) follow-up period was 1.7+/-1.0 years when the trial was stopped because it had met the primary end point. The median percentage of ventricular beats that were paced was lower in dual-chamber minimal ventricular pacing than in conventional dual-chamber pacing (9.1% vs. 99.0%, P<0.001), whereas the percentage of atrial beats that were paced was similar in the two groups (71.4% vs. 70.4%, P=0.96). Persistent atrial fibrillation developed in 110 patients, 68 (12.7%) in the group assigned to conventional dual-chamber pacing and 42 (7.9%) in the group assigned to dual-chamber minimal ventricular pacing. The hazard ratio for development of persistent atrial fibrillation in patients with dual-chamber minimal ventricular pacing as compared with those with conventional dual-chamber pacing was 0.60 (95% confidence interval, 0.41 to 0.88; P=0.009), indicating a 40% reduction in relative risk. The absolute reduction in risk was 4.8%. The mortality rate was similar in the two groups (4.9% in the group receiving dual-chamber minimal ventricular pacing vs. 5.4% in the group receiving conventional dual-chamber pacing, P=0.54). CONCLUSIONS Dual-chamber minimal ventricular pacing, as compared with conventional dual-chamber pacing, prevents ventricular desynchronization and moderately reduces the risk of persistent atrial fibrillation in patients with sinus-node disease. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00284830 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).
Decreased expression of NKG2D, NKp46, DNAM-1 receptors, and intracellular perforin and STAT-1 effector molecules in NK cells and their dim and bright subsets in metastatic melanoma patients

Although natural killer (NK) cells play an important antitumor role, melanoma cells may affect their effector functions. In this study, we analyzed the expression of various receptors and effector molecules in NK cells and their subsets in metastatic melanoma (MM) patients compared with healthy controls (HCs). In HC and MM patients, we analyzed NK cell activity using a chromium release assay and the expression of CD107a degranulation marker, activating NKG2D, NKp46, DNAM-1, and inhibitory CD158a and CD158b receptors, IL-12R beta 1, IL-12R beta 2, intracellular interferon (IFN)-&ggr;, perforin, and STAT-1 in CD3-CD56+ NK cells, and cytotoxic CD3-CD56dim and immunoregulatory CD3-CD56bright subsets by flow cytometry. MM patients compared with HC not only had significantly decreased NK cell activity, lower expression of CD107a, and impaired IFN-&ggr; production but also had decreased expression of activating NKG2D, NKp46, and DNAM-1 receptors, which was followed by lower expression of perforin, STAT-1, and both IL-12R subunits in NK cells. In MM patients only, there was a positive correlation between NKG2D expression and degranulation capacity, as well as IFN-&ggr; production in NK cells. Analysis of the expression of various parameters of NK cell effector functions between MM patients with different localization of distant metastases showed that patients in the unfavorable M1c subclass had decreased expression of NKG2D and NKp46 on NK cells compared with patients in the M1a+b group. Downregulated NKG2D, NKp46, and DNAM-1 receptors associated with impaired NK cell effector function are important biomarkers of advanced disease with a poor prognosis in melanoma patients.
The effect of schools on political participation: a multilevel logistic analysis

While various recent studies have sounded the alarm about young people's civic and political participation, schools are often cited as an important means of counteracting this trend. Not only do schools prepare students for the ‘real’ world but they also provide them with essential resources required for political participation. However, it is not always clear how schools can enhance young people's political participation. In this article, I empirically test how schools can encourage young people's political participation. Through a multilevel analysis, the simultaneous effect of formal civic education, active learning strategies and school characteristics on political participation among Flemish pupils is investigated. The evidence suggests that especially formal education and active learning strategies are successful in stimulating political participation. On the other hand, the level of political participation does not depend on school characteristics.
Reverse transcription in hepatitis B viruses is primed by a tyrosine residue of the polymerase

All known DNA polymerases require primers for the initiation of DNA synthesis. While cellular polymerases and reverse transcriptases use free hydroxyl groups of RNA or DNA, the DNA polymerases of certain animal viruses and bacteriophages depend upon hydroxyl groups of amino acid residues within proteins as primers for DNA synthesis. Recently, the reverse transcriptase of a hepadnavirus has been shown to prime RNA-directed DNA synthesis from an internal site of the polypeptide (G.H. Wang and C. Seeger, Cell 71:663-670, 1992). In this report we demonstrate that a tyrosine residue of the polymerase polypeptide is the site of a phosphodiester linkage with the first nucleotide of minus-strand DNA. This tyrosine residue is located within an amino-terminal domain of the polymerase polypeptide and is indispensable for the priming of reverse transcription. Our results demonstrate that the hepatitis B virus reverse transcriptase can initiate DNA synthesis without the requirement for tRNA as a primer.
Fenestrations in endothelium of rat liver sinusoids revisited by freeze‐fracture

The freeze‐fracture appearance of fenestrations of sinusoidal endothelial cells has been reassessed in perfusion‐fixed rat liver. Fenestrations, limited to the attenuated portions of the endothelial cell cytoplasm are usually round or oval in shape, with diameters ranging from 40‐600 nm. Within a given fenestrated region, they are disposed in clusters forming sieve plates. In addition, the presence of wide, irregularly shaped openings suggest that adjacent fenestrations may coalesce and result in the larger openings. Our data thus confirm the existence of both small and large fenestrae in the endothelial wall, in contradistinction to previous studies showing only regular, medium‐sized (100 nm) openings.
Adjoint Methods in Computational Science, Engineering, and Finance (Dagstuhl Seminar 14371)

This report documents the program and the outcomes of Dagstuhl Seminar 14371 "Adjoint Methods in Computational Science, Engineering, and Finance". The development of adjoint numerical methods yields a large number of theoretical, algorithmic, and practical (implementation) challenges most of them to be addressed by state of the art Computer Science and Applied Mathematics methodology including parallel high-performance computing, domain-specific program analysis and compiler construction, combinatorial scientific computing, numerical linear algebra / analysis, and functional analysis. One aim of this seminar was to tackle these challenges by setting the stage for accelerated development and deployment of such methods based on in-depth discussions between computer scientists, mathematicians, and practitioners from various (potential) application areas. The number of relevant issues is vast, thus asking for a series of meetings of this type to be initiated by this seminar. It focused on fundamental theoretical issues arising in the context of "continuous vs. discrete adjoints. " The relevant context was provided by presentations of various (potential) applications of adjoint methods in CSEF.
Continuous, quality and process improvement: disintegrating and reintegrating operational improvement?

Recent interest in strategic initiatives, in particular Six Sigma, appear to relate to three forms of improvement: continuous improvement, quality improvements and process improvement. The similarities between these approaches have led to some confusion within the literature and raise the question whether these approaches are tautological. This paper argues against this by firstly exploring the nuances of these three areas. Based upon a systematic literature review of operations management journals, insight is developed by exploring the three terms individually and then in combination, resulting in the presentation of a number of research propositions to guide further research. To extend our understanding of operational improvement, organisational learning is identified as a common theoretical perspective employed within each of the three forms of improvements. Organisational learning is subsequently utilised to underpin the relationship between the three terms, highlighting the need for both operational and strategic improvement, drawing upon strategic management literature. These are presented in the form of a conceptual model, in addition to further research propositions. The paper concludes by presenting future research opportunities identified by the work in the form of construct development, exploratory case study research and survey work to test the presented model and propositions.
Green and facile approach for enhancing the inherent magnetic properties of carbon nanotubes for water treatment applications

Current methods for preparing magnetic composites with carbon nanotubes (MCNT) commonly include extensive use of treatment with strong acids and result in massive losses of carbon nanotubes (CNTs). In this study we explore the potential of taking advantage of the inherent magnetic properties associated with the metal (alloy or oxide) incorporated in CNTs during their production. The as-received CNTs are refined by applying a permanent magnet to a suspension of CNTs to separate the high-magnetic fraction; the low-magnetic fraction is discarded with the solvent. The collected MCNTs were characterized by a suite of 10 diffraction and spectroscopic techniques. A key discovery is that metallic nano-clusters of Fe and/or Ni located in the interior cavities of the nanotubes give MCNTs their ferromagnetic character. After refinement using our method, the MCNTs show saturation magnetizations up to 10 times that of the as-received materials. In addition, we demonstrate the ability of these MCNTs to repeatedly remove atrazine from water in a cycle of dispersion into a water sample, adsorption of the atrazine onto the MCNTs, collection by magnetic attraction and regeneration by ethanol. The resulting MCNTs show high adsorption capacities (> 40 mg-atrazine/g), high magnetic response, and straightforward regeneration. The method presented here is simpler, faster, and substantially reduces chemical waste relative to current techniques and the resulting MCNTs are promising adsorbents for organic/chemical contaminants in environmental waters.
Official intervention in Foreign Exchange Market in Malawi: A comparison of GARCH and Equilibrium Exchange Rate approaches

The Malawi kwacha was floated in February 1994. Since then, the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) has periodically intervened in the foreign exchange market. This report analyses the effectiveness of foreign exchange market interventions by RBM. We used a generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedastic (GARCH; 1, 1) model to simultaneously estimate the effect of intervention on the mean and volatility of the kwacha. We also ran an equilibrium exchange rate model and use the equilibrium exchange rate criterion to compare results with those from the GARCH model. Using monthly exchange rates and official intervention data from January 1995 to June 2008, results from the GARCH model indicated that net sales of United States dollars by RBM depreciate, rather than appreciate, the kwacha. Empirically, this implies the RBM “leans against the wind”, i.e., the RBM intervenes to reduce, but not reverse, around-trend exchange rate depreciation. However, results from the GARCH model for the post-2003 period indicated that RBM intervention in the market stabilizes the kwacha. In general, results from both the GARCH model and the real equilibrium exchange rate criterion for the entire study period showed that RBM interventions have been associated with increased exchange rate volatility, except during the post-2003 period. The implication of this finding is that intervention can only have a temporary influence on the exchange rate, as it is difficult to find empirical evidence showing that intervention has a long-lasting, quantitatively significant effect.
Swings in Commercial and Residential Land Prices in the United States

We use a large dataset of land sales dating back to the mid-1990s to construct land price indexes for 23 MSAs in the United States and for the aggregate of those MSAs. The price indexes show a dramatic increase in both commercial and residential land prices over several years prior to their peak in 2006-07 and a steep descent since then. These fluctuations have exceeded those in well-known indexes of home prices and commercial real estate prices. Because those indexes price a bundle of land and structures, this comparison implies that land prices have been more volatile than structures prices over this period. This result is a key element of the land leverage hypothesis, which holds that home prices and commercial property prices will be more volatile, all else equal, in areas where land represents a larger share of real estate value.
Changes in α-tocopherol and retinol levels during cardiopulmonary bypass correlate with maximal arterial partial pressure of oxygen

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is associated with oxidative stress. This study examined antioxidant levels in adults undergoing CPB surgery and their correlation with clinical variables. Arterial blood samples were obtained from 27 patients undergoing CPB. The time-course variation of vitamin C (spectrofluorimetry), α-tocopherol and retinol (HPLC) levels were determined. Plasma vitamin C rose initially but gradually decayed during reperfusion until 60% reduction of baseline values post-surgery. α-Tocopherol and retinol were reduced along CPB with post-operative values ∼25% lower than baseline. No significant changes were found for selenium and glutathione peroxidase. PaO2 values rose steadily throughout CPB. A correlation existed for α-tocopherol and retinol depletion vs maximal PaO2 throughout CPB but no correlation was found for antioxidant consumption vs duration of ischaemia and reperfusion and hypothermia level. In conclusion, consumption of arterial blood antioxidant vitamins occurs with CPB in relation with PaO2 levels but not for other clinical variables measured in this study.
The Public Debt of French Local Government

ABSTRACT After a sharp increase, the public debt of French local communities has been stabilized in real terms: its amount reached 54 per cent of total public debt in 1980. In the French institutional framework, local government borrowing policy is under the tight control of central agencies. An econometric model of the borrowing behaviour of local governments since 1965 is presented; it emphasizes the role of internal determinants of local debt (needs for investment, self-financing ability of governments), external constraints (e.g. interest rates and the financial resources of lenders, such as households savings), and finally the impact of macroeconomic policy measures from the central government.
Herding behaviour in strategic asset allocations: new approaches on quantitative and intertemporal imitation

In this article, we contribute to financial literature on institutional herding behaviour, intertemporal imitation and informational cascades by analysing the changes in the strategic asset allocations of Spanish equity pension plans investing in Eurozone equities. This article is mainly focused on methodological improvements. Firstly, the study examines the herding phenomenon by using the traditional measure developed by Lakonishok, Shleifer and Vishny (LSV) (1992). Afterwards, some original analyses such as the consideration of a restricted definition of buying and selling and the amount of the variations in the strategic allocations are carried out to overcome certain shortcomings existing in this metric. Moreover, we analyse the intertemporal imitation and the informational cascades through time-series regressions. The results show that Spanish pension managers are involved in herd behaviour, a phenomenon that is reinforced when important movements of the strategic allocations are required. Intertemporal analyses confirm the convergent behaviour of a significant number of pension plans; while the study of informational cascades allows us to discriminate between those plans that present anticipatory abilities and those that follow the strategic movements of the rest of the managers.