Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Separate space vector control with P-Q compensation for cascaded multilevel inverter applied for field oriented induction motor

This paper introduces a new control technique for the cascaded multilevel inverter which is constructed by connecting two three-level diode clamped multilevel inverters to both sides of splitted neutral ac motors. One of them is called the bulk inverter and the other one is called the conditioning inverter which is installed without DC power supply to reduce the inverter cost and complexity. This type of multilevel inverter which is also called hybrid multilevel inverter reduces the number of switches and dc sources for the same output levels. The proposed control technique is based on calculation of the conditioning inverter space vector instead of passing the real and reactive powers (P, Q) of the bulk inverter through low pass filters to generate the controlled space vector reference. In this proposal P, Q compensation is used only to regulate the conditioning inverter capacitor voltage. The proposed control technique avoids sudden jumps in the output voltage waveform. The total harmonic distortion is improved over a wide range of modulation indices and no extra switching is required in the bulk inverter to regulate the conditioning inverter capacitor voltage. A simple algorithm is used to identify the space vector reference location (nearest three states) for space vector modulation. The proposed algorithm could be extended easily to higher number of levels. The proposed control technique is verified by simulation for an (R-L) load and for a 200 hp field oriented controlled induction motor.
Preparation and characterization of membranes made of pottery clay

Membrane separation works on the physical principle of size cut-off, wherein the particles larger in diameter cannot permeate while fluid (solvent) can. Membranes used in micro to ultra filtration have been prepared from refined inorganic materials. Some researchers have used low-cost natural materials such as clay, fly ash and apatite, these need lower firing temperature than metal oxide materials and have high flux performance to treat large volumes of process fluids. The kiln-fired earthen pottery is in use for building homes, storage vessels since earliest civilizations, the strength combined with the porosity and pore sizes in microfiltration range makes clay suitable for membrane fabrication. The pores are formed when the water evaporates, giving macro-pores, use of additional porosity agents like calcium carbonate gives micro-pores along with higher porosity. The firing temperature determines final strength, porosity and pore size, reason being materials in use have crystalline constituents that have vitreous properties like forming semi-solid phases, restructuring, and reduction of volume known as sintering at temperatures beyond 750 o C. Sintering gives membrane strength and reduced pore sizes which can be used as is in micro-filtration or with polymer coating for ultra-filtration. show XRD graphs for four different samples. Three of them sintered at 850 o C, 900 °C and 1000 °C and one un-sintered membrane. The reference data against which the XRD graphs, profiles and peaks were tested was taken from Crystallography Open Database (COD) for inorganics. Match 2 from CRYSTAL IMPACT (Brandenburg et al., 2013) was used for matching the data to known datasets.
Novel Scaffolds for Spinal Cord Repair

Injuries to the central nervous system (CNS) have traumatic consequences such as irreparable disability due to the inability of the CNS to regenerate injured nerve fibres. The aim of the work presented here was to develop a scaffold which potentially provides guidance to axons in the injured spinal cord thus facilitating signal transduction. A poly-(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA, PLA:PGA ratio of 75:25) flat sheet membrane scaffold was created using phase inversion with N-methyl pyrrolidinone (NMP) as the solvent and water as the non-solvent for immersion precipitation. PLGA flat sheet membranes were exposed to surface treatments including aminolysis, peptide immobilisation and ozonation in order to achieve higher cell attachment of PC12 cells, a cell line which was cloned from a solid pheochromocytoma tumour of white rats, and used as a tool for measurement of regeneration. Cell attachment studies revealed no significant difference in cell attachment between modified and not-modified PLGA flat sheet membranes. However, the absence of foetal calf serum (FCS) resulted in fivefold higher cell attachment compared to medium supplemented with 10% FCS. A second scaffold was produced by electrospinning 10% (w/w) PLGA in a chloroform:methanol (CHCl3:MeOH) mixture in ratio of 3:1 resulting in a nanofibrous scaffold. Optimum settings for electrospinning were found to be 3 ml/h feeding rate, 15kV applied voltage and 11cm collector-to-needle distance. Random and aligned PLGA nanofibres were produced, with a fibre diameter of 530±140nm. PC12 cells attached and differentiated to the nanofibrous scaffold. When exposed to NGF these cells stopped dividing and extended neurites. On random fibres, neurite orientation was random, whereas on aligned fibres 63% of neurites grew with the fibre orientation ±15��ᵒ. After 7 days of exposure to NGF, cells had 1-4 neurites on random fibres, reaching a maximum length of 188μm, whereas on aligned fibres, cells had 1-2 neurites, reaching a maximum length of 400μm. PLGA nanofibres were also investigated as a delivery vehicle for bioactive molecules. For this, poly-L-lysine (PLL) was incorporated into electrospun PLGA nanofibres via emulsion electrospinning. PLGA-PLL nanofibres were significantly larger than PLGA nanofibres having a diameter of 830±190nm. In order to visualise the incorporation of PLL, FITC-PLL was electrospun und the resulting nanofibres fluoresced greed. Attachment of PC12s to PLGA-PLL nanofibres was not significantly different compared to PLGA nanofibres. Aligned PLGA-PLL nanofibres were shown to promote neurite outgrowth of PC12s with resulting neurites of up to twice the length compared to aligned PLGA nanofibres. The results suggest that PLGA nanofibres strongly influences neurite organisation, which is potentially useful for future therapeutic approaches. The work in this thesis has shown that electrospun PLGA nanofibre mats have the potential to be used as scaffolds for spinal cord repair addressing topographical guidance and delivery of bioactive molecules to the site of injury.
Worker Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds in the Vehicle Repair Industry

This study evaluated exposures among vehicle repair technicians to hexane, acetone, toluene, and total volatile organic compounds (VOCs). On randomly selected workdays, we observed a characteristic pattern of solvent use among 36 technicians employed in 10 repair shops, each of which used an aerosol solvent product. We obtained quantitative exposure measurements from a subset of nine technicians (employed in three of these shops) who used an aerosol product containing hexane (25–35%), acetone (45–55%), and toluene (5–10%). The time-weighted average (TWA) exposure concentration for task-length breathing zone (BZ) samples (n = 23) was 36 mg/m 3 for hexane, 50 mg/m 3 for acetone, and 10 mg/m 3 for toluene. The TWA area concentrations (n = 49) obtained contemporaneously with BZ samples ranged from 25% to 35% of the BZ concentrations. The solvent emission rate (grams emitted/task time) was correlated with the total VOC exposure concentration (R 2 = 0.45). The proportions of VOCs in the BZ samples were highly correlated (r = 0.89 to 0.95) and were similar to those of the bulk product. Continuous exposure measurements for total VOCs (n = 1238) during 26 tasks produced a mean BZ VOC “pulse” of 394 mg/m 3 within 1 min following initiation of solvent spraying. The geometric mean air speed was 5.2 meters/min in the work areas (n = 870) and was associated with 0.8 air changes per minute in the BZ. The findings suggest that vehicle repair technicians who use aerosol solvent products experience episodic, inhalation exposures to the VOCs contained in these products, and the proportions of VOCs in the breathing zone are similar to those of the bulk product. Because acetone appears to amplify the severity and duration of the neurotoxic effects of n-hexane, products formulated with both hexane and acetone should be avoided. Further evaluation of exposures to VOCs is needed in this industry, along with information on effective alternatives to aerosol solvent products.
Iccrts Coalition Command and Control in the Networked Era Centralisation Vs Self-synchronisation: an Agent-based Investigation Topics: Cognitive Domain Issues, C2 Modeling and Simulation, C2 Concepts and Organizations Centralisation Vs Self-synchronisation: an Agent-based Investigation

Much NCW literature expounds the benefits of self-synchronisation, but does not clearly delineate the circumstances in which self-synchronised planning is effective. We investigate this question using agent-based simulation. Since such investigation requires an objective assessment of plan quality, we have constructed an experiment in which agents attempt to solve three well-understood computational problems of increasing difficulty: the selection problem, the target assignment problem, and the " travelling general " problem. We compare performance with a centralised organisational structure (where one " command " agent constructs a plan for solving the problem, as in the construction of a Air Tasking Order) against a decentralised organisational structure (where agents self-synchronise by exchanging messages across a network). Specifically, we examine performance under varying levels of time pressure, and varying network quality. Analysis of the experimental results provides general guidelines as to when centralised command and control is most effective, and when self-synchronisation is a more appropriate alternative.
Characterization of BPSS1521 (bprD), a Regulator of Burkholderia pseudomallei Virulence Gene Expression in the Mouse Model

The Gram-negative saprophytic bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, a severe infectious disease of both humans and animals. Severity of the disease is thought to be dependent on both the health status of the host, including diabetes mellitus and kidney disease, and bacterial-derived factors. To identify the bacterial factors important during an acute infection, gene expression profiles in the spleen, lung, and liver of BALB/c (Th2 prototype) and C57BL/6 mice (Th1 prototype) were determined using DNA microarrays. This analysis identified BPSS1521 (bprD), a predicted transcriptional regulator located in the type III secretion system (T3SS-3) operon, to be up regulated, specifically in C57BL/6 mice. BALB/c mice infected with a bprD mutant showed a shorter time to death and increased inflammation, as determined by histopathological analysis and enumeration of bacteria in the spleen. Elevated numbers of multinucleated giant cells (MNGCs), which is the hallmark of melioidosis, were detected in both the wild-type and the bprD mutants; a similar elevation occurs in melioidosis patients. One striking observation was the increased expression of BPSS1520 (bprC), located downstream of bprD, in the bprD mutant. BprC is a regulator of T6SS-1 that is required for the virulence of B. pseudomallei in murine infection models. Deletion of bprD led to the overexpression of bprC and a decreased time to death. bprD expression was elevated in C57BL/6 —as compared to BALB/c—mice, suggesting a role for BprD in the natural resistance of C57BL/6 mice to B. pseudomallei. Ultimately, this analysis using mice with different immune backgrounds may enhance our understanding of the outcomes of infection in a variety of models.
The role of web interface on the reduction of consumers' perceived risk in OAMC process

We argue that it is significant for researchers and managers to clear define perceived risk in online apparel mass customization (OAMC) product development process. The purpose of this study is to investigate the benefit of web environment on the reduction of users' perceived risk. This study concludes consumers' perceived risk focused on OAMC sites at first. Then, following guidelines in risk literature, we explore if certain website characteristics are essentially relevant and determining factors in minimizing consumers' risk perceptions. The final sample comprised 299 useable respondents from an online survey. Structural equation modeling (SEM) technique has been applied to test all the hypotheses. The result highlights the importance of website design and telepresence traits are negatively influence the users' perceived risk. Hence, the study highly recommends businesses should enhance their web instruments to remove consumers' anxiety and uncertainty in OAMC process.
A Full-Duplex Bob in the MIMO Gaussian Wiretap Channel: Scheme and Performance

This letter considers secrecy communication from an information-theoretic perspective, and studies the secrecy capacity of a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) Gaussian wiretap channel with a source (Alice), an eavesdropper (Eve) and a Full-Duplex (FD) legitimate receiver (Bob). Bob can allocate part of his antennas to transmit jamming signals to impair Eve's channel. Our goal is to identify the secrecy capacity behavior in the high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regimes, i.e., the maximal achievable secure degrees of freedom (S.D.o.F). Such S.D. o.F maximization is generally difficult to solve since it requires to face a nonlinear fractional problem. To deal with this issue, we first propose a cooperative secrecy transmission scheme, and prove its optimality in the sense of achieving the maximal S.D. o.F. By studying this proposed transmission scheme, we obtain the maximal achievable S.D. o.F. in closed form for any given antenna allocation at Bob. Based on this closed-form result, we further analytically derive the optimal antenna allocation at Bob. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the benefit brought by using the FD jamming Bob has been quantified.
Common Processes May Contribute to Extinction and Habituation

Abstract Psychologists routinely attribute the characteristics of conditioned behavior to complicated cognitive processes. For example, many of the characteristics of behavior undergoing extinction have been attributed to retrieval from memory. The authors argue that these characteristics may result from the simpler process of habituation. In particular, conditioned responding may decrease during extinction partially because habituation occurs to the stimuli that control responding when those stimuli are presented repeatedly or for a prolonged time (e.g., the experimental context, the conditioned stimulus in classical conditioning). This idea is parsimonious, has face validity, and evokes only processes that are well established by other evidence. In addition, behavior undergoing extinction shows 12 of the fundamental properties of behavior undergoing habituation. However, this model probably cannot provide a complete theory of extinction. It provides no obvious explanation for some of the other characteristics of extinguished behavior.
One Contribution to a Special Feature on 'experimental Evolution' Organized by Genetic Background Affects Epistatic Interactions between Two Beneficial Mutations

The phenotypic effect of mutations can depend on their genetic background, a phenomenon known as epistasis. Many experimental studies have found that epistasis is pervasive, and some indicate that it may follow a general pattern dependent on the fitness effect of the interacting mutations. These studies have, however, typically examined the effect of interactions between a small number of focal mutations in a single genetic background. Here, we extend this approach by considering how the interaction between two beneficial mutations that were isolated from a population of laboratory evolved Escherichia coli changes when they are added to divergent natural isolate strains of E. coli. We find that interactions between the focal mutations and the different genetic backgrounds are common. Moreover, the pair-wise interaction between the focal mutations also depended on their genetic background, being more negative in backgrounds with higher absolute fitness. Together, our results indicate the presence of interactions between focal mutations, but also caution that these interactions depend quantitatively on the wider genetic background.
DOES INTERFERENCE COMPETITION AMONG POLLEN GRAINS OCCUR IN WILD RADISH?

Interest in the possibility of sexual selection in plants has focused primarily on competition among pollen donors based on the speed of pollen‐tube growth. However, when pollen arrives on stigmas, there is the opportunity for both races for access to ovules (exploitation competition) and interference with the germination and growth of pollen from other donors (interference competition). We considered whether this second form of competition might occur among pollen grains of wild radish in two experiments. In the first, interference likely occurred because the amount of pollen germination was less in mixed‐donor than in single‐donor pollinations. This result was duplicated in a second experiment, which also showed that interference occurred only when pollen grains from different donors were in direct contact with each other. In addition, in the second experiment, the opportunity for interference affected the frequency of seeds sired by different pollen donors. Because pollen loads are often mixed in nature, interference competition among pollen grains may be important in the ecology and evolution of plant reproduction.
Signature Lipids and Stable Carbon Isotope Analyses of Octopus Spring Hyperthermophilic Communities Compared with Those ofAquificales Representatives

ABSTRACT The molecular and isotopic compositions of lipid biomarkers of cultured Aquificales genera have been used to study the community and trophic structure of the hyperthermophilic pink streamers and vent biofilm from Octopus Spring. Thermocrinis ruber, Thermocrinis sp. strain HI 11/12,Hydrogenobacterthermophilus TK-6,Aquifex pyrophilus, and Aquifex aeolicusall contained glycerol-ether phospholipids as well as acyl glycerides. The n-C20:1 andcy-C21 fatty acids dominated all of theAquificales, while the alkyl glycerol ethers were mainly C18:0. These Aquificales biomarkers were major constituents of the lipid extracts of two Octopus Spring samples, a biofilm associated with the siliceous vent walls, and the well-known pink streamer community (PSC). Both the biofilm and the PSC contained mono- and dialkyl glycerol ethers in which C18 and C20 alkyl groups were prevalent. Phospholipid fatty acids included both the Aquificales n-C20:1 andcy-C21, plus a series ofiso-branched fatty acids (i-C15:0 toi-C21:0), indicating an additional bacterial component. Biomass and lipids from the PSC were depleted in13C relative to source water CO2 by 10.9 and 17.2‰, respectively. The C20–21 fatty acids of the PSC were less depleted than the iso-branched fatty acids, 18.4 and 22.6‰, respectively. The biomass of T. rubergrown on CO2 was depleted in 13C by only 3.3‰ relative to C source. In contrast, biomass was depleted by 19.7‰ when formate was the C source. Independent of carbon source, T. ruber lipids were heavier than biomass (+1.3‰). The depletion in the C20–21 fatty acids from the PSC indicates thatThermocrinis biomass must be similarly depleted and too light to be explained by growth on CO2. Accordingly,Thermocrinis in the PSC is likely to have utilized formate, presumably generated in the spring source region.
Design of flat pneumatic artificial muscles

Pneumatic artificial muscles (PAMs) have gained wide use in the field of robotics due to their ability to generate linear forces and motions with a simple mechanism, while remaining lightweight and compact. However, PAMs are limited by their traditional cylindrical form factors, which must increase radially to improve contraction force generation. Additionally, this form factor results in overly complicated fabrication processes when embedded fibers and sensor elements are required to provide efficient actuation and control of the PAMs while minimizing the bulkiness of the overall robotic system. In order to overcome these limitations, a flat two-dimensional PAM capable of being fabricated using a simple layered manufacturing process was created. Furthermore, a theoretical model was developed using Von Karman’s formulation for large deformations and the energy methods. Experimental characterizations of two different types of PAMs, a single-cell unit and a multi-cell unit, were performed to measure the maximum contraction lengths and forces at input pressures ranging from 0 to 150 kPa. Experimental data were then used to verify the fidelity of the theoretical model.
Towards neutral trust management framework in unstructured networks

Free-rider problem greatly influences the performance of unstructured networks (like ad-hoc or peer-to-peer networks). To solve such problem, we focus on trust management framework, which is intended to stimulate nodes to cooperate with each other. Currently, the existing trust management framework can be classified into trust establishment framework and reputation-based framework. However, none of them was explicitly designed with the considerations on neutrality, which is indispensable issue when devising a network system. In this paper, we investigate the relation between neutrality and trust definition, and then focus on trust management of one kind of typical unstructured networks, mobile ad hoc network (MANET). We propose a neutral trust management framework of MANET from the several aspects of neutrality characteristics, objectiveness, fairness and variegation. Then, we perform analysis on our proposed framework, which shows our proposal can achieve neutrality under the location-dependent attack of free-rider.
Formin Proteins of the DAAM Subfamily Play a Role during Axon Growth

The regulation of growth cone actin dynamics is a critical aspect of axonal growth control. Among the proteins that are directly involved in the regulation of actin dynamics, actin nucleation factors play a pivotal role by promoting the formation of novel actin filaments. However, the essential nucleation factors in developing neurons have so far not been clearly identified. Here, we show expression data, and use true loss-of-function analysis and targeted expression of activated constructs to demonstrate that the Drosophila formin DAAM plays a critical role in axonal morphogenesis. In agreement with this finding, we show that dDAAM is required for filopodia formation at axonal growth cones. Our genetic interaction, immunoprecipitation and protein localization studies argue that dDAAM acts in concert with Rac GTPases, Profilin and Enabled during axonal growth regulation. We also show that mouse Daam1 rescues the CNS defects observed in dDAAM mutant flies to a high degree, and vice versa, that Drosophila DAAM induces the formation of neurite-like protrusions when expressed in mouse P19 cells, strongly suggesting that the function of DAAM in developing neurons has been conserved during evolution.
Morphogenic role for acetylcholinesterase in axonal outgrowth during neural development.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is the enzyme that hydrolyzes the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at cholinergic synapses and neuromuscular junctions. However, results from our laboratory and others indicate that AChE has an extrasynaptic, noncholinergic role during neural development. This article is a review of our findings demonstrating the morphogenic role of AChE, using a neuronal cell culture model. We also discuss how these data suggest that AChE has a cell adhesive function during neural development. These results could have additional significance as AChE is the target enzyme of agricultural organophosphate and carbamate pesticides as well as the commonly used household organophosphate chlorpyrifos (Dursban). Prenatal exposure to these agents could have adverse effects on neural development by interfering with the morphogenic function of AChE. ImagesFigure 1Figure 2Figure 4Figure 5Figure 6Figure 7