Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Transition to Solid-State Lighting

Lighting constitutes more than 20% of total U.S. electricity consumption, a similar fraction in the European Union, and an even higher fraction in many developing countries. Because many current lighting technologies are highly inefficient, improved technologies for lighting hold great potential for energy savings and for reducing associated greenhouse gas emissions. Solid-state lighting shows great promise as a source of efficient, affordable, color-balanced white light. Indeed, assuming market discount rates, engineering-economic analysis demonstrates that white solid-state lighting already has a lower levelized annual cost (LAC) than incandescent bulbs. The LAC for white solid-state lighting will be lower than that of the most efficient fluorescent bulbs by the end of this decade. However, a large literature indicates that households do not make their decisions in terms of simple expected economic value. After a review of the technology, we compare the electricity consumption, carbon emissions, and cost-effectiveness of current lighting technologies, accounting for expected performance evolution through 2015. We then simulate the lighting electricity consumption and implicit greenhouse gases emissions for the U.S. residential and commercial sectors through 2015 under different policy scenarios: voluntary solid-state lighting adoption, implementation of lighting standards in new construction, and rebate programs or equivalent subsidies. Finally, we provide a measure of cost-effectiveness for solid-state lighting in the context of other climate change abatement policies.
A Deontic Logical Framework for Modelling Product Families

We discuss the application of deontic logics to the modelling of variabilities in product family descriptions. Deontic logics make it possible to express concepts like permission and obligation, and hence promise a direct mod- elling of constraints over the products of a family. Indeed, we first show how feature models can be straightforwardly characterised by means of a deontic logic. We then study the deontic modelling of the behavioural variability in product families by defining a deontic extension of a behavioural logic. This allows both constraints over the products of a family and constraints over their behaviour to be expressed in a single framework: a novelty in the field. We discuss how model-checking tools could support formal verification in this framework, and we indicate some future research into that direction.
Two new irregular acyclic sesquiterpenes aldehydes from Santolina corsica essential oil

Two isomeric irregular sesquiterpene aldehydes, namely 3,9‐dimethyl‐6‐isopropyl‐2(E),7(E),9‐decatrienal and 3,9‐dimethyl‐6‐isopropyl‐2(Z),7(E),9‐decatrienal, were isolated from the essential oil of Santolina corsica and their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Minimum Entropy-Based Cascade Control for Governing Hydroelectric Turbines

In this paper, an improved cascade control strategy is presented for hydroturbine speed governors. Different from traditional proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control and model predictive control (MPC) strategies, the performance index of the outer controller is constructed by integrating the entropy and mean value of the tracking error with the constraints on control energy. The inner controller is implemented by a proportional controller. Compared with the conventional PID-P and MPC-P cascade control methods, the proposed cascade control strategy can effectively decrease fluctuations of hydro-turbine speed under non-Gaussian disturbance conditions in practical hydropower plants. Simulation results show the advantages of the proposed cascade control method.
Beyond Analytical Modeling , Gathering Data to Predict Real Agents ’ Strategic Interaction

This paper presents research proposals on the interdisciplinary research infrastructure for understanding human reasoning in game-theoretic terms. Strategic reasoning impacts human decision making in social, economical and competitive interactions. The provided introduction summarizes concepts from AI, game theory and psychology. First result is a concept of interdisciplinary game description language as a part of the focused interdisciplinary research infrastructure. The need of this domain-specific language is motivated and is aimed to accelerate the current developments. As second result, the paper provides a summary of ongoing research and its significance.
Towards a Systematic Review of Automated Feedback Generation for Programming Exercises

Formative feedback, aimed at helping students to improve their work, is an important factor in learning. Many tools that offer programming exercises provide automated feedback on student solutions. We are performing a systematic literature review to find out what kind of feedback is provided, which techniques are used to generate the feedback, how adaptable the feedback is, and how these tools are evaluated. We have designed a labelling to classify the tools, and use Narciss' feedback content categories to classify feedback messages. We report on the results of the first iteration of our search in which we coded 69 tools. We have found that tools do not often give feedback on fixing problems and taking a next step, and that teachers cannot easily adapt tools to their own needs.
Increased Expression of the Type IV Secretion System in Piliated Neisseria gonorrhoeae Variants

ABSTRACT Neisseria gonorrhoeae produces a type IV secretion system that secretes chromosomal DNA. The secreted DNA is active in the transformation of other gonococci in the population and may act to transfer antibiotic resistance genes and variant alleles for surface antigens, as well as other genes. We observed that gonococcal variants that produced type IV pili secreted more DNA than variants that were nonpiliated, suggesting that the process may be regulated. Using microarray analysis, we found that a piliated strain showed increased expression of the gene for the putative type IV secretion coupling protein TraD, whereas a nonpiliated variant showed increased expression of genes for transcriptional and translational machinery, consistent with its higher growth rate compared to that of the piliated strain. These results suggested that type IV secretion might be controlled by either traD expression or growth rate. A mutant with a deletion in traD was found to be deficient in DNA secretion. Further mutation and complementation analysis indicated that traD is transcriptionally and translationally coupled to traI, which encodes the type IV secretion relaxase. We were able to increase DNA secretion in a nonpiliated strain by inserting a gene cassette with a strong promoter to drive the expression of the putative operon containing traI and traD. Together, these data suggest a model in which the type IV secretion system apparatus is made constitutively, while its activity is controlled through regulation of traD and traI.
Algorithmic analysis of array-accessing programs

For programs whose data variables range over Boolean or finite domains, program verification is decidable, and this forms the basis of recent tools for software model checking. In this article, we consider algorithmic verification of programs that use Boolean variables, and in addition, access a single read-only array whose length is potentially unbounded, and whose elements range over an unbounded data domain. We show that the reachability problem, while undecidable in general, is (1) Pspace-complete for programs in which the array-accessing for-loops are not nested, (2) decidable for a restricted class of programs with doubly nested loops. The second result establishes connections to automata and logics defining languages over data words.
Latent Semantic Learning by Efficient Sparse Coding with Hypergraph Regularization

This paper presents a novel latent semantic learning algorithm for action recognition. Through efficient sparse coding, we can learn latent semantics (i.e. high-level features) from a large vocabulary of abundant mid-level features (i.e. visual keywords). More importantly, we can capture the manifold structure hidden among mid-level features by incorporating hypergraph regularization into sparse coding. The learnt latent semantics can further be readily used for action recognition by defining a histogram intersection kernel. Different from the traditional latent semantic analysis based on topic models, our sparse coding method with hypergraph regularization can exploit the manifold structure hidden among mid-level features for latent semantic learning, which results in compact but discriminative high-level features for action recognition. We have tested our method on the commonly used KTH action dataset and the unconstrained YouTube action dataset. The experimental results show the superior performance of our method.
A model of adaptation in Online Learning Environments (LMSs and MOOCs)

Adaptive Learning is a recent area of research under learning environments. We are particularly interested in adaptation in the context of Online Learning Environments (OAL). The goal is to propose a model of adaptation taking into account several dimensions of this adaptation, namely: the individual one (presentation, navigation and content), the massive dimension, fun and social dimensions. We will so examine these dimensions in the context of hybrid systems consisting of Learning Management Systems (LMSs), MOOCs and Adapting Learning Systems (ALS).
Neither the RNA nor the Proteins of Open Reading Frames 3a and 3b of the Coronavirus Infectious Bronchitis Virus Are Essential for Replication

ABSTRACT Gene 3 of infectious bronchitis virus is tricistronic; open reading frames (ORFs) 3a and 3b encode two small nonstructural (ns) proteins, 3a and 3b, of unknown function, and a third, structural protein E, is encoded by ORF 3c. To determine if either the 3a or the 3b protein is required for replication, we first modified their translation initiation codons to prevent translation of the 3a and 3b proteins from recombinant infectious bronchitis viruses (rIBVs). Replication in primary chick kidney (CK) cells and in chicken embryos was not affected. In chicken tracheal organ cultures (TOCs), the recombinant rIBVs reached titers similar to those of the wild-type virus, but in the case of viruses lacking the 3a protein, the titer declined reproducibly earlier. Translation of the IBV E protein is believed to be initiated by internal entry of ribosomes at a structure formed by the sequences corresponding to ORFs 3a and 3b. To assess the necessity of this mechanism, we deleted most of the sequence representing 3a and 3b to produce a gene in which ORF 3c (E) was adjacent to the gene 3 transcription-associated sequence. Western blot analysis revealed that the recombinant IBV produced fivefold less E protein. Nevertheless, titers produced in CK cells, embryos, and TOCs were similar to those of the wild-type virus, although they declined earlier in TOCs, probably due to the absence of the 3a protein. Thus, neither the tricistronic arrangement of gene 3, the internal initiation of translation of E protein, nor the 3a and 3b proteins are essential for replication per se, suggesting that these proteins are accessory proteins that may have roles in vivo.
THE ROLE OF FISSION IN NEUTRON STAR MERGERS AND ITS IMPACT ON THE r-PROCESS PEAKS

Comparing observational abundance features with nucleosynthesis predictions of stellar evolution or explosion simulations, we can scrutinize two aspects: (a) the conditions in the astrophysical production site and (b) the quality of the nuclear physics input utilized. We test the abundance features of r-process nucleosynthesis calculations for the dynamical ejecta of neutron star merger simulations based on three different nuclear mass models: The Finite Range Droplet Model, the (quenched version of the) Extended Thomas Fermi Model with Strutinsky Integral, and the Hartree–Fock–Bogoliubov mass model. We make use of corresponding fission barrier heights and compare the impact of four different fission fragment distribution models on the final r-process abundance distribution. In particular, we explore the abundance distribution in the second r-process peak and the rare-earth sub-peak as a function of mass models and fission fragment distributions, as well as the origin of a shift in the third r-process peak position. The latter has been noticed in a number of merger nucleosynthesis predictions. We show that the shift occurs during the r-process freeze-out when neutron captures and β-decays compete and an (n,γ)–(γ,n) equilibrium is no longer maintained. During this phase neutrons originate mainly from fission of material above A = 240. We also investigate the role of β-decay half-lives from recent theoretical advances, which lead either to a smaller amount of fissioning nuclei during freeze-out or a faster (and thus earlier) release of fission neutrons, which can (partially) prevent this shift and has an impact on the second and rare-earth peak as well.
Adult height and mortality in London: early life, socioeconomic confounding, or shrinkage?

STUDY OBJECTIVE--To examine in detail the cause specific associations between height and mortality. DESIGN--A prospective cohort study with an 18 year mortality follow up. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS--The Whitehall study of 18,403 men in the civil service in London examined between 1967 and 1969 aged 40-64 and followed up for mortality until the end of January 1987. MAIN RESULTS--There was considerable variation in the strength of height-mortality association by cause. Respiratory disease showed the strongest inverse association, cardiovascular disease a moderate effect, and all neoplasms virtually no effect. Adjustment for age and civil service grade reduced the strength of these associations slightly, but had no impact on the heterogeneous pattern by cause (chi 2 3df p < 0.001). The height-mortality association declined with the length of follow up. By 15+ years, the only appreciable height affect was for respiratory disease mortality. CONCLUSIONS--The attenuation of the height-mortality association with length of follow up might be explained by differential height reduction before entry that was greatest for people who were already ill, and hence at greatest risk of dying. The cause specific variation in the height-mortality association lends little support to the contention that impaired growth in childhood is a marker of general susceptibility to disease in adulthood.
Accurate analysis of small shadows effects on photovoltaic systems yield

Small shadows are often neglected in the prediction of energy producible by photovoltaic systems. This is mostly due to the lack of specific tools available in commercial design software packages, which neither allow realistic drawings nor can account for individual solar cells currents. In this paper the effects of small shadows are accurately analyzed with reference to two special cases, a TV antenna and self-shading. The analysis is based on the interaction between highly specialized and powerful software, AUTOCAD, MATLAB and PSpice, which allow an utmost degree of accuracy.
Impact of the X Chromosome and sex on regulatory variation

The X chromosome, with its unique mode of inheritance, contributes to differences between the sexes at a molecular level, including sex-specific gene expression and sex-specific impact of genetic variation. We have conducted an analysis of the impact of both sex and the X chromosome on patterns of gene expression identified through transcriptome sequencing of whole blood from 922 individuals. We identified that genes on the X chromosome are more likely to have sex-specific expression compared to the autosomal genes. Furthermore, we identified a depletion of regulatory variants on the X chromosome, especially among genes under high selective constraint. In contrast, we discovered an enrichment of sex-specific regulatory variants on the X chromosome. To resolve the molecular mechanisms underlying such effects, we generated and connected sex-specific chromatin accessibility to sex-specific expression and regulatory variation. As sex-specific regulatory variants can inform sex differences in genetic disease prevalence, we have integrated our data with genome-wide association study data for multiple immune traits and to identify traits with significant sex biases. Together, our study provides genome-wide insight into how the X chromosome and sex shape human gene regulation and disease.
An in vitro evaluation of the effects of a Yucca schidigera extract and chestnut tannins on composition and metabolic profiles of canine and feline faecal microbiota

ABSTRACT The in vitro effect of a Yucca schidigera extract (YSE) and tannins from chestnut wood on composition and metabolic activity of canine and feline faecal microbiota was evaluated. Four treatments were carried out: control diet, chestnut tannins (CT), YSE and CT + YSE. The YSE was added to canine and feline faecal cultures at 0.1 g/l, while CT were added at 0.3 g/l for a 24-h incubation. A total of 130 volatile compounds were detected by means of headspace-solid phase microextraction gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry analyses. Several changes in the metabolite profiles of fermentation fluids were found, including a decrease of alcohols (−19%) and esters (−42%) in feline and canine inoculum, respectively, which was due to the antibacterial properties of tannins. In canine inoculum, after 6 h, YSE + CT caused lower cadaverine concentrations (−37%), while ammonia (−4%) and quinolone (−27%) were reduced by addition of CT. After 24 h, the presence of CT resulted in a decrease of sulphur compounds, such as dimethyl sulphide (−69%) and dimethyl disulphide (−20%). In feline faecal cultures, after 6 h, CT lowered the amount of indole (−48%), whereas YSE tended to decrease trimethylamine levels (−16%). Both in canine and feline inoculum, addition of CT and, to a minor extent, YSE affected volatile fatty acids patterns. In canine faecal cultures, CT exerted a marginal inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli population (−0.45 log 10 numbers of DNA copies/ml), while enterococci were increased (+2.06 log 10 numbers of DNA copies/ml) by YSE. The results from the present study show that YSE and tannins from chestnut wood exert different effects on the composition and metabolism of canine and feline faecal microbiota. In particular, the supplementation of YSE and tannins to diets for dogs and cats may be beneficial due to the reduction of the presence of some potentially toxic volatile metabolites in the animals’ intestine.
Impacts of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes on Nutrient Removal from Wastewater and Bacterial Community Structure in Activated Sludge

Background The increasing use of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) will inevitably lead to the exposure of wastewater treatment facilities. However, knowledge of the impacts of MWCNTs on wastewater nutrient removal and bacterial community structure in the activated sludge process is sparse. Aims To investigate the effects of MWCNTs on wastewater nutrient removal, and bacterial community structure in activated sludge. Methods Three triplicate sequencing batch reactors (SBR) were exposed to wastewater which contained 0, 1, and 20 mg/L MWCNTs. MiSeq sequencing was used to investigate the bacterial community structures in activated sludge samples which were exposed to different concentrations of MWCNTs. Results Exposure to 1 and 20 mg/L MWCNTs had no acute (1 day) impact on nutrient removal from wastewater. After long-term (180 days) exposure to 1 mg/L MWCNTs, the average total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency was not significantly affected. TN removal efficiency decreased from 84.0% to 71.9% after long-term effects of 20 mg/L MWCNTs. After long-term exposure to 1 and 20 mg/L MWCNTs, the total phosphorus removal efficiencies decreased from 96.8% to 52.3% and from 98.2% to 34.0% respectively. Further study revealed that long-term exposure to 20 mg/L MWCNTs inhibited activities of ammonia monooxygenase and nitrite oxidoreductase. Long-term exposure to 1 and 20 mg/L MWCNTs both inhibited activities of exopolyphosphatase and polyphosphate kinase. MiSeq sequencing data indicated that 20 mg/L MWCNTs significantly decreased the diversity of bacterial community in activated sludge. Long-term exposure to 1 and 20 mg/L MWCNTs differentially decreased the abundance of nitrifying bacteria, especially ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. The abundance of PAOs was decreased after long-term exposure to 20 mg/L MWCNTs. The abundance of glycogen accumulating organisms (GAOs) was increased after long-term exposure to 1 mg/L MWCNTs. Conclusion MWCNTs have adverse effects on biological wastewater nutrient removal, and altered the diversity and structure of bacterial community in activated sludge.
The monomeric form of Neisseria DNA mimic protein DMP19 prevents DNA from binding to the histone-like HU protein

DNA mimicry is a direct and effective strategy by which the mimic competes with DNA for the DNA binding sites on other proteins. Until now, only about a dozen proteins have been shown to function via this strategy, including the DNA mimic protein DMP19 from Neisseria meningitides. We have shown previously that DMP19 dimer prevents the operator DNA from binding to the transcription factor NHTF. Here, we provide new evidence that DMP19 monomer can also interact with the Neisseria nucleoid-associated protein HU. Using BS3 crosslinking, gel filtration and isothermal titration calorimetry assays, we found that DMP19 uses its monomeric form to interact with the Neisseria HU dimer. Crosslinking conjugated mass spectrometry was used to investigate the binding mode of DMP19 monomer and HU dimer. Finally, an electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) confirmed that the DNA binding affinity of HU is affected by DMP19. These results showed that DMP19 is bifunctional in the gene regulation of Neisseria through its variable oligomeric forms.
SIMULATIONS OF FINANCIAL MARKETS IN A POTTS-LIKE MODEL

A three-state model based on the Potts model is proposed to simulate financial markets. The three states are assigned to "buy", "sell" and "inactive" states. The model shows the main stylized facts observed in the financial market: fat-tailed distributions of returns and long time correlations in the absolute returns. At low inactivity rate, the model effectively reduces to the two-state model of Bornholdt and shows similar results to the Bornholdt model. As the inactivity increases, we observe the exponential distributions of returns.
A High Performance Parallel FIR Filters Generation Tool

This paper presents generation tool and performance results on a method to minimize the amount of hardware needed to implement a parallel digital finite impulse response (FIR) filters for hardwired (fixed coefficients) implementation targeted for high performance. The generation tool employ a combination of two approaches: first, the reduction of the coefficients to n-power-of-two (NPT) terms, where the maximum number of non-zero in each coefficient is taken as a constraint, followed by common subexpression elimination (CSE) among multipliers. Synthesis results for a range of different filter specifications, using Quartus II FPGA synthesis tool are presented