Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modeling and analysis of grid-connected large-scale photovoltaic plants considering the delay effects

Digitally controlled system has been widely used for the multi-inverter systems. However, the effects of time delay have not been fully studied in the grid-connected large-scale photovoltaic (LSPV) systems. To address this issue, this paper develops the general Norton model for grid-connected LSPV models by adding delay module into the inverter control system model. Meanwhile, based on the model of grid-connected LSPV system, the influence of time delay on the stability of system is analyzed by Nyquist diagram. Then the effects of the plant capacity on the system stability and stable range of the grid-connected LSPV plants are discussed and deduced by root locus. Finally, simulations are provided to validate the correctness of theoretical analysis.
Hiking as a relevant wellness activity - results of an exploratory study of hiking tourists in Portugal applied to a rural tourism project

New forms of tourism are gaining ground throughout the world. Nowadays, successful tourism destinations must offer variety and new tourism products, addressing special interest niches. One increasingly popular tourism product is health and wellness tourism. The wellness concept typically integrates physical activity combined with relaxation of the mind and intellectual stimulus, enhancing well-being through a balance of the body, mind and spirit. Promoting well-being is a relevant motive of most tourists and should be regarded in any tourism marketing strategy. Hiking is an appropriate activity to integrate in a wellness tourism context, being since long a strategically developed recreational and tourism activity in many European countries. In the present study we show the results of an exploratory survey of hikers in Portugal and discuss possible implications on planning and management of rural tourism destinations, with emphasis on the creation of integrated wellness products. Results were used for developing a more holistic tourism offer within the European Network of Village Tourism.
Water productivity and water footprints are not helpful in determining optimal water allocations or efficient management strategies

In a recent paper in Water International, Amarasinghe and Smakhtin suggest that crop–water production functions provide conceptual support for using water productivity and water footprints to guide water allocation and to determine optimal management strategies. Their analysis is thoughtful and interesting. Yet, there is no conceptual foundation supporting the use of water productivity or water footprints in an optimizing context. Production functions do not provide conceptual support. Policy makers wishing to achieve the optimal allocation of water must consider incremental gains and costs, including opportunity costs and externalities. Ratios depicting average output or average value do not contain sufficient information for determining optimal water allocations or efficient management strategies.
A simplified DQ controller for single-phase grid-connected PV inverters

Synchronous dq-frame controllers are generally accepted due to their high performance compared to stationary αβ-frame ones, as they operate on dc quantities, achieving zero steady-state error. In single-phase systems, however, PI-based dq controllers cannot be directly applied due to the reduced number of input signals available compared to three-phase systems. The common approach in single-phase systems is to create a synthesized phase signal orthogonal to the fundamental signal of the single-phase system so as to obtain dc quantities by means of (αβ to dq) transformation. The orthogonal components in conventional approaches are usually obtained by phase shifting the real signals by a quarter of the fundamental period. The introduction of such delay in the system deteriorates the dynamic response, which becomes slower and oscillatory. In this paper, an alternative dq controller scheme which referred as to simplified dq controller is proposed. The proposed scheme does not require orthogonal quantities to be generated, making it easier to be implemented. The simplified dq control method is experimentally compared to the conventional delay-based dq control method and shown to improve the poor dynamics of the conventional approach while not adding excessive complexity to the controller structure. A single-phase five-level diode-clamped grid-connected PV inverter is considered as an example in this paper.
Modeling demand for catastrophic flood risk insurance in coastal zones in Vietnam using choice experiments

Abstract In a choice experiment, households in Vietnam are offered flood insurance to mitigate increasing catastrophic flood risks due to climate change. Participants are asked to choose their most preferred insurance policy given expected future flood and mortality risks, insurance cover and associated insurance premiums. Although not affordable to everyone, there exists substantial demand for flood insurance. Insurance demand is spatially differentiated, non-linear in flood probabilities and mortality risks, and subject to significant preference heterogeneity. Since respondents are unfamiliar with the concept of flood insurance and education levels are low, choice consistency tests were conducted. These show that choice consistency depends on a combination of respondent characteristics, such as gender and education level, and experimental design characteristics.
Quasi‐privatisation and corporate governance: a process perspective

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the usefulness and relevance of a four stage model of privatisation, based in institutional theory, to quasi-privatised organisations. Design/methodology/approach – The paper studies a UK organisation with changing ownership, governance, and boundaries. Historic Royal Palaces is intrinsically interesting, and resembles many quasi-privatised organisations placed within charitable frameworks. Application of the process model reveals the governance challenges HRP faces. Findings – The study suggests that the model is holistic and dynamic, and useful as an analytic template. It is inclusive of competitor, behavioural, and resource-based views of the firm, and recognises that firms and their governance change over time. Research limitations/implications – The report adds validity to the model developed by case studies from a different national context. The small number of cases is a limitation. Future research could include other types of quasi-privatised organisation, and organisations in different national settings. Practical implications – The model provides a helpful template for interpreting and explaining the changes enacted by organisations and their members through privatisation. Further, although largely descriptive, the model also has some predictive power. It can help policy makers and managers predict some of the key limitations of the privatisation process of a particular organisation based on the specific nature of its context and settings. Originality/value – The detailed discussion of a quasi-privatised organisation – an increasingly common, but little researched organisational type is significant. The development of a holistic approach for understanding organisational changes is also significant.
MANAGING PRODUCT RETURNS FOR REMANUFACTURING

Firms are often encouraged to offer environmentally friendly products as a demonstration of corporate citizenship. However, this may prove to be an unrealistic expectation since a rational firm will only engage in profitable ventures; those that increase shareholder wealth. We develop a framework for analyzing the profitability of reuse activities and show how the management of product returns influences operational requirements. We show that the acquisition of used products may be used as the control lever for the management and profitability of reuse activities. These activities, termed product acquisition management, affect several important business decisions. First, if a firm is to pursue reuse activities, these reuse activities must be value‐creating. Second, if a firm is to compete by offering remanufactured products, then we show how product returns management influences the overall profitability of such activities via a trial and error EVA approach. Third, we show how operational issues are strongly affected by the approach used to manage product returns. There is a need for future research specifying the mathematical relationship between acquisition price and the nominal quality of the returned product.
Modelflow: a new method for noninvasive assessment of cardiac output in pregnant women

Objective: Estimation of cardiac output by continuous finger arterial pressure waveform analysis with Modelflow is a noninvasive technique for beat-to-beat hemodynamic assessment. The purpose of this study was to compare this method in pregnant women with the more commonly used Doppler echocardiography. Study design: In 16 primigravid women, stroke volume was measured serially in first, second and third trimester and after pregnancy by the Modelflow method and by Doppler echocardiography. Aortic diameter and compliance were assessed serially by echocardiography and pulse wave velocity measurements. Results: Aortic compliance was increased significantly in pregnancy compared to non pregnant values, but aortic diameter did not change. After adjustment for pregnancyrelated changes in pulse wave velocity, blood pressure and heart rate, Modelflow stroke volume measurements gave comparable results to Doppler echocardiography during and after pregnancy. The observed variation was similar to reported comparisons of Doppler echocardiography with thermodilution. Conclusion: After adjustment for pregnancy the Modelflow method is a useful research tool for assessment of stroke volume in pregnant women and offers the advantage of continuous measurement and convenience of application.
La compétitivité européenne face au durcissement de la concurrence internationale.

Résumé Au cours du dernier quart de siècle, on a observé un recul général des soldes industriels de l'Union européenne. Au sein de l'industrie manufacturière, la part des importations intra-communautaires a baissé depuis 1973 dans les six pays fondateurs, l'intégration n'ayant progressé que parmi les nouveaux adhérents. Contrairement à la filière agro-alimentaire, qui a bénéficié de la « préférence communautaire » offerte par la Politique agricole commune, l'industrie a en effet été victime d'une « répulsion communautaire » due à la surévaluation des mon­naies européennes.
The Baltic parliaments: Legislative performance from independence to EU accession

Political development in post-communist Europe has in general been influenced by two essentially countervailing trends. On the one hand, the countries in the region have adopted a relatively wide range of democratic institutions, which should ultimately affect their patterns of political decision-making and effectiveness. On the other hand, the common trajectory of these countries towards integration with the European Union has meant that many of the policy choices are the same and that political performance will eventually be measured by the same yardstick. This article examines this duality as reflected in the legislative performance and output of the Baltic States. An analysis of legislative data reveals that both institutional differences and common EU aspirations explain the different nuances of parliamentary development in these states.
Competition Experiments for Legume Infection Identify Burkholderia phymatum as a Highly Competitive β-Rhizobium

Members of the genus Burkholderia (β-proteobacteria) have only recently been shown to be able to establish a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with several legumes, which is why they are also referred to as β-rhizobia. Therefore, very little is known about the competitiveness of these species to nodulate different legume host plants. In this study, we tested the competitiveness of several Burkholderia type strains (B. diazotrophica, B. mimosarum, B. phymatum, B. sabiae, B. symbiotica and B. tuberum) to nodulate four legumes (Phaseolus vulgaris, Macroptilium atropurpureum, Vigna unguiculata and Mimosa pudica) under our closely defined growth conditions. The assessment of nodule occupancy of these species on different legume host plants revealed that B. phymatum was the most competitive strain in the three papilionoid legumes (bean, cowpea and siratro), while B. mimosarum outcompeted the other strains in mimosa. The analysis of phenotypes known to play a role in nodulation competitiveness (motility, exopolysaccharide production) and additional in vitro competition assays among β-rhizobial strains suggested that B. phymatum has the potential to be a very competitive legume symbiont.
Out of Cuba: overwater dispersal and speciation among lizards in the Anolis carolinensis subgroup

Overwater dispersal and subsequent allopatric speciation contribute importantly to the species diversity of West Indian Anolis lizards and many other island radiations. Here we use molecular phylogenetic analyses to assess the contribution of overwater dispersal to diversification of the Anolis carolinensis subgroup, a clade comprising nine canopy‐dwelling species distributed across the northern Caribbean. Although this clade includes some of the most successful dispersers and colonists in the anole radiation, the taxonomic status and origin of many endemic populations have been ambiguous. New mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences from four species occurring on small islands or island banks (Anolis brunneus, Anolis longiceps, Anolis maynardi, Anolis smaragdinus) and one species from the continental United States (A. carolinensis) are presented and analysed with homologous sequences sampled from related species on Cuba (Anolis allisoni and Anolis porcatus). Our analyses confirm that all five non‐Cuban species included in our study represent distinct, independently evolving lineages that warrant continued species recognition. Moreover, our results support Ernest Williams's hypothesis that all of these species originated by overseas colonization from Cuban source populations. However, contrary to Williams's hypothesis of Pleistocene dispersal, most colonization events leading to speciation apparently occurred earlier, in the late Miocene–Pliocene. These patterns suggest that overwater dispersal among geologically distinct islands and island banks is relatively infrequent in anoles and has contributed to allopatric speciation. Finally, our results suggest that large Greater Antillean islands serve as centres of origin for regional species diversity.
Toward a Conceptual Framework for Sport Management Curriculum: An Exploratory Study

Traditional administrative locations for sport management program have been in recreation and park administration and physical education departments. The purpose of this study was to explore the conceptual framework around the development of sport management curricula. Content analysis process applied to 120 articles dealing with sport management curriculum and practice revealed two major schools of thought: one from a physical education/kinesiology perspective and the other from a recreation/leisure studies perspective. A data collection matrix posed a conceptual model that graphically described components of these schools. This model can be further tested and validated further to provide a framework for future curricular development.
Long-acting octreotide treatment causes a sustained decrease in ghrelin concentrations but does not affect weight, behaviour and appetite in subjects with Prader-Willi syndrome.

OBJECTIVE Ghrelin is secreted primarily by the stomach and circulates as both acylated and desacyl ghrelin. Acylated (but not desacyl) ghrelin stimulates appetite. Both concentrations are elevated in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), suggesting that ghrelin may contribute to hyperphagia and overweight in these subjects. We evaluated whether long-acting octreotide (Oct) decreases acylated and desacyl ghrelin concentrations, body mass, appetite and compulsive behaviour towards food in adolescents with PWS. DESIGN A 56-week prospective, randomized, cross-over trial. METHODS Nine subjects with PWS (age 14.6 (10.8-18.9) years, body mass index (BMI) Z-score +1.9 (0.6-3.0)) received either Oct (30 mg) or saline i.m. every 4 weeks for 16 weeks and were switched over to the other treatment after a 24-week washout period. RESULTS Eight subjects completed the study. Oct caused a decrease in both acylated (-53%) and desacyl (-54%) fasting ghrelin concentrations (P<0.05) but did not significantly affect BMI. Oct had no significant effect on peptide YY concentrations, appetite or compulsive behaviour towards food. Oct caused a decrease in insulin-like growth factor-I concentrations, an increase in HbA1c and transient elevation of blood glucose in two subjects. Three subjects developed gallstones. CONCLUSIONS Oct treatment caused a prolonged decrease in ghrelin concentrations in adolescents with PWS but did not improve body mass or appetite. Future intervention studies aiming at clarifying the role of ghrelin in PWS should focus on the administration of specific inhibitors of ghrelin secretion or ghrelin receptor activity that do not interfere with other appetite-regulating peptides.
An Insight into Overconfidence in the Forecasting Abilities of Financial Advisors

Financial market participants exercise judgment in decision making and psychological studies have shown that individuals are overconfident about their ability to evaluate financial securities. Range estimation calibration studies indicate that individuals tend to estimate narrow intervals in their estimation of unknown future quantities, suggesting overconfidence. Financial planners have an inherent duty of care and this may lead these individuals to behave differently in their estimation methodology and behaviour. From a survey of Australian financial planners, we find extensive overconfidence in respondents' ability to make judgements under uncertainty as shown by a narrow range of forecasts and a substantial number of inaccurate predictions. The overconfidence is present both when comparing estimates to the ex-post outcome of a predicted quantity and to an interval based on historical return volatility.
Incidence and prevalence of human group C rotavirus infections in Argentina

The incidence of human group C rotavirus infections among children and adults in Buenos Aires was evaluated by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) based on recombinant group C VP6 protein (Cowden strain). A total of 976 stool samples taken from patients (ages 6 months to 15 years) with acute diarrhea were tested for the presence of group C rotavirus. Among these, only 10 (1.02%) were group C rotavirus positive by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) confirmed by absorption with group C VP6 antibodies and by RT‐PCR for both VP6 and VP7 genes. The average age (5.86 years) was significantly superior to that in group A‐infected patients (1.63 years). Previous exposure to this virus was assessed by detecting specific IgG in sera taken from healthy individuals grouped by age. Of 844 sera tested, 425 (50.3%) were group C IgG positive by ELISA, confirmed by Western blot analysis. The rates of IgG positivity for group A and C rotaviruses during the first years of life indicated that infections with group C are frequent in older children (3–5 years), whereas group A infections are prevalent in infants and young children (6–18 months). This study shows that group C rotavirus infections in Argentine children occur later in life than group A and are relatively common in spite of the low detection rate of this virus. J. Med. Virol. 67:106–112, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bleach (sodium hypochlorite): a laboratory experiment relating to the daily teaching of chemistry

This work is part of a group of laboratory experiments whose aim is to establish relations between everyday life and the teaching of chemistry by showing that knowledge of chemistry is not abstract, and is closely related to its surroundings. A bleach-solution with about 2% (by mass) sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) was the theme chosen in view of its widely varied uses since its introduction for laundering and disinfection of clothing. The experiment consists of four phases: a) the evaluation of various kinds of commercial bleach; b) preparation of bleach in the laboratory from generated chlorine and bubbling it through a sodium hydroxide solution. At this stage two chlorine generator experiments are constructed; the first from the reaction between hydrochloric acid and manganese dioxide (MnO2) and the second through the electrolysis of sodium chloride solution. The chlorine gas (Cl2) is bubbled in a solution of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to produce bleach; c) preparation for the quantitative analysis of the levels of hypochlorite in commercial bleach; d) evaluation of the chemical properties of sodium hypochlorite solutions. The objective is to enable students to develop their skills in the development of the theme "chemical process" based on the following points: teamwork; analysis and evaluation of information from observations; decision making from a restricted amount of information; querying technical bibliographies; making technical reports and oral presentations.
The Theory and Measurement of Private and Social Cost of Highway Congestion

This paper attempts to apply the theory of marginal cost pricing to the services of the highways in the United States. Empirical evidence suggests that "efficient prices" are generally much higher than present levels. This implies that gasoline taxes should be increased and special tolls charged in congested areas. The main purpose of the paper is to estimate an efficient system of taxation of highway transportation. The data consists of figures of traffic flow and velocity collected by highway engineers. The engineers' results are translated into a form suitable for answering question about the efficient allocation of vehicles.
Comparison of Features for Voxel-Based Analysis and Classification of Anatomical Neuroimaging Data

The aim of this paper is to identify the relevant features that improve the identification of associations between structural (T1-weighted) MRI and a group (clinical status) of each subject. We compare 5 features derived from grey matter and deformation, on both simulated and experimental data. With voxel-based analysis we compare sensitivity of detection of anatomical differences, with pattern recognition approaches, we compare the accuracies of group prediction. The best results on our data are achieved by a multivariate representation of the deformation, the strain tensor, that can be associated with grey matter.
THE IMPACT OF ENTERPRISE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION ON OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION

This paper presents the results of a natural experiment conducted at a U.S. high‐tech manufacturer. The experiment had as its treatment the adoption, at a single point in time, of a comprehensive enterprise information system throughout the functional groups charged with customer order fulfillment. This information technology (it) adoption was not accompanied by substantial contemporaneous business process changes. Immediately after adoption, lead time and on‐time delivery performance suffered, causing a “performance dip” similar to those observed after the introduction of capital equipment onto shop floors. Lead times and on‐time delivery percentages then improved along a learning curve. After several months, performance in these areas improved significantly relative to preadoption levels. These observed performance patterns could not be well explained by rival causal factors such as order, production, and inventory volumes; head count; and new product introductions. Thus, this longitudinal research presents initial evidence of a causal link between IT adoption and subsequent improvement in operational performance measures, as well as evidence of the timescale over which these benefits appear.