Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An integral sliding-mode controller for energy efficiency improvement in AC power source supplied AC machine drives

This paper develops an integration slidingmode controller (ISMC) for a full-bridge single-ended-primary-inductance converter (SEPIC) supplied to an inverter-fed AC motor drive. Configuration of the developed SEPIC-based system is that a full diode bridge connected AC-to-DC SEPIC converter with power factor correction (PFC) is built for stably supplying DC voltage to the inverter. Under this configuration, the ISMC is applied for voltage control of the SEPIC converter with PFC of the AC-side line. With the PFC, the energy efficiency measured from the AC power source to the inverter-fed AC drive can substantially be improved. To perform the proposed ISMC, a Simulink model consisting of the AC source, diode-bridge rectifier, SEPIC, voltage-type inverter, and induction motor drive was built in a computer. Simulation results from the built Simulink model are illustrated to demonstrate the validity of the proposed ISMC for applications.
Plastid Movement Impaired 2, a New Gene Involved in Normal Blue-Light-Induced Chloroplast Movements in Arabidopsis1[W]

Chloroplasts move in a light-dependent manner that can modulate the photosynthetic potential of plant cells. Identification of genes required for light-induced chloroplast movement is beginning to define the molecular machinery that controls these movements. In this work, we describe plastid movement impaired 2 (pmi2), a mutant in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) that displays attenuated chloroplast movements under intermediate and high light intensities while maintaining a normal movement response under low light intensities. In wild-type plants, fluence rates below 20 μmol m−2 s−1 of blue light lead to chloroplast accumulation on the periclinal cell walls, whereas light intensities over 20 μmol m−2 s−1 caused chloroplasts to move toward the anticlinal cell walls (avoidance response). However, at light intensities below 75 μmol m−2 s−1, chloroplasts in pmi2 leaves move to the periclinal walls; 100 μmol m−2 s−1 of blue light is required for chloroplasts in pmi2 to move to the anticlinal cell walls, indicating a shift in the light threshold for the avoidance response in the mutant. The pmi2 mutation has been mapped to a gene that encodes a protein of unknown function with a large coiled-coil domain in the N terminus and a putative P loop. PMI2 shares sequence and structural similarity with PMI15, another unknown protein in Arabidopsis that, when mutated, causes a defect in chloroplast avoidance under high-light intensities.
Impairment – a commercial perspective

Purpose - This paper aims to identify conceptual changes in the practical application of asset impairment testing methods as required under IAS (International Accounting Standards) 36. Design/methodology/approach - The paper explores general principles for an impairment testing framework, to address impairment issues that arise in valuation practice. Findings - This paper shows that the way value in use is required to be assessed is technically flawed, prone to application error, and creates conceptual and financial mismatches with the requirements of other accounting standards. Practical implications - From a practical perspective, the consequential scope for valuation errors is further exacerbated by the reluctance of company directors to accept the need for impairment and, in some cases, by gaming. Originality/value - This paper provides a practitioner's viewpoint to impairment testing under the IAS, and identifies several inconsistencies with the application of the standard.
Interest Group Competition on Federal Agency Rules

In the lobbying literature, the effects of competition—two or more interests lobbying on opposing sides of a policy debate—have not been assessed with regard to government agency policymaking. Consequently, neither the amount nor the effect of competitive lobbying is well understood. Using nearly 1,700 comments on 40 federal agency rules, we evaluate two questions: Do government agencies respond to lobbying by changing agency policies? and Does lobbying on one side of a policy issue beget lobbying on the opposing side? We demonstrate that agencies change the content of final rules in favor of the side that dominates the submission of comments. Thus, it seems the “squeaky wheel gets the grease” during rulemaking. We find no evidence, however, of counteractive lobbying during agency rulemaking. Our results suggest that interest groups may further their policy goals by observing more closely the actions of opposing groups during agency policymaking.
Public Imaginary in Education in China

Gustavo E. Fischman (PhD UCLA) is associate professor in the divisions of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies and Curriculum & Instruction at Arizona State University. His research interests are in the areas of comparative and international education, gender studies, and qualitative studies in education. Dr. Fischman is the author of Imagining Teachers: Rethinking Gender Dynamics in Teacher Education (Rowman & Littlefield, 2001) and the associate editor for the journals: Education Policy Analysis Archives (EPAA) (http://epaa.asu.edu/) and Education Review (http://edrev.asu.edu/).
Protection of DNA during oxidative stress by the nonspecific DNA-binding protein Dps

Reactive oxygen species can damage most cellular components, but DNA appears to be the most sensitive target of these agents. Here we present the first evidence of DNA protection against the toxic and mutagenic effects of oxidative damage in metabolically active cells: direct protection of DNA by Dps, an inducible nonspecific DNA-binding protein from Escherichia coli. We demonstrate that in a recA-deficient strain, expression of Dps from an inducible promoter prior to hydrogen peroxide challenge increases survival and reduces the number of chromosomal single-strand breaks. dps mutants exhibit increased levels of the G x C-->T x A mutations characteristic of oxidative damage after treatment with hydrogen peroxide. In addition, expression of Dps from the inducible plasmid reduces the frequency of spontaneous G x C-->T x A and A x T-->T x A mutations and can partially suppress the mutator phenotype of mutM (fpg) and mutY alleles. In a purified in vitro system, Dps reduces the number of DNA single-strand breaks and Fpg-sensitive sites introduced by hydrogen peroxide treatment, indicating that the protection observed in vivo is a direct effect of DNA binding by Dps. The widespread conservation of Dps homologs among prokaryotes suggests that this may be a general strategy for coping with oxidative stress.
Immunoconglutinins of different immunoglobulin classes demonstrated by the antiglobulin reaction.

The development of an antiglobulin test enabled the demonstration of autoantibodies directed against fixed complement components (immunoconglutinins or IKs) of immunoglobulin classes other than IgM. All human and rabbit sera tested had IgG IK activity. The titres, though variable, were usually comparable with those of the IgM variety. Rabbit IgG IK was stimulated by the autostimulation methods used in the past for IK (IgM) production and had a similar reactivity, being mainly directed against C′3. IgA IK was detected in three of the human sera, and both IgG and IgA IK from one of these were shown to be autoreactive.
Epstein–Barr viral infection in extranodal lymphoma of the head and neck: correlation with prognosis and response to treatment

Aims : To determine the prevalence of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection in primary extranodal lymphoma of the head and neck (PELHN) in immunocompetent patients. PELHN represents 16.18% of all lymphoma diagnosed at the National Cancer Institute, Cairo. Although EBV infection is highly associated with lymphoma in immunocompromised patients, the situation in immunocompetent patients is still unclear.
Analysis of Y-graft blood flow and flow reserve in conditions of increased myocardial oxygen consumption.

BACKGROUND It is not well established whether early following surgery the blood flow of arterial composite Y-grafts may efficiently meet the flow demand of the coronary system. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether early after surgery arterial composite Y-grafts may increase the blood flow in response to an increase in myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2). METHODS Twenty-seven patients who received complete arterial myocardial revascularization using the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) and the radial artery (RA) as composite Y-graft gave their consent to a pre-discharge coronary angiography and intravascular flow velocity measurements using a Doppler guidewire. Flow measurements were performed in the LITA main stem, the distal LITA and the RA, both at rest and during atrial pacing at 85% of the patient age-predicted maximum heart rate. The heart rate-systolic blood pressure product was considered as an indirect index of MVO2. Hyperemic flow was determined after injection of adenosine. The flow reserve was defined as the ratio of blood flow during maximal hyperemia (Qmax) to baseline flow (Qbasal). RESULTS Atrial pacing significantly increased MVO2 (p < 0.000). None of the patients developed ischemic ST-segment modifications or complained of chest pain. Qbasal increased significantly in the LITA main stem (p = 0.001), distal LITA (p = 0.041) and RA (p = 0.004) while Qmax did not change significantly. As a consequence the flow reserve decreased in the LITA main stem (p = 0.002), distal LITA (p = 0.000) and RA (p = 0.000) but was not completely exhausted. CONCLUSIONS Early after surgery arterial composite Y-grafts may significantly increase blood flow in response to conditions of increased MVO2 and maintain a normal myocardial oxygen supply-to-demand ratio.
Incidence and risk factors for hepatitis C seroconversion in injecting drug users in Australia.

AIMS To determine the incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and identify risk factors for seroconversion. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. Participants were recruited through direct approaches, street-based outreach, methadone and sexual health clinics and needle and syringe programmes. SETTING Urban, regional and rural settings in New South Wales, Australia. PARTICIPANTS Injecting drug users (IDUs) (n = 584) were screened and tested for exposure to HCV. Between 1999 and 2002 antibody HCV negative IDUs (n = 368) were enrolled and followed-up every 3-6 months until seroconversion or study completion. MEASUREMENTS Interviewer-administered baseline and follow-up questionnaires consisted of 131 items and included demographics, drug use and risk behaviour. Approximately 10 cc of whole blood was drawn at each visit. Specimens were stored at -70C and serology performed using one or two third-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and polymerase chain reaction testing. FINDINGS Sixty-eight seroconversions were observed and incidence was 30.8 per 100 person-years, with incidence in IDUs injecting < 1 year, 133 per 100 person-years. Independent predictors of seroconversion were female gender, duration of injecting, injecting cocaine, shared use of filters and recruitment strategy. CONCLUSIONS Women, new initiates and IDUs recruited via outreach appear to be at increased risk of infection. Results confirm the significance of cocaine injection as a risk factor and provide the first evidence outside North America of the link between shared use of drug preparation equipment and incident HCV infection. Prevention efforts should attempt to raise awareness of the risks associated with drug sharing and, in particular, the role of potentially contaminated syringes in HCV infection.
Quantification of tissue damage in AD using diffusion tensor and magnetization transfer MRI

The authors measured mean diffusivity (D̄) and magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) of the brain from 18 patients with AD and 16 healthy control subjects. The peak heights of cortical gray matter (cGM) D̄ (p < 0.001) and MTR (p < 0.001) histograms were lower and average cGM D̄ (p < 0.01) higher in patients with AD than in control subjects. A composite MR score based on brain volume and cGM MTR peak height was correlated with patient cognitive impairment (r = 0.65, p = 0.003). This preliminary study presents a novel approach to quantify AD-related tissue damage in-vivo.
HiNF‐D (CDP‐cut/CDC2/cyclin A/pRB‐complex) influences the timing of IRF‐2‐dependent cell cycle activation of human histone H4 gene transcription at the G1/S phase transition

Cell cycle control of histone H4 gene transcription is mediated by the multipartite promoter domain H4‐Site II, which supports transcriptional activation at the G1/S phase transition and modulates basal H4 gene transcription. Proliferation‐specific transcription is determined by the integrated activities of three distinct promoter factors interacting with H4‐Site II: the interferon regulatory factor IRF‐2 (synonymous with HiNF‐M), HiNF‐D (a complex between the homeodomain protein CDP‐cut and the cell cycle mediators CDC2, cyclin A and pRB), as well as HiNF‐P/H4TF‐2. However, the contribution of HiNF‐D to the enhancement and/or suppression of H4 gene transcription at specific cell cycle stages remains to be established. We used a panel of synchronized HeLa S3 cell lines containing stably integrated H4 promoter/CAT reporter gene constructs with mutations in H4‐Site II. The temporal regulation of CAT mRNA accumulation under the control of the H4 promoter was analyzed by RNase protection analysis. Our main finding is that mutation of the HiNF‐D/CDP‐cut binding site alters the timing of histone gene activation during the cell cycle. Furthermore, our data indicate that HiNF‐P/H4TF‐2 may functionally compensate for HiNF‐M/IRF‐2 at Site II to regulate histone H4 gene transcription in HeLa S3 cervical carcinoma cells during early S phase. We postulate that HiNF‐D (CDP‐cut/cyclin A/CDC2/pRB containing complex) promotes HiNF‐M/IRF‐2 (and/or HiNF‐P/H4TF‐2) dependent histone H4 gene activation at the G1/S phase transition and attenuates H4 gene transcription at later cell cycle stages. The mechanistic division in the gene regulatory functions of the three H4‐Site II binding proteins may ensure that histone H4 gene expression is stringently coupled with the onset of S phase in response to growth factor/cytokine‐induced cell cycle progression. J. Cell. Physiol. 177:453–464, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A preview of the efficiency of systemic family therapy in treatment of children with posttraumatic stress disorder developed after car accident.

BACKGROUND/AIM Traumatic stress refers to physical and emotional reactions caused by events which represent a life threat or a disturbance of physical and phychological integrity of a child, as well as their parents or gaerdians. Car accidents are the main cause of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children. The aim of this study was to preview clinical efficiency of systemic family therapy (SFT) as therapy intervention in treatment of children with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) traumatized in car accident under identical circumstances of exposure. We pointed out the importance of specific family factors (family cohesion and adaptability, emotional reaction of the parents) on PTSD clinical outcome. METHODS The sample of this clinical observational study included 7-sixth grade pupiles--5 boys and 2 girls, aged 13. All of the pupils were involved in car accident with one death. Two groups were formed--one group included three children who were involved in 8 SFT sessions together with their families. The second group included 4 children who received an antidepressant sertraline in the period of three months. RESULTS Two months after the car accident, before the beginning of the therapy, all of the children were the members of rigidly enmeshed family systems, considering the high average cohesion scores and the low average adaptability scores on the FACES III. Three months after the received therapy, having evaluated the results of the therapeutic approaches, we established that the adaptability scores of the families included in the SFT were higher than the scores of the families of the children who received pharmacotherapy with one boy still meeting the criteria for PTSD. CONCLUSION Systemic family therapy was efficient in the treatment of children with PTSD, traumatized in car accident. Therapy efficiency was higher when both parents and children were included in SFT than in the case when they were not included in the family therapy. The change in the functioning of the family systems was not accidental or simply time-dependant, but it depended on the therapy which was applied and the increased level of family adaptability as the main risk factor of retraumatization.
Modeling the Impact of External Factors on the Euro Area's HICP and Real Economy: A Focus on Pass-through and the Trade Balance

This paper aims to analyze the impact of external factors, such as the nominal effective exchange rate, foreign demand and the terms of trade, on the euro area real economy. In particular, the paper estimates the quantitative impact that changes in these factors have on net trade, real GDP and the Harmonized Consumer Price Index (HICP). To this end, we estimate a Dynamic Simultaneous Equation Model (DSEM) accounting for the presence of key exogenous variables. The tool utilized here to measure the impact of various shocks on the real economy is the impulse response function. The study is also conducted at sub-components level. First, we estimate the model replacing net trade with its sub-components, namely, the volume of exports and the volume of imports. Then, we re-estimate the model by dividing the terms of trade index into import and export prices. Overall, we estimate three models. Two of these models show consistent results. We found that the nominal effective exchange rate and foreign demand are the main determinants of the trade balance. Nevertheless, while foreign demand strongly affects real GDP, the nominal effective exchange rate affects it only slightly. Among the external factors, foreign demand has the strongest impact on real GDP. Regarding the impact of the nominal effective exchange rate on import prices and HICP, we found that the exchange rate pass-through for the euro area is not very high. This result is broadly in line with the findings presented in Hahn (2003). JEL Classification: C32, E52
The effects of cyclic loading on pull-out strength of sacral screw fixation: an in vitro biomechanical study.

STUDY DESIGN The pull-out strength of sacral screw fixation after cyclic loading was tested using young human cadaveric specimens. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effects of fatigue loading on the pull-out strength of medial and lateral unicortical and bicortical sacral screws and to correlate the pull-out strength with sacral bone density and the screw insertion torque. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA The immediate biomechanical effects of depth of penetration, screw orientation, and bone density on sacral screw fixation have been studied in aged cadaveric specimens. The effect of cyclic loading on the pull-out strength of sacral screw fixation is unknown, however, and data from young specimens is rare. METHODS Eleven fresh specimens of human sacrum were used in this study. Bone mineral density at the vertebral body and the ala were determined by peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Seven-millimeter compact Cotrel-Dubousset sacral screws were inserted into the sacrum anteromedially and anterolaterally, both unicortically and bicortically, and the insertion torque for each screw was measured. Cyclic loading from 40 to 400 N was applied to each screw at a frequency of 2 Hz up to 20,000 cycles. Pull-out tests were conducted after completion of the fatigue tests. RESULTS The average bone density was 0.38 +/- 0.08 g/mL at the S1 body and 0.24 +/- 0.05 g/mL at the S1 ala. The insertion torque and average pull-out force after cyclic loading were significantly higher for bicortical fixation than for unicortical fixation for a particular screw alignment. The pull-out strength and insertion torque of medially oriented fixation was always higher than that for lateral fixation, however, regardless of whether the insertion was unicortical or bicortical. The pull-out force of unicortical and bicortical medial screw fixations after cyclic loading showed significant linear correlations with both the insertion torque and the bone mineral density of the S1 body. CONCLUSIONS In a young population, screw orientation (anterolateral or anteromedial) was more important in determining pull-out strength than screw depth (unicortical or bicortical) after fatigue loading, anteromedially directed screws being significantly stronger than laterallyplaced screws. Bone mineral density of the S1 body andinsertion torque were good preoperative and intraoperative indicators of screw pull-out strength.
The International Economic Crisis and the 2010 Presidential Elections in Ukraine

The international financial crisis of 2007–9 had a significant impact upon the context, agenda and outcome of the 2010 Ukrainian presidential elections. Among the main reasons for Viktor Yanukovych's success in winning the election were his business-friendly policies, his advocacy of stability and his pro-Russian orientation. His platform chimed with the sentiments of large numbers of voters who were taking a defensive posture in the face of a year-long recession. Yuliya Tymoshenko was treated – and punished – because as the incumbent prime minister she failed to utilize the resources available to her government, including a large IMF loan, to bring the recession to a halt and stimulate a recovery. Viktor Yushchenko was rejected by the electorate because he was increasingly regarded as a president incapable of co-operative relations either with his own government or with the Russian government. These capacities in a president were seen by the electorate as indispensable for tackling the crisis.
Managing information technology infrastructure: a new flexibility framework

Purpose – The purposes of this study are to present an operational definition of information technology (IT) infrastructure flexibility and to provide a framework for assessing its components.Design/methodology/approach – A comprehensive review of the relevant literature was conducted along with expert interviews to determine what experts considered to be the characteristics of IT infrastructure flexibility. A questionnaire was then developed, and 388 IT personnel with a wide range of experience verified the proposed framework. Factor analysis was conducted to reveal the common aspects of IT infrastructure flexibility.Findings – The results expand on the four recognized components (connectivity, compatibility, modularity and IT personnel competency) from the literature by revealing five further components (scalability, continuity, rapidity, facility and modernity). Research limitations/implications – The issue of external validity should be a concern because the samples were collected only from IT personne.