Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Weighted-Efficiency-Oriented Design Methodology of Flyback Inverter for AC Photovoltaic Modules

An innovative design methodology that optimizes the weighted efficiency of a single-phase, single-stage flyback inverter for ac-photovoltaic (PV) module applications is proposed. This novel approach combines the essential advantages of the flyback topology with high-efficiency design in the direction of a reliable, cost-effective, and high-performance PV system. The proposed methodology focuses exclusively on choosing the inverter design parameters, taking into consideration the PV module characteristics and the topology operation constraints. In order to meet this goal, an analytical losses calculation should be performed. Since the problem is complicated, special effort is given to manipulate the equations and variables in such a way to minimize the number of parameters. The proposed methodology is also verified experimentally.
Wigner distribution analysis of BSPM for optimal sampling

A brief history of body surface potential mapping (BSPM), which is a series of ECGs at various positions on a body surface, is given, and its features are described. Among the problems that must be solved if the BSPM is to be used as a routine clinical tool is the need to reduce the number of leads without losing the spatiotemporal information. To determine the theoretical lead arrangement and the minimum number of leads, the local spatial potential changes of BSPM are analyzed using the Wigner distribution, which has good space-frequency resolution. A method for reducing the number of redundant leads and a method for reconstructing the BSPM from the optimum leads are given. <<ETX>>
Impact of Intensive Educational Approach to Dietary Change in NIDDM

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of an intensive educational approach incorporating longer time, greater simplicity, repetition, andcognitive motivational techniques with a conventional one in subjects with established non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) whose weight, glycemic control, and diet were not optimal. Subjects were randomly allocated to intensive or conventional education. Of 350 subjects, 70 met the study criteria, which included established NIDDM (≥3 mo), suboptimal recent glycemic control, dietary fat intake ≥35% of total energy intake, and body massindex ≥25 kg/m2. The intensive approach was associated with significantly greater improvements in dietary compliance, dietary intake (complex carbohydrate, [P = 0.013], legumes [P < 0.0001], fiber [P < 0.0001], total fat [P < 0.004], saturated fat [P < 0.004]), and total cholesterol level (P = 0.007). The transient improvement in glycemic control was similar in both groups. An intensive education program can improve dietary compliance in established NIDDM subjects more than a conventional one. These recommended dietary improvements achieve better improvement in total cholesterol but do not necessarily improve glycemic control.
Award vs. Worker Behaviors in Competitive Crowdsourcing Tasks

Context: Existing studies have shown that award settings for software crowdsourcing tasks can be accurately predictable to reflect the size and complexity of the tasks. However, as one of the most important motivating factors for on line crowdsourcing workers, it is more important for the task requesters to not only be able to estimate "what the nominal price should be? " for their tasks, but also to justify "what the strategic price should be? " in order to incentivize broader worker participation as well as higher quality of final submissions. Goal: To address the above questions, this paper reports an empirical study to develop further understanding about the relationship between tasks award and associated worker behaviors. Method: We develop a conceptual award-behavior model, formulate a set of research questions about the relationships of award and worker's behavior and performance, and conduct 4 empirical studies on 514 crowdsourcing tasks extracted from TopCoder platform. Results: Major results include: (1) in general, negative correlations between award and worker behavior metrics; (2) a decreasing tendency in making submission as the number of registrants increases; (3) a weak positive correlation of 0.19 between number of registrants and score of the winning submission; and (4) for similar tasks, the relationship of award on worker behavior follows a variety of inverted U-shape curves. Conclusions: We believe the preliminary findings are helpful for task requesters in better task planning, and hope to stimulate further discussions and research in strategic crowd coordination.
Interactions between the Mas-Related Receptors MrgD and MrgE Alter Signalling and Trafficking of MrgD

When expressed via an inducible promoter in human embryonic kidney 293 cells, the rat Mas-related gene D (rMrgD) receptor responded to β-alanine but not l-alanine by elevating intracellular [Ca2+], stimulating phosphorylation of the mitogenactivated protein kinases known as extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1 and ERK2 and translocating from the plasma membrane to punctate intracellular vesicles. By contrast, the related rat Mas-related gene E (rMrgE) receptor did not respond to β-alanine. Coexpression of rMrgD with rMrgE, which occurs in peripheral nociceptive neurons, allowed coimmunoprecipitation of the two receptors and resulted in the detection of cell surface rMrgD-rMrgE heterodimers via timeresolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer. These interactions increased the potency of β-alanine to phosphorylate ERK1 and ERK2 as well as maintaining the capacity of β-alanine to elevate intracellular [Ca2+], which was reduced in magnitude and slowed in response with increasing times of expression of rMrgD in isolation. Associated with these effects, the presence of rMrgE restricted β-alanine-induced internalization of rMrgD. This is the first report of heterodimeric interactions between members of the Mas-related gene (Mrg) receptor family and indicates that interactions between rMrgD and rMrgE modulate the function of rMrgD. Because the Mrg receptors are potential therapeutic targets in pain, these results suggest that efforts to understand the function and regulation of individual Mrg family receptors may require coexpression of relevant pairs.
Raise the Retirement Age, but Protect Those Who Can't Work

The notion of raising the retirement age for Social Security, once politically taboo, is gaining traction. Senior fellow Richard Johnson argues in this commentary that increasing the full retirement age and the early eligibility age could help balance Social Security's long-range budget and boost work incentives. But without adequate protections for people who can't work-including a stronger disability safety net, an expanded Supplemental Security Income program, and more workforce development initiatives aimed at older workers-it could push up to a million seniors into poverty.
A Better Understanding of Granger Causality Analysis: A Big Data Environment

This paper aims to provide a better understanding of the causal structure in a multivariate time series by introducing several statistical procedures for testing indirect and spurious causal effects. In practice, detecting these effects is a complicated task, since the auxiliary variables that transmit/induce indirect/spurious causality are very often unknown. The availability of hundreds of economic variables makes this task even more difficult since it is generally infeasible to find the appropriate auxiliary variables among all the available ones. In addition, including hundreds of variables and their lags in a regression equation is technically difficult. The paper proposes several statistical procedures to test for the presence of indirect/spurious causality based on big data analysis. Furthermore, it suggests an identification procedure to find the variables that transmit/induce the indirect/spurious causality. Finally, it provides an empirical application where 135 economic variables were used to study a possible indirect causality from money/credit to income.
Sequential compound exocytosis of large dense‐core vesicles in PC12 cells studied with TEPIQ (two‐photon extracellular polar‐tracer imaging‐based quantification) analysis

We investigated exocytosis of PC12 cells using two‐photon excitation imaging and extracellular polar tracers (TEP imaging) at the basal region of PC12 cells adjacent to the glass cover slip. TEPIQ (two‐photon extracellular polar‐tracer imaging‐based quantification) analysis revealed that most exocytosis was mediated by large dense‐core vesicles (LVs) with a mean diameter of 220 nm, and that exocytosis of LVs occurred slowly with a mean latency of ∼7 s even though exocytosis was induced with large increases in cytosolic Ca2+ concentration by uncaging of a caged‐Ca2+ compound. We also found that 97% of exocytic LVs remained poised at the plasma membrane, 72% maintained their fusion pores in an open conformation for more than 30 s, and 76% triggered sequential compound exocytosis of vesicles that were located deeper in the cytosol. Sequential compound exocytosis by PC12 cells was confirmed by electron microscopic investigation with photoconversion of diaminobenzidine by FM1‐43 (a polar membrane tracer). Our data suggest that pre‐stimulus docking of LVs to the plasma membrane does not necessarily hasten the fusion reaction, while docking and resulting stability of exocytic LVs facilitates sequential compound exocytosis, and thereby allowing mobilization of deep vesicles.
Cytokines and malaria parasitemia.

The balance between pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines may be important in malaria presentation and outcome. Malaria tends to be more severe in children than in adults, presumably because partial immunity develops with age. However, the full nature of, and age-related differences in, anti-malarial immunity are unknown. We compared: (1) serum and cell-specific cytokines of patients with acute malaria to those of patients with other acute illnesses and to those of healthy adults and (2) the cytokine responses of parasitemic children and parasitemic adults. Flow cytometry was done on the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of 148 hospitalized children, 161 febrile hospitalized adults, and 20 healthy adults in Malawi, Africa, a malaria-endemic country. Serum cytokines were also assessed for 80 of these patients. Thirty-eight participants were parasitemic with Plasmodium falciparum. Serum interleukin (IL)-10 (an antiinflammatory, immunoregulatory, and type 2 cytokine) levels were higher in malaria patients than in other patients (medians 502 pg/mL vs 16 pg/mL, P = 0.002), and the percentages of various lymphocyte populations making IL-6 (a proinflammatory, type 2 cytokine regulating iron distribution) were lower in malaria patients than in other patients (e.g., for spontaneous production by children's CD8(+) T cells: medians 1.4% vs 33.1%, P = 0.004). For adult patients, the percentages of lymphocytes spontaneously making IL-4 (a type 2 cytokine) were significantly lower in those with malaria than in those without malaria (medians 0.9% vs 2.1%, P = 0.005). The percentages of monocytes spontaneously making IL-8 (a chemotactic, proinflammatory chemokine) were higher in parasitemic children than in parasitemic adults (medians 5.8% vs 1.7%, P = 0.003). A number of cellular proinflammatory, type 1 parameters were significantly higher in all children (with or without malaria) than in all adults; these included the percentages of various lymphocyte populations making IL-6, both IL-6 and interferon-gamma, or IL-8. These data support the importance of IL-10 in malaria parasitemia. Given the lack of an IL-4 (type 2) response, IL-10's primary role may be immunoregulatory rather than type 2 in nature. In this study, the immune response to malaria was more proinflammatory in children than in adults. This difference, if corroborated by other studies, could be related to malaria's greater severity in children.
bZIP17 and bZIP60 Regulate the Expression of BiP3 and Other Salt Stress Responsive Genes in an UPR‐Independent Manner in Arabidopsis thaliana

Plants can be severely affected by salt stress. Since these are sessile organisms, they have developed different cellular responses to cope with this problem. Recently, it has been described that bZIP17 and bZIP60, two ER‐located transcription factors, are involved in the cellular response to salt stress. On the other hand, bZIP60 is also involved in the unfolded protein response (UPR), a signaling pathway that up‐regulates the expression of ER‐chaperones. Coincidentally, salt stress produces the up‐regulation of BiP, one of the main chaperones located in this organelle. Then, it has been proposed that UPR is associated to salt stress. Here, by using insertional mutant plants on bZIP17 and bZIP60, we show that bZIP17 regulate the accumulation of the transcript for the chaperone BiP3 under salt stress conditions, but does not lead to the accumulation of UPR‐responding genes such as the chaperones Calnexin, Calreticulin, and PDIL under salt treatments. In contrast, DTT, a known inducer of UPR, leads to the up‐regulation of all these chaperones. On the other hand, we found that bZIP60 regulates the expression of some bZIP17 target genes under conditions were splicing of bZIP60 does not occur, suggesting that the spliced and unspliced forms of bZIP60 play different roles in the physiological response of the plant. Our results indicate that the ER‐located transcription factors bZIP17 and bZIP60 play a role in salt stress but this response goes through a signaling pathway that is different to that triggered by the unfolded protein response. J. Cell. Biochem. 116: 1638–1645, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Adhesive properties of connexin hemichannels

Gap junctions are intercellular channels formed by hemichannels (or connexons) from two neighboring cells. Hemichannels, which are composed of proteins called connexins, can function as conduits of ATP and glutamate, and interact with adhesion molecules and other signaling elements. As a result, their functional repertoire is expanding into other roles, such as control of cell growth or cell migration. Here we further elucidate the involvement of hemichannels in cell–cell adhesion by analyzing how connexins regulate cell adhesion without the need of gap junction formation. Using a short‐term aggregation assay with C6‐glioma and HeLa cells stably transfected with connexin (Cx) 43 or Cx32, we found that the connexin type dictates the ability of these cells to aggregate, even though these two cell types do not usually adhere to each other. We have also found that high expression of Cx43, but not Cx32 hemichannels, can drive adhesion of cells expressing low levels of Cx43. Aggregation was not dependent on high levels of extracellular Ca2+, as Ca2+ removal did not change the aggregation of Cx43‐expressing cells. Our data confirm that connexin hemichannels can establish adhesive interactions without the need for functional gap junctions, and support the concept that connexins act as adhesion molecules independently of channel formation. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Blood eosinophil count is a useful biomarker to identify patients with severe eosinophilic asthma.

RATIONALE Measurement of sputum or blood eosinophils may allow identification of a severe eosinophilic asthma population responsive to mepolizumab. OBJECTIVES The primary objective was assessment of a single blood eosinophil measurement to predict future eosinophil measurements in the following year versus using multiple blood eosinophil measurements. In addition, we examined whether a single sputum or blood eosinophil measurement was a useful biomarker for predicting treatment response to mepolizumab. METHODS Based on data from placebo subjects (n = 155), we determined whether a blood eosinophil count of 150/μl or greater at screening remained on average above this level during the following year. The rate of exacerbation reduction in the sputum substudy population based on the screening blood eosinophil count and sputum eosinophils was evaluated. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Of 115 patients with eosinophils 150/μl or greater at screening, 98 (85%) remained above this level in their post-screening average. Using the average of two, three or four measurements 150/μl or greater, 97 (85%), 103 (90%), and 105 (92%) have postscreening averages above 150/μl. Mepolizumab reduced exacerbations by 69% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 41-83%) in subjects with baseline sputum eosinophils of 3% or greater compared with 66% (95% CI = 7-87%) in subjects with baseline sputum eosinophils under 3%. The reduction was 72% (95% CI = 41-83%) in subjects with blood eosinophils of 150/μl or greater compared with 30% (95% CI = -134 to 79%) in subjects with blood eosinophils under 150/μl. CONCLUSIONS A single measurement of 150/μl or greater predicted the average of subsequent measurements being 150/μl or greater in 85% of this population. Using an average of multiple measurements only marginally increases the sensitivity. Sputum eosinophils did not predict treatment response with mepolizumab.
The Alignment of Accounting and Information Systems in SMEs in Malaysia

Abstract The concept of fit or alignment between information systems processing capacity and information requirements has been discussed for many years, but this study seeks to explore some unresolved issues in the context of accounting information in small and medium sized manufacturing firms. In particular, the study seeks to identify different levels of alignment using a matching approach, and then investigate the link with firm performance. Nineteen characteristics of accounting information were identified so that accounting information requirements and information systems processing capacity could be compared. Data from 310 firms in Malaysia was collected using a mail questionnaire and fit was calculated using the matching approach to measure alignment. Cluster analysis was then used to group SMEs with similar levels of alignment. Three groups emerged which could be readily identified as Aligned, Moderate and Not aligned. Statistical tests confirmed that the group of SMEs with the highest level of alignment had achieved significantly better performance than the other two groups. This suggests that aligning information processing capacity with perceived information requirements does contribute to improved firm performance of SMEs in developing economies.
Most HPV and CSC in HNSCC cisplatin resistance

Cisplatin (DNA intercalator), a standard chemotherapy drug often used to treat head and neck squamous cellular carcinoma (HNSCC) has very low response rates in recurrent disease of HNSCC, this is a major clinical problem today. However, a valuable window to look in to the underlying molecular aspects of a favorable and unfavorable cisplatin response is offered by a distinct disease entity in HNSCC – HPV+ OPSCC. It responds far more favorably to cisplatin than non-HPV driven HNSCC. Another intriguing aspect of head and neck cancer biology is the emergence of the CD44+ cancer stem cell the tumor initiating population that in all likelihood is the root cause of therapeutic resistance. The critical question is, are there any differences between the CD44+ CSC population of an HPV+ OPSCC and a non-HPV HNSCC? In this regard, the inverse relation between EGFR levels and HPV status in OPSCC may be a common thread that connects the better response rates of HPV+ OPSCC with the contribution of CD44+ stem cells of HNSCC to chemoresistance.
Bipolar ReRAM Based non-volatile flip-flops for low-power architectures

Resistive Random Access Memories (ReRAMs) fabricated in the back-end-of-line are a promising breakthrough for including permanent retention mechanisms in embedded systems. This low-cost solution opens the way to advanced power management schemes. In this paper, we propose novel design architecture of a non-volatile flip-flop based on Bipolar ReRAMs (Bi-RNVFF). Compared to state-of-the-art Data-Retention flip-flop (with Balloon latch), the proposed design is 25% smaller due to 6T structure compared to the 8T structure of Data-Retention flip-flop. Moreover, being non-volatile, the proposed architecture exhibits a zero leakage compared to a Data-Retention Flip-Flop, which consumes ~3. 2μW in sleep mode (leakage) for a 10K Flip-Flop design implemented in 22nm FDSOI technology. Our simulation results show that Bi-RNVFF is a true alternative for future “Power-on, Power-off” application adding Non-Volatility without significant burdening of the existing architectures.
Transfer of insulin lispro across the human placenta: in vitro perfusion studies.

OBJECTIVE Insulin lispro (Humalog), a human insulin analog, has a more rapid onset, earlier peak, and shorter duration of glucose lowering activity than regular human insulin. However, it is not known whether insulin lispro crosses the human placenta and reaches the fetus. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to examine whether insulin lispro crosses the placenta using the technique of perfusing a human placental lobule in vitro. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Term human placentae from uncomplicated pregnancies were obtained immediately after delivery. Insulin lispro, at concentrations ranging from 100 to 1000 micro U/ml, was introduced into the maternal reservoir. The maternal side of the placenta was perfused with constant concentration of lispro insulin; the fetal circulation was closed. Samples were drawn from both the maternal and fetal circulations at regular intervals. The appearance of insulin lispro in the fetal circulation was analyzed by a specific radioimmunoassay. RESULTS No placental transfer of lispro could be detected during perfusion with 100 and 200 micro U/ml. In contrast, there was a small concentration-dependent transfer to the fetus at concentrations of 580 micro U/ml and higher, detectable after at least an hour of constant concentration of insulin lispro during perfusion. The rate of placental transfer was 0.019 micro U x min(-1) x g tissue(-1) at maternal levels of 580 micro U/ml and 0.045 micro U x min(-1) x g(-1) tissue at maternal levels of 1000 micro U/ml. Measuring lispro levels in 11 pregnant women revealed that a dose of 50 units may achieve serum concentrations >200 micro U/ml with apparent linear correlation between dose and levels. CONCLUSIONS Insulin lispro is not likely to cross the placenta at a single standard dose. This study suggests that insulin lispro is unlikely to reach or harm the unborn baby.
Distribution of Crustal Melt Bodies at the Hot Spot‐Influenced Section of the Galápagos Spreading Centre From Seismic Reflection Images

Accretion of the lower crust at mid‐ocean ridges is a debated topic, with modern seismic observations pointing to a complex magmatic system that includes an axial multisill system of middle‐ and lower‐crustal melt lenses and near‐ and off‐axis melt bodies. Here we revisit the hot spot‐influenced section of the western Galápagos Spreading Centre and reprocess multichannel seismic reflection data using a wide‐angle seismic tomography model. Our new images show that the magma reservoir in the lower crust at this ridge section is intruded with partially molten melt lenses. The images also show evidence for off‐axis melt lenses, magmatic‐hydrothermal interactions and Moho reflections in this region. We conclude that the similarities between the axial crustal structure of this hot spot‐influenced mid‐ocean ridge and the multisill magmatic structure imaged at the East Pacific Rise indicate that these features are common along the global mid‐ocean ridge system where seafloor spreading is dominated by magmatic accretion.