Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transient Calculations on Crossbonded Cables

The present paper describes accurate and approximate methods of calculating transients on a crossbonded cable. Calculated results are compared with field test results, and the accuracy of the calculation, which has never been discussed in the previous publications, is proved. It is characteristic to a crossbonded cable that the sheath overvoltage is much greater than that on a noncrossbonded cable. This overvoltage is due to the reflection of a traveling-wave from the crossbonded points. The approximate method of a calculation shows satisfactory results with much smaller computation time in comparison with the accurate method if the number of crossbonding is large.
Controller design of second order sliding mode control systems with mismatached perturbations

The method to obtain the dynamics of second-order sliding mode (SOSM) is usually adopted by directly taking second derivative on the sliding variable s. However, some uncertain terms will appear in the first derivative of the sliding variable. As a matter of fact, the second derivative imposing on these uncertain terms will enlarge the uncertainties in the control channel. This paper presents an effective method to diminish the uncertainties in the control channel, which regards the uncertain terms as a mismatched perturbation and then hold this mismatched perturbation in the first derivative of the sliding variable. A novel backstepping-like design methodology will be proposed by using the Lyapunov analysis. Mathematical proof and academic example are given to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
A blind spectrum-sensing method based on Bartlett decomposition

Spectrum sensing is a key element of Cognitive Radio communications. In this paper, a novel method is proposed based on the Bartlett decomposition of statistical covariance matrix. The proposed method exhibits good performance and robustness against noise uncertainty and without having to know any information of the primary signal and the transmission channel. Compared to other methods based on the statistical covariance matrix, the threshold of the proposed method is accurately calculated without assuming that the number of the signal samples is large enough. As a result, the performance of our method is superior to the others. Simulations based on wireless microphone signals are presented to verify our method.
Nonlinear backward tracking control of an articulated mobile robot with off-axle hitching

This paper proposes a nonlinear path control for backward driving of a car-like mobile robot pushing trailer with off-axle hitching. The control law is constructed using high-gain design techniques and involves error coordinates expressed which are partially linked to the trailer and invariant properties with respect to the vehicle speed. The stability of the closed-loop system is analyzed using Lyapunov stability theory. Simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller.
Genetic Diversity of Near Genome-Wide Hepatitis C Virus Sequences during Chronic Infection: Evidence for Protein Structural Conservation Over Time

Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the leading causes of chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease worldwide. The genetics of HCV infection in humans and the disease course of chronic hepatitis C are both remarkably variable. Although the response to interferon treatment is largely dependent on HCV genotypes, whether or not a relationship exists between HCV genome variability and clinical course of hepatitis C disease still remains unknown. To more thoroughly understand HCV genome evolution over time in association with disease course, near genome-wide HCV genomes present in 9 chronically infected participants over 83 total study years were sequenced. Overall, within HCV genomes, the number of synonymous substitutions per synonymous site (dS) significantly exceeded the number of non-synonymous substitutions per site (dN). Although both dS and dN significantly increased with duration of chronic infection, there was a highly significant decrease in dN/dS ratio in HCV genomes over time. These results indicate that purifying selection acted to conserve viral protein structure despite persistence of high level of nucleotide mutagenesis inherent to HCV replication. Based on liver biopsy fibrosis scores, HCV genomes from participants with advanced fibrosis had significantly greater dS values and lower dN/dS ratios compared to participants with mild liver disease. Over time, viral genomes from participants with mild disease had significantly greater annual changes in dN, along with higher dN/dS ratios, compared to participants with advanced fibrosis. Yearly amino acid variations in the HCV p7, NS2, NS3 and NS5B genes were all significantly lower in participants with severe versus mild disease, suggesting possible pathogenic importance of protein structural conservation for these viral gene products.
Oocyte karyotyping by comparative genomic hybridization [correction of hybrydization] provides a highly reliable method for selecting "competent" embryos, markedly improving in vitro fertilization outcome: a multiphase study.

OBJECTIVE To assess the karyotypic relationship between prefertilized/postfertilized oocytes and embryos using comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) on polar body-1 (PB-1), PB2, and blastomere biopsies and to evaluate IVF outcomes after transfer of blastocysts derived from euploid oocytes. DESIGN Prospective cohort. SETTING Medical center. PATIENT(S) Phase1: Fourteen oocyte donors (23-29 years). Phase 2: Forty-one healthy embryo recipients aged 29-43 years free of endometrial implantation dysfunction. In 30 cases own eggs were used. Eleven women used donated oocytes. INTERVENTION(S) Phase 1: PB-1 biopsies followed intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), PB-2, and day 3 blastomere biopsies. Phase 2: PB-1 biopsy followed by ICSI using normal sperm and the subsequent embryo transfer of < or =2 blastocysts derived from euploid oocytes. Comparative genomic hybridization on all DNA derived from phase 1 and 2 biopsies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Pregnancy and implantation rate. RESULT(S) Phase 1: 39% of oocytes and 88% of zygotes were euploid; >95% progressed to blastocysts. Mosaicism as evidenced by euploid oocytes developing into aneuploid zygotes or embryos occurred in 13% of concepti. Phase 2: Six of 30 women using own eggs, who failed to produce euploid oocytes, were cancelled. Thirty-five women underwent embryo transfers with < or =2 (mean, 1.3 +/- 0.7) blastocysts derived from euploid oocytes. The ongoing pregnancy/implantation rates per embryo transfer were 74% and 82%, respectively. CONCLUSION(S) Transferring euploid embryos markedly improved IVF outcome. These findings, if corroborated, could initiate a paradigm shift in assisted reproductive technology (ART).
More Than 60 Years Later: The Mediating Role of Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder for the Association of Forced Displacement in World War II With Somatization in Old Age

Abstract Up to now, it has remained unclear whether displacement itself is the pathogenetic factor for the impairment of mental health in uprooted individuals or whether the effect is mediated by the amount of traumatic events experienced during forced displacement and/or by the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A total of 1657 participants were included in this population-based study, who were then administered with the Patient Health Questionnaire, a modified trauma list of the PTSD module of the Munich Composite International Diagnostic Interview, and the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale. Displacement was associated with increased rates of traumatic events. The displaced participants were significantly more affected by somatoform symptoms and PTSD than the nondisplaced population. It was not displacement itself but the amount of trauma experienced during displacement that predicts current somatization in the population-based sample. The results highlight the necessity for prevention and treatment of posttraumatic conditions in displaced individuals and underpin the importance to understand somatization as one condition of the posttraumatic symptoms spectrum in the elderly.
Effects of sleep deprivation on gamma-amino-butyric acid and glutamate contents in rat brain.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of sleep deprivation on the contents of gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA) and glutamate (GLU) in rat brain. METHODS Thirty rats were assigned into sleep-deprivation (SD, n=10) group (subjected to treatment on small platforms 6.5 cm of diameter), tank control (TC, n=10) group (treated on large platforms 14 cm of diameter) and control group kept in cages (CC, n=10). Rats in SD group were deprived of rapid eye movement sleep for 96 h by "flower pot" technique. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to determine the GABA and GLU contents in the 3 brain regions of the rats: the frontal cortex, hypothalamus and brain stem. RESULTS The rats in SD group showed an increase in the contents of GABA and lowered ratio of GLU/GABA in all the 3 brain regions (P<0.01) compared with the rats in CC group; GLU contents were also increased in the brain stem and hypothalamus of the rats in SD group (P<0.05). No significant changes were found in TC group. CONCLUSION Rapid eye movement sleep deprivation induces significant changes in the contents and proportion of amino-acid neurotransmitter in rat brain.
Women managers and diversity programs in Mexico

Up to three or four years ago, practically no private company in Mexico was concerned with implementing specific policies to support and advance women executives. However, recently this prospect has begun to change. This article will provide information on the mission, objectives and targets and results of two companies that are starting to introduce special programs to support women’s careers in Mexico and Latin America. In addition, it discusses some research results on the opinions of corporate presidents and human resource directors of the leading corporations.
The Time Famine: Toward a Sociology of Work Time

This paper describes a qualitative study of how people use their time at work, why they use it this way, and whether their way of using time is optimal for them or their work groups. Results of a nine-month field study of the work practices of a software engineering team revealed that the group's collective use of time perpetuated its members' “time famine,” a feeling of having too much to do and not enough time to do it. Engineers had difficulty getting their individual work done because they were constantly interrupted by others. A crisis mentality and a reward system based on individual heroics perpetuated this disruptive way of interacting. Altering the way software engineers used their time at work, however, enhanced their collective productivity. This research points toward a “sociology of work time,” a framework integrating individuals' interdependent work patterns and the larger social and temporal contexts. The theoretical and practical implications of a sociology of work time are explored.
Effects of DC and pulse voltage combination on surface charge dynamic behaviors of epoxy resin

Epoxy resin is widely used in disc-type spacers of gas insulated switchgear (GIS). Surface flashover related to the existence of surface charge often occurs on the spacer, which is a great threat to the application of HVDC GIS and the safety of entire grid. Moreover, the influence on surface charge dynamic behavior under pulse voltage produced by switch overvoltage, accompanying with the DC voltage, is still unclear. In order to research the comprehensive effect of DC and pulse voltage on surface charge behavior, in this paper, epoxy resin sample was charged by a corona discharge system and the charge distribution was measured by an electrostatic voltmeter. The results are obtained from the research of different pulse amplitudes and pulse polarities. When DC and pulse voltage with the same polarity are applied, smaller pulse voltage would push the original charges away, resulting in the decrease of initial surface potential. But a big pulse voltage could increase the surface potential. The speed of surface charge dissipation has an opposite tendency. When the pulse polarity becomes the opposite of DC voltage, surface potential at the sample center will be a heteropolar value at the beginning and then it gradually becomes consistent with the initial polarity. In addition, the surface charge change rate will rise with the increase of heteropolar pulse voltage. The Trap energy distributions were used to analyze charge decay process in the last section.
Association Between Low Colonic Short-Chain Fatty Acids and High Bile Acids in High Colon Cancer Risk Populations

We propose that the influence of diet on colon cancer risk is mediated by the microbiota. To investigate how dietary fat influences risk, we compared the colonic contents of 12 adult high-risk African Americans (AAs) and 10 Caucasian Americans (CAs) who consumed a high-fat diet (123 ± 11 g/d and 129 ± 17 g/d, respectively) to 13 native Africans (NAs) who subsisted on a low-fat (38 ± 3.0 g/d) diet, all aged 50–60 yr. The colonic bile acids were measured by LC-MS and the short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) by GC. The chief secondary colonic bile acids, deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid, were correlated with fat intake and similar between AAs and CAs, but 3–4 times higher than in AAs (p < 0.05). The major SCFAs were lower in AAs (p < 0.001) and CAs (p < 0.001) compared to AAs, but conversely, the branched chain fatty acids (BFCA) were higher. Our results suggest that the higher risk of colon cancer in Americans may be partly explained by their high-fat and high-protein, low complex carbohydrate diet, which produces colonic residues that promote microbes to produce potentially carcinogenic secondary bile acids and less antineoplastic SCFAs. The role of BCFA in colonic carcinogenesis deserves further study.
Physics simulation R&D at Square Enix

In this talk, we share our R&D experiences in developing simulation systems for games. We have developed systems for cloth, hair, fur and grass simulations as well as their interactions with dynamically changing weather such as wind and rain. During R&D processes, we have encountered many interesting challenges. In recent years, there have been many simulation techniques with higher performance and better realism proposed in the CG community. However, we have found that directly integrating the techniques into games does not work with the unique requirements of games, e.g., artist-designed looks that defy physics and artistry controls of physics behaviors. Therefore, adaptations of the techniques are inevitable for each system. Moreover, differences between technical-minded people and artists are one of the biggest challenges in games development environments. In an ideal situation, R&D Engineers will implement many impressive features for a game engine, and then artists exercise their creativity and imagination to utilize the features and create interesting results. The reality, in fact, is that artists usually struggle with how to control the features. It does not matter how many parameters we provide for artists to control, but rather the way we let artists using the features largely influence the end results. This talk addresses the R&D processes of our simulation systems and what are the differences between R&D processes in academics and in games, and how we maximize the advantages of having creative professional artists in our team.
Mutations that alter an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence in the adenovirus type 2 penton base protein abolish its cell-rounding activity and delay virus reproduction in flat cells

The adenovirus penton base protein has a cell rounding activity and may lyse endosomes during virus entry into the cytoplasm. We found that penton base that was expressed in Escherichia coli also caused cell rounding and that cells adhered to polystyrene wells that were coated with the protein. Mutant analysis showed that both properties required an Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) sequence at residues 340 to 342 of penton base. In flat adherent cells, virus mutants with amino acid substitutions in the RGD sequence were delayed in virus reproduction and in the onset of viral DNA synthesis. In nonadherent or poorly spread cells, the kinetics of mutant virus reproduction were similar to those of wild-type adenovirus type 2. Expression of the mutant phenotype exclusively in the flat cells that we tested supports a model in which penton base interacts with an RGD-directed cell adhesion molecule during adenovirus uptake or uncoating.
Anhedonia in Depression and Schizophrenia: A Reexamination

The purpose of this study was to utilize factor analysis to help determine whether anhedonia is a symptom of both depression and schizophrenia. Measures of depression, positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia, and anhedonia were administered to a group of schizophrenic patients (N = 54) and to a group of patients with major depressive disorder (N = 27). The correlation matrix among the various scales was subjected to an oblique exploratory factor analysis. Three factors were extracted, accounting for three quarters of the variance. The first measured depression, the second measured positive symptoms, and the third measured negative symptoms. Anhedonia loaded significantly on the first factor but not on the third, suggesting that it is a symptom of depression rather than schizophrenia. These results were corroborated by means of confirmatory factor analysis. We conclude that anhedonia is a symptom of depression and that it only appears to be a symptom of schizophrenia because it is a component of emotional blunting which is indeed a negative symptom of schizophrenia.
Australian geography and the corporate management paradigm

Abstract As Australia's governments strive to create an advanced capitalist society, their wholesale adoption of corporate managerialism provides a dominating contextual setting for every level of education. Aggressive in style and content, this intrusive paradigm bids to transform the structures and purposes of modern education. Like their fellow academics, university geographers are obliged to come to terms with the imposition of a coarse‐grained industrial model on a vocation‐driven profession. They should interpret this rapidly evolving situation as people, citizens and educators before considering specific responses as geographers per se.
Effects of gait training with horizontal impeding force on gait and balance of stroke patients

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of treadmill training with a horizontal impeding force applied to the center of upper body mass on the gait and balance of post-stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] Twenty-four subjects with hemiplegia less than 3 months after stroke onset were randomly assigned to 2 groups: an applied horizontal impeding force on treadmill training (experimental) group (n = 12), and a control group (n = 12). Both groups walked on a treadmill at a comfortable or moderate speed for 20 minutes per day, 3 sessions per week for 8 weeks after a pre-test. The experimental group also had a horizontal impeding force applied to the center of their upper body mass. [Results] All groups demonstrated significant improvement after 8 weeks compared to baseline measurements. In intra-group comparisons, the subjects’ gait ability (CGS, MGS, cadence, and step length) and balance ability (TUG, BBS, and FRT) significantly improved. In inter-group comparisons, the experimental group’s improvement was significantly better in CGS MGS, cadence, step length, TUG, and BBS, but not in FRT. [Conclusion] Treadmill training was identified as an effective training method that improved gait and balance ability. A horizontal impeding force applied during treadmill training was more effective than treadmill walking training alone at improving the gait and dynamic balance of patients with stroke.
Long-term response of different Botulinum toxins in refractory neurogenic detrusor overactivity due to spinal cord injury

ABSTRACT Purpose To assess the response in spinal cord injured patients alternatively treated with different types and dosages of Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) over 15 years. Material and methods Patients who underwent first BoNT/A from 1999-2001 and practiced intermittent catheterization were included. Baseline 3-day bladder diary (BD) and urodynamics were collected. BoNT/A failure was defined when patients asked for re-injection ≤ 3 months post-treatment. Criteria for re-injection was at least one daily episode of urinary incontinence at BD. Before re-injection, patients were asked if they had reached 6 months of dryness without antimuscarinics (YES response). Results Overall, 32/60 (53.4%) “No failure” (NF) group; 16 (26.6%) “occasional failure” (OF) and 12 (20%) “consecutive failure” (CF) were included. A total of 822 BoNT/A infiltrations were performed. The mean interval from previous injection to treatment re-scheduling was 8 months. No significant differences between treatments were found within the three groups (p>0.05). The percentage of YES responses increased from 19% (AboBoNT/A 500IU) to 29 % (OnaBoNT/A 300IU) in NF, and from 18% (AboBoNT/A 500IU) to 25% (OnaBoNT/A 300IU) for OF. Five NF cases (15.6%) maintained 6 months of dryness after each injection. Among the baseline variables, only low compliance (< 20mL/cmH2O) was found as predictor for failure (p=0.006). Conclusions Long term BoNT/A for NDO did not increase failures, independent of the types of treatments and switching. Definition of failure and other criteria for continuing repetitive BoNT/A treatment is mandatory. CF was predictable for no response in earlier follow-up.
A Nonpeptide Antagonist Reveals a Highly Glycosylated State of the Rabbit Kinin B1 Receptor

The inducible kinin B1 receptor is emerging as an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of pain and inflammation. Although many studies described its regulation at the transcriptional level, little is known about the maturation of the B1 receptor. Using two human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cell lines stably expressing rabbit B1 receptors tagged with the yellow fluorescent protein at the C terminus (B1R-YFP) or the N-terminal myc epitope (myc-B1R), we showed that receptors are mainly retained in a perinuclear compartment and detectable as low-glycosylated species under control conditions. Interference with the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway function (proteasome inhibitors, coexpression with dominant-negative ubiquitin) blocked B1 receptor degradation and amplified its intracellular accumulation. A potent nonpeptide antagonist specifically increased the abundance of highly glycosylated B1R-YFP forms at the cell surface (accessible to chymotrypsin digestion in intact cells); this compound augmented low-glycosylated receptors in brefeldin A-treated cells, supporting the hypothesis that it reaches a newly synthesized receptor in the endoplasmic reticulum. Cell-impermeant peptide or low-affinity nonpeptide B1 receptor antagonists failed to influence the level of highly glycosylated receptors. Chemical chaperones stabilized all B1R-YFP species and up-regulated endogenous B1 receptors expressed at the surface of rabbit smooth muscle cells. Although myc-B1Rs behaved similarly to B1R-YFP in most aspects, antibody-based detection assays failed to reveal highly glycosylated species of this construct. Taken together, these results show that B1 receptors overexpressed in HEK 293 cells are degraded by the proteasome. Furthermore, a pharmacological chaperone highlights the existence of a highly N-glycosylated form of the rabbit kinin B1 receptor at the cell surface.