Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Compensation for inverter nonlinearity considering voltage drops and switching delays of each leg's switches

This paper proposes a compensation method for inverter nonlinearity for an accurate voltage synthesis. The inverter nonlinearity is caused by dead-times, voltage drops and switching delays and parasitic output capacitance of semiconductor switches, and propagation delays in the gate drive circuits. This paper regards dead-times, voltage drops and switching delays of semiconductor switches as dominant voltage distortion factors. Analyzing those factors of each leg, the proposed method compensates nonlinearity of each leg of inverters. As a result, accurate voltages can be synthesized. Experimental results verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Aggregating Across Multiple Levels of Granularity to Meet Customer and Organizational Query Requirements

A research organization responds to a variety of customer requests. Each high level request is broken down into a set of low level requests. For each low level request, the research organization follows a multi-step process: access, acquire, analyze and report. The customer is given an estimate of whether its request will be met, and if not, why not. The explanation may be provided at multiple levels of granularity including request level (e.g. low level request X cannot be fulfilled) and step level (e.g. the problem lies with acquisition). Available databases contain an incomplete history of past requests as well as information about current staffing and resources. The challenge is to provide an estimate of current capabilities for satisfying requests in general and to estimate the probability for meeting a specific incoming request. This paper proposes an abstract process model and an aggregation strategy for combining evidence across multiple levels of granularity into estimates that meet these challenges. It specifies an approach for constructing query-specific Bayesian networks in response to queries from the customers and research organization management.
Colorizing Biomedical Images Based on Color Transfer

Biomedical images with single color are dyed usually in the means of manual pigmentation. In this paper, we develop a novel interdisciplinary method, which aims to adding colors to the grayscale biomedical images more efficiently and effectively than ever before. To achieve this goal, we use computer processing within imaging pipeline. More specifically, we need to select a most appropriate chromatic image for reference at first. In the next step, both of the grayscale and chromatic images are transformed into a decorrelated color space (Ialphabeta space). Third, a best matching reference pixel is determined for each pixel of the grayscale image, and then chromaticity values are transferred from the best matching reference pixel to corresponding grayscale pixel. By doing so, we can obtain resulting biomedical images with natural and sightly color appearance which looks like the reference images', and meanwhile the whole procedure is quite convenient and efficient.
Therapeutics for filovirus infection: traditional approaches and progress towards in silico drug design

Introduction: Ebolaviruses and marburgviruses cause severe and often lethal human hemorrhagic fevers. As no FDA-approved therapeutics are available for these infections, efforts to discover new therapeutics are important, especially because these pathogens are considered biothreats and emerging infectious diseases. All methods for discovering new therapeutics should be considered, including compound library screening in vitro against virus and in silico structure-based drug design, where possible, if sufficient biochemical and structural information is available. Areas covered: This review covers the structure and function of filovirus proteins, as they have been reported to date, as well as some of the current antiviral screening approaches. The authors discuss key studies mapping small-molecule modulators that were found through library and in silico screens to potential sites on viral proteins or host proteins involved in virus trafficking and pathogenesis. A description of ebolavirus and marburgvirus diseases and available animal models is also presented. Expert opinion: To discover novel therapeutics with potent efficacy using sophisticated computational methods, more high-resolution crystal structures of filovirus proteins and more details about the protein functions and host interaction will be required. Current compound screening efforts are finding active antiviral compounds, but an emphasis on discovery research to investigate protein structures and functions enabling in silico drug design would provide another avenue for finding antiviral molecules. Additionally, targeting of protein-protein interactions may be a future avenue for drug discovery since disrupting catalytic sites may not be possible for all proteins.
Incidence of diagnosed polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis in the United Kingdom, 1990–2001

Objective: To investigate time trends, geographical variation, and seasonality in the incidence of diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and temporal arteritis (TA) in the United Kingdom. Methods: Analysis of computerised medical records from UK general practices. Participants were registered with a practice contributing to the General Practice Research Database during the period 1990–2001. The main outcome measures were rates of diagnosis by year, age, sex, geographical region, and calendar month. Results: 15 013 people had a first diagnosis of PMR and 3928 a first diagnosis of TA during 17 830 028 person-years of observation. The age adjusted incidence rate of PMR was 8.4/10 000 person-years (95% CI 8.3 to 8.6), rising from 6.9/10 000 person-years in 1990 to 9.3/10 000 in 2001. The age adjusted incidence rate of TA was 2.2/10 000 person-years (95% CI 2.1 to 2.3) with no increase observed. Both PMR and TA were more common in the south than in the north of the UK, and both were more commonly diagnosed in the summer months. Conclusions: The explanation for the findings is unclear. Variations in diagnostic practice and accuracy are likely to have contributed in part to the patterns seen. However, the findings are also likely to reflect, at least in part, variations in the incidence of disease. The striking geographical pattern may be partly attributable to a risk factor which is more prevalent in the south and east of the United Kingdom.
Combustible renewables and waste consumption, agriculture, CO2 emissions and economic growth in Brazil

Abstract This paper studies the dynamic relationships between per-capita combustible renewables and waste (CRW) consumption, agricultural value added (AVA), carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and real gross domestic product (GDP) for the case of Brazil, spanning the period 1980–2013. There is long-run cointegration between the considered variables. Short-run empirical findings reveal that there is a unidirectional causality running from agriculture to CO2 emissions and to GDP. However, there is long-run bidirectional causality between all considered variables. The long-run estimates show that both CRW consumption and AVA contribute to increase economic growth and to decrease CO2 emissions. Agricultural production and CRW consumption appear to play substitutable roles in the Brazilian economy as increasing CRW consumption reduces AVA in the long run, and vice versa. In addition, economic growth increases agricultural production and CRW production. Brazil is advised to continue encouraging agriculture and biofuels productions. The present substitutability between agriculture and biofuels productions could be reduced or even stopped by encouraging second-generation biofuels and discouraging first-generation biofuels. This may be done by policies of subsidization or of taxation, encouraging R&D and giving advantageous credits.
On the Explicit Robust Force Control via Disturbance Observer

This paper analyzes the robustness and stability of disturbance observer (DOb)-based explicit force control systems. Conventional analysis methods, which only consider ideal robustness, are impractical due to the design constraints of a DOb, e.g., bandwidth limitations. This paper shows that not only the stability but also the robustness of a DOb-based explicit force control system changes by environmental impedance variations. The robustness of a DOb-based explicit force control system is clarified by deriving new sensitivity functions. Implicit and explicit environmental impedance estimation methods are considered by analyzing the dynamics of a force sensor and a reaction force observer (RFOb), respectively. It is shown that the stability and performance of an explicit force control system can be improved by using an explicit environmental impedance estimation method, i.e., an RFOb, intrinsically. However, an RFOb is more sensitive than a force sensor to external disturbances, and the stability of the explicit force control system drastically changes by the design parameters of a DOb and an RFOb. Force-sensor- and RFOb-based explicit robust force control systems are compared in terms of stability, robustness, and performance in detail. The validity of the proposals is verified by simulation and experimental results.
One-comparator sampling based on positive-slope and negative-slope saw-toothed waves

In this paper, the proposed sampling structure based on one-comparator sampling is presented, which can improve the transient response. This method is verified by a synchronously-rectified buck converter with switching frequency of 240kHz, and the digital controller takes as a control kernel the EP1C3T100 FPGA created by Altera Co., along with the VHDL language to program this controller.
Patterns of Evolutionary Conservation of Essential Genes Correlate with Their Compensability

Essential genes code for fundamental cellular functions required for the viability of an organism. For this reason, essential genes are often highly conserved across organisms. However, this is not always the case: orthologues of genes that are essential in one organism are sometimes not essential in other organisms or are absent from their genomes. This suggests that, in the course of evolution, essential genes can be rendered nonessential. How can a gene become non-essential? Here we used genetic manipulation to deplete the products of 26 different essential genes in Escherichia coli. This depletion results in a lethal phenotype, which could often be rescued by the overexpression of a non-homologous, non-essential gene, most likely through replacement of the essential function. We also show that, in a smaller number of cases, the essential genes can be fully deleted from the genome, suggesting that complete functional replacement is possible. Finally, we show that essential genes whose function can be replaced in the laboratory are more likely to be non-essential or not present in other taxa. These results are consistent with the notion that patterns of evolutionary conservation of essential genes are influenced by their compensability—that is, by how easily they can be functionally replaced, for example through increased expression of other genes.
The Effect of Flexibility and Body Fat Percentage on Vertical Jump Performance with Volleyball Players

The purpose of the current study is to investigate the effect of flexibility and body fat percentage on vertical jump performance with 20 female and 20 male volleyball players from Ondokuz Mayis University Yaşar Doğu Physical Education and Sport High School. All participants age, height, weight, flexibility (sit and reach), body fat percentage and static, counter and drop jump heights were measured. Female and male volleyball player’s mean age 21.08±1.5 year, body mass index 22.9±2.3 kg/cm2, flexibility 17.3±5.8 cm, percent body fat 12.1±1.4, average height of static jump (SJ) 33.6±10.1 cm, counter movement jump (CMJ) 36.1±12.3 cm and drop jump (DJ) 33.6±10.6 cm. volleyball players of different jump performance of the highest average in both men (45,3±8,06) and women (26.9±8.5) have achieved with CMJ height. Male athletes with the SJ height values of flexibility, CMJ heights and DJ heights were statistically significant correlation (r=.508, r=.551, r=.450, p<0.05). The correlations of men’s body fat percent age and SJ height were statistically significant (r=.479, p<0.05) and this finding was similar in comparison to others in literature. Both men(r =-.430, p<0.05) and women (r =.349, p<0.05) negative relationship between flexibility values and percentage of body fat. In our study female volleyball players vertical jumping performance relation with body fat percentage was not significant (p>0.05). As a result, the flexibility provided by a positive contribution to the performance of the vertical jump, where as the increase in body fat percentage was adversely affected the flexibility.
Effect of visual fluency and cognitive fluency on the access rates of web pages

Access rates are a key indicator that reflects the popularity of web pages. High access rates are extremely important for web pages, especially for news web pages, online shopping sites, and search engines. We analyzed the influences of visual fluency and cognitive fluency on the access rates of Chinese web pages. First, we conducted an experiment of scoring the web pages. Twenty-five subjects were invited to view the 50 of top 100 web pages in China, and they were asked to provide a score on a five-point Likert scale from four aspects, including complexity, comfortability, familiarity, and usability. Second, we analyzed the obtained results through correlation analysis and factor analysis in R. Moreover, we analyzed the contributions of visual fluency and cognitive fluency to the access rates using factor analysis. Results showed that both visual fluency and cognitive fluency affect the access rate of web pages. Compared to cognitive fluency, visual fluency plays a more important role in the user access of web pages.
Instabilities in semiconductor laser with optical feedback and modulation

A recent investigation into the operation of a semiconductor laser with optical feedback and direct current modulation has revealed in detail the different dynamical states displayed by the system [1]. The dynamics are driven by the main frequencies in the system; the external cavity frequency, the injection current modulation frequency and relaxation oscillation frequency. Varying optical feedback level, as well as the power and frequency of the injection current modulation resulted in the laser system displaying a variety of dynamics ranging from stable, periodic signals to unstable, chaotic outputs.
Guided bone regeneration: materials and biological mechanisms revisited

Guided bone regeneration (GBR) is commonly used in combination with the installment of titanium implants. The application of a membrane to exclude non‐osteogenic tissues from interfering with bone regeneration is a key principle of GBR. Membrane materials possess a number of properties which are amenable to modification. A large number of membranes have been introduced for experimental and clinical verification. This prompts the need for an update on membrane properties and the biological outcomes, as well as a critical assessment of the biological mechanisms governing bone regeneration in defects covered by membranes. The relevant literature for this narrative review was assessed after a MEDLINE/PubMed database search. Experimental data suggest that different modifications of the physicochemical and mechanical properties of membranes may promote bone regeneration. Nevertheless, the precise role of membrane porosities for the barrier function of GBR membranes still awaits elucidation. Novel experimental findings also suggest an active role of the membrane compartment per se in promoting the regenerative processes in the underlying defect during GBR, instead of being purely a passive barrier. The optimization of membrane materials by systematically addressing both the barrier and the bioactive properties is an important strategy in this field of research.
Who Says It's Risky Business? Public Attitudes toward Hazardous Waste Facility Siting

The 1980s and 1990s have been marked by a growing scholarly interest in public response to the siting of hazardous waste treatment facilities. This interest has been kindled, at least in part, by important changes in federal law. The original legislation, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, set regulatory standards for hazardous waste management, but these standards were widely viewed as inadequate, especially in that they permitted a variety of land-based technologies. Perhaps the most prominent provision of the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984 is the phased prohibition of virtually all of these technologies. This stipulation, along with the requirement (added by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986) that all states must demonstrate a twenty-year capacity for the safe treatment and disposal of hazardous waste, has brought the problem into sharp focus: What sort of public response do state and local governments face as they move toward siting decisions? The public policy dimensions of hazardous waste facilities demonstrate collective benefits with narrowly borne risks, similar to airports, prisons, landfills, and highways. The study of the facility siting process would seem to have a natural home in the rich literature on public resistance to concentrated costs, the so-called NIMBY problem: "OK, but not in my back yard. "' Local citizens' perceptions of likely impacts on the economy, property values, environmental quality, traffic congestion,
Competencies and Experiences Needed by Entry Level International Agricultural Development Practitioners

The use of competencies within extension can be an effective way of training and developing extension practitioners (Stone, 1997). In preparation for careers in tomorrow’s agricultural sector, the National Research Council (2009) recognized the need to expose college students to international perspectives. The purpose of this study was to determine the competencies and experiences that entry level agricultural development practitioners need in order to successfully work in an international setting. A modified Delphi method was used to achieve this purpose. A panel of experts in international agricultural development from non–government organizations, government organizations, and academic institutions were selected through snowball sampling (Goodman, 1961). The panelists agreed on 26 competencies and 7 experiences that entry level agricultural development practitioners working internationally should have before entering the profession. The results of this study should be used when planning, designing, and implementing agricultural extension education programs at the university level.
A fully decentralized approach for mitigating destructive disturbances in isolating process of remote coupled microgrids

Coupling remote microgrids (MGs) is a promising technique to handle power deficiency in such systems. However, once the shortfall is removed, the coupled MGs (CMG) should isolate to carry on their operation autonomously. Due to the non-zero power still flowing through the tie-line, however, considerable voltage spikes may be imposed on the interconnecting static switch (ISS) during the isolation that may damage the device. This paper proposes a practical decentralized approach to efficiently alleviate the mentioned transients, facilitating a successful MG isolation procedure. Two auxiliary controllable loads (ACL) are to be considered at two sides of the ISS. When the necessity of applying the isolation action is detected, the ISS controller commands the ACL on the supporting MG side to connect. A droop-based scheme is formulated to derive the load should be demanded by the ACL such that the power passing through the ISS drops to zero, preventing any spikes across it at the opening moment. Once the isolation action is accomplished, the controller disconnects the ACL. Efficiency of the proposed algorithm is validated through various cases simulated using PSCAD/EMTDC.
Unsolved Problems of Noise:Preface to the UPoN-2018 Special Issue of FNL

Noise is universal and multi-faceted. In everyday life, the aspects we encounter tend to be annoying, for example, loud conversations when we wish to enjoy a quiet cup of tea, or students chatting during a lecture. But acoustic noise can sometimes be useful e.g. when it indicates that the kettle is boiling, as an essential prelude to the tea, or when it helps to awaken somnolent students at the end of the lecture thereby eliminating the mutual embarrassment of needing to awaken them.
easyGWAS: An integrated interspecies platform for performing genome-wide association studies

Motivation: The rapid growth in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in plants and animals has brought about the need for a central resource that facilitates i) performing GWAS, ii) accessing data and results of other GWAS, and iii) enabling all users regardless of their background to exploit the latest statistical techniques without having to manage complex software and computing resources. Results: We present easyGWAS, a web platform that provides methods, tools and dynamic visualizations to perform and analyze GWAS. In addition, easyGWAS makes it simple to reproduce results of others, validate findings, and access larger sample sizes through merging of public datasets. Availability: Detailed method and data descriptions as well as tutorials are available in the supplementary materials. easyGWAS is available at this http URL Contact: dominik.grimm@tuebingen.mpg. de
Maitotoxin and P 2 Z / P 2 X 7 purinergic receptor stimulation activate a common cytolytic pore

Schilling, William P., Tanya Wasylyna, George R. Dubyak, Benjamin D. Humphreys, and William G. Sinkins. Maitotoxin and P2Z/P2X7 purinergic receptor stimulation activate a common cytolytic pore. Am. J. Physiol. 277 (Cell Physiol. 46): C766–C776, 1999. — The effects of maitotoxin (MTX) on plasmalemma permeability are similar to those caused by stimulation of P2Z/P2X7 ionotropic receptors, suggesting that 1) MTX directly activates P2Z/P2X7 receptors or 2) MTX and P2Z/P2X7 receptor stimulation activate a common cytolytic pore. To distinguish between these two possibilities, the effect of MTX was examined in 1) THP-1 monocytic cells before and after treatment with lipopolysaccharide and interferon-g, a maneuver known to upregulate P2Z/P2X7 receptor, 2) wild-type HEK cells and HEK cells stably expressing the P2Z/P2X7 receptor, and 3) BW5147.3 lymphoma cells, a cell line that expresses functional P2Z/ P2X7 channels that are poorly linked to pore formation. In control THP-1 monocytes, addition of MTX produced a biphasic increase in the cytosolic free Ca21 concentration ([Ca]i); the initial increase reflects MTX-induced Ca21 influx, whereas the second phase correlates in time with the appearance of large pores and the uptake of ethidium. MTX produced comparable increases in [Ca]i and ethidium uptake in THP-1 monocytes overexpressing the P2Z/P2X7 receptor. In both wild-type HEK and HEK cells stably expressing the P2Z/P2X7 receptor, MTX-induced increases in [Ca]i and ethidium uptake were virtually identical. The response of BW5147.3 cells to concentrations of MTX that produced large increases in [Ca]i had no effect on ethidium uptake. In both THP-1 and HEK cells, MTXand Bz-ATP-induced pores activate with similar kinetics and exhibit similar size exclusion. Last, MTX-induced pore formation, but not channel activation, is greatly attenuated by reducing the temperature to 22°C, a characteristic shared by the P2Z/P2X7-induced pore. Together, the results demonstrate that, although MTX activates channels that are distinct from those activated by P2Z/P2X7 receptor stimulation, the cytolytic/oncotic pores activated by MTXand Bz-ATP are indistinguishable.