Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Power electronics as grid interface for actively controlled wave energy converters

Off the coasts of Europe, the potential for power generation from offshore renewable energy is huge and the technology for offshore wind power is already becoming available. Achievement of a cost-effective technology is the main concern for commercial development of wave energy converters (WEC). It is widely recognized that some kind of active control of the primary conversion is needed in order to increase the electricity production and hence improve the economical payback. Moreover, if high penetration levels are going to be reached with offshore renewables, barriers to interconnection will be encountered. These barriers need to be identified and the technologies that will mitigate the impacts on the power system stability need to be investigated. Power electronics will be the enabling interface that will permit wave farms to act as one large power plant. This paper presents known approaches for maximizing production from wave power through active control, and discusses how these can be implemented by power electronics controllers used as interface with the power network. Three alternatives of power electronics interface are presented through three case studies for active control of WEC, power conditioning, and stability. Simulation results indicate the role of the power electronic interfaces in the active control of the wave energy converters and in network interactions.
Gibbs sampling for Bayesian non‐conjugate and hierarchical models by using auxiliary variables

We demonstrate the use of auxiliary (or latent) variables for sampling non‐standard densities which arise in the context of the Bayesian analysis of non‐conjugate and hierarchical models by using a Gibbs sampler. Their strategic use can result in a Gibbs sampler having easily sampled full conditionals. We propose such a procedure to simplify or speed up the Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm. The strength of this approach lies in its generality and its ease of implementation. The aim of the paper, therefore, is to provide an alternative sampling algorithm to rejection‐based methods and other sampling approaches such as the Metropolis–Hastings algorithm.
An Analysis of the Principles of Economics.

In a paper read nearly three years ago to this Society, I have attempted (1) To review the existing state of statistics ; (2) To define the nature of the subject, and its relation to history and the sciences; (3) Broadly to group and co-ordinate the whole body of existing and possible statistics, in relation to the respective statistical sciences ; and (4) In accordance with the preliminary sciences to frame a classification embracing all existing and possible sociological statistics. Moreover, (5) This was shown to involve, or rather actually to constitute, an aspect of the pressing problem of the systematisation of the literature of economics, of which (6) The existing schools were briefly criticised ; (7) The relation of the conceptions of scientific economics to practical economics was outlined ; (8) As also their relation to ethics.
Association of VEGF Gene Polymorphisms with the Development of Heart Failure in Patients after Myocardial Infarction

Objectives: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is upregulated in vivoin the ischemic human myocardium. Since several polymorphisms have been shown to influence VEGF expression, we evaluated the contribution of such polymorphisms to the clinical outcome of patients after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was performed to genotype 10 VEGF polymorphisms in 102 patients who had suffered an AMI and in 98 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals. Distribution of these polymorphisms was assessed by logistic regression analysis. Results: No significant differences were found between patients and normal individuals. However, when patients were subdivided into 2 groups based on the development of heart failure after their AMI judged by heart ultrasound measurements (ejection fraction <40%), the distribution of the –634 polymorphism differed significantly (p = 0.016). Specifically, patients with a CC genotype had 7 times higher risk of developing heart failure. Additionally, the co-inheritance of –634 with other VEGF polymorphisms was found to be significant for the development of heart failure between these 2 groups. Conclusions: Our data indicate that the –634 polymorphism and its co-inheritance with genotypes of other VEGF polymorphisms might be considered as risk factors playing a role in the clinical outcome of AMI patients.
Effect of spectrum bias on the diagnostic accuracy of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in glaucoma.

PURPOSE To evaluate the influence of a control group on the diagnostic accuracy of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in early glaucoma. METHODS In a diagnostic, case-control study, 119 eyes of 60 normal subjects with no findings suspicious for glaucoma (control cohort 1); 76 eyes of 41 subjects referred by general ophthalmologists as glaucoma suspects based on optic disc morphology, but found by glaucoma experts to be normal but with physiological variations in their optic nerves (control cohort 2); and 65 eyes of 46 early-glaucoma patients (cases) underwent imaging of the optic nerve head (ONH), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and ganglion cell complex (GCC) by SD-OCT. RESULTS Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) of ONH parameters discriminating glaucomatous eyes from normal eyes of control cohort 2 were significantly lesser (P < 0.001) than those discriminating glaucomatous eyes from normal eyes of control cohort 1. AUCs of RNFL parameters discriminating glaucomatous eyes from normal eyes of control cohorts 2 and 1 were comparable. Although the AUCs of GCC thickness parameters were comparable, AUCs of GCC focal and global loss volume in control cohort 2 (0.684 and 0.671. respectively) were significantly less (P < 0.05) than in control cohort 1 (0.881 and 0.841, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The effectiveness of most SD-OCT parameters in detecting glaucoma significantly decreased when evaluated against a clinically relevant control group with suspicious-looking optic nerves compared with that against a control group consisting of normal subjects with no findings suspicious for glaucoma.
Biomedical engineering at the forefront in Japan

This paper introduces recent Japanese contributions to biomedical engineering (BME) technology. As in the United States, Japanese research has expanded to include neural and tissue engineering, although electrical and mechanical engineering applications remain important. In the last few years, Japanese biomedical engineering has been at the forefront in cardiovascular research, robotics (including surgical, rehabilitation, and entertainment robots), and rehabilitation engineering. In answer to Japan's aging society, the Ministry of Industry and Technology has focused on an experimental house called the Welfare Techno-House to develop assistive devices which include ubiquitous wearable orthoprostheses.
The significance of serum progesterone levels on the day of hCG administration on IVF pregnancy rates.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between serum progesterone level on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration (day 0) and pregnancy rate among patients undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Serum progesterone levels were analyzed retrospectively in 160 cycles. In 56 women ovarian stimulation was induced by gonadotropins only (group A). In 104 cases a gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analog was given prior to gonadotropin administration (group B). At least three embryos were transferred in all cases. A significantly (p < 0.01) higher serum progesterone level (> or = 1 ng/ml) on day 0 was observed in the 43 patients of group A who did not conceive compared with the 13 who conceived. No significant difference in serum progesterone levels on day 0 was found between the 37 patients of group B who conceived and the 67 who did not. The pregnancy rate (0.36) in group B was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that in group A (0.23). However, the pregnancy rate (0.35) in patients in group A with low progesterone levels (< or = 1 ng/ml) was not significantly lower than that in group B. We demonstrated that elevated progesterone levels (> or = 1 ng/ml) on day 0 in patients receiving stimulation with gonadotropin only, might be detrimental to pregnancy. In view of these results, we suggest that early oocyte retrieval should be considered in patients whose progesterone level on the day of hCG administration exceeds 1 ng/ml following stimulation with gonadotropin only.
Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, fish intake, and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND Diet is a key component of a healthy lifestyle in the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The role of long-chain omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids (LCFAs) in the development of T2DM remains unresolved. OBJECTIVE We examined the association between dietary LCFAs and incidence of T2DM in 3 prospective cohorts of women and men. DESIGN We followed 195,204 US adults (152,700 women and 42,504 men) without preexisting chronic disease at baseline for 14 to 18 y. Fish and LCFA intakes were assessed at baseline and updated at 4-y intervals by using a validated food-frequency questionnaire. RESULTS During nearly 3 million person-years of follow-up, 9380 new cases of T2DM were documented. After adjustment for other dietary and lifestyle risk factors, LCFA intake was positively related to incidence of T2DM. The pooled multivariate relative risks in 3 cohorts across increasing quintiles of LCFAs were as follows: 1 (reference), 1.00 (95% CI: 0.91, 1.09), 1.05 (95% CI: 0.97, 1.13), 1.17 (95% CI: 1.07, 1.28), and 1.24 (95% CI: 1.09, 1.40) (P for trend < 0.001). Compared with those who consumed fish less than once per month, the relative risk of T2DM was 1.22 (95% CI: 1.08, 1.39) for women who consumed > or =5 servings fish/wk (P for trend <0.001). CONCLUSIONS We found no evidence that higher consumption of LCFAs and fish reduces the risk of T2DM. Instead, higher intakes may modestly increase the incidence of this disease. Given the beneficial effects of LCFA intake on many cardiovascular disease risk factors, the clinical relevance of this relation and its possible mechanisms require further investigation.
Urinary 2-Methoxy Acetic Acid Accumulation in Response to 2-Methoxy Ethanol Exposure

Abstract Urinary 2-methoxy acetic acid reportedly has a long half-life (77.1 hr) in humans. The authors studied urinary 2-methoxy acetic acid in a group of 18 workers exposed to 2-methoxy ethanol from Monday to Saturday following a 7-d cease in production. The weekly time-weighted average exposure concentration of 2-methoxy ethanol was 4.5 ppm. The urinary 2-methoxy acetic acid of exposed workers was increased significantly, from 18.5 μg/ml (10.6 mg/gm creatinine) on Monday (prior to work) to 48.4 μg/ml (46.5 mg/gm creatinine) on Friday (after work), to 51.2 μg/ml (45.6 mg/gm creatinine) on Saturday after work. These levels occurred, despite that fact that the daily mean time-weighted average 2-methoxy ethanol exposures were very consistent and were close to the current Taiwan Permissible Exposure Limit of 5 ppm. These urinary 2-methoxy acetic acid levels were much higher than levels that occur with inhalation only, and they demonstrate that skin absorption is a significant contributor to 2-methoxy ethanol exposure. The high background concentrations of 2-methoxy acetic acid in the preshift urine samples following a 7-d production halt confirm that there is a long half-life of 2-methoxy acetic acid in humans. The determination of urinary 2-methoxy acetic acid is recommended for exposure assessment of 2-methoxy ethanol.
Pursuing Improvement in Clinical Reasoning: The Integrated Clinical Education Theory.

BACKGROUND The link between clinical education and development of clinical reasoning is not well supported by one theoretical perspective. Learning to reason during clinical education may be best achieved in a supportive sociocultural context of nursing practice that maximizes reasoning opportunities and facilitates discourse and meaningful feedback. Prelicensure clinical education seldom incorporates these critical components and thus may fail to directly promote clinical reasoning skill. METHOD Theoretical frameworks supporting the development of clinical reasoning during clinical education were evaluated. Analysis of strengths and gaps in each framework's support of clinical reasoning development was conducted. Commensurability of philosophical underpinnings was confirmed, and complex relationships among key concepts were elucidated. RESULTS Six key concepts and three tenets comprise an explanatory predictive theory-the integrated clinical education theory (ICET). CONCLUSION ICET provides critical theoretical support for inquiry and action to promote clinical education that improves development of clinical reasoning skill. [J Nurs Educ. 2018;57(1):7-13. ].
"Diabodies": small bivalent and bispecific antibody fragments.

Bivalent and bispecific antibodies and their fragments have immense potential for practical application. Here we describe the design of small antibody fragments with two antigen-binding sites. The fragments comprise a heavy-chain variable domain (VH) connected to a light-chain variable domain (VL) on the same polypeptide chain (VH-VL). By using a linker that is too short to allow pairing between the two domains on the same chain, the domains are forced to pair with the complementary domains of another chain and create two antigen-binding sites. As indicated by a computer graphic model of the dimers, the two pairs of domains can pack together with the antigen-binding sites pointing in opposite directions. The dimeric antibody fragments, or "diabodies," can be designed for bivalent or bispecific interactions. Starting from the monoclonal antibodies NQ11.7. 22 (NQ11) and D1.3 directed against the hapten phenyloxazolone and hen egg lysozyme, respectively, we built bivalent fragments (VHNQ11-VLNQ11)2 and (VHD1.3-VLD1.3)2 and bispecific fragments VHNQ11-VLD1.3 and VHD1.3-VLNQ11. The fragments were expressed by secretion from bacteria and shown to bind specifically to the hapten and/or antigen. Those with 5- and 15-residue linkers had similar binding affinities to the parent antibodies, but a fragment with the VH domain joined directly to the VL domain was found to have slower dissociation kinetics and an improved affinity for hapten. Diabodies offer a ready means of constructing small bivalent and bispecific antibody fragments in bacteria.
Propagation velocity modulation and electromagnetic energy concentration of guided wave on corrugated metal surface

Corrugated metal surface is proposed to modulate the modal properties of surface plasmon polariton (SPP). It is found the propagation velocity of SPP wave can be considerably altered by introducing surface corrugations. Both cases of shallow corrugations and deep corrugations are investigated. The results show that a shallow corrugation can modulate the wave propagation in a weak manner, but a deep corrugation can strongly change the dispersion curve shape and lead to the coexistence of waveguide mode, zero-group-velocity and mode cutoff. These unique properties are utilized to control mode propagation velocity and concentrate electromagnetic energy.
Demography of straw-colored fruit bats in Ghana

Abstract Eidolon helvum is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa where it forms large, dense colonies. The species is migratory and satellite telemetry studies have demonstrated that individuals can migrate over 2,500 km. It is a common source of bush meat in West Africa and evidence of infection with potentially zoonotic viruses has been found in West African colonies. The species, therefore, is of interest to both ecologists and those interested in public health. Despite this, demographic parameters of the species are unknown. We focused our study primarily on a colony of up to 1,000,000 bats that roost in trees in Accra, Ghana to obtain estimates of birth rate and survival probability. Aging of bats by examination of tooth cementum annuli allowed use of life tables to indicate an annual survival probability for juveniles of 0.43 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.16–0.77) and for adults of 0.83 (95% CI 0.73–0.93). Additionally, an annual adult survival probability of 0.63 (95% CI 0.27–0.88) was estimated by following 98 radiocollared bats over a year; capture–recapture data were analyzed using multistate models to address the confounding factor of emigration. True survival probabilities may be in between the 2 estimates, because permanent emigration may lead to underestimation in the capture–recapture study, and population decline may lead to overestimation in the life table analysis. Birth rates (0.96 young per female per year, 95% CI 0.92–0.98) and colony size changes were also estimated. Estimation of these key parameters will allow future analyses of both infection dynamics within, and harvest sustainability of, E. helvum populations.
Polarization in American Politics: A Legislative Hindrance or a Precursor to Violence?

Over the last quarter of a century, politics in the United States of America have taken a disproportionate turn for the extreme. Many causes are to blame for this trend, including electoral incentives for polarized political rhetoric from candidates and a highly efficient and newly diversified media environment. The result of the trend toward political polarization thus far is that legislatures in the United States have gone from semi-productive bodies in which legislators collaborated and conceded to unfruitful gatherings in which ideologues fail to accomplish much of anything for American citizens. However, this consequence is less dire than the fact that American citizens are now more divided on politics than ever before, and that many Americans tend to sort geographically based on these divisions and pursue media that validates their perspective on such divisions. This paper will argue that political polarization and its subsequent effects on American culture are potential precursors to increased political violence in the United States. This paper will substantiate this argument through critical analysis of political events and through a review of relevant research on both political polarization and political violence. This paper will also provide an overview of the issue of polarization in American politics and its root causes as a means of providing context to the argument that such polarization is an indicator of future political violence, and will conclude with possible solutions for mitigating or reversing the trend of polarization in American politics.
The Burden of Suboptimal Breastfeeding in the United States: A Pediatric Cost Analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A 2001 study revealed that $3.6 billion could be saved if breastfeeding rates were increased to levels of the Healthy People objectives. It studied 3 diseases and totaled direct and indirect costs and cost of premature death. The 2001 study can be updated by using current breastfeeding rates and adding additional diseases analyzed in the 2007 breastfeeding report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. STUDY DESIGN: Using methods similar to those in the 2001 study, we computed current costs and compared them to the projected costs if 80% and 90% of US families could comply with the recommendation to exclusively breastfeed for 6 months. Excluding type 2 diabetes (because of insufficient data), we conducted a cost analysis for all pediatric diseases for which the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reported risk ratios that favored breastfeeding: necrotizing enterocolitis, otitis media, gastroenteritis, hospitalization for lower respiratory tract infections, atopic dermatitis, sudden infant death syndrome, childhood asthma, childhood leukemia, type 1 diabetes mellitus, and childhood obesity. We used 2005 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention breastfeeding rates and 2007 dollars. RESULTS: If 90% of US families could comply with medical recommendations to breastfeed exclusively for 6 months, the United States would save $13 billion per year and prevent an excess 911 deaths, nearly all of which would be in infants ($10.5 billion and 741 deaths at 80% compliance). CONCLUSIONS: Current US breastfeeding rates are suboptimal and result in significant excess costs and preventable infant deaths. Investment in strategies to promote longer breastfeeding duration and exclusivity may be cost-effective.
Sex and acute stroke presentation.

STUDY OBJECTIVES We determine whether a sex difference exists for acute stroke emergency department presentation. METHODS The TLL Temple Foundation Stroke Project is a prospective observational study of acute stroke management that identified 1,189 validated strokes in nonurban community EDs from February 1998 to March 2000. Structured interview of the patient and the person with the patient at symptom onset identified the symptom or symptoms that prompted the patient to seek medical attention. Interview data were available for 1,124 (94%) patients. A physician blinded to sex classified the reported symptoms into 14 categories. RESULTS Nontraditional stroke symptoms were reported by 28% of women and 19% of men (odds ratio 1.62; 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 2.2). Nontraditional stroke symptoms, pain (men 8%, women 12%) and change in level of consciousness (men 12%, women 17%), were more often reported by women. Traditional stroke symptoms, imbalance (men 20%, women 15%) and hemiparesis (men 24%, women 19%), were reported more frequently by men. Trends were also found for women to present with nonneurologic symptoms (men 17%, women 21%) and men to present with gait abnormalities (men 11%, women 8%). There was no sex difference in the mean number of symptoms reported by an individual patient. CONCLUSION This study suggests that a sex difference exists in reporting of acute stroke symptoms. Women with validated strokes present more frequently with nontraditional stroke symptoms than men. Recognition of this difference might yield faster evaluation and management of female patients with acute stroke eligible for acute therapies.
Pathological studies on sarcoidosis autopsy. I. Epidemiological features of 320 cases in Japan

Three hundred and twenty autopsy cases of sarcoidosis during a 32 year period were collected from the Annuals of the Pathological Autopsy Cases in Japan, published yearly since 1958, and from a literature survey. A statistical analysis of these reviewed autopsy cases was carried out on the epidemiological features of the disease and on the causes of death.