Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Implementation of the differential protection for MVDC distribution systems using real-time simulation and hardware-in-the-loop

Development of Medium Voltage DC (MVDC) distribution systems require using proper protection schemes whereas due to the behavior of dc fault current, the conventional fault detection methods for ac distribution systems cannot provide a selective protection for these networks. In this paper, a differential based protection method using Ethernet communication has been implemented for a radial MVDC distribution system with integrated PV and WT. This method must be fast enough to detect the faults before involving the main converters and separate only the faulty feeder in order to increase the reliability of the power system. The experimental validation is performed by using Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) approach and communication based on the IEC61850 protocol. A real time simulator (OPAL-RT) and a development board (DK60) are used to evaluate the method and to calculate the time delay of this fault detection algorithm.
Immigrant Preadolescents and Risk of Emotional Distress

Abstract Background: The question of whether immigrants have more emotional problems than their non-immigrant peers has yielded mixed results. In Norway, there has been a tendency toward immigrant youth reporting higher rates of emotional problems. In addition to studying levels of emotional problems across those with immigrant backgrounds, there is a need to investigate whether the phenomenology of these problems is comparable across ethnic groups. Objectives: We used latent class analysis (LCA) to identify subgroups of preadolescents with distinct types of emotional problems in a multiethnic sample in Norway and to investigate associations with immigrant status after controlling for other demographic and risk factors related to emotional problems. Methods: Preadolescents between the ages of 10 and 12 years (n = 1042) completed a questionnaire that assessed emotional problems and sociodemographic factors such as gender, grade level, city, economic hardship, school hassles, and parental achievement values. LCA was used to identify subgroups of preadolescent emotional problems. Multinomial logistic regressions were conducted to assess the relationships between these subgroups and the presence of an immigrant background with four immigrant groups (all backgrounds, Pakistan, Turkey, and Sri Lanka). The reference group was the ethnic Norwegians. Results: LCA identified three classes according to the severity of the problems; these were labeled healthy, borderline, and distressed. Multinomial logistic regression analyses found the presence of an immigrant background as compared with a non-immigrant background to increase the odds of a person belonging to the distressed class by an approximate factor of 2, depending on the immigrant group. This finding remained consistent after controlling for risk factors. Conclusions: These findings suggest that, even as early as preadolescence, the presence of an immigrant background may significantly increase the odds of an individual belonging to a subgroup characterized by emotional distress (as compared with belonging to a healthy class). These findings also suggest similarity across ethnic backgrounds with regard to the expression of emotional problems during preadolescence. This is the first study to identify classes of emotional problems among specific preadolescent immigrant groups.
Privatization, Small-Seed Intensification, and the Origins of Pottery in the Western Great Basin

“Brownware” pottery technologies became widely used in the Great Basin around 600 years ago. A significant increase in the use of small seeds within the subsistence economy took place about the same time. I suggest that these two events are linked, that people consciously chose to focus on seeds because they could be privatized, that is, they could be individually owned and were not subject to unrestricted sharing. Pots were an integral component of this process because they could be individually made and owned and could be used within domiciles, placing food preparation and storage out of view from others in the community. Privatization of a staple food resource may have been a response to increased population size and, hence, the number of freeloaders, new village kinship organizations, and a desire to create surplus on the part of aggrandizers.
An evolutionary and structural perspective on T cell antigen receptor function

After a brief overview of the themes and variations that occur in the family of receptors containing immunoreceptor tyrosine‐based activation motifs (ITAMs), and of recent structural data on the ligand‐binding subunits of these receptors, we use these data to revisit how information on the state and quality of occupancy of the binding site of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) is conveyed to the proximal components of the TCR transduction cassette.
Older people are wrongly excluded from drug trials

Age discrimination exists in many aspects of elderly people's health care, a conference in London heard last week. Peter Crome, professor of geriatric medicine at Keele University and president elect of the British Geriatrics Society, was speaking at a conference on medication for frail older people organised by CCC, a group representing commercial, charitable, and public service organisations in London. “The [National Service Framework] for older people is clearly against discrimination on the grounds of age, but there are many examples which show a different reality. ” Professor Crome explained. The common imposition of upper age limits for clinical trials was an important form of discrimination, he …
Modelling of human cardiovascular system in ventricular assist device simulation

The death toll caused by cardiovascular diseases is steadily increasing over the years. Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) as the second best alternative therapy for heart failure (HF) patients had been identified as an important tool to deal with the increasing population of patients in end stage HF. This paper demonstrates the simulation of a human cardiovascular system using a simplified model. By studying the effect of characteristic variables of the heart, the HF progression can be modelled. This can be done by determining the symptoms of the diseases which then relates to the characteristic variables. A LVAD model is added to produce a 6th order model which includes a new state-variable from the LVAD. The association of LVAD in the model had been successful which resulted in the increase in both aortic flow and cardiac output of the patients in end stage HF back to normal levels. The model used in this study follows a minimalist approach to demonstrate the function of the human heart and also the function of LVAD to help the patient in end-stage HF. This study further strengthens the validity and capability of SIMULINK models to represent human cardiovascular systems which will help in deeper understandings and fuel the future work.
Trans-Endocytosis of CD80 and CD86: A Molecular Basis for the Cell-Extrinsic Function of CTLA-4

An inhibitory T cell receptor acts by stripping activating ligands off dendritic cells. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) is an essential negative regulator of T cell immune responses whose mechanism of action is the subject of debate. CTLA-4 shares two ligands (CD80 and CD86) with a stimulatory receptor, CD28. Here, we show that CTLA-4 can capture its ligands from opposing cells by a process of trans-endocytosis. After removal, these costimulatory ligands are degraded inside CTLA-4–expressing cells, resulting in impaired costimulation via CD28. Acquisition of CD86 from antigen-presenting cells is stimulated by T cell receptor engagement and observed in vitro and in vivo. These data reveal a mechanism of immune regulation in which CTLA-4 acts as an effector molecule to inhibit CD28 costimulation by the cell-extrinsic depletion of ligands, accounting for many of the known features of the CD28–CTLA-4 system.
Enterococcus faecalis as multidrug resistance strains in clinical isolates in Imam Reza Hospital in Kermanshah, Iran

ABSTRACT The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus in E. faecalis and E. faecium and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, then dominant genes responsible for vancomycin resistance were determined. For this propose, 180 clinical isolates of Enterococcus were subjected for identification and antibiotic susceptibility assay. Then, the gene responsible vancomycin resistant strains were determined. The results demonstrated the E. faecalis as a dominant Enterococcus. Resistance to erythromycin was dominant and multidrug resistance strains observed in E. faecalis. vanA was responsible for vancomycin resistance. In conclusion, a high rate of resistance to antibiotics in Enterococcus is clearly problematic, and a novel strategy is needed to decrease resistance in Enterococcus.
The Surales, Self-Organized Earth-Mound Landscapes Made by Earthworms in a Seasonal Tropical Wetland

The formation, functioning and emergent properties of patterned landscapes have recently drawn increased attention, notably in semi-arid ecosystems. We describe and analyze a set of similarly spectacular landforms in seasonal tropical wetlands. Surales landscapes, comprised of densely packed, regularly spaced mounds, cover large areas of the Orinoco Llanos. Although descriptions of surales date back to the 1940’s, their ecology is virtually unknown. From data on soil physical and chemical properties, soil macrofauna, vegetation and aerial imagery, we provide evidence of the spatial extent of surales and how they form and develop. Mounds are largely comprised of earthworm casts. Recognizable, recently produced casts account for up to one-half of total soil mass. Locally, mounds are relatively constant in size, but vary greatly across sites in diameter (0.5–5 m) and height (from 0.3 m to over 2 m). This variation appears to reflect a chronosequence of surales formation and growth. Mound shape (round to labyrinth) varies across elevational gradients. Mounds are initiated when large earthworms feed in shallowly flooded soils, depositing casts that form ‘towers’ above water level. Using permanent galleries, each earthworm returns repeatedly to the same spot to deposit casts and to respire. Over time, the tower becomes a mound. Because each earthworm has a restricted foraging radius, there is net movement of soil to the mound from the surrounding area. As the mound grows, its basin thus becomes deeper, making initiation of a new mound nearby more difficult. When mounds already initiated are situated close together, the basin between them is filled and mounds coalesce to form larger composite mounds. Over time, this process produces mounds up to 5 m in diameter and 2 m tall. Our results suggest that one earthworm species drives self-organizing processes that produce keystone structures determining ecosystem functioning and development.
Nephrotoxicity of demethylchlortetracycline hydrochloride. A prospective study.

Scattered reports of polyuria and polydypsia developing after the prolonged use of demethylchlortetracycline hydrochloride have raised the possibility that this drug may injure the renal tubules. 1,2 The present investigation, a prospective study of the effect of demethylchlortetracycline hydrochloride on certain indices of renal function, was therefore undertaken. Methods A fresh preparation of demethylchlortetracycline hydrochloride (Declomycin) was given orally in a dosage of 150 mg four times daily to six healthy male volunteers. Only subjects who, after careful screening, showed no abnormality of renal function at the outset and no evidence of any disease predisposing to impairment of renal function were included in the study. The duration of demethylchlortetracycline hydrochloride administration was 21 days in one case, 28 days in four cases, and 56 days in one case. The following measurements were made before and at weekly intervals during and after demethylchlortetracycline hydrochloride administration: hematocrit reading, white blood cell count, blood
The response to oral poliovaccine in persons aged 16–18 years

SUMMARY Serum neutralizing antibodies to polioviruses were titrated in serum samples from 182 police cadets aged 16–18 years before and, in 168 of the cadets, 6 weeks after vaccination with a single dose of oral polio vaccine (OPV). Faecal excretion of poliovirus was also followed. Vaccination histories were obtained and confirmed whenever possible. Pre-vaccination antibody could not be detected against type 1 in 9·3% cadets, against type 2 in 2·7% and against type 3 in 7·7%. Absence of antibody to at least one virus type was found in 14·3 % of the cadets. In 93 cadets in whom vaccination histories could be confirmed 40 had received only inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) previously; of these 23% lacked antibody to at least one virus type, and they had less intestinal immunity to a challenge dose of OPV than those previously given OPV. Only two of the cadets known to have had OPV were non-immune – both had received a single dose following full courses of IPV. However, cadets who had received OPV had their last dose of vaccine more recently (average 4.6 years) than those who had received only IPV (all 12 years or more). The serum antibody response to a single booster dose of OPV, and the faecal excretion of each type of virus after vaccination, showed an inverse relation to the corresponding pre-vaccination antibody concentration. A single dose of OPV did not reliably boost the immunity of those who possessed adequate immunity, and a failure to respond was also observed in a proportion of the cadets with no detectable antibody, mostly in the case of type 3 antibody and particularly if antibody to types 1 or 2 virus was also absent. No evidence was obtained that intestinal immunity could be expected in the absence of detectable circulating antibody. The reasons for the absence of a serological response to OPV in some subjects are discussed and consideration is given to the practical significance of the findings. It is suggested that reinforcement of polio immunity at school-leaving is important, particularly at the present time when many of those aged 16–18 years will have been vaccinated only with IPV. A single does of OPV is not ideal for this purpose, not only because a small proportion of persons are liable to be left unprotected, but also because failure to produce a reliable boost in persons with adequate immunity at the time of vaccination gives rise to the possibility that they may become susceptible later in adult life.
BEHAVIOURAL RESPONSES OF TWO JAPANESE QUAIL LINES DIFFERING IN BODY WEIGHT TO HEAT STRESS

The objectives of this experiment were to study the effects of different environmental temperatures during the rearing phase on the heat tolerance and behavioral responses of two Japanese quail lines to heat stress. A total of 192 chicks from two lines were randomly distributed between eight brooding cages. Each line was divided into 4 treatments. Each treatment was different in experimental period of exposure to 35°C heat (2, 3, 4 and 5 weeks after that the temperature was reduced to 25°C). The behavioral traits were determined during the first 5 weeks of age. Also, temperature preference test was done and rectal and leg temperatures and latency until panting were determined after 10 weeks from the starting of the experiment. Results indicated that birds under heat stress changed their behavior significantly. They tended to spend more time sitting and less time standing, walking and feeding. Increase of environmental temperature during the rearing phase leads to an increase in the heat tolerance in Japanese quail. The light quail line was more active and tolerated heat better than the heavy quail line under heat stress. The results obtained could contribute new aspects to a better understanding of thermo-regulative process in Japanese quail. It can allow for developing of new housing and production systems that are more suitable for a specific climatic condition.
Activation of dengue virus-specific T cells modulates vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 expression.

BACKGROUND The pathogenic mechanisms underlying the increased vascular permeability in dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) are not well understood. Enhanced cellular immune activation, especially activation of serotype-cross reactive T cells, has been implicated in plasma leakage in DHF. Changes in several biological markers and mediators including cytokines, chemokines, angiogenic factors and their receptors have been shown to correlate with disease severity. A decline in plasma levels of a soluble form of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), a receptor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), has been associated with plasma leakage in dengue patients. OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate the effect of dengue virus (DV)-specific CD8⁺ T cells on the expression of VEGFR2 on endothelial cells. METHODS An in vitro model was developed in which dengue virus-specific CD8⁺ T cells generated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of DHF patients were co-cultured with antigen-presenting cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and activated with DV non-structural protein 3 (NS3) peptides. The expression of VEGFR2 by endothelial cells was measured. RESULTS DV-specific CD8⁺ T cells were serotype cross-reactive. Activation of DV-specific CD8⁺ T cells resulted in down-regulation of soluble VEGFR2 production and an up-regulation of cell-associated VEGFR2. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that activation of DV-specific T cell is associated with modulation of VEGFR2 expression that may contribute to increased VEGF responsiveness and vascular permeability.
Dense Object Reconstruction via Flexible Planar Patch Fitting

This paper addresses 3D dense object reconstruction from multiple calibrated images. Unlike most of the existing methods which use fixed-sized grid cells or seed disks to find planar object patches across the multiple views, our method allows flexible grid cells when computing planar patches. The reconstruction begins with extracting image features such as local min/max intensity points, or other salient points/lines from the input images, and then applies the epipolar geometry constraints to derive the matched feature points and the 3D point coordinates. The planar patches are fitted to 3D feature points to derive the object geometry. A dense object is modeled by a closure of the object planar faces, which are in the form of polygons. An iterative optimization process can be resorted to refine the plane parameters to achieve accurate object model. We apply our reconstruction method to synthetic images and real images to demonstrate the reconstruction accuracy and robustness to image noise. The experimental results show that our reconstructed models generally look smoother and more accurate than the existing multiview stereo methods, especially for objects containing sparse textured regions.
An electronic marker tag detection smart camera for object localization

In this paper a modulated light detection smart CMOS image sensor is presented. The design has the ability to sense asynchronous signals transmitted from electronic markers such as flashing light emitting diodes (LEDs) tagged on moving robots. With the presented sensor, object localization and position detection functions are simplified, performed at higher speeds in real time, and power requirement is reduced. The sensor in-pixel processing, filters out the background image data and detects the modulated marker regions. Object localization is facilitated by the use of distributed sensors to cover a more extended space. Since marker locations are extracted locally at each sensor, data transmission rate at each node and power demand is reduced; thus the sensor nodes can be designed as wireless and self powered units. The functionality and power consumption of the proposed design are presented in the 0. 35µm standard CMOS technology.
Public policy analysis using three systems science techniques

A working example of a merger of three system science techniques, simulation, evaluation, and optimization is presented. A system dynamics model of energy production in the United States is used to calculate the effects of various energy policies, while a multiattribute measurement model is used to evaluate those effects. Optimization procedures are used to find the policies that lead to the `best' performance of the simulation model when judged in multiattribute fashion. Results are presented for both a simulation model that uses over 300 variables and 5 policies and a multiattribute evaluation model with a dozen attributes.
Observation of single-electron-tunneling oscillations.

The time correlation of tunneling events has been predicted to occur in ultrasmall tunnel junctions: a periodic tunneling with a frequency determined by the current f=I/e. To test the predictions, we have fabricated one-dimensional arrays of Al/${\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{O}}_{\mathit{y}}$/Al tunnel junctions with areas down to 0.006 \ensuremath{\mu}${\mathrm{m}}^{2}$ corresponding to capacitances of \ensuremath{\sim}0.2 fF. Each array contained between 15 and 53 junctions. Current-voltage characteristics were measured at temperatures between 0.05 and 4.2 K. We observed phase locking of single-electron-tunneling oscillations to external microwaves in the frequency range 0.7\char21{}5 GHz. The phase locking manifested itself as peaks in the differential resistance at bias currents I=nef (n=\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1,\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2), corresponding to multiples of the microwave frequency. Numerical simulations show good agreement with our experimental results.
Serglycin Constitutively Secreted by Myeloma Plasma Cells Is a Potent Inhibitor of Bone Mineralization in Vitro*

Although the biological significance of proteoglycans (PGs) has previously been highlighted in multiple myeloma (MM), little is known about serglycin, which is a hematopoietic cell granule PG. In this study, we describe the expression and highly constitutive secretion of serglycin in several MM cell lines. Serglycin messenger RNA was detected in six MM cell lines. PGs were purified from conditioned medium of four MM cell lines, and serglycin substituted with 4-sulfated chondroitin sulfate was identified as the predominant PG. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy showed that serglycin was also present intracellularly and on the cell surface, and attachment to the cell surface was at least in part dependent on intact glycosaminoglycan side chains. Immunohistochemical staining of bone marrow biopsies showed the presence of serglycin both in benign and malignant plasma cells. Immunoblotting in bone marrow aspirates from a limited number of patients with newly diagnosed MM revealed highly increased levels of serglycin in 30% of the cases. Serglycin isolated from myeloma plasma cells was found to influence the bone mineralization process through inhibition of the crystal growth rate of hydroxyapatite. This rate reduction was attributed to adsorption and further blocking of the active growth sites on the crystal surface. The apparent order of the crystallization reaction was found to be n = 2, suggesting a surface diffusion-controlled spiral growth mechanism. Our findings suggest that serglycin release is a constitutive process, which may be of fundamental biological importance in the study of MM.