Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear Digital Pre-distortion of Transmitter Components

We present a linear and nonlinear digital pre-distortion (DPD) tailored to the components of an optical transmitter. The DPD concept uses nonlinear models of the transmitter devices, which are obtained from direct component measurements. While the digital-to-analog converter and driver amplifier are modeled jointly by a Volterra series, the modulator is modeled independently as a Wiener system. This allows for a block-wise compensation of the modulator by a Hammerstein system and a pre-distortion of the electrical components by a second Volterra series. In simulations and extensive experiments, the performance of our approach for nonlinear DPD is compared to an equivalent linear solution as well as to a configuration without any DPD. The experiments were performed using M-ary quadrature-amplitude modulation (M-QAM) formats ranging from 16- to 128-QAM at a symbol rate of 32 GBd. It is shown that the DPD improves the required optical signal-to-noise ratio at a bit error ratio of 2·10 -2 by at least 1.2 dB. Nonlinear DPD outperforms linear DPD by an additional 0.9 and 2.7 dB for higher-order modulation formats such as 64-QAM and 128-QAM, respectively.
Reachable and stabilizable area of an underactuated manipulator without state feedback control

In this paper, we investigate the reachable and stabilizable area of the tip of an underactuated manipulator (the first joint has an actuator and the second joint has no actuator), which is movable in a vertical plane. In the previous research, we proposed the open-loop control method (which is using the bifurcation phenomena occurred in the second link by high-frequency excitation of the active link sinusoidally) for the underactuated manipulator in order to swing up and stabilize at the upright position of its unactuated link. Applying the method more globally, we realize many configurations of the manipulator without state feedback. The reachable and stabilizable positions of the tip of the underactuated link are theoretically shown. Furthermore, the validity of the theoretical results are experimentally confirmed.
A Novel Single-Switch Single-Stage Electronic Ballast With High Input Power Factor

This paper proposes high-power-factor electronic ballast for fluorescent lamps. The converter offers a high input power factor and a high-frequency supply to the lamp using a single switch. Besides the simple circuit configuration, the excellent performances of high power factor for ac input side and low lamp crest factor for lamp are included in this paper. The conventional electronic ballast circuit has larger conduction losses because its power flow path of power factor correction (PFC) circuit always includes two diode losses from the front-end bridge rectifier and one power switch loss. The PFC power flow path of the proposed circuit has three semiconductor conduction drops when the active switch is on and two semiconductor conduction drops when the active switch is off. Therefore, it can provide lower conduction loss than the conventional one. The design equations are derived from the analyzed results based on fundamental approximation, and then an easy-to-use design tool is provided accordingly under considerations of filament heating and ignition. A prototype circuit that operates at 40-kHz switching frequency and 110-V line voltage for one 40-W fluorescent lamp is built and tested to verify the analytical predictions
Score instruments : a new paradigm of musical instruments to guide musical wonderers

Advancements in technology have made musical instruments, especially electronic instruments, accessible to the masses. As a result, music-making has become more widespread and convenient. However, the blackboxing practices of commercial Digital Musical Instruments (DMIs) have conditioned many users to produce only specific styles of music. Furthermore, as many of these commercial instruments produce sound through loudspeakers, rather than the body of the instrument, players lose the physical and tactile connection to sound and music. Consequently, these DMIs inhibit understanding of the relationship between musicality and our everyday physical world, and cut players off from exploring a more extensive range of musical possibilities. Despite the multiplication of music-making tools, music-making practices still operate on the same principles. The production of music requires instruments to generate organized physical sound energies that follow the schema of a score. This dissertation studies a new class of Interactive Music Systems (IMSs) called Score Instruments that embed both instrument and score into a single unified interface. Score Instruments reopen the range of possibilities offered by everyday sounds and objects as musical bricolage tools to bring players into a personalized, guided, and open-ended use of the instrument. Players of Score Instruments are called Musical Wonderers, as the instruments encourage them to focus on exploration to build their own musical language, rather than on the technically correct realization of music. The dissertation describes the concept of Score Instruments. Two instances of Score Instruments demonstrate how the techniques and criteria translate into specific IMSs. City Symphonies is a massive musical collaboration platform that encourages players to listen to their cities and create music with environmental sounds. MM-RT is a tabletop tangible musical instrument that employs electromagnetic actua-
Pseudorandom Functions and Factoring

The computational hardness of factoring integers is the most established assumption on which cryptographic primitives are based. This work presents an efficient construction of pseudorandom functions whose security is based on the intractability of factoring. In particular, we are able to construct efficient length-preserving pseudorandom functions, where each evaluation requires only a (small) constant number of modular multiplications per output bit. This is substantially more efficient than any previous construction of pseudorandom functions based on factoring and matches (up to a constant factor) the efficiency of the best-known factoring-based pseudorandom bit generators.
Commercial implementation of a snow impact model for PV performance prediction

Studies have shown how to combine snow depth measurements with commonly available meteorological data to estimate the contribution of snow cover to PV power loss. A key input to these methods is daily representative snow depth data, which exist within the NSRDB's TMY2 dataset. NREL's System Advisor Model pairs a snow impact algorithm with TMY2 data. This paper compares the TMY2 snow depth data to historical actuals and suggests an alternative means of implementing snow impact algorithms.
Understanding and Responding to the Complaining Behaviors of Restaurant Customers from Collectivist Cultures

This paper aims to examine how frontline employees in individualistic cultures such as the United States can better understand and respond to the complaining behaviors of restaurant consumers from collective cultures such as those from Asian countries. Previous studies suggest that customers from collectivist cultures often prefer not to complain directly and openly about service failures. They may offer indirect hints and information to their families and friends about their experiences. It is possible that frontline employees from individualistic cultures may not fully understand the complaining behaviors of restaurant customers from collectivist cultures. This may result in loss of business, customers’ disloyalty and negative publicity about the business. Based on a review of previous research studies in this area, this study offers specific recommendations for practice and future research.
Spatially varying relationships between risk factors and child diarrhea in West Africa, 2008-2013

ABSTRACT Diarrhea is a major contributor to child morbidity and mortality in West Africa. Non-spatial regression and geographically weighted Poisson regression applied to data from 10 Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in West Africa from 2008 to 2013 show that water source, toilet type, mother’s education, latitude, temperature, rainfall, altitude, and population density influence the risk of diarrhea. The risk associated with these factors is dependent on location and may be higher or lower than the rest of the study area. Areas with increased relative risk for diarrhea include several urban centers, low-elevation areas (coastal and along rivers), remote areas such as western Mali, and conflict zones (northeast Nigeria).
Response to Comment on “In Monkeys Making Value-Based Decisions, LIP Neurons Encode Cue Salience and Not Action Value”

Newsome et al. question neither our key result, that large-penalty cues elicited stronger responses than small-penalty cues, nor our key conclusion, that neurons early in the trial signaled cue salience and not action value. Instead, they focus on subsequent neuronal activity. The patterns of delay-period activity that they note can be explained by reference to experimental methodology.
Investment Planning for Hydro-Thermal Power System Expansion: Stochastic Programming Employing the Dantzig-Wolfe Decomposition Principle

This paper presents an application of the Dantzig-Wolfe decomposition principle to the problem of investment planning in the electric power sector. The formulation of the capacity planning problem incorporates uncertainties in long-term load growth and in fuel supply availability. In addition, the formulation permits the inclusion of such demand-side investment decisions as conservation as well as conventional and renewable supply investments, and it allows flexibility in modeling system reliability. Reliability targets can be incorporated as constraints or reliability can be optimized by minimizing customer outage costs in addition to investment costs and operating costs. Results of an application to the Pacific Northwest, involving problem sizes up to 30,000 rows and 54,000 columns, are reported.
A low noise CMOS phase locked loop

A 5V, 0. 6µm CMOS phase locked loop (PLL) is presented. The circuit design of the PLL, which consists of a phase-frequency-detector (PFD), charge-pump (CPP), bias-generator (BG), voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and differential to single converter (DSC), is introduced and the simulation results are given. The details of design theory and calculation are also described. The PLL is integrated in CMSC 0. 6µm 5V 2P2M CMOS technology, the simulation results show that the PLL operates within the frequency range between 100MHz to 500MHz, and the phase noise are −89dBc/Hz and −100dBc/Hz at 100KHz and 1MHz offset frequency.
Butylate Persistence and Activity in Soils Previously Treated with Thiocarbamates

Butylate [S-ethyl bis(2-methylpropyl)carbamothioate] persistence was compared in three soils that were treated annually with four thiocarbamate herbicides in 1981 and 1982. Butylate degraded faster in soils treated two consecutive years with butylate + dichlormid (2,2-dichloro-N,N-di-2-prophenylacetamide) than in soils treated for 2 yr with EPTC (S-ethyl dipropyl carbamothioate) + dichlormid, cycloate (S-ethyl cyclohexylethylcarbamothioate), vernolate (S-propyl dipropylcarbamothioate) + dichlormid, or from previously untreated soils. Butylate + dichlormid applications in 1981 and 1982 enhanced butylate degradation in 1983 at all locations and reduced weed control at two locations. Previously untreated soil or soil previously treated with two annual applications of butylate + dichlormid was treated with 6 ppmw butylate, incubated for 14 days, analyzed for residual butylate, and bioassayed for herbicide activity. Bioassay indicated higher herbicidal activity than was predicted by the residual butylate concentration. A herbicidally active metabolite may be produced during the soil degradation of butylate.
Synthesis and In Vitro Antiproliferative Effects of New Dihydropyrano[3,2-b]Chromene Derivatives

Abstract Three-component reaction of 3-hydroxy-4H-chromen-4-one, aromatic aldehydes and malononitrile or ethyl cyanoacetate in EtOH, at reflux and in the presence of catalytic amounts of nanosized MgO has been used for the synthesis of dihydropyrano[3,2-b]chromene derivatives. A number of advantages are associated with this method such as, easy monitoring of reaction progress, convenient workup procedure and high yields. The antiproliferative effects of these compounds were tested by MTT assay on six cell lines; five cancerous (Caco-2, A549, MCF-7, HT1080, and U87) and one normal (3T3). The results revealed that some of these compounds had cytotoxicity against tested cell lines especially against Caco-2 (colorectal) cell line.
Apraxia, Autism, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Do We Have a New Spectrum?

CASE Gio is a bilingual 6-year 10-month-old boy new to your practice who presents for an unscheduled visit with concerns for speech and language delay. He was born in Portugal, and his native language is Portuguese. When he was 21 months old, his family moved to Italy and then moved to the United States 3 years later. He had very little contact with other children while living in Italy, but his parents report that he has made friends quickly in the United States. His family speaks Portuguese at home, although his father is fluent in English.He started school 3 months after moving to the United States and is currently repeating kindergarten. He is in a sheltered English classroom with several other students who speak Portuguese. He is able to understand and follow directions in English. A recent school evaluation revealed solidly average nonverbal reasoning skills and relative weaknesses in verbal reasoning and working memory. His speech is described as unintelligible in conversation, both in English and Portuguese.Results of a special education evaluation qualified him for services with a bilingual therapist. His teachers are very concerned that he may have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). They describe him as having limited interest in other children, poor eye contact, and hypersensitivities. He wanders at recess. He is very skilled at art and seems to prefer to draw rather than interact with others. He needs constant support and redirection throughout the school day. He has difficulty putting on his coat, using playground equipment, and following daily classroom routines. On the Vanderbilt Rating Scale, his teacher endorses 17 of 18 ADHD symptoms as present often or very often and significant impairment in his performance.Gio presents to your clinic as a relatable young boy with childhood apraxia of speech. Only his productions of single words and short routine phrases are intelligible. He attempts to engage in conversation but averts his gaze and becomes frustrated when asked to repeat things. Scores on the Parent Conners Rating Scale and Social Responsiveness Scale are not elevated. When you bring up school's concerns, his father describes feeling somewhat badgered by his teachers about possibility of ASD.School is considering placement in an inclusion classroom for children with ASD. What do you recommend? How would you advise his parents?
The Spiritual Nature of Man. A Study of Contemporary Religious Experience. By Alister Hardy. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 1979. Pp 162. Price: £6.95.

and divorce, ageing and so on. All the chapters are written in an easy style and technical jargon is not prominent. Therefore it seems as if this book is intended for middle-aged women, particularly those who could benefit from sympathetic reassurance about their condition. But for doctors and psychiatrists who deal at all regularly with women who experience difficulties in coping during this phase, the book would probably be most helpful as a concise reminder ofdata with which they are already familiar. The editors have produced a positive book which, if not particularly profound, is nevertheless encourag ing. As they put it: â€œ¿ . it is important that the time of life should also be the prime of life, a time not of stagnation and decline, but of challenge and hopeâ€•.
Method to Assess the Power-Quality Impact of Plug-in Electric Vehicles

This paper presents a probabilistic harmonic simulation method to study the power-quality impact of electric vehicles (EVs). The proposed method takes into account the random operating characteristics of the vehicles, such as random charging time, charging duration, and vehicle locations. A multiphase model of the primary and secondary systems is used to represent the study system. Extensive case studies have been conducted using the method and the measured EV data. The results reveal that the current versions of plug-in hybrid EVs have no significant harmonic impact on power systems. However, the Level 1 charger can increase the neutral-to-earth voltage at homes which could lead to increased stray voltage incidents.
Human infection with H7N9 virus.

Airport referral 27 (20.3) To the Editor: As reported by Gao et al. and Uyeki and Cox (May 16 issue)1,2 and by Li et al. (online April 24, available at NEJM.org),3 emerging human infections with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus in China have raised global concerns. In Taiwan, we immediately listed H7N9 influenza as a notifiable disease, developed a real-time reverse-transcriptase–polymerase-chainreaction (RT-PCR) assay, and activated the Central Epidemic Command Center for interdepartmental coordination.4 As of April 25, 2013, a total of 133 patients who had recently traveled to China were reported to have suspected H7N9 influenza (Table 1). On April 24, severe pneumonia developed in the first patient who had returned from China.5 He was a 53-year-old Taiwanese man who had traveled to Jiangsu, China. H7N9 was identified from a sputum sample; sequences of the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of this H7N9 virus were very close to strains A/Anhui/1/2013 and A/Shanghai/2/2013. Three of the 139 close contacts of the patients had upper respiratory symptoms; however, RT-PCR assays for H7N9 were negative. In a retrospective review of 134 cases of severe pneumonia of unknown cause and 747 suspected cases of complicated influenza since January 2013, none were associated with H7N9 as determined by means of RT-PCR and viral culture.
Improvement of minority-carrier lifetime in tin monosulfide via substrate engineering

Tin (II) monosulfide (SnS) is a promising Earth-abundant, non-toxic thin-film absorber due to its near-ideal optoelectronic properties and manufacturability, but low minority-carrier lifetimes limit SnS device efficiencies to below 5%. We employ electron beam-induced current measurements to deduce the effect of structural defects on bulk recombination in our champion thermally evaporated devices, and then use graphene substrates as a means to reduce detrimental structural defects. We demonstrate an improvement in the effective minority-carrier lifetime of SnS using a graphene substrate, suggesting that the use of substrates with van der Waals surface termination may provide a route toward higher-efficiency SnS-based devices.
A General Framework for Database Security

The counter is provided with a plurality of digit wheels, the first order digit wheel thereof having a star wheel on one side, a plurality of pinions for effecting carries of the digit wheels, a pair of pawls driven by a driving member for alternately engaging the pawls with the star wheel, an electromagnetic driving device for driving the star wheel through the driving member, and a control member including cam members for preventing the tilting of the driving member when an external shock or vibration is applied to the counter tending to swing the driving member thus causing the misoperation of the star wheel.
The Comprehensive Cancer Care Network of Romagna: The Opportunities Generated by the OECI Accreditation Program

Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS is a public-private partnership among 3 public sector bodies and 6 private nonprofit organizations and represents the hub of the Oncology Network of Romagna, which provides a wide range of services for the population ranging from primary prevention to palliative care. In 2012, IRST took part in the ministerial research project of the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) accreditation program for Comprehensive Cancer Centers. The self-assessment period lasted 6 months and was coordinated by a multidisciplinary project team headed by a project leader. Each project team member coordinated a subgroup whose task was to analyze specific standards from qualitative and quantitative questionnaires. During the self-assessment period for the areas in which IRST did not meet OECI requirements, the project team outlined several improvement plans. At the end of the self-assessment period, the OECI Accreditation & Designation Board approved the documentation presented by IRST and a peer review visit was scheduled. The OECI report suggested establishing a more specific and stronger centralized management and leadership of all the oncologic activities carried out in other centers. In accordance with these suggestions, IRST and the Local Health Authority of Romagna laid the foundations for a new management model for the Oncology Network of Romagna: the Comprehensive Cancer Care Network (CCCN). The CCCN is a territory-oriented model (population approach) based on a principle of cooperation and collaboration among the network nodes.
The Residual Effect of Prior Drop Jumps on Cardio Respiratory Parameters during Moderate Cycling in Young Women

Research background and hypothesis. Unaccustomed prior drop jumps (PDJ) can cause muscle damage with concomitant delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and decreased concentric contraction performance efficiency, but the residual effect of PJD on cardio respiratory system parameters during moderate cycling exercise (MC) remains equivocal. We suppose that DOMS, induced of PDJ, has altered cardio respiratory system parameters during MC exercises.Research aim of the study was to assess the residual effect of 100 prior drop jumps on cardio respiratory system parameters kinetics during moderate cycling exercise. Research methods. On four different days 10 women performed one increasing and three (control, 45 min and 24 h after 100 drop jumps) MC (Ergoline-800, Germany) exercises. The cadence of cycling was 70 rpm. The oxygen uptake (2 oV& ), carbon dioxide output (2 co V & ); minute ventilation ( E V ) and heart rate (HR) were continuously recorded during MC. Subjects rated their perceived exertions at the end of MC, and the DOMS was rated 24 h after PDJ. Research results. After 24 h the subjects felt moderate DOMS (5.0(2.79)) according to 10 point scale. The 2 oV& ; 2 co V & and HR kinetics were unaltered by moderate DOMS after 45 minutes and 24 hours, but E V tended to increase 45 minutes after PDJ. The negative correlation between DOMS and 2 oV& (r = –0.52) was observed.Discussion and conclusion. Prior drop jumps seem not to have significant residual effect on cardio respiratory parameters kinetics after 45 minutes or 24 hours, but they tend to increase E V after 45 minutes of recovery during moderate cycling exercise in young women.Keywords: delayed onset muscle soreness, oxygen uptake, constant load.