Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Precision Tracking Control and Constraint Handling of Mechatronic Servo Systems Using Model Predictive Control

This paper presents precision tracking control and constraint handling of mechatronic servo systems using model predictive control. The current study revisits integral model predictive control, a common technique used in industrial process applications, from a motion control perspective for step tracking and constraint handling. To improve the control performance for periodic signal tracking, this paper integrates an internal model-based repetitive control law with the model predictive controller and transforms the original problem to a quadratic programming problem to deal with the given constraints. The current study applies the aforesaid controls to a piezoactuated system, implemented at a 10-kHz sampling rate. This research analyzes and discusses the experimental results of several controller design parameters affecting the control performance. Asymptotic error tracking and constraint handling results particularly demonstrate the effectiveness and potential of the model predictive controller for the servo design of fast mechatronic systems.
New force field for calcium binding sites in annexin–membrane complexes

For accurate classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the calcium mediated bound complexes of annexin and membrane we have developed new force‐field parameters correctly describing the interaction of the Ca ion with its environment. We have used quantum chemical calculations to investigate the potential energy surface experienced by the Ca ion within the three different binding sites found in domain 1 of annexin V (ANX V/1). Based on these calculations we were able to quantify the charge polarization of atoms within the binding sites, and to determine the geometry and force constants of harmonic restraints between the Ca ion and its coordinating oxygen atoms. Harmonic restraints were introduced to compensate for the deviations between the quantum mechanical potential energy surface and that of the classical force field. Our analysis has shown that using the refined force field for the Ca binding sites enables long‐time MD simulations that conserve the initial structure of ANX V/1 significantly better than MD simulations using the standard force field. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem 27: 446–452, 2006
Molecular cloning of Xp11 breakpoints in two unrelated mentally retarded females with X;autosome translocations

Mental retardation is a very common and extremely heterogeneous disorder that affects about 3% of the human population. Its molecular basis is largely unknown, but many loci have been mapped to the X chromosome. We report on two mentally retarded females with X;autosome translocations and breakpoints in Xp11, viz., t(X;17)(p11;p13) and t(X;20)(p11;q13). (Fiber-) FISH analysis assigned the breakpoints to different subbands, Xp11.4 and Xp11.23, separated by approximately 8 Mb. High-resolution mapping of the X- chromosome breakpoints using Southern blot hybridization resulted in the isolation of breakpoint-spanning genomic subclones of 3 kb and 0.5 kb. The Xp11.4 breakpoint is contained within a single copy sequence, whereas the Xp11.23 breakpoint sequence resembles an L1 repetitive element. Several expressed sequences map close to the breakpoints, but none was found to be inactivated. Therefore, mechanisms other than disruption of X-chromosome genes likely cause the phenotypes.
Fusing Microwave and Optical Satellite Observations to Simultaneously Retrieve Surface Soil Moisture, Vegetation Water Content, and Surface Soil Roughness

Uncertainty in surface soil roughness strongly degrades the performance of surface soil moisture (SSM) and vegetation water content (VWC) retrieval from passive microwave observations. This paper proposes an algorithm to objectively determine the surface soil roughness parameter of the radiative transfer model by fusing microwave and optical satellite observations. It is then demonstrated in a semiarid in situ observation site. The roughness correction of this new algorithm positively impacted the performance of SSM (root-mean-square error reduced from 0.088 to 0.070) and VWC retrieval from the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer. Since this surface soil roughness correction may be transferrable to other microwave satellite retrieval algorithms such as those for the Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity and Soil Moisture Active Passive satellites, this new algorithm can contribute to many microwave earth surface observation satellite missions.
C 569 Anna Kisko MICROSTRUCTURE AND PROPERTIES OF REVERSION TREATED LOW-Ni HIGH-Mn AUSTENITIC STAINLESS STEELS

In this thesis, the influence of reversion and recrystallization annealing on microstructure and mechanical properties was studied in metastable austenitic low-Ni high-Mn stainless steels, some alloyed with up to 0.45 wt. % Nb. Further, the effect of the various microstructures created by reversion and recrystallization on strain-induced martensite transformation in tensile testing was investigated. The aim was to achieve excellent combinations of strength and ductility in the steels and to improve understanding of the behaviour of ultrafine-grained austenitic stainless steels during deformation. All the steels were cold-rolled up to 60% thickness reduction producing up to 60% strain-induced α’-martensite in the austenitic structure. Annealing was carried out using a Gleeble thermomechanical simulator between 450–1100 °C for durations of 0.1–1000 s. The resultant microstructures were examined using different research equipment and methods. Regardless of the amount of Nb alloying, shearand diffusion-controlled reversion could be completed by annealing at 700 °C, although at this temperature no recrystallization of the untransformed cold-rolled austenite occurred. At 800 °C, however, the cold-rolled austenite recrystallized, producing a non-uniform grain structure comprising ultrafine-grained areas formed via reversion and coarser ones formed by recrystallization of the retained austenite. At 900 °C, a uniform fine austenite grain size of about 2 μm was obtained. At higher annealing temperatures of 1000–1100 °C, normal grain growth of fine grains took place during prolonged annealing in steel with no Nb. However, grain growth was effectively retarded by alloying with 0.28 wt. % Nb. The non-uniform structures consisting of reverted and retained austenite exhibited excellent combinations of yield strength and uniform elongation. The results also showed that tensile straininduced martensite nucleation sites and α’-martensite formation vary in a complex way depending on grain size.
Minimum Trace Norm Regularization (MTNR) in Electromagnetic Inverse Problems

This paper discusses a method to regularize linear problems in presence of incomplete and noisy data generated by partially or totally unknown sources. The idea is to identify the “simplest” solution, looking for the system having the minimum number of degrees of freedom (NDF) compatible with the available data. It is shown that a normalized version of the trace norm (known as 1-Schatten norm in functional analysis) is a good convex approximation of the NDF of the field. This allows to use the trace norm as a convex surrogate of the NDF in the minimization process, taking advantage of the recent literature on rank minimization. Examples regarding MIMO beamforming from incomplete channel matrix, field interpolation with no a priori information on the sources, and land-mine identification using the total field are discussed.
Examining the impact of conservation agriculture on environmental efficiency among maize farmers in Zambia

Abstract This paper explores the impact of conservation agriculture (CA) on the environmental efficiency of maize farmers in Zambia, by comparing nitrogen fertilizer recovery between farms that practise CA and those using conventional farming technologies. The Nitrogen Index Tier Zero tool is employed in generating a nitrogen balance sheet at the farm level. As CA technology may improve farmers' access to better technology, we employ a selectivity-corrected meta-frontier approach to account for potential selection bias and technology heterogeneity. The empirical results suggest that farmers practising CA are environmentally more efficient than conventional farmers. The findings also show that environmental efficiency is significantly influenced by access to credit, farming experience and years of schooling of household head, land ownership and distance to markets. Moreover, farmers practising CA are found to be technically more efficient than those using the conventional technology.
Community Participation for Thalassemia Prevention Initiated by Village Health Volunteers in Northeastern Thailand

The study was conducted to assess the achievement of a thalassemia screening program at a community level supported by village health volunteers (VHVs) of 2 subdistricts in the northeast of Thailand. One subdistrict served as the intervention and the other as the control area. A training program was organized for the village health volunteers from the intervention area. Essential information about the risk and danger of thalassemia was given to the participants who wanted to have children in the community as well. Of the 206 individuals who wanted to have children living in the intervention area, 190 (92.2%) agreed to undergo screening. Of the 196 individuals within the control area, only 26 (13.3%) voluntarily participated in the screening tests. Attitude toward prevention and knowledge about the disease improved significantly in both areas, but the differences between the scores were statistically significantly higher for individuals living in the intervention area.
Systemic Challenges to Implementing an Active Learning Strategy in an Introductory Marketing Class

Employers have increasingly questioned the gap between theory and practice in marketing education as it has a large effect on graduating students in the employment market. This problem is especially acute in Egypt, where the education system has not emphasized the development of critical thinking ability among students. This study investigates the effectiveness of an active learning approach in teaching introductory marketing to undergraduates. The course was taught at a major public university in Egypt, with an extremely large class size (over 1000). Results showed some encouraging signs and also highlighted some of the systemic challenges to implementation of active learning strategies. We discuss the problems encountered in the classroom and implications for university education in Egypt
The MicroRNA Contribution to Learning and Memory

Learning and memory refer to an animal’s ability to respond adequately to environmental signals that may be negative (aversive learning) or positive (appetitive learning) in nature. The extremely elaborate connectivity network of neurons in the brain is capable of governing animals’ reactions (e.g., by enhancing or weakening single or multiple synapses). Such circuit plasticity is largely believed to be the very essence of memory formation. It has been suggested that long-term memory, in contrast to short-term memory, requires de novo protein synthesis and can be prevented by protein synthesis inhibitors. The local protein translation in dendrites allows neurons to selectively rebuild only those synapses that have been activated. However, substrates of protein synthesis (i.e., mRNA) have to be kept suppressed until they are needed. MicroRNAs—short, non-protein-coding RNA regulatory sequences that guide an RNA-induced silencing complex to target mRNAs—seem to be perfect candidates in fulfilling this function in neurons. In this article, the authors discuss the recently recognized role of microRNAs as regulators of memory formation and endurance.
In-Office Guided Implant Placement for Prosthetically Driven Implant Surgery

Application of surgical stents for implant placement via guided flapless surgery is increasing. However, high cost, need for some professional machines, and not taking into account the soft-tissue parameters have limited their application. We sought to design and introduce a technique named in-office guided implant placement (iGIP) to decrease the cost by using available devices in office and enhance the applicability of surgical stents. A customized surgical stent was fabricated based on prosthetic, soft- and hard-tissue parameters by taking into account the amount of available bone (using the computed tomographic [CT] data), soft-tissue thickness and contour (using a composite-covered radiographic stent), and position of the final crown (by diagnostic cast wax up and marking the final crown position with composite). The efficacy of iGIP, in terms of the accuracy of the three-dimensional position of the implant placed in the study cast and in patient's mouth, was confirmed by direct observation and postoperative CT. The iGIP can enhance implant placement in the prosthetically desired position in various types of edentulism. Using this technique minimizes the risk of unwanted consequences, as the soft-tissue thickness and contour are taken into account when fabricating a surgical stent.
A new conotoxin isolated from Conus consors venom acting selectively on axons and motor nerve terminals through a Na+‐dependent mechanism

A novel conotoxin was isolated and characterized from the venom of the fish‐hunting marine snail Conus consors. The peptide was identified by screening chromatography fractions of the crude venom that produced a marked contraction and extension of the caudal and dorsal fins in fish, and noticeable spontaneous contractions of isolated frog neuromuscular preparations. The peptide, named CcTX, had 30 amino acids and the following scaffold: X11CCX7CX2CXCX3C. At the frog neuromuscular junction, CcTx at nanomolar concentrations selectively increased nerve terminal excitability so that a single nerve stimulation triggered trains of repetitive or spontaneous synaptic potentials and action potentials. In contrast, CcTx had no noticeable effect on muscle excitability even at concentrations 100 × higher than those that affected motor nerve terminals, as revealed by direct muscle stimulation. In addition, CcTx increased miniature endplate potential (MEPP) frequency in a Ca2+‐free medium supplemented with ethylene glycol‐bis‐(β‐aminoethyl ether)‐N,N,N′,N′‐tetraacetic acid (EGTA). Blockade of voltage‐dependent sodium channels with tetrodotoxin (TTX) either prevented or suppressed the increase of MEPP frequency induced by the toxin. CcTx also produced a TTX‐sensitive depolarization of the nodal membrane in single myelinated axons giving rise, in some cases, to repetitive and/or spontaneous action potential discharges. In addition, CcTx increased the nodal volume of myelinated axons, as determined using confocal laser scanning microscopy. This increase was reversed by external hyperosmolar solutions and was prevented by pretreatment of axons with TTX. It is suggested that CcTx, by specifically activating neuronal voltage‐gated sodium channels at the resting membrane potential, produced Na+ entry into nerve terminals and axons without directly affecting skeletal muscle fibres. CcTx belongs to a novel family of conotoxins that targets neuronal voltage‐gated sodium channels.
Dietary sodium restriction and the development of two-kidney, one-clip hypertension in young versus adult rats.

To determine the effects of moderate versus severe dietary sodium restriction on the development of 2-kidney, 1-clip (2K,1C) hypertension, young male Wistar rats were placed on diets containing 9, 26, or 101 (control) mumol sodium/g food. Three days later, a solid silver clip (i.d. 0.20 mm) was placed on the left renal artery and diets were continued up to 6 weeks. Adult rats received a 0.25-mm clip. In young clipped rats receiving the 101 mumol/g diet, blood pressure (BP), plasma renin activity (PRA), and BP response to captopril were increased as early as 1 week after clipping and increased further over time. Moderate sodium restriction (26 mumol sodium/g) led to only a slight delay in the development of hypertension; the levels of BP and PRA, the BP response to captopril, and the extent of cardiac hypertrophy achieved by 6 weeks were not different between the 2K, 1C rats receiving 26 or 101 mumol sodium/g. Sodium restriction to 9 mumol/g decreased rate of growth and completely prevented the rise in BP and in left ventricular weight. At 3 and 6 weeks the severely sodium-restricted rats had significantly higher PRA levels than the 2K, 1C control group. However, the BP response to captopril was attenuated relative to the other hypertensive groups. In adult rats, this level of sodium restriction had a small, but significant effect on body weight, but still prevented the increase in BP and in left ventricular weight. In conclusion, dietary sodium restriction can prevent the development of 2K,1C hypertension in both young and adult rats, but only if the restriction is severe. This effect may relate to a marked reduction in the pressor effectiveness of the renin-angiotensin system by low sodium intake per se or by associated metabolic or other changes.
Dynamics of the Toxin Cylindrospermopsin and the Cyanobacterium Chrysosporum (Aphanizomenon) ovalisporum in a Mediterranean Eutrophic Reservoir

Chrysosporum ovalisporum is a cylindrospermopsin toxin producing cyanobacterium that was reported in several lakes and reservoirs. Its growth dynamics and toxin distribution in field remain largely undocumented. Chrysosporum ovalisporum was reported in 2009 in Karaoun Reservoir, Lebanon. We investigated the factors controlling the occurrence of this cyanobacterium and vertical distribution of cylindrospermopsin in Karaoun Reservoir. We conducted bi-weekly sampling campaigns between May 2012 and August 2013. Results showed that Chrysosporum ovalisporum is an ecologically plastic species that was observed in all seasons. Unlike the high temperatures, above 26 °C, which is associated with blooms of Chrysosporum ovalisporum in Lakes Kinneret (Israel), Lisimachia and Trichonis (Greece) and Arcos Reservoir (Spain), Chrysosporum ovalisporum in Karaoun Reservoir bloomed in October 2012 at a water temperature of 22 °C during weak stratification. Cylindrospermopsin was detected in almost all water samples even when Chrysosporum ovalisporum was not detected. Chrysosporum ovalisporum biovolumes and cylindrospermopsin concentrations were not correlated (n = 31, r2 = −0.05). Cylindrospermopsin reached a maximum concentration of 1.7 µg L−1. The vertical profiles of toxin concentrations suggested its possible degradation or sedimentation resulting in its disappearance from the water column. The field growth conditions of Chrysosporum ovalisporum in this study revealed that it can bloom at the subsurface water temperature of 22 °C increasing the risk of its development and expansion in lakes located in temperate climate regions.
Outcomes in patients with poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Poorly differentiated thyroid cancer (PDTC) accounts for only 1-15% of all thyroid cancers. Our objective is to report outcomes in a large series of patients with PDTC treated at a single tertiary care cancer center. METHODS A total of 91 patients with primary PDTC were treated by initial surgery with or without adjuvant therapy at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center from 1986 to 2009. Outcomes were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Clinicopathological characteristics were compared for PDTC patients who died of disease to those who did not by the χ(2) test. Factors predictive of disease-specific survival (DSS) were calculated by univariate and multivariate analysis using the log rank and Cox proportional hazards method, respectively. RESULTS With a median follow-up of 50 months, the 5-year overall survival and DSS were 62 and 66%, respectively. The 5-year locoregional and distant control were 81 and 59%, respectively. Of 27 disease-specific deaths, 23 (85%) were due to distant disease. Age ≥ 45 years, pathological tumor size >4 cm, extrathyroidal extension, higher pathological T stage, positive margins, and distant metastases (M1) were predictive of worse DSS on univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that only pT4a stage and M1 were independent predictors of worse DSS. CONCLUSIONS With appropriate surgery and adjuvant therapy, excellent locoregional control can be achieved in PDTC. Disease-specific deaths occurred due to distant metastases and rarely due to uncontrolled locoregional recurrence in this series.
A quantitative comparison between BLDC, PMSM, brushed DC and stepping motor technologies

Brushless DC machines (BLDC), Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines (PMSM), Stepping Motors and Brushed DC machines (BDC) usage is ubiquitous in the power range below 1,5kW. There is a lot of common knowledge on these technologies. Stepping Motors are ideally suited for open loop positioning, BLDC machines are the most obvious candidate for high-speed applications, etc. However, literature lacks comprehensive research comparing these machines over a large range of applications. In this paper, more than 100 motors are considered. Their characteristics are compared and presented in a comprehensive way. These results support the common knowledge concerning the field of application of each technology and new insights follow from this quantitative comparison.
Benefits of regional cooperation in the South East Europe electricity sector

This thesis aims to study the current electricity market liberalization status in the selected jurisdictions in the South East Europe and investigate if the expected benefits of regional cooperation in electricity market could be achieved in the region. The current states of market openings in South East Europe jurisdictions are researched based on the available reports and literature. In addition, regional day ahead market simulations are carried out to investigate the possibility of reaching the benefits. The simulation relies on the existing underlying data of the selected regional electricity sector. The research in this study is limited to the day ahead part of the regional market setup. Thus, financial markets, intraday markets and balancing markets are not taken into account. Furthermore, integration in infrastructure, regulatory institutions and commercial practices are also left out of the scope and analysis. It was found that there has been quite stable and well progress in the electricity sector reforms in the selected jurisdictions. However, the reforms are in quite difference phases in different jurisdictions. Simulation result analysis was broke into three parts: generation utilization, prices and electricity flows. Overall, the simulation results indicate that the benefits of regional a cooperation in the electricity markets could be achieved within the selected region. Stable prices and change in production patterns seen in simulation results indicate better specialization in electricity production for South East Europe region. In addition, even electricity prices during a whole year would provide safe environment for electricity sector investments and further assist the reform processes.
Moving beyond Debate: Support for CACREP's Standard Requiring 60 Credit Hours for School Counseling Programs.

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) recently released its 2016 standards. Included in these standards is a requirement for school counseling master’s programs to have a minimum of 60 credit hours by the year 2020. This credit hour requirement is an increase from the previous 48-hour requirement and has caused considerable debate in the counselor education field. In this article, the authors assert that the credit hour increase will lead to positive or neutral effects for school counseling programs and benefit the field of school counseling as a whole. This claim is supported by historical examples, anticipated benefits to school counseling, and findings from a pilot study with school counseling programs that previously transitioned to 60 credit hours (N = 22).