Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Applying Wind Simulations for Planning and Operation of Real-Time Thermal Ratings

Real-time thermal ratings (RTTRs) are an emerging technology that allows the rating of electrical conductors to be estimated using real-time local weather observations. In many cases this leads to a very significant (typically 50%–100%) increase in rating with respect to conventional approaches. Conductor rating is heavily influenced by wind speed and direction. Consequently, in this paper, computational wind simulations commonly employed by the wind energy industry have been applied to inform rating estimation during network planning and operation. This provides an exciting opportunity to allow the identification of determining conductor spans to inform network designers of the rating potential of different conductor routes to estimate the additional wind energy that could be accommodated through the enhanced line rating and to allow intelligent placement of the monitoring equipment required to implement RTTR. The wind simulation data were also used to allow more accurate estimation of conductor ratings during operation. Two case studies taken from actual trial sites in the U.K. are presented to demonstrate that these techniques can provide a real world benefit.
Developing Knowledge Absorptive Capacity of SMEs in China

Small and medium-sized enterpreises (SMEs) are a crucial driver of the fast growing Chinese economy. This study aims to investigate how the external structures influence SMEs’ knowledge absorptive capacity for competence enhancement and performance improvement. Taking the “structure-conduct-performance” paradigm as an overarching framework, this research extends and enriches this framework by integrating social networking theory and absorptive capacity theory into it. More specific, we partition the “structure” into environmental structure and social network structure outside of a focal firm, and specify the “conduct” as knowledge absorptive capacity development including knowledge acquisition and transformation. To verify our research model, a survey method is employed involving 77 SMEs from China. The results show the distinct roles of environmental hostility, customer network ties, and knowledge absorptive capacities on SMEs’ performance. Theoretical contributions and managerial implications are also discussed.
CEO Compensation in Cooperatives versus Publicly Listed Firms

A multiple activities principal-agent model regarding CEO compensation in cooperatives is presented, capturing that cooperatives are not publicly listed and that they have to bring the enterprise to value as well as to serve member interests. A cooperative dominates a publicly listed firm in terms of efficiency when either activities are sufficiently complementary, or additional information is considered in the performance measure.
High-Q whispering gallery traveling wave resonators for oscillator frequency stabilization

Usually a frequency-stabilized standing wave resonator-oscillator incorporating a resonator as a frequency discriminator requires a circulator to separate the injected and reflected wave, A ferrite circulator is a noisy device and can limit the phase noise or frequency stability. Moreover, we show that the noise in a circulator varies, and detailed low noise measurements are necessary to choose an appropriate quiet circulator. Thus, by realizing a configuration that does not require a circulator, an improvement in performance and reliability can be obtained. A solution to this problem is to design a high-Q whispering gallery traveling wave (WGTW) resonator. This device naturally separates the injected and reflected wave in the same way as a ring cavity at optical frequencies, without degrading the frequency discrimination. Q-factor measurements of a WGTW sapphire resonator are presented, along with a derivation of critical parameters to maximize the frequency discrimination. New measurements of noise in ferrite circulators and isolators have also been made, which is followed with a discussion on oscillator design.
Predictability and significance of multifocal prostate cancer in the radical prostatectomy specimen.

Multifocal prostate cancer has been reported in 50-76% of all cases of radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) specimens, but the clinical and prognostic significance of this finding is still unclear. A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent RRP between 1993 and 1997 was performed. Preoperative screening parameters and 4-mm RRP specimen sections were examined. The location, Gleason score, and extracapsular extension of the tumor recorded. Three hundred eight cases were reviewed. Mean follow-up was 4.2 +/- 1 years (range 2-6 years). Two hundred six patients (66.9%) had multifocal prostate cancer and 102 (33.1%) had unifocal prostate cancer. Of those with multifocal disease, 63% had two foci and 37% had three or more foci. There were statistical significant differences between both groups with respect to preoperative prostate-specific antigen (PSA) density of the transition zone (PSA-TZ), free/total (f/t) PSA, as well as percentage of patients with organ confined disease, high-grade tumors, and local recurrence. PSA-TZ (p = .001) and f/t PSA (p = .004) were significantly different between patients with unifocal and multifocal disease (0.9 vs. 2.2 ng/mL/cc and 18% vs. 6.5%, respectively). However, preoperative PSA (11.2 vs. 12.8 ng/mL; p = .09) and PSA density (0.17 vs. 0.19 ng/mL/cc; p = .07) were not able to predict unifocality or multifocality. These data suggest that multifocal prostate cancer is associated with higher grade, stage, and recurrence rate than unifocal prostate cancer. Preoperative PSA-TZ (> 1.5 ng/mL/cc) and f/t PSA (<9%) may predict multifocality in the RRP specimen.
Integrating Sheep Grazing into Cereal‐Based Crop Rotations: Spring Wheat Yields and Weed Communities

Published in Agron. J. 107:104–112 (2015) doi:10.2134/agronj14.0086 Copyright © 2015 by the American Society of Agronomy, 5585 Guilford Road, Madison, WI 53711. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. ABSTRACT
VLA 4 Gene Polymorphism and Susceptibility to Multiple Sclerosis in Slovaks ( multiple sclerosis / VLA-4 / integrin / single-nucleotide polymorphism / association study )

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease occurring in genetically sensitive individuals. As migration of immune cells into the CNS is facilitated by the Very Late Antigen 4 (VLA-4) integrin molecule, the VLA4 gene may be considered as a plausible candidate genetic risk factor for susceptibility to MS. Therefore, the objective of our study was to investigate the association between two genetic polymorphisms located in the VLA4 gene and the risk of multiple sclerosis. One hundred seventeen MS patients and 165 control subjects from Slovakia were genotyped for VLA4 gene SNP polymorphisms at positions 269 (C/A) and 3061 (A/G). The same study cohorts were also genotyped for the rs3135388 polymorphism tagging the HLA-DRB1*15:01 allele, which is a known genetic factor associated with susceptibility to develop MS in many populations. Our findings show for the first time that the rs3135388 polymorphism is a strong risk factor for MS in the Slovak population. Investigation of the VLA4 gene polymorphisms revealed a significantly higher frequency of the 3061AG genotype in MS patients compared to the controls (P ≤ 0.05). We suggest that the Received June 19, 2014. Accepted December 4, 2014. The study was financially supported by the Grant Agency VEGA (project No. 1/0810/12). Corresponding author: Vladimíra Ďurmanová, Institute of Immunology, School of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Odborárske nám. 14, 811 08 Bratislava, Slovakia. E-mail: vladimira.durmanova@fmed.uniba. sk Abbreviations: AP-2 – activating protein 2, CD – cluster of designation, CI – confidence interval, CNS – central nervous system, HLA – human leukocyte antigen, ITGA4 – integrin α4, MS – multiple sclerosis, OR – odds ratio, PCR – polymerase chain reaction, RFLP – restriction fragment length polymorphism, SNP – single-nucleotide polymorphism, SSP – sequence-specific primer, VCAM-1 – vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, VLA-4 – very late antigen 4. 3061AG polymorphic variant is an independent genetic risk factor for MS development in our population as it was significantly associated with this disease. The association was also confirmed after applying multivariate logistic-regression analysis adjusted for gender, age and HLA-DRB1*15:01 positivity as possible influencing factors.
Rare-earth Nanoparticle-induced Cytotoxicity on Spatial Cognition Memory of Mouse Brain

Background: Luminescent rare-earth-based nanoparticles have been increasingly used in nanomedicine due to their excellent physicochemical properties, such as biomedical imaging agents, drug carriers, and biomarkers. However, biological safety of the rare-earth-based nanomedicine is of great significance for future development in practical applications. In particular, biological effects of rare-earth nanoparticles on human's central nervous system are still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential toxicity of rare-earth nanoparticles in nervous system function in the case of continuous exposure. Methods: Adult ICR mice were randomly divided into seven groups, including control group (receiving 0.9% normal saline) and six experimental groups (10 mice in each group). Luminescent rare-earth-based nanoparticles were synthesized by a reported co-precipitation method. Two different sizes of the nanoparticles were obtained, and then exposed to ICR mice through caudal vein injection at 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/kg body weight in each day for 7 days. Next, a Morris water maze test was employed to evaluate impaired behaviors of their spatial recognition memory. Finally, histopathological examination was implemented to study how the nanoparticles can affect the brain tissue of the ICR mice. Results: Two different sizes of rare-earth nanoparticles have been successfully obtained, and their physical properties including luminescence spectra and nanoparticle sizes have been characterized. In these experiments, the rare-earth nanoparticles were taken up in the mouse liver using the magnetic resonance imaging characterization. Most importantly, the experimental results of the Morris water maze tests and histopathological analysis clearly showed that rare-earth nanoparticles could induce toxicity on mouse brain and impair the behaviors of spatial recognition memory. Finally, the mechanism of adenosine triphosphate quenching by the rare-earth nanoparticles was provided to illustrate the toxicity on the mouse brain. Conclusions: This study suggested that long-term exposure of high-dose bare rare-earth nanoparticles caused an obvious damage on the spatial recognition memory in the mice.
Anal and cervical abnormality in women—prediction by human papillomavirus tests

A total of 151 women at risk of human immunodeficiency virus infection were investigated, to study the strength of the association between cervix and anus regarding the presence of HPV and cytological abnormality. An equal percentage of women had abnormal cervical (12.2%) and anal (12.1%) Papanicolaou smears. HPV measured by PCR was detected in 93.3% of cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) compared to 49.1% of normal cervical cytologies, and in 100% of anal SIL and 67.4% of normal anal cytologies, respectively. After controlling for HPV‐PCR status, immunodeficiency, as measured by a low CD4+ count and HIV positivity, increased the detection of cervical and to some extent anal squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL). We evaluated how precisely an HPV test could predict cervical disease and found that the HPV‐PCR test was slightly more sensitive than the HPV‐hybrid capture (HC) test (PCR: 93.3% vs. HC: 88.9%), whereas the HC test was significantly more specific (83.6% vs. 50.9%), and with a much higher positive predictive value (43.2% vs. 20.6%). Similar results were obtained for anal SIL. HIV positivity increased sensitivity, lowered specificity and increased the positive predictive value of the tests. A diagnosis of cervical SIL was associated with a more than 3‐fold increased risk of a simultaneous abnormal anal smear (p <: 0.05). In conclusion, cervical and anal disease were significantly associated and almost exclusively seen in the presence of HPV. Immunodeficiency and HIV positivity increased the risk of disease in HPV‐positive subjects. Hybrid capture, which requires a higher viral load than PCR to detect HPV, was clearly superior in predicting cervical and anal disease. Altogether, these findings suggest that a high level of HPV infection may be important for the development of SIL in the population studied. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Using a Dedicated AS for Sites Homed to a Single Provider

With the increased growth of the Internet, the number of customers using BGP4 has grown significantly. RFC1930 outlines a set of guidelines for when one needs and should use an AS. However, the customer and service provider (ISP) are left with a problem as a result of this in that while there is no need for an allocated AS under the guidelines, certain conditions make the use of BGP4 a very pragmatic and perhaps only way to connect a customer homed to a single ISP. This paper proposes a solution to this problem in line with recommendations set forth in RFC1930.
Reevaluation of Cl-/HCO3- exchange in cultured bovine corneal endothelial cells.

PURPOSE To determine the apical versus basolateral polarity of the putative anion exchanger in cultured bovine corneal endothelial cells (BCECs) and to examine the influence of Cl--dependent membrane potential (Em) changes on HCO3- transport. METHODS BCECs grown on permeable supports were used for independent perfusion of apical and basolateral surfaces. Intracellular pH (pHi) was measured using the fluorescent dye BCECF. Relative changes in Em were measured using the fluorescent dye bis-oxonol. Western blot analysis was used to detect immunoreactivity against the anion exchanger (AE1 or AE2). RESULTS Cl- removal from apical and basolateral surfaces produced cellular alkalinization (apical side, 0.07 pH units; basolateral side, 0.06 pH units; both sides, 0.20 pH units). Application of 100 microM H2-4,4'-diisothiocyanatodihydrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), an anion exchange inhibitor, on the apical side produced an alkalinization (0.02 pH units) followed by acidification (-0.05 pH units), whereas basolateral H2DIDS caused a substantial acidification (-0.16 pH units). In the absence of Na+, Cl- removal from the apical side caused a transient alkalinization (0.03 pH units) followed by a return to baseline; Cl- removal from the basolateral side caused a small (-0.03) acidification. In Na+-free Ringer, apical H2DIDS produced a transient alkalinization (0.02 pH units), whereas basolateral exposure had no effect. 5-Nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid (NPPB), N-phenylanthranilic acid (DPC), and niflumic acid (50-200 microM), known Cl- channel blockers, produced cellular acidification in control Ringer. Niflumic acid hyperpolarized Em and inhibited depolarization after Cl- removal. Western blot analysis failed to detect AE2 expression in cultured BCECs. However, fresh BCECs produced a trace response. CONCLUSIONS Physiological activity of an apical anion exchanger is weak in cultured BCECs. Cultured BCECs have significant Cl- conductance. Thus, cellular alkalinization after Cl- removal is caused primarily by depolarization of Em, which drives HCO3- influx through the basolateral electrogenic Na+:nHCO3- cotransporter. In contrast with cultured BCECs, AE2 may be present in fresh cells.
Meropenem-RPX 7009 Concentrations in Plasma , Epithelial Lining Fluid , and Alveolar Macrophages of Healthy Adult Subjects

The steady-state concentrations of meropenem and the -lactamase inhibitor RPX7009 in plasma, epithelial lining fluid (ELF), and alveolar macrophage (AM) concentrations were obtained in 25 healthy, nonsmoking adult subjects. Subjects received a fixed combination of meropenem (2 g) and RPX7009 (2 g) administered every 8 h, as a 3-h intravenous infusion, for a total of three doses. A bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage were performed once in each subject at 1.5, 3.25, 4, 6, or 8 h after the start of the last infusion. Meropenem and RPX7009 achieved a similar time course and magnitude of concentrations in plasma and ELF. The mean pharmacokinetic parameters the standard deviations of meropenem and RPX7009 determined from serial plasma concentrations were as follows: Cmax 58.2 10.8 and 59.0 8.4 g/ml, Vss 16.3 2.6 and 17.6 2.6 liters; CL 11.1 2.1 and 10.1 1.9 liters/h, and t1/2 1.03 0.15 and 1.27 0.21 h, respectively. The intrapulmonary penetrations of meropenem and RPX7009 were ca. 63 and 53%, respectively, based on the area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 8 h (AUC0 – 8) values of ELF and total plasma concentrations. When unbound plasma concentrations were considered, ELF penetrations were 65 and 79% for meropenem and RPX7009, respectively. Meropenem concentrations in AMs were below the quantitative limit of detection, whereas median concentrations of RPX7009 in AMs ranged from 2.35 to 6.94 g/ml. The results from the present study lend support to exploring a fixed combination of meropenem (2 g) and RPX7009 (2 g) for the treatment of lower respiratory tract infections caused by meropenem-resistant Gram-negative pathogens susceptible to the combination of meropenem-RPX7009.
Combining Smells and Fault Localization in Spreadsheets

Despite being staggeringly error prone, spreadsheets are a highly flexible programming environment that is widely used in industry. In fact, spreadsheets are widely adopted for decision making, and decisions taken upon wrong (spreadsheet-based) assumptions may have serious economical impacts on businesses, among other consequences. This paper proposes a technique to automatically pinpoint potential faults in spreadsheets. It combines a catalog of spreadsheet smells that provide a first indication of a potential fault, with a generic spectrumbased fault localization strategy in order to improve (in terms of accuracy and false positive rate) on these initial results. Our technique has been implemented in a tool which helps users detecting faults. To validate the proposed technique, we consider a well-known and well-documented catalog of faulty spreadsheets. Our experiments yield two main results: i) we were able to distinguish between smells that can point to faulty cells from smells and those that are not capable of doing so, and ii) we provide a technique capable of detecting a significant number of errors: two thirds of the cells labeled as faulty are in fact (documented) errors.
Stable Magnetic Levitation Of Soft Ferromagnetic Materials By Flux Pinning Of Bulk Superconductors

We have investigated electromagnetic force characteristics of magnetic levitation systems consisting only of bulk superconductors and an iron rail, which enable a stable levitation even at a standstill without active control by a magnetic gradient in space. A two-dimensional finite element analysis was used to study the fundamental and general characteristics of the levitation of soft ferromagnetic materials by flux pinning of bulk superconductors and the dependence of the levitation characteristics on the direction of the pinning flux.
Perception and enterprise communication networks to improve the requirements elicitation process

The requirements elicitation phase of software development projects is characterised by the intensity and importance of communication activities. Requirements elicitation is a traditional exploratory phase in which context is analysed and an abstraction is performed as a consequence. However, exploratory processes are characterised by a deep interaction with environmental factors. In this paper, we present a process for managing communication during the requirements elicitation phase. Our process would help get well-defined requirements by using knowledge inside organisations and a classification of requirements perception based on how environment is controlled by stakeholders. Our approach can be used to guide the elicitation process as well as to validate the requirements.
Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism Group Symposium on ‘Nutrition and lung health’ Nutrition and lung health

There is an increasing interest in the relationship between nutrition and lung health. Epidemiological studies suggest that dietary habits may have an influence on lung function and the tendency to common lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. In particular, a diet rich in fresh fruit and fish has been associated with a salutary effect on lung health. End-stage COPD is associated with a state of nutritional depletion which is refractory to conventional nutritional supplementation. In contrast, malnutrition associated with cystic fibrosis is amenable to nutritional therapy, which has been shown to improve prognosis in this disease.
Heterogenous glycosylation of ICAM‐3 and lack of interaction with Mac‐1 and p150,95

Intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)‐1, ICAM‐2, and ICAM‐3 have been identified as counter‐receptors for the leukocyte integrin lymphocyte function‐associated antigen 1 (LFA‐1). The other leukocyte integrins, Mac‐1 and p150,95, also interact with ICAM‐1. ICAM‐1 and ICAM‐3 are highly homologous, and an undefined ligand for Mac‐1 is presnt on neutrophils where ICAM‐3 is well expressed. In addition, glycosylation has been shown to affect the interaction of ICAM‐1 with Mac‐1. We therefore sought to characterize ICAM‐3 heterogeneity and determine whether ICAM‐3 was a ligand for either Mac‐1 or p150,95. Despite extensive differences in N‐linked glycosylation, ICAM‐3 purified from lymphoid cells and from neutrophils supports adhesion of LFA‐1‐bearing cells equally well; however, neither supports adhesion of Mac‐1 or p150,95‐expressing chinese hamster ovary cell transfectants. Similarly, purified Mac‐1 does not support adhesion of ICAM‐2 or ICAM‐3‐expressing L cell transfectants. ICAM‐3 on neutrophils does not participate in Mac‐1‐dependent homotypic aggregation. Thus, ICAM‐3 is not a counter‐receptor for either Mac‐1 or p150,95.
A constrained optimization approach for robust pole placement

This paper presents a methodology for designing controllers that place the roots of the characteristic polynomial of an uncertain system inside a set of circular regions around the nominal roots. A geometric framework is used for the derivation of an accurate search domain for the feasible controllers. Inside the given domain, a genetic algorithm efficiently searches for the most robust controller.
A Sonochemical Approach to the Fabrication of Laterally Aligned ZnO Nanorod Field Emitter Arrays on a Planar Substrate

A simple and novel sonochemical route has been demonstrated to produce the lateral growth of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorod arrays on a quartz wafer without the use of metal catalysts. Highly crystalline ZnO nanorods grew laterally on the edge of a Zn thin film seed layer, with preferential growth along the [0001] direction. The average diameter and length of the ZnO nanorods, grown laterally from the edge of the Zn thin film, were 156 and 933 nm, respectively. The vertical growth of ZnO nanorods on the top surface of the seed layer was suppressed by a Si thin film growth barrier. The lateral ZnO nanorod arrays showed excellent field emission properties, 60 mA/cm2 at 6.5 V/μm, with a low turn-on field in the range of 3.9-4.0 V/μm. Because of the compatibility of this process with current standard semiconductor microfabrication technologies, this sonochemical approach constitutes a practical technique for the design of state-of-the-art nanodevices based on laterally grown ZnO nanorod arrays on planar substrates.