Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Power quality improvement of PWM rectifier using VFOC and LCL filter

The three-phase ac/dc voltage source converters (VSCs) has the potential to be utilized in diverse number of applications such as grid interface in distributed and renewable energy generation, electric drives and FACTS devices. In this paper, Voltage Flux Oriented Control (VFOC) is used to control the dc voltage, reduce the harmonics and maintain the power factor to unity at point of common coupling. The virtual flux (VF) based estimation is used to apply voltage sensorless control. The VFOC algorithm is evaluated with L and LCL filters. The harmonic reduction effects with LCL-filter topology are better than L-filter. The studied system is modeled and simulated in the MATLAB/Simulink environment. The LCL filter shows better performance compared to L filter.
10 Tb/s PM-64QAM Self-Homodyne Comb-Based Superchannel Transmission With 4% Shared Pilot Tone Overhead

We demonstrate transmission of a comb-based 10 Tb/s 50 $\times$ 20 Gbaud PM-64QAM superchannel using frequency comb regeneration to reduce carrier offsets and allow for self-homodyne detection. The regeneration is enabled by transmitting two optical pilot tones which are filtered and recovered in the receiver using optical injection locking and an electrical phase-locked loop. We show that by utilizing frequency combs together with optical pilot tones, self-homodyne detection similar to systems using one pilot tone per wavelength channel, can be achieved. Sharing the overhead for pilot tones reduces the complexity and limits the overhead to 4%. This enabled a total superchannel spectral efficiency of 7.7 b/s/Hz. To evaluate the performance, we perform both back-to-back measurements and transmission over 80 km of standard single-mode fiber. Successful self-homodyne detection of all 50 data channels in the 10-nm-wide superchannel demonstrates that the spectral coherence from frequency combs, combined with the use of optical pilots, can overcome limitations arising from frequency offset and phase noise in high-order QAM transmission while keeping the pilot overhead low.
Journal of Geophysical Research : Solid Earth A Network Inversion Filter combining GNSS and InSAR for tectonic slip modeling

Studies of the earthquake cycle benefit from long-term time-dependent slip modeling, as it can be a powerful means to improve our understanding on the interaction of earthquake cycle processes such as interseismic, coseismic, post seismic, and aseismic slip. Observations from Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) allow us to model slip at depth with a higher spatial resolution than when using Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) alone. While the temporal resolution of InSAR has typically been limited, the recent fleet of SAR satellites including Sentinel-1, COSMO-SkyMED, and RADARSAT-2 permits the use of InSAR for time-dependent slip modeling at intervals of a few days when combined. With the vast amount of SAR data available, simultaneous data inversion of all epochs becomes challenging. Here we expanded the original network inversion filter to include InSAR observations of surface displacements in addition to GNSS. In the Network Inversion Filter (NIF) framework, geodetic observations are limited to those of a given epoch, with a stochastic model describing slip evolution over time. The combination of the Kalman forward filtering and backward smoothing allows all geodetic observations to constrain the complete observation period. Combining GNSS and InSAR allows modeling of time-dependent slip at unprecedented spatial resolution. We validate the approach with a simulation of the 2006 Guerrero slow slip event. We highlight the importance of including InSAR covariance information and demonstrate that InSAR provides an additional constraint on the spatial extent of the slow slip.
OpenCL-Accelerated Probabilistic Power Flow for Active Distribution Networks

Open computing language (OpenCL) is an open standard developed for general purpose parallel programming of heterogeneous computing devices. OpenCL can be used to exploit the massively parallel architecture of graphics processing units (GPU) in performing non graphic tasks. This paper presents an OpenCL parallel implementation of Monte-Carlo simulation based probabilistic power flow analysis for large active distribution systems. The proposed implementation adopts single precision arithmetic and is independent of third-party linear algebra libraries, which makes it suitable for standalone implementation and use on any mainstream GPU. Moreover, given that it adopts the OpenCL programing model, the proposed approach may also be used on multicore CPUs. The accuracy and speedup of the proposed implementation is validated using several test systems, of sizes ranging from 32 to 10476 buses. The results show that the proposed parallelized implementation can achieve substantial speedups without requiring high performance computing purposed hardware.
The Complexity Measures Associated with the Fluctuations of the Entropy in Natural Time before the Deadly México M8.2 Earthquake on 7 September 2017

We analyse seismicity during the 6-year period 2012–2017 in the new time domain termed natural time in the Chiapas region where the M8.2 earthquake occurred, Mexico’s largest earthquake in more than a century, in order to study the complexity measures associated with fluctuations of entropy as well as with entropy change under time reversal. We find that almost three months before the M8.2 earthquake, i.e., on 14 June 2017, the complexity measure associated with the fluctuations of entropy change under time reversal shows an abrupt increase, which, however, does not hold for the complexity measure associated with the fluctuations of entropy in forward time. On the same date, the entropy change under time reversal has been previously found to exhibit a minimum [Physica A 506, 625–634 (2018)]; we thus find here that this minimum is also accompanied by increased fluctuations of the entropy change under time reversal. In addition, we find a simultaneous increase of the Tsallis entropic index q.
Vaccination of goats with a combination Salmonella vector expressing four Brucella antigens (BLS, PrpA, Omp19, and SOD) confers protection against Brucella abortus infection

Salmonella is an intracellular pathogen with a cellular infection mechanism similar to that of Brucella, making it a suitable choice for use in an anti-Brucella immune boost system. This study explores the efficacy of a Salmonella Typhimurium delivery-based combination vaccine for four heterologous Brucella antigens (Brucella lumazine synthase, proline racemase subunit A, outer-membrane protein 19, and Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase) targeting brucellosis in goats. We inoculated the attenuated Salmonella delivery-based vaccine combination subcutaneously at two different inoculation levels; 5 × 109 colony-forming unit (CFU)/mL (Group B) and 5 × 1010 CFU/mL (Group C) and challenged the inoculations with virulent Brucella abortus at 6 weeks post-immunization. Serum immunoglobulin G titers against individual antigens in Salmonella immunized goats (Group C) were significantly higher than those of the non-immunized goats (Group A) at 3 and 6 weeks after vaccination. Upon antigenic stimulation, interferon-γ from peripheral blood mononuclear cells was significantly elevated in Groups B and C compared to that in Group A. The immunized goats had a significantly higher level of protection as demonstrated by the low bacterial loads in most tissues from the goats challenged with B. abortus. Relative real-time polymerase chain reaction results revealed that the expression of Brucella antigens was lower in spleen, kidney, and lung of immunized goats than of non-immunized animals. Also, treatment with our combination vaccine ameliorated histopathological lesions induced by the Brucella infection. Overall, the Salmonella Typhimurium delivery-based combination vaccine was effective in delivering immunogenic Brucella proteins, making it potentially useful in protecting livestock from brucellosis.
Nbeal2 Deficiency Increases Organ Damage but Does Not Affect Host Defense During Gram-Negative Pneumonia-Derived Sepsis

Objective— Nbeal2−/− mice, a model of human gray platelet syndrome, have reduced neutrophil granularity and impaired host defense against systemic Staphylococcus aureus infection. We here aimed to study the role of Nbeal2 deficiency in both leukocytes and platelets during gram-negative pneumonia and sepsis. Approach and Results— We studied the role of Nbeal2 in platelets and leukocytes during murine pneumonia and sepsis by Klebsiella pneumoniae. Apart from platelet &agr;-granule deficiency and reduced neutrophil granularity, also monocyte granularity was reduced in Nbeal2−/− mice, whereas plasma levels of MPO (myeloperoxidase), elastase, NGAL (neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin), and MMP-9 (matrix metalloproteinase 9), and leukocyte CD11b expression were increased. Nbeal2−/− leukocytes showed unaltered in vitro antibacterial response and phagocytosis capacity against Klebsiella, and unchanged reactive nitrogen species and cytokine production. Also during Klebsiella pneumonia and sepsis, Nbeal2−/− mice had similar bacterial growth in lung and distant body sites, with enhanced leukocyte migration to the bronchoalveolar space. Despite similar infection-induced inflammation, organ damage was increased in Nbeal2−/− mice, which was also seen during endotoxemia. Platelet-specific Nbeal2 deficiency did not influence leukocyte functions, indicating that Nbeal2 directly modifies leukocytes. Transfusion of Nbeal2−/− but not of Nbeal2+/+ platelets into thrombocytopenic mice was associated with bleeding in the lung but similar host defense, pointing at a role for platelet &agr;-granules in maintaining vascular integrity but not host defense during Klebsiella pneumosepsis. Conclusions— These data show that Nbeal2 deficiency—resulting in gray platelet syndrome—affects platelets, neutrophils, and monocytes, with intact host defense but increased organ damage during gram-negative pneumosepsis.
A review on application of microorgarnisms for organic waste management

A Review on Application of Microorganisms for Organic Waste Management Chee Woh Leow, Yee Van Fan, Lee Suan Chua, Ida Idayu Muhamad, Jiří Jaromír Klemeš, Chew Tin Lee* Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor. Malaysia Sustainable Process Integration Laboratory – SPIL, NETME Centre, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology VUT Brno, Technická 2896/2, 616 69 Brno, Czech Republic Institute of Bioproduct Development Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 Johor Bahru, Johor. Malaysia ctlee@utm.my
An efficient use of ensemble methods to predict students academic performance

Application of data mining techniques in an educational background can discover hidden knowledge and patterns that will support in decision-making processes for improving the educational system. In e-learning system or web-based education, student's behavioral(SB) features play an important role that will show the student's interactivity towards the e-learning system. The aim of this paper is to show the importance of SB features and for this task we have collected the educational dataset from learning management system (LMS). On the included dataset, feature analysis has been done and after that, we have used data preprocessing phase that is an important step in knowledge discovery process. On the preprocessed dataset, classification is performed on it by using classifiers namely; Decision Tree (ID3), Nave Bayes, K-Nearest Neighbor, Support vector machines to predict student's academic performance. The accuracy of the proposed model is achieved by using Ensemble Methods. We have used Bagging, Boosting, and Voting Algorithm that are the common ensemble methods. On using ensemble methods, we have got the better result that proves the reliability of the proposed model.
Chandra Observation of the Edge-on Galaxy NGC 3556 (M108): Violent Galactic Disk-Halo Interaction Revealed

We present a 60 ks Chandra ACIS-S observation of the isolated edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 3556, together with a multiwavelength analysis of various discrete X-ray sources and diffuse X-ray features. Among 33 discrete X-ray sources detected within the IB = 25 mag arcsec-2 isophote ellipse of the galaxy, we identify a candidate for the galactic nucleus, an ultraluminous X-ray source that might be an accreting intermediate-mass black hole, a possible X-ray binary with a radio counterpart, and two radio-bright giant H II regions. We detect large amounts of extraplanar diffuse X-ray emission, which extend about 10 kpc radially in the disk and ≳4 kpc away from the galactic plane. The diffuse X-ray emission exhibits significant substructures, possibly representing various blown-out superbubbles or chimneys of hot gas heated in massive star-forming regions. This X-ray-emitting gas has temperatures in the range of ~(2-7) × 106 K and has a total cooling rate of ~2 × 1040 ergs s-1. The energy can be easily supplied by supernova blast waves in the galaxy. These results show NGC 3556 to be a galaxy undergoing vigorous disk-halo interaction. The halo in NGC 3556 is considerably less extended, however, than that of NGC 4631, in spite of many similarities between the two galaxies. This may be due to the fact that NGC 3556 is isolated, whereas NGC 4631 is interacting. Thus, NGC 3556 presents a more pristine environment for studying the disk-halo interaction.
Obesity in Adults: A Neglected Public Health Problem in Urban Areas ofKandahar City, Afghanistan

-Background:Obesity is a major public health problem particularly, for elderly, considered one of the most serious challenges all over the world. This study aims to determine the prevalence and risk factors of obesity among elders Kandahar city, Afghanistan. Methods and Materials: Descriptive and analytical cross sectional study was conducted in Kandahar city within October-November, 2015. Multistage random sampling technique used and 1165 adults of 25-70 years were cleaned for analysis. WHO STEPS approach used to collect data on demographic and behavioral factors. Physical measurement comprising height, weight and blood pressure including blood samples were collected and tested for biochemical measurements including blood lipids. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed using SPSS v.20. Results: The prevalence of underweight, normal weight, overweight, obesity grade I, obesity grade II and obesity grade III were 4.9%, 44.8%, 34.3%, 11.2%, 2.9% and 1.9% respectively. Out of all respondents 597 (51.2%) were females and 568 (48.8%) males with a mean age of 38.3±11.2 years. Around two thirds (73.2%) were illiterates and (79.3%) were married. 9.7% were smokers and (16.3%) were mouth snuff users. The average of total cholesterol, glycerides, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein and fast blood sugar were 183 mg /DL, 154.65mg/DL, 45.85mg/DL, 107.3 mg/DL and 131mg/DL respectively. Age, sex, education status, walking, triglyceride level, high blood pressure and central obesity were independently associated with obesity. Conclusion: Obesity is a cause of concern in urban citizens in Afghanistan. Increase awareness about obesity and healthy lifestyle is essential for adults to prevent obesity and its complications.
[Effects of exhaustive exercise on the expression of PHB1 and the function of mitochondria in rats].

OBJECTIVE To observe the changes of Prohibitin1(PHB1) contents in rat brain, heart, skeletal muscle tissue and mitochondria with acute exhaustive exercise and the effects of acute exhaustive exercise on mitochondrial function in rats, to explore the relationship among PHB1 and mitochondrial function and energy metabolism. METHODS Acute exhaustive exercise model:The rats carried acute exhaustive exercise after 8 weeks of feeding. The heart, brain and skeletal muscle samples were collected and the mitochondria were collected to detect the changes of respiratory function and reactive oxygen species(ROS). The expression of PHB1 protein in tissues and mitochondria was detected by Western blot. The ATP content in the organs and the activity of complexes (ATP synthase activity) in mitochondria were measured by spectrophotometer. RESULTS ① The ATP contents of brain, myocardium and skeletal muscle were decreased significantly after acute exhaustive exercise. ②The activities of complex V, respiratory control rates (RCR) and ROS in mitochondria of brain, myocardium and skeletal muscle were decreased significantly after acute exhaustive exercise, respiration rate state 4(ST4) was increased significantly, at the same time, respiration rate state 3(ST3) had no significant difference. ③ The expression of PHB1 in mitochondria of skeletal muscle was decreased significantly after acute exhaustive exercise, while there was no significant change in PHB1 in myocardial tissue and mitochondria. ④ The correlation analysis showed that the ATP contents in the brain, myocardium and skeletal muscle were positively correlated with the activity of complex V and the expression of PHB1 after acute exhaustive exercise. CONCLUSIONS After acute exhaustive exercise, the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation was reduced, the ROS production was increased, the expression of PHB1 was decreased, the ATP content and the activity of complex V were decreased in the brain and skeletal muscle of rats. Acute exhaustive exercise reduced the expression of PHB1 in mitochondria, decreased mitochondrial function, and reduced energy metabolism.
Decentralized Energy Management for Networked Microgrids in Future Distribution Systems

An increasing amount of distributed energy resources is being integrated into both distribution systems (DSs) and networked microgrids (MGs). The coordination among DSs and MGs becomes essential for DS operators and MG operators considering the high uncertainties of renewable energies and load demands. In this paper, we propose a decentralized energy management framework to coordinate the power exchange between DS and MGs based on the alternating direction method of multipliers algorithm in a fully decentralized fashion. The energy management model in each entity (DSs or MGs) is formulated using two-stage robust optimization to address the uncertainties of renewables and load demands. The problem is treated as a second order cone programming one based on a relaxed distflow model. Moreover, the robust model is solved by column and constraint generation algorithm, where cutting planes are introduced to ensure the exactness of second-order cone relaxation. Numerical results on a modified IEEE 33-bus system with three MGs validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Apparent calcium dependence of vesicle recruitment

Synaptic transmission relies on the recruitment of neurotransmitter‐filled vesicles to presynaptic release sites. Increased intracellular calcium buffering slows the recovery from synaptic depression, suggesting that vesicle recruitment is a calcium‐dependent process. However, the molecular mechanisms of vesicle recruitment have only been investigated at some synapses. We investigate the role of calcium in vesicle recruitment at the cerebellar mossy fibre to granule cell synapse. We find that increased intracellular calcium buffering slows the recovery from depression following physiological stimulation. However, the recovery is largely resistant to perturbation of the molecular pathways previously shown to mediate calcium‐dependent vesicle recruitment. Furthermore, we find two pools of vesicles with different recruitment speeds and show that models incorporating two pools of vesicles with different calcium‐independent recruitment rates can explain our data. In this framework, increased calcium buffering prevents the release of intrinsically fast‐recruited vesicles but does not change the vesicle recruitment rates themselves.
Prion biology and bovine spongiform encephalopathy Biología del prion y encefalopatía espongiforme bovina

La compleja naturaleza de los priones ha intrigado a la comunidad científica durante los últimos 70 años. Desde el primer hallazgo de la infectividad del scrapie y la primera transmisión experimental de este agente en 1937, los priones y las encefalopatías espongiformes transmisibles (EETs) han estado bajo intensa investigación. Las EETs son enfermedades neurodegenerativas y fatales que no poseen diagnóstico temprano, tratamiento o cura. A pesar de sus diversas presentaciones, estas enfermedades provienen de la conversión infecciosa, espontánea o hereditaria de la proteína del prion celular PrPC en una isoforma patogénica conocida como PrPSc. Según la hipótesis del prion, la PrPC tiene la capacidad autocatalítica o inducida de cambiar su configuración secundaria desde una estructura α-helicoidal a una configuración predominantemente β-planar, característica de la PrPSc. La potencial función fisiológica de la PrPC aún no ha sido determinada, sin embargo ha sido vinculada a varios roles biológicos que incluyen adhesión, protección y diferenciación celular. La naturaleza compleja de las EETs ha abierto nuevas interrogantes y presenta nuevos desafios en el área de la biología del prion. La potencial transmisión zoonótica de la Encefalopatía Espongiforme Bovina (EEB) ha despertado preocupación en la comunidad internacional en relación a la bioseguridad de los productos de origen animal. Como consecuencia de este fenómeno, se han realizado numerosas investigaciones para establecer la patogénesis de las EETs y desarrollar métodos de diagnóstico y tratamiento. Sin embargo, se requiere de mayores esfuerzos para dilucidar la compleja naturaleza de este agente y establecer métodos de control para estas enfermedades.
Response of heart mitochondria to hyperthermia: activation at the febrile temperature versus loss of the inner membrane barrier at higher temperatures

Modular kinetic analysis was applied to compare the response of the oxidative phosphorylation system in rat heart mitochondria to different temperatures in a hyperthermic range (40–45 °C vs. 37 °C) aiming to identify the affected modules of the system. The results indicate that increasing the temperature in a febrile range (37–41 °C) slightly activated the mitochondrial function due to stimulation of the respiratory module, while the kinetics of the proton leak and the phosphorylation module was not affected. A very different pattern of changes was induced at slightly higher temperatures (42–45 °C). A severe impairment of the energy transforming function of mitochondria, caused by a sudden disturbance of the membrane barrier function, was observed at 42 °C. Although the state 3 respiration rate at this temperature remained unchanged, proton leak across the inner mitochondrial membrane was substantially increased, the respiratory module being slightly inhibited, and the membrane potential (∆ψ) decreased by 8 mV, leading to a partial uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation and a diminished ATP synthesis (16% lower phosphorylation flux). The further increase of temperature was extremely harmful to the mitochondrial function: after three minutes of incubation at 45 °C, mitochondria became completely uncoupled and were unable to maintain ∆ψ and to synthesize ATP. To sum it up, energy production in heart mitochondria was slightly activated at temperatures in the febrile range and was drastically impaired at temperatures higher by only a few degrees.