Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Design and Optimization Considerations of Medium-Frequency Power Transformers in High-Power DC-DC Applications

Recently, power electronic converters are considered as one of the enabling technologies that can address many technical challenges in future power grids from the generation phase to the transmission and consequently distribution at different voltage levels. In contrast to the medium-power converters (5 to 100 kW) which have been essentially investigated by the automotive and traction applications, megawatt and medium-voltage range isolated converters with a several kilohertz isolation stage, also called solid-state transformers (SST), are still in an expansive research phase. Medium-frequency power transformers (MFPT) are considered as the key element of SSTs which can potentially replace the conventional low-frequency transformers. The main requirements of SSTs, i.e., high power density, lower specific losses, voltage adaptation and isolation requirements are to a great extent fulfilled through a careful design of MFPTs. This work proposes a design and optimization methodology of an MFPT accounting for a tuned leakage inductance of the transformer, core and winding losses mitigation, thermal management by means of a thermally conductive polymeric material as well as high isolation requirements. To achieve this goal, several frequency-dependent expressions were proposed and developed in order to accurately characterize such a transformer. These expressions are derived analytically, as in frequency-dependent leakage inductance expression, or based on finite element method (FEM) simulations, as in the proposed expression for high-frequency winding loss calculation. Both derived expressions are experimentally validated and compared with the conventional methods utilizing detailed FEM simulations. Utilizing the proposed design method, two down-scaled prototype transformers, 50 kW/5 kHz, have been designed, manufactured and measured. The nanocrystalline-based prototype reached an efficiency of 99.66%, whereas the ferrite-based transformer showed a measured efficiency of 99.58%, which are almost the same values as the theoretically predicted ones. Moreover, the targeted value of prototype’s leakage inductances were achieved through the proposed design method and were validated by measurements. Finally, using SiC MOSFETs and based on the contribution above, the efficiency and power density of a 1 / 30 kV, 10 MW turbine-based DC-DC converter with MFPT are quantified. It was found that, with respect to the isolation requirements, there is a critical operating frequency above which the transformer does not benefit from further volume reduction, due to an increased frequency.
Features of cadets’ adaptation universities Ukrainian Interior Ministry to study the art of sambo

Цель: изучить проблему адаптации курсантов к изучению бросковой техники самбо в учебном процессе профессиональной направленности. Материал: в исследовании приняли участие 53 курсанта первого курса, а также 8 преподавателей привлеченных в качестве экспертов. Результаты: рассмотрены особенности начального изучения приемов самозащиты без оружия в вузах системы МВД Украины. Определены факторы, которые затрудняют формирование технических действий. В частности, недостаточная готовность курсантов по основным психофизическим параметрам, стремление избежать болевых ощущений при падениях, большие перерывы между занятиями. Разработан комплекс специальных упражнений, направленный на совершенствование психофизических качеств будущих сотрудников милиции, который способствует адаптации к изучению приемов самозащиты без оружия. Экспериментально подтверждена эффективность предложенных специальных упражнений для повышения качества формирования двигательных навыков и нейтрализации действий негативных факторов. Выводы: рекомендовать использовать в учебном процессе по специальной физической подготовке специальные упражнения, постепенно усложняющиеся и по структуре максимально приближенные к сложно координационным приемам рукопашного боя.
Promoting action of vitamin E and black seed oil on reproductive hormones and organ histoarchitecture of Swiss albino mice

Abstract Background Vitamin E and black seed oil are two powerful antioxidants with several health benefits. Objective The effect of vitamin E and black seed oil on reproductive performance of Swiss albino mice was studied. Methods A total of 80 (40 male and 40 female) mice of 25–28 days old were randomly divided into four groups viz., A, B, C and D consisting of 10 mice in each group. Mice from the group A served as vehicle control and received normal mice ration whereas mice from the group B, C and D received feed supplemented with either black seed oil (0.5 ml/kg), vitamin E (200 mg/kg) or combination of black seed oil (0.5 ml/kg) and vitamin E (200 mg/kg), respectively daily for 16 weeks. At the end point of the study, blood samples were collected and sera were separated for hormonal analysis. At the same time, mice were sacrificed and testes and ovaries were collected for histomorphological examination. Results In male mice, the level of testosterone increased significantly in mice receiving black seed oil only, whereas the thyroxin increased significantly in all treated groups when compared to the control mice. Histomorphological examination revealed a significant increase in the diameter of seminiferous tubules in male mice fed with either black seed oil or vitamin E or both. On the other hand, the oestradiol and thyroxin concentration in female mice showed no significant changes in both control and treated groups. However, ovaries of mice fed with black seed oil or vitamin E or both showed an increased number of the follicles of different stages than the control mice. Conclusions The findings highlighted the promoting action of vitamin E and black seed oil on reproductive functions of mice and that can be used to treat infertility in man and animals.
Jejunoileal mucosal growth in mice with a limited microbiome

Previous work demonstrated enhanced enterocyte proliferation and mucosal growth in gnotobiotic mice, suggesting that intestinal flora participate in mucosal homeostasis. Furthermore, broad-spectrum enteral antibiotics are known to induce near germ-free (GF) conditions in mice with conventional flora (CONV). We hypothesized that inducing near GF conditions with broad-spectrum enteral antibiotics would cause ordered small intestinal mucosal growth in CONV mice but would have no effect in GF mice with no inherent microbiome. C57BL/6J CONV and GF mice received either an antibiotic solution (Ampicillin, Ciprofloxacin, Metronidazole, Vancomycin, Meropenem) or a vehicle alone. After treatment, small intestinal villus height (VH), crypt depth (CD), mucosal surface area (MSA), crypt proliferation index (CPI), apoptosis, and villus and crypt cell types were assessed. Antibiotic-treated CONV (Abx-CONV) mice had taller villi, deeper crypts, increased CPI, increased apoptosis, and greater MSA compared to vehicle-treated CONV mice. Minor differences were noted in enterocyte and enterochromaffin cell proportions between groups, but goblet and Paneth cell proportions were unchanged in Abx-CONV mice compared to vehicle-treated CONV mice (p>0.05). Antibiotics caused no significant changes in VH or MSA in GF mice when compared to vehicle-treated GF mice (p>0.05). Enteral administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics to mice with a conventional microbiome stimulates ordered small intestinal mucosal growth. Mucosal growth was not seen in germ-free mice treated with antibiotics, implying that intestinal mucosal growth is associated with change in the microbiome in this model.
Pediatric Seizure Prediction in Scalp EEG Using a Multi-Scale Neural Network With Dilated Convolutions

Objective: Epileptic seizure prediction based on scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) is of great significance for improving the quality of life of patients with epilepsy. In recent years, a number of studies based on deep learning methods have been proposed to address this issue and achieve excellent performance. However, most studies on epileptic seizure prediction by EEG fail to take full advantage of temporal-spatial multi-scale features of EEG signals, while EEG signals carry information in multiple temporal and spatial scales. To this end, in this study, we proposed an end-to-end framework by using a temporal-spatial multi-scale convolutional neural network with dilated convolutions for patient-specific seizure prediction. Methods: Specifically, the model divides the EEG processing pipeline into two stages: the temporal multi-scale stage and the spatial multi-scale stage. In each stage, we firstly extract the multi-scale features along the corresponding dimension. A dilated convolution block is then conducted on these features to expand our model’s receptive fields further and systematically aggregate global information. Furthermore, we adopt a feature-weighted fusion strategy based on an attention mechanism to achieve better feature fusion and eliminate redundancy in the dilated convolution block. Results: The proposed model obtains an average sensitivity of 93.3%, an average false prediction rate of 0.007 per hour, and an average proportion of time-in-warning of 6.3% testing in 16 patients from the CHB-MIT dataset with the leave-one-out method. Conclusion: Our model achieves superior performance in comparison to state-of-the-art methods, providing a promising solution for EEG-based seizure prediction.
Epidemiology of Hepatitis C virus infection among incarcerated populations in North Dakota

This retrospective cohort study was conducted to determine the prevalence of HCV infections among individuals incarcerated in a state prison system and identify potential contributing factors to HCV infection. North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (NDDOCR) data from 2009 to 2018 was used and period prevalence was calculated for this 10-year time period. The period prevalence of HCV infection was (15.13% (95% CI 14.39–15.90) with a marginally significant (p-value: 0.0542) increasing linear trend in annual prevalence over this period. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors associated with HCV infection. The main significant independent risk factors for HCV infection in this incarcerated population were age >40 years [OR: 1.78 (1.37–2.32)]; sex [OR: 1.21 (1.03–1.43)]; race/ethnicity [OR: 1.97 (1.69–2.29)]; history of intravenous drug use (IVDU) [OR: 7.36 (6.41–8.44)]; history of needle or syringe sharing [OR: 7.57 (6.62–8.67)]; and alcohol use [OR: 0.87 (0.77–0.99)]. Study limitations include uncollected information on sexual history, frequency or duration of injection drug use and blood transfusion history of the incarcerated population. Considering the high prevalence of HCV infection and its associated risk factors, it is important to implement prevention programs such as syringe/needle exchanges and counsel with imprisoned IVD users.
Blended e-learning: The way to go?

Blending is an art which integrates different types of resources and activities to make learning more effective. In the last decade, blended learning has extended to include e-learning, with teachers in higher education integrating e-learning into traditional methods of teaching (Littlejohn & Pegler, 2007). The objective of this paper is to present one such experiment with blended e-learning, which combines face-to-face interaction and computer-mediated communication to teach oral presentation skills in a communication skills course. Through an analysis of student comments (on video presentations) in the discussion board of Nanyang Technological University’s e-learning system, this paper aims to gauge whether blended elearning is a student-centered and constructivist way of learning and how student participants feel about this type of learning. It is hoped that this preliminary investigation will throw light on the controversial issue of whether Information and Communication Technologies in education should be used to augment or replace the face-to-face learning environment.
Insights into the limited global spread of the immune evasive SARS-CoV-2 variant Mu

SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VOCs) continue to reshape the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, why some VOCs, like Omicron, become globally dominant while the spread of others is limited is not fully understood. To address this question, we investigated the VOC Mu, which was first identified in Colombia in late 2020. Our study demonstrates that, although Mu is less sensitive to neutralization compared to variants that preceded it, it did not spread significantly outside of South and Central America. Additionally, we find evidence that the response to Mu was impeded by reporting delays and gaps in the global genomic surveillance system. Our findings suggest that immune evasion alone was not sufficient to outcompete highly transmissible variants that were circulating concurrently with Mu. Insights into the complex relationship between genomic and epidemiological characteristics of previous variants should inform our response to variants that are likely to emerge in the future.
A Framework for Understanding Systems Engineering

People who can effectively lead the implementation of the information technology, commercial and military systems acquisition and development process within the cost and schedule constraints are scarce. These people are becoming known as systems engineers and the approach they use is systems engineering. However, there is no generally accepted definition of systems engineering, nor is there a generally accepted body of knowledge for systems engineering. Mixing ingredients from systems engineering (Beer, Hall, Jackson, Checkland etc.), management (Taylor, Ford, Drucker, Peters, Hammer and Champy etc.), and Quality (Deming, Juran and Crosby etc.), together with some original thoughts, this book takes you on an exploratory journey, and, by documenting the application of systems thinking to the problem of understanding systems engineering, provides you with a unique perspective for understanding systems engineering and management and how they relate to each other.
Human milk: From complex tailored nutrition to bioactive impact on child cognition and behavior

Abstract Human milk is a highly complex liquid food tailor-made to match an infant’s needs. Beyond documented positive effects of breastfeeding on infant and maternal health, there is increasing evidence that milk constituents also impact child neurodevelopment. Non-nutrient milk bioactives would contribute to the (long-term) development of child cognition and behavior, a process termed ‘Lactocrine Programming’. In this review we discuss the current state of the field on human milk composition and its links with child cognitive and behavioral development. To promote state-of-the-art methodologies and designs that facilitate data pooling and meta-analytic endeavors, we present detailed recommendations and best practices for future studies. Finally, we determine important scientific gaps that need to be filled to advance the field, and discuss innovative directions for future research. Unveiling the mechanisms underlying the links between human milk and child cognition and behavior will deepen our understanding of the broad functions of this complex liquid food, as well as provide necessary information for designing future interventions.
Association of serum cardiac troponin I and severity of coronary stenosis in patients with varied renal functions: a retrospective cohort study

Background and objective Recent studies showed cardiac troponin I (cTnI) might be a non-invasive biomarker to estimate the severity of coronary stenosis. However, serum cTnI is also found associated with renal function. The study objective is to analyse the association of serum cTnI and severity of coronary stenosis in patients with varied renal functions. Design A retrospective cohort study. Setting The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China. Population A total of 6487 subjects who underwent elective coronary angiography between January 2017 to June 2020 were involved in this study. Primary outcomes Severity of coronary stenosis was divided into three degrees based on Gensini score, mild coronary stenosis, moderate coronary stenosis and severe coronary stenosis. Results By using ordinal logistic regression, serum cTnI was associated with severity of coronary stenosis (OR=1.14, p<0.05). By construction and comparison of two models for predicting severity of coronary stenosis, the addition of cTnI significantly improved the predictive ability of the model. Differences between areas under the curves were 0.03, 0.03, 0.03, 0.12 (all p<0.05). Net reclassification improvements were 0.08, 0.05, 0.05, 0.35, respectively, in varied renal functions. Compared with the participants with normal renal function and without hypertroponinaemia, groups of participants with hypertroponinaemia showed higher ORs. ORs were 3.52, 4.20, 4.45, 6.00, respectively, as renal function decreased (all p<0.05). Conclusions In this cohort of patients with stable coronary artery disease and varied renal functions, cTnI was intensely associated with severity of coronary stenosis which based on Gensini score. The presentation of hypertroponinaemia in patients with impaired renal function always indicates a higher risk of severe coronary stenosis.
Improving the availability of vaccines in primary healthcare facilities in South Africa: is the time right for a system redesign process?

ABSTRACT An uninterrupted supply of vaccines at different supply chain levels is a basic component of a functional immunization programme and care service. There can be no progress toward achieving universal health coverage and sustainable development without continuous availability of essential medicines and vaccines in healthcare facilities. Shortages of vaccines, particularly at health facility level is an issue of grave concern that requires urgent attention in South Africa. The causes of vaccine stock-outs are multifactorial and may be linked to a broader systems issue. These factors include challenges at higher levels such as delays in the delivery of stock from the pharmaceutical depot; health facility level factors, which include a lack of commitment from healthcare workers and managers; human resource factors, such as, staff shortages, and lack of skilled personnel. Therefore, there is a compelling need to address the factors associated with shortages of vaccines in health facilities. This paper highlights the challenges of vaccine availability in South Africa, the associated factors, the available interventions, and recommended interventions for the expanded programme on immunization in South Africa. We propose a system redesign approach as a potentially useful intervention.
Simultaneous targeting of mitochondrial metabolism and immune checkpoints as a new strategy for renal cancer therapy

Dear Editor, Cancer is a pathology still on the rise,1 with unmet need for efficient therapy, owing to factors such as considerable differences in mutational signature in the same patient in primary tumours and proximal/distal metastases, shown, for example, for renal cancer.2 What is needed then is an invariant target predominantly only affected by drugs in cancer cells. A thus far untested approach is targeting mitochondrial respiration using compounds from the group of mitocans,3 epitomised by mitochondrially targeted tamoxifen (MitoTam), that is, tamoxifen tagged with the mitochondrial vector triphenylphosphonium (TPP) (Figure S1A; see also Supporting Information for description of synthesis). 4,5 This strategy is based on the premise that cancer cells differ from their non-cancerous counterparts,3 making them selectively vulnerable to TPP-tagged anti-cancer agents,6 and on the premise that mitochondrial function is vital for tumour progression.7,8 Wehave recently conducted Phase 1/1bMitoTamclinical trial for metastatic solid tumour patients, with all patients undergoing palliative therapy after exhaustion of established therapeutic regimens (MitoTam-01 trial; EudraCT 2017-004441-25). Although the Phase 1/1b clinical trial will be published in its entirety elsewhere, of the individual types of cancer, the greatest benefit was found for clear cell renal cancer patients represented here by two subjects (Tables S1 and S2). These patients underwent three and four rounds of MitoTam therapy, respectively, at 1 mg/kg three times per week followed by a week of rest, totalling four such cycles, with one patient showing tumour stabilisation and the other partial remission (Figure 1A). The trial revealed excellent safety profile of MitoTam, with only occasional grade 1 toxicity. The high efficiency for renal cancer was found to correlate with the highest level of MitoTam and its metabolites reached in kidneys (Figures 1B, S1B and S1C), being excreted via bile (Figure S1D).
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibition in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor–Amplified Gastroesophageal Cancer: Retrospective Global Experience

PURPOSE Subset analyses from phase III evaluation of epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition (EGFRi) suggest improved outcomes in patients with EGFR-amplified gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma (GEA), but large-scale analyses are lacking. This multi-institutional analysis sought to determine the role of EGFRi in the largest cohort of patients with EGFR-amplified GEA to date. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 60 patients from 15 tertiary cancer centers in six countries met the inclusion criteria. These criteria required histologically confirmed GEA in the metastatic or unresectable setting with EGFR amplification identified by using a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments–approved assay, and who received on- or off-protocol EGFRi. Testing could be by tissue next-generation sequencing, plasma circulating tumor DNA next-generation sequencing, and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization performed by a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments approved laboratory. Treatment patterns and outcomes analysis was also performed using a deidentified clinicogenomic database (CGDB). RESULTS Sixty patients with EGFR-amplified GEA received EGFRi, including 31 of 60 patients (52%) with concurrent chemotherapy. Across treatment lines, patients achieved a 43% objective response rate with a median progression-free survival of 4.6 months (95% CI, 3.5 to 6.4). Patients receiving EGFRi in first-, second-, and third-line therapy achieved a median overall survival of 20.6 months (95% CI, 13.5 to not reached [NR]), 9 months (95% CI, 7.9 to NR), and 8.4 months (7.6 to NR), respectively. This survival far exceeded the 11.2-month (95% CI, 8.7 to 14.2) median overall survival from first-line initiation of non-EGFRi therapy in patients with EGFR-amplified GEA in the CGDB. Despite this benefit, analysis of the CGDB (January 2011-December 2020) suggests that only 5% of patients with EGFR-amplified GEA received EGFRi. CONCLUSION Patients with EGFR-amplified GEA derive significant benefit from EGFRi. Further prospective investigation of EGFRi in a well-selected patient population is ongoing in an upcoming trial of amivantamab in EGFR and/or MET amplified GEA.