nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
Reliability Analysis of Distribution Systems with Photovoltaic Generation Using a Power Flow Simulator and a Parallel Monte Carlo Approach

This paper presents a Monte Carlo approach for reliability assessment of distribution systems with distributed generation using parallel computing. The calculations are carried out with a royalty free power flow simulator, OpenDSS (Open Distribution System Simulator) The procedure has been implemented in an environment in which OpenDSS is driven from MATLAB. The test system is an overhead distribution system represented by means of a three phase model that includes protective devices. The paper details the implemented procedure, which can be applied to systems with or without distributed generation, includes an illustrative case study and summarizes the results derived from the analysis of the test system during one year. The goal is to evaluate the test system performance considering different scenarios with different level of system automation and reconfiguration, and assess the impact that distributed photovoltaic generation can have on that performance. Several reliability indices, including those related to the impact of distributed generation, are obtained for every scenario.
Draft Genome Sequence of Two Sphingopyxis sp. Strains, Dominant Members of the Bacterial Community Associated with a Drinking Water Distribution System Simulator
Venue: Genome Announcements

We report the draft genomes of two Sphingopyxis sp. strains isolated from a chloraminated drinking water distribution system simulator. Both strains are ubiquitous residents and early colonizers of water distribution systems. Genomic annotation identified a class 1 integron (intI1) gene associated with sulfonamide (sul1) and puromycin (pac) antibiotic resistance genes.
Are Most People Happy? Exploring the Meaning of Subjective Well Being Ratings

The claim that most people are happy and satisfied, assuming that high self ratings on numerical scales indicate good lives, is cross checked against extensive verbal reports in a large scale mixed methods validation study. For a sample of 500 qualitative interviews conducted in Austria, the usual 10 point scale self ratings of life satisfaction and happiness were linked to the content of respondents' actual narrations. Additionally, the narrated well being was classified according to an alternative evaluation scheme by external raters. The results show that many persons report substantial restrictions to their hedonic experience in spite of high or even very high ratings, and that the narrated well being evaluation is much more critical than the self rating. Therefore it is argued that a naive interpretation of high self rating values as top life experience systematically ignores negative aspects of life. The claimed predominance of happiness should be substantially reformulated. In particular, more attention should be drawn to resilient satisfaction in the presence of substantial psychological burden, and to the non negligible group of highly positive life satisfaction ratings which lack evidence of corresponding hedonic experience in the life narratives.
Does political participation make people happy

Does political participation make people happy? As convincing as the arguments may appear to be, it is equally remarkable that until now the relationship between participation and happiness has scarcely been the subject of empirical investigation. On the one hand, this has to do with the fact that the concepts "political participation" and "happiness" encompass very complex constructs. On the other hand, the idea that there is a positive correlation between participation and happiness is certainly not without controversy: Why should an activity lead to happiness, when it does not necessarily achieve its intended objective? Is the time consuming process of participating in a ballot vote not rather a frustrating one if the outcome of the vote or election does not correspond to one's own preferences?
Real Time Joint Tracking of a Hand Manipulating an Object from RGB D Input
Venue: ECCV

Real time simultaneous tracking of hands manipulating and interacting with external objects has many potential applications in augmented reality, tangible computing, and wearable computing. However, due to difficult occlusions, fast motions, and uniform hand appearance, jointly tracking hand and object pose is more challenging than tracking either of the two separately. Many previous approaches resort to complex multi camera setups to remedy the occlusion problem and often employ expensive segmentation and optimization steps which makes real time tracking impossible. In this paper, we propose a real time solution that uses a single commodity RGB D camera. The core of our approach is a 3D articulated Gaussian mixture alignment strategy tailored to hand object tracking that allows fast pose optimization. The alignment energy uses novel regularizers to address occlusions and hand object contacts. For added robustness, we guide the optimization with discriminative part classification of the hand and segmentation of the object. We conducted extensive experiments on several existing datasets and introduce a new annotated hand object dataset. Quantitative and qualitative results show the key advantages of our method: speed, accuracy, and robustness.
A vacuum flash assisted solution process for high efficiency large area perovskite solar cells
Venue: Science

Metal halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) currently attract enormous research interest because of their high solar to electric power conversion efficiency (PCE) and low fabrication costs, but their practical development is hampered by difficulties in achieving high performance with large size devices. We devised a simple vacuum flash assisted solution processing method to obtain shiny, smooth, crystalline perovskite films of high electronic quality over large areas. This enabled us to fabricate solar cells with an aperture area exceeding 1 square centimeter, a maximum efficiency of 20.5% and a certified PCE of 19.6% By contrast, the best certified PCE to date is 15.6% for PSCs of similar size. We demonstrate that the reproducibility of the method is excellent and that the cells show virtually no hysteresis. Our approach enables the realization of highly efficient large area PSCs for practical deployment.
Effect Of Rhizobia Inoculation On Nodulation And Nitrogen Fixation Of Soybean Cultivars In Sudan Savanna Of Nigeria

A field experiment has been conducted to study the effect of rhizobia inoculation and nitrogen fixation of soybean cultivars. The experiment consisted of testing ten cultivars under bradyrhizobium inoculation and uninoculation conditions in a split plot design and replicated four times, with inoculation in the main plot and the varieties in the sub plot level. The parameters determined were initial physicochemical properties of the soil, number of nodules and nodule score, and biological nitrogen fixation. The result indicated that the soil was low in fertility with low organic matter, total N, available P and Sulphur. Nodule score and number of ineffective nodules were significantly affected as there were significant differences between the inoculated and uninoculated treatments. Similarly, varietal effect on number of effective and ineffective nodules and number of nodules were significant (P<0.05) but nodule score was not significantly affected. The highest number of effective nodules and number of nodules were observed in TGX 1945 and TGX 1935 3F, respectively, while the lowest was with SC SAGA. Highest N2 fixed (150 Kg N ha 1 equivalents to 63% was observed with TGX 1935 3F, while the lowest (100 Kg N ha 1 equivalent to 55% N was with SC SAGA. Generally, the proportion of plant N derived from atmosphere and the estimate of N fixed were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by inoculation and varieties.  Inoculation, Nodulation, Nitrogen Fixation, Soybean, Kano, Nigeria
Hijacking Bitcoin: Large scale Network Attacks on Cryptocurrencies
Venue: ArXiv

Bitcoin is without a doubt the most successful cryptocurrency in circulation today, making it an extremely valuable target for attackers. Indeed, many studies have highlighted ways to compromise one or several Bitcoin nodes. In this paper, we take a different perspective and study the effect of large scale network level attacks such as the ones that may be launched by Autonomous Systems (ASes) We show that attacks that are commonly believed to be hard, such as isolating 50% of the mining power, are actually within the reach of anyone with access to a BGP enabled network and hijacking less than 900 prefixes. Once on path, AS level adversaries can then partition the Bitcoin network or delay block propagation significantly. The key factors that enable these attacks are the extreme centralization of Bitcoin, both from a routing and a mining perspective, along with the fact that Bitcoin messages are sent unencrypted, without integrity guarantees. We demonstrate the feasibility of large scale attacks in practice against the deployed Bitcoin software and quantify their disruptive network wide impact. The potential damage to Bitcoin is severe. By isolating a part of the network or delaying the propagation of blocks, network level attackers can cause a significant amount of mining power to be wasted, leading to revenue losses and enabling a wide range of attacks such as double spending. We provide several suggestions on approaches to mitigate such attacks employing both short term and long term measures.
Distributed mirror descent method for saddle point problems over directed graphs
Venue: Complex.

In this article, we consider a mini max multi agent optimization problem where multiple agents cooperatively optimize a sum of local convex concave functions, each of which is available to one specific agent in a network. To solve the problem, we propose a distributed optimization method by extending classical mirror descent algorithms to the distributed setting. We obtain the convergence of the algorithm under wild conditions that the agent communication follows a directed graph and the related weighted matrices are row stochastic. In particular, when the weighted matrices are restricted to be doubly stochastic, we provide the explicit convergence rate of the algorithm by choosing the stepsize in a suitable way. The proposed algorithm can be viewed as a generalization of the subgradient projection methods since it utilizes a customized Bregman divergence instead of the usual Euclidean squared distance. Finally, some simulation results on a matrix game are presented to illustrate the performance of the algorithm.
Incorporating life cycle assessment indicators into optimal electric vehicle charging strategies: An integrated modelling approach

Transport electrification is one of the most attractive solutions for the decarbonisation of light duty European transport. However, the environmental evaluation of plug in electric vehicles (PEVs) presents challenges as the precise footprint depends on complex factors such as driving and charging behaviour and the source of the electricity used to recharge the PEVs. In this paper, an integrated modelling approach is developed to assess the environmental impact of different PEV charging strategies using an agent based simulation combined with a life cycle assessment and a multi objective optimisation taking environmental and economic indicators into account. This integrated approach is presented and tested using a case study in London.
A FUN SCALE for Understanding the Hedonic Value of a Product: The Destination Context

Fun" is one of the most frequently referenced sensory and hedonic phenomena in many different contexts of life, which merits scientific attention especially when consumer behavior is investigated with an experiential view of consumption. However, scientific definition and measurement of "fun" is virtually non existent in literature. Thus, this study aims to develop a scale of fun with structural (underlying dimensions) and psychometric (reliability and validity) properties to assess the hedonic value of a destination as a product. Several stages of content analysis, data collection, exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis for scale purification resulted in a FUN SCALE with 12 items assembling into four factors that were named social vigor, psychological zest, emotional spark, and flow.
Relevance of in vitro agar based screens to characterize the anti fungal activities of bacterial endophyte communities
Venue: BMC Microbiology

BackgroundEndophytes are microbes that inhabit internal plant tissues without causing disease. Plant microbial communities consist of large numbers of endophyte species. Understanding the functions of these endophytes is a major challenge. An important function of some endophytes is to suppress fungal pathogens. Typically, plant associated microbes are screened for anti fungal activities in vitro using the high throughput dual culture screen, but it is not clear whether this method correlates with the activities of these microbes in planta. Furthermore, it is not clear whether in vitro screening captures all of the microbes that show this activity inside plants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relevance of the in vitro dual culture method for screening endophytes with anti fungal activity.ResultsIn parallel, 190 bacterial endophytes from the corn grass family (Zea) were screened for suppression of two fungal pathogens (Sclerotinia homoeocarpa and Rhizoctonia solani) using the in vitro dual culture method, and in planta using the model plant, creeping bentgrass. All endophytes that showed anti fungal activity in planta against Sclerotinia homoeocarpa and Rhizoctonia solani (3 or 4 strains, respectively, out of 190) were captured in vitro. The in vitro and in planta screening results strongly correlated (r 0.81 and r 0.94 for the two pathogens, respectively).ConclusionsEvidence was gained here that the in vitro dual culture method is a relevant method for high throughput screening of plant endophyte communities for anti fungal activity. In our study, the method captured all of the microbes that suppressed the corresponding pathogens in planta.
Diagnostic value of a semi nested PCR for the diagnosis of mucormycosis and aspergillosis from paraffin embedded tissue: A single center experience.
Venue: Pathology, research and practice

The main aim of our study was to investigate the diagnostic value of a molecular method for the diagnosis of mucormycosis and aspergillosis from formalin fixed and paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues.  A retrospective chart review identified all cases with histology reports mentioning the presence of fungi with morphological characteristics of either Aspergillus or mucormycetes, for the period 2005 2012. Paraffin blocks were retrieved from the archives of the Department of Pathology. A semi nested PCR specific for the detection of mucormycetes and Aspergillus species was applied in FFPE tissue from the above blocks. Results were compared with those of histological (gold standard) and microbiological methods.  Twenty cases with fungal hyphae in tissue were revealed. Mucormycetes were detected in 9 cases (45% by PCR, in only 4 of which culture was available. Species of Aspergillus were detected in 8 cases (40% by PCR, two of which were co infection with mucormycetes. Five patients had other fungi, non detectable with this specific PCR. At least one sample per patient was positive by PCR. Seven out of 30 samples tested overall were false negative. The calculated sensitivity of this method in our setting was 79.3% (95% CI: 60.3 91.9% specificity was 100%  The specific PCR used appears to be an easy and useful tool for the prompt and accurate diagnosis of mucormycosis and aspergillosis, in combination with histology and direct examination. Mucormycosis was more frequent than aspergillosis during the study period, highlighting the importance of continuous epidemiological surveillance of these serious infections.
Direct Detection of Burkholderia cepacia in Susceptible Pharmaceutical Products Using Semi Nested PCR
Venue: PDA Journal of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology

Burkholderia cepacia has recently received a considerable attention as one of the major risks in susceptible pharmaceutical products. This microorganism can easily propagate and cause vast and severe contamination, especially to the water supplies for pharmaceutical companies. Moreover, it proliferates within the products and can cause severe infections for humans. Therefore, fast and sensitive detection of these bacteria is of a great demand. The present study introduces improved application of a polymerase chain reaction assay with relatively high sensitivity and specificity for the direct detection of B. cepacia from the aqueous pharmaceutical products. A semi nested polymerase chain reaction approach using the primer set BCR1/BCR2 followed by BCR1/Mr yielding a 465 bp fragment of the recA gene was applied and tested using both crude lysate from isolated colonies and DNA directly extracted from artificially prepared and spiked reference syrup. The polymerase chain reaction assay showed no interference with other bacterial reference and environmental strains tested, including Staphylococcus aureus ATCC(r) 6538, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC(r) 9027, Escherichia coli ATCC(r) 8739, Salmonella abony NCTC(r) 6017, Bacillus subtilis ATCC(r) 6633, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus warneri, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas putida, and Ralstonia pickettii. Moreover, this semi nested assay showed a detection limit of around 10 colony forming units per sample and could detect B. cepacia strains isolated from a municipal pre treated potable water tank. Comparing the results for detection of B. cepacia in 100 randomly collected commercial syrup preparations using both conventional standard method and polymerase chain reaction assay revealed that B. cepacia was detected in two samples using polymerase chain reaction assay while all samples showed negative results by conventional culturing and biochemical methods. These results highlight the advantage of using this polymerase chain reaction assay to detect B. cepacia in contaminated pharmaceutical products and even water for pharmaceutical purposes, without the need of culturing or pre enrichment, where it may give false negative results and may be misidentified when biochemically tested.
Nanomaterials as a game changer in the management and treatment of diabetic foot ulcers

Nanoengineered biomaterials have tremendously improved the range of tools utilized for the control of as well as acceleration of healing of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) over the last few decades. Despite nanoparticles and electrospun nanofibers being used extensively for the treatment of DFU, there has been no review available till now which addresses the utilization of the latest nanodelivery techniques along with modern electrospun nanofiber treatments for DFU. This review thoroughly summarizes the latest mindboggling findings of potential nanomaterials like polymeric and metallic nanoparticles and electrospun nanofibers for DFU treatment. In addition, a succinct insight into the potential of the aforementioned nanomaterials which can be exploited as therapeutic delivery agents for improving the regeneration of damaged dermal and epidermal tissues of DFU is underscored. Ultimately, current challenges and future prospects of nanoparticles and electrospun nanofibers for DFU treatment are highlighted.
Foot Health Education for People with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Game of Chance. A Survey of Patients' Experiences.
Venue: Musculoskeletal care

Up to 90% of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) experience foot problems leading to reduced function, mobility, quality of life and social participation, and impacts on body image, but these can be improved with general foot care, orthoses, footwear and patient education. Foot health patient education is lacking, so the aim of the present study was to identify the foot health educational needs of people with RA in relation to its content, timing, mode of delivery and the perceived barriers to its provision.  People with RA completed an online survey and provided free text comments for thematic analysis.  A total of 249 people completed the free text section of the survey. Five main themes emerged: 'Forgotten feet' 'Too little, too late' 'Lacks and gaps' 'I am my feet' and 'Game of chance' CONCLUSION Foot pathology in people with RA has a bio psychosocial impact on their lives. Foot health and related information appears to be considered rarely within the medical consultation. Access to foot health information and services is limited owing to a lack of patient and/or health professional awareness, with a detrimental impact on the prognosis of their foot health. The importance of foot health in people with RA should be reinforced for patients and health professionals alike. Opportunities to discuss foot health within the medical consultation should be provided regularly.
Design and Implementation of Foot Mounted Inertial Sensor Based Wearable Electronic Device for Game Play Application
Venue: Sensors

Wearable electronic devices have experienced increasing development with the advances in the semiconductor industry and have received more attention during the last decades. This paper presents the development and implementation of a novel inertial sensor based foot mounted wearable electronic device for a brand new application: game playing. The main objective of the introduced system is to monitor and identify the human foot stepping direction in real time, and coordinate these motions to control the player operation in games. This proposed system extends the utilized field of currently available wearable devices and introduces a convenient and portable medium to perform exercise in a more compelling way in the near future. This paper provides an overview of the previously developed system platforms, introduces the main idea behind this novel application, and describes the implemented human foot moving direction identification algorithm. Practical experiment results demonstrate that the proposed system is capable of recognizing five foot motions, jump, step left, step right, step forward, and step backward, and has achieved an over 97% accuracy performance for different users. The functionality of the system for real time application has also been verified through the practical experiments.
Design of a Set of Foot Movements for a Soccer Game on a Mobile Phone
Venue: The Computer Games Journal

In this paper, we report on the design of 19 foot movements (or gestures) for a soccer game on a mobile phone, all of which are performed by professional footballers. In our experiment, a person wore a Myo armband below the knee and performed each movement, and an accelerometer based gesture recognition system on an Android smartphone was used to map out each movement. The recognition system ran on a limited memory device, and so a light gesture recognition method was required. Therefore, a real time online dynamic time warping algorithm was used, since this is faster than a classical method. The algorithm generated results are comparable with those obtained on workstations, and an average recognition rate of 91 was obtained.