pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity analysis for photovoltaic water pumping systems: Energetic and economic studies

In agricultural remote areas where electrical energy is required to supply water pumping plants, photovoltaic modules are considered a good option to generate electricity. The reliability of autonomous Photovoltaic water pumping plants depends essentially on the system components size, which should meet the criteria related to the plant autonomy and the water volume required for irrigation. In this context, this research paper proposes an approach to size the elements of an autonomous photovoltaic system equipped with an energy storage device (a battery bank), and which is used to supply a waterpumping plant with electricity. The proposed approach determines the optimal surface of the photovoltaic modules, the optimal capacity of the battery bank and the volume of the water storage tank.
The optimization approach takes into account the monthly average solar radiation, the fulfillment of the water needed for the crops’ irrigation and the number of the days of autonomy. Measured climatic data of 10 ha situated in Northern Tunisia and planted with tomato are used in the optimization process, which is conducted during the tomato vegetative cycle (from March to July). The optimal results achieved for this farm are 101.5 m2 of photovoltaic modules’ surface, 1680 A h/12 V of the battery bank and 1800 m3 of the volume of the water storage tank. Then, to verify the reliability of the proposed optimization approach, the results of the proposed sizing algorithm are compared with those of a commercial optimization tool named HOMER, which shows better results using the proposed approach. Finally, the economic reliability of the obtained size is studied and compared with systems that include a diesel generator, and a diesel generator- photovoltaic panels, respectively, using climatic and economic parameters in three countries: Tunisia, Spain and Jordan. The economic analysis for these water pumping systems showed that photovoltaic- batteries/Pump system is the optimum solution in the three countries. However, the initial cost of the system can be recuperated faster in Spain than in Tunisia and Jordan due to high prices of the diesel these two countries
A Problem For the Alternative Difference Measure of Confirmation

Among Bayesian confirmation theorists, several quantitative measures of the degree to which an evidential proposition E confirms a hypothesis H have been proposed. According to one popular recent measure, s, the degree to which E confirms H is a function of the equation P(H|E) − P(H|~E). A consequence of s is that when we have two evidential propositions, E1 and E2, such that P(H|E1) = P(H|E2), and P(H|~E1) ≠ P(H|~E2), the confirmation afforded to H by E1 does not equal the confirmation afforded to H by E2. I present several examples that demonstrate the unacceptability of this result, and conclude that we should reject s (and other measures that share this feature) as a measure of confirmation
Extension and flexion in the upper cervical spine in neck pain patients

Neck pain is a common problem in the general population with high risk of ongoing complaints or relapses. Range of motion (ROM) assessment is scientifically established in the clinical process of diagnosis, prognosis and outcome evaluation in neck pain. Anatomically, the cervical spine (CS) has been considered in two regions, the upper and lower CS. Disorders like cervicogenic headache have been clinically associated with dysfunctions of the upper CS (UCS), yet ROM tests and measurements are typically conducted on the whole CS. A cross-sectional study assessing 19 subjects with non-specific neck pain was undertaken to examine UCS extension-flexion ROM in relation to self-reported disability and pain (via the Neck Disability Index (NDI)). Two measurement devices (goniometer and electromagnetic tracking) were employed and compared. Correlations between ROM and the NDI were stronger for the UCS compared to the CS, with the strongest correlation between UCS flexion and the NDI-headache (r = -0.62). Correlations between UCS and CS ROM were fair to moderate, with the strongest correlation between UCS flexion and CS extension ROM (r = -0.49). UCS flexion restriction is related to headache frequency and intensity. Consistency and agreement between both measurement systems and for all tests was high. The results demonstrate that separate UCS ROM assessments for extension and flexion are useful in patients with neck pain
Delimiting the Unconceived

It has been argued in Dawid (2013) that physicists at times generate substantial trust in an empirically unconfirmed theory based on observations that lie beyond the theory's intended domain. A crucial role in the reconstruction of this argument of "non-empirical confirmation" is played by limitations to scientific underdetermination. The present paper discusses the question as to how generic the role of limitations to scientific underdetermination really is. It is argued that assessing such limitations is essential for generating trust in any theory's predictions, be it empirically confirmed or not. The emerging view suggests that empirical and non-empirical confirmation\ud
are more closely related to each other than one may expect at first glance
Geographical variation in the heterogeneity of mutualistic networks

Plant–animal mutualistic networks are characterized by highly heterogeneous degree distributions. The majority of species interact with few partner species, while a small number are highly connected to form network hubs that are proposed to play an important role in community stability. It has not been investigated, however, if or how the degree distributions vary among types of mutualisms or communities, or between plants and animals in the same network. Here, we evaluate the degree distributions of pollination and seed-dispersal networks, which are two major types of mutualistic networks that have often been discussed in parallel, using an index based on Pielou's evenness. Among 56 pollination networks we found strong negative correlation of the heterogeneity between plants and animals, and geographical shifts of network hubs from plants in temperate regions to animals in the tropics. For 28 seed-dispersal networks, by contrast, the correlation was positive, and there is no comparable geographical pattern. These results may be explained by evolution towards specialization in the presence of context-dependent costs that occur if plants share the animal species as interaction partner. How the identity of network hubs affects the stability and resilience of the community is an important question for future studies
Neural network controller for active demand side management with PV energy in the residential sector

In this paper, we describe the development of a control system for Demand-Side Management in the residential sector with Distributed Generation. The electrical system under study incorporates local PV energy generation, an electricity storage system, connection to the grid and a home automation system. The distributed control system is composed of two modules: a scheduler and a coordinator, both implemented with neural networks. The control system enhances the local energy performance, scheduling the tasks demanded by the user and maximizing the use of local generation
A framework for collaborative filtering recommender systems

As the use of recommender systems becomes more consolidated on the Net, an increasing need arises to develop some kind of evaluation framework for collaborative filtering measures and methods which is capable of not only testing the prediction and recommendation results, but also of other purposes which until now were considered secondary, such as novelty in the recommendations and the users? trust in these. This paper provides: (a) measures to evaluate the novelty of the users? recommendations and trust in their neighborhoods, (b) equations that formalize and unify the collaborative filtering process and its evaluation, (c) a framework based on the above-mentioned elements that enables the evaluation of the quality results of any collaborative filtering applied to the desired recommender systems, using four graphs: quality of the predictions, the recommendations, the novelty and the trust
A mechanistic approach to the Kitagawa-Takahashi diagram using a multiaxial probabilistic framework

The aim of this paper is to propose a flexible multiaxial modelling framework that is capable of combining two fatigue damage mechanisms so as to continuously describe the Kitagawa-Takahashi diagram. It is proposed that this diagram represents two distinct fatigue damage mechanisms: one associated with crack initiation (or microstructurally small cracks) and the other with crack propagation (or long cracks). It is further postulated that these damage mechanisms are more appropriately modelled using di erent fatigue criteria. A probabilistic modelling framework
is proposed in which any two suitable fatigue criteria can be combined in order to simultaneously model both damage mechanisms and the transition between them. This framework is based on the weakest link hypothesis and results in a probabilistic Kitagawa-Takahashi type diagram
A new material model for 2D numerical simulation of serrated chip formation when machining titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V

A new material constitutive law is implemented in a 2D finite element model to analyse the chip formation and shear localisation when machining titanium alloys. The numerical simulations use a commercial finite element software (FORGE 2005) able to solve complex
thermo-mechanical problems. One of the main machining characteristics of titanium alloys is to produce segmented chips for a wide range of cutting speeds and feeds. The present study assumes that the chip segmentation is only induced by adiabatic shear banding,
without material failure in the primary shear zone. The new developed model takes into account the influence of strain, strain rate and temperature on the flow stress and also introduces a strain softening effect. The tool chip friction is managed by a combined
Coulomb–Tresca friction law. The influence of two different strain softening levels and machining parameters on the cutting forces and chip morphology has been studied. Chip morphology, cutting and feed forces predicted by numerical simulations are compared with 
experimental results
Measuring the effectiveness of user interventions in improving the seated posture of computer users

Extended periods of time sitting in front of a computer give rise to risks of developing musculoskeletal disorders. In the workplace, computer use contributes considerably to employee injury and results in significant costs to the employer in terms of sick leave and injury claims. Due to these risks there has been significant research into the areas of posture classification and subject intervention to improve posture in an office environment. The Kinect has been shown to be a suitable hardware platform for posture classification. This paper presents a system for posture classification and novel subject intervention  that leverages each of three distinct forms of persuasive computing and explores the success of each type. Our results show significant improvement in posture results from the most effective of our intervention types
On Kalman Active Observers

Abstract  The paper introduces the Active Observer (AOB) algorithm in the framework of Kalman filters. The AOB reformulates the Kalman filter to accomplish model-reference adaptive control based on: (1) A desired closed loop system. (2) An extra equation to estimate an equivalent disturbance referred to the system input. An active state is introduced to compensate unmodeled terms, providing a feedforward compensation action. (3) Stochastic design of the Kalman matrices. Stability analysis with model errors is discussed. An example of robot force control with an external and unknown nonlinear disturbance is presented (SISO system). Another example of model-matching control for steer-by-wire (SBW) vehicles with underactuated structure is discussed (MIMO system).http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10846-006-9045-
QoS Support for Multi-user Sessions in IP-based Next Generation Networks

Abstract  A combined control of multimedia quality level, mobility and allocation of network resources is essential for the success of next generation mobile networks. In this context, this article presents the Multi-user Session Control (MUSC) solution to control the quality level of multimedia sessions shared by multiple-users, providing Quality of Service (QoS) mapping and QoS adaptation for those sessions over heterogeneous and mobile networks. MUSC uses the self-organized principle to coordinate QoS mapping and QoS adaptation mechanisms with mobility and resource allocation controllers, allowing the adaptation of a session to the current network conditions and the dynamic selection of the suitable network service class to map the session. MUSC minimizes the blocking probability, optimizes the usage of network resources and keeps sessions with an acceptable quality of experience. MUSC was evaluated in a simulation and in an experimental environment to analyze its convergence time, percentage of session blocking as well as delay, throughput, Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), Mean Option Scores (MOS) and Structural Similarity Index (SSIM) of sessions in QoS-aware mobile scenarios.http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11036-008-0058-
Visibility of wearable sensors as measured using eye tracking glasses

Sensor technologies can enable independent living for people with dementia by monitoring their behaviour and identifying points where support may be required. Wearable sensors can provide such support but may constitute a source of stigma for the user if they are perceived as visible and therefore obtrusive. This paper presents an empirical investigation exploring the extent to which wearable sensors are perceived as visible. 23 Participants wore eye tracking glasses, which superimposed the location of their gaze onto video data of their panorama. Participants were led to believe that the research entailed a subjective evaluation of the eye tracking glasses. A researcher wore one of two wearable sensors during the evaluation enabling us to measure the extent to which participants fixated on the sensor during a one-on-one meeting. Results are presented on the general visibility and potential fixations on two wearable sensors, a wrist-worn actigraph and a lifelogging camera, during normal conversation between two people
Searching for chiral logs in the static-light decay constant

Using the clover fermion action in unquenched QCD with pion masses as low as
420 MeV, we look for evidence for chiral logs in the static-light decay
constant. There is some evidence for a chiral log term, if the original static
theory of Eichten and Hill is used. However, the more precise data from the
static action of the ALPHA collaboration do not show any evidence for
non-linear dependence of the static-light decay constant on the light quark
mass. We make some comments on the connection between chiral perturbation
theory for decay constants of the pion and static-light meson
Two-pulse interference and superluminality

We examine how the interference of a coherent light-pulse with its slightly
time-delayed copy may generate a pulse nearly identical to the original one and
ahead of it. The simplicity of this 2-pulse system enabled us to obtain exact
analytic expressions of the pulse distortion, valid for a wide class of pulse
shapes. Explicit results are given for the pulses usually considered (gaussian,
hyperbolic secant) but also for more realistic pulses of strictly limited
duration. We finally show that the efficiency of the 2-pulse system is
comparable to that of the other superluminal systems, at least for the pulse
advancements actually demonstrated in the optical experiments
Cosmic electromagnetic fields due to perturbations in the gravitational field

The is a copy of an article published by American Physical Society: Mongwane, B., Dunsby, P. K. S., Osano, O. B. 2012. Cosmic electromagnetic fields due to perturbations in the gravitational field. Physical Review D.  DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.86.083533.We use non-linear gauge-invariant perturbation theory to study the interaction of an inflation produced seed magnetic field with density and gravitational wave perturbations in an almost Friedmann-Lemaˆıtre-Robertson-Walker (FLRW) spacetime with zero spatial curvature. We compare the effects of this coupling under the assumptions of poor conductivity, perfect conductivity and the case where the electric field is sourced via the coupling of velocity perturbations to the seed field in the ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) regime, thus generalizing, improving on and correcting previous results. We solve our equations for long wavelength limits and numerically integrate the resulting equations to generate power spectra for the electromagnetic field variables, showing where the modes cross the horizon. We find that the interaction can seed Electric fields with non-zero curl and that the curl of the electric field dominates the power spectrum on small scales, in agreement with previous arguments
2D sigma models and differential Poisson algebras

We construct a two-dimensional topological sigma model whose target space is
endowed with a Poisson algebra for differential forms. The model consists of an
equal number of bosonic and fermionic fields of worldsheet form degrees zero
and one. The action is built using exterior products and derivatives, without
any reference to any worldsheet metric, and is of the covariant Hamiltonian
form. The equations of motion define a universally Cartan integrable system. In
addition to gauge symmetries, the model has one rigid nilpotent supersymmetry
corresponding to the target space de Rham operator. The rigid and local
symmetries of the action, respectively, are equivalent to the Poisson bracket
being compatible with the de Rham operator and obeying graded Jacobi
identities. We propose that perturbative quantization of the model yields a
covariantized differential star product algebra of Kontsevich type. We comment
on the resemblance to the topological A model.Comment: 20 page
Common variants in the ARC gene are not associated with cognitive abilities

Introduction: The Activity-Regulated Cytoskeleton-associated (ARC) gene encodes a protein that is critical for the consolidation of synaptic plasticity and long-term memory formation. Given ARC's key role in synaptic plasticity, we hypothesized that genetic variations in ARC may contribute to interindividual variability in human cognitive abilities or to attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) susceptibility, where cognitive impairment often accompanies the disorder.
Methods: We tested whether ARC variants are associated with six measures of cognitive functioning in 670 healthy subjects in the Norwegian Cognitive NeuroGenetics (NCNG) by extracting data from its Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS). In addition, the Swedish Betula sample of 1800 healthy subjects who underwent similar cognitive testing was also tested for association with 19 tag SNPs.
Results: No ARC variants show association at the study-wide level, but several markers show a trend toward association with human cognitive functions. We also tested for association between ARC SNPs and ADHD in a Norwegian sample of cases and controls, but found no significant associations.
Conclusion: This study suggests that common genetic variants located in ARC do not account for variance in human cognitive abilities, though small effects cannot be ruled out
De novo missense mutations in the NAA10 gene cause severe non-syndromic developmental delay in males and females

Recent studies revealed the power of whole-exome sequencing to identify mutations in sporadic cases with non-syndromic intellectual disability. We now identified de novo missense variants in NAA10 in two unrelated individuals, a boy and a girl, with severe global developmental delay but without any major dysmorphism by trio whole-exome sequencing. Both de novo variants were predicted to be deleterious, and we excluded other variants in this gene. This X-linked gene encodes N-alpha-acetyltransferase 10, the catalytic subunit of the NatA complex involved in multiple cellular processes. A single hypomorphic missense variant p.(Ser37Pro) was previously associated with Ogden syndrome in eight affected males from two different families. This rare disorder is characterized by a highly recognizable phenotype, global developmental delay and results in death during infancy. In an attempt to explain the discrepant phenotype, we used in vitro N-terminal acetylation assays which suggested that the severity of the phenotype correlates with the remaining catalytic activity. The variant in the Ogden syndrome patients exhibited a lower activity than the one seen in the boy with intellectual disability, while the variant in the girl was the most severe exhibiting only residual activity in the acetylation assays used. We propose that N-terminal acetyltransferase deficiency is clinically heterogeneous with the overall catalytic activity determining the phenotypic severity
Identifying Potential Risks and Benefits of Using Cloud in Distributed Software Development.

Cloud-based infrastructure has been increasingly adopted by the industry in distributed software development (DSD) environments. Its proponents claim that its several benefits include reduced cost, increased speed and greater productivity in software development. Empirical evaluations, however, are in the nascent stage of examining both the benefits and the risks of cloud-based infrastructure. The objective of this paper is to identify potential benefits and risks of using cloud in a DSD project conducted by teams based in Helsinki and Madrid. A cross-case qualitative analysis is performed based on focus groups conducted at the Helsinki and Madrid sites. Participants observations are used to supplement the analysis. The results of the analysis indicated that the main benefits of using cloud are rapid development, continuous integration, cost savings, code sharing, and faster ramp-up. The key risks determined by the project are dependencies, unavailability of access to the cloud, code commitment and integration, technical debt, and additional support costs. The results revealed that if such environments are not planned and set up carefully, the benefits of using cloud in DSD projects might be overshadowed by the risks associated with it
In-field assessment of batteries and PV modules in a large photovoltaic rural electrification programme

Assuring the sustainability of quality in photovoltaic rural electrification programmes involves enhancing the reliability of the components of solar home systems as well as the characterization of the overall programme cost structure. Batteries and photovoltaic modules have a great impact on both the reliability and the cost assessment, the battery being the weakest component of the solar home system and consequently the most expensive element of the programme. The photovoltaic module, despite being the most reliable component, has a significant impact cost-wise on the initial investment, even at current market prices. This paper focuses on the in-field testing of both batteries and photovoltaic modules working under real operating conditions within a sample of 41 solar home systems belonging to a large photovoltaic rural electrification programme with more than 13,000 installed photovoltaic systems. Different reliability parameters such as lifetime have been evaluated, taking into account different factors, for example energy consumption rates, or the manufacturing quality of batteries. A degradation model has been proposed relating both loss of capacity and time of operation. The user e solar home system binomial is also analysed in order to understand the meaning of battery lifetime in rural electrification