Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The seasonal forecast of electricity demand: a hierarchical Bayesian model with climatological weather generator: Research Articles

In this paper we focus on the one year ahead prediction of the electricity peak-demand daily trajectory during the winter season in Central England and Wales. We define a Bayesian hierarchical model for predicting the winter trajectories and present results based on the past observed weather. Thanks to the flexibility of the Bayesian approach, we are able to produce the marginal posterior distributions of all the predictands of interest. This is a fundamental progress with respect to the classical methods. The results are encouraging in both skill and representation of uncertainty. Further extensions are straightforward at least in principle. The main two of those consist in conditioning the weather generator model with respect to additional information like the knowledge of the first part of the winter and/or the seasonal weather forecast. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
More than adopters: the welfare impacts of farmer innovation in rural Ghana

With the rapidly changing economic environments and numerous challenges hindering smallholders’ adoption of externally developed technologies, it is often argued that farmers’ innovations may be essential in the livelihoods of rural farm households and need to be promoted. Yet a rigorous assessment of the impacts of farmer innovation is lacking. Consequently, we analyse the effect of farmer innovation on household welfare, measured by farm and household income, consumption expenditure and food security. Using data from a recent field survey of rural farm households in northern Ghana and endogenous switching regression which controls for non-random selection bias, we estimate the welfare gains for innovators from innovating, and non-innovators had they innovated. We find that farmer innovation significantly improves both household income and consumption expenditure for innovators. It also contributes significantly to the reduction of food insecurity among innovative households by increasing household food consumption expenditure, reducing the length of food shortages, and decreasing the severity of hunger. However, we find that the positive productivity and income effects of farmer innovation do not significantly translate into nutritious diet, measured by household dietary diversity. The results also indicate that farmer innovation would have heterogeneous welfare effects for non-innovators, had they decided to innovate. Overall, our results show positive and significant welfare effects of farmer innovation, hence, support increasing arguments on the need to promote farmer innovation as a complement to externally promoted technologies in food security and poverty reduction efforts.
Optimal QoS-Aware Channel Assignment in D2D Communications With Partial CSI

In this paper, we propose effective channel assignment algorithms for network utility maximization in a cellular network with underlaying device-to-device (D2D) communications. A major innovation is the consideration of partial channel state information (CSI), i.e., the base station (BS) is assumed to be able to acquire “partial” instantaneous CSI of the cellular and D2D links, as well as, the interference links. In contrast to the existing works, multiple D2D links are allowed to share the same channel, and the quality of service (QoS) requirements for both the cellular and D2D links are enforced. We first develop an optimal channel assignment algorithm based on dynamic programming, which enjoys a much lower complexity compared with exhaustive search and will serve as a performance benchmark. To further reduce complexity, we propose a cluster-based sub-optimal channel assignment algorithm. New closed-form expressions for the expected weighted sum rate and the successful transmission probabilities are also derived. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms. Moreover, by comparing different partial CSI scenarios, we observe that the CSI of the D2D communication links and the interference links from the D2D transmitters to the BS significantly affects the network performance, while the CSI of the interference links from the BS to the D2D receivers only has a negligible impact.
Molecular and Immunophenotypical Characterization of a Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)-Associated Lymphoma: a Direct Role for FIV in B-Lymphocyte Transformation?

We describe the histopathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular characterization of a lymphoma arising in a 7-year-old cat following experimental infection with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). The tumor was high grade and of B-cell lineage. The transformed cell had an immature phenotype (CD79a+, CD79b-, CD21-, immunoglobulin heavy and light chain negative), confirmed by antigen receptor gene analysis, which showed germ line configuration. Single-copy, clonally integrated FIV provirus was detected in tumor genomic DNA. FIV p24 antigen was not detected in tumor cells by immunostaining. This study provides the first evidence that the feline lentivirus may play a direct role in cell transformation under certain circumstances.
The Disciplinary Motive for Takeovers: A Review of the Empirical Evidence

This paper reviews the literature on the disciplinary motive for takeovers, also known as the inefficient management hypothesis. A number of papers have examined either stock return performance, operating performance or q-ratios prior to acquisition, both for target firms as a whole and for specific sub-samples that are likely to be disciplinary. Other research has attempted to predict the probability of takeover from past performance. Overall, we do not find much empirical evidence in support of the disciplinary motive for takeovers.
Mental wellbeing in people with dementia following Cognitive Stimulation Therapy: Innovative practice

The benefits of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy in supporting cognitive functioning for people with dementia are well recognised. It has been proposed that Cognitive Stimulation Therapy may offer additional benefits in terms of a person’s sense of general wellbeing. A service evaluation of 60 participants attending Cognitive Stimulation Therapy groups was conducted using the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale. Although this evaluation did not demonstrate a significant difference between pre- and post-treatment scores (t = −1.75, df = −59, p = −0.085), there was a trend in participants’ reported optimism about the future and confidence. Recommendations about future research in relation to mental wellbeing in dementia care are discussed.
Transformational leadership behaviors in allied health professions.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to explore self-reported transformational leadership behavior profiles within the six largest allied health profession groups in the National Health Service in Scotland and to determine whether factors such as seniority of grade, locus of employment, and/or leadership training have a positive influence on transformational leadership behaviors. METHODS A postal survey comprising the shorter version of the Multifactorial Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) and contextual demographic information was completed by 753 allied health professionals from four Health Board areas across Scotland who were randomly selected through a modified cluster sampling technique. The MLQ contains 36 items that measure nine identified leadership factors; however, only the responses to the five transformational leadership factors are reported here. RESULTS The study identified significant differences in transformational leadership behaviors between individual allied health professions. Radiographers and podiatrists scored consistently lower than the other professional groups across the range of transformational behaviors. Seniority of grade significantly influenced the scores, with higher-graded staff reporting greater leadership behaviors (p < 0.001). Prior leadership training also positively influenced transformational behaviors (p < 0.001). However, locus of employment within a primary or secondary care setting or even a multidisciplinary or unidisciplinary team had no effect. CONCLUSIONS This research identified significant differences in transformational leadership behaviors between individual allied health professions, indicating that some professional groups are inherently advantaged in embracing the modernization agenda. This highlights an as-yet missed opportunity for effectively targeting and evaluating multidisciplinary leadership training programs across the allied health professions.
Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of the Effect of Fluoride on the Acquired Enamel Pellicle

The acquired enamel pellicle (AEP) is a thin film formed by the selective adsorption of salivary proteins onto the enamel surface of teeth. The AEP forms a critical interface between the mineral phase of teeth (hydroxyapatite) and the oral microbial biofilm. This biofilm is the key feature responsible for the development of dental caries. Fluoride on enamel surface is well known to reduce caries by reducing the solubility of enamel to acid. Information on the effects of fluoride on AEP formation is limited. This study aimed to investigate the effects of fluoride treatment on hydroxyapatite on the subsequent formation of AEP. In addition, this study pioneered the use of label-free quantitative proteomics to better understand the composition of AEP proteins. Hydroxyapatite discs were randomly divided in 4 groups (n = 10 per group). Each disc was exposed to distilled water (control) or sodium fluoride solution (1, 2 or 5%) for 2 hours. Discs were then washed and immersed in human saliva for an additional 2 hours. AEP from each disc was collected and subjected to liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for protein identification, characterization and quantification. A total of 45 proteins were present in all four groups, 12 proteins were exclusively present in the control group and another 19 proteins were only present in the discs treated with 5% sodium fluoride. Relative proteomic quantification was carried out for the 45 proteins observed in all four groups. Notably, the concentration of important salivary proteins, such as statherin and histatin 1, decrease with increasing levels of fluoride. It suggests that these proteins are repulsed when hydroxyapatite surface is coated with fluoride. Our data demonstrated that treatment of hydroxyapatite with fluoride (at high concentration) qualitatively and quantitatively modulates AEP formation, effects which in turn will likely impact the formation of oral biofilms.
Serum Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) with Erectile Dysfunction in Psoriatic Patients

Background: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common disorder leading to serious, negative impact on the quality of the patient's life and self-esteem. Its occurrence rate increases with psoriatic patients, as it is a systemic disease intervenes with endothelial dysfunction. A link is described among systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction (Psoriasis), and ED. Objective: Estimate of the serum level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in erectile dysfunction patients with psoriasis and patients with erectile dysfunction without psoriasis. Subjects and Methods: This study was conducted over a period of one year starting from February 2018 until February 2019. The study was consented by the Ethics Committee of Al-Azhar Faculty of Medicine. A sample of 90 men (30 men psoriatic patients with ED and 30 men with ED complaints and 30 healthy men of matched age as controls) were conscripted from the Dermatology and Andrology Outpatient Clinics at Al-Hussien and Bab AlShariah University Hospitals. ED presence and severity were tested by the five-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire (IIEF-5). Psoriatic patients were evaluated by PASI score. All subjects had thorough medical history and full physical examination. The serum level of TNF-α was measured for all cases and healthy controls using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. All men volunteered to partake in this study were married and have only one sexual partner. Results: In this study, serum TNF- levels were indicatively elevated in psoriatic patients with ED compared to ED patients only. In addition, the difference reached highly statistical significance between psoriatic patients with ED and healthy controls. The elevation correlates with duration of the disease, and family history. Levels of TNF-α were further increased when ED was associated with psoriasis advocating a more severe course of ED in these patients.
Dialyzer Reuse—Part I: Historical Perspective

The first apparatus for hemodialysis in animalsmade painstakingly by Abel et al. in their laboratory at the beginning of 20th centurywas cleaned with acid‐pepsin to digest blooddisinfected with thymoland reused for up to 30 experiments for as long as 8 months. The obvious incentive was saving time. In the early years of hemodialysis in patientsdialyzers and lines were assembled and sterilized immediately before dialysis. Various methods of dry and moist heat sterilization and miscellaneous chemical agents were employed for disinfection. Significant time was required to assemble the dialyzersso there was an incentive to reuse previously assembled dialyzers to save timeespecially for home hemodialysis. Bleach to clean and formaldehyde to disinfect the membranes and lines was used for this purpose. Preassembled dialyzerscommercially introduced in the 1950swere the most expensive components of hemodialysis systemstherefore reprocessing of these dialyzers was the most effective way to save money. Refrigeration of coil dialyzers with bloodintroduced in the mid‐1960swas associated with frequent febrile reactions and was soon abandoned. Preassembled coil and plate dialyzers permitted almost complete return of blood after dialysis and led to the introduction of chemical disinfection for dialyzer reprocessing. A variety of disinfectants have been used. Formaldehyde was the most common disinfectant until the end of the 1970s. Sodium hypochlorite was used to clean the majority of dialyzers and to sterilize dialyzers with polyacrylonitrile membranes. In the early 1980speracetic acid and glutaraldehyde started to compete with formaldehyde. By the 1990sformaldehyde had become less popular than peracetic acid. In the mid‐1990sdisinfection and membrane cleaning with acetic acid and heat was introduced. Manual reprocessing was replaced by early reuse machines in the mid‐1970s and a more sophisticated second generation of automated hemodialyzer reprocessing machines followed in the late 1970s. Recently disinfection of dialyzers with moist heat has resumed. Saving both time for the patient and money for the provider were the main motivations for designing a new machine for daily home hemodialysis. The machinedeveloped in the 1990scleans and moist‐heat disinfects the dialyzer and lines in situ so they do not need to be changed for a month. In contrastthe reuse of dialyzers in home hemodialysis patients treated with other hemodialysis machines has become less popular and is almost extinct.
Laying pattern parameters in broiler breeder hens and intrasequence changes in egg composition

The aim of the study was to analyze the pattern of oviposition time in laying sequences in broiler breeder hens and to determine a relationship between egg position in the sequence and egg quality. The sequences were described using mean oviposition time (hour) within a sequence, mean lag of oviposi - tion time between successive ovipositions, and mean and cumulative lag of oviposition for a sequence. Egg weight, percentage of egg components and shape index were determined for successive eggs in a sequence. The 2-, 3-, 4-, 5- to 6- and 7- to 9-egg sequences were considered. The light/dark regime was 16 h/8 h (05:00 a.m. to 09:00 p.m.). Hens laid the first egg in a sequence about 3.5 h after the beginning of the photoperiod. With increasing sequence length, the first egg was laid sooner after the beginning of the photoperiod and the intervals between successive ovipositions shortened. This suggests that when planning the frequency of egg collection in a flock of broiler breeder hens, one should account for changes in the egg sequence length during the production period. No significant relationship between egg position in the sequence and quality of egg components was observed.
Beta Cell Count Instead of Beta Cell Mass to Assess and Localize Growth in Beta Cell Population following Pancreatic Duct Ligation in Mice

Background Pancreatic-tail duct ligation (PDL) in adult rodents has been reported to induce beta cell generation and increase beta cell mass but increases in beta cell number have not been demonstrated. This study examines whether PDL increases beta cell number and whether this is caused by neogenesis of small clusters and/or their growth to larger aggregates. Methodology Total beta cell number and its distribution over small (<50 µm), medium, large (>100 µm) clusters was determined in pancreatic tails of 10-week-old mice, 2 weeks after PDL or sham. Principal findings PDL increased total beta cell mass but not total beta cell number. It induced neogenesis of small beta cell clusters (2.2-fold higher number) which contained a higher percent proliferating beta cells (1.9% Ki67+cells) than sham tails (<0.2%); their higher beta cell number represented <5% of total beta cell number and was associated with a similar increase in alpha cell number. It is unknown whether the regenerative process is causally related to the inflammatory infiltration in PDL-tails. Human pancreases with inflammatory infiltration also exhibited activation of proliferation in small beta cell clusters. Conclusions/significance The PDL model illustrates the advantage of direct beta cell counts over beta cell mass measurements when assessing and localizing beta cell regeneration in the pancreas. It demonstrates the ability of the adult mouse pancreas for neogenesis of small beta cell clusters with activated beta cell proliferation. Further studies should investigate conditions under which neoformed small beta cell clusters grow to larger aggregates and hence to higher total beta cell numbers.
Improving the quality of genome, protein sequence, and taxonomy databases: A prerequisite for microbiome meta‐omics 2.0

High‐throughput shotgun metaproteomic approaches on environmental or medical microbiomes are producing huge amounts of tandem mass spectrometry data. These can be interpreted either with a general protein sequence database comprising tens of thousands of sequenced genomes or with a more customized database such as those obtained after metagenome sequencing of the DNA extracted from the same sample. However, not all entries in a nucleotide or protein sequence database are of equal quality and this can critically impact metaproteomic data interpretation. In this viewpoint article, we exemplify several key issues. First, either genome or transcriptome data interpretation due to inaccurate contig assembly and gene prediction may be erroneous, for its mitigation the metaproteogenomic strategies could have an interesting perspective. Errors in sample handling and taxonomical characterization may also be problematic. Cross‐contamination of genome sequences is also underestimated while frequent. As a consequence of these structural errors regarding protein sequences and additional problems due to homology‐based functional annotation of proteins, specific efforts for better interpretation of metaproteomic data are required. We propose the development of new bioinformatic pipelines devoted to detection and correction of errors and contaminations to improve the overall quality of sequence and taxonomy databases for metaproteomics.
Throughput Capacity of Ad Hoc Networks with Route Discovery

Throughput capacity of large ad hoc networks has been shown to scale adversely with the size of network. However the need for the nodes to find or repair routes has not been analyzed in this context. In this paper, we explicitly take route discovery into account and obtain the scaling law for the throughput capacity under general assumptions on the network environment, node behavior, and the quality of route discovery algorithms. We also discuss a number of possible scenarios and show that the need for route discovery may change the scaling for the throughput capacity.
Playing their game: Changing stereotypes of Palestinians and Israelis through videogame play

This experiment explores the effects of a role-playing videogame on participants’ attitudes toward Israelis and Palestinians. Participants (N = 172) were randomly assigned to the role of either an Israeli or a Palestinian leader in PeaceMaker, a videogame simulation of the Palestinian–Israeli conflict. Participants’ explicit and implicit attitudes toward both groups were assessed before and after a 20-minute gameplay experience. Results showed that gameplay changed participants’ explicit stereotypes of the two national groups in a role-congruent fashion. Participants assigned to play the role of the Palestinian President or the Israeli Prime Minister negatively changed their evaluations of the opposing national group. Moreover, implicit bias moderated stereotype change. Results are discussed within the framework of self-persuasion and an associative-proposition evaluation model of attitude change.
Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) : trends in galaxy colours, morphology, and stellar populations with large-scale structure, group, and pair environments

We explore trends in galaxy properties with Mpc-scale structures using catalogues of environment and large-scale structure from the Galaxy And Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey. Existing GAMA catalogues of large-scale structure, group, and pair membership allow us to construct galaxy stellar mass functions for different environmental types. To avoid simply extracting the known underlying correlations between galaxy properties and stellar mass, we create a mass matched sample of galaxies with stellar masses within 9.5 ≤ log M*/h−2 M⊙ ≤ 11 for each environmental population. Using these samples, we show that mass normalized galaxies in different large-scale environments have similar energy outputs, u − r colours, luminosities, and morphologies. Extending our analysis to group and pair environments, we show that galaxies that are not in groups or pairs exhibit similar characteristics to each other regardless of broader environment. For our mass controlled sample, we fail to see a strong dependence of Sersic index or galaxy luminosity on halo mass, but do find that it correlates very strongly with colour. Repeating our analysis for galaxies that have not been mass controlled introduces and amplifies trends in the properties of galaxies in pairs, groups, and large-scale structure, indicating that stellar mass is the most important predictor of the galaxy properties we examine, as opposed to environmental classifications.