Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A decision support algorithm to assess cost-effective control of detriments associated with a production planning system

In systems where production of a commodity or service is accompanied by simultaneous generation of detriments, reduction of the latter usually implies increase in production cost. This leaves considerable scope for sustainable decisions regarding the extent to which control of detriments can be done in a cost effective manner. One example of such a system is production of power over an energy management scenario, where control of pollution from thermal units attracts considerable interest due to the environmental and economic implications. This paper presents an approach that decides the optimality for cost effective control of detriments accompanying a production process. The total burden on the production system is viewed in terms of two components, namely, a cost burden and a detriment burden; both considered relative to their values for the base case, which incorporates no control for detriments. The cost effective decision is obtained as an optimal tradeoff between the two burdens. The concept is formulated for the general production planning system, as well as for application to an energy management scenario. An illustrative case study adapted from the existing Indian energy scenario is used to highlight the applicability of the approach.
EGFR Soluble Isoforms and Their Transcripts Are Expressed in Meningiomas

The EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) is involved in the oncogenesis of many tumors. In addition to the full-length EGFR (isoform a), normal and tumor cells produce soluble EGFR isoforms (sEGFR) that lack the intracellular domain. sEGFR isoforms b, c and d are encoded by EGFR variants 2 (v2), 3 (v3) and 4 (v4) mRNA resulting from gene alternative splicing. Accordingly, the results of EGFR protein expression analysis depend on the domain targeted by the antibodies. In meningiomas, EGFR expression investigations mainly focused on EGFR isoform a. sEGFR and EGFRvIII mutant, that encodes a constitutively active truncated receptor, have not been studied. In a 69 meningiomas series, protein expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry using extracellular domain targeted antibody (ECD-Ab) and intracellular domain targeted antibody (ICD-Ab). EGFRv1 to v4 and EGFRvIII mRNAs were quantified by RT-PCR and EGFR amplification revealed by MLPA. Results were analyzed with respect to clinical data, tumor resection (Simpson grade), histological type, tumor grade, and patient outcome.Immunochemical staining was stronger with ECD-Ab than with ICD-Ab. Meningiomas expressed EGFRv1 to -v4 mRNAs but not EGFRvIII mutant. Intermediate or high ECD-Ab staining and high EGFRv1 to v4 mRNA levels were associated to a better progression free survival (PFS). PFS was also improved in women, when tumor resection was evaluated as Simpson 1 or 2, in grade I vs. grade II and III meningiomas and when Ki67 labeling index was lower than 10%. Our results suggest that, EGFR protein isoforms without ICD and their corresponding mRNA variants are expressed in meningiomas in addition to the whole isoform a. EGFRvIII was not expressed. High expression levels seem to be related to a better prognosis. These results indicate that the oncogenetic mechanisms involving the EGFR pathway in meningiomas could be different from other tumor types.
Nesiritide Therapy Is Associated With Better Clinical Outcomes Than Dobutamine Therapy in Heart Failure

To evaluate the therapeutic effects of dobutamine and nesiritide in the treatment of heart failure (HF), a meta-analysis of published studies was conducted. Computerized bibliographic databases in Chinese and English languages were carefully searched to identify the relevant literature. A total of 6 cohort studies were enrolled in current meta-analysis for statistical analyses. The effect of dobutamine and nesiritide in patients with HF was estimated by odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Our results revealed a significantly higher survival rate in nesiritide-treated patients, compared with those treated with dobutamine (OR = 1.97; 95% CI, 1.43–2.71; P < 0.001). In addition, a lower readmission rate was also associated with the nesiritide-treated group in comparison with the dobutamine-treated group (OR = 1.96; 95% CI, 1.39–2.78; P < 0.001). A stratified analysis revealed that the subgroup of patients with HF treated with nesiritide showed higher survival outcomes than those patients with HF treated with dobutamine when follow-up period was greater than 6 months (OR = 1.70; 95% CI, 1.21–2.38; P = 0.002) but not under 6 months (P > 0.05). This indicated that nesiritide treatment had longer term benefits as well. Interestingly, based on the reason for readmission, a subgroup analysis of the HF subgroup and the “all-cause” subgroup showed that higher readmission rates were associated with dobutamine treatment in both subgroups (HF: OR = 2.71; 95% CI, = 1.51–4.83; P = 0.001; all-cause: OR = 1.64; 95% CI, 1.06–2.53; P = 0.026; respectively). Our results suggest that nesiritide therapy is associated with a lower in-hospital mortality rates and decreased readmission rates compared with dobutamine treatment in patients with HF.
Stimulated Raman Scattering in Semiconductor Nanostructures

The PhD dissertation is organized in two parts. In the first part, we present an experimental study of stimulated Raman scattering in a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) nanowire. We demonstrate that the Raman amplification of a narrow-band Stokes wave experiences a saturation effect for high pump intensities because of self phase modulation of the pump beam. Moreover, an analytical model is presented that describes the experimental results remarkably well. The model furthermore provides an estimation of the Raman gain coefficient γR of silicon. The second part is devoted to the experimental study of stimulated Raman scattering in a doubly resonant planar GaAs microcavity. The nonlinear measurements clearly show some totally unexpected results. We experimentally demonstrate that the relaxation of the electrons in the conduction band of GaAs is significantly modified through the interaction with coherently excited Raman phonons.
Ensemble docking of multiple protein structures: Considering protein structural variations in molecular docking

One approach to incorporate protein flexibility in molecular docking is the use of an ensemble consisting of multiple protein structures. Sequentially docking each ligand into a large number of protein structures is computationally too expensive to allow large‐scale database screening. It is challenging to achieve a good balance between docking accuracy and computational efficiency. In this work, we have developed a fast, novel docking algorithm utilizing multiple protein structures, referred to as ensemble docking, to account for protein structural variations. The algorithm can simultaneously dock a ligand into an ensemble of protein structures and automatically select an optimal protein structure that best fits the ligand by optimizing both ligand coordinates and the conformational variable m, where m represents the m‐th structure in the protein ensemble. The docking algorithm was validated on 10 protein ensembles containing 105 crystal structures and 87 ligands in terms of binding mode and energy score predictions. A success rate of 93% was obtained with the criterion of root‐mean‐square deviation <2.5 Å if the top five orientations for each ligand were considered, comparable to that of sequential docking in which scores for individual docking are merged into one list by re‐ranking, and significantly better than that of single rigid‐receptor docking (75% on average). Similar trends were also observed in binding score predictions and enrichment tests of virtual database screening. The ensemble docking algorithm is computationally efficient, with a computational time comparable to that for docking a ligand into a single protein structure. In contrast, the computational time for the sequential docking method increases linearly with the number of protein structures in the ensemble. The algorithm was further evaluated using a more realistic ensemble in which the corresponding bound protein structures of inhibitors were excluded. The results show that ensemble docking successfully predicts the binding modes of the inhibitors, and discriminates the inhibitors from a set of noninhibitors with similar chemical properties. Although multiple experimental structures were used in the present work, our algorithm can be easily applied to multiple protein conformations generated by computational methods, and helps improve the efficiency of other existing multiple protein structure(MPS)‐based methods to accommodate protein flexibility. Proteins 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Psychosocial predictors of distress in parents of children undergoing stem cell or bone marrow transplantation.

OBJECTIVE To examine psychosocial predictors of distress (mood disturbance, perceived stress, caregiver burden) in parents of children undergoing stem cell or bone marrow transplantation (BMT). METHOD Measures of prior illness experiences, premorbid child behavior problems, family environment, social support, and parental coping behavior were obtained from the resident parents of 151 children prior to the children's admission for BMT. Parents subsequently completed assessments of their mood disturbance, perceived stress, and caregiving burden on a weekly basis through week +6 post-BMT, and then monthly through month +6 post-BMT. RESULTS Significant changes were observed in parental distress across the course of BMT. After correcting for demographic and medical factors, several significant predictors of parental distress trajectories were identified, including prior parent and patient illness-related distress, premorbid child internalizing behavior problems, the family relationship dimensions of the family environment, and parental avoidant coping behaviors. Multivariable models were developed using a hierarchical modeling approach. The best-fit model accounted for approximately 50% of the variance in parental global distress. CONCLUSIONS Subgroups of parents at higher risk for increased distress during the acute phase of transplant have been identified. These findings can help target parents who may be in greater need of intervention aimed at reducing transplant-related distress.
Low-delay video control in a personal area network for augmented reality

A personal area network (PAN) is a feature of an augmented reality system, transmitting modified video for real-time display. Low-delay communication of encoded video over a Bluetooth wireless PAN is achieved in favourable channel conditions by a combination of dynamic packetisation of video slices together with centralised and predictive rate control. The result is minimised packet delay (below 0.05 s) and high-quality 40 dB video, with packet loss limited to 4% from radio frequency noise. Where channel conditions result in error bursts, dynamic rate change is introduced to reduce the need for packet retransmission and improve power efficiency.
Platelet concentrates modulate myeloid dendritic cell immune responses

Abstract Platelet transfusion has been reported to modulate the recipients’ immune system. To date, the precise mechanism(s) driving poor patient outcomes (e.g., increased rate of mortality, morbidity, infectious complications and prolonged hospital stays) following platelet transfusion are largely undefined. To determine the potential for platelet concentrates (PC) to modulate responses of crucial immune regulatory cells, a human in vitro whole blood model of transfusion was established. Maturation and activation of human myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) and the specialized subset blood DC antigen (BDCA)3+ DC were assessed following exposure to buffy-coat derived PC at day (D)2 (fresh) and D5 (date-of-expiry). In parallel, to model recipients with underlying viral or bacterial infection, polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid or lipopolysaccharide was added. Exposure to PC had less of an impact on mDC responses than BDCA3+ DC responses. PC alone downregulated BDCA3+ DC expression of co-stimulatory molecules CD40 and CD80. In the model of viral infection, PC downregulated expression of CD83, and in the bacterial model of infection, PC downregulated CD80, CD83, and CD86. PC alone suppressed mDC production of interleukin (IL)-8, IL-12 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and BDCA3+ DC production of IL-8, IL-12, and IL-6. In the model of viral infection, production of IL-12 and interferon-gamma inducible protein (IP)-10 was reduced in both DC subsets, and IL-8 was reduced in BDCA3+ DC following PC exposure. When modeling bacterial infection, PC suppressed mDC and BDCA3+ DC production of IL-6 and IL-10 with a reduction in TNF-α evident in mDC. This study assessed the impact of PC “transfusion” on DC surface antigen expression and inflammatory mediator production and provided the first evidence that PC transfusion modulates blood mDC and BDCA3+ DC maturation and activation, particularly in the models of infection. Results of this study suggest that patients who receive PC, particularly those with underlying infectious complications, may fail to establish an appropriate immune response precipitating poor patient outcomes.
Fractionally spaced linear and decision-feedback detectors for transmultiplexers

We investigate improved detectors for transmultiplexer-based high bit rate transmission over dispersive channels like telephone wires. The transmitter is based on a synthesis stage. For the receiver, we design fractionally spaced single-input/multiple-output linear detectors, possibly upgraded with a multiple-input/multiple-output decision-feedback section, for an MMSE criterion. The performance of the system is investigated for filter banks, classical DMT, and different channels. The potential of these detectors is demonstrated,.
Comprehensive evaluation of long-term trends in occupational exposure: Part 1. Description of the database.

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a comprehensive evaluation of long term changes in occupational exposure among a broad cross section of industries worldwide. METHODS: A review of the scientific literature identified studies that reported historical changes in exposure. About 700 sets of data from 119 published and several unpublished sources were compiled. Data were published over a 30 year period in 25 journals that spanned a range of disciplines. For each data set, the average exposure level was compiled for each period and details on the contaminant, the industry and location, changes in the threshold limit value (TLV), as well as the type of sampling method were recorded. Spearman rank correlation coefficients were used to identify monotonic changes in exposure over time and simple linear regression analyses were used to characterise trends in exposure. RESULTS: About 78% of the natural log transformed data showed linear trends towards lower exposure levels whereas 22% indicated increasing trends. (The Spearman rank correlation analyses produced a similar breakdown between exposures monotonically increasing or decreasing over time.) Although the rates of reduction for the data showing downward trends ranged from -1% to -62% per year, most exposures declined at rates between -4% and -14% per year (the interquartile range), with a median value of -8% per year. Exposures seemed to increase at rates that were slightly lower than those of exposures which have declined over time. Data sets that showed downward (versus upward) trends were influenced by several factors including type and carcinogenicity of the contaminant, type of monitoring, historical changes in the threshold limit values (TLVs), and period of sampling. CONCLUSIONS: This review supports the notion that occupational exposures are generally lower today than they were years or decades ago. However, such trends seem to have been affected by factors related to the contaminant, as well as to the period and type of sampling.
Analysis of Synaptic Scaling in Combination with Hebbian Plasticity in Several Simple Networks

Conventional synaptic plasticity in combination with synaptic scaling is a biologically plausible plasticity rule that guides the development of synapses toward stability. Here we analyze the development of synaptic connections and the resulting activity patterns in different feed-forward and recurrent neural networks, with plasticity and scaling. We show under which constraints an external input given to a feed-forward network forms an input trace similar to a cell assembly (Hebb, 1949) by enhancing synaptic weights to larger stable values as compared to the rest of the network. For instance, a weak input creates a less strong representation in the network than a strong input which produces a trace along large parts of the network. These processes are strongly influenced by the underlying connectivity. For example, when embedding recurrent structures (excitatory rings, etc.) into a feed-forward network, the input trace is extended into more distant layers, while inhibition shortens it. These findings provide a better understanding of the dynamics of generic network structures where plasticity is combined with scaling. This makes it also possible to use this rule for constructing an artificial network with certain desired storage properties.
Effects of β2-glycoprotein-I on platelet aggregation in cord versus adult whole blood

We present a peculiarity of the neonatal hemostatic system that might contribute to establish a procoagulant readiness in neonatal blood by sensitizing neonatal platelets for ADP stimulation. β2-glycoprotein-I (β2-GP-I) is a plasma constituent capable of suppressing ADP-induced platelet aggregation. We found significant lower levels of β2-GP-I in cord vs. adult plasma (120 ± 27 vs. 180 ± 37 µg/mL, P < 0.001). We demonstrate dose-dependent inhibition of ADP-induced platelet aggregation in cord whole blood (WB) in the presence of increasing amounts of β2-GP-I, evaluated by means of WB aggregometry employing the impedance method. Particularly, raising the β2-GP-I concentration in cord WB from neonatal level up to the respective adult value caused significant reduction of amplitude (from 9.5 ± 2.7 to 2.8 ± 0.9 Ω, P < 0.001) and of slope (from 5.9 ± 2.4 to 1.89 ± 0.9 Ω/min, P < 0.001), and a significant prolongation of the aggregation time (from 51.8 ± 22.9 to 110.8 ± 60.3 s, P < 0.001). In conclusion, physiological low levels of β2-GP-I in cord WB cause enhanced responsiveness of neonatal platelets to ADP stimulation. This mechanism might help to explain the clinically observed well-functioning hemostasis in neonates.
6th Iccrts " Collective C2 in Multinational Civil-military Operations " Game Theory, Adaptation, and Genetic Programming: Some Perspectives on Operations Research for Counter-ied Game Theory, Adaptation, and Genetic Programming: Some Perspectives on Operations Research for Counter-ied

This paper explores Operations Research issues in the response to Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), using the concept of a " fitness landscape. " In particular, we examine optimisation approaches that assume a fixed fitness landscape for Blue actions; game-theoretic approaches where fitness is associated with the combination of Red and Blue actions; and approaches that assume fitness landscapes are constantly changing as a result of Red and Blue adaptivity. In particular, we examine the use of genetic programming. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of these approaches with respect to an illustrative simulation model, and present experiments suggesting that genetic programming is a promising mechanism for exploring adaptivity in such simulation models.
Thiamin status in normal and malnourished children in Jamaica

1. Thiamin status has been measured using the erythrocyte transketolase (EC 2.2.1.1) assay in twenty-eight normal children and in twenty-five severely-malnourished children throughout the course of recovery. 2. Subclinical thiamin deficiency was found in 7% of the normal children and 36% of the malnourished children on admission. 3. There was no significant association between thiamin status and oedema, stunting or wasting, history of breast-feeding, pattern of weaning, age or sex. 4. Five malnourished children, who died, all had a normal thiamin status on admission; however, two developed biochemical evidence of thiamin deficiency preterminally.
Upregulation of the TLR3 Pathway by Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus during Primary Infection

ABSTRACT Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is associated with several different human malignancies, including Kaposi's sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma, and multicentric Castleman's disease. KSHV establishes lifelong latency in the host and modulates the host immune response. Innate immunity is critical for controlling de novo viral infection. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are key components of the innate immune system, and they serve as pathogen recognition receptors that stimulate the host antiviral response. In particular, TLR3 has been implicated in RNA virus recognition. Currently, there is no information regarding how KSHV infection modulates any TLR pathway. We report the first evidence that KSHV upregulates TLR3 expression in human monocytes during primary infection. This is also the first demonstration of a human DNA tumor virus upregulating TLR3, a TLR that thus far has been associated with the recognition of RNA viruses. We found that KSHV upregulates the TLR3 pathway and induces TLR3-specific cytokines and chemokines, including beta 1 interferon (IFN-β1) and CXCL10 (IP-10). Small interfering RNAs directed against TLR3 greatly reduced the ability of KSHV to upregulate IFN-β1 and CXCL10 upon infection.
TCCON Philippines: First Measurement Results, Satellite Data and Model Comparisons in Southeast Asia

The Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) is a global network dedicated to the precise and accurate measurements of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere. The TCCON station in Burgos, Ilocos Norte, Philippines was established with the primary purpose of validating the upcoming Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite-2 (GOSAT-2) mission and in general, to respond to the need for reliable ground-based validation data for satellite GHG observations in the region. Here, we present the first 4 months of data from the new TCCON site in Burgos, initial comparisons with satellite measurements of C O 2 and model simulations of C O . A nearest sounding from Japan’s GOSAT as well as target mode observations from NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2 (OCO-2) showed very good consistency in the retrieved column-averaged dry air mole fractions of C O 2 , yielding TCCON - satellite differences of 0.86 ± 1.06 ppm for GOSAT and 0.83 ± 1.22 ppm for OCO-2. We also show measurements of enhanced C O , probably from East Asia. GEOS-Chem model simulations were used to study the observed C O variability. However, despite the model capturing the pattern of the C O variability, there is an obvious underestimation in the C O magnitude in the model. We conclude that more measurements and modeling are necessary to adequately sample the variability over different seasons and to determine the suitability of current inventories.