Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mutation effects on BBO evolution in optimizing Yagi-Uda antenna design

Biogeography-Based Optimization (BBO) is one of the recently developed population based algorithms which has shown impressive performance over other Evolutionary Algorithms (EAs). BBO is based on the study of geographical distribution of biological organism over space and time. The solutions for problem under consideration are named as habitats whereas features sharing among them is called migration. Migration operation is carried out by copying the value(s) of constituent variables, termed as Suitability Index Variables (SIVs), from one to another candidate solution, i.e. habitat, based on Habitat Suitability Index (HSI). Migration may lead to same types of habitats that number is to be reduced with the help of mutation operator. Mutation is a probabilistic operator that randomly modifies SIVs based on the habitats a priori species count. Therefore, mutation operator plays a very vital role in BBO convergence. In this paper, BBO algorithm is applied to optimize the length and spacing for Yagi-Uda antenna for maximum gain with different mutation options. The results obtained with mutation operators and rates are compared for faster convergence of BBO algorithm and the best results are tabulated in the ending sections of the paper.
The Organization of the Labor Market with Communication and Cognitive Skills

We present a model of the labor and education markets where individuals have heterogeneous communication and cognitive skills. The model generates teams/…rms that vary in their size, and their quantity and quality of output. Each team is organized as a many-to-one matching, in which one employee is the manager and the rest are workers. Communication skills determine who become managers as well as the span of control and the wage of those managers. Students who will become future managers acquire more cognitive skills in school. Larger teams do not always pay higher average wages. Equilibrium is equivalent to the solution to a linear programming problem.
Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART)-Related Hypertriglyceridemia Is Associated With Failure of Recovery of CD14lowCD16+ Monocyte Subsets in AIDS Patients

AbstractAs cellular reservoirs, CD16+ monocyte subsets play important roles in the progression of HIV infection. Previous studies have shown that highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) reduced the percentages of CD14highCD16+ monocyte subsets, but did not recover the percentages of CD14lowCD16+ subsets. Eighty-four chronic HIV-infected, HAART-naïve individuals and 55 HIV-negative subjects (31 without hyperlipidemia and 24 with hypertriglyceridemia) were enrolled. Plasma HIV-1 RNA levels, CD4+ T-cell counts, triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein were followed up for 48 weeks during HAART treatment in the longitudinal study. We found that mild hypertriglyceridemia in HIV-negative subjects and HIV-infected patients, naïve to HAART, did not affect the percentage of monocyte subsets. However, a failure of CD14lowCD16+ subset recovery was observed in patients with HAART-related hypertriglyceridemia at 48 weeks. Thus, HAART-related hypertriglyceridemia altered homeostasis of monocyte subsets to antiviral therapy, which might further affect immune reconstitution.
The relationship of muscular strength and balance on work performance measures in high school students with mental retardation

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a balance and strength training program on physical functioning and work performance of individuals with mental retardation. Ten students with mental retardation were matched according to gender, age, height, and weight then randomly assigned to the treatment or control group. The treatment group participated in a 12 week balance and strength training program while the control group participated in low intensity recreational games. Isometric strength and work performance measures were collected at three intervals throughout training 6 weeks apart, with a retention measure collected 6 weeks past training. Balance measures were collected at pre and post intervals. Work performance measures included: box stacking (timed repetitions), pail carry (timed distance), dolly cart push (timed distance), and sack carry (speed). Peak isometric muscular strength was assessed bilaterally using a hand held dynamometer at the following sites: elbow flexion and extension, knee flexion and extension, and shoulder abduction. Balance tasks were performed using the Balance Master, with the following tasks being measured: sensory organization test, weight bearing squat, step up and over, and weight bearing squat over 15 repetitions. Based on a randomized complete block design with repeated measures, a significant difference between the post to pre test was calculated on all vocational tasks; box stacking F(1,4) = 20.39, p<. 005; pail carry F(1,4) = 13.06, p< . 01; dolly cart push F(1,4) = 112.64, p< . 002; and sack carry F(1,4) = 4.02, p< . 05 with the treatment group displaying higher percent gains (32.05%) over the 12 weeks then the control group (13.36%). In addition, all isometric strength measures indicated a significant difference between groups with the treatment group increasing on average 50.42% while the control group increased 9.82%. Retention measures indicated decreases on work performance and isometric strength for both groups. Each group improved balance scores along with producing more symmetrical weight distribution throughout movement activities. Based on the data analysis it was concluded that participation in a balance and strength training program was effective in increasing physical functioning and work related skills which can facilitate the school to work transition process.
Curvelet-based primary-multiple separation from a Bayesian perspective

In this abstract, we present a novel primary-multiple separation scheme which makes use of the sparsity of both primaries and multiples in a transform domain, such as the curvelet transform, to provide estimates of each. The proposed algorithm utilizes seismic data as well as the output of a preliminary step that provides (possibly) erroneous predictions of the multiples. The algorithm separates the signal components, i.e., the primaries and multiples, by solving an optimization problem that assumes noisy input data and can be derived from a Bayesian perspective. More precisely, the optimization problem can be arrived at via an assumption of a weighted Laplacian distribution for the primary and multiple coefficients in the transform domain and of white Gaussian noise contaminating both the seismic data and the preliminary prediction of the multiples, which both serve as input to the algorithm.
Analysis of k-Fold Cross-Validation over Hold-Out Validation on Colossal Datasets for Quality Classification

While training a model with data from a dataset, we have to think of an ideal way to do so. The training should be done in such a way that while the model has enough instances to train on, they should not over-fit the model and at the same time, it must be considered that if there are not enough instances to train on, the model would not be trained properly and would give poor results when used for testing. Accuracy is important when it comes to classification and one must always strive to achieve the highest accuracy, provided there is not trade off with inexcusable time. While working on small datasets, the ideal choices are k-fold cross-validation with large value of k (but smaller than number of instances) or leave-one-out cross-validation whereas while working on colossal datasets, the first thought is to use holdout validation, in general. This article studies the differences between the two validation schemes, analyzes the possibility of using k-fold cross-validation over hold-out validation even on large datasets. Experimentation was performed on four large datasets and results show that till a certain threshold, k-fold cross-validation with varying value of k with respect to number of instances can indeed be used over hold-out validation for quality classification.
Learning Rules for Spike Timing-Dependent Plasticity Depend on Dendritic Synapse Location

Previous studies focusing on the temporal rules governing changes in synaptic strength during spike timing-dependent synaptic plasticity (STDP) have paid little attention to the fact that synaptic inputs are distributed across complex dendritic trees. During STDP, propagation of action potentials (APs) back to the site of synaptic input is thought to trigger plasticity. However, in pyramidal neurons, backpropagation of single APs is decremental, whereas high-frequency bursts lead to generation of distal dendritic calcium spikes. This raises the question whether STDP learning rules depend on synapse location and firing mode. Here, we investigate this issue at synapses between layer 2/3 and layer 5 pyramidal neurons in somatosensory cortex. We find that low-frequency pairing of single APs at positive times leads to a distance-dependent shift to long-term depression (LTD) at distal inputs. At proximal sites, this LTD could be converted to long-term potentiation (LTP) by dendritic depolarizations suprathreshold for BAC-firing or by high-frequency AP bursts. During AP bursts, we observed a progressive, distance-dependent shift in the timing requirements for induction of LTP and LTD, such that distal synapses display novel timing rules: they potentiate when inputs are activated after burst onset (negative timing) but depress when activated before burst onset (positive timing). These findings could be explained by distance-dependent differences in the underlying dendritic voltage waveforms driving NMDA receptor activation during STDP induction. Our results suggest that synapse location within the dendritic tree is a crucial determinant of STDP, and that synapses undergo plasticity according to local rather than global learning rules.
Outcome in Women with Traumatic Brain Injury Admitted to a Level 1 Trauma Center

Background. The aim of this study was to compare acute outcome between men and women after sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods. A total of 5,642 patients admitted to the Traumatic Brain Injury Program of the McGill University Health Centre-Montreal General Hospital between 2000 and 2011 and diagnosed with a TBI were included in the study. The overall percentage of women with TBI was 30.6% (n = 1728). Outcome measures included the length of stay (LOS), the Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOSE), the functional independence measure instrument (FIM), discharge destination, and mortality rate. Results. LOS, GOSE, the FIM ratings, and discharge destination did not show significant differences between genders once controlling for several confounding variables and running the appropriate diagnostic tests (P < 0.05). However, women had less chance of dying during their acute care hospitalization than men of the same age, with the same TBI severity and following the same mechanism of injury. Although gender was a statistically significant predictor, its contribution in explaining variation in mortality was small. Conclusion. More research is needed to better understand gender differences in mortality; as to date, the research findings remain inconclusive.
The effects of dual PPARα/γ agonism compared with ACE inhibition in the BTBRob/ob mouse model of diabetes and diabetic nephropathy

The leptin‐deficient BTBRob/ob mouse develops progressive albuminuria and morphological lesions similar to human diabetic nephropathy (DN), although whether glomerular hyperfiltration, a recognized feature of early DN that may contribute to renal injury, also occurs in this model is not known. Leptin replacement has been shown to reverse the signs of renal injury in this model, but in contrast, the expected renoprotection by angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition in BTBRob/ob mice seems to be limited. Therefore, to investigate the potential renal benefits of improved metabolic control in this model, we studied the effect of treatment with the dual peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR) α/γ agonist AZD6610 and compared it with the ACE inhibitor enalapril. AZD6610 lowered plasma glucose and triglyceride concentrations and increased liver size, but had no significant effect in reducing albuminuria, whereas enalapril did have an effect. Nephrin and WT1 mRNA expression decreased in the kidneys of BTBRob/ob mice, consistent with podocyte injury and loss, but was unaffected by either drug treatment: at the protein level, both nephrin and WT1‐positive cells per glomerulus were decreased. Mesangial matrix expansion was reduced in AZD6610‐treated mice. GFR, measured by creatinine clearance, was increased in BTBRob/ob mice, but unaffected by either treatment. Unexpectedly, enalapril‐treated mice showed intrarenal arteriolar vascular remodeling with concentric thickening of vessel walls. In summary, we found that the BTBRob/ob mouse model shows some similarities to the early changes seen in human DN, but that ACE inhibition or PPARα/γ agonism afforded limited or no kidney protection.
Cognitive Profile of Children and Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa

Objective Few studies of cognitive functioning in children and adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) have been conducted. The aim of this study was to examine the neurocognitive and intelligence profile of this clinical group. Method The study was a matched case–control (N = 188), multi-centre study including children and adolescents with AN (N = 94) and healthy control participants (N = 94). Results The results suggest that Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III/Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III) in this patient group is close to the normal population mean of 100. Individuals with AN exhibited significantly worse performance in nonverbal intelligence functions (i.e. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III/Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III, Perceptual Organization Index) and in verbal memory (Test of Memory and Learning—Second Edition, Memory for Stories) and motor speed (Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery, Simple and Choice Reaction Time) compared with healthy control participants. No significant difference in set-shifting ability (Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery, Intra-Extra Dimensional Set Shift and Trail Making Test B) was found. Conclusions Inefficiency in nonverbal intelligence functions and in specific cognitive functions was found in this study of children and adolescents with AN. © 2014 The Authors. European Eating Disorders Review published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
La dimension politique de l’éthique des affaires

Cet article tente de demontrer que l’un des plus grands defis qui se posent aux conseillers en ethique organisationnelle est l’elaboration d’un projet d’ethique des affaires qui soit assez convaincant pour persuader les entrepreneurs et les gestionnaires de l’interet de l’integrer a la culture de leur entreprise. Un authentique projet d’ethique des affaires devrait etre en mesure de faire comprendre aux entrepreneurs que le questionnement sur le sens des valeurs qui guident leurs organisations ne peut plus etre differe : la conjoncture contemporaine y est favorable et le contexte politique actuel l’exige. Il ne s’agit cependant plus de concevoir l’ethique comme une simple technique de gestion de l’image corporative (en brandissant uniquement des codes ou des discours sans conviction), mais d’en integrer les valeurs a la culture « manageriale », a la « culture vecue » des organisations.
Chess Neighborhoods, Function Combination, and Reinforcement Learning

Over the years, various research projects have attempted to develop a chess program that learns to play well given little prior knowledge beyond the rules of the game. Early on it was recognized that the key would be to adequately represent the relationships between the pieces and to evaluate the strengths or weaknesses of such relationships. As such, representations have developed, including a graph-based model. In this paper we extend the work on graph representation to a precise type of graph that we call a piece or square neighborhood. Specifically, a chessboard is represented as 64 neighborhoods, one for each square. Each neighborhood has a center, and 16 satellites corresponding to the pieces that are immediately close on the 4 di-agonals, 2 ranks, 2 files, and 8 knight moves related to the square. Games are played and training values for boards are developed us-ing temporal difference learning, as in other reinforcement learning systems. We then use a 2-layer regression network to learn. At the lower level the values (expected probability of winning) of the neighborhoods are learned and at the top they are combined based on their product and entropy. We report on relevant experiments including a learning experience on the Internet Chess Club (ICC) from which we can estimate a rating for the new program. The level of chess play achieved in a few days of training is comparable to a few months of work on previous systems such as Morph which is described as “one of the best from-scratch game learning systems, perhaps the best” [22].
Examining the Correlates of Prison Misconduct among Elderly Inmates

ABSTRACT There is a large body of research examining prison misconduct and the driving forces behind inmates who engage in this behavior. The deprivation and importation models are the most common explanations for inmate misconduct. Research has suggested that deprivation and importation factors affect prison behavior and that the significance of these factors often varies across groups. The current research attempts to fill a gap in the literature examining the differences between inmates who were younger, middle age, and older in misconduct using data from inmates incarcerated in West Virginia during 2010. This study adds to the limited body of research specifically assessing the differences in prison misconduct across different age groups; policy implications also will be offered.
Senior High School English National Examination and Thinking Skills

When English National Examination (abbreviated into ENE) as a norm-referenced test is designed for instructional purposes, to evaluate the result of national curriculum, it is very significant to conduct item test evaluation since it gives a clear portrait of the quality of the items and of the test as a whole. The purpose of this study was to analyze which levels of the Barrett taxonomy were more reflected in ENE items of 2013/2014 academic year and whether the proportions of items among the twenty test packages in the ENE assessing students’ Lower Order Thinking Skills (LOTS) and Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) are consistent. The researcher adopted the qualitative descriptive approach using a content analysis card to codify the ENE items. To ensure the reliability of the study, three inter-raters analyzed a sample of the test packages. The results indicated that questions asking LOTS still prevailed in ENE items. Of all the twenty test packages, the items categorized into literal level represented around 68.6% of the total number of the questions. Meanwhile, the questions belonging to reorganization came to occupy a percentage of 20.8 and the questions asking the students’ inferential level only reached 10.3%. Also, the tests were not enriched sufficiently with the evaluation comprehension since they only comprised 0.3%. The results also showed the complete absence of “Appreciation” – the highest level of thinking in the mentioned taxonomy. It is obvious that there is a shortage of items questioning students’ HOTS in the exam and they are not well-treated. Accordingly, this finding reveals that there is still much room for ENE to be the driving force in the effort to make learners critical thinkers. In the light of these data, this study recommends modifying the English National Exam by providing them with more question items that include HOTS.
Incidence and impact on mortality of severe neurocognitive disorders in persons with and without HIV infection: a Danish nationwide cohort study.

OBJECTIVE The risk of neurocognitive disorders in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is controversial. We aimed to compare the incidence and impact on mortality of severe neurocognitive disorders (SNCDs) in HIV-infected patients with that of the background population. METHODS The method used was a nationwide, population-based cohort study using Danish registries. We calculated incidence rates, incidence rate ratios, mortality rate ratios, and Kaplan-Meier tables to estimate the incidence of and survival after SNCD in HIV-infected patients, compared with a general population control cohort matched by age and sex. RESULTS We observed 32 cases of SNCDs among 4452 HIV-infected patients and 120 cases of SNCDs among 62 328 population control subjects. The overall risk of SNCD among HIV-infected patients was 1.0 case per 1000 person-years (PYR), compared with 0.23 cases per 1000 PYR for population control subjects but became 0.35 cases/1000 PYR after 2004, compared with 0.27 cases/1000 PYR in population control subjects. The absence of HAART and a low CD4 lymphocyte count increased the risk of SNCD. The mortality among HIV-infected patients with SNCD was higher than that among population controls with SNCD (median survival, 4.3 years vs 9.7 years [P = .02]). CONCLUSION HIV-infected patients have an increased risk of SNCD, but the risk is low and has, in recent years, become comparable to that seen in the background population. In contrast, the mortality remains high among HIV-infected patients diagnosed with SNCD.
Mycobacterium interjectum Lung Infection

A 62-year-old male presented with productive cough, weight loss, and night sweats. CXR revealed a right upper lobe cavitary lesion. Evaluation was negative for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and sputum revealed Mycobacterium avium intracellulare (MAI). Since his clinical course was atypical for MAI, further investigations were pursued which identified Mycobacterium interjectum in lung specimens, a very rarely described etiology of pulmonary disease. Appropriate therapy with rifampin, intravenous amikacin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX), and ethambutol resulted in clinical and radiographic improvement. This is the third case described over a period of 20 years of destructive lung disease in an immunocompetent adult due to M. interjectum.