Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Case-control study of parental age, parity and socioeconomic level in relation to childhood cancers.

BACKGROUND Parental ages, parity, and social class have been found in some studies to be associated with particular childhood cancers. Further investigation is warranted because of conflicting findings, biases, and the need to test specific hypotheses. METHODS A case-control study was conducted (England and Wales, ages 0-14 years). Cases were ascertained from the National Registry of Childhood Tumours, and were born and diagnosed during 1968-1986. Birth record controls were matched 1:1 to cases on date of birth, sex and area. Information on variables of interest for both groups came from birth records. In all, 10 162 pairs could contribute to matched analyses. RESULTS The odds ratio (OR) for retinoblastoma resulting from assumed new germ cell mutations among children of fathers aged > or =45 years was 3.0 (95% CI : 0.2-41.7). The risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) was significantly higher among children of older mothers and fathers, and significant trends with increasing mothers' (P < 0.001) and fathers' (P = 0.002) ages were found. There was a strong and significant protective effect of increasing parity on risk of childhood ALL. The adjusted OR for parity of > or =5 (versus 0) was 0.5 (95% CI : 0.3-0.8). Children in more deprived communities had a lower risk of ALL; but this was not significant after confounders were allowed for. There was no significant effect of social class based on parental occupation on ALL risk, but the numbers were small in those analyses. CONCLUSIONS The associations between ALL and parental ages did not disappear when children with Down syndrome were excluded, suggesting an additional explanation beyond known links. The strong ALL association with parity may be because of an unknown environmental risk factor.
Load-balancing clusters in wireless ad hoc networks

Ad hoc networks consist of a set of identical nodes that move freely and independently and communicate with other node via wireless links. Such networks may be logically represented as a set of clusters by grouping together nodes that are in close proximity with one another. Clusterheads form a virtual backbone and may be used to route packets for nodes in their cluster. Nodes are assumed to have non-deterministic mobility pattern. Clusters are formed by diffusing node identities along the wireless links. Different heuristics employ different policies to elect clusterheads. Several of these policies are biased in favor of some nodes. As a result, these nodes shoulder greater responsibility and may deplete their energy faster, causing them to drop out of the network. Therefore, there is a need for load-balancing among clusterheads to allow all nodes the opportunity to serve as a clusterhead. We propose a load-balancing heuristic to extend the life of a clusterhead to the maximum budget before allowing the clusterhead to retire and give way to another node. This helps to evenly distribute the responsibility of acting as clusterheads among all nodes. Thus, the heuristic ensures fairness and stability. Simulation experiments demonstrate that the proposed heuristic does provide longer clusterhead durations than with no load-balancing.
Multi-Layer F0 Modeling for HMM-Based Speech Synthesis

This paper proposes a two-layer fundamental frequency (FO) modeling method for HMM-based parametric speech synthesis. The FO models are trained for each context- dependent phoneme in the conventional HMM-based speech synthesis system. Considering the super-segmental characteristics of FO features, an explicit syllable-layer FO model is introduced in this paper. At synthesis stage, the FO contour is generated by maximizing the combined likelihood functions of the phone-layer and syllable-layer FO models. The objective and subjective evaluation results in our experiments show that the proposed multi-layer FO modeling method can improve the performance of FO prediction for emotional speech synthesis.
Analog Characteristics of Fully Printed Flexible Organic Transistors Fabricated With Low-Cost Mass-Printing Techniques

Fully printed organic field effect transistors (OFETs) are fabricated on a flexible, 100-μm-thick, polyethylene terephthalate substrate using high-throughput printing techniques: 1) Cyflex; 2) gravure; 3) screen; and 4) flexographic printing without using a cleanroom, and below 130°C. The dependence of the transconductance g<sub>m</sub>, transit-frequency f<sub>T,</sub> and intrinsic-gain on the bias drain current I<sub>D</sub> are measured. The OFETs show intrinsic gain for I<sub>D</sub> >10 nA mm (per millimeter width), and reach f<sub>T</sub>=64 kHz at I<sub>D</sub> = 16 μA/mm, whereas the g<sub>m</sub> loss with frequency is 10% up to f<sub>T</sub>. Unlike silicon MOSFETs, the dependence of the OFET g<sub>m</sub> on the f<sub>T</sub> in the subthreshold region is found to be weaker than I<sub>D</sub><sup>1.0</sup>. In addition, the overlap capacitance of the staggered-geometry OFET shows strong frequency dependence, and this is shown to be related to the overlap semiconductor. For the first time, it is found that the impact of process variations and bias stress on the OFET analog characteristics can be significantly attenuated by biasing the device at a fixed I<sub>D</sub>. This approach is tested on an array of five amplifiers, reaching the gain-bandwidth product of 32 kHz, within ±3.7% variations.
Improved general lower bound for spatially-correlated Rician MIMO capacity

In this letter we derive a new closed-form lower bound on the ergodic capacity of single-sided correlated Rician MIMO channels with arbitrary-rank mean matrices. The new bound is significantly tighter than previously reported bounds, and matches almost exactly with empirically-generated (exact) capacity results for all signal to noise ratios. The new closed-form bound is also more computationally efficient than the previous bounds in the literature.
Analysis of the $(1+1)$-EA for Finding Approximate Solutions to Vertex Cover Problems

Vertex cover is one of the best known NP-hard combinatorial optimization problems. Experimental work has claimed that evolutionary algorithms (EAs) perform fairly well for the problem and can compete with problem-specific ones. A theoretical analysis that explains these empirical results is presented concerning the random local search algorithm and the (1+1)-EA. Since it is not expected that an algorithm can solve the vertex cover problem in polynomial time, a worst case approximation analysis is carried out for the two considered algorithms and comparisons with the best known problem-specific ones are presented. By studying instance classes of the problem, general results are derived. Although arbitrarily bad approximation ratios of the (1+1)-EA can be proved for a bipartite instance class, the same algorithm can quickly find the minimum cover of the graph when a restart strategy is used. Instance classes where multiple runs cannot considerably improve the performance of the (1+1)-EA are considered and the characteristics of the graphs that make the optimization task hard for the algorithm are investigated and highlighted. An instance class is designed to prove that the (1+1)-EA cannot guarantee better solutions than the state-of-the-art algorithm for vertex cover if worst cases are considered. In particular, a lower bound for the worst case approximation ratio, slightly less than two, is proved. Nevertheless, there are subclasses of the vertex cover problem for which the (1+1)-EA is efficient. It is proved that if the vertex degree is at most two, then the algorithm can solve the problem in polynomial time.
Assessment of Effects of Pre- and Post-training Programme for Healthcare Professionals about Breastfeeding

This retrospective study assessed the effects of pre- and post-training programme for healthcare professionals about breastfeeding. The study included 3,114 mothers who had children aged 1–72 month(s). Their knowledge and behaviours relating to breastfeeding were evaluated. The mothers were randomly divided into two groups: the ‘before’ group included 2,000 women who were not informed about breastfeeding, and the ‘after’ group comprised 1,114 women who had been informed about breastfeeding. 56.2% and 66.1% of the mothers started breastfeeding within 30 minutes after delivery, respectively, in the before and the after group (x2=29.31, p<0.001). 16.7% and 36.5% gave exclusive breastfeeding for six months (x2=72.85, p<0.001), and 28.5% and 23.7% stopped breastfeeding within the first five months (x2=17.20, p=0.002). Ninety-four percent delivered in a hospital or in a primary healthcare centre. Therefore, prenatal and postnatal breastfeeding education and support courses may improve a woman's chance of starting and continuing to breastfeed her baby. In terms of the number of antenatal check-ups, since the differences between the two groups were significant (x2=390.67, p=0.000), the importance of the training programme about breastfeeding was highlighted. Follow-up interventions after training are suggested.
A reference level for assessing the acceptable visual demand of in-vehicle information systems

With the increasing use of in-vehicle information systems (IVIS) by drivers whilst the vehicle is in motion, the risk of distraction-related crashes is expected to increase. Distraction in this case arises from engagement of the driver with the visual demand of an IVIS display, but measurement of such visual demand, and design decisions about how much visual demand is acceptable in this context, is problematic. Using the visual ‘occlusion’ technique, this paper uses data from visual demand metrics (from 4 reference in-vehicle tasks with 60 participants) and makes comparisons with several other approaches including expert usability analysis, other reference levels, social acceptability survey data, and a comparison with alcohol impairment. Based on these considerations an approach is taken to represent the distribution of occlusion measurements and a demand reference level (DRL) is proposed to be used as a criterion for design of IVIS displays. The DRL comprises a metric derived from occlusion measurements and an absolute value.
Mechanisms for Controlling Sand-Induced Corrosion in Horizontal Pipe Flow of Sand, Crude Oil and Water

Background: The presence of sand particles and associated water in crude oil calls for serious concern when the flow conditions leading to flow stratification in an upstream petroleum pipeline become significant. At such conditions, problems such as sand deposition and water containment on the pipe wall may result in consequences such as sand-induced corrosion, mechanical failure, pipe fatigue, reduced flow area, loss of production and pipe blockage which are still currently unresolved by conventional and current models. Objective: A modelling approach was adopted to control the conditions leading to sand-induced corrosion and other related problems caused by flow stratification in the upstream petroleum sector since conventional methods adopted to screen sand, only contribute to the problem. Also, to date, mechanisms and models exist for other corrosion types such as CO2, H2S, acid-induced corrosion, etc. but none currently exists for sand-induced corrosion. However, the concept of force-competition or dimensionless numbers was adopted using a modelling approach to resolve the problem. Method: This research work resolves the situation by means of a three-phase model which incorporates sand, crude oil and water phases in its mass and momentum balance equations while taking into cognisance, the effect of eddies. The three-layer model established in this work, has its origin in a two-phase sand-crude oil system and, based on current literature, a modelling approach that considers the flow of sand, crude oil and water has never been adopted to tackle the problem of sand-induced corrosion caused by associated water as a stimulant for corrosion. Conclusion: The established model gave an accuracy of 99% when results from the model were compared with sand and crude oil production data obtained from the field. Based on the model’s reliability, flow mechanisms/dimensionless numbers were used to ascertain critical flow conditions in order to be able to avoid situations leading to sand deposition, sand-induced corrosion and other related problems. Based on the results obtained, the estimated Euler numbers revealed that the 18 m point of the pipe is at risk due to the impact of the sand-deposit-drag-force on the pipe wall. Also, the estimated Froude numbers were indicative of the 12-18 m points as deposit/corrosion prone areas.
Thermal Emission From Saturn's Polar Cyclones

We have used data from the Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer to map the temperatures in Saturn's polar cyclones at the highest spatial resolution obtained during the Cassini mission. We find temperature contrasts of 7 K in the upper troposphere within 1.4° of both poles, roughly 50 percent larger than earlier measurements at lower spatial resolution. The polar hot spots weaken with depth, disappearing near 500 mbar. In the stratosphere, the polar hot spot becomes broader, extending 4° from the poles, and weakens with altitude disappearing near 1 mbar. A thermal relaxation model shows that the tropospheric hot spot is consistent with adiabatic heating from subsidence with a vertical velocity of about −0.05 mm/s above 500 mbar. The observed temperature gradients imply that the winds in the polar cyclone decay with increasing altitude over roughly three pressure scale heights above the 200‐mbar level.
Digital Twins and Control Theory: A Critical Review on Revolutionizing Quadrotor UAVs

This work explores the crucial roles that control theory and digital twins play in enhancing the performance of underactuated quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicles (QUAVs). It describes how the novel idea of digital twins combined with control theory could alter operations. Some basic ideas, such as the underactuated UAV model, various control schemes, and innovative techniques to improve autonomy and performance in QUAV missions in dynamic circumstances, may also be of interest to readers. It highlights recent developments and presents a game-changing idea of combining digital twin with computer vision, amalgamating artificial intelligence and internet of things like elements to improve sensing and perception better for autonomous flight control, human-UAV interaction, energy-efficient flight, and swarming UAVs. The reader may finally find suggestions for applying control theory and understandings of how incorporating digital twin technology could boost its revolutionary potential.
A STABILITY RESULT FOR A TIMOSHENKO SYSTEM WITH PAST HISTORY AND A DELAY TERM IN THE INTERNAL FEEDBACK

In this paper we consider a Timoshenko system with a delay term in the feedback and memory term. Under an appropriate assumption between the weight of the delay and the weight of the damping, we prove a well posedness result. Furthermore an exponential stability result has been shown if the weight of the damping is greater or equal to the weight of the delay. We distinguish two cases: the case where the weight of the delay is less than the weight of the damping and the case where the two weights are equal. In each case we introduce an appropriate Lyapunov functional which leads to an exponential stability. This result extends the one in [15] and the recent result in [23]. AMS (MOS) Subject Classification. 35B37, 35L55, 74D05, 93D15, 93D20
SLLP1, A Unique, Intra-acrosomal, Non-bacteriolytic, c Lysozyme-Like Protein of Human Spermatozoa1

Abstract We report the presence of a unique, non-bacteriolytic, c (chicken or conventional type) lysozyme-like protein, SLLP1, in the acrosome of human sperm. C lysozymes are bacteriolytic and can also bind to N-acetylglucosamines linked by β-1,4 glycosidic bonds. Most of the invariant residues (17 out of 20), including all the cysteines, were conserved in SLLP1, but the two catalytic residues E35 and D52 of c lysozymes were replaced with T and N, respectively. The full-length cDNA encodes a protein of 215 aa with a predicted protease cleavage site between A87 and K88. The processed form of SLLP1, which showed an exon-intron organization similar to human c lysozyme, was the major isoform in the acrosome of ejaculated sperm. As expected, based on its sequence, the mature protein secreted from yeast showed no bacteriolytic activity. A significant decrease (54%, P ≤ 0.001) in the number of sperm bound to zona-free hamster eggs was observed in the presence of antisera to recombinant SLLP1. SLLP1 mRNA (size, ∼1 kb) appeared to be expressed only in the testis and in the Burkitt lymphoma Raji cell line. The gene SPACA3 encodes SLLP1 and contains five exons at locus 17q11.2. Because of its typical c lysozyme-like sequence, genomic organization, conservation of putative substrate-binding sites even in the absence of catalytic residues, and localization in the acrosomal matrix, we hypothesize that, after acrosome reaction, SLLP1 could be a potential receptor for the egg oligosaccharide residue N-acetylglucosamine, which is present in the extracellular matrix over the egg plasma membrane, within the perivitelline space, pores of zona pellucida, and cumulus layers.
Expression of BAF57 in ovarian cancer cells and drug sensitivity

The SMARCE1 (SWI / SNF‐related, matrix‐associated, and actin‐dependent regulator of chromatin, subfamily e, member 1) encodes BAF57 protein. Previously, we reported that BAF57 is a predictive marker of endometrial carcinoma. In this study, we investigated BAF57 expression in ovarian cancer cell lines and their sensitivities to cisplatin, doxorubicin, paclitaxel, and 5‐fluorouracil. BAF57 expression was strongly correlated with sensitivities to cisplatin, doxorubicin, and 5‐fluorouracil in 10 ovarian cancer cell lines. Paclitaxel sensitivity was also correlated with BAF57 expression, but without significance. In A2780 ovarian cancer cells, knockdown of BAF57 using specific siRNA increased cell cycle arrest at G1 phase and the sensitivities to these anticancer agents. cDNA microarray analysis of A2780 cells transfected with BAF57 siRNA showed that 134 genes were positively regulated by BAF57, including ATP‐binding cassette, sub‐family G (WHITE), member 2 (ABCG2) encoding breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP). We confirmed that knockdown of BAF57 decreased BCRP expression in ovarian cancer cells by Western blot analysis, and that ABCG2 gene expression might be regulated transcriptionally. These results suggested that BAF57 is involved in ovarian cancer cell growth and sensitivity to anticancer agents, and that BAF57 may be a target for ovarian cancer therapy.
PNEUMONIA AFTER CECAL LIGATION AND PUNCTURE: A CLINICALLY RELEVANT "TWO-HIT" MODEL OF SEPSIS

ABSTRACT Sepsis continues to be the primary cause of death among patients in surgical intensive care units. In many cases, death does not result from the initial septic event but rather from subsequent nosocomial infection with pneumonia being the most common etiology. In addition, most deaths in patients with sepsis occur after the first 72 h. By contrast, in most animal models of sepsis, most deaths occur within the first 72 h. The purpose of this study was to develop a clinically relevant "two-hit" model of sepsis that would reflect delayed mortality because of secondary nosocomial infection. The well-accepted and widely used cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model was used as the "first hit". Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Streptococcus pneumoniae was used to induce pneumonia in mice 72 h after CLP as a "second hit. " In this study, mortality in mice undergoing CLP followed by pneumonia was significantly higher than in mice receiving pneumonia or CLP alone. S. pneumoniae pneumonia after CLP resulted in a 95% mortality compared with a 20% mortality for pneumonia alone, P < 0.0001. Similarly, mortality of P. aeruginosa pneumonia after CLP (85%) was significantly higher than P. aeruginosa alone (20%), P < 0.0001. Mice undergoing CLP followed by P. aeruginosa pneumonia also had significantly higher levels of B- and T-cell apoptotic death. Finally, mice undergoing CLP followed by P. aeruginosa or S. pneumoniae pneumonia had significantly decreased concentrations of proinflammatory mediators monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and interleukin (IL)-6 compared with mice undergoing CLP or pneumonia alone. In conclusion, a primary sublethal infection impairs the immune system thus rendering the host more susceptible to secondary infection and death. Double injury, that is, CLP followed by pneumonia, provides a useful tool in the study of sepsis, creating a prolonged period of infection as opposed to CLP alone. The extended duration of infection may lead to a better understanding of the mechanism of the immune dysregulation seen in clinical sepsis and therefore provides for evaluation of potential therapies that target specific stages of the immune response.
Dynamic Inference of Likely Metamorphic Properties to Support Differential Testing

Metamorphic testing is an advanced technique to test programs without a true test oracle such as machine learning applications. Because these programs have no general oracle to identify their correctness, traditional testing techniques such as unit testing may not be helpful for developers to detect potential bugs. This paper presents a novel system, KABU, which can dynamically infer properties of methods' states in programs that describe the characteristics of a method before and after transforming its input. These Metamorphic Properties (MPs) are pivotal to detecting potential bugs in programs without test oracles, but most previous work relies solely on human effort to identify them and only considers MPs between input parameters and output result (return value) of a program or method. This paper also proposes a testing concept, Metamorphic Differential Testing (MDT). By detecting different sets of MPs between different versions for the same method, KABU reports potential bugs for human review. We have performed a preliminary evaluation of KABU by comparing the MPs detected by humans with the MPs detected by KABU. Our preliminary results are promising: KABU can find more MPs than human developers, and MDT is effective at detecting function changes in methods.
How well can primal-dual and local-ratio algorithms perform?

We define an algorithmic paradigm, the stack model, that captures many primal-dual and local-ratio algorithms for approximating covering and packing problems. The stack model is defined syntactically and without any complexity limitations and hence our approximation bounds are independent of the P versus NP question. Using the stack model, we bound the performance of a broad class of primal-dual and local-ratio algorithms and supply a (log n+1)/2 inapproximability result for set cover, a 4/3 inapproximability for min Steiner tree, and a 0.913 inapproximability for interval scheduling on two machines.