Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Power Transformers' Health Index Determination: A Machine Learning Approach Using Clustering Algorithms and Industry-Specific Parameters

Power transformers are an essential part of the power distribution system, and maintaining a stable power supply depends on their proper operation. Traditionally, the only factors used to diagnose a transformer's health are its oil quality and dissolved gas characteristics. However, these techniques frequently lead to ambiguous and incorrect interpretations. Hence, we provide a machine-learning categorization that combines these industry-standard measurements using clustering methods using the raw data of the sample transformers' characteristics. The categorization obtained is then compared to that of experts' opinions. Subsequently, the performance of the proposed method is evaluated against that of other existing methods for the same dataset. It is shown that compared to existing approaches, the proposed method gives a better identification of the health of power transformers with a significant reduction in error level. The findings of this study can thus assist the power industry to maintain and manage power transformers more effectively.
Within-Trait Heterogeneity in Age Group Differences in Personality Domains and Facets: Implications for the Development and Coherence of Personality Traits

The study investigated differences in the Five-Factor Model (FFM) domains and facets across adulthood. The main questions were whether personality scales reflected coherent units of trait development and thereby coherent personality traits more generally. These questions were addressed by testing if the components of the trait scales (items for facet scales and facets for domain scales) showed consistent age group differences. For this, measurement invariance (MI) framework was used. In a sample of 2,711 Estonians who had completed the NEO Personality Inventory 3 (NEO PI-3), more than half of the facet scales and one domain scale did not meet the criterion for weak MI (factor loading equality) across 12 age groups spanning ages from 18 to 91 years. Furthermore, none of the facet and domain scales met the criterion for strong MI (intercept equality), suggesting that items of the same facets and facets of the same domains varied in age group differences. When items were residualized for their respective facets, 46% of them had significant (p < 0.0002) residual age-correlations. When facets were residualized for their domain scores, a majority had significant (p < 0.002) residual age-correlations. For each domain, a series of latent factors were specified using random quarters of their items: scores of such latent factors varied notably (within domains) in correlations with age. We argue that manifestations of aetiologically coherent traits should show similar age group differences. Given this, the FFM domains and facets as embodied in the NEO PI-3 do not reflect aetiologically coherent traits.
Nonlinear effects of exchange rate volatility on the volume of bilateral exports

In this paper, we investigate empirically the impact of exchange rate volatility on real international trade flows utilizing a 13-country data set of monthly bilateral real exports for 1980-1998. We compute one-month-ahead exchange rate volatility from the intra-monthly variations in the exchange rate to better quantify this latent variable. We find that the effect of exchange rate volatility on trade flows is nonlinear, depending on its interaction with the importing country's volatility of economic activity, and that it varies considerably over the set of country pairs considered. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Understanding patient and physician perceptions of benign prostatic hyperplasia in Europe: The Prostate Research on Behaviour and Education (PROBE) Survey

Aims: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a bothersome disease that can progress if left untreated. However, patient and urologist perspectives on BPH management are not fully understood. The aim of the Prostate Research on Behaviour and Education (PROBE) Survey was to assess healthcare‐seeking behaviour and attitudes to BPH treatment in 502 BPH patients, and the beliefs and management practices of 100 urologists, from France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.
Stem Hydraulic Conductivity depends on the Pressure at Which It Is Measured and How This Dependence Can Be Used to Assess the Tempo of Bubble Pressurization in Recently Cavitated Vessels1[OPEN]

The tempo of bubble pressurization after cavitation events is explored using a cavitron technique; pressurization has fast and slow phases of up to 2-min and 2-d duration. Cavitation of water in xylem vessels followed by embolism formation has been authenticated for more than 40 years. Embolism formation involves the gradual buildup of bubble pressure (air) to atmospheric pressure as demanded by Henry’s law of equilibrium between gaseous and liquid phases. However, the tempo of pressure increase has not been quantified. In this report, we show that the rate of pressurization of embolized vessels is controlled by both fast and slow kinetics, where both tempos are controlled by diffusion but over different spatial scales. The fast tempo involves a localized diffusion from endogenous sources: over a distance of about 0.05 mm from water-filled wood to the nearest embolized vessels; this process, in theory, should take <2 min. The slow tempo involves diffusion of air from exogenous sources (outside the stem). The latter diffusion process is slower because of the increased distance of diffusion of up to 4 mm. Radial diffusion models and experimental measurements both confirm that the average time constant is >17 h, with complete equilibrium requiring 1 to 2 d. The implications of these timescales for the standard methods of measuring percentage loss of hydraulic conductivity are discussed in theory and deserve more research in future.
What can Functional Neuroimaging Tell the Experimental Psychologist?

I argue here that functional neuroimaging data—which I restrict to the haemodynamic techniques of fMRI and PET—can inform psychological theorizing, provided one assumes a “systematic” function–structure mapping in the brain. In this case, imaging data simply comprise another dependent variable, along with behavioural data, that can be used to test competing theories. In particular, I distinguish two types of inference: function-to-structure deduction and structure-to-function induction. With the former inference, a qualitatively different pattern of activity over the brain under two experimental conditions implies at least one different function associated with changes in the independent variable. With the second type of inference, activity of the same brain region(s) under two conditions implies a common function, possibly not predicted a priori. I illustrate these inferences with imaging studies of recognition memory, short-term memory, and repetition priming. I then consider in greater detail what is meant by a “systematic” function–structure mapping and argue that, particularly for structure-to-function induction, this entails a one-to-one mapping between functional and structural units, although the structural unit may be a network of interacting regions and care must be taken over the appropriate level of functional/structural abstraction. Nonetheless, the assumption of a systematic function–structure mapping is a “working hypothesis” that, in common with other scientific fields, cannot be proved on independent grounds and is probably best evaluated by the success of the enterprise as a whole. I also consider statistical issues such as the definition of a qualitative difference and methodological issues such as the relationship between imaging and behavioural data. I finish by reviewing various objections to neuroimaging, including neophrenology, functionalism, and equipotentiality, and by observing some criticisms of current practice in the imaging literature.
WTp53 induction does not override MTp53 chemoresistance and radioresistance due to gain-of-function in lung cancer cells

New molecular cancer treatment strategies aim to reconstitute wild-type p53 (WTp53) function in mutant p53 (MTp53)–expressing tumors as a means of resensitizing cells to chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The success of this approach may depend on whether MTp53 proteins are acting in a dominant-negative or independent gain-of-function mode. Herein, we describe an isogenic, temperature-sensitive p53 model (p53A138V) in p53-null human H1299 lung cancer cells in which WTp53 can be selectively coexpressed with a temperature-sensitive MTp53 allele (A138V) during initial DNA damage and subsequent DNA repair. Cells expressing MTp53 alone or coexpressing induced WTp53 and MTp53 were tested for p53 transcription, G1 and G2 cell cycle checkpoints, apoptosis, and long-term clonogenic survival following DNA damage. Transient transfection of WTp53 into H1299 cells, or shift-down of H1299-p53A138V stable transfectants to 32°C to induce WTp53, led to increased p21WAF1 expression and G1 and G2 arrests following DNA damage but did not increase BAX expression or apoptosis. In contrast, both transient and stable expression of the p53A138V mutant in p53-null H1299 cells (e.g. testing gain-of-function) at 37°C blocked p21WAF1 induction following DNA damage. Cell death was secondary to mitotic catastrophe and/or tumor cell senescence. Overexpression of WTp53 did not resensitize resistant MTp53-expressing cells to ionizing radiation, cisplatinum, or mitomycin C. Our results suggest that human MTp53 proteins can lead to resistant phenotypes independent of WTp53-mediated transcription and checkpoint control. This should be considered when using p53 as a prognostic factor and therapeutic target. [Mol Cancer Ther 2008;7(4):980–92]
Hiv/aids – Research and Palliative Care Dovepress Factors Associated with Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in Hiv-infected Patients in Kathmandu District, Nepal

Purpose: There are a high number of HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the Kathmandu District of Nepal, but information on adherence and factors influencing it are scarce in this population. The present study aimed to estimate ART adherence among HIV-infected patients in the Kathmandu District of Nepal, and to determine the factors associated with ART adherence. Patients and methods: This study included 316 HIV-infected patients attending three ART centers in the Kathmandu District. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, and ART use for the previous 7 days was collected via interview. Participants were considered adherent if they reported taking $95% of their ART as prescribed. The association between explanatory variables and ART adherence was measured using logistic regression and reported as odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). were all independently and negatively associated with ART adherence. Use of reminder tools (OR 3.45; 95% CI 1.33–8.91) was independently and positively associated with ART adherence. Conclusion: The observed ART adherence in this study is encouraging. Travel time to ART centers, self-reported adverse effects, illegal drug use, and not using reminder tools were the major determinants of ART adherence. Interventions that take these factors into account could further improve ART adherence.
Stackelberg thresholds in network routing games or the value of altruism

Noncooperative network routing games are a natural model of userstrying to selfishly route flow through a network in order to minimize their own delays. It is well known that the solution resulting from this selfish routing (called the Nash equilibrium) can have social cost strictly higher than the cost of the optimum solution. One way to improve the quality of the resulting solution is to centrally control a fraction of the flow. A natural problem for the network administrator then is to route the centrally controlled flow in such a way that the overall cost of the solution is minimized after the remaining fraction has routed itself selfishl. This problem falls in the class of well-studied Stackelberg routing games. We consider the scenario where the network administrator wants the final solution to be (strictly) better than the Nash equilibrium. In other words, she wants to control enough flow such that the cost of the resulting solution is strictly less than the cost of the Nash equilibrium. We call the minimum fraction of users that must be centrally routed to improve the quality of the resulting solution the Stackelberg threshold. We give a closed form expression for the Stackelberg threshold for parallel links networks with linear latency functions. The expression is in terms of Nash equilibrium flows and optimum flows. It turns out that the Stackelberg threshold is the minimum of Nash flows on links which have more optimum flow than Nash flow. Using our approach to characterize the Stackelberg thresholds, we are able to give a simpler proof of an earlier result which finds the minimum fraction required to be centrally controlled to induce an optimum solution.
Stochastic Methods in Neuroscience

In the cerebral cortex of awake animals, neurons are subject to tremendous fluctuating activity, mostly of synaptic origin, termed “synaptic noise”. Synaptic noise is the dominant source of membrane potential fluctuations in neurons and can have a strong influence on their integrative properties. We review here the experimental measurements of synaptic noise, and its modeling by conductance-based stochastic processes. We then review the consequences of synaptic noise on neuronal integrative properties, as predicted by computational models and investigated experimentally using the dynamic-clamp. We also review analysis methods such as spike-triggered average or conductance analysis, which are derived from the modeling of synaptic noise by stochastic processes. These different approaches aim at understanding the integrative properties of neocortical neurons in the intact brain.
Influence of Cholesterol on Catecholamine Release from the Fusion Pore of Large Dense Core Chromaffin Granules

Changes in cellular cholesterol can affect exocytosis, but the influence of cholesterol in fusion pore kinetics is unclear. Using carbon fiber amperometry, we monitored quantal catecholamine release from rat chromaffin cells. To bypass any possible effect of cholesterol perturbation on ion channels or the colocalization of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels with sites of exocytosis, exocytosis was stimulated via uniform elevation of cytosolic [Ca2+] (with whole-cell dialysis of a Ca2+-buffered solution). Under this condition, alterations of cellular cholesterol affected neither the mean number of amperometric events triggered per cell nor their quantal size and the kinetics of their main spike (which reflects the rapid release during and after rapid fusion pore dilation). In contrast, the reduction of cellular cholesterol shortened the “prespike foot” signals (which reflect the leakage of catecholamine via a semi-stable fusion pore) and reduced the proportion of “stand-alone foot” signals (which reflect the release via a flickering fusion pore that may close before it dilates significantly), whereas an oversupply of cholesterol had opposite effects. Acute extraction of cholesterol from the cytosol (via whole-cell dialysis of a cholesterol extractor) also shortened the prespike foot signals and reduced the proportion of stand-alone foot signals, but acute extracellular application of cholesterol extractor or “soluble” cholesterol had no effect. Our data raise the possibility that cholesterol molecules, particularly those in the cytoplasmic leaflet, helps to constrain the narrow waistline of a semi-stable fusion pore while it is flickering or before it starts to dilate rapidly.
Circulating Beta-2 Microglobulin and Risk of Cancer: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC)

Background: Serum β-2 microglobulin (B2M), a major histocompatibility complex class I molecule that is a biomarker of kidney filtration and increased cell turnover, is elevated at the time of diagnosis in hematological and some solid cancers. However, serum B2M was not examined prospectively as a marker for cancer risk. We hypothesized that in a population without a prior cancer diagnosis, serum B2M is associated with risk of cancer (n = 2,436), including colorectal (n = 255), lung (n = 298), breast (n = 424), and prostate (n = 524) cancers, and hematological (n = 176) malignancies. Methods: The analytical cohort (n = 12,300) was followed for incident cancers from 1990 through 2006. B2M (range, 0.9–57.8 mg/L) was measured in stored serum collected in 1990–1992. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals for cancer incidence and mortality in relation to quartiles of B2M. Results: Adjusting for age, sex, race, center, education, body mass index, smoking, aspirin, and hormone therapy (in women) and comparing highest to lowest B2M quartiles, HRs were 1.25 (1.06–1.47; Ptrend = 0.002) for total cancer risk and 2.21 (1.32–3.70; Ptrend=0.001) for colorectal cancer risk, with similar HRs for colon and rectal cancers. These associations remained after adjustment for an inflammatory biomarker, C-reactive protein, and after excluding the first three years of follow-up. Significant associations were also observed for mortality from total, lung, and hematological cancers. Conclusions: These findings provide the first evidence that higher serum B2M is associated with increased colorectal cancer risk. Impact: This study supports B2M as a potential biomarker for colorectal cancer risk. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 25(4); 657–64. ©2016 AACR.
Hypothyroidism induced by loss of the manganese efflux transporter SLC30A10 may be explained by reduced thyroxine production

SLC30A10 and SLC39A14 are manganese efflux and influx transporters, respectively. Loss-of-function mutations in genes encoding either transporter induce hereditary manganese toxicity. Patients have elevated manganese in the blood and brain and develop neurotoxicity. Liver manganese is increased in patients lacking SLC30A10 but not SLC39A14. These organ-specific changes in manganese were recently recapitulated in knockout mice. Surprisingly, Slc30a10 knockouts also had elevated thyroid manganese and developed hypothyroidism. To determine the mechanisms of manganese-induced hypothyroidism and understand how SLC30A10 and SLC39A14 cooperatively mediate manganese detoxification, here we produced Slc39a14 single and Slc30a10/Slc39a14 double knockout mice and compared their phenotypes with that of Slc30a10 single knockouts. Compared with wild-type controls, Slc39a14 single and Slc30a10/Slc39a14 double knockouts had higher manganese levels in the blood and brain but not in the liver. In contrast, Slc30a10 single knockouts had elevated manganese levels in the liver as well as in the blood and brain. Furthermore, SLC30A10 and SLC39A14 localized to the canalicular and basolateral domains of polarized hepatic cells, respectively. Thus, transport activities of both SLC39A14 and SLC30A10 are required for hepatic manganese excretion. Compared with Slc30a10 single knockouts, Slc39a14 single and Slc30a10/Slc39a14 double knockouts had lower thyroid manganese levels and normal thyroid function. Moreover, intrathyroid thyroxine levels of Slc30a10 single knockouts were lower than those of controls. Thus, the hypothyroidism phenotype of Slc30a10 single knockouts is induced by elevated thyroid manganese, which blocks thyroxine production. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of manganese detoxification and manganese-induced thyroid dysfunction.
Did Technology Transfer More Rapidly East-West than North-South?

We offer evidence of the role of continental orientation in the historical diffusion of technologies. Diamond (1997) argued that technologies spread more slowly North-South (N-S) than East-West (E-W) for two reasons. First, it was relatively costly for individuals to transport innovations when experiencing N-S variations in climate. Second, some innovations (e.g, selectively bred seeds) would have been less likely to survive N-S movements. Continents with E-W orientation, then, were characterized by less costly and/or more successful sharing of technologies. We employ Comin et al.’s (2010) data on ancient and early modern levels of technology adoption in a spatial econometric analysis. Historical levels of technology adoption in a (present-day) country are related to its lagged level as well as those of its neighbors. The E- W spatial correlations are generally larger, more likely to be positive, and more likely to be statistically significant. While acknowledging that the difference between E-W and N-S effects is not significant in every estimation, taken together the results offer compelling support for the Diamond hypothesis.
Differentiated Data Persistence with Priority Random Linear Codes

Both peer-to-peer and sensor networks have the fundamental characteristics of node churn and failures. Peers in P2P networks are highly dynamic, whereas sensors are not dependable. As such, maintaining the persistence of periodically measured data in a scalable fashion has become a critical challenge in such systems, without the use of centralized servers. To better cope with node dynamics and failures, we propose priority random linear codes, as well as their affiliated pre-distribution protocols, to maintain measurement data in different priorities, such that critical data have a higher opportunity to survive node failures than data of less importance. A salient feature of priority random linear codes is the ability to partially recover more important subsets of the original data with higher priorities, when it is not feasible to recover all of them due to node dynamics. We present extensive analytical and experimental results to show the effectiveness of priority random linear codes.
Enhancement Business Capabilities Through Cooperative Learning: Economic Improvement for Culinary E-Business Owners

Surabaya, as a metropolitan city, shows various e-business developments, one of which is culinary. For these, Surabaya's government creates culinary centers for small business actors (street vendors). Besides, the government also attempts to increase knowledge of those small business actors on sustainable business especially in culinary through training and workshop. This study aims to analyze the improvement of business capabilities through Cooperative Learning workshops with Student Team Achievement Divisions (STAD) on small business actors (street vendors) culinary in Surabaya in order to create Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Participants were 120 street vendors meeting the criteria to join the workshop on sustainable culinary e-business. The result indicates that a workshop conducted using Cooperative Learning STAD capably improves knowledge of street vendors on sustainable business (94% of achievement level). To increase achievement levels, further studies on factors influencing its success should be conducted. Furthermore, it serves as a reference for policymakers and implementers in planning and designing materials and workshops or training on culinary street vendors and other SMEs.