Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Two-Phase Soft Optimization Method for the Uncertain Scheduling Problem in the Steelmaking Industry

In this paper, an uncertain scheduling problem arising from the steelmaking-continuous casting (SCC) production system is investigated. For the practical SCC production system, it is difficult to obtain a schedule with better performance using traditional deterministic scheduling methods since there exists uncertainty in processing times. According to the analysis on characteristics of the uncertain SCC scheduling problem (SCCSP), we construct a soft-form schedule which includes slack ratios as characteristic indexes and the job sequence at the casting stage as key decision variables to cope with the uncertainty in processing times, and propose a two-phase soft optimization method to solve the uncertain SCCSP with the just-in-time and the waiting time objectives under the break probability. In the first phase, the continuous estimation distribution algorithm (EDA) with the ordinal optimization policy is proposed to optimize slack ratios under the chance constraint, in which the optimal computing budget allocation with constrained optimization is applied to reduce the computational burden. In the second phase, based on the above optimized characteristic indexes, the discrete EDA with a local search procedure is proposed to optimize the job sequence at the casting stage. Finally, computational experiments with various scales and noise levels are performed to validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Pathology of post‐kala‐azar dermal leishmaniasis: a light microscopical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural study of skin lesions and draining lymph nodes

Background: Whereas the clinical manifestations and treatment of post‐kala‐azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) have been adequately described before, the pathology received little attention, particularly the African form of PKDL which shows some clinical differences from the disease in India. Therefore, our aim was to characterize the pathology and the immunohistopathology in PKDL lesions and correlate the histopathological findings with the clinical features of the disease.
Aggregated Search

The goal of aggregated search is to provide integrated search across multiple heterogeneous search services in a unified interfacea single query box and a common presentation of results. In the web search domain, aggregated search systems are responsible for integrating results from specialized search services, or verticals, alongside the core web results. For example, search portals such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo! provide access to vertical search engines that focus on different types of media (images and video), different types of search tasks (search for local businesses and online products), and even applications that can help users complete certain tasks (language translation and math calculations). This monograph provides a comprehensive summary of previous research in aggregated search. It starts by describing why aggregated search requires unique solutions. It then discusses different sources of evidence that are likely to be available to an aggregated search system, as well as different techniques for integrating evidence in order to make vertical selection and presentation decisions. Next, it surveys different evaluation methodologies for aggregated search and discusses prior user studies that have aimed to better understand how users behave with aggregated search interfaces. It proceeds to review different advanced topics in aggregated search. It concludes by highlighting the main trends and discussing short-term and long-term areas for future work.
A cross-sectional study of patients' perspectives on adherence to antipsychotic medication: depot versus oral.

BACKGROUND Antipsychotic depot medications improve medication adherence by reducing covert nonadherence, but some clinicians believe that they are unacceptable to patients. This cross-sectional study investigated patients' perspectives on factors influencing adherence to antipsychotics, from both those taking depots and those taking tablets in ongoing voluntary outpatient care. The study is novel in also encompassing such factors as injection phobia and perceived coercion regarding medication in relation to self-reported adherence. METHOD Seventy-three patients with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder (ICD-10 criteria) completed structured clinical interviews that included the Rating of Medication Influences (ROMI) scale as well as instruments that assessed patients' functioning, psychopathology, insight, extrapyramidal symptoms, quality of life, needle anxiety, experience of coercion, and beliefs about medication. RESULTS Participants taking depot (vs. oral) medication had higher ROMI noncompliance mean scores (15.7 vs. 14.4, p = .019). Predictive factors for influences on noncompliance included certain beliefs regarding medication (concern and overuse) but not extrapyramidal symptoms. There were no differences between the 2 formulation groups on the ROMI compliance subscale. Further predictive factors associated with influences on compliance included perceived necessity. CONCLUSIONS Previously, side effects were considered to be a reason for nonadherence to depot more than for oral medications, but our findings do not support this. Rather, beliefs and attitudes are more important than side effects in predicting self-reported adherence and influencing factors thereof. Prescribing a depot medication to enhance relapse prevention will not in itself ensure adherence and therefore must also be accompanied by discussion regarding adherence and associated personal benefits.
Catecholaminergic subpopulation of retinal displaced ganglion cells projects to the accessory optic nucleus in the pigeon (Columba livia)

In birds, displaced ganglion cells (DGCs) constitute the exclusive source of retinal input to the nucleus of the basal optic root (nBOR) of the accessory optic system. Tyrosine‐hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity was examined in the pigeon retina after injections of rhodamine‐labeled microspheres into the nBOR. A population of about 400 DGCs was observed in each case to exhibit both TH immunoreactivity and rhodamine bead fluorescence. This corresponded to about 10–15% of the total number of identified DGCs in each retina. Double‐labeled cells were medium‐ to large‐size (12 to 20 μm in the largest axis) and were always located at the border between the inner nuclear and the inner plexiform layers. Their dendrites could be followed horizontally in lamina 1 of the inner plexiform layer for up to 300 μm from the cell body. The distribution of double‐labeled DGCs appeared to be mostly peripheral, matching the overall distribution of identified DGCs. Larger DGCs (21–28 μm) were never seen to contain TH immunoreactivity. Examination of brain sections revealed plexuses of thin varicose TH‐positive axons in all subdivisions of the nBOR. Unilateral enucleation produced an almost complete elimination of TH immunoreactivity in the contralateral nucleus. Such results suggest the existence of a population of catecholaminergic DGCs projecting into the accessory optic system of the pigeon. They also support the emerging hypothesis concerning the neurotransmitter heterogeneity of ganglion cells in the vertebrate retina.
Update on the Inaugural Sydney Diabetic Foot Conference 2013

The first International Diabetic Foot Conference in Australia was hosted at Liverpool Hospital in Sydney during May 30-31, 2013. In response to the growing diabetes epidemic globally and more locally to Australia, the conference provided the perfect bridge for interaction between the multidisciplinary team members involved in diabetes care and the opportunity to assimilate the most up-to-date evidence-based medicine from some of the most respected researchers in the field.
Autosomal Dominant Adult Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis: a Novel Form of NCL with Granular Osmiophilic Deposits without Palmitoyl Protein Thioesterase 1 Deficiency

We describe the neuropathological and biochemical autopsy findings in 3 patients with autosomal dominant adult neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (ANCL, Parry type; MIM 162350), from a family with 6 affected individuals in 3 generations. Throughout the brain of these patients, there was abundant intraneuronal lysosomal storage of autofluorescent lipopigment granules. Striking loss of neurons in the substantia nigra was found. In contrast, little neuronal cell loss occurred in other cerebral areas, despite massive neuronal inclusions. Visceral storage was present in gut, liver, cardiomyocytes, skeletal muscle, and in the skin eccrine glands. The storage material showed highly variable immunoreactivity with antiserum against subunit c of mitochondrial ATP synthase, but uniform strong immunoreactivity for saposin D (sphingolipid activating protein D). Protein electrophoresis of isolated storage material revealed a major protein band of about 14 kDa, recognized in Western blotting by saposin D antiserum (but not subunit c of mitochondrial ATPase (SCMAS) antiserum).
The Effect of US Monetary Policy Normalization Toward The Financing Growth of Indonesian Islamic Banking Industry: Short-Term and Long-Term Approaches

The study identifies the effect of The Fed Fund Rate (FFR) normalization toward the financing growth of Islamic banks as well as toward the industrial credit growth in Indonesia. To acquire better understanding about the effect of the increasing FFR, Vector Error Correction Model is being utilized in order to identify short run and long run effects. The data employed are the quarterly data of total credit in banking industry, total financing in Islamic banking industry, FFR, real GDP growth, real interest rate, exchange rate and Indonesian composite index from 2003 - 2015. To forecast the dynamic effect of the rising FFR towards financing growth in the Islamic banks, Impulse Response Function is being applied. The result from the long run estimation suggests that the Fed’s monetary policy has negative effect toward the Indonesian banking credit growth as well as the Islamic financing growth. Moreover, the estimated coefficient shows that the effect is quite low in the long run for the conventional bank and relatively high for the Islamic banks. From the short run dynamic analysis, the study reveals that the Islamic banks financing growth is mostly determined by FFR where Islamic financing growth affects Indonesian composite index and real interest rate. However, the Impulse Response Function result exhibits that the Fed’s monetary policy normalization will not affect Islamic banks financing in Indonesia. Keywords: Fed Fund Rate, Financing Growth, Islamic Banking, Indonesia, Monetary Policy
Quantification of HER2 autoantibodies in the amplification phenomenon of HER2 in breast cancer

Abstract Background: Gene amplification of HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) is a well-known phenomenon in various cancers. However, little is known about the mechanism of the gene amplification phenomenon itself. Autoantibodies to cellular receptors have been described in several cancer types. We hypothesised that autoantibodies against HER2 might have a stimulatory capacity and could be the cause of the HER2 gene amplification phenomenon. To investigate this, we developed a test for the detection of autoantibodies against HER2 in serum (S-HER2Ab). Methods: Blood and tissue samples were collected from 311 women consecutively admitted for surgical treatment of primary breast cancer. Paraffin embedded tissue sections were analysed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). HER2 protein concentrations in tissue were determined in 115 patients. Circulating extracellular domain of HER2 (S-HER2) was measured using the Advia Centaur (Siemens AG, Munich, Germany). Analysis for autoantibodies was developed on an ImmunoCAP 100 (Phadia AB, Uppsala, Sweden) with an automated Fluorescent Enzyme Immuno Assay. Results: Of 311 women, 55 (17.7%) had HER2Ab and 51 (16.4%) showed amplification of the HER2 gene determined by IHC/FISH. Eleven women had detectable S-HER2Ab as well as HER2 gene amplification, but no statistically significant correlation was found between the two phenomena. A significantly higher level of S-HER2Ab was found both in HER2 gene-amplified and non-amplified breast cancer patients compared to an age-matched healthy control group. No statistically significant difference in presence or concentration of S-HER2Ab was found in HER2 gene-amplified vs. non-amplified breast cancer. Conclusions: S-HER2Ab can be measured accurately with the ImmunoCAP 100. There is an increased prevalence and concentration of S-HER2Ab in breast cancer patients but no correlation with HER2 gene amplification. We conclude that autoantibodies against HER2 do not seem to be the cause of HER2 gene amplification.
Cross-language study of vocal correlates of affective states

This paper is concerned with a cross-cultural study of vocal correlates of affect. Speakers of 4 languages, Irish-English, Russian, Spanish and Japanese, were asked to judge affective content of synthesised stimuli of three types: (1) stimuli varying in voice quality, with a neutral pitch contour; (2) stimuli with affect-related f 0 contours and modal voice; and (3) stimuli in which specific voice qualities and affect-related f 0 contours were combined. Some of the main results are illustrated and point to similarities among the language groups as well as some striking cross-language/culture differences in how these stimuli map to affect.
Lack of alteration of endogenous nitric oxide pathway during prolonged nitric oxide inhalation in intensive care unit patients*

Objective:To compare hemodynamic and gasometric variables and the plasma concentrations of nitric oxide metabolites (cyclic guanosine monophosphate and nitrate and nitrite), endothelin-1, and renin-angiotensin metabolites before and after the start of nitric oxide inhalation, after prolonged nitric oxide inhalation, and before and after nitric oxide withdrawal. Design:Prospective study. Setting:Surgical intensive care unit, university hospital. Subjects:Patients with acute lung injury and right ventricular failure. Interventions:Nitric oxide inhalation (10–12 ppm) during a median of 2.9 days (12 hrs to 6.5 days). Measurements and Main Results:The pulmonary vasodilator effects of inhaled nitric oxide improved arterial oxygenation in patients with acute lung injury (p < .05) and reduced right atrial pressure in patients with right ventricular dysfunction (p < .01). These beneficial effects lasted the whole period of prolonged inhaled nitric oxide therapy up to 6.5 days. However, when inhaled nitric oxide was withdrawn, pulmonary vasodilator effects rapidly disappeared, and Pao2/Fio2 ratio markedly deteriorated in all studied patients to return to pre-inhaled nitric oxide levels. Changes in plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate and nitrate and nitrite paralleled those of pulmonary vasodilatory effects. An immediate increase in plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate with a slightly delayed increase in plasma nitrate and nitrite was observed at inhaled nitric oxide start with no attenuation during the prolonged inhaled nitric oxide therapy. A marked decrease toward pre-inhaled nitric oxide levels was seen within hours of inhaled nitric oxide withdrawal. In addition, no alteration of plasma endothelin-1 or renin-angiotensin mediators was observed during or after inhaled nitric oxide therapy. Conclusions:Our study showed a lack of attenuation in the beneficial effects of inhaled nitric oxide and a lack of alteration of endogenous nitric oxide, endothelin-1, and renin-angiotensin pathways during prolonged nitric oxide inhalation.
High rates of HIV testing despite low perceived HIV risk among African-American sexually transmitted disease patients.

PURPOSE In the current diagnosis-based, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention climate, previous testing among persons at elevated HIV risk has cost and efficacy implications, as it signals continued behavioral risk, limited HIV knowledge or overuse of services. This study sought to determine the proportion of African Americans newly seeking sexually transmitted disease (STD) diagnosis who previously had obtained HIV counseling and testing. METHODS This was a clinic-based, cross-sectional survey of African-American adults (N=408) seeking STO diagnosis at a public STD clinic located in a high-HIV and STD prevalence city in the U.S. south. MAIN FINDINGS Eighty-four percent of respondents had previously obtained HIV counseling and testing: 68% had previously obtained care at the clinic. Sixty-five percent of respondents perceived themselves as having low or no HIV risk. Seventy-two percent correctly answered > or = 3 of 4 HIV knowledge items. CONCLUSIONS Although diagnosis-based HIV prevention initiatives promote HIV counseling and testing for both primary and secondary HIV prevention, these findings suggest that many African-American STD patients remain at risk following testing. Future research should explore how the counseling portion of standard HIV counseling and testing influences subsequent knowledge, attitudes, risk perceptions and behaviors.
A Cyclin-Binding Motif within the Amino-Terminal Homology Domain of EBNA3C Binds Cyclin A and Modulates Cyclin A-Dependent Kinase Activity in Epstein-Barr Virus-Infected Cells

ABSTRACT The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen 3C (EBNA3C) is a virus-encoded latent antigen essential for primary B-cell transformation. In this report we demonstrate that although the carboxy terminus of EBNA3C predominantly regulates cyclin A-dependent kinase activity, the region of greatest affinity for cyclin A lies within the EBNA3 amino-terminal homology domain of EBNA3C. Detailed mapping studies employing both in vitro binding assays and coimmunoprecipitation experiments implicated a small region of EBNA3C, amino acids 130 to 159 within the EBNA3 homology domain, as having the greatest affinity for cyclin A. The EBNA3 homology domain has the highest degree of amino acid similarity (approximately 30%) between the EBNA3 proteins, and, indeed, EBNA3B, but not EBNA3A, showed binding activity with cyclin A. We also show that EBNA3C binds to the α1 helix of the highly conserved mammalian cyclin box, with cyclin A amino acids 206 to 226 required for strong binding to EBNA3C amino acids 130 to 159. Interestingly, EBNA3C also bound human cyclins D1 and E in vitro, although the affinity was approximately 30% of that seen for cyclin A. Previously it was demonstrated that full-length EBNA3C rescues p27-mediated suppression of cyclin A-dependent kinase activity (J. S. Knight and E. S. Robertson, J. Virol. 78:1981-1991, 2004). It was also demonstrated that the carboxy terminus of EBNA3C recapitulates this phenotype. Surprisingly, the amino terminus of EBNA3C with the highest affinity for cyclin A was unable to rescue p27 suppression of kinase activity and actually downregulates cyclin A activity when introduced into EBV-infected cells. The data presented here suggests that the amino terminus of EBNA3C may play an important role in recruiting cyclin A complexes, while the carboxy terminus of EBNA3C is necessary for the functional modulation of cyclin A complex kinase activity.
Fractional Pilot Reuse with Vertical Sectorization in Massive MIMO Systems

In this paper, we analyze the performance of the fractional pilot reuse (FPR) scheme with vertical sectorization in massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system. In this scheme, users are classified into the cell-center ones in inner vertical sector and the cell-edge ones in outer vertical sector according to their signal-to-interference-plus- noise ratios (SINRs) at the receiver side. Then, the cell-edge users with low SINRs in different cells use different pilots to avoid strong interference from adjacent sector while the cell-center users with high SINRs in different cells reuse the same pilots to improve the pilot efficiency. In order to identify the cell-center users and the cell-edge ones, we first express the SINR to the function of the distance between the user and the base station (BS) and then find the relationship between the network throughput and the distance threshold. By using a proposed heuristic iterative algorithm, the optimal distance threshold is found to maximize the network throughput. The analytical and simulation results demonstrate advantages of the proposed scheme compared with the conventional FPR scheme.
Making Trade an Engine of Growth for All

Advanced markets are experiencing low growth and in emerging markets, growth rates have fallen by almost 1 percentage point since 2013. This is not just about numbers – these economic developments are limiting opportunities for billions of people around the world, and making it harder to achieve our goal of ending extreme poverty by 2030. One of the drivers of this low growth pattern is the decrease in trade growth.
THE DEVELOPMENTAL BASES OF LIMB REDUCTION AND BODY ELONGATION IN SQUAMATES

Abstract Employing an integrative approach to investigate the evolution of morphology can yield novel perspectives not attainable from a single field of study. Studies of limb loss and body elongation in squamates (snakes and lizards) present a good example in which integrating studies of systematics and ecology with genetics and development can provide considerable new insight. In this comment we address several misunderstandings of the developmental genetic literature presented in a paper by Wiens and Slingluff (2001) to counter their criticism of previous work in these disciplines and to clarify the apparently contradictory data from different fields of study. Specifically, we comment on (1) the developmental mechanisms underlying axial regionalization, body elongation, and limb loss; (2) the utility of presacral vertebral counts versus more specific partitioning of the primary body axis; (3) the independent, modular nature of limbs and limb girdles and their utility in diagnosing genetic changes in development; and (4) the causal bases of hind limb reduction in ophidian and nonophidian squamates.
The pervasiveness of monetary plurality in economic crisis and wars

textabstractResearch shows a pervasive emergence of monetary plurality during episodes of social, economic and political demise. We draw on the concept of deep monetisation introduced by Lucassen and Zuijderduijn (2014) to follow how the established use of currencies enables economic actions to complete their daily transactions. Based on numismatic evidence, we briefly revise several episodes of deep economic demise to establish a links between socio-economic crisis and monetary plurality. In these periods the stronger and more established currencies disappeared and cash became scarce at the local level, particularly for transactions of smaller denomination. We subsequently focused on the emergency currencies of the two postwar periods in Europe, the hyperinflation, the Great Depression and the Spanish Civil war. We observed that in these periods of distress, the absence of means of payment of small denomination prevented the completion of daily transactions, hence improvised and unknown local money appeared as better than no money at all. We find that the emergency currencies were temporary solutions for the lack of small change at the local level while the contexts of socio-economic demise also provided windows of opportunity in the political sense for some activists’ groups to pursue monetary experimentation and structural changes with a longer term horizon.