Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
HZGR routing in MANET

An established route probably fails before the end of the transmission session in a wireless ad hoc network where mobility is high. Due to this level of mobility, routing protocols frequently require rerouting that imposes data latency and bandwidth overhead. In this paper, we propose a novel geographic routing protocol called HZGR. We design HZGR based on Greedy Forwarding (GF). This makes HZGR simple with low bandwidth overhead. We incorporate a number of mechanisms in HZGR to improve the performance of GF. Our simulation experiments show that HZGR improves the existing routing schemes such as GF and AODV in terms of bandwidth overhead and average path length under high mobility.
Size and Power of the RESET Test as Applied to Systems of Equations: A Bootstrap Approach

The size and power of various generalization of the RESET test for functional misspecification are investigated, using the “Bootsrap critical values”, in systems ranging from one to ten equations. The properties of 8 versions of the test are studied using Monte Carlo methods. The results are then compared with another study of Shukur and Edgerton (2002), in which they used the asymptotic critical values instead and found that in general only one version of the tests works well regarding size properties. In our study, when applying the bootstrap critical values, we find that all the tests exhibits correct size even in large systems. The power of the test is low, however, when the number of equations grows and the correlation between the omitted variables and the RESET proxies is small.
Preoperative renal risk stratification.

BACKGROUND After cardiac surgery, acute renal failure (ARF) requiring dialysis develops in 1% to 5% of patients and is strongly associated with perioperative morbidity and mortality. Prior studies have attempted to identify predictors of ARF but have had insufficient power to perform multivariable analyses or to develop risk stratification algorithms. METHODS AND RESULTS We conducted a prospective cohort study of 43 642 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass or valvular heart surgery in 43 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers between April 1987 and March 1994. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of ARF requiring dialysis. A risk stratification algorithm derived from recursive partitioning was constructed and was validated on an independent sample of 3795 patients operated on between April and December 1994. The overall risk of ARF requiring dialysis was 1.1%. Thirty-day mortality in patients with ARF was 63.7%, compared with 4.3% in patients without ARF. Ten clinical variables related to baseline cardiovascular disease and renal function were independently associated with the risk of ARF. A risk stratification algorithm partitioned patients into low-risk (0.4%), medium-risk (0.9% to 2.8%), and high-risk (> or = 5.0%) groups on the basis of several of these factors and their interactions. CONCLUSIONS The risk of ARF after cardiac surgery can be accurately quantified on the basis of readily available preoperative data. These findings may be used by physicians and surgeons to provide patients with improved risk estimates and to target high-risk subgroups for interventions aimed at reducing the risk and ameliorating the consequences of this serious complication.
Sub-behaviour relations for session-based client/server systems

We propose a refinement and a simplification of the behavioural semantics of session types, based on the concepts of compliance and sub-behaviour from the theory of web contracts. We introduce three relations on a suitable class of behaviours with higher-order input/output, called ‘session behaviours’. Such relations, depending on each other, represent the idea of sub-behaviour from the point of view of a client, a server or a peer, respectively. A restriction of the intersection of the first two relations characterizes the ‘usual’ sub-behaviour relation from the literature. We then device an algorithmic formal system for three subtyping relations (dubbed CSP-subtyping) for session types that takes into account the role played by a user of a channel during an interaction, so extending Gay and Hole subtyping theory. We show that our session behaviours and sub-behaviour relations provide sound and complete semantics for CSP-subtyping, and for Gay and Hole subtyping as a by-product.
Indexation sémantique de documents XML

Les documents XML, posent de nouveaux defis et imposent de nouvelles methodes de traitement d'information. Ils presentent l'avantage de posseder une structure explicite qui facilite leur presentation et leur exploitation dans differents contextes. Cependant, tres souvent, la majeure partie de l'information reste contenue dans les champs textuels. Il est donc devenu primordial de concevoir des methodes permettant d'exploiter a la fois la structure et le contenu textuel de ces documents. Le Web semantique repose sur la capacite de XML a definir des balises "personnalisees" et de standards pour decrire formellement la signification de laterminologie employee dans les documents Web. L'interet de l'utilisation de l'ontologie en Recherche d'information a redouble avec le Web semantique. Nous nous inscrivons dans cette optique en defendant la these qu'une description fine des documents est couteuse et qu'il serait utile d'avoir une representation intermediaire pour retrouver les informations pertinentes. L'objectif de nos travaux est de proposer des methodes qui mettent a profit la structure et le contenu semantique des documents. Le modele que nous proposons repose sur : 1. Un modele generique qui permet d'indexer des documents qui possedent des structures heterogenes et qui permet de retrouver et d'apparier ces structures. 2. Un langage de requete qui a la difference des langages de requetes qui existent est plus intuitif et repose sur une syntaxe XML. Notre langage permet de poser des requetes vagues sur la structure et sur le contenu ainsi que des requetes simples mots-cles. La prise en compte de la semantique est totalement transparente a l'utilisateur.
NRG1 represses yeast–hypha morphogenesis and hypha‐specific gene expression in Candida albicans

We have characterized CaNrg1 from Candida albicans, the major fungal pathogen in humans. CaNrg1 contains a zinc finger domain that is conserved in transcriptional regulators from fungi to humans. It is most closely related to ScNrg1, which represses transcription in a Tup1‐dependent fashion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Inactivation of CaNrg1 in C.albicans causes filamentous and invasive growth, derepresses hypha‐specific genes, increases sensitivity to some stresses and attenuates virulence. A tup1 mutant displays similar phenotypes. However, unlike tup1 cells, nrg1 cells can form normal hyphae, generate chlamydospores at normal rates and grow at 42°C. Transcript profiling of 2002 C.albicans genes reveals that CaNrg1 represses a subset of CaTup1‐regulated genes, which includes known hypha‐specific genes and other virulence factors. Most of these genes contain an Nrg1 response element (NRE) in their promoter. CaNrg1 interacts specifically with an NRE in vitro. Also, deletion of two NREs from the ALS8 promoter releases it from Nrg1‐mediated repression. Hence, CaNrg1 is a transcriptional repressor that appears to target CaTup1 to a distinct set of virulence‐related functions, including yeast–hypha morphogenesis.
Service innovation, service delivery and customer satisfaction and loyalty in the banking sector of Ghana

Purpose The concept of innovation is gaining ground steadily in the context of an increasingly competitive and highly volatile banking sector. The purpose of this paper is to find out the role of service innovation (SI) in the relationship between service delivery (SERVD), customer satisfaction (CSAT) and loyalty in the banking sector of Ghana. Design/methodology/approach Drawing from banking and marketing literature, a conceptual framework was developed and tested using data from 450 sampled customers of commercial banks in Ghana. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. Findings The findings indicate that SI has direct influence on SERVD and CSAT. Again the findings revealed a positive relationship between SERVD, CSAT and bank customer loyalty. Research limitations/implications This study offers theoretical support for the adoption of innovative techniques in service provision and delivery. Originality/value This paper provides an initial study into innovation management in financial services context in an emerging economy.
The Mentoring Relationship as a Context for Psychological Contract Development

This study examined the mentoring relationship as a context for the development of psychological contracts and investigated the obligations that mentors and protégés feel that they owe and are owed in the mentoring relationship. By using psychological contract theory, we develop new insights into the dynamics of the mentoring relationship and extend psychological contract research by applying the theory to a relation outside the employer–employee context. Results indicate that both parties perceive that they owe and are owed obligations, and these perceptions are influenced by the formality of the relationship and the supervisory status of the mentor. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed. jasp_924 1904.1931
A parametric solution for optimal overlapped block motion compensation

We find the optimal window for overlapped block motion compensation (OBMC) by statistically modeling the motion field, the field of block motion estimates and their relationship. This enables us to show how the optimal OBMC window is affected by random field parameters, such as the variance of the motion field and the correlation coefficients of both the intensity field and the motion field. The OBMC window obtained in this fashion is shown to have good performance in reducing the prediction error. Furthermore, this parametric solution provides insight into motion uncertainty and the overlapped motion compensation process.
Prevalence of overweight and obesity among children in the United Arab Emirates

The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Secondary analysis was undertaken of data on 4381 children aged 5–17 years from the 1999 UAE‐National Iodine Deficiency Surveillance Study. Data on weight and height from that study were used to calculate body mass index. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was estimated using International Obesity Task Force criteria. Overall, 944 (21.5%) of children were overweight and 601 (13.7%) of these were obese. More girls than boys were overweight (22.9% vs. 20.2%; P ≤ 0.001). Non‐citizen girls were more likely to be obese (odds ratios [OR] 1.767, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.48–2.102) than UAE girls. Boys in the rural areas had the lowest prevalence (23.6%) and were the least likely of all the children to be either overweight (OR 0.785, 95% CI 0.629–0.974) or obese 0.732 (95% CI 0.591–0.912). This study demonstrates a high prevalence of overweight in children in the UAE. Prompt actions are needed to initiate preventative and interventionist strategies to reverse the trend of this emerging epidemic.
Fabrication of Nanocrystalline TiO2 Thin Film Ammonia Vapor Sensor

Nanocrystalline titanium oxide thin films have been deposited by spin coating technique and then have been analyzed to test their application in NH3 gas-sensing technology. In particular, spectrophotometric and con-ductivity measurements have been performed in order to determine the optical and electrical properties of titanium oxide thin films. The structure and the morphology of such material have been investigated by X ray diffraction, Scanning microscopy, high resolution electron microscopy and selected area electron diffrac-tion. The X-ray diffraction measurements confirmed that the films grown by this technique have good crys-talline tetragonal mixed anatase and rutile phase structure The HRTEM image of TiO2 thin film showed grains of about 50-60 nm in size with aggregation of 10-15 nm crystallites. Selected area electron diffraction pattern shows that the TiO2 films exhibited tetragonal structure. The surface morphology (SEM) of the TiO2 film showed that the nanoparticles are fine The optical band gap of TiO2 film is 3.26 eV. Gas sensing proper-ties showed that TiO2 films were sensitive as well as fast in responding to NH3. A high sensitivity for ammo-nia indicates that the TiO2 films are selective for this gas.
Bone adaptation with aging and long-term caloric restriction in Fischer 344 Brown-Norway F 1-hybrid rats

LaMothe, Jeremy M. , Russell T. Hepple, and Ronald F. Zernicke. Selected Contribution: Bone adaptation with aging and long-term caloric restriction in Fischer 344 Brown-Norway F1-hybrid rats. J Appl Physiol 95: 1739–1745, 2003. First published June 13, 2003; 10.1152/ japplphysiol.00079. 2003. —Rodents are commonly used as models for human aging because of their relatively short life span, the ease of obtaining age-specific tissue samples, and lower cost. However, age-associated disease may confound inbred animal studies. For example, numerous physiologically significant lesions, such as chronic nephropathy, are more common in aged Fischer 344 (F344) rats than in other strains (Bronson RT, Genetic Effects of Aging, 1990). Conversely, F344 Brown-Norway F1-hybrid (F344BN) rats, developed by the National Institute on Aging for aging research, live considerably longer and have fewer pathologies at any given age vs. inbred strains (Lipman RD, Chrisp CE, Hazzard DG, and Bronson RT, J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 51: 54–59, 1996). To our knowledge, there are no data regarding the effect of age on bone geometry and mechanics in this strain of rat. Furthermore, caloric restriction (CR) extends the mean and maximal life span of animals and significantly reduces age-associated disease but may have adverse consequences for bone growth and mechanics. Thus we investigated the effects of age and CR on bone geometry and mechanics in the axial and appendicular skeleton of F344 Brown-Norway rats. Ad libitum fed rats were assessed at 8 mo (young adult; n 6), 28 mo (late middle age; n 5), and 36 mo (senescence; n 6). CR rats were assessed at 28 mo (n 6). Tibiae and the sixth lumbar vertebrae (L6) were dissected, scanned (micro-computed tomography) to determine geometry, and tested mechanically. From 8 to 36 mo, there were no significant changes in L6 geometry, and only the cross-sectional moment of inertia changed (increased) with the tibia. CR-induced body mass reductions accounted for changes in L6 load at proportional limit, maximal load, and stiffness (structural properties), but altered tibial structural properties were independent of body mass. In tibiae, geometric changes dominated alterations in structural properties. Those data demonstrated that, whereas aging in ad libitum-fed animals induced minor changes in bone mechanics, axial and appendicular bones were adversely influenced by CR in late-middle-aged animals in different manners.
Information and communication technology (ICT) and economic growth nexus: A comparative global analysis

This paper analyzes the impact of diverse ICT indicators on economic growth at both global and regional levels. The analysis is based on a sample of 149 counties over the period 1980-2015. The empirical exercise is based on Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), Pooled OLS, Two Stage Least Squares (2SLS) and Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) techniques. The results show that all indicators of ICT accelerate both global and regional economic growth. However, some indicators such as online service, telecommunication infrastructure and e-government are comparatively more conducive in enhancing economic growth. The analysis for the subsamples of developed, emerging and developing countries reveal that emerging and developing countries are gaining more form ICT than developed countries, validating the argument that these economies are ̳leapfrogging‘ through ICT. Moreover, the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of ICT indicators also confirms the results. Findings of the study are shown to be robust to different specifications, to alternative econometric techniques, to different control variables, and to regional sub-samples. This study contributes to the economic growthICT nexus by introducing the novel measures of ICT infrastructure such as telecommunication, online service and e-government index unlike previous literature that mainly emphasized the importance of fixed telephone and broadband subscriptions. Findings of the study imply that investment in ICT infrastructure is essential to take the maximum benefit from the knowledge economy of 21 century.
The impact of financial accessibility constraints and government regulations on the organisational performance of small-and-medium-sized enterprises

This paper seeks to investigate the impact of financial accessibility constraints and government regulations on organisational performance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). On the basis of a literature review covering works specialising in financial accessibility constraints, government regulations and organisational performance, a quantitative study was carried out in Jordan using a sample composed by 291 Jordanian SMEs. Information was gathered by applying surveys addressed to the heads of accounting departments / financial managers in SMEs. The data collected using the questionnaire shows 159 usable questionnaires were received, which gives 54.6% response rate. The findings reveal that financial accessibility constraints negatively influence organisational performance, while government regulations are not significantly linked with organisational performance. In order to reduce the negative impact of financial accessibility constraints on SMEs performance, the government of Jordan and financial institutions should facilitate access to finance for SMEs as a critical factor influencing their performance. Further, the government of Jordan must legislate new regulations to improve performance and continue removing unnecessary burdens that may effect SMEs. Through study outcomes, the interested bodies including the government of Jordan, financial institutions, to name a few, could be assisted in formulating the policies associated with SMEs that are evidence-based. Aside from adding important knowledge to the body of the organisational performance of SMEs, this study can be a starting point for further investigation and analysis of organisational performance among SMEs. Corresponding author: Zaid Abdulkarim Jaradat Email address for corresponding author: z.jaradat@yahoo.com First submission received: 6th November 2017 Revised submission received: 5th March 2018 Accepted: 25th March 2018
[A comparison of operative invasiveness in minimally invasive anterolateral hip replacement (MIS-AL) and standard hip procedure, using biochemical markers].

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The aim of this prospective randomized study was to compare, by means of biochemical markers, the operative invasiveness of the standard total hip replacement with that of the minimally invasive anterolateral (MIS-AL) approach. MATERIAL Twenty-six randomly assigned patients with standard and 22 patients with MIS-AL total hip replacement were included in the study. Patients with elevated pre-operative levels of the markers evaluated or patients taking medication that might affect marker levels were not included. METHODS Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were chosen as markers of muscle damage and post-operative inflammatory changes, respectively. Blood samples were drawn before surgery (less than 24 hours) and after surgery at 24, 48 and 96 hours, which respected biological half-lives of the markers and permitted us to study their dynamics. The results were evaluated and statistically analyzed at the department of biochemistry, using the two sample t-test. RESULTS Statistically significant differences between the two groups of patients were found for both markers. The average CRP values differed significantly (p < 0.05) at 48 and 96 hours post-operatively, being higher for the standard than MIS-AL total hip replacement by 28% and 44%, respectively. The average CPK values showed the most marked difference at 48 hours after surgery, when the level was higher by 62.5% in the standard than MIS-AL total hip replacement (p < 0.05). DISCUSSION Our objective evaluation of the invasiveness of surgery in total hip replacement was based on the most frequently recommended markers for assessment of muscle tissue damage and post-operative inflammatory changes. The study was focused on the invasiveness of surgery only and neither subjective nor objective outcomes of implantation were evaluated. The use of the muscle sparing approach MIS-AL results in minimal damage to muscle tissue and, consequently, a lower degree of post-operative inflammation than is recorded in traditional hip replacement surgery. CONCLUSIONS In the patients undergoing MIS-AL total hip replacement, post-operative levels of CPK and CRP were significantly lower than in the patients with standard total hip replacement. The MIS-AL technique evidently provides a more sparing approach to soft tissues.
La fuga de los millennials de la televisión lineal

espanolIntroduccion. La television pasa por un momento historico debido al importante proceso de transformacion en el que se encuentra, derivado de la convergencia con internet y de las cualidades disruptivas de las innovaciones tecnologicas. Metodologia. Este articulo analiza la evolucion del consumo televisivo lineal de la llamada generacion millennial en comparacion con el total de la audiencia y el impacto que en esta actividad tiene el visionado online. Tambien se aborda el perfil de publico y la afinidad de este target con los canales de los principales operadores comerciales de television en Espana. Para ello se combinan metodologias cuantitativas –datos de audimetria de Kantar Media y una encuesta online original sobre consumo audiovisual a una muestra representativa de la poblacion internauta espanola– y cualitativas –entrevistas semiestructuradas a responsables de estrategia digital de los principales grupos televisivos privados y de una multichannel network–. Resultados y conclusiones. Los resultados confirman el trasvase de audiencias y la fuga del publico joven –y de sus ingresos asociados– hacia otros servicios de entretenimiento audiovisual mas personalizables e interactivos. Como consecuencia, los operadores de television reconocen estar poniendo en practica nuevas estrategias que afectan a la esencia de su negocio y de su identidad. EnglishIntroduction. Television is undergoing a historical transformation due to its convergence with the Internet and the disruptiveness of technological innovation. Methods. This article analyses the evolution of linear television consumption by the so-called millennial generation, in comparison to the general audience, and how it is affected by online viewing. This research also addresses millennials’ audience profile and affinity in relation to the main commercial television channels in Spain. To this end, quantitative and qualitative instruments are used: Kantar Media viewership data and an original online survey about audiovisual consumption habits applied to a representative sample of Spanish Internet users and, on the other hand, semi-structured interviews with the digital strategists of the major private television companies and a multichannel network. Results and conclusions. The results confirm the leak of young audiences –and the associated revenues– and their move towards more personalised and interactive audiovisual entertainment services. In response to this, television operators are implementing new multi-platform strategies that affect their core business and even their own identity.