Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Commercial Web site links

Every hyperlink pointing at a Web site is a potential source of new visitors, especially one near the top of a results page from a popular search engine. The order of the links in a search results page is often decided upon by an algorithm that takes into account the number and quality of links to all matching pages. The number of standard links targeted at a site is therefore doubly important, yet little research has touched on the actual interlinkage between business Web sites, which numerically dominate the Web. Discusses business use of the Web and related search engine design issues as well as research on general and academic links before reporting on a survey of the links published by a relatively random collection of business Web sites. The results indicate that around 66 percent of Web sites do carry external links, most of which are targeted at a specific purpose, but that about 17 percent publish general links, with implications for those designing and marketing Web sites.
Nutrient Requirements and Optimal Nutrition Whey Protein but Not Soy Protein Supplementation Alters Body Weight and Composition in Free-Living Overweight and Obese Adults 1 , 2

A double-blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted to determine the effect of consumption of supplemental whey protein (WP), soy protein (SP), and an isoenergetic amount of carbohydrate (CHO) on body weight and composition in freeliving overweight and obese but otherwise healthy participants. Ninety overweight and obese participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups for 23 wk: 1) WP; 2) SP (each providing ;56 g/d of protein and 1670 kJ/d); or 3) an isoenergetic amount of CHO. Supplements were consumed as a beverage twice daily. Participants were provided no dietary advice and continued to consume their free-choice diets. Participants’ body weight and composition data were obtained monthly. Dietary intake was determined by 24-h dietary recalls collected every 10 d. After 23 wk, body weight and composition did not differ between the groups consuming the SP and WP or between SP and CHO; however, body weight and fat mass of the group consuming theWPwere lower by 1.8 kg (P, 0.006) and 2.3 kg (P, 0.005), respectively, than the group consuming CHO. Lean bodymass did not differ among any of the groups.Waist circumferencewas smaller in the participants consumingWP than in the other groups (P, 0.05). Fasting ghrelin was lower in participants consuming WP compared with SP or CHO. Through yet-unknown mechanisms, different sources of dietary protein may differentially facilitate weight loss and affect body composition. Dietary recommendations, especially those that emphasize the role of dietary protein in facilitating weight change, should also address the demonstrated clinical potential of supplemental WP. J. Nutr. 141: 1489–1494, 2011.
FIELD EVALUATION OF DEET, REPEL CARE®, AND THREE PLANT-BASED ESSENTIAL OIL REPELLENTS AGAINST MOSQUITOES, BLACK FLIES (DIPTERA: SIMULIIDAE), AND LAND LEECHES (ARHYNCHOBDELLIDA: HAEMADIPSIDAE) IN THAILAND

ABSTRACT Diethyl methyl benzamide or deet, a commercial plant-based repellent (Repel Care®), and essential oils from 3 species of plants (finger root rhizomes, guava leaves, and turmeric rhizomes), steam distillated and formulated as insect repellents, were evaluated in the field on human volunteers against hematophagous mosquitoes, black flies, and land leeches in Thailand. Field trials were conducted against wild mosquitoes in Bang Bua Thong District, Nonthaburi Province, and in the Thap Lan National Park Headquarters, Nadee District, Prachinburi Province; anthropophilic black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) at the Forestry Fire Control Station in Doi Inthanon National Park, Chomthong District, Chiang Mai Province; and land leeches (Arhynchobdellida: Haemadipsidae) in the Khao Yai National Park, Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. The 3 experimental plant-based essential oil formulations as well as Repel Care and deet provided complete protection from mosquito landing and biting for up to 9 h (duration of the experiment). Similar results were obtained with the 5 products against black flies, providing 100% protection for 9 h but 96–82% protection after 10 and 11 h posttreatment. The 5 repellent products also provided 100% protection against land leeches for at least 8 h. This is the 1st report of repellency of plant-based repellents against black flies and land leeches in Thailand. The identification and availability of inexpensive sources of plant-based oils, i.e., finger root rhizomes, guava leaves, and turmeric rhizomes providing long-lasting repellency against blood-sucking organisms are promising leads into commercial production of relatively safe and effective repellents.
Identification of Cellular Targets of MicroRNA-181a in HepG2 Cells: A New Approach for Functional Analysis of MicroRNAs

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are known to play a part in regulating important cellular processes. They generally perform their regulatory function through their binding with mRNAs, ultimately leading to a repression of target protein expression levels. However, their roles in cellular processes are poorly understood due to the limited understanding of their specific cellular targets. Aberrant levels of miRNAs have been found in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) including miR-181a. Using bioinformatics analysis, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1B (CDKN1β) and transcriptional factor E2F7 were identified as potential targets of miR-181a. Validation analysis using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) showed a positive binding between miR-181a and the 3’UTRs of these two potential mRNA targets. In vivo luciferase assay further confirmed the positive miR-181a:mRNA bindings, where a significant decrease in luciferase activity was detected when HepG2 cells were co-transfected with the 3’UTR-containing reporter plasmids and miR-181a. The potential impact of miR-181a binding to its specific targets on the general cellular behavior was further investigated. Results showed that miR-181a significantly activated the MAPK/JNK pathway which regulates cell proliferation, supporting our recently reported findings. Inhibition of miR-181a, on the other hand, abolished the observed activation. Our findings open up a new approach in designing targeted functional analysis of miRNAs in cellular processes, through the identification of their cellular targets.
Optimizing and Adapting the Metropolis Algorithm

Many modern scientific questions involve high dimensional data and complicated statistical models. For example, data on weather consist of huge numbers of measurements across spatial grids, over a period of time. Even in simpler settings, data can be complex: for example, Bartolucci et al. (2007) consider recurrence rates for melanoma (skin cancer) patients after surgery. The probability of recurrence for an individual may depend on physical or biological characteristics of their cancerous lesion, as well as other factors. A statistical model in this context may involve a large number of variables and a correspondingly large number of parameters, which are often represented by a vector θ of some dimension d. To assess the relevance of specific variables for disease recurrence, and to build models that give a risk of recurrence for any given individual, researchers often use Bayesian analysis (see e.g. Box and Tiao, 1973; Gelman et al., 2003; Carlin and Louis, 2008). In this framework, the parameter vector is assumed to follow some probability distribution (of dimension d), and the challenge is to combine a “prior” distribution for θ (typically based on background information about the scientific area) with data that are collected, so as to produce a “posterior” distribution for θ. This probability distribution (call it π(θ)) can then be used to answer important scientific questions (e.g., is the size of a cancerous lesion related to the risk of recurrence after surgery? ) and to calculate specific probabilities (e.g., this person has a 20% probability of a recurrence within the next five years). One challenge for Bayesian analysis in situations where the data and parameter vectors are high dimensional is that it is difficult or impossible to compute probabilities based on the posterior distribution. If there is some outcome A of interest (e.g., the outcome that a specific individual’s cancer
Event-based probabilistic risk assessment of livestock snow disasters in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau

Abstract. Understanding risk using quantitative risk assessment offers critical information for risk-informed reduction actions, investing in building resilience, and planning for adaptation. This study develops an event-based probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) model for livestock snow disasters in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP) region and derives risk assessment results based on historical climate conditions (1980–2015) and present-day prevention capacity. In the model, a hazard module was developed to identify and simulate individual snow disaster events based on boosted regression trees. By combining a fitted quantitative vulnerability function and exposure derived from vegetation type and grassland carrying capacity, we estimated risk metrics based on livestock mortality and mortality rate. In our results, high-risk regions include the Nyainqêntanglha Range, Tanggula Range, Bayankhar Mountains and the region between the Kailas Range and the neighbouring Himalayas. In these regions, annual livestock mortality rates were estimated as >2 % and mortality was estimated as >2 sheep unit km−1 at a return period of 20 years. Prefectures identified with extremely high risk include Guoluo in Qinghai Province and Naqu, and Shigatse in the Tibet Autonomous Region. In these prefectures, a snow disaster event with a return period of 20 years or higher can easily claim total losses of more than 500 000 sheep units. Our event-based PRA results provide a quantitative reference for preparedness and insurance solutions in reducing mortality risk. The methodology developed here can be further adapted to future climate change risk analyses and provide important information for planning climate change adaption in the QTP region.
Pedestrian Detection with Local Feature Assistant

Until now, existing pedestrian detection systems usually use global features (e.g. appearance or motion) of human body to detect pedestrian; however, the detection rate needs to be improved in many situations since sometimes the global features can not be obtained. For example, a pedestrian may be partly covered by a car or his/her part may hide into the background. Therefore it is essential to adopt some local features of key parts of human body to assist pedestrian detection. In this paper, we propose a method using some key local features of human body to help pedestrian detection. Since the introduction of additional features will cost the system more time, in order to ensure the detection speed, we firstly use both appearance and motion global features of human body to select candidates, and then use local features of head and leg to do further confirmation. In the confirmation stage, we use three kinds of local features (head appearance, face color and hair color) to detect the head of each candidate; at the same time, we also choose some particular local appearance features to detect the leg. The experimental results indicate that this method can improve detection rate with almost the same detection speed; additionally, it can reduce false alarm sometimes.
Title: Decentralized H∞ Controller Design for Large-scale Wireless Structural Sensing and Control Systems

Wireless structural sensing has attracted much research interest in recent years. With actuation functionality incorporated in the design of the wireless sensing nodes, a wireless feedback structural control system can be constructed. For wireless structural control systems that face challenges in communication range, latency, and reliability, decentralized system architectures can provide promising solutions. This paper examines the use of a decentralized controller that minimizes the H∞ norm of a closed-loop system. Decentralized control solutions are developed for both continuous-time and discrete-time formulations. To evaluate the performance of the decentralized H∞ controller design, numerical simulations of the wireless control system are conducted using a 20-story benchmark structure with different decentralized system architectures.
Stimulation of Monocytes, Macrophages, and Microglia by Amphotericin B and Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor Promotes Remyelination

Approaches to stimulate remyelination may lead to recovery from demyelinating injuries and protect axons. One such strategy is the activation of immune cells with clinically used medications, since a properly directed inflammatory response can have healing properties through mechanisms such as the provision of growth factors and the removal of cellular debris. We previously reported that the antifungal medication amphotericin B is an activator of circulating monocytes, and their tissue-infiltrated counterparts and macrophages, and of microglia within the CNS. Here, we describe that amphotericin B activates these cells through engaging MyD88/TRIF signaling. When mice were subjected to lysolecithin-induced demyelination of the spinal cord, systemic injections of nontoxic doses of amphotericin B and another activator, macrophage colony-stimulating factor (MCSF), further elevated the representation of microglia/macrophages at the site of injury. Treatment with amphotericin B, particularly in combination with MCSF, increased the number of oligodendrocyte precursor cells and promoted remyelination within lesions; these pro-regenerative effects were mitigated in mice treated with clodronate liposomes to reduce circulating monocytes and tissue-infiltrated macrophages. Our results have identified candidates among currently used medications as potential therapies for the repair of myelin.
An Introduction to Di ¤ erential Geometry in Econometrics

In this introductory chapter we seek to cover su¢cient di¤erential geometry in order to understand its application to Econometrics. It is not intended to be a comprehensive review of either di¤erential geometric theory, nor of all the applications which geometry has found in statistics. Rather it is aimed as a rapid tutorial covering the material needed in the rest of this volume and the general literature. The full abstract power of a modern geometric treatment is not always necessary and such a development can often hide in its abstract constructions as much as it illuminates. In Section 2 we show how econometric models can take the form of geometrical objects known as manifolds, in particular concentrating on classes of models which are full or curved exponential families. This development of the underlying mathematical structure leads into Section 3 where the tangent space is introduced. It is very helpful, to be able view the tangent space in a number of di¤erent, but mathematically equivalent ways and we exploit this throughout the chapter. Section 4 introduces the idea of a metric and more general tensors illustrated with statistically based examples. Section 5 considers the most important tool that a di¤erential geometric approach o¤ers, the a¢ne connection. We look at applications of this idea to asymptotic analysis, the relationship between geometry and information theory and the problem of the choice of parameterisation. The last two sections look at direct applications of this geometric framework. In particular at the problem of inference in curved families and at the issue of information loss and recovery. Note that while this chapter aims to give a reasonably precise mathematical development of the required theory an alternative and perhaps more intuitive approach can be found in the chapter by Critchley, Marriott and Salmon later in this volume. For a more exhaustive and detailed review of current geometrical statistical theory see Kass and Vos (1997) or from a more purely mathematical background, see Murray and Rice (1993).
Spatial and Temporal Variation of Phytoplankton Production in Lake Michigan

ii LIST OF FIGURES.vii LIST OF TABLES.viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.ix Chapter 1: Introduction and Background.1 Chapter 2: Spatial variation of phytoplankton production in Lake Michigan.9 Introduction.9 Methods.13 Spatial sampling.13 Field operations.16 Fluorescence profile corrections.17 Nutrient analyses.18 Photosynthesis experiments.19 Areal production calculations.20 Data analysis.24 Results.25 Whole-lake surveys.25 75 m site comparisons.31 Nearshore-offshore comparisons.32 Discussion.37 North-south comparisons.37 Nearshore-offshore comparisons.48 Summary & conclusions.51 Chapter 3: Temporal dynamics of phytoplankton production in southwestern Lake Michigan.52 Introduction.52 Methods.55 Field operations.55 DCL definitions.57
Analysis of the factors affecting the credit risk of China's listed companies

This paper applied the factor analysis method to dynamically evaluate the credit risk of listed companies in China. Sixteen measurable indicators which can reflect the public credits of listed companies are selected and 4 main indicators are extracted by applying the factor analysis method. On the basis of it, 16 sub-indicators are further given to explain the affecting level to the credit of listed companies. It is demonstrated that, the main factors affecting the credit risk of listed companies are: profitability, operating capacity, solvency and growth ability, which has the impact of 38.654%, 26.078%, 19.025%, and 16.242% separately to the credit risk of listed companies. The reasons of these four factors influences are further illustrated and some suggestions are given in the end.
Semantic Multimedia Retrieval using Lexical Query Expansion and Model-Based Reranking

We present methods for improving text search retrieval of visual multimedia content by applying a set of visual models of semantic concepts from a lexicon of concepts deemed relevant for the collection. Text search is performed via queries of words or fully qualified sentences, and results are returned in the form of ranked video clips. Our approach involves a query expansion stage, in which query terms are compared to the visual concepts for which we independently build classifier models. We leverage a synonym dictionary and WordNet similarities during expansion. Results over each query are aggregated across the expanded terms and ranked. We validate our approach on the TRECVID 2005 broadcast news data with 39 concepts specifically designed for this genre of video. We observe that concept models improve search results by nearly 50% after model-based re-ranking of text-only search. We also observe that purely model-based retrieval significantly outperforms text-based retrieval on non-named entity queries
[Indinavir-ritonavir combination: pharmacologic results and tolerance in patients infected by HIV].

OBJECTIVES Ritonavir (RTV) is a powerful inhibitor of P450 3A4 cytochorme. When given in combination with indinavir (IDV) it increases the IDV trough concentrations (Cmin) allowing a lower IDV dosage in a twice a day regimen, independently of meals. We report tolerance data and IDV Cmin levels observed in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in a cohort of HIV-infected patients treated with the IDV-RTV combination at different dosages of IDV and RTV. PATIENTS AND METHODS IDV Cmin was assayed 56 times in 40 patients (few patients had received different dosages of the IDV-RTV combination). Tolerance was recorded. RESULTS For patients given the IDV-RTV combination at the doses of 800/100 mg b.i. d. , 800/200 mg b.i. d. or 400/400 mg b.i. d. , the IDV Cmin was 12 times the median IDV IC95. If the Cmin/IC95 ratio was greater than 10 with the 800/100 mg b.i. d. regimen and virological success was achieved, the IDV dosage was reduced to 400 mg b.i. d. For these patients, the 400/100 mg b.i. d. IDV-RTV regimen always gave a Cmin above the IDV IC95. Median Cmin for IDV in CSF was 146 ng/ml (range 71-881 ng/ml), above the IDV IC95. It was possible to control most of the adverse effects by reducing dosage after obtaining the IDV pharmacological levels. Definitive interruption of treatment was required in only 2 cases at mean follow-up of 7.9 months. DISCUSSION The IDV-RTV combination should be used to improve observance of antiretroviral treatments and reduce the risk of virological failure related to low plasma levels. The IDV-RTV combination at 800/100 mg b.i. d. is a useful protocol when IDV efficacy alone is the goal. The 400/400 mg b.i. d. IDV-RTV regimen is an interesting alternative when efficacy of both inhibitors is the goal. Drug assays should be systematic to adapt individual dosages and limit the risk of adverse effects.
Role of Oxygen‐Derived Free Radicals in Myocardial Edema and Ischemia in Coronary Microvascular Embolization

BackgroundOxygen-derived free radicals are thought to injure the ischemic heart during coronary microvascular embolization. Methods and ResultsTo test this idea, microspheres (15 gm in diameter) were repetitively administered into the left anterior descending coronary artery to cause microvascular embolization in dogs. Myocardial contractile and metabolic dysfunctions were significantly attenuated after treatments with recombinant human superoxide dismutase, an acyl derivative of ascorbic acid (CV3611, 2–0-octadecylascorbic acid), and xanthine oxidase inhibitor (allopurinol). The free radical scavengers and inhibitor enhanced the coronary hyperemic flow response during embolization, and the total number of microspheres causing maximal embolization was increased by these drugs. When 8-phenyltheophylline was additionally administered with superoxide dismutase, these beneficial effects were abolished, indicating that coronary effects of these drugs may be due to increased release of adenosine during coronary microvascular embolization. ConclusionsWe conclude that oxygen radicals worsen the ischemic injury in coronary microembolization.
Effect of Temperature on Mineral Precipitation Sequence of Lake Katwe Brine during Evaporation

The effect of temperature on the mineral precipitation sequence during evaporation of the natural brine from lake Katwe was studied. Laboratory isothermal evaporation experiments at temperatures (30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 ) using the original Katwe surface brine were undertaken. PHREEQC, a solubility software was used to predict the crystallization paths at the different study temperatures. The mineralogy and morphology of the precipitates were determined by the XRD and SEM techniques, respectively. The precipitation sequence majorly started with sulphates followed by chlorides and lastly carbonates at all temperatures after precipitation of the calcium-magnesium carbonates. Halite emerged the most dominant mineral, with thernadite, trona and glaserite following respectively. Thenardite, glaserite and burkeite precipitation flourished at lower temperatures (30 and 40 ) whereas soda ash precipitation flourished at higher temperatures (60 and 70 . Halite equally precipitated at all temperatures thus not showing a temperature preference in this study. Temperature variation is a key design parameter in the extraction of mineral salts from the Brines of Lake Katwe.