Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Alpha Engine: Designing an Automated Trading Algorithm

We introduce a new approach to algorithmic investment management that yields profitable automated trading strategies. This trading model design is the result of a path of investigation that was chosen nearly three decades ago. Back then, a paradigm change was proposed for the way time is defined in financial markets, based on intrinsic events. This definition lead to the uncovering of a large set of scaling laws. An additional guiding principle was found by embedding the trading model construction in an agent-base framework, inspired by the study of complex systems. This new approach to designing automated trading algorithms is a parsimonious method for building a new type of investment strategy that not only generates profits, but also provides liquidity to financial markets and does not have a priori restrictions on the amount of assets that are managed.
Multiple Description Coding & Recovery of Free Viewpoint Video for Wireless MultiPath Streaming

By transmitting texture and depth videos captured from two nearby camera viewpoints, a client can synthesize via depth-image-based rendering (DIBR) any freely chosen intermediate virtual view of the 3D scene, enhancing the user’s perception of depth. During wireless network transmission, burst packet losses can corrupt the transmitted texture and depth videos and degrade the synthesized view quality at the client. In this paper, we propose a multiple description coding system for multi-path transmission of free-viewpoint video, with joint inter-view and temporal description recovery capability. In particular, we encode separately the even frames of the left view and the odd frames of the right view, and transmit them as one description on one path. The second description comprises the remaining frames in the two views and is transmitted over a second path. If the receiver receives only one description due to burst loss in the other path, the missing frames in the other description are partially reconstructed using our frame recovery procedure. First, we construct two recovery candidates for each lost pixel in a frame. The first candidate is generated via temporal super-resolution from its predecessor and successor frames in the same view. The second candidate is generated via DIBR from the received frame of the same time instance in the other view. Next, we select the best pixel candidates one patch at a time, where an image patch corresponds to a neighborhood of pixels with similar depth values in the 3D scene. Near-optimal source and channel coding rates for each description are selected using a branch-and-bound method, for given transmission bandwidth on each path. Experimental results show that our system can outperform a traditional single-description / single-path transmission scheme by up to 5.5dB in Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) of the synthesized intermediate view at the client.
Induced expression from the Moloney murine leukemia virus long terminal repeat during differentiation of human myeloid cells is mediated through its transcriptional enhancer

Transcription from the Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MuLV) long terminal repeat (LTR) is inhibited in murine stem cells and induced during maturation of these cells. We have investigated whether alterations in the activity of this viral regulatory element also occur during differentiation of human myeloid leukemia cells. The Mo-MuLV LTR and the simian virus 40 (SV40) early promoter were introduced into HL-60 promyelocytes on Epstein-Barr virus-derived chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression vectors. When these cells were induced to terminally differentiate, transcription from the Mo-MuLV LTR was induced approximately 10-fold. Expression from the SV40 promoter remained constant during differentiation of these cells. Replacing the SV40 transcriptional enhancer with the Mo-MuLV LTR transcriptional enhancer rendered the SV40 promoter inducible during differentiation. We conclude that sequences within the transcriptional enhancer of the Mo-MuLV LTR contain cis-acting elements responsible for induction of gene expression during differentiation of human myeloid cells.
Clinical heterogeneity in mild chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy

We describe the clinical presentation, progression and electrodiagnostic features of three patients with a mild form of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). The unusually mild but also variable clinical picture was a cause of diagnostic uncertainty in all, but CIDP was eventually confirmed by extensive electrophysiological studies in each case, as well as by histology in one. Cerebrospinal fluid protein was raised in only one patient. Two patients were treated by intravenous immunoglobulins and both improved. Awareness of the existence of this relatively benign form of CIDP in its various presentations is essential as it can be functionally disabling, progress to more severe symptomatology, and as patients may benefit from immunomodulatory therapy.
Speech Understanding in Background Noise with the Two-Microphone Adaptive Beamformer BEAM™ in the Nucleus Freedom™ Cochlear Implant System

Objective: This paper evaluates the benefit of the two-microphone adaptive beamformer BEAM™ in the Nucleus Freedom™ cochlear implant (CI) system for speech understanding in background noise by CI users. Design: A double-blind evaluation of the two-microphone adaptive beamformer BEAM and a hardware directional microphone was carried out with five adult Nucleus CI users. The test procedure consisted of a pre- and post-test in the lab and a 2-wk trial period at home. In the pre- and post-test, the speech reception threshold (SRT) with sentences and the percentage correct phoneme scores for CVC words were measured in quiet and background noise at different signal-to-noise ratios. Performance was assessed for two different noise configurations (with a single noise source and with three noise sources) and two different noise materials (stationary speech-weighted noise and multitalker babble). During the 2-wk trial period at home, the CI users evaluated the noise reduction performance in different listening conditions by means of the SSQ questionnaire. In addition to the perceptual evaluation, the noise reduction performance of the beamformer was measured physically as a function of the direction of the noise source. Results: Significant improvements of both the SRT in noise (average improvement of 5–16 dB) and the percentage correct phoneme scores (average improvement of 10–41%) were observed with BEAM compared to the standard hardware directional microphone. In addition, the SSQ questionnaire and subjective evaluation in controlled and real-life scenarios suggested a possible preference for the beamformer in noisy environments. Conclusions: The evaluation demonstrates that the adaptive noise reduction algorithm BEAM in the Nucleus Freedom CI-system may significantly increase the speech perception by cochlear implantees in noisy listening conditions. This is the first monolateral (adaptive) noise reduction strategy actually implemented in a mainstream commercial CI.
σB Regulates IS256-Mediated Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Phenotypic Variation

ABSTRACT Biofilm formation in Staphylococcus aureus is subject to phase variation, and biofilm-negative derivatives emerge sporadically from a biofilm-positive bacterial population. To date, the only known mechanism for generating biofilm phenotypic variation in staphylococci is the reversible insertion/excision of IS256 in biofilm-essential genes. In this study, we present evidence suggesting that the absence of the σB transcription factor dramatically increases the rate of switching to the biofilm-negative phenotype in the clinical isolate S. aureus 15981, under both steady-state and flow conditions. The phenotypic switching correlates with a dramatic increase in the number of IS256 copies in the chromosomes of biofilm-negative variants, as well as with an augmented IS256 insertion frequency into the icaC and the sarA genes. IS256-mediated biofilm switching is reversible, and biofilm-positive variants could emerge from biofilm-negative σB mutants. Analysis of the chromosomal insertion frequency using a recombinant IS256 element tagged with an erythromycin marker showed an almost three-times-higher transposition frequency in a ΔσB strain. However, regulation of IS256 activity by σB appears to be indirect, since transposase transcription is not affected in the absence of σB and IS256 activity is inhibited to wild-type levels in a ΔσB strain under NaCl stress. Overall, our results identify a new role for σB as a negative regulator of insertion sequence transposition and support the idea that deregulation of IS256 activity abrogates biofilm formation capacity in S. aureus.
Haploidentical transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells.

OBJECTIVE To review and discuss the literature on hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) with haploidentical donors in Brazil. METHOD Literature review. RESULTS The haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantations have become a safe option in hematology since the 80s, with the possibility of ex-vivo T-cell depletion. However, its broad use worldwide occurred with the advent of haploidentical nonmyeloablative transplants using in vivo T-cell depletion with the administration of post-transplant cyclophosphamide. The results were encouraging, despite the increased risk of infection and post-transplantation recurrence. Recent publications on acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome and Hodgkin's lymphoma have shown similar results among haploidentical, unrelated and related full-match transplants. Obviously, these findings of retrospective studies should be confirmed by clinical trials. CONCLUSIONS Transplantation with haploidentical donor has shown to be feasible in Brazil and the first publications and results are showing encouraging results.
Novel Therapeutics in Renal Diseases Prevention of diabetic nephropathy by compound 21 , selective agonist of angiotensin type 2 receptors , in Zucker diabetic fatty rats

Giovanna Castoldi, Cira R. T. di Gioia, Camila Bombardi, Silvia Maestroni, Raffaella Carletti, U. Muscha Steckelings, Bjorn Dahlöf, Thomas Unger, Gianpaolo Zerbini, and Andrea Stella Clinica Nefrologica, Azienda Ospedaliera San Gerardo, Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy; Istituto di Anatomia Patologica, Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche, Oncologiche e Anatomopatologiche, Sapienza Universita’ di Roma, Rome, Italy; Unita’ Complicanze del Diabete. Istituto Scientifico San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; IMM-Department of Cardiovascular and Renal Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Medicine, Sahlgrensha University Hospital/Ostra, Gothenburg. Sweden; and CARIM, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
The profitability drivers in packaging materials reuse for manufacturers in business to business environments

Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to explore the profitability drivers for a firm’s operation of a reverse supply chain (RSC) that takes back and reuses packaging materials. Results apply specifically to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in business to business environments. Design/Methodology/Approach – Using in-depth data from the Danish manufacturer of measurement instruments, Radiometer Medical, the paper first identifies the total set of factors that directly influence the profitability of reusing packaging materials, and second assesses the relative impact among the identified factors. The paper’s theoretical basis is the RSC literature’s business perspective formulated by Guide and Van Wassenhove. Findings – The drivers of profitability in packaging materials reuse are 1) the amount of avoided costs of purchasing new packaging materials, 2) the firm’s ability to reduce costs of reverse logistics. Research limitations/implications – The study’s data is limited to one firm’s operation in one country, which limits the generalizability of the paper’s findings. However, the paper provides the basis for examining the bilateral relationships between the identified drivers and reuse profitability as well as between the drivers and their sub-level antecedents. Originality/value – The study provides exploratory insights into the economics of reusing packaging materials and identifies the drivers that are decisive for a firm’s ability to reuse packaging materials profitably.
Treatment adherence to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Objective Nonadherence in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients using disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) may lead to joint damage and function loss. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore Chinese RA patients’ adherence rates and investigate potential risk factors for nonadherence. Methods A total of 122 RA patients were recruited from the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from January 2014 to April 2015. Patients were asked to complete a set of standardized self-report questionnaires (Compliance Questionnaire on Rheumatology, Health Assessment Questionnaire, Short Form-36 questionnaire, 28-joint Disease Activity Score, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Visual Analog Scale). Independent samples t-tests, chi-square analyses, and logistic regression modeling were used to analyze these data. Results Based on Compliance Questionnaire on Rheumatology, 38% of the patients adhered to DMARDs. Adherence was associated with education, income, depression, and the total number of DMARDs. Other demographic and clinical characteristics were not associated with adherence. Logistic regression models identified income, depression, and the total number of DMARDs as predictors of medication nonadherence. Conclusion In this study, 62% of patients with RA were not adherent to their DMARD prescription. Education, income, depression, and the total number of DMARDs were associated with medication adherence, and income, depression, and the total number of DMARDs were independent predictors of medication adherence in patients with RA. These findings could help medical personnel develop helpful interventions to improve adherence in RA patients by paying more attention to the patients with these accompanying risk factors and, finally, improve RA patients’ quality of life.
Spectrophotometric determination of ajmaline and brucine by Folin Ciocalteu's reagent

A rapid and simple spectrophotometric procedure is described for the determina- tion of ajmaline and brucine. The method is based on the development of blue coloured product due to reduction of tungstate and/or molybdate in Folin Ciocalteu's reagent (FCR) by ajmaline and brucine in alkaline medium. The colour is stable for more than 48 h. The chromogenic reaction hasmax at 540 nm with molar absorptivity 1.64 10 4 and 2.37 10 3 l mol -1 cm -1 in the Beer's law range 1-8 gm l -1 and 10-100 gm l -1 for ajmaline and brucine, respectively.
Growth Strategies and Performance of Large Oil Companies in Kenya

xi CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 Background of the study . 1 1.1.1. Concept of Growth strategy . 2 1.1.2. Organization Performance . 4 1.1.3 Oil Industry in Kenya . 6 1.2 Research Problem . 7 1.3 Research Objectives . 9 1.3. 1. Specific Objectives . 9 1.4 Value of the study . 9 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW . 11 2.
Monitoring and Diagnostic of Transformer Solid Insulation

Liberalization of the energy market has put increasing pressure on both electricity producers and distributors for lower costs. Since maintenance is a major expense account, such companies will be inclined to reduce maintenance budgets. At the same time, increased liability for nondelivered energy increases the costs of sudden failure of a component. Transformers are such a component; they are often an essential link in the distribution network. In order to reconcile both decreasing maintenance spending and reliable service, condition-based maintenance (CBM) is often proposed. The basis of a successful application of CBM lies in obtaining information on transformers so that on the one hand a critical condition will be noted early enough to take measures; on the other hand so that only minimal maintenance is being applied to transformers still in good condition. This paper will review a series of often-mentioned techniques in order to assess what the value of this technique will be for CBM, and whether it can be used for condition monitoring.
Bank adoption of mobile banking: stakeholder perspective

Purpose Bank adoption of mobile banking globally remains sporadic. Factors influencing this remain under researched. The purpose of this paper is to explore drivers and barriers of bank adoption of mobile banking from a stakeholder perspective. Design/methodology/approach Using diffusion of innovation (DOI), a mixed method study was conducted. Data were collected using blogging to inform a two-round modified Delphi study. The opinion of 72 members from six stakeholder industries was sought. Findings The results indicate that DOI theory is still applicable within mobile environments in helping to understand the diffusion of mobile banking. Key drivers of bank adoption were global mobile phone penetration, competitive advantage, customer convenience, strategic importance, customer demand, low perceived risk/security concerns and stakeholder partnerships. Findings suggest low levels of customer demand and lack of return on investment (ROI) are key barriers for banks. The findings have strategic implications for industry players highlighting the importance of mobile banking to maintain market share and customer relations. These influences will inform successful mobile banking strategies by raising awareness of major barriers. Originality/value This study concentrates on a bank/stakeholder perspective. It confirms that DOI theory is still applicable within mobile environments. It extends understanding of bank adoption providing useful information for all stakeholders. It has implications for banks regarding multi-channel banking and the motivators and challenges influencing its adoption.
The contribution of supply chain technology in Malaysian textile and apparel industry

Through the rapid innovation of technology and increasing affordability, it was transformed from a means of convenience to indispensable tools for work, socialization, entertainment, and learning. Given the relevance of the topic, the purpose of this study was aimed to explore the contribution of supply chain technology adoption in Malaysian textile and apparel industry.The nature of this industry is characterized as a huge dynamic flow of physical, information, and financial. Undoubtedly, to handle the delicate nature of this business, the position of supply chain technology has increased not only in the manufacturing sector, but also in smooth movement of upstream and downstream of the supply chain.Thus, the understanding and practicing of supply chain technology adoption has become a crucial prerequisite for keeping competitive in the global race.Even though technology is widely implemented and studied in many industries and countries by researchers, but the study of adoption of supply chain technology in Malaysian textile and apparel industry is insufficient. In view of the significance given to Third Industrial Master Plan by the government Malaysia, it is necessary to recognize the stimulus of supply chain technology adoptions.The results suggest and highlight the extent of supply chain technology adoption and the benefits perceived by textile and apparel companies from supply chain technologies.This study believed that supply chain technology adoption could be beneficial to both internal and external supply chains. The result of this study could be used as a precursor to support future researchers in further investigation on this extent.
Cardiac-specific overexpression of Galphaq alters excitation-contraction coupling in isolated cardiac myocytes.

Transgenic mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of G alpha q exhibit a biochemical and physiological phenotype of load-independent cardiac hypertrophy with contractile dysfunction. To elucidate the cellular basis for altered contractility, we measured cellular contraction, Ca(2+)transients, and l -type Ca(2+)channel currents (I(Ca)) in left ventricular (LV) myocytes isolated from non transgenic (NT) controls or G alpha q hearts. Although baseline contractile function (% shortening) and the amplitude of Ca(2+)transients in G alpha q myocytes were similar to NT myocytes, the rates of cellular shortening and relengthening and the duration of Ca(2+)transients were prolonged in G alpha q myocytes. Myocytes from G alpha q hearts had larger cell capacitance but no change in I(Ca)density, voltage-dependence of activation and inactivation. The responses of I(Ca)to dihydropyridine drugs and a membrane permeable cAMP analog, 8-(4-chlorophenylthio) cAMP, were not altered; however, the time course of I(Ca)inactivation was significantly slower in G alpha q myocytes compared to NT myocytes. The kinetic difference in inactivation was abolished when Ba(2+)was used as the charge carrier or when the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+)was depleted by ryanodine, suggesting that Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation is reduced in G alpha q myocytes due to altered SR Ca(2+)release. Consistent with this hypothesis, the function of SR as assessed by the maximal Ca(2+)uptake rates and the apparent affinity of SR Ca(2+)-ATPase for Ca(2+)was reduced in ventricles of G alpha q heart. These results suggest that the reduced SR function contributes to the depressed contractility associated with this form of cardiac hypertrophy.
Prediction of Pulmonary Embolism Extent by Clinical Findings, D-dimer Level and Deep Vein Thrombosis Shown by Ultrasound

Summary Pulmonary embolism (PE) may encompass a wide spectrum of severity. To determine whether clinical findings, D-dimer (DD) concentration, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) shown by lower-limb venous compression ultrasonography (US) might predict the scintigraphic extent of PE, we studied 104 hemodynamically stable consecutive outpatients with acute PE diagnosed by a high-probability ventilation-perfusion lung scan. Scintigraphic extent of PE was classified into three categories: perfusion defects corresponding to <30%, 30–50%, or >50% of the total lung area. Median respiratory and heart rates were found to be significantly related to the extent of PE. Higher median alveolar-arterial oxygen difference values were observed as the proportion of lung perfusion defects increased (>50% vs. <30%, 6.3 vs. 3.6 kPa, P <.0001). Median plasma DD concentration was 7950 g/L in patients with >50% perfusion defects compared to 2731 g/L in those with <30% defects (P = .0001). DD levels above 4000 g/L were associated to more extensive perfusion defects (>50% vs. <30% defects, OR 30; 95% CI 5.8–155). Finally, a proximal DVT was more likely among patients with larger perfusion defects (>50% vs. <30% defects, OR 4.5; 95% CI 1.5–13.6). In conclusion, clinical signs such as tachypnea and tachycardia, alveolar-arterial oxygen difference, plasma DD concentration, and presence of DVT on US are predictors of a larger PE, as assessed by the extent of perfusion defects on high probability lung scans.
Facilitating High Level Cognitive Processes with a Mobile Authentic Support

We designed learning activities supported by a mobile learning system to enhance students' cognitive processes. Students learned in class and then applied and analyzed new knowledge to solve real life problems by taking pictures of objects and describing them. This study carried out an experiment in which control students studied and completed learning activities using traditional methods while experimental students used the tablet PCs. Results show that learning activities supported by a mobile learning system are effective to facilitate students' cognitive processes and students' have positive perceptions towards the technology.