Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of caffeine on behavior of schizophrenic inpatients.

The present study replicates that of De Freitas and Schwartz (1979), using more typical chronic patients (on open wards rather than locked wards), and monitoring coffee intake with serum caffeine levels. The serum caffeine levels observed indicate that caffeine can be effectively manipulated on an open ward by switching the type of coffee served. Contrary to our predictions, no significant improvements in patients' behavior occurred when decaffeinated coffee was first introduced, nor was there any deterioration when regular coffee was reinstated. Only after decaffeinated coffee was introduced for the second time did any of the predicted changes occur; however, the improvements were few in number and may be accounted for by the considerable effect of time per se across all time periods. Although the findings cannot be generalized to all psychiatric patients, the results do not support recent calls for a switch to decaffeinated coffee for this population of inpatients (i.e., chronic schizophrenic patients on high doses of neuroleptics who drink large amounts of coffee).
Immuno-dot blot as a rapid diagnostic method for detection of chlamydial infection in koalas (Phasolarctos cinereus)

The sensitivity and specificity of an immunoscreening test for anti-chlamydial antibodies in koala (Phasolarctos cinereus) serum were determined after the adsorption of non-specific antibodies. The results of the test were compared with complement fixation tests, tissue culture, gene probe analysis and dot blot immunoscreening for host-borne chlamydial antigen. The immunoscreening test was the most sensitive test for the identification of chlamydial infection in koala serum samples, furthermore it was rapid, taking approximately 16 hours to complete, and inexpensive. However, for the assay of swab material from koalas, gene probe analysis remains the most sensitive method of detection of chlamydiae.
Credit Scoring, Response Modelling and Insurance Rating: A Practical Guide to Forecasting Consumer Behaviour

This book provides a step-by-step guide to how predictive analytics is used by some of the world's most influential organizations. This includes international banks, leading insurance providers, credit reference agencies and national governments. It covers all stages of the predictive analytics process, including project management, data collection, sampling, data transformation and pre-processing, model construction, validation, implementation and post-implementation monitoring of the model's performance.
The impact of IFRS on ratios of listed and new listed companies of Athens Exchange

In this study we are researching the effect of the implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on financial ratios of listed companies of Athens Exchange (AE). Emphasis is given to the differences between Greek Accounting Standards (GAS) and IFRS and their impact on the calculation of financial ratios which are based on financial statements prepared in accordance with the first or the second accounting standard. Therefore, the study was applied to two samples of companies. The first sample includes companies that have been listed in AE for years and the second sample includes companies that have recently been listed in AE. Considering the particular characteristics of each group of companies, we are examining the probability of quantitative differentiations in financial ratios due to the transition from the one accounting standard to the other. The results of the research results showed that both samples of companies, when not influenced by other factors, do not have significant differences in their behavior.
An appearance based human motion tracker

Human motion tracking is a common requirement for many real world applications such as video surveillance, games, cultural and medical applications. In this paper an appearance based tracking system is proposed which tracks human motion from a video scene. The system is based on appearance based color histogram and color correlogram model. Multiple people can be tracked consistently by this proposed system. This system works well in indoor and semi-indoor environment. The proposed system comprises of five major steps. Firstly all motion blobs in the video scene are extracted. Morphological image closing are applied then on extracted motion blobs for removing anomalies associated with blobs. After that all the motion blobs are counted and labeled by connected component finding. Correlogram and histogram model for each blob are built from the color information of moving blobs in the next step. Similarity measures between the blobs of the current image frame and previous image frame are calculated. Finally system performs tracking based on the similarity measures from frame to frame. The system is consistent during partial occlusion. During occlusion occluding entities are tracked as one entity and tracked separately when they split.
Variable Morphological Differentiation of a Raphé-Derived Neuronal Cell Line Following Transplantation into the Adult Rat CNS

A clonal, neuronally-differentiating cell line, RN33B, was previously developed by retroviral infection of neural tissue derived from embryonic Sprague-Dawley raphé nuclei with a retrovirus encoding the temperature-sensitive allele of SV40 large T-antigen. In the present study, RN33B cells were transplanted into two target areas of the raphé nuclei, the spinal cord and hippocampal formation, of adult allogeneic hosts. Prior to transplantation, RN33B cells were infected in vitro with a retroviral vector carrying the Escherichia coli lacZ reporter gene and were visualized in vivo using a beta-galactosidase immunohistochemical technique. RN33B cells were seen throughout the spinal cord and hippocampal formation of the adult hosts at 15 days post-transplantation. T-antigen-immunoreactive nuclei were detected where RN33B cells were observed, but in much greater numbers than beta-galactosidase-immunoreactive cells. Bipolar RN33B cells were found in the spinal cord grey matter. RN33B cells with multipolar morphologies were visualized in the hippocampal and subicular pyramidal cell layers, and also in the dentate gyrus granule cell and polymorph layers, while bipolar RN33B cells were seen in the remainder of the hippocampal formation. The results suggest that immortalized neural cell lines of CNS origin can differentiate in the adult CNS with their ultimate morphology being determined by local tissue signals. We speculate that endogenous neutrophins may significantly influence RN33B cell differentiation in vivo.
First characterization of CTX-M-15 and DHA-1 β- lactamases among clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae in Laghouat Hospital, Algeria

1 Laboratoire de microbiologie Appliquée à l’Agroalimentaire Au Biomédical et à l’Environnement « LAMAABE », faculté SNV-STU, université de Abou Bekr Belkaïd, B.P 119, Tlemcen 13000, Algérie. 2 Laboratoire de microbiologie, faculté des sciences biologiques, université Amar Telidji, Laghouat 03000, Algérie. 3 Laboratoire de Bactériologie-Mycologie-Parasitologie, Hôpital Gabriel-Montpied ; 58 rue Montalembert 63003 ClermontFerrand, Cédex. France.
Measurement and autocorrelation analysis of two‐dimensional light‐scattering patterns from living cells for label‐free classification

We incorporate optics and an ICCD to record the two‐dimensional angular optical scattering (TAOS) patterns retrieved from single aerosolized cells. We analyze these patterns by performing autocorrelations and demonstrate that we are able to retrieve cell size from the locations of the secondary maxima. Additional morphological information is contained in the autocorrelation functions and decay rate of the heights of the autocorrelation peaks. We demonstrate these techniques with C6 and Y79 cells, which are readily distinguishable. One key advantage of this methodology is that there is no requirement for antibody and fluorescent labeling molecules. Published 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Electrostatic Side-Drive Rotary Stage on Liquid-Ring Bearing

We present an electrostatically actuated rotary stage featuring liquid rings, which serve as both mechanical bearings and electric connections between the rotor and the substrate. The liquid rings are formed by confining a liquid inside hydrophilic grooves and repelling it from the superhydrophobic surfaces outside the grooves. Made of a fluid, the liquid-ring bearing avoids the dry friction of the solid bearings, significantly improving the reliability. Formed as rings, it avoids the resistance of contact-angle hysteresis sliding over droplets, and hence dramatically reducing the static friction. Furthermore, surface tension facilitates the self-alignment of the rotor to the substrate and stator during the assembly and provides the stability against drift and shock during operation. Electrically, each liquid ring passes an independent electric signal, allowing a direct electrical path between the substrate and potential components on the rotor. A three-phase electrostatic rotary stage has been design, fabricated, and tested. The minimum torque to initiate the rotation is ~ 2.5 nN·m-hundreds of times smaller than droplet-based counterparts. The device has operated successfully by applying sequential voltages of 50 VDC between the rotor and the stators. The electric transmission has been verified by powering an LED on a rotating rotor. This is the first report of an electrostatically actuated rotating microdevice with a liquid bearing and a direct power transmission.
Engaging with the Total oil corporation in Myanmar : the impact of dialogue as a tool for change towards greater conflict sensitivity

by F. Cerletti 4 Abstract This thesis explores whether dialogue between a company and a non-profit organisation (NPO) can influence a company’s way of working towards being more conflict sensitive. As a case-study I analysed the dialogue between the French oil and gas company, Total S.A. (Total), and the US based NPO, CDA Collaborative Learning Projects (CDA) relating to the company’s operations in Myanmar/Burma. The objectives of the research were to ascertain if dialogue had a positive impact, and if so, what it was about the dialogue that enabled change, what was the process of change that could be observed and how embedded such change was. Drawing on post-modernism, systems thinking and complexity thinking, I have built on organisational change, conflict transformation, dialogue and cross-sector partnership literature to examine the role of dialogue as an enabler of change. While highlighting parallels in the discourses, I analyse the process and degree of change within the company through two conflict transformation models, one by Lederach (1997) and the other by Lederach, Neufeld and Culbertson (2007), which I feel best synthesise these parallels. The research is a longitudinal case-study (2002-2012), based on semi-structured interviews and document analysis. The study adds to the limited academic research on conflict sensitivity in general, and on the implications for a company’s way of working in particular. Although I find that within the business sector, the notion of conflict sensitivity is assumed in the wider concept of corporate social responsibility, noteworthy is the relevance of dialogue in change processes. Dialogue is an essential enabler as it sparks transformational levers also recognised in the literature reviewed. However it is not sufficient. The research illustrates that the dialogue between CDA and Total has played a critical role in facilitating a shift in the company’s way of working, with the contribution of other influences at play. As such, I draw attention to the complexity of the change process and discuss the current nature of the drivers of change within Total.
A Two-Tier Wind Power Time Series Model Considering Day-to-Day Weather Transition and Intraday Wind Power Fluctuations

A novel two-tier wind power time series model considering day-to-day weather transition and intraday wind power fluctuations is proposed. Weather factors and conditions are classified into typical weather states in terms of the effects on wind power using a fuzzy clustering technique. A typical weather Markov chain model is established to characterize day-to-day weather transition process. An improved Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) model considering the probability distributions of the wind power at the first time point of each day and wind power fluctuations is developed to characterize intraday wind power fluctuation process. The day-to-day typical weather Markov chain and intraday wind power time series for each typical weather state are simulated separately first and then integrated into a complete wind power time series. The proposed model is verified using the wind power records and weather data at an actual wind farm. The results indicate that different weather states have significantly different impacts on the distributions of daily average wind powers. The comparison analysis confirms that although the additional weather data inputs and the increase of model parameters are requisite, the proposed model outperforms the ARIMA model and the traditional MCMC model in terms of various accuracy indices.
2C-2 Pulse Repetition Rate Excitation of Contrast Agents

This paper presents a new bubble excitation mode, in which larger bubbles are stimulated to oscillate by a sequence of short high-frequency ultrasound (US) pulses. By tuning both the pressure burst and its repetition frequency, ultrasound contrast agent bubbles can achieve significant radial excursion at their apparent resonance frequency. The excitation method can be used in situations where resonance frequencies of the bubbles are widely separated from the applied imaging frequencies. Following the excitation, the vibration of the bubbles can in principle be detected with imaging techniques like pulse inversion and power modulation. The excitation method, and its underlying mechanisms, was investigated in both optical experiments and simulations. Encapsulated bubbles (Definityreg, Bristol-Myers Squibb MI, N. Billerica, MA) were excited with short (<0.3 ms) bursts with a centre frequency of 10 MHz. The radial motion of single bubbles was captured by the Brandaris-128 fast framing camera running at 15 million frames per second. When the pulse repetition frequency of the bursts equaled the apparent resonance frequency, about 1.1 MHz for a 6.2 mm diameter bubble, the radial excursion builds up after every pulse. The radial excursion also showed a quadratic relation with the transmission amplitude
Measuring customer loyalty with multi‐item scales

Purpose – The contemporary interest in customer loyalty has resulted in a proliferation of multi‐item scales containing an aggregated mix of items that appears to reflect different aspects of loyalty. The most common application of this aggregation approach is to include two specific loyalty facets, repatronage intentions and word‐of‐mouth intentions, in the same loyalty measure and to proceed as if they reflect the same underlying construct. The purpose of this paper is to examine – and question – this practice in conceptual, methodological, and empirical terms.Design/methodology/approach – Two empirical studies in service settings were conducted and multi‐item measures were used to collect data on repatronage intentions, word‐of‐mouth intentions, and satisfaction. A structural equation model approach was used to compare an aggregated measurement approach with an approach which models the two loyalty constructs as two separate factors.Findings – The results indicate that repatronage intentions and word‐o.
Owner-occupier motivations for energy efficiency refurbishment

Previous studies on home energy efficiency have traditionally focused on either the technical savings or on social aspects such as behavioural change. These studies have typically excluded the role of motivation, a key component in the implementation of energy efficiency refurbishment in owneroccupied housing. Previous research studies of motivation have typically incorporated Likert scales and questionnaire surveys, but this provides a somewhat superficial view of motivation and can result in disproportionate and inaccurate responses. A new research approach for investigating the motivation of home-owners for energy efficient refurbishment is presented. The approach incorporates in-depth interviews and a detailed physical survey of the properties to explore the underlying mechanisms for motivation for energy efficiency refurbishment, and to provide a means of comparison between cases. Through better integration of methods from the social science and surveying disciplines a more complete understanding of owner-occupier motivations for energy efficiency refurbishment and the underlying mechanisms affecting it can be realised.
UAV technology and machine learning techniques applied to the yield improvement in precision agriculture

A model to estimate Nitrogen nutrition level in corn crops (Zea mays) is presented. The model was based on the information provided by multi-spectral cameras in four bands (red, green, blue and near-infrared (808 nm). The model was validated with ground truth information obtained by destructive methods. For training phase, three different fertilization levels of the crops were used (70, 140 y 210 kg · N · ha/sup -1/) with three repetitions in two stages of growing (V10 and earring). Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology was used. UAV quad-copter type flying 70 meters above the crops and machine learning techniques were used for the prediction stage. Results shown that the model can estimate nitrogen levels with 80% of precision with low cost technologies (multi-spectral cameras and UAVs). This proposal aims to optimize the fertilization since it actually is applied uniformly in the crops. The proposed scheme is focused on areas where the nitrogen is insufficient, avoiding the waste and reducing the impact on the environment.
Relationship of respiratory effort sensation to expiratory muscle fatigue during expiratory threshold loading.

We investigated whether fatigue of the expiratory muscle, that is, the abdominal muscle, may account for a change in the respiratory effort sensation in normal subjects during expiratory threshold loading. The respiratory effort sensation was scored using a modified Borg scale. Expiratory muscle fatigue was assessed both from changes in the maximal static expiratory pressure and in the centroid frequency (fc) of the abdominal muscle electromyogram (EMG). Expiratory threshold loading (magnitude of threshold; 40 to 60% of the maximal expiratory pressure at FRC, breathing frequency = 15/min, and duty cycle = 0.5) was continued until exhaustion or for 30 min. Loading was repeated following a 15-min recovery period after the end of the first expiratory loading. The maximal static expiratory pressure during loading (Pmmax) decreased initially and then remained decreased. Decreases were smaller with the 40% load (22 +/- 6%, SEM) than with the 60% load (37 +/- 3%) (p less than 0.05). The decrease during the second run of the 60% load was greater than during the first (p less than 0.01 by ANOVA). The maximal expiratory pressure at TLC before the second run of the 60% load was decreased by 9 +/- 3% compared with the control (p less than 0.02) but that with the 40% load was not. The fc with the 60% load decreased initially by 8 +/- 1% and then remained constant, although no change was observed with the 40% load. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Symbolic Model Checking of Signaling Pathways in Pancreatic Cancer

Model Checking is a formal verification method widely used for the automated verification and analysis of hardware systems and digital circuits. In this work, we apply Model Checking to the study of a biological system – the HMGB1 Boolean network. Recent studies on pancreatic cancer cells have found that the overexpression of HMGB1, a DNA-binding protein, can decrease apoptosis (programmed cell death) and increase cancer cell survival. Also, knocking out HMGB1 or its receptors can increase apoptosis in cancer cells. In this paper, we first build a single-cell, Boolean network to model the crosstalk of thre e signaling pathways activated by HMGB1. Then, we apply Model Checking to formally query and verify some desired temporal logic properties of the HMGB1 model. The Boolean network modeling and Model Checking provide an alternative way and new insights into the study of the HMGB1 signaling pathway in pancreatic cancer.
Structural and Sectoral Adjustment: World Bank Experience, 1980-92

This study analyzes the outcomes of 99 loans to 42 countries over the period 1980-92. It evaluates and compares individual country experiences, based primarily on The Operations Evaluation Department (OED's) in-depth performance audits of the structural and sectoral adjustment lending (SALs and SECALs) and related studies. It assesses the quality of advice, the design of policy reform, and the results achieved, identifies the successes and the shortcomings of adjustment programs, and the reasons for these outcomes, and deals with practical concerns pertaining to adjustment lending. The overview looks at the role of adjustment lending within the context of the Bank's country assistance strategies - the mix and sequencing of SALs, SECALs, and investment lending. The end product is an issue-specific report, based on country-by-country empirical work and borrowers' commentaries, with an operational slant. It includes suggestions for improving the effectiveness of adjustment lending. The report also includes an economic analysis of the adjustment process in borrower countries, and an institutional analysis of Bank/borrower relations. In particular, it presents a pioneering treatment of the borrower ownership concept and an extensive data appendix.
Bandwidth Allocation for the Transmission of Scalable MPEG Video Traffic with Deterministic Guarantees

This paper studies bandwidth allocation schemes for the transmission of VBR video traffic with deterministic guarantees, i.e. no packets lost and no missed deadlines. Specifically, we propose and investigate a policy namedquasi-constant policy . A VBR encoder attempts to keep the quality of video output constant by varying the transmission rate (constant quality); on the other hand, with a quasi-constant policy the video quality transmission is reduced when congestion occurs. We assume that this reduction is obtained by exploiting source scalability. By characterizing the traffic of a source with a constraint function, we define the relationship between the amount of bandwidth assigned to a VBR source and the maximum delay the application may experience. By applying this relationship to long MPEG 2 traces (more than one hour) we show that the quasi-constant policy is a very promising direction for providing, in an efficient way, a deterministic QoS to VBR video traffic. Specifically, the results presented indicate that with the quasi-constant quality approach we can achieve a utilization greater than 50% with a deadline of one second with only eight reduced-quality frames out of 1000. On the other hand, previous works (1, 2) indicate that with a constant quality transmission, a 50% network utilization can be achieved only by tolerating a seven-second deadline.