Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protein standardization V: value transfer. A practical protocol for the assignment of serum protein values from a Reference Material to a Target Material

Abstract We present a practical protocol for the assignment of values to serum proteins in a Target Material using a Reference Material. This protocol is based on the model of Direct Value Transfer between serum matrices and is intended to improve the value assignment of commercial calibrators using the Reference Material CRM 470 (now labeled ERM-DA 470) or similar reference materials. The procedure describes the general as well as the practical principles involved in the value assignment (with examples). The practical transfer protocol is based on multiple assays of 6 dilutions of the Reference Material and 6 dilutions of the Target Material. The transfer protocol requires several measurements a day repeated on several days, an important prerequisite being that all reconstitutions and dilutions are controlled by weighing thus reducing uncertainty in the transfer. In open systems that allow the use of the Reference Material as calibrator and the Target Material as samples, the proportionality of the two materials (the presence or absence of matrix effects) can now be directly assessed by evaluating a single regression plot. If no matrix effects are found, the regression line will pass through zero with a slope equal to the ratio of the concentrations of the two materials. In closed systems, the dedicated commercial calibrator has to be used as such; the Reference Material and the Target Material are now assayed as samples against this calibrator. Two regression plots are therefore obtained; if no matrix effects are present among the two materials and the calibrator, both the Reference and Target Materials will show zero intercepts, and the ratio of the two slopes will equal the ratio of the concentrations. Clin Chem Lab Med 2008;46:1470–9.
Fortifying Intrusion Detection Systems in Dynamic Ad Hoc and Wireless Sensor Networks

We investigate three aspects of dynamicity in ad hoc and wireless sensor networks and their impact on the efficiency of intrusion detection systems (IDSs). The first aspect is magnitude dynamicity, in which the IDS has to efficiently determine whether the changes occurring in the network are due to malicious behaviors or or due to normal changing of user requirements. The second aspect is nature dynamicity that occurs when a malicious node is continuously switching its behavior between normal and anomalous to cause maximum network disruption without being detected by the IDS. The third aspect, named spatiotemporal dynamicity, happens when a malicious node moves out of the IDS range before the latter can make an observation about its behavior. The first aspect is solved by defining a normal profile based on the invariants derived from the normal node behavior. The second aspect is handled by proposing an adaptive reputation fading strategy that allows fast redemption and fast capture of malicious node. The third aspect is solved by estimating the link duration between two nodes in dynamic network topology, which allows choosing the appropriate monitoring period. We provide analytical studies and simulation experiments to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed solutions.
Antenna subset selection for MIMO wideband measured channels

In this paper presents the results of antenna selection for a MIMO wideband measurement campaign carried out in indoor scenario with a carrier frequency of 2 GHz. The amplitude and phase of the received signal were collected at 801 frequency values in the 200 MHz bandwidth. For each frequency, the best set of antennas was selected. The spatial selectivity was also verified shifting the receiver some wavelengths from the original position. The best antenna subset and frequency were jointly selected and analyzed for different environments. Besides, the radio block size and the antennas subsets distributions for different frequencies, positions and environments were evaluated as well.
Bis[(18-crown-6-κ6 O)sodium] (18-crown-6-1κ6 O)-μ-thiocyanato-1:2κ2 S:N-pentathiocyanato-2κ5 N-indate(III)sodium 1,2-dichloroethane sesquisolvate

The title complex, [Na(C12H24O6)]2[InNa(NCS)6(C12H24O6)]·1.5C2H4Cl2, has been synthesized by the reaction of 18-crown-6 with InCl3 and NaSCN. The In atom has a six-coordinate octahedral environment, being bonded to the N atoms of six thiocyanate groups. The bond lengths and angles show normal values. The crystal packing exhibits no significantly short intermolecular contacts.
A CAD neural model for shielded and conductor backed CPW

In this paper a CAD approach based on ANNs was successfully introduced to determine the parasitic effects occurred in (effective dielectric and characteristics impedance) Coplanar Wave guide (CPW) with upper shielding and conductor backing. ANNs were trained with three learning algorithms to obtain better performance and faster convergence with simpler structure. The best results were obtained with Levenberg-marquardt algorithms. The quasi-static parameters of two different CPW configurations can be calculated using the neural model proposed in this work very accurately.
The Influence of Timely Reviews on the Credibility of Quarterly Earnings

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires registrants to report interim financial information with their quarterly filings. This information need not be audited, but must be reviewed either quarterly (a timely review) or as part of the year-end audit (a retrospective review). The earlier auditor involvement required by timely reviews is believed to impart greater credibility to interim financial information; the Treadway Commission (1987) and the Whitehead-Millstein Committee (1999) both recommend that timely reviews be the required alternative. Retrospectively-reviewed interim earnings are believed to be less credible because the lack of interim-period auditor involvement permits opportunistic reporting by management. Credibility for those retrospectively-reviewed interim reports is, therefore, delayed until the year-end audit where 'settling-up' adjustments are recorded. We predict and provide evidence that the difference in credibility across timely- and retrospective-reviews results in returns being more highly associated (1) with changes in earnings for the interim periods when the review is timely and (2) with earnings levels for the fourth quarter, when the review is retrospective. The evidence also indicates that the influence of review type on the association between returns and quarterly earnings differs based on whether the earnings news is good or bad and whether it confirms or contradicts prior quarter's earnings changes.
Effects of the Share Remuneration System on Fisheries Management Targets and Rent Distribution

ABSTRACT Most fisheries worldwide remunerate their crew with a share system, where crew receive a part of the revenues or a part of the revenues less costs, rather than a fixed wage. Although labor is one of the main costs in fisheries and the share remuneration system has a strong influence on firm behavior and its economic performance, little attention has been paid it. In a share remuneration system, crew salaries can significantly increase when the economic performance of a vessel improves. This allows the crew to capture part of the fisheries rent. Bioeconomic analyses are performed for the Bay of Biscay nephrops fishery on main management targets. Results confirm the importance of considering a share system compared to a fixed remuneration system in vessel owner (capital) and crew (labor) rent distribution and fishing decisions. JEL Codes: Q22, J33, M52.
Low‐temperature polarized helium‐3 for MRI applications

The first 3He nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments using low‐temperature prepolarization are presented. 3He cells were polarized at 4.2 K and 4.7 T, transported to another magnet, heated to room temperature, and used for NMR experiments at 2.35 T. Cells with and without a rubidium coating were tested. In both cases, the NMR signal was greater than 100 times the thermal equilibrium signal. No evidence of a rubidium coating effect on the longitudinal relaxation time T1 of 3He (500 mbar) at 4.2 K could be demonstrated. NMR gradient‐echo images of the cells were acquired. Magn Reson Med 41:1084–1087, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A broad-band adaptive-frequency-sampling approach for microwave-circuit EM simulation exploiting Stoer-Bulirsch algorithm

In this paper, the general Stoer-Bulirsch (S-B) algorithm is employed in developing a new AFS scheme (S-B AFS). Since the S-B algorithm is a recursive tabular method and requires no matrix inversion, it can process a large number of sampling data for obtaining a rational interpolation function without suffering from singularity problems. This attribute virtually leads the proposed AFS approach to an ultra broad-band interpolation with a single rational function. The new proposed approach greatly improves the efficiency of the traditional AFS techniques and simplifies the AFS process. In order to enable the S-B algorithm to be used in the proposed S-B AFS approach, three legitimate grid paths for constructing two pairs of complementary rational models are being proposed in this paper for modeling a general microwave circuit. Four practical broad-band examples are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the S-B AFS, including waveguide harmonic filters, a waveguide diplexer, and a broad-band microstrip diplexer.
Time-Dependent Impact of Diabetes on Mortality in PatientsWith Stroke Survival up to 5 years in a health insurance population cohort in Germany

RESEARCHDESIGNANDMETHODSdUsing claims data from a nationwide statutory health insurance fund (Gmünder ErsatzKasse), we assessed all deaths in a cohort of 5,757 patients with a first stroke between 2005 and 2007 (69.3% male, mean age 68.1 years, 32.2% with diabetes) up to 2009. By use of Cox regression, we estimated time-dependent hazard ratios (HRs) to compare patients with and without diabetes stratified by sex.
Factors that Influence Operating Performance Through the Use of Gainsharing Plans: Evidence in Brazil's Chemical Industry

Este trabajo tuvo el proposito de estudiar: 1) los programas de incentivos ofrecidos a los empleados, la Participacion en las Ganancias o Resultados y la Participacion en los Resultados en las industrias quimicas brasilenas 2) Los factores que influencian positivamente la mejora del desempeno operativo de las organizaciones que los adoptan. E} desempeno operativo contempla las siguientes variables dependientes: mejora de la calidad, mejora de la productividad, reduccion de los costos de produccion, mejora del proceso productivo e indice promedio de pago de bonos a los empleados. Las variables independientes consideradas en este estudio fueron: involucracion del empleado, metodo de medicion de la productividad, involucracion de consultores) pago del bono, voto del empleado, situacion financiera de la empresa, apoyo e involucracion del sindicado. Los resultados del analisis de los datos de 110 empresas, a traves del analisis Probit multivariada, nos permitieron comprobar la hipotesis de que los programas de incentivos afectan positivamente la percepcion gerencial sobre la mejora del desempeno operativo de las empresas.
Attachment an interpersonal processes in hearing voices

Aims: This study investigated the link between attachment anxiety/avoidance, interpersonal aspects of the voice relationship, and distress whilst considering the impact of beliefs about voices and paranoia. Method: A cross sectional correlational method was employed and participants were recruited mainly via online forums for people who hear voices. 44 participants who heard voices completed a number of self-report measures tapping attachment, interpersonal processes in the voice relationship, beliefs about voices, paranoia, distress and depression. Results: As predicted, associations were found between attachment avoidance and voice intrusiveness, hearer distance and distress. Associations were also found between attachment anxiety and voice intrusiveness, hearer dependence and distress. A series of simple mediation analyses were conducted which suggest that the relationship between attachment and voice related distress may be mediated by interpersonal dynamics in the voice – hearer relationship, beliefs about voices and paranoia. Conclusions: Results are considered within existing theory whilst acknowledging the limitations of the study. Clinical implications are considered and it is concluded that this preliminary investigation would suggest that attachment is important to consider in therapy with people who hear voices.
Memory Drum Theory's C Movement

Franklin Henry's “memory drum” theory of neuromotor reaction (Henry & Rogers, 1960) was one of the most influential studies of the response programming stage of information processing. The paper is the most-cited study ever published in the Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport. However, few people know there is a noteworthy error in the paper, namely in the description of the C movement, the most complicated of the three responses studied. Henry himself was unaware of the error for nearly 20 years after the paper's publication. The purpose of our paper is to accord the factual record its due respect by revealing the history about the error and its correction. The data are in the form of the original 1960 paper which describes the C movement, a paper by Howell (1953), and personal letters from Henry dating from 1979, when the error was first discovered, and continuing through 1986. In one letter, Henry attributed the error to a mild and specific form of aphasia, manifested by word reversals, from which he suffered throughout his scholarly life. Such a revelation makes the career of this remarkable scholar even more remarkable.
Complete nucleotide sequence of a Coxsackievirus B‐4 strain capable of establishing persistent infection in human pancreatic islet cells: Effects on insulin release, proinsulin synthesis, and cell morphology

The aim of the present investigation was to study the effect of infection of human pancreatic islet cells with a strain (VD2921) of Coxsackie B virus serotype 4 capable of establishing persistent infection in these cells, as well as to sequence the strain, to study the determinants of virulence and persistence. Groups of islets were infected and assessments of proinsulin, insulin content, and virus replication were made. Insulin release in response to high glucose was measured. Infected and control islets displayed a strong insulin response to high glucose 3–4 days as well as 7–8 days post‐infection (dpi). At 11–17 dpi, the infected islets did not respond at all to high glucose, and the response of the control islets was at this late time point somewhat reduced. The insulin and proinsulin content of the infected islets did not differ significantly from that of the control islets. TCID50 titrations showed that the VD2921 strain replicated in the islet cells during the whole study. Electron microscopic examination of infected islets did not reveal any virus‐induced changes of cell morphology compared with the controls, although higher magnifications of the infected β‐cells showed virus‐like particles in the cytoplasm. These results show that certain strains of Coxsackievirus B‐4 in vitro can establish a persistent infection that might mimic, the more gradual loss of β‐cell function seen during the clinical course of autoimmune diabetes. The ability of this Coxsackievirus B‐4 strain to establish a persistent infection might be due to substitution of 11 amino acids located at the surface of the structural protein VP1, adjacent to the predicted receptor binding canyon of the virus. J. Med. Virol. 68:544–557, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Multicenter phase II study of capecitabine in paclitaxel-refractory metastatic breast cancer.

PURPOSE Capecitabine is a novel, oral, selectively tumor-activated fluoropyrimidine carbamate. This large multicenter phase II trial tested the efficacy and safety of twice-daily oral capecitabine at 2,510 mg/m2/d given for 2 weeks followed by a 1-week rest period and repeated in 3-week cycles, in patients with paclitaxel-refractory metastatic breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients were to have received at least two but not more than three prior chemotherapeutic regimens, one of which had to have contained paclitaxel given for metastatic disease. One hundred sixty-three patients were entered onto the study at 25 centers, and 162 patients received capecitabine. One hundred thirty-five patients had bidimensionally measurable disease, and 27 patients had assessable disease. RESULTS The overall response rate was 20% (95% confidence interval, 14% to 28%). All responding patients were resistant to or had failed paclitaxel, and all had received an anthracycline. Three complete responses were seen, with complete response durations of 106, 109, and 194+ days. Median duration of response was 8.1 months, median survival time was 12.8 months, and the median time to disease progression was 93 days. The most common treatment-related adverse events were hand-foot syndrome, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. Diarrhea (14%) and hand-foot syndrome (10%) were the only treatment-related adverse events that occurred with grade 3 or 4 intensity in more than 10% of patients. CONCLUSION Capecitabine is an active drug in the treatment of paclitaxel-refractory metastatic breast cancer. It has a favorable toxicity profile with the added advantage of being an oral drug administered at home.
Indian Psychiatric Society multicentric study on assessment of health-care needs of patients with severe mental illnesses as perceived by their family caregivers and health-care providers

Aim: To study the health-care needs of the patients with severe mental disorders as perceived by their family caregivers and the treating psychiatrists. Materials and Methods: Caregivers of patients with severe mental disorders and their treating psychiatrists were assessed using Camberwell Assessment of Need-Research Version (CAN-R) scale and indigenously designed Supplementary Assessment of Needs Scale (SNAS). Results: The study included 1494 patients recruited from 15 centers. The mean needs as per the CAN-R, perceived by the caregivers were 7.8 and treating psychiatrists were 8.1. About one-third of needs were unmet. On SNAS, both caregivers and treating psychiatrists reported a mean of 7.9 needs, of which more than half were unmet as per the caregivers. As per the treating psychiatrists, 45.5% of the needs as assessed on SNAS were unmet. There was a high level of correlation between needs perceived by the patients, caregivers and the treating psychiatrists. On CAN-R, main domains of needs as reported by the caregivers were those of money, relief of psychological distress, information about the illness and treatment, welfare benefits, transport, company and food. As per the treating psychiatrists, the most common total needs identified were those of relief of psychological distress, welfare benefits, information about the illness and treatment, money, transport, company self-care and physical health. The most common domains of needs as assessed on SNAS as per the caregivers were those of free treatment, medical reimbursement, psychoeducation, financial help, social support, insurance, more time from the clinicians and travel concession. The treating psychiatrists identified dealing with caregiver's stress as the most common need. Conclusions: According to the family caregivers and treating psychiatrists, about one-third of the needs of the patients as assessed using CAN-R and about half of the needs as assessed using SNAS are unmet.
Critical issues in Investment, Production and Marketing of Moringa oleifera as an Industrial Agricultural raw material in Nigeria

Moringa oleifera Lam, is one of the most useful ‘multi-purpose’ plants known to man. Virtually every part of the tree is beneficial in some way and both rural and urban people depend on it for their livelihood. Though the Moringa tree is widespread throughout the tropics, around farms and compounds and often used as fence especially in Northern Nigeria, not much has been done to enhance its large scale production, processing, marketing and investment as an industrial raw material in Nigeria. With the exception of medium scale cultivation of the tree in Nigeria for the production of leaves as an alternative green vegetable source for human nutritional and other medicinal uses, there have been few attempts to commercialize the tree for the other products: oil for cosmetic and edible purposes, natural coagulant from the seeds and other ancillary uses from virtually all parts of the plant. The paper has attempted to bring to the fore critical issues in the production, processing marketing and commercialization of Moringa and associated products. The cost of processing various Moringa parts to acceptable use, product research and development, highly competitive markets, and the need for regulatory approval by NAFDAC are perhaps some of the most significant constraints. Added to these constraints is the challenge of popularization of the plant among farmers, as studies have shown a high level of ignorance of the plant. Properly articulated cluster programmes will tackle such problems and the likes of emerging markets and products. This will require a well-coordinated programme involving policy development, research in such areas as agronomy, physiology and farming systems as well as extension services. Information on these is generally unavailable from literature and has to be garnered through practical trials. This takes time and resources that may not be readily available. So far, some nursery practices have been developed in the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria. Despite the critical issues identified, analysis shows that investing in Moringa is a viable enterprise. With a breakeven yield of 1,295kg/ha; profitability index of 2.047 per ha per year; the viability options, when broken down further into specifics like processing, gets even better with a net return of N11,965,000.00 per ha per year. Key words: Moringa, Cluster, Profitability index, Cropping Systems, Breakeven yield
Optimizing Tokenization Choice for Machine Translation across Multiple Target Languages

Abstract Tokenization is very helpful for Statistical Machine Translation (SMT), especially when translating from morphologically rich languages. Typically, a single tokenization scheme is applied to the entire source-language text and regardless of the target language. In this paper, we evaluate the hypothesis that SMT performance may benefit from different tokenization schemes for different words within the same text, and also for different target languages. We apply this approach to Arabic as a source language, with five target languages of varying morphological complexity: English, French, Spanish, Russian and Chinese. Our results show that different target languages indeed require different source-language schemes; and a context-variable tokenization scheme can outperform a context-constant scheme with a statistically significant performance enhancement of about 1.4 BLEU points.