Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of a novel empirical model to estimate the kraft pulp yield of fast-growing Eucalyptus

In this study, several kraft pulps were produced by kraft pulping of fast-growing Eucalyptus with a wide range of cooking conditions. The dependences between pulp yields and some pulp properties, namely, kappa number, HexA contents, and cellulose viscosities, were well investigated. It was found that kraft pulp yields linearly decreased with the reduction of HexA-free kappa number in two different stages, respectively, in which a transition point of measured pulp yield of 48.7% was observed. A similar relationship between pulp yield and HexA was also found, in which the resulting transition point of HexA content was 67 μmol/g. Moreover, the logarithm of pulp viscosity was linearly proportional to the reduction of lignin-free pulp yields. Then, a novel empirical model was successfully developed based on these findings. The parameters in this empirical model were calculated by least-squares estimation using the experimental data from active alkali values of 13.2, 14.7 and 17.8. Another data set was used to verify the effectiveness of this model in predicting the pulp yields. Finally, a good agreement (a linear regression coefficient of 90.59%) between experimental and fitting data was obtained, which indicated that the kraft pulp yield of fast-growing Eucalyptus could be accurately predicted by this novel empirical model.
Paying more fairly for Medicare capitated care.

The 1997 Balanced Budget Act (Public Law 105-33) not only balanced the federal budget for the first time in decades but also mandated major changes in Medicare. One important goal of these changes was to expand the choice of health plans for Medicare beneficiaries, both to encourage the provision of high-quality care and to control aggregate program costs through competition and risk sharing. Under the new provisions, health-plan options include traditional fee-for-service care, high-deductible medical savings accounts, provider-sponsored organizations, and capitated plans, such as health maintenance organizations. However, questions arose about whether all beneficiaries would have these choices. In particular, .
EXAMINING COMPLEX SYSTEMS AND AGENT-BASED MODELING FOR IMPROVING DECISION MAKINGS IN CONSTRUCTION ORGANIZATIONS

The management on construction projects and organizations is very important. However it is poorly understood considering the declining performance of construction industry. Managing and predicting the work performance of a construction organization tends to be extremely difficult using conventional management approaches. This paper regards construction as a complex system and proposes the use of Agent-Based Modeling (ABM) as a management enhancement tool for construction organizations. Building on an organizational simulation platform proposed by the authors (Virtual Organizational Imitation for Construction Enterprises, VOICE), the influence of human and organizational factors on work performance has been investigated. Additionally, different management scenarios of a case study in construction bidding have been examined using a complete management cycle, Plan-Simulation-Check-Action (PSCA). The results indicated the new management tool can easily help decision makers to streamline processes, manage human resources, and testify any changes at real time. It demonstrated better practicability than conventional management. This paper highlighted the value of the proposed approach on managing construction organizations.
Prediction and experimental validation of acute toxicity of β‐blockers in Ceriodaphnia dubia

Acute toxicity of β‐adrenoceptor blockers (β‐blockers) was studied with β‐blockers as single compounds or in mixture using the standardized acute 2‐d Ceriodaphnia dubia immobility test. The tested compounds were selected according to their selectivity for the β1‐adrenoceptor, with three β1‐selective blockers (acebutolol, atenolol, and metoprolol) and three non‐β1‐selective blockers (nadolol, oxprenolol, and propranolol). The acute toxicity (median effective concentration) of the six single compounds ranged from 1.4 mg/L for propranolol to 163 mg/L for nadolol. According to European Union directive 93/67EEC, these values range from toxic for aquatic organisms to nonclassified. The more toxic compounds, propranolol and oxprenolol, are both characterized by a membrane‐stabilizing activity, a strong affinity for the β1‐adrenoceptor, and a high octanol‐water partition coefficient (log Kow). The property of β‐receptor selectivity seems not to be involved in the observed acute toxicity of the single compounds for C. dubia. Nevertheless, the toxicity of the selected compounds in mixture can be defined according to the β1‐selectivity. Two main joint effects have been detected: An independent action for the β1‐selective blockers, and an additive effect when either the nonselective β1‐selective blockers or the six compounds are tested together. The concentration addition model seems to be appropriate, providing a reasonable worst‐case estimation of β‐blocker mixture toxicity for regulatory purposes.
Auditory Brain Stem Response for Objective Measures of Hearing

ABSTRACT The auditory brain stem response (ABR) is felt to be an objective technique for predicting hearing thresholds because a voluntary response is not required from the subject. However, determination of ABR threshold can be a subjective process. This article discusses a technique, termed Fsp, which adds objectivity to ABR threshold detection by creating a ratio of signal plus averaged background noise over an estimate of the averaged background noise for any given averaged ABR. Fsp, values have an F distribution. Consequently, the confidence of true detection for a given ABR can be determined by comparing its calculated Fsp, value to statistical tables. Using a technique such as Fsp, not only adds objectivity to ABR threshold detection, but also optimizes test time by allowing the averaging process to stop as soon as the background noise has been reduced and the true neural potential can be judged to be present. The estimate of the background noise can be used as a weighting factor to reduce the influence of noisy segments during the averaging process as well. Using this technique, we have found ABR threshold to be within 5 or 6 dB of psycho-physical threshold for like (click) stimuli and, in our pediatric clinic, ABR click thresholds are within 10 dB of pure-tone average for children with losses ranging from mild to profound.
Énumération de sous-structures fonctionnelle dans des réseaux métaboliques complets : Histoires métaboliques, précurseurs et organisations chimiques

Dans cette these, nous avons presente trois methodes differentes pour l’enumeration de sousreseauxparticuliers d’un reseau metabolique: les histoires metaboliques, les ensembles minimaux deprecurseurs et les organisations chimiques. Pour chacune de ces trois methodes, nous avons presentedes resultats theoriques, et pour les deux premieres, nous avons en outre fourni une illustration surcomment les appliquer afin d’etudier le comportement metabolique des organismes vivants. Les histoiresmetaboliques sont definies comme des graphes acycliques diriges maximaux dont les ensemblesde sources et de cibles sont limites a un sous-ensemble des noeuds. La motivation initiale de cette definitionetait d’analyser des donnees experimentales de metabolomique, mais la methode a egalementete exploree dans un contexte different. Les ensembles de precurseurs metaboliques sont des ensemblesminimaux de nutriments qui permettent de produire des metabolites d’interet. Nous presentons troismethodes differentes pour l’enumeration de tels ensembles minimaux de precurseurs, et nous illustronsleur application dans une etude des echanges metaboliques dans un systeme symbiotique. Les organisationschimiques sont des ensembles de metabolites qui a la fois sont fermes et s’auto-maintiennent,ce qui reflete des caracteristiques de stabilite dans le sens ou aucun nouveau metabolite ne peut etreproduit et qu’aucun des metabolites deja presents dans le systeme ne peut disparaitre.
Epictetus A Stoic And Socratic Guide To Life

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The Encounter in Vienna: Modern Psychotherapy, Guided Imagery, and Hasidism Post-World War I

In 1921, a short Hebrew book was published in Vienna entitled Tena’ei HaNefesh LeHasagat HeHasidut [Mental Conditions for Achieving Hasidism]. The author was Rabbi Menachem Ekstein (1884–1942), a Dzików Hasid, from Rzesów in the center of western Galicia, who had immigrated to Vienna following World War I. The reader will immediately notice that modern issues of psychology, such as self-awareness, split mind, and complex, daring ‘‘guided imagery’’ exercises, all appear and play a central role in this book. In 1937, Ekstein wrote in the introduction to the Yiddish translation that he purported to define the basic principles of Hasidism anew: ‘‘In this book, I have made a first attempt to find the appropriate definitions and proper style to express the fundamental principles of Hasidism. ’’ Ekstein begins his book with these words:
Longitudinal Cognition-Survival Relations in Old and Very Old Age 13-Year Data from the Berlin Aging Study

We use a statistical model that combines longitudinal and survival analyses to estimate the influence of level and change in cognition on age at death in old and very old individuals. Data are from the Berlin Aging Study, in which an initial sample of 516 elderly individuals with an age range of 70 to 103 years was assessed up to 11 times across a period of up to 13 years. Four cognitive ability domains were assessed by two variables each: perceptual speed (Digit Letter and Identical Pictures), episodic memory (Paired Associates and Memory for Text), fluency (Categories and Word Beginnings), and verbal knowledge (Vocabulary and Spot-a-Word). Longitudinal models on cognition controlled for dementia diagnosis and retest effects, while survival models on age at death controlled for age, sex, socioeconomic status, sensory and motor performance, and broad personality characteristics. Results indicate: (1) Individual differences in the level of and in the linear change in performance are present for all cognitive variables; (2) when analyzed independently of cognitive performance, all covariates, except broad personality factors, predict survival; (3) when cognitive performance is accounted for, age, sex, and motor performance do predict survival, while socioeconomic status and broad personality factors do not, and sensory performance does only at times; (4) when cognitive variables are analyzed independently of each other, both level and change in speed and fluency, as well as level in memory and knowledge predict survival; (5) when all cognitive variables are analyzed simultaneously using a two-stage procedure, none of them is significantly associated to survival. In agreement with others, our findings suggest that survival is related to cognitive development in old and very old age in a relatively global, rather than ability-specific, manner.
Quantification of developmental birdsong learning from the subsyllabic scale to cultural evolution

Quantitative analysis of behavior plays an important role in birdsong neuroethology, serving as a common denominator in studies spanning molecular to system-level investigation of sensory-motor conversion, developmental learning, and pattern generation in the brain. In this review, we describe the role of behavioral analysis in facilitating cross-level integration. Modern sound analysis approaches allow investigation of developmental song learning across multiple time scales. Combined with novel methods that allow experimental control of vocal changes, it is now possible to test hypotheses about mechanisms of vocal learning. Further, song analysis can be done at the population level across generations to track cultural evolution and multigenerational behavioral processes. Complementing the investigation of song development with noninvasive brain imaging technology makes it now possible to study behavioral dynamics at multiple levels side by side with developmental changes in brain connectivity and in auditory responses.
Agreement errors and structural distance: A corpus study of Bulgarian

In this work we address the phenomenon of substitution of the special “count form” suffix of masculine non-person nouns in Bulgarian numeral phrases for a simple plural morpheme. This substitution phenomenon is observed in everyday speech and writing and is noted by traditional Bulgarian grammarians. We propose to treat this phenomenon on a par with agreement errors previously investigated in the language production literature on English (e.g. “The editor of the books are.”) and on the Romance languages. We conducted a corpus study of agreement substitution errors in Bulgarian, the results of which support the psycholinguistic theories maintaining, in particular, that structural hierarchy is relevant for the computation of agreement in language production.
Application of biosensors in dairy-food industry

The principle of detection of a biosensor is based on the specific interaction between the analyte of interest and the biological components. As a result of this specific interaction, different properties are changed, which can be detected and measured by transducers. The most important characteristics of biosensors are their specificity, high sensitivity, short response time; act as an integrated system, facility to automate them, versatility and low production cost. Biosensors are an important alternative in the food industry to ensure the quality and safety of products and process controls with effective, fast and economical methods. The use of enzymatic biosensor technology in food processing, quality control and on-line processes is promising compared to conventional analytical techniques. Recently the biosensor market in the food industry has increased by fifteen fold amounting to $150 million. The use of biosensor in the food industry may include nutrient analysis, detection of natural toxins and antinutrients, food process monitoring by measuring enzyme activity and microbial contamination, and rapid detection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), proteins, vitamin B complex, essential amino and fatty acids, and hazardous residual materials comprising pesticides and antibiotics. Biosensors are classified according to the transduction mechanisms and biological reception mechanism. The biosensor may be divided into basic four main groups based on the transduction mechanisms which include optical, mass, electrochemical and thermal biosensor. In addition, the biological component used in biosensors include enzymes, microbial, immune, and nucleic acids, biochips (protein, DNA, and cell chips), and biomimetic sensors, which utilize artificial bio recognition elements (electronic nose and electronic tongue).
The relationship between magnitude of proteinuria reduction and risk of end-stage renal disease: results of the African American study of kidney disease and hypertension.

BACKGROUND The magnitude of proteinuria is associated with a graded increase in the risk of progression to end-stage renal disease and cardiovascular events. The objective of this study was to relate baseline and early changes in proteinuria and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) to long-term progression of hypertensive nondiabetic kidney disease. METHODS Post hoc analysis of a randomized 3 x 2 factorial trial. A total of 1094 African Americans with hypertensive renal disease (GFR, 20-65 mL/min per 1.73 m(2)) were followed up for a median of 3.8 years. Participants were randomized to a mean arterial pressure goal of 102 to 107 mm Hg (usual) or 92 mm Hg or less (lower) and to initial treatment with a beta-blocker (metoprolol), an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ramipril), or a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker (amlodipine) RESULTS Baseline proteinuria and GFR predicted the rgate of GFR decline. For each 10-mL/min per 1.73 m(2) lower baseline GFR, an associated mean +/- SE 0.38 +/- 0.08-mL/min per 1.73 m(2) per year greater mean GFR decline occurred, and for each 2-fold higher proteinuria level, a mean +/- SE 0.54 +/- 0.05-mL/min per 1.73 m(2) per year faster GFR decline was observed (P < .001 for both). In multivariate analysis, the effect of baseline proteinuria GFR decline persisted. Initial change in proteinuria from baseline to 6 months predicted subsequent progression, with this relationship extending to participants with baseline urinary protein levels less than 300 mg/d. CONCLUSIONS The change in the level of proteinuria is a predictor of subsequent progression of hypertensive kidney disease at a given GFR. A prospective trial is needed to confirm this observation.
An automated system for scanning micropixel avalanche photodiodes with a fast amplifier

Silicon Photomultipliers (SiPMs) are rapidly developing photosensitive devices which are already used as an alternative to photomultipliers (PMT) in the newly developed calorimeters for high-energy physics. Many measurement results and SIPMs parameters based on signal amplitude histograms analysis have been published. Author presents a special automated system for scanning SIPMs surfaces with a fast amplifier. The system has been developed in order to examine shape of signal response dependency on position of photons hits on the surface of the detector.
SUPPORT NOUNS AND VERBAL FEATURES: A CASE STUDY FROM ITALIAN

Sur la base d'une analyse de corpus, cet article propose de reconnaitre la sous-classe des "Noms Legers ", dans laquelle peut se detacher une classe de Noms Support. Les Noms Support, a certains conditions syntagmatiques (par ex., lorsqu'ils entrent dans des construction specifiques), partagent des proprietes avec les Verbes Supports, car ils agissent comme marqueurs de traits grammaticaux comme la numerabilite et l'aspect. La construction envisage dans l'article est du type [N1 de N2], N1 etant le Nom Support et N2 le nom determine. La recherche se base sur des donnees italiennes, mais elle presente aussi des evidences suggerant que la notion de Nom Support a egalement une validite interlangues.
Fault Diagnosis for Large-Scale IP Networks Based on Dynamic Bayesian Model

To improve the quality of IP service, it is important to quickly and accurately diagnosis the root fault from the observed symptoms and knowledge. The approximate inference based on Bayesian networks is the most popular fault diagnosis technology in recent years. Presently, fault localization based on Bayesian networks is only according to the current information and does not consider the time information. The existing methods based on dynamic Bayesian networks are not fit for large-scale networks because of their complexity. This paper establishes a fault diagnosis model for large-scale IP networks based on dynamic Bayesian networks by improving a representative exact algorithm and implements simulation. The results show that the algorithm can run well. This method makes full use of the historical data and current observations to estimate the current system state and complete the fault diagnosis.
A Comprehensive Evaluation of the Impact of Bovine Milk Containing Different Beta-Casein Profiles on Gut Health of Ageing Mice

Ageing is often characterised by nutritional deficiencies and functional alterations of the digestive and immune system. The aim of the present study was to analyse the impact of consumption of conventional milk with A1/A2 beta-casein, compared to milk containing only the A2 beta-casein variant, characterised by a protein profile favouring gut health. Twenty-four ageing Balb-c mice (20 months old) were fed for 4 weeks, with either a control diet (CTRL), a diet supplemented with bovine milk containing A1/A2 beta-casein (A1A2) or a diet containing A2/A2 beta-casein (A2A2). Lymphocyte subpopulations, enzymatic activities, cytokine secretion, gut morphology and histopathological alterations were measured in different gut segments, while short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) content and microbiota composition were evaluated in faecal samples. The A2A2 group showed higher content of faecal SCFAs (in particular, isobutyrate) of intestinal CD4+ and CD19+ lymphocytes in the intraepithelial compartment and improved villi tropism. The A1A2 group showed higher percentages of intestinal TCRγδ+ lymphocytes. Faecal microbiota identified Deferribacteriaceae and Desulfovibrionaceae as the most discriminant families for the A2A2 group, while Ruminococcaceae were associated to the A1A2 group. Taken together, these results suggest a positive role of milk, in particular when containing exclusively A2 beta-casein, on gut immunology and morphology of an ageing mice model.
Hybrid Coding: An Interface for Joint Source-Channel Coding and Network Communication

A new approach to joint source‐channel coding is presented in the context of communicating correlated sources over multiple access channels. Similar to the separation architecture, the joint source‐ channel coding system architecture in this approach is modular, whereby the source encoding and channel decoding operations are decoupled. However, unlike the separation architecture, the same codeword is used for both source coding and channel coding, which allows the resulting hybrid coding scheme to achieve the performance of the best known joint source‐channel coding schemes. Applications of the proposed architecture to relay communication are also discussed.
Isoloation of H-SF substances, the high-molecular-weight precursors of egg envelope preteins, from the ascites accumulated in the oestrogen-treated fish Oryzias latipes

High- and low-molecular weight spawning-female-specific (H-SF and L-SF) substances are liver-derived putative precursors of the inner layer of egg envelope of the medaka Oryzias latipes, and are also found in the ascites which are accumulated in the male fish on prolonged treatment with oestrogen. In the present study, the H-SF substances purified from the ascites of the oestrogen-treated male medaka were found to consist of three proteins. Their molecular weights ranged from 74 000 to 76 000, which corresponds to those of ZI-1 and ZI-2, the major components of medaka egg envelope. The amino acid composition of the H-SF substances was characterised by high contents of proline (17.58 mol%) and glutamic acid/glutamine (13.34 mol%). The characteristics were almost identical to those of ZI-1 and ZI-2 but differed from those of L-SF substance, a precursor of ZI-3, another major component of the egg envelope. These results confirm our view that H-SF substances are the precursors of ZI-1 and ZI-2. The average amino acid compositions of H-SF substances and L-SF subsatance coincided with the amino acid composition of whole egg envelope. This result strongly suggests that an equal amount of H-SF substances and L-SF substance would construct the inner layer of egg envelope after a little modification.