Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using Learning Classifier Systems to Learn Stochastic Decision Policies

To solve reinforcement learning problems, many learning classifier systems (LCSs) are designed to learn state-action value functions through a compact set of maximally general and accurate rules. Most of these systems focus primarily on learning deterministic policies by using a greedy action selection strategy. However, in practice, it may be more flexible and desirable to learn stochastic policies, which can be considered as direct extensions of their deterministic counterparts. In this paper, we aim to achieve this goal by extending each rule with a new policy parameter. Meanwhile, a new method for adaptive learning of stochastic action selection strategies based on a policy gradient framework has also been introduced. Using this method, we have developed two new learning systems, one based on a regular gradient learning technology and the other based on a new natural gradient learning method. Both learning systems have been evaluated on three different types of reinforcement learning problems. The promising performance of the two systems clearly shows that LCSs provide a suitable platform for efficient and reliable learning of stochastic policies.
In Vitro and In Vivo Studies of the Trypanocidal Activity of a Diarylthiophene Diamidine against Trypanosoma cruzi

ABSTRACT Aromatic diamidines are DNA minor groove-binding ligands that display excellent antimicrobial activity against fungi, bacteria, and protozoa. Due to the currently unsatisfactory chemotherapy for Chagas’ disease and in view of our previous reports regarding the effect of diamidines and analogues against both in vitro and in vivo Trypanosoma cruzi infection, this study evaluated the effects of a diarylthiophene diamidine (DB1362) against both amastigotes and bloodstream trypomastigotes of T. cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas’ disease. The data show the potent in vitro activity of DB1362 against both parasite forms that are relevant for mammalian infection at doses which do not exhibit cytotoxicity. Ultrastructural analysis and flow cytometry studies show striking alterations in the nuclei and mitochondria of the bloodstream parasites. In vivo studies were performed at two different drug concentrations (25 and 50 mg/kg/day) using a 2-day or a 10-day regimen. The best results were obtained when acutely infected mice were treated with two doses at the lower concentration, resulting in 100% survival, compared to the infected and untreated mice. Although it did not display higher efficacy than benznidazole, DB1362 reduced both cardiac parasitism and inflammation, and in addition, it protected against the cardiac alterations (determined by measurements) common in T. cruzi infection. These results support further investigation of diamidines and related compounds as potential agents against Chagas’ disease.
Does organic selenium supplement affect the thermoregulatory responses of dairy goats?

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the influence of dietary supplementation of organic selenium (Se) in non-lactating goats, as well as possible changes in the physiological responses of thermoregulation and in blood constituents under semiarid conditions. The study was undertaken for 42 consecutive days using 22 animals. Data were collected: (1) meteorological, (2) physiological and (3) haematological. The respiratory rate, rectal temperature, epidermis temperature and surface temperature of the pelt presented decreasing values from day zero to the 42nd day of evaluation, with the highest reduction in animals supplemented with Se. For haematological values, it was observed that the values of packet cell volume and mean corpuscular volume decreased significantly (p < 0.05) on the 42nd day of the experiment. For the animals that received dietary supplementation, it is possible to identify a greater association with factor 1, some haematological variables, and for factor 2, some physiological traits were also highlighted. The addition of Se in the diet reduced endogenous heat by reducing respiratory thermolysis and the superficial temperatures of the skin and epidermis, improving sensible and latent heat dissipation and keeping the rectal temperature within normal limits. Abbreviations: RR: respiratory rate; RT: rectal temperature; CT: coat surface temperature; ET: epidermis temperature; RH: relative humidity; AT: air temperature; RHL: radiant heat load; BGHI: black globe humidity index, PCV: packet cell volume; HC: haemoglobin concentration; MCV: mean cell volume; MCH: mean cell haemoglobin; MCHC: mean cell haemoglobin concentration; WBC: white blood cell count; RBC: red blood cell; PCA: principal component analysis.
Bayesian methods for cluster randomized trials with continuous responses.

Bayesian methods for cluster randomized trials extend the random-effects formulation by allowing both the use of external evidence on parameters and straightforward relaxation of the standard normality and constant variance assumptions. Care is required in specifying prior distributions on variance components, and a number of different options are explored with implied prior distributions for other parameters given in closed form. Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods permit the fitting of very general models and the introduction of parameter uncertainty into power calculations. We illustrate these ideas using a published example in which general practices were randomized to intervention or control, and show that different choices of supposedly 'non-informative' prior distributions can have substantial influence on conclusions. We also illustrate the use of forward simulation methods in power calculations with uncertainty on multiple inputs. Bayesian methods have the potential to be very useful but guidance is required as to appropriate strategies for robust analysis. Our current experience leads us to recommend a standard 'non-informative' prior distribution for the within-cluster sampling variance, and an independent prior on the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The latter may exploit background evidence or, as a reference analysis, be a uniform ICC or a 'uniform shrinkage' prior.
An Approximation Algorithm for Optimal Consumption/Investment Problems

This article develops a simple approach to solving continuous-time portfolio choice problems. Portfolio problems for which no closed-form solutions are available may be handled by this technique, which substitutes the numerical solution of partial differential equations with a non-linear numerical algorithm approximating the solution. This paper complements the wide literature in economics on the solution of dynamic problems in dicrete time. The algorithm is parismonious, and is illustrated by solving two examples, one, the standard Merton problem, and two, a jump-diffusion problem.
Distributed newton method for primary voltage control in Islanded DC microgrid

In an islanded DC microgrid, power balance is realized through maintaining bus voltage stability. Traditional droop control may encounter significant technical challenges, as it is sensitive to measurement errors, and optimal load sharing cannot be achieved. This paper presents a distributed primary voltage control method without central coordination, which is based on a distributed Newton algorithm and peer-to-peer communication over a sparse network. In control process, the method also minimizes total generation cost and maximizes utilization of renewable energy. The simulation results indicate the method has much better dynamic performance than conventional droop control scheme and those first order algorithms. Besides, the method shows the advantage of insensitivity to measurement errors and time delay.
A Dual-label Technique for the Immunohistochemical Demonstration of T-Lymphocyte Subsets in Formalin-fixed, Paraffin-Embedded Rat Lymphoid Tissue

Immunotoxicology has developed into an integral regulatory requirement of the toxicological assessment of xenobiotics. Histopathological assessment of lymphoid tissues can provide genuine insight into perturbations of lymphoid cell populations. To facilitate retrospective examination of lymphoid organs should concerns over immunotoxicity be raised, we have endeavored to develop a panel of immunohistochemical techniques to demonstrate T-cells and T-cell subsets in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded rat lymphoid tissues. We were successful in developing methods for CD3 and CD8 but failed to arrive at a satisfactory technique for the direct demonstration of CD4 in these tissues. Taking the assumption that the majority of mature T-cells are either CD4+ orCD8+, we have combined our methods for CD3 and CD8 in a novel dual-labeling IHC method to simultaneously demonstrate CD3, CD8, and, by implication, CD4 in rat spleen, thymus, lymph node, and Peyer’s patch.
Autonomous Transition Flight for a Vertical Take-Off and Landing aircraft

This paper addresses the problem of autonomous transition between hover and level flight for a model-scale fixed-wing Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV). The UAV system is described as a Hybrid Automaton where the different operating modes correspond to the hover, transition, and level flight regions of the flight envelope. Reference maneuvers are generated so as to provide robustness to the system with respect to exogenous disturbances and parametric uncertainty when performing single operating mode and transition maneuvers. Controllers rendering the closed-loop system Input-to-State Stable (ISS) with restrictions are designed for all three operating modes allowing for practical tracking of the reference maneuvers in the presence of disturbances. Simulation results demonstrate the performance and robustness of the proposed solution.
COMPARISONS OF OBSERVED PHYLOGENETIC TOPOLOGIES WITH NULL EXPECTATIONS AMONG THREE MONOPHYLETIC LINEAGES

Three null models have been proposed to predict the relative frequencies of topologies of phylogenetic trees. One null model assumes each distinguishable n‐member tree is equally likely (proportional‐to‐distinguishable‐arrangements model). A second model assumes that each topological type is equally likely (equiprobable model). A third model assumes that the probability of each topological type is determined by random speciation (Markov model). We sampled published phylogenetic trees from three major groups of organisms: division Angiospermae, class Insecta, and superclass Tetrapoda. Our sampling was more restricted than previous studies and was designed to test whether observed topological frequencies were distinguishable from those predicted by the three null models. The pattern of evolution reflected in five‐member phylogenetic trees is different from predictions of the equiprobable and Markov model but is indistinguishable from the proportional‐to‐distinguishable‐arrangements model. This indicates that 1) speciation (and/or extinction) is not equally likely among all taxa, even for small phylogenies; or 2) systematists' attempts at reconstructing small phylogenies are, on average, indistinguishable from those expected if they had merely selected a tree at random from the pool of all possible trees. The topology frequencies were not different among the three groups of organisms, suggesting that factors shaping patterns of speciation and extinction are consistent among major taxonomic groups.
Univariate and multivariate control charts for monitoring dynamic-behavior processes: a case study

The majority of classic SPC methodologies assume a steady-state (i.e., static) process behavior (i.e., the process mean and variance are constant) without the influence of the dynamic behavior (i.e., an intended or unintended shift in the process mean or variance). Traditional SPC has been successfully used in steady-state manufacturing processes, but these approaches are not valid for use in dynamic behavior environments. The goal of this paper is to present the process monitoring and adjustment methodologies for addressing dynamic behavior problems so that system performance improvement may be attained. The methodologies will provide a scientific approach to acquire critical knowledge of the dynamic behavior as well as improved control and quality, leading to the enhancement of economic position. The two major developments in this paper are: (1) the characterization of the dynamic behavior of the manufacturing process with the appropriate monitoring procedures; and (2) the development of adaptive monitoring procedures for the processes [for example, using trend charts (e.g., linear model) and time series charts (e.g., ARIMA models)] with a comparison between univariate and multivariate control charts. To provide a realistic environment for the development of the dynamic behavior monitoring and adjustment procedures, the cold rolling process is adopted as a test bed.
Enhanced Market Practices: Poverty Alleviation for Poor Producers in Developing Countries

Interest in market-based solutions to reduce poverty has grown substantially in the last decade. However, missing from the core of the management conversation has been an adequate understanding of the poor as producers. Drawing on an in-depth study of market-based poverty alleviation initiatives for smallholder farmers by a nongovernmental organization in a least developed economy, this article explains how a non-state organization can reduce poverty for poor producers and improve overall market functioning. It suggests that meaningful improvements in income can be explained by the enhancement of market practices that redistribute social control toward poor producers and reduce the constraining effects of market and governance failures.
Pengembangan Produk Power Charger Portable dengan Menggunakan Metode Quality Function Deployment (QFD)

Technological sophistication has become the necessity of human life, because it can facilitate the survival of human life. One of the technological sophistication that is needed by humans is the mobile phone. Mobile communication devices require electrical power sourced from the battery, when it runs out of power [1]requires a power source to restore power. Portable charger products [2]is one of the products that are always in need of mobile phone users. In this study, portable charger products have the advantage that can charge electric power just by moving it without using the electricity that comes from PLN. The purpose of this study is to determine the characteristics of portable charger products and designing products in accordance with the voice of customers obtained. In the first stage, the preparation and distribution of questionnaires to obtain voice of customer, create a technical response, create a house of quality, which then design the manufacture of portable charger products in accordance with customer wishes. Based on the research, the result of design of portable charger product with the length of 15 cm, width 8cm, thickness 3 cm and has the adhesive as long as 25 cm. Keywords: technology, phone, portable, charger, function
Kinesin-1 and dynein use distinct mechanisms to bypass obstacles

Kinesin-1 and cytoplasmic dynein are microtubule (MT) motors that transport intracellular cargos. It remains unclear how these motors move along MTs densely coated with obstacles of various sizes in the cytoplasm. Here, we tested the ability of single and multiple motors to bypass synthetic obstacles on MTs in vitro. Contrary to previous reports, we found that mammalian dynein is highly capable of bypassing obstacles. Unlike dynein, single kinesin motors stall in the presence of obstacles, consistent with their inability to take sideways steps to neighboring protofilaments. Kinesins overcome this limitation when working in teams, bypassing obstacles as effectively as multiple dyneins. Cargos driven by multiple kinesin or dyneins are also capable of rotating around the MT to bypass large obstacles. These results suggest that multiplicity of motors is required not only for transporting cargos over long distances and generating higher forces, but also for maneuvering of the cargos on obstacle-coated MT surfaces.
Macromodels of 3D lateral viscous damping effects for MEMS devices

In this work, a fast algorithm of generating accurate time-domain macromodels of viscous lateral damping for three-dimensional MEMS geometries is described. A three-dimensional finite-difference (FDM) Stokes flow solver for simulating lateral damping effects was developed. The system matrices generated by the solver was then reduced to low-order macromodels that can be easily inserted into a system-level modeling simulators, such as Saber, Simulink or SPICE for transient and frequency analysis. The macromodels have proved to be about three-order-of-magnitude as efficient as the FDM solver, while preserve the 3-D edge effects that usually require expensive 3-D BEM or FEM calculations. Experimental results of quality factors for comb-drive devices demonstrated that the error of the results estimated by the macromodels is within 15%.
Late toxicity and biochemical recurrence after external‐beam radiotherapy combined with permanent‐source prostate brachytherapy

The combination of external‐beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy is used commonly to treat men with prostate cancer. In this analysis, the authors examined the rate of biochemical recurrence (BR) and late grade ≥3 genitourinary (GU) and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity after treatment with external‐beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy in a multiinstitutional, cooperative group setting.
Kinetics of Antibody Response to Ehrlichia canis Immunoreactive Proteins

ABSTRACT Immunoreactive proteins of Ehrlichia canis and Ehrlichia chaffeensis that have been characterized include a family of 28-kDa major outer membrane proteins (p28) and two large antigenically divergent surface glycoprotein orthologs. We previously demonstrated that recombinant E. canis p28 and the 140- and 200-kDa glycoproteins gp140 and gp200, respectively, react strongly with serum antibodies from suspect canine ehrlichiosis cases that were positive for E. canis by immunofluorescent antibody test and in various phases of acute or chronic infection (J. Clin. Microbiol. 39:315-322, 2001). The kinetics of the antibody response to these potentially important vaccine and immunodiagnostic candidates is not known. Acute-phase serum antibody responses to whole-cell E. canis lysates and recombinant p28, gp140, and gp200 were monitored for 6 weeks in dogs experimentally infected with E. canis. Irrespective of the inoculation route, a T-helper 1-type response was elicited to E. canis antigens consisting of immunoglobulin G2 antibodies exclusively in both acute and convalescent phases in most dogs. Analysis of immuoreactive antigens for peak intensity and relative quantity identified major immunoreactive E. canis antigens recognized early in the infection as the 19-, 37-, 75-, and 140-kDa proteins. Later in infection, additional major immunoreactive E. canis proteins were identified, including the 28-, 47-, and 95-kDa proteins and the recently identified 200-kDa glycoprotein. All dogs had developed antibody against the recombinant gp140, gp200, and p28 in the convalescent phase. Immunoreactivity and antibody response kinetics suggest that major immunoreactive proteins identified are immunodominant, but early recognition suggests increased dominance by some antigens.
ICMS Ecológico : análise do desenho brasileiro de um subsídio ambiental

NERY, Marden A. Ecological ICMS: Analysis of the Brazilian Sketch of an Environmental Subsidy. Brasilia – DF, 2006. 98 f. Dissertation (Professionalizing Master’s in Environmental Economic Management). Economy, Environment and Agriculture Studies Center – CEEMA. Economy Department of the Economy, Administration Accountancy and Information and Documentation Sciences College of the University of Brasilia. Created in the 1990’s, ecological ICMS is a Brazilian initiative, still in evolution, of intergovernmental environmental subsidy, one that allows the government to redistribute financial income to cities in order to increase the number of protected areas. Following the neoclassical economics analysis, this tool of economics is studied under two main perspectives in this text: (i) that of an tool that interferes in the market, offering compensation and stimulus to environmental preservation; and (ii) that of establishing references to the analysis of efficiency of ecological ICMS as a public policy tool in Brazil. Adopted in very few Brazilian states, ecological ICMS has show a striking initial efficiency interns of the creation of conservation units, and partial financial compensation, with significant benefit to municipalities that preserve but that formerly did not receive any compensation. Yet, it is also a tool out of tune with the neoclassic conception of economic efficiency, likely to produce bad effects; besides it may generate a regressive stimulus effect in the medium to the long term. In the end, though, the conclusion reached about the sufficiencies and insufficiencies of the design of the ecological ICMS may contribute to highlight the effects of a rising paradigm in Brazil – that of the redistribution of financial resources following environmental criteria.
The effect of calcium antagonists on allergic pulmonary distress in actively sensitized rats

The induction of allergic pulmonary distress (APD) in ovalbumin sensitive rats can be used as a model of human allergic asthma. In this model, control animals exhibit a rapid decrease in minute volume (Vm) when challenged with ovalbumin (OA) by aerosol (3 % solution). The present study compared the effects of pretreatment with calcium antagonists on the induction of APD. By the aerosol route of administration, 5 min before OA, verapamil HCl (6% solution) significantly (P < 0.05) dampened the allergic response during all 12 min monitored. At an equivalent concentration, diltiazem aHCl significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited the response during 6 of 12 min, whereas nifedipine failed to significantly (P > 0.05) alter the response to OA. Verapamil and nifedipine proved to be equally effective in a dose‐dependent manner against OA‐induced APD, however, when administered orally (‐60 min, 5, 10 or 20 mg/kg). At doses of 10 mg/kg and higher, both calcium antagonists consistently inhibited (P < 0.05) the response. Diltiazem was inactive when administered orally at a dose as high as 20 mg/kg. The present data suggest that the calcium antagonists verapamil, nifedipine and diltiazem, can attenuate APD and therefore might be clinically active agents in the treatment of allergic asthma.