Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hybrid methodology for short-term load forecasting

The main objective of this paper is to accurately forecast the short-term loads using Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) in combination with Artificial Neural Network/ Support Vector Machine. The complete analysis has been carried out using Temperature, Humidity, Dew Point and Actual loads as features. Here, 8-level DWT decomposition has been done to extract the 8 detailed and approximation coefficients, which are also used as features. Thereafter to enhance the accuracy, four optimal features are selected from the total feature set using Forward Feature Selection Algorithm during the training process during ANN/ SVM. The test data with the optimal features were then fed to the ANN or SVM for load forecasting. Here MAPE has been considered as the performance index. The test results demonstrate that the proposed technique is quite accurate to forecast the loads.
A Blind Receiver with Multiple Antennas in Impulsive Noise Modeled as the Sub-Gaussian Distribution via the MCMC Algorithm

Receivers with an antenna array based on the assumption of Gaussian noise have experienced poor performance in extremely low-frequency/very-low-frequency (ELF/VLF) communication systems, in which the noise is highly impulsive. In this paper, a blind receiver with multiple antennas for channels with impulsive noise is developed to estimate signal and channel parameters jointly by using the Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm. The impulsive noise is modeled as the sub-Gaussian distribution, which is widely applied. Simulation results show that the blind receiver can rapidly converge, and excellent performance can be achieved.
On Instrumental Quality Assessment of Speech Enhancement Systems in Three Independent Dimensions

Instrumental quality assessment serves as an important tool for evaluating and developing noise reduction systems. Commonly three measures are of major interest: the quality of the speech component, the level of noise attenuation, and the amount of musical tones, as a specific type of noise distortion. The first two measures can already be obtained in an instrumental manner in many applications [1], see also ITUT Recommendations P.1100 [2] and P.1110 [3]. Nevertheless, noise distortions such as musical tones are usually still being subjectively evaluated. Recently, a high correlation of the perceived level of musical tones with the log-kurtosis ratio has been observed in [4]. However, this measure is computed from the noisy speech signal and the enhanced speech signal, making this ratio dependent on the level of noise attenuation. In addition, [4] assumes that the noise and speech signals are gamma-distributed in the power spectral domain. Motivated by the idea of an instrumental measure for residual noise distortion being independent of speech distortion and noise attenuation, a modified approach to the log-kurtosis ratio measure is proposed in this paper. Furthermore, two other quantities are presented for evaluating the quality of the speech component and noise attenuation.
An International Comparison of Equalization Mobility and Lifetime Earnings Inequality: How Continental Europe Resembles North America

We compare earnings inequality and mobility across the U.S., Canada, France, Germany and the U.K. during the late 1990s. A flexible model of earnings dynamics that isolates positional mobility within a stable earnings distribution is estimated. Earnings trajectories are then simulated, and lifetime annuity value distributions are constructed. Earnings mobility and employment risk are found to be positively correlated with base-year inequality. Taken together they produce more equalization in countries with high cross-section inequality such that the countries in our sample have more similar lifetime inequality levels than crosssectionmeasures suggest.
A Reinterpretation of the so Called Money Market

In this paper, the macroeconomic market equations of a closed economy with flexible prices are set up by taking explicitly care of the fact that the central bank offers money as a credit on the capital market. Applying Walras' Law to this system of market equations shows that it is not possible to reduce the system by one equation. Instead the capital market transforms into the equation which is commonly called money market. Consequently, the problem discussed by Patinkin (1969) does in fact not emerge, if monetary policy is modeled in an institutionally correct way. This implies that it is not a real balance effect that restores a general equilibrium after a monetary shock, but a real credit effect. An economic explanation for this mathematical result is given and the effects of monetary policy in both versions of the model are shown to yield the conventional results. Finally, an empirically testable hypothesis of the real credit theory is presented.
Differences between Only Children and Children with 1 Sibling Referred to a Psychiatric Clinic: A Test of Richards and Goodman's Findings

Objective: To test Richards and Goodman's hypothesis that a higher proportion of only children under age 5 years assessed in a psychiatric department do not present a psychiatric diagnosis, compared with preschool children with 1 sibling, and to investigate other variables relative to children in this age group with no psychiatric disorder, in light of Richards and Goodman's findings. Method: We gathered data from 169 children under age 5 years seen in the psychiatric department of a large pediatric hospital in Montreal, Quebec. Results: First, bivariate analysis showed no differences between the proportion of only children and children with 1 sibling regarding absence of a psychiatric diagnosis. Second, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that child's age and mother's child-rearing attitudes were significant variables. Younger children (that is, age 0 to 2 years) and children whose mothers had “adequate” child-rearing attitudes (that is, not exhibiting significant impatience, rejection, stubbornness, neglect, or overprotectiveness) were more likely to have no disorder. Conclusion: These findings run counter to Richards and Goodman's results and suggest that other variables, such as child's age and mother's behaviour, are significant predictors of children under age 5 years having no diagnosis.
Usefulness of high‐sensitivity IL‐6 measurement for clinical characterization of patients with coronary artery disease

Interleukin 6 (IL‐6) may represent an early marker of inflammatory activation and may be useful to ameliorate risk stratification in patients with ischemic heart disease. The aim of this study was to verify the performance characteristics of an ultrasensitive immunoassay (Biosource International, Camarillo, CA) for high‐sensitivity (hs)‐IL‐6 measurement in comparison with hs‐R&D Systems (Abingdon, United Kingdom) and Immulite System (Diagnostic Products Corporation [DPC], Los Angeles, CA) methods in patients with ischemic heart disease. In addition, hs–C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) concentrations were measured, to evaluate the correlation with hs‐IL‐6 levels. We measured IL‐6 and CRP serum levels in 39 patients with ischemic heart disease and in 12 controls. Out of the 39 patients studied, 13 were affected by unstable angina, 13 by post–acute myocardial infarction (AMI) unstable angina, and 13 by stable angina. The imprecision profile and functional sensitivity were performed measuring 9 different serum pools in 10 runs. The Biosource method had the best performance characteristics as compared to the others. Mean IL‐6 level was higher in patients with unstable and post‐AMI unstable angina with respect to controls. CRP levels were elevated in patients with post‐AMI. In the whole population a high significant linear regression was observed between Biosource hs‐IL‐6 and hs‐CRP serum levels. The Biosource method for IL‐6 measurement is characterized by a high functional sensitivity that allows a better stratification of patients with ischemic heart disease. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 19:110–114, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
RamA, the Transcriptional Regulator of Acetate Metabolism in Corynebacterium glutamicum, Is Subject to Negative Autoregulation

The RamA protein represents a LuxR-type transcriptional activator of genes involved in acetate metabolism of Corynebacterium glutamicum. Here we analyze the expression of the respective ramA gene and its regulation. Transcription was found to start 71 nucleotides upstream of the translational start codon and to be two- to threefold up-regulated in the presence of acetate in the growth medium. Accordingly, about twofold higher amounts of RamA were observed in C. glutamicum cells grown on acetate instead of glucose. Using cell extracts of C. glutamicum and employing DNA affinity chromatography, we found RamA itself as the main protein which binds to the ramA promoter region. By electrophoretic mobility shift analysis with the ramA promoter region and His-tagged RamA protein, multiple RamA-binding sites were identified in front of the ramA transcriptional start site. Transcriptional cat fusion experiments revealed that ramA promoter activity was about threefold higher in a RamA-deficient mutant of C. glutamicum than in the wild-type, however, acetate-dependent up-regulation of ramA expression was not affected in the RamA-negative mutant. These results indicate that RamA negatively controls the expression of its own gene, but is not involved in acetate-dependent up-regulation of ramA expression.
Genetic differentiation in life‐history traits of introduced and native common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) populations

Introduced species represent opportunities to observe evolution over contemporary time scales, and as exotics encounter new environments, adaptive responses can occur, potentially contributing to invasion. Here, we compare 22 native North American populations and 12 introduced European populations of common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) in five common gardens (control, herbivory, light stress, nutrient stress and drought). We found evidence for improved growth and reproduction of the introduced populations in most environments, particularly in the light stress. However, under drought conditions, the introduced plants experienced more rapid wilting and mortality than their native counterparts, evidence consistent with a life‐history trade‐off between rapid growth and drought tolerance. Moreover, we found parallel latitudinal clines in flowering time and correlations between fitness components and the local climate of the source populations in both ranges. Together these data provide evidence for adaptation to local environmental conditions in the native and introduced range of common ragweed.
A Cyclicality Linked Corporate Short-Term Credit Model - Solvency Ratio Approach

This study incorporates industrial cyclicality with the corporate solvency ratio process to develop a state-dependent solvency ratio model with parameters varying according to the changes in the state of the industrial economy. A mean-reversion cyclicality process is established to provide projections of future states of industrial economy. The solvency ratio model can generate simulations to spawn the solvency ratio distributions of each future period. With these distributions, we can obtain both the probability of a company's liquidity crunch and its expected liquidity gap in future periods. To perform the model needs only publicly available information of corporation finances and the industrial cyclicality information. The empirical results are corroborative.
Sensitivity analysis of reaction‐diffusion constraints in muscle energetics

Theoretical and experimental studies of aerobic metabolism on a wide range of skeletal muscle fibers have shown that while all fibers normally function within the reaction control regime, some fibers operate near the transition region where reaction control switches to diffusion control. Thus, the transition region between reaction and diffusion control may define the limits of muscle function, and analysis of factors that affect this transition is therefore needed. In order to assess the role of all important model parameters, a sensitivity analysis (SA) was performed to define the parameter space where muscle fibers transition from reaction to diffusion control. SA, performed on a previously developed reaction–diffusion model, shows that the maximum rate for the ATPase reaction (Vmax,ATPase), boundary oxygen concentration in the capillary supply (O 20 ), the mitochondrial volume fraction (εmito), and the diffusion coefficient of oxygen ($D_{{\rm O}_{{\rm 2}} } $) are the most sensitive parameters affecting this transition to diffusion control. It is demonstrated that fibers are not limited by diffusion for slow reactions (Vmax,ATPase < 25 mM/min), high oxygen supply for the capillaries (O 20 ≥ 35 µM), and large amounts of mitochondria (εmito ≥ 0.1). These conditions are applicable to muscle cells spanning a very broad range of animals. Within the diffusion‐controlled region, the overall metabolic rate and ATP concentrations have much higher sensitivity to the diffusion coefficient of oxygen than to the diffusion coefficients of the other metabolites (ATP, ADP, Pi). Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012; 109:559–571. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Estimating causal effects from observational data with a model for multiple bias

Conventional analyses of observational data may be biased due to confounding, sampling and measurement, and may yield interval estimates that are much too narrow because they do not take into account uncertainty about unknown bias parameters, such as misclassification probabilities. We used a simple, multiple bias adjustment method to estimate the causal effect of social anxiety disorder (SAD) on subsequent depression. A Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis was applied to data from the Early Developmental Stages of Psychiatry (EDSP) study, and bias due to confounding, sampling and measurement was modelled. With conventional logistic regression analysis, the risk for depression was elevated in the presence of SAD only in the older cohort (age 17–24 years at baseline assessment); odds ratio (OR) = 3.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.64–5.70, adjusted for sex and age. The bias‐adjusted estimate was 2.01 with interval limits of 0.61 and 9.71. Thus, given the data and the bias model used, there was considerably more uncertainty about the real effect, but the probability that SAD increases the risk for subsequent depression (OR > 1) was 88.6% anyway. Multiple bias modelling, if properly used, reveals the necessity for a better understanding of bias, suggesting a need to conduct larger and more adequate validation studies on instruments that are used to diagnose mental disorders. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Genetic Variants in SDC3 Gene are Significantly Associated with Growth Traits in Two Chinese Beef Cattle Breeds

ABSTRACT Identification of the genes and polymorphisms underlying quantitative traits, and understanding these genes and polymorphisms affect economic growth traits, are important for successful marker-assisted selection and more efficient management strategies in commercial cattle (Bos taurus) population. Syndecan-3 (SDC3), a member of the syndecan family of type I transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans is a novel regulator of feeding behavior and body weight. The aim of this study is to examine the association of the SDC3 polymorphism with growth traits in Chinese Jiaxian and Qinchuan cattle breeds (). Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs: 1–4) were detected in 555 cows from three Chinese native cattle breeds by means of sequencing pooled DNA samples and polymerase chain reaction-single stranded conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) methods. We found one SNP (g.28362A > G) in intron and three SNPs (g.30742T > G, g.30821C > T and 33418 A > G) in exons. The statistical analyses indicated that these SNPs of SDC3 gene were associated with bovine body height, body length, chest circumference, and circumference of cannon bone (P < 0.05). The mutant-type variant was superior for growth traits; the heterozygote was associated with higher growth traits compared to wild-type homozygote. Our result confirms the polymorphisms in the SDC3 gene are associated with growth traits that may be used for marker-assisted selection in beef cattle breeding programs.
Occurrence of Clavispora lusitaniae, the teleomorph of Candida lusitaniae, among clinical isolates

Of 13 clinical isolates of Candida lusitaniae from diverse geographical regions, 7 represented the mating types (6 alpha, 1 a) of the ascomycete Clavispora lusitaniae. Selected nonfertile isolates showed significant DNA relatedness (greater than 90%) to representatives of both mating types. Phenotypic physiological characteristics, such as cellobiose fermentation and rhamnose assimilation, proved insufficient for separation of Clavispora lusitaniae and Clavispora opuntiae.
Fundamental Analysis of the Banking Sector in India

The last 5-6 years have been very volatile for not only the Indian economy, but also for the entire world economy. Lots of investors have lost their money as the stock prices have fallen flat all over the world during this period. The banking sector has always been one of the important sectors for investment. In the time of uncertainty, when some are arguing that the economies are in the process of recovery, and while others are opining that the world is set for another recession soon, the present article attempted to study the fundamentals of the banking sector in India. The article considered the variables like net operating margin (OPM), net profit margin (NPM), return on equity (RoE), earnings per share (EPS), price earnings ratio (PER), dividends per share (DPS), and dividend payout ratio (DPR) for a period of 6 years from 2006-07 to 2011-12 for three major banks in India - SBI, ICICI Bank, and HDFC Bank. The paper also compared the fundamentals of SBI, ICICI Bank, and HDFC Bank.
Review Article: Cost-effectiveness of healthcare-based interventions aimed at improving physical activity

Aim: This article aims to review current knowledge concerning the cost-effectiveness of healthcare-based interventions aimed at improving physical activity. Method: A search was performed for economic evaluations containing the terms ``physical activity'', ``exercise'', or ``fitness''. Cost-effectiveness for the articles found was described based on a model for evaluating interventions intended to promote physical activity. Results: A total of 26 articles were found in the search. Nine of them concern a general population, 7 evaluated older people, and 10 studied disease-specific populations. A preventive perspective is most common, but some have a treatment perspective. Around 20 of the interventions studied were cost-effective according to their authors, but all analyses had some shortcomings in their evaluation methods. Conclusion: This review found many examples of cost-effective interventions. There is a lack of evidence for the cost-effectiveness of interventions aimed at those whose only risk factor for illness is a sedentary lifestyle. There is more evidence, although it is limited, for the cost-effectiveness of interventions aimed at high-risk groups or those who manifest poor health related to physical inactivity. Most of the evidence for cost-effectiveness is for older people and those with heart failure. Promotion of physical activity can be cost-effective with different methods and in different settings, but there remains a lack of evidence for specific methods in specific populations.
A 32-channel neural recording system with a liquid-crystal polymer MEA

Our integrated 32-channel recording system for in-vivo measurement of neural activity has 32 analog front-end (AFE) channels, a 32-to-1 time-division multiplexer, and a comparator-based cyclic ADC. Each channel has a low noise amplifier and a programmable-gain amplifier (PGA) with a tunable bandwidth. The mid-band gain of the low noise amplifier is 47 dB. The total gain of the analog front-end is adjustable from 54 dB to 67 dB, and its input-referred noise is 11.93 μVrms. The low noise amplifier consumes 7.2 μW per channel. The comparator-based cyclic ADC digitizes the signals at 20 kS/s per channel, with a signal to distortion and noise ratio (SNDR) of 48.23 dB, corresponding to an effective number of bits (ENOB) of 7.72. This system was implemented in 0.18 μm CMOS technology, the average power consumption of the system is 62.5 μW per channel. An in-vivo measurement of the electrical activity of the cerebral cortex has been demonstrated, using a flexible liquid-crystal polymer microelectrode array.
Optimal Information Transmission

This paper addresses the issue of how a given piece of information should be transmitted from a better-informed doctor to an ill-informed patient. The information to be transmitted is expressed as a probability distribution on a space of the patient’s possible health states. For a formal analysis of the issue we develop a two-person dynamic game, in which the doctor sends a sequence of messages to the patient to inform him of his health state, and the patient, after receiving each message, chooses an action in an attempt to improve upon his current health status. We study some standard properties of the equilibria of this game; in particular, we show that it has a subgame perfect equilibrium.
EXAMINING THE ROLE OF NATIONAL BOARD CERTIFICATION IN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE TEACHERS

study examined the meaning of undergoing the performance assessment process of National Board Certification (NBC) for science teachers. Based on the cases of four experienced science teachers, this naturalistic inquiry study indicated that NBC assessment process played an affirmational role for science teachers in their professional development. This meant that teachers completed the advanced certification process with an elevated confidence into their existing notions and ways of teaching science. However, their notions and ways of teaching science were not necessarily in favor of the ideas advocated in the contemporary science education reform movements. This suggested that pursuing advanced certification procedure strengthened the conventional notions of some teachers in teaching science rather than opening new avenues in developing a higher affiliation with the reform ideas promoted in science education reform documents.