Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hybrid choice model for propensity to travel and tour complexity

During the last years cities around the world have invested important quantities of money in measures for reducing congestion and car-trips. Investments which are nothing but potential solutions for the well-known urban sprawl phenomenon, also called the “development trap” that leads to further congestion and a higher proportion of our time spent in slow moving cars. Over the path of this searching for solutions, the complex relationship between urban environment and travel behaviour has been studied in a number of cases. The main question on discussion is, how to encourage multi-stop tours? Thus, the objective of this paper is to verify whether unobserved factors influence tour complexity. For this purpose, we use a data-base from a survey conducted in 2006-2007 in Madrid, a suitable case study for analyzing urban sprawl due to new urban developments and substantial changes in mobility patterns in the last years. A total of 943 individuals were interviewed from 3 selected neighbourhoods (CBD, urban and suburban). We study the effect of unobserved factors on trip frequency. This paper present the estimation of an hybrid model where the latent variable is called propensity to travel and the discrete choice model is composed by 5 alternatives of tour type. The results show that characteristics of the neighbourhoods in Madrid are important to explain trip frequency. The influence of land use variables on trip generation is clear and in particular the presence of commercial retails. Through estimation of elasticities and forecasting we determine to what extent land-use policy measures modify travel demand. Comparing aggregate elasticities with percentage variations, it can be seen that percentage variations could lead to inconsistent results. The result shows that hybrid models better explain travel behavior than traditional discrete choice models.
Change detection in vibration analysis — A review of problems and solutions

The paper considers the problem of change detection and diagnosis (CDD) in vibration analysis, from the point of view of challenges and solutions. In this framework, Matlab Toolbox VIBROTOOL is presented, implementing functions for change detection and diagnosis in vibration engineering. Compared to other toolboxes in the same domain, Matlab VIBROTOOL Toolbox promotes blind source separation and advanced processing of information from time-frequency analysis, before the change detection and segmentation. Finally, some applications making use of Matlab VIBROTOOL Toolbox are discussed.
Prognostic value of residual ischaemia assessed by exercise electrocardiography and dobutamine stress echocardiography in low-risk patients following acute myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND Risk stratification after uncomplicated myocardial infarction is major clinical problem. In particular, the prognostic value of residual inducible ischaemia is still controversial. We compared the relative prognostic value of exercise ECG and dobutamine stress echocardiography performed in the early post-infarction period. METHODS Four hundred and six patients (53 female) aged 57 +/- 9 years, undergoing maximal exercise ECG and dobutamine stress echocardiography within 10 days of an uncomplicated myocardial infarction off therapy, were prospectively followed-up for 8.8 months. Age, sex, diabetes, smoking habit, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, infarct location, thrombolysis and resting wall motion score index were taken into account among clinical variables. Prognostic correlations were made vs spontaneous events (cardiac death, non-fatal reinfarction and unstable angina requiring hospitalization) whilst patients undergoing revascularization (by means of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass surgery) at the time of the procedure were censored. RESULTS One hundred and twenty-seven events occurred during the follow-up: 41 (10%) were spontaneous (five deaths, 12 reinfarctions and 24 unstable angina) and 86 procedural (27 angioplasty and 59 bypass surgery). Spontaneous events were not predicted by any clinical, exercise ECG or dobutamine stress echocardiography variable, but the negative predictive value of both tests was excellent (91% and 90% respectively). With a multivariate Cox analysis, male gender, positive low-workload (< 100 W) exercise ECG (P < 0.0001), positive low-dose dobutamine stress echocardiography (P < 0.0001) and rest-stress wall motion score index variation (P < 0.001) were found to predict cumulative cardiac events with an independent and additive value. Dobutamine stress echocardiography was significantly more sensitive (P < 0.05) and less specific (P < 0.01) in predicting the outcome of patients with anterior infarction, whilst exercise ECG was significantly more sensitive (P < 0.05) in patients with non-Q wave infarction. CONCLUSIONS (1) Spontaneous events are poorly predicted by provocative tests in low-risk patients after uncomplicated myocardial infarction. (2) However, both exercise ECG and dobutamine stress echocardiography can predict a favourable outcome with a very high negative predictive value. (3) Dobutamine stress echocardiography should be considered a secondary option in cases where the exercise ECG is equivocal or when the location of ischaemia is a relevant issue. (4) The possibility that the two tests have a differential utility depending on the infarct location and type (Q wave vs non-Q wave) may be clinically relevant and deserves further evaluation.
A XXI-century alternative to XX-century peer review

The paper starts with a brief review of some criticisms of the Peer Review system – labelled ex-ante topdown PR system – for the evaluation of academic works. The critiques are grouped into efficiency and effectiveness criteria. It then goes on to analyse the roles of Peer Review and how good the system is at fulfilling those roles. The paper then proposes an alternative system for evaluation of academic works: an Open Access system – labelled ex-post bottom-up Peer Comments system that takes full advantage of the technologies of information and communication to secure a speedy and efficient dissemination and evaluation process; moreover, one that enhances the research interaction within the academic community. The editor would welcome comments on this paper.
Vesicoureteric reflux and renal scarring.

The urinary tract is often the site of bacterial infection during childhood. Population screening studies show a slight prevalence of boys during the neonatal period, followed by transition during infancy to a greater prevalence of girls, which progressively increases during the preschool years. Underlying structural abnormalities of the urinary tract are found in 30-50% of girls and in a somewhat higher proportion of boys with bacteriologically confirmed infection. Some of the abnormalities shown by routine radiological investigation after urinary tract infection-for example, partial duplication-are coincidental. Those abnormalities that play an aetiological role have in common distension and stasis as the underlying functional defect, and consist of (a) organic obstruction, (b) neuropathic bladder with functional obstruction, and (c) vesicoureteric reflux (VUR). The latter is by far the commonest abnormality and is the subject of this review. During cystourethrography it is observed that VUR may occur during filling but is more likely to do so during voiding. Reflux occurring during filling is more likely when the ureter is grossly dilated and the vesicoureteric orifice is permanently open. It is possible, however, that it also occurs with a less severely incompetent vesicoureteric orifice if the patient also suffers from an unstable bladder, as detrusor contractions against a closed sphincter can generate appreciably higher intravesical pressures than those associated with voiding. ' In a dilated system, a large volume of urine may be refluxed and will subsequently return to the bladder when the detrusor muscle relaxes after voiding, so that a residue is present continuously. It is this residue that almost certainly encourages bacterial colonisation of the bladder. Lesser degrees of VUR, in which radio-opaque contrast fluid is seen to enter an undilated ureter transiently, have correspondingly less clinical importance. In both clinical practice and research it is necessary to evaluate the severity of VUR; several grading systems have been evolved,2 5 differing essentially in their definitions of severe reflux. In Birmingham we have used a simple system4 based on that of Rolleston et a12:
Hybrid Silicon Devices for Energy-Efficient Optical Transmitters

Decreasing energy limits for data transport have resulted in efforts to reduce energy consumption in optical interconnects. The authors introduce three possible integration techniques for realizing a hybrid silicon transmitter on a single chip with distributed feedback (DFB) lasers and electro-absorption modulators. They review the current bottlenecks and techniques for further reducing threshold current and increasing the wall-plug efficiency of these lasers.
Study on Environmental Disclosure Quality and Cost of Equity Capital

This study examines the relationship between the quality of a firm’s environmental disclosure and cost of equity capital based on the sample of chemical listed companies. We measure environmental disclosure quality using a disclosure index consistent with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI, 2006). In addition to overall disclosure quality, we consider the type (i.e., hard/soft) of the disclosure in our analysis by the multiple regression method. Our analyses provide evidence that environmental disclosure besides the soft and hard environmental disclosure is not significantly associated with the cost of equity capital.
Using Three Layer Neural Networks to Compute Discrete Real Functions

This paper concerns how to compute discrete real functions using three-layer feedforward neural networks with one hidden layer. Firstly, we define strongly and weakly symmetric real functions. Then we give a network to compute a specific strongly symmetric real function. The number of the hidden neurons is given and the weights of hidden neurons are 1 or -1. Algorithm 1 modifies the weights to real numbers to compute arbitrary strongly symmetric real functions. Theorem 3 extends the results to compute any discrete real functions. Finally, we give an example to indicate our results.
Sustained virological response after early antiviral treatment of acute hepatitis C virus and HIV coinfection.

BACKGROUND Limited data exist describing the clinical outcome and immunological response primed during simultaneously acquired acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection. We present detailed clinical and immunological analysis of 3 individuals after concomitant infection with acute HCV and primary HIV. METHODS In addition to longitudinal clinical parameters, virus-specific T cell responses were assessed using Elispot, standard proliferative (carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester), and in vitro CD4(+) T cell assays. RESULTS In all patients, anti-HCV treatment was started with pegylated interferon-alpha, and antiretroviral therapy was coadministered early during primary infection. HCV viremia was cleared under therapy with pegylated interferon-alpha in all 3 cases. In 2 patients, HIV replication was contained even after antiretroviral therapy had been interrupted, which was associated with strong HIV-specific CD8(+) and CD4(+) T cell responses. In these 2 patients, multispecific HCV CD4(+) T cell responses could also be detected. No HCV-specific CD4(+) T cell responses were detected in the third patient, who also had the lowest nadir CD4(+) cell count during primary HIV infection (<200 cells/microL). CONCLUSIONS Anti-HIV and -HCV therapy should be considered early in cases of concomitant acute HCV and HIV coinfection, because successful therapy of HCV viremia seems possible even during primary HIV infection. HCV-specific T cell immunity is generated during primary HIV infection and can be preserved by HCV treatment. However, the optimal treatment algorithm needs to be established in prospective, randomized trials.
Phonological working memory and reading in test anxiety.

Texts were presented sentence by sentence (Experiment 1) or word by word (Experiment 2) at a fixed rate to subjects high or low in test anxiety, under various conditions: no interference, concurrent articulatory suppression, and concurrent irrelevant speech (presented auditorily). High-anxiety subjects produced overt articulation more frequently than low-anxiety subjects, especially in the irrelevant speech condition. The most salient finding was an interaction between anxiety and interference on comprehension performance: under word-by-word-but not under sentence-by-sentence-presentation, anxious subjects showed poorer comprehension than non-anxious subjects in both conditions known to interfere with the articulatory loop (i.e. articulatory suppression, and irrelevant speech), but equivalent comprehension in the no interference condition. These findings suggest (a) that the articulatory loop has a special compensatory role for anxious individuals in reading comprehension, and (b) that the importance of this auxiliary mechanism is enhanced when other strategies, such as regressive fixations and control of reading speed, cannot be used.
Adsorption of albumin on flax fibers increases endothelial cell adhesion and blood compatibility in vitro

The physical and chemical properties of flax (linen) are attractive from the perspective of biomaterials science and engineering. Flax textiles uniquely combine hydrophilicity and strength, with the technical know-how to produce precisely engineered two- and three-dimensional knitted or woven structures. It is, however, extremely difficult to completely remove endotoxins from the flax, and this essentially precludes the use of linen for implant purposes. Herein, the potential utility of flax textiles for blood-contacting applications is investigated, using purified two-dimensional mesh specimens, with and without an albumin surface coating. It was hypothesized that the albumin coating will abolish the effect of adherent endotoxins at the flax’s surface. In vitro cell viability assays showed that the flax mesh ± albumin is not cytotoxic. The albumin coating reduced (but not abolished) the effect of surface-exposed endotoxins (Limulus amebocyte lysate test). Under dynamic conditions, the albumin coating favors coverage with endothelial cells. Experiments with fresh human blood plasma (platelet-rich and platelet-free) showed that the albumin coating reduces the thrombogenicity in vitro. Platelets adhered to the albumin-coated flax mesh showed a less flattened structure. Although the results of this work cannot be extrapolated easily to in vivo situations, the data reveal that woven or knitted tubular structures produced from flax fibers may hold promise as implantable blood contacting devices like for instance vascular grafts.
The Social Capital of Local Hire Faculty in an International School

i Executive Summary. ii Acknowledgements . iv Table of
Three-dimensional analysis with MRI and PET of the size, shape, and function of the thalamus in the schizophrenia spectrum.

OBJECTIVE In an exploration of the schizophrenia spectrum, the authors compared thalamic size, shape, and metabolic activity in unmedicated patients with schizophrenia and schizotypal personality disorder to findings in age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. METHOD Coregistered magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography scans were obtained in 27 schizophrenic patients, 13 patients with schizotypal personality disorder, and 32 control subjects who performed a serial verbal learning test during tracer uptake. After thalamus edges were outlined on 1.2-mm MRI scans, a radial warping program yielded significance probability mapping in three dimensions. RESULTS Significance probability mapping (with resampling) identified an area in the region of the mediodorsal nucleus bilaterally with significantly lower relative metabolism in the schizophrenia group than in either the control or schizotypal personality disorder groups, which did not differ from each other. The three groups did not differ significantly in total thalamic volume in square millimeters or thalamic volume relative to brain volume. Shape analyses revealed that schizophrenic patients had significantly fewer pixels in the left anterior region, whereas patients with schizotypal personality disorder had significantly fewer pixels in the region of the right mediodorsal nucleus than did control subjects. CONCLUSIONS Schizophrenic patients showed significant metabolism and shape differences from control subjects in selective subregions of the thalamus, whereas patients with schizotypal personality disorder showed only a difference in shape. Because the mediodorsal and anterior nuclei have different connections with limbic and prefrontal structures, the anterior thalamic shrinkage and mediodorsal metabolic and shape changes might relate to the different clinical pictures in schizotypal personality disorder and schizophrenia.
Changing Work Practices: Acceptance of Virtual Work among Knowledge Professionals Engaged in Offshoring Activities

Technological advances and economic changes have increasingly motivated and enabled distant collaboration between knowledge workers (Hinds and Kiesler, 2002). Offshoring of professional services (software development, financial services, radiology reads, R&D) to emerging countries provides a renowned example of this trend (Friedman, 2005; Levy, 2005; Venkatraman, 2004). Notwithstanding the alleged numerous advantages for Western organizations – including cost savings, reduction of time to market, access to worldwide expertise, easier penetration in local markets, increased codification of internal processes (e.g., Farrel, 2006; Gupta et al., 2007) – knowledge workers likely perceive offshoring as a cause of turmoil. A first source of disruption stems from distance – both geographical and cultural – between knowledge workers. A geographically dispersed or globally distributed team (GDT) is defined as a group of individuals: (i) belonging to one or more organizations; (ii) interdependent and driven by a common purpose; (iii) using technology-supported communication more than face-to-face communication; and (iv) based in different countries (Lipnack and Stamps, 1997). Maznevski and Chudoba (2000) integrate this definition by observing that GDTs are also global in their tasks and are responsible “for making and/or implementing decisions important to the organization’s global strategy” (p. 473). The literature on GDTs explores the challenges of distant collaboration between geographically and culturally distant members, such as compatibility with existing hierarchical structures (Mohrman, 1998), increased coordination costs (Boh et al., 2009), awareness of other team members’ activities (Dourish and Bellotti, 1992), trust (Paul and
Status of Airway Reactivity among Small Airway Diseases with Regular Users Substance Abuse of Inhaling Opium; Preliminary Results of a Survey of Indirect Provocation Test

Background : Opium is an oldest recreational abuse substance with dependency. Small airway diseases (SAD) were established within opium user’s population. Bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR) reflects airway reactivity and inflammation. Opium can induce airway inflammation and following airway reactivity.The objective of the study assessed status of BHR among SAD with regular inhaled opium users. It performed with hypertonic normal saline provocation challenge test. Methods: Target population enrolled among SAD with inhaled regular opium users. In the next step, standard hypertonic normal saline provocation test carried out on the sample study. Results: A total of 46 subjects followed the study. The mean age±SD was 50.1±1.2 years, with median 48 years. 91% of those were male. A positive result of BHR was distributed more frequently in thechronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) with the asthma phenotype. In addition, it was more market in the youngest and advanced age classes equally. Conclusion: hypertonic normal saline provocation test result was quite noticeable between regular inhaled opium users. BHR was detected more frequently in COPD with asthma phenotype, COPD, chronic bronchitis , and bronchial asthma disease, respectively. The outcome indirectly revealedthat there was a relation between airway inflammation and opium inhalation in population. It may be reflected an added effect on the predisposing risk factors of induced airway inflammation and hyperreactivity of airway in target populations.
Study of Shaft Voltage on Short Circuit Alternator with Static Frequency Converter

: Electric machines are driven nowadays by static system popularly known as soft starter. This paper describes a thyristor based static frequency converter (or SFC) to run a large synchronous machine installed at a short circuit test laboratory. Normally a synchronous machine requires prime mover or some other driving mechanism to run. This machine doesn’t need a prime mover as it operates in dual mode. In the beginning SFC starts this machine as a motor to achieve the full speed. Thereafter whenever required it can be converted to generator mode. This paper begins with the various starting methodology of synchronous machine. Detailed of SFC with different operational modes have been analysed. Shaft voltage is a very common phenomenon for the machines with static drives. Various causes of shaft voltages in perspective with this machine are the main attraction of this paper.
Fanout flipchip eWLB (embedded Wafer Level Ball Grid Array) technology as 2.5D packaging solutions

The market for portable and mobile data access devices connected to a virtual cloud access point is exploding and driving both increased functional convergence as well as increased packaging complexity and sophistication. This is driving an unprecedented demand to increase the variety of wafer level, thin POP (Package on Package), and TSV (Through Silicon Via)/Interposer packaging solutions. It is expected to see more exciting interconnect technologies of wafer level packaging such as TSV, 2.5D Interposers, eWLB (embedded Wafer Level Ball Grid Array)/FO-WLP (Fan Out Wafer Level Package) to meet these needs. FO-WLP/eWLB has been introduced into production to allow for higher ball count WLP, by extending the package size beyond the area of the chip. eWLB technologies are leading the way to the next level of thin packaging capability. eWLB provides a robust packaging platform supporting very dense interconnection and routing of multiple-die in very reliable, low-profile/low-warpage 2.5D and 3D solutions. The use of these embedded FO-WLP packages in a side-by-side configuration to replace a stacked package configuration, and to utilize as the base for a 3D TSV configuration, is critical to enable a more cost effective mobile market capability. Combining the analog and memory device with digital device packaging capability can provide an optimum solution for achieving the best performance in thin multiple-die integration aimed at very high performance. This paper highlights the rapidly moving trend towards packaging technologies with extended-die/fanout flipchip technology. Package and substrate design study, mechanical and thermal characterization of flipchip eWLB solution over high-end flipchip would be presented.