Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Constraint handling and stochastic ranking in ACO

Many industrial and academic optimization problems have successfully been tackled with ant colony optimization (ACO), but the ability of ACO to deal with hard constraints has not yet been investigated widely. Most real-world applications, such as fleet routing, rostering and timetabling, however, are subject to hard constraints. Extensions of ACO with hard constraint handling are thus a worthwhile field of study. Constraint handling in meta-heuristics has mostly been studied in the context of evolutionary algorithms. Many of the techniques proposed are penalty-based. A difficulty with such methods is the correct adjustment of penalty factors. Recently a different approach, termed stochastic ranking (SR), has been suggested which does not use a penalty formulation. Benchmarks indicate that SR is currently among the best performing methods for evolutionary constraint optimization. We discuss how the ideas underlying SR can be used in ACO and evaluate two different ways to achieve this integration: one derived from ACS (ACSsr) and one based on ranked ant system (ASRsr). We compare the performance of these to penalty-based ACO as well as to CPACS, an ACO algorithm hybridized with explicit constraint propagation. Initial benchmark results are encouraging.
Solar radiation is inversely associated with inflammatory bowel disease admissions

Abstract Objective: To explore the associations between latitude and solar radiation with inflammatory bowel disease admission rates in Chile, the country with the largest variation in solar radiation in the world. Patients and methods: This is an ecological study, which included data on all hospital-admitted population for inflammatory bowel disease between 2001 and 2012, according to different latitudes and solar radiation exposures in Chile. The data were acquired from the national hospital discharge database from the Department of Health Statistics and Information of the Chilean Ministry of Health. Results: Between 2001 and 2012 there were 12,869 admissions due to inflammatory bowel disease (69% ulcerative colitis, 31% Crohn’s disease). Median age was 36 years (IQR: 25–51); 57% were female. The national inflammatory bowel disease admission rate was 6.52 (95% CI: 6.40–6.63) per 100,000 inhabitants with increasing rates over the 12-year period. In terms of latitude, the highest admission rates for pediatric ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, as well as adult ulcerative colitis, were observed in the southernmost region with lowest annual solar radiation. Linear regression analysis showed that regional solar radiation was inversely associated with inflammatory bowel disease admissions in Chile (β: −.44, p = .03). Conclusions: Regional solar radiation was inversely associated with inflammatory bowel disease admission rates in Chile; inflammatory bowel disease admissions were highest in the southernmost region with lowest solar radiation. Our results support the potential role of vitamin D deficiency on inflammatory bowel disease flares.
The Great Inflation Was Not Asymmetric: International Evidence

The rise and fall of inflation during the Great Inflation were events of approximately equal duration in developed economies. Relying on data-driven methods, this paper shows the American experience, in which inflation fell more quickly than it rose, was anomalous. This suggests that theories explaining the asymmetry in the American data may not be so applicable to a broader sample of countries. Copyright (c) 2008 The Ohio State University.
Red Mexican Grapefruit: A Novel Source for Bioactive Limonoids and their Antioxidant Activity

Abstract Citrus limonoids have shown to inhibit the growth of cancer in colon, lung, mouth, stomach and breast in animal and cell culture studies. For the first time in the present study, an attempt has been made to isolate antioxidant fractions and five limonoids from red Mexican grapefruit seeds. Defatted seed powder was successively extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), acetone, methanol (MeOH) and MeOH/water and the extracts were concentrated under vacuum. Radical scavenging activity of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and total phenolic content were also measured for comparison with the antioxidant capacity in the phosphomolybdenum method for the above extracts. Acetone and MeOH extracts, respectively, showed the highest (85.7%) and lowest (53.3%) radical scavenging activity, at 500 ppm. The total phenolic contents were found to be highest in the acetone extract (15.94%) followed by the MeOH extract (5.92%), ethyl acetate extract (5.54%) and water extract (5.26%). Antioxidant capacity of the extracts as equivalents to ascorbic acid (μmol/g of the extract) was in the order, EtOAc extract > acetone extract > water extract > methanol extract. Furthermore, the EtOAC and acetone extracts were loaded onto silica gel columns to obtain four limonoid aglycons. MeOH fraction was loaded onto a dowex-50 and sepabeads resin column to obtain a limonoid glucoside. The purity of the isolated five compounds was analyzed by HPLC using a C18 column and UV detection at 210 nm. Finally, the structures of the compounds were identified as obacunone, nomilin, limonin, deacetylnomilin (DAN) and limonin-17-β-d-glucopyranoside (LG) using 1H and 13C NMR studies.
Malaysia's Bond Market The Further Reforms Required to Escape Underdevelopment

This article explores why the market for Malaysian Government Securities (MGS) is still caught in the trap of underdevelopment and what are the further reforms required to escape this trap. It also examines the extent and nature of the development of the fixed rate market in Private Debt Securities (PDS). It is argued that if the cash and futures markets are well developed, investors and speculators will be able to trade on their views on interest rates, on the shape of the yield curve, on the spread between MGS and PDS yields and on the spread in yields between the cash and futures markets, thus boosting trading volume and market liquidity.
Divergent Subunit Interactions among Fungal mRNA 5′-Capping Machineries

ABSTRACT The Saccharomyces cerevisiae mRNA capping enzyme consists of two subunits: an RNA 5′-triphosphatase (RTPase) and GTP::mRNA guanylyltransferase (GTase). The GTase subunit (Ceg1) binds to the phosphorylated carboxyl-terminal domain of the largest subunit (CTD-P) of RNA polymerase II (pol II), coupling capping with transcription. Ceg1 bound to the CTD-P is inactive unless allosterically activated by interaction with the RTPase subunit (Cet1). For purposes of comparison, we characterize here the related GTases and RTPases from the yeasts Schizosaccharomyces pombe and Candida albicans. Surprisingly, the S. pombe capping enzyme subunits do not interact with each other. Both can independently interact with CTD-P of pol II, and the GTase is not repressed by CTD-P binding. The S. pombe RTPase gene (pct1+) is essential for viability. Pct1 can replace the S. cerevisiae RTPase when GTase activity is supplied by the S. pombe or mouse enzymes but not by the S. cerevisiae GTase. The C. albicans capping enzyme subunits do interact with each other. However, this interaction is not essential in vivo. Our results reveal an unexpected diversity among the fungal capping machineries.
Compensating for central nervous system dysmyelination: Females with a proteolipid protein gene duplication and sustained clinical improvement

A submicroscopic duplication that contains the entire proteolipid protein gene is the major cause of Pelizaeus‐Merzbacher disease, an X‐linked central nervous system dysmyelinating disorder. Previous studies have demonstrated that carrier females for the duplication are usually asymptomatic. We describe 2 unrelated female patients who present with mild Pelizaeus‐Merzbacher disease or spastic paraplegia. In 1 patient, clinical features as well as cranial magnetic resonance imaging and brainstem auditory evoked potential results have improved dramatically over a 10‐year period. The other patient, who presented with spastic diplegia and was initially diagnosed with cerebral palsy, has also shown clinical improvement. Interphase fluorescent in situ hybridization identified a proteolipid protein gene duplication in both patients. Interphase fluorescent in situ hybridization analyses of the family members indicated that the duplication in both patients occurred as de novo events. Neither skewing of X inactivation in the peripheral lymphocytes nor proteolipid protein gene coding alterations were identified in either patient. These findings indicate that, occasionally, females with a proteolipid protein gene duplication can manifest an early‐onset neurological phenotype. We hypothesize that the remarkable clinical improvement is a result of myelin compensation by oligodendrocytes expressing one copy of proteolipid protein gene secondary to selection for a favorable X inactivation pattern. These findings indicate plasticity of oligodendrocytes in the formation of central nervous system myelin and suggest a potential role for stem cell transplantation therapies.
FIRST Association Between the MUC 5 B Promoter Polymorphism and Survival in Patients With Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Anna L. Peljto, DrPH Yingze Zhang, PhD Tasha E. Fingerlin, PhD Shwu-Fan Ma, PhD Joe G. N. Garcia, MD Thomas J. Richards, PhD Lori J. Silveira, PhD Kathleen O. Lindell, PhD Mark P. Steele, MD James E. Loyd, MD Kevin F. Gibson, MD Max A. Seibold, PhD Kevin K. Brown, MD Janet L. Talbert, MS Cheryl Markin, BA Karl Kossen, PhD Scott D. Seiwert, PhD Elissa Murphy, MS Imre Noth, MD Marvin I. Schwarz, MD Naftali Kaminski, MD David A. Schwartz, MD
Development of a Dog-Assisted Activity Program in an Elementary Classroom

Here we describe a pilot Dog-Assisted Activity program that was designed to improve wellbeing and social integration in a multi-cultural elementary classroom in which some episodes of bullying had been reported. We developed a 5-encounters protocol with the aim of introducing pet dogs into the class to stimulate understanding of different types of communication and behavior, ultimately facilitating positive relationships among peers. A preliminary evaluation was carried out in order to assess the effect of the program on teachers’ perception of children’s difficulties (e.g., peer relationship problems) and strengths (prosocial behaviors) by means of a brief behavioral screening tool, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ—Teacher version). Overall results indicate that, by means of the recognition of the dogs’ behavior and non-verbal communication, children were able to express their emotions and to show behaviors that had not been recognized by the teachers prior to the intervention. In particular, the SDQ Total Difficulties scores suggest that the teacher had increased awareness of the students’ difficulties as a result of the dog-assisted program. Overall, the presence of animals in the educational environment may provide enjoyment and hands-on educational experiences, enhanced psychological wellbeing, and increased empathy and socio-emotional development.
Employment status and depressive symptoms in Koreans: results from a baseline survey of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging.

OBJECTIVES We investigated the association between employment status and depressive symptoms among Korean individuals according to age and gender. METHODS Data were obtained from a subsample of 3,907 men and 4,914 women aged 45 years and older without any severe disabilities who participated in the 2006 cross-sectional baseline survey of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA). We compared depressive symptoms as determined by the Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression 10-item scale, adjusting for socioeconomic status, physical and cognitive function, and chronic disease. Using multiple regression analysis, we determined both age- and gender-specific differences associated with depressive symptoms and employment status. RESULTS Employment was associated with fewer depressive symptoms among middle-aged men but not among older men. Unemployment was associated with more depressive symptoms among middle-aged women but not among older women. CONCLUSION Work role did not provide any benefit for depressive symptoms among older men and women. We discuss the increased depressive symptoms among older employed men and the differential association of employment status with age and gender in the context of Korean social structure.
Molecular Beacon Probes of Photodamage in Thymine and Uracil Oligonucleotides¶

Abstract Molecular beacons (MB) are becoming more common as sequence-selective detectors of nucleic acids. Although they can easily detect single-base mismatches, they have never been used to directly detect DNA or RNA damage. To measure the degree of ultraviolet (UV) light damage in oligonucleotides, we report a novel MB approach for general detection of photoproducts in UV-irradiated rU17 and dT17 oligonucleotides. With monochromatic UV light irradiation at ca 280 nm under anoxic conditions, the oligonucleotide absorption decays with a single-exponential time constant of 123 ± 1 min for rU17 and with double-exponential time constants of 78 ± 0.5 min (99%) and 180 ± 5 min (0.05%) for dT17 oligonucleotides. Under the same conditions, the MB fluorescence decays more quickly, with single-exponential time constants of 19 ± 2 and 26 ± 3 min for rU17 and dT17, respectively. Similar kinetics were observed with broadband UV light irradiation of oligonucleotides. The differences in the UV damage kinetics of dT17 and rU17 and their detection by absorption and fluorescence techniques will be discussed in the context of differential instabilities introduced in the nucleic acid–MB duplex by the different photoproducts formed.
The Monetary Pillar : an empirical evaluation of the monetary strategy of the ECB

The monetary strategy of the ECB is examined empirically using records from the monthly press conferences and statistical data series for the relevant variables. The results suggest that the monetary pillar does not influence the interest rate decisions, which are instead taken based on considerations of real economic developments. Furthermore, the ECB takes a forward-looking approach, allowing inflation to temporarily exceed the 2% target.
Why Do World War II Veterans Earn More than Nonveterans?

World War II veterans earn more than nonveterans in their cohort. We test whether the World War II veteran premium reflects nonrandom selection into the military of men with higher earnings potential. The estimation is based on the fact that from 1942 to 1947 priority for conscription was determined by date of birth. Information on individuals' dates of birth may therefore be used to construct instrumental variables for veteran status. Empirical results from the 1960, 1970, and 1980 censuses, along with two other microdata sets, support a conclusion that World War II veterans earn no more than comparable nonveterans and may well earn less.
The impact of piped water on household welfare: evidence from Vietnam

Clean water is essential for human survival. However, a large proportion of people do not have access to clean water in Vietnam. Approximately only 23% of the population had access to piped water in 2006. This study measures the effect of piped water on household welfare using difference-in-differences estimators and panel data from Vietnam Household Living Standard Surveys. It found that the effect of piped water on household income and working efforts are positive, but are small and not statistically significant. Similarly, the effect of piped water on the sickness of household members is negative, but not statistically significant.
Statistical Selection of the Optimum Models in the CMIP5 Dataset for Climate Change Projections of Indian Monsoon Rainfall

Monsoons are the life and soul of India’s financial aspects, especially that of agribusiness in deciding cropping patterns. Around 80% of the yearly precipitation occurs from June to September amid monsoon season across India. Thus, its seasonal mean precipitation is crucial for agriculture and the national water supply. From the start of the 19th century, several studies have been conducted on the possible increments in Indian summer monsoon precipitation in the future. Unfortunately, none of them has endeavoured to discover the models whose yield give the best fit to the observed data. Here some statistical tests are performed to quantify the models of Coupled Model Inter-comparison Project 5 (CMIP5). Then, after, the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method is used to select optimum models. It shows that four models, CCSM4, CESM1-CAM5, GFDL-CM3, and GFDL-ESM2G, best capture the pattern in Indian summer monsoon rainfall over the historical period (1871–2005). Further, Student’s t-test is utilized to estimate the significant changes in meteorological subdivisions of selected optimum models. Also, our results reveal the Indian meteorological subdivisions which are liable to encounter significant changes in mean at confidence levels that differ from 80% to 99%.
Changes in Chinese Competitiveness in Major Food Products: Implications for WTO Membership

Chinese entry to the WTO in December 2001 marks a new phase in agricultural trade, both nationally and globally. After a context review of Chinese agriculture and WTO-related policy issues, this paper first uses a Balassa index approach to examine China's relative competitiveness in some major food products over the period since 1985, followed by an analysis of price-cost ratios and production cost structures for these products. It is found that China has revealed comparative advantages in meat products but disadvantages in cereals. With limited land resources, its production and trade competitiveness has declined despite rapid substitution of capital for labour, due to a marked rise in relative labour price in agriculture. In the long run, it is expected that WTO membership will boost Chinese agricultural trade, but its impact on competitiveness will probably depend more on production costs, and will differ between crops and animal products.
Metaheuristics for the deployment of 5G

It is not difficult to anticipate that the system capacity and spectral efficiency of 5G will be greater than those of 4G, and so will the number of network-connected wireless devices. Moreover, the infrastructure of wireless communications today will not meet the requirements of a 5G environment because a large number of traffic flows will be generated between a large number of heterogeneous devices. The deployment strategy is one of the promising solutions to meet the expected demands of 5G. This article begins with a brief review of the deployment problem of wireless communication and a hyperdense deployment problem (HDDP) definition for the requirements of 5G. A simple example for illustrating how a metaheuristic algorithm can be used to solve the HDDP is then given. Finally, some open and possible research issues are discussed to suggest future research trends on this problem.
The atomic change set of Java programming language

Software configuration management computes the diff between the old version and new version of the program and represents the diff as added, deleted and updated text lines. The source code change represents the change type of code revisions in fine-grained levels such as class or field but rather to added, deleted and updated text lines. Atomic change is the minimal source code change. An atomic change can not be decomposed into other atomic changes. This paper defines the atomic change and the atomic change set of Java programming language. It analyzes properties of the atomic change set of Java programming language. It also emphasizes the differences of the binary compatibility and source compatibility of atomic changes of Java programming language. Finally, it gives a method for computing all source compatible atomic changes of Java programming language.
Protein Phosphatase 2A Antagonizes ATM and ATR in a Cdk2- and Cdc7-Independent DNA Damage Checkpoint

ABSTRACT We previously used a soluble cell-free system derived from Xenopus eggs to investigate the role of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) in chromosomal DNA replication. We found that immunodepletion of PP2A or inhibition of PP2A by okadaic acid (OA) inhibits initiation of DNA replication by preventing loading of the initiation factor Cdc45 onto prereplication complexes. Evidence was provided that PP2A counteracts an inhibitory protein kinase that phosphorylates and inactivates a crucial Cdc45 loading factor. Here, we report that the inhibitory effect of OA is abolished by caffeine, an inhibitor of the checkpoint kinases ataxia-telangiectasia mutated protein (ATM) and ataxia-telangiectasia related protein (ATR) but not by depletion of ATM or ATR from the extract. Furthermore, we demonstrate that double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) cause inhibition of Cdc45 loading and initiation of DNA replication and that caffeine, as well as immunodepletion of either ATM or ATR, abolishes this inhibition. Importantly, the DSB-induced inhibition of Cdc45 loading is prevented by addition of the catalytic subunit of PP2A to the extract. These data suggest that DSBs and OA prevent Cdc45 loading through different pathways, both of which involve PP2A, but only the DSB-induced checkpoint implicates ATM and ATR. The inhibitory effect of DSBs on Cdc45 loading does not result from downregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2) or Cdc7 activity and is independent of Chk2. However, it is partially dependent on Chk1, which becomes phosphorylated in response to DSBs. These data suggest that PP2A counteracts ATM and ATR in a DNA damage checkpoint in Xenopus egg extracts.
Remote fuzzy logic control of networked control system via Profibus-DP

This paper investigates on the feasibility of fuzzy logic control for networked control systems. In order to evaluate its feasibility, a networked control system for motor speed control is implemented on a Profibus-DP network. The NCS consists of several inde-pendent, but interacting processes running on two separate stations. By using this NCS, the network-induced delay is analyzed to find the cause and effect of the delay. Furthermore, in order to prove the feasibility, the fuzzy logic controller`s performance is compared with those of conventional PID controllers. Based on the experimental results, the fuzzy logic controller can be a viable choice far NCS due to its robustness against parameter uncertainty.
Government policy and rail transport in Western Europe

Abstract This paper presents evidence showing that the performance of Western European railways in terms of market share, traffic trends and support requirements varies greatly, and seeks to discover how far such differences may be accounted for by government policies. It is found that, in the passenger sector, the prices charged and the mix of services operated are very influential in determining both market share and support requirements, and that these decisions are almost entirely conditioned by government policy. Performance in the freight sector, which is much more commercially oriented, is more readily explained in terms of geographical differences, which result in some countries having far more suitable traffic for rail transport than others.