Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A hybrid system integrating a piecewise linear representation and a neural network for stock prediction

Stock price prediction is a challenging problem in the machine learning area due to a great noise in the stock market. In this paper, we propose a novel stock prediction method based on a multilayer feedforward neural network. To reduce the effect of noisy trends, it employs the piecewise linear representation which transforms the original time series of the stock price and the trading volume into a set of time segments. The transformed information is served as the input variables in the neural network for prediction. We tested the proposed method annually from 2001 to 2009. It showed a good performance of about 55% accuracy on average in predicting the price direction. It was also successful in making more profit than the buy-and-hold trading strategy.
Multi-terminal VSC-HVDC for smart DC network: Control and simulation

This paper presents a smart DC network formed by a multi-terminal VSC-HVDC connecting various micro-grids, independent power generation stations, and passive loads. The corresponding deadbeat current control scheme based on coordinated strategy for multi-terminal VSC-HVDC systems is proposed. The current control scheme is easy to design, implement and has good dynamic response. the case of four-terminal VSC-HVDC interconnected with AC grids, wind farms, and passive loads is developed in MATLAB/Simulink to demonstrate the validity of the proposed control scheme and the united system. Simulation results have demonstrated that the proposed scheme enables optimal operation under conditions of voltage dip, power flow and load changes when used for a large DC smart network.
Genetic disruption of CYP26B1 severely affects development of neural crest derived head structures, but does not compromise hindbrain patterning

Cyp26b1 encodes a cytochrome‐P450 enzyme that catabolizes retinoic acid (RA), a vitamin A derived signaling molecule. We have examined Cyp26b1−/− mice and report that mutants exhibit numerous abnormalities in cranial neural crest cell derived tissues. At embryonic day (E) 18.5 Cyp26b1−/− animals exhibit a truncated mandible, abnormal tooth buds, reduced ossification of calvaria, and are missing structures of the maxilla and nasal process. Some of these abnormalities may be due to defects in formation of Meckel's cartilage, which is truncated with an unfused distal region at E14.5 in mutant animals. Despite the severe malformations, we did not detect any abnormalities in rhombomere segmentation, or in patterning and migration of anterior hindbrain derived neural crest cells. Abnormal migration of neural crest cells toward the posterior branchial arches was observed, which may underlie defects in larynx and hyoid development. These data suggest different periods of sensitivity of anterior and posterior hindbrain neural crest derivatives to elevated levels of RA in the absence of CYP26B1. Developmental Dynamics 238:732–745, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prevention of "nitrosative stress" by a nutritional supplement (LaVita®) - a randomized placebo controlled double blind clinical trial with healthy volunteers.

BACKGROUND A common pathomechanism involved in many degenerative manifestations of non-communicable diseases is nitrosative stress, giving rise to a chronic insidious inflammation causing silent inflammation at a cellular level. The release of nitric oxide inhibits multiple enzyme reactions with reduced oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial ATP depletion. MATERIAL AND METHODS We hypothesized that enzyme-inhibition can be alleviated by micronutrient supply, and studied laboratory parameters associated with nitrosative stress (nitrotyrosine, mitochondrial activity) after a micronutrient supplementation (a multivitamin mineral and trace element formulation as verum: LaVita®) and a placebo in healthy volunteers (n=150) for six months. RESULTS Mean nitrotyrosine levels dropped significantly after 3 month in the verum and placebo group, whereas mitochondrial activity increased after three month in the verum group (p=0,087), but not in the placebo group (p=0,990). Ubiquinone - an essential ingredient for mitochondrial function- increased after six months in the verum group, but not after placebo consumption (p=0,001). Serum zinc and cellular zinc increased steadily after 3 and 6 month verum intake (p<0,001). As the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) is mainly involved in the formation of nitrosative stress (peroxides) we measured the activity, and found significant differences in the placebo and verum group after 3 and 6 month (p=0,050 and p=0,003 respectively). CONCLUSION We conclude that a balanced combination of vital nutrients may reduce nitrosative stress and silent inflammation, and consequently the risk for various forms of degenerative diseases.
ANALISIS INDEKS HARGA KONSUMEN TERHADAP INDEKS HARGA SANDANG DAN PANGAN DI KOTA AMBON

Indeks Harga Konsumen (IHK) merupakan salah satu indikator ekonomi penting yang dapat memberikan informasi mengenai perkembangan harga barang dan jasa (komoditas) yang dibayar oleh konsumen atau masyarakat khususnya masyarakat kota. Perubahan IHK dari waktu ke waktu menunjukkan fluktuasi harga barang dan jasa yang dikonsumsi masyarakat, Inflasi terjadi jika kenaikan dan deflasi jika terjadi penurunan. Gejolak harga barang dan jasa di suatu wilayah sangat berpengaruh terhadap kondisi ekonomi masyarakat setempat. Adapun tujuan dari penelitian ini untuk mengetahui bagaimana pengaruh Indeks Harga Sandang dan Indeks Harga Pangan terhadap Indeks Harga Konsumen, serta membentuk model regresi linier berganda. Dari penelitian ini diperoleh hasil bahwa faktor Indeks Harga Sandang ( dan Indeks Harga Pangan ( barpengaruh secara signifikan terhadap Indeks Harga Konsumen (Y). Sehingga model persamaan regresi linier berganda yaitu dengan Koefisien Determinasi (R square ) sebesar 0,98. yang artinya bahwa 98,6% Indeks Harga Konsumen dipengaruhi oleh faktor Indeks Harga Sandang ( dan Indeks Harga Pangan (dan sisanya 1,4% dipengaruhi oleh faktor-faktor lainnya. Kata Kunci : Indeks Harga Konsumen, Regresi Linier Berganda
Identification, Mapping, and In Vitro Translation of Campoletis sonorensis Virus mRNAs from Parasitized Heliothis virescens Larvae

Expression of Campoletis sonorensis virus (CsV) in parasitized Heliothis virescens larvae was investigated by Northern blot analysis of poly(A)+ mRNAs isolated from H. virescens larvae at various times after parasitization by C. sonorensis. At least 12 CsV mRNAs were detected in parasitized H. virescens larvae. Injection of nonparasitized H. virescens larvae with purified CsV resulted in a pattern of viral mRNAs similar to that observed in naturally parasitized larvae. With CsV DNA restriction fragments which contained expressed sequences, individual CsV mRNAs were mapped to the superhelical DNAs of the viral genome. Two gene-specific probes, which consisted of cloned S1 nuclease-protected restriction fragments, each hybridized to several CsV superhelical DNAs, suggesting that some CsV genes may be shared on several superhelical DNAs. Cloned restriction fragments containing sequences which flank the expressed sequences also hybridized to numerous CsV superhelical DNAs. Some CsV proteins were identified by in vitro translation of hybrid-selected CsV mRNAs.
Scalable and privacy-preserving authentication protocol for secure vehicular communications

Most of the existing authentication protocols are based on either asymmetric cryptography like public-key infrastructure (PKI) or symmetric cryptography. The PKI-based authentication protocols are strongly recommended for solving security issues in VANETs. However, they have following shortcomings: (1) lengthy certificates lead to transmission and computation overheads, and (2) lack of privacy-preservation due to revealing of vehicle identity, communicated in broadcasting safety-message. Symmetric cryptography based protocols are faster because of a single secret key and simplicity; however, it does not ensure non-repudiation. In this paper, we present an Efficient, Scalable and Privacy-preserving Authentication (ESPA) protocol for secure vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs). The protocol employs hybrid cryptography. In ESPA, the asymmetric PKI based pre-authentication and the symmetric hash message authentication code (HMAC) based authentication are adopted during vehicle to infrastructure (V2I) and vehicle to vehicle (V2V) communications, respectively. Extensive simulations are conducted to validate proposed ESPA protocol and compared with the existing work based on PKI and HMAC. The performance analysis showed that ESPA is more efficient, scalable and privacy-preserving secured protocol than the existing work.
The CD14+ CD16+ blood monocytes: their role in infection and inflammation

Blood monocyte subpopulations have been defined in man initially, and the two major types of monocytes are the CD14++ CD16− and the CD14+ CD16+ monocytes. These cells have been shown to exhibit distinct phenotype and function, and the CD14+ CD16+ were labeled proinflammatory based on higher expression of proinflammatory cytokines and higher potency in antigen presentation. The current review describes these properties, including the relationship to dendritic cells, and summarizes the host of publications about CD14+ CD16+ monocytes in inflammation and infectious disease in man, all of which suggest a crucial role of these cells in the disease processes. The review also covers the more recent description of homologues of these cells in other model species, which is expected to better define the role of monocyte subsets in disease.
PCDD/F, PCB, HxCBz, PAH, and PM emission factors for fireplace and woodstove combustion in the San Francisco Bay region.

Emissions from residential fireplace and woodstove appliances burning fuels available from the San Francisco Bay area were sampled for polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDDs/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene (HxCBz), particulate matter (PM), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), oxygenated PAHs, and the monosaccharide levoglucosan. Emission factors for these pollutants were determined, the first known characterization of this extent. Common California natural firewoods and manufactured artificial logs were tested under operating conditions intended to reflect domestic use patterns in the Bay area, which are primarily episodic burning for aesthetic reasons. Emission factors were determined by fuel type, fuel weight, mass emission rates, and energy output, highlighting differences between fuel and combustion facility type. Average PCDD/F emissions factors ranged from 0.25 to 1.4 ng toxic equivalency (TEQ)/kg of wood burned for natural wood fuels and 2.4 ng TEQ/kg for artificial logs. The natural wood emission factors are slightly lower than those which had been estimated for the U.S. inventory. Background-corrected PCBs emitted from woodstove/oak combustion (8370 ng/kg) are 3 orders of magnitude higher in mass than total PCDDs/Fs; however, their toxicity (0.014 ng TEQ/kg) is significantly lower. HxCBz emission factors varied from 13 to 990 ng/kg and were likely fuel- and appliance-specific. Relative PAH concentrations of particle-phase compounds and emission factors were consistent with others' findings. A total of 32 PAH compounds, ranging in concentration from 0.06 to 7 mg/kg, amounted to between 0.12 and 0.38% of the PM mass, depending on the wood and facility type. Preliminary analyses suggest relationships between wood combustion markers and PCDD/F levels.
Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for studying Vibrio cholerae cell surface antigens

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the measurement of antibodies directed against cell surface antigens of Vibrio cholerae (CSA ELISA) was developed. NaN3-killed whole cells of V. cholerae, adsorbed to polystyrene tubes, were used as immobilized antigens. The assay was capable of detecting antibodies directed against lipopolysaccharide and non-lipopolysaccharide surface antigens. In addition, the CSA ELISA was capable of detecting non-vibriocidal antibody. An antiserum raised in rabbits by immunization with live V. cholerae 1418 (Ogawa, El Tor) was capable of reacting with various heterologous strains of V. cholerae used as immobilized antigens. Therefore, common antigens shared by V. cholerae strains could be detected by using the CSA ELISA.
Morning and Evening Home Blood Pressure and Risks of Incident Stroke and Coronary Artery Disease in the Japanese General Practice Population: The Japan Morning Surge-Home Blood Pressure Study

Our aim is to determine the optimal time schedule for home blood pressure (BP) monitoring that best predicts stroke and coronary artery disease in general practice. The Japan Morning Surge-Home Blood Pressure (J-HOP) study is a nationwide practice-based study that included 4310 Japanese with a history of or risk factors for cardiovascular disease, or both (mean age, 65 years; 79% used antihypertensive medication). Home BP measures were taken twice daily (morning and evening) over 14 days at baseline. During a mean follow-up of 4 years (16 929 person-years), 74 stroke and 77 coronary artery disease events occurred. Morning systolic BP (SBP) improved the discrimination of incident stroke (C statistics, 0.802; 95% confidence interval, 0.692–0.911) beyond traditional risk factors including office SBP (0.756; 0.646–0.866), whereas the changes were smaller with evening SBP (0.764; 0.653–0.874). The addition of evening SBP to the model (including traditional risk factors plus morning SBP) significantly reduced the discrimination of incident stroke (C statistics difference, −0.008; 95% confidence interval: −0.015 to −0.008; P=0.03). The category-free net reclassification improvement (0.3606; 95% confidence interval, 0.1317–0.5896), absolute integrated discrimination improvement (0.015; SE, 0.005), and relative integrated discrimination improvement (58.3%; all P<0.01) with the addition of morning SBP to the model (including traditional risk factors) were greater than those with evening SBP and with combined morning and evening SBP. Neither morning nor evening SBP improved coronary artery disease risk prediction. Morning home SBP itself should be evaluated to ensure best stroke prediction in clinical practice, at least in Japan. This should be confirmed in the different ethnic groups. Clinical Trial Registration—URL: http://www.umin. ac.jp/ctr/. Unique identifier: UMIN000000894.
Stem Cell Marker Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1)-Expressing Cells are Enriched in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

The stem cell marker ALDH1 has been of particular interest to scientists since it has been successfully used as a marker to isolate cancer stem cells from breast cancers. However, little is known, especially in Chinese breast cancer patients, on whether ALDH1 enrichment is prevalent in certain subtypes of breast cancer. In this study, we performed flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry to measure the expression of ALDH1 in 10 breast cancer cell lines and in a set of tissue microarrays consisting of 101 breast cancer tissues from the Chinese population. The 101 breast cancer tissues included 4 cancer subtypes defined on bases of their ER, PR, and HER2 statuses: triple-negative (25 cases), luminal A (33 cases), luminal B (16 cases) and HER2-overexpressing (HER2-OE, 27 cases). We found that ALDH1 was expressed in 25 of the 101 cases of breast cancer tissues. When the analysis was stratified, we found that the expression of ALDH1 varied significantly among the 4 subtypes, with a higher expression in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC, p=0.003) than in the other 3 subtypes. In a series of breast cancer cell lines, we also confirmed that ALDH1 activity was mainly found in TNBC cell lines compared with non-TNBC ones (15.6%±2.45% vs 5.5%±2.58%, p=0.026). These data support the concept that the expression of ALDH1 is higher in TNBC than non-TNBC, which may be clinically meaningful for a better understanding of the poor prognosis of TNBC patients.
Kriging Interpolation Evaluation of Vapor Pressure Deficit in Plant Factory with Solar Light

To maximize the growth of plants, controlling VPD is applied by fog cooling in a plant factory with solar light. The spatial data of environmental information cannot be obtained without interpolation among the detected values by the allocated sensors. In this paper, we evaluated the errors between the interpolated values with Kriging and the detected values in the spring, autumn, and winter, respectively, in the plant factory with solar light. The experimental results show that the maximum error of the interpolated values using Kriging are within the acceptable error range, ±0.1 kPa. Therefore, Kriging is useful for interpolation in the plant factory with solar light.
Obscurin is required for the lateral alignment of striated myofibrils in zebrafish

Obscurin/obscurin‐MLCK is a giant sarcomere‐associated protein with multiple isoforms whose interactions with titin and small ankyrin‐1 suggest that it has an important role in myofibril assembly, structural support, and the sarcomeric alignment of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. In this study, we characterized the zebrafish orthologue of obscurin and examined its role in striated myofibril assembly. Zebrafish obscurin was expressed in the somites and central nervous system by 24 hours post‐fertilization (hpf) and in the heart by 48 hpf. Depletion of obscurin using two independent morpholino antisense oligonucleotides resulted in diminished numbers and marked disarray of skeletal myofibrils, impaired lateral alignment of adjacent myofibrils, disorganization of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, somite segmentation defects, and abnormalities of cardiac structure and function. This is the first demonstration that obscurin is required for vertebrate cardiac and skeletal muscle development. The diminished capacity to generate and organize new myofibrils in response to obscurin depletion suggests that it may have a vital role in the causation of or adaptation to cardiac and skeletal myopathies. Developmental Dynamics 235:2018–2029, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Electrophysiological evidence for the cumulative effects of concussion.

PURPOSE A study was initiated with the intent of demonstrating the cumulative effects of concussion in junior hockey players using visual event-related potentials and post-concussion syndrome (PCS) self-reports. METHODS Players were assessed at the beginning of the season (pre-injury) and at various times post-injury. RESULTS The results suggest that players with three or more concussions differed significantly on the several cognitive PCS symptoms as well as for the latency of the P3 response compared to those with no concussion history. DISCUSSION Event-related potentials are useful indices of the cumulative damage that can occur following multiple concussions. These measures correlate significantly with cognitive self-reports of PCS symptoms. CONCLUSIONS This pattern of results is consistent with the position that each concussion potentially causes brain damage. Cumulative damage can be detected using electrophysiological measures of brain function.
Enhanced Pool Boiling With Ethanol at Subatmospheric Pressures for Electronics Cooling

The growing trend in miniaturization of electronics has generated a need for efficient thermal management of these devices. Boiling has the ability to dissipate a high heat flux while maintaining a small temperature difference. A vapor chamber with pool boiling offers an effective way to provide cooling and to maintain temperature uniformity. The objective of the current work is to investigate pool boiling performance of ethanol on enhanced microchannel surfaces. Ethanol is an attractive working fluid due to its better heat transfer performance and higher heat of vaporization compared to refrigerants, and lower normal boiling point compared to water. The saturation temperature of ethanol can be further reduced to temperatures suitable for electronics cooling by lowering the pressure. Experiments were performed at four different absolute pressures, 101.3 kPa, 66.7 kPa, 33.3 kPa, and 16.7 kPa using different microchannel surface configurations. Heat dissipation in excess of 900 kW/m was obtained while maintaining the wall surface below 85 C at 33 kPa. Flammability, toxicity, and temperature overshoot issues need to be addressed before practical implementation of ethanol-based cooling systems can occur. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4024595]
Investigating Links between Shale Gas Development and Health Impacts through a Community Survey Project in Pennsylvania

Across the United States, the race for new energy sources is picking up speed and reaching more places, with natural gas in the lead. While the toxic and polluting qualities of substances used and produced in shale gas development and the general health effects of exposure are well established, scientific evidence of causal links has been limited, creating an urgent need to understand health impacts. Self-reported survey research documenting the symptoms experienced by people living in proximity to gas facilities, coupled with environmental testing, can elucidate plausible links that warrant both response and further investigation. This method, recently applied to the gas development areas of Pennsylvania, indicates the need for a range of policy and research efforts to safeguard public health.
Serum zinc concentrations and incident hypertension: new findings from a population-based cohort study

Objective: Zinc is an essential trace element that plays a key role in several cellular processes and has been suggested to be involved in blood pressure regulation. We aimed to prospectively investigate the association between baseline concentrations of serum zinc and incident hypertension. Methods: We analyzed data involving 1652 men aged 42–61 years without a known history of hypertension at baseline in the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease population-based cohort study, with the assessment of serum zinc concentrations. Hazard ratios [95% confidence intervals (CIs)] for incident hypertension were assessed. Results: During a median follow-up of 24.7 years, 259 participants developed hypertension. Serum zinc was weakly correlated with several risk markers for hypertension and nonlinearly associated with incident hypertension. In analyses adjusted for age, the hazard ratio (95% CIs) for hypertension in a comparison of the top quartile vs. bottom quartiles 1–3 of zinc concentration was 1.65 (1.27–2.15; P < 0.001), which was minimally attenuated on adjustment for several established risk factors 1.48 (1.13–1.93; P = 0.004). The association remained unchanged on further adjustment for renal function, socioeconomic status, and dietary factors. The findings were generally consistent across several clinical subgroups. There was no evidence of an association of dietary zinc intake with risk of hypertension. Conclusion: This prospective study suggests higher serum zinc concentration is positively and independently associated with incident hypertension in men. Further evidence from large-scale population-based studies is needed to support these findings and assess the mechanisms underlying the association.