Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intelligent disassembly planning: a review on its fundamental methodology

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the fundamental methodology and its development of intelligent disassembly planning research.Design/methodology/approach – Following a brief introduction, this paper first discusses the fundamental problems associated with disassembly planning and analysis. And then considers the role of intelligent optimization methods in the disassembly planning field. This is followed by a summary and conclusion.Findings – Many advances have been made in computerized intelligent disassembly planning research, which is a natural evolutionary result of both traditional solving methodology and much research effort over past two decades. But as yet, some fundamental limitations are also rooted in this computational model‐based methodology.Originality/value – The paper provides a fundamental review on the development of computerized intelligent disassembly planning research.
A 3p26-3p25 genetic linkage finding for DSM-IV major depression in heavy smoking families.

OBJECTIVE The authors tested for genetic linkage of DSM-IV-diagnosed major depressive disorder in families that were ascertained for cigarette smoking. METHOD Within a study that targeted families characterized by a history of smoking, analyses derived a subset of 91 Australian families with two or more offspring with a history of DSM-IV major depressive disorder (affected sibling pairs, N=187) and 25 Finnish families (affected sibling pairs, N=33). Within this affected sibling pairs design, the authors conducted nonparametric linkage analysis. RESULTS In the Australian heavy smoking families, the authors found a genome-wide significant multipoint LOD score of 4.14 for major depressive disorder on chromosome 3 at 24.9 cM (3p26-3p25). CONCLUSIONS Genome-wide significant linkage was detected for major depressive disorder on chromosome 3p in a sample ascertained for smoking. A linkage peak at this location was also observed in an independent study of major depressive disorder.
Mother to child transmission of hepatitis C virus in a province of northern Italy.

INTRODUCTION Study reports of mother to child transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) have shown transmission rates ranging from 3 to 37%, according to maternal viremia and HIV-1 coinfection. The present study evaluated the prevalence of the HCV infection in the general population and the incidence of vertical transmission, from women who delivered in the Obstetric Clinic of the Hospital of Parma from January 1st 1996 to 31st 2001 December. METHODS Mothers and children were tested for the presence of HCV-RNA within one week after delivery. Children were considered to be infected when they were found positive at least twice for viral RNA or antibodies were still detectable at the end of the follow-up period (18 months) in blood. RESULTS Out of 13,025 women, 110 (0.8%) were found positive for anti-HCV antibodies; 72 of them (65.4%) were HCV-RNA positive. All 110 children were positive for anti-HCV antibodies in the first blood sample (time 0); 8 of them were HCV-RNA positive. Three children were still viremic at the end of the follow-up whereas 5 showed a clearance. No significant differences were found between viremic and nonviremic children with respect to gestational week, maternal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and newborns weight at birth. CONCLUSION This investigation shows that vertical transmission may occur in a general obstetric population despite a low prevalence of HCV-positive subjects.
Cytokine-release kinetics of platelet-rich plasma according to various activation protocols

Objectives This study was conducted to evaluate the cytokine-release kinetics of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) according to different activation protocols. Methods Two manual preparation procedures (single-spin (SS) at 900 g for five minutes; double-spin (DS) at 900 g for five minutes and then 1500 g for 15 minutes) were performed for each of 14 healthy subjects. Both preparations were tested for platelet activation by one of three activation protocols: no activation, activation with calcium (Ca) only, or calcium with a low dose (50 IU per 1 ml PRP) of thrombin. Each preparation was divided into four aliquots and incubated for one hour, 24 hours, 72 hours, and seven days. The cytokine-release kinetics were evaluated by assessing PDGF, TGF, VEGF, FGF, IL-1, and MMP-9 concentrations with bead-based sandwich immunoassay. Results The concentration of cytokine released from PRP varied over time and was influenced by various activation protocols. Ca-only activation had a significant effect on the DS PRPs (where the VEGF, FGF, and IL-1 concentrations were sustained) while Ca/thrombin activation had effects on both SS and DS PRPs (where the PDGF and VEGF concentrations were sustained and the TGF and FGF concentrations were short). The IL-1 content showed a significant increase with Ca-only or Ca/thrombin activation while these activations did not increase the MMP-9 concentration. Conclusion The SS and DS methods differed in their effect on cytokine release, and this effect varied among the cytokines analysed. In addition, low dose of thrombin/calcium activation increased the overall cytokine release of the PRP preparations over seven days, relative to that with a calcium-only supplement or non-activation. Cite this article: Professor J. H. Oh. Cytokine-release kinetics of platelet-rich plasma according to various activation protocols. Bone Joint Res 2016;5:37–45. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.52. 2000540
Stereovision Safety System for Identifying Workers’ Presence: Results of Tests

This article presents the results of extensive tests of a stereovision safety system performed using real and artificial images. A vision based protective device (VBPD) analyses images from 2 cameras to calculate the position of a worker and moving parts of a machine (e.g., an industrial robot’s arm). Experiments show that the stereovision safety system works properly in real time even when subjected to rapid changes in illumination level. Experiments performed with a functional model of an industrial robot indicate that this safety system can be used to detect dangerous situations at workstations equipped with a robot, in human–robot co-operation. Computer-generated artificial images of a workplace simplify and accelerate testing procedures, and make it possible to compare the effectiveness of VBPDs and other protective devices at no additional cost.
Trade Agreements and Bilateral Trade in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): Estimating the ex Post Trade Effects of the EU-ACP Preferential and Regional Trade Agreements

Estimating a gravity model augmented with measures of trade agreements, this paper uses bilateral trade flows and key gravity covariates to measure the ex post average treatment effect of the European Union-African Caribbean Pacific Preferential Trade Agreement (EU-ACP PTA) and sub-regional Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) on bilateral trade involving SSA countries. Controlling for the endogeneity of the EU-ACP PTA and SSA RTAs using data on 73 countries (48 SSA and 25 EU countries) over the period 1960-2006, this paper finds the EU-ACP PTA and RTAs within SSA as having a positive and significant impact on bilateral trade of SSA countries. In some cases the relative impact of the RTA was found to be stronger than the EU-SSA non-reciprocal PTA. The results therefore suggests the need for developing countries especially within SSA to focus on expanding and integrating regional markets in order to significantly improve trade performance.
Pyrazinamide resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis arises after rifampicin and fluoroquinolone resistance.

BACKGROUND Multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) constitute a major public health concern. OBJECTIVE To determine the timing of pncA mutations that confer pyrazinamide (PZA) resistance in relation to mutations conferring resistance to isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RMP). DESIGN Isolates from two major urban centres--Paris (101 strains) and Shanghai (171 strains)--were investigated for the association of pncA mutations with resistance to drugs other than PZA. RESULTS The proportion of pncA mutations found in INH-monoresistant strains was not increased. CONCLUSION pncA mutations associated with PZA resistance were found almost exclusively in MDR-TB strains, underlining the importance of determining PZA resistance when treating MDR- or XDR-TB.
The effects of spherical aberration on multiphoton fluorescence excitation microscopy

Multiphoton fluorescence excitation microscopy is almost invariably conducted with samples whose refractive index differ from that of the objective immersion medium, conditions that cause spherical aberration. Due to the quadratic nature of multiphoton fluorescence excitation, spherical aberration is expected to profoundly affect the depth dependence of fluorescence excitation. In order to determine the effect of refractive index mismatch in multiphoton fluorescence excitation microscopy, we measured signal attenuation, photobleaching rates and resolution degradation with depth in homogeneous samples with minimal light scattering and absorption over a range of refractive indices. These studies demonstrate that signal levels and resolution both rapidly decline with depth into refractive index mismatched samples. Analyses of photobleaching rates indicate that the preponderance of signal attenuation with depth results from decreased rates of fluorescence excitation, even in a system with a descanned emission collection pathway. Similar results were obtained in analyses of fluorescence microspheres embedded in rat kidney tissue, demonstrating that spherical aberration is an important limiting factor in multiphoton fluorescence excitation microscopy of biological samples.
An updated taxonomy of salesperson influence tactics

Abstract To advance research on salesperson influence tactics (the means through which salespeople persuade buyers), scholars need strong measures. We update the existing theoretically derived taxonomy of seller influence tactics (SITs), improving definitions and measurement of the original six SITs and adding a seventh influence tactic, personal appeals, to the taxonomy. The article begins by reviewing the broader persuasion and influence literature and then, more specifically, the interpersonal influence literature. The SITs taxonomy is placed in context of this literature and specific recommendations are made, including the suggested use of this taxonomy in sales research. A multistage process was used to update the measures, including a literature review, feedback of domain experts, several rounds of pretests, and a final study using 322 professional buyers to evaluate measurement characteristics and establish nomological validity for the updated SITs taxonomy. Through this work, we have broadened the appeal of the SITs framework by incorporating a new influence tactic, which will be of interest to sales researchers, and provided updated definitions of the constructs and improvements to the items used for each influence tactic. Strong arguments support the use of the SITs taxonomy versus alternative taxonomies, giving researchers confidence in their use.
Hispanic Adults Attending English as a Second Language (ESL) Classes at an Adult School Are Food Insecure

Food insecurity in the United States is associated with poverty and ethnicity. Rates of food insecurity among groups who may not qualify for government assistance programs such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are lacking. Hispanic adults taking English as a second language (ESL) day and evening classes in an affluent area of Northern California were surveyed in Spanish to determine the prevalence of food insecurity and respondents’ knowledge and use of food assistance programs. Of 107 respondents (57% male), 58.9% had a steady job. Yet, 68% were food insecure. Many (79%) respondents purchased inexpensive staple foods when money was limited. Gender, household size, time of day attending classes, and employment status had no effect on food security status. Eighteen percent (n = 13) of food insecure respondents accessed food assistance programs but the reminder (82%, n = 60) reported lack of access, primarily due to lack of program awareness. This study suggests that food insecurity is widespread among working immigrants living in an affluent area. Action plans are needed to address the awareness gap and other potential barriers to participation in food assistance programs to improve food security among working and nonworking Hispanic immigrants.
Simultaneous optimal placement and parameter-tuning of SVC, TCSC and PSS using Honey-Bee Mating Optimization

Power system stabilizer (PSS), an auxiliary controller used in conjunction with the excitation system of synchronous generators, is mandatorily needed for damping low-frequency oscillations. FACTS devices are also increasingly being employed to provide sufficient damping for inter-area oscillations. However, uncoordinated tuning of PSSs and FACTS devices may cause unwanted interactions that further results in the system destabilization. This paper aims to simultaneously find optimal location as well as parameters of Static Var Compensator (SVC), Thyristor-Controlled Series Compensator (TCSC) and PSS controllers using multi-objective Honey-Bee Mating Optimization (HBMO) to damp low-frequency oscillations in multi-machine power systems. The proposed objective functions are eigenvalue-based that shift the system eigenvalues associated with the electromechanical modes to the left half of the s-plane and minimize the speed deviations at all machines. Simulation results on a 16-machine 68-bus power system confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method to be a useful framework for the optimal placement and parameter-tuning of the many existing controllers in large-scale power systems.
Apoptosis: mechanisms and clinical implications

The balance between cell survival and death is under tight genetic control. A multiplicity of extracellular signals and intracellular mediators is involved in maintaining this balance. When the cell is exposed to physical, biochemical or biological injury, or deprived of necessary substances, it activates a series of stress‐response genes. With minimal insults, the cell may recover. With greater insults, single cell death, or apoptosis, results; the cell dies and is recycled to its neighbours. If the insult overwhelms a large number of cells then necrosis ensues, with an accompanying inflammatory response. Dysregulation of the controlling mechanisms of this system results in disease. Deficient apoptosis is associated with cancer, auto‐immunity and viral infections. Excessive apoptosis is associated with ischaemic heart disease, stroke, neurodegenerative disease, sepsis and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. There are myriad therapeutic options unfolding as understanding is gained of apoptosis and its control.
Reward circuitry function in autism spectrum disorders.

Social interaction deficits and restricted repetitive behaviors and interests that characterize autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) may both reflect aberrant functioning of brain reward circuits. However, no neuroimaging study to date has investigated the integrity of reward circuits using an incentive delay paradigm in individuals with ASDs. In the present study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to assess blood-oxygen level-dependent activation during reward anticipation and outcomes in 15 participants with an ASD and 16 matched control participants. Brain activation was assessed during anticipation of and in response to monetary incentives and object image incentives previously shown to be visually salient for individuals with ASDs (e.g., trains, electronics). Participants with ASDs showed decreased nucleus accumbens activation during monetary anticipation and outcomes, but not during object anticipation or outcomes. Group × reward-type-interaction tests revealed robust interaction effects in bilateral nucleus accumbens during reward anticipation and in ventromedial prefrontal cortex during reward outcomes, indicating differential responses contingent on reward type in these regions. Results suggest that ASDs are characterized by reward-circuitry hypoactivation in response to monetary incentives but not in response to autism-relevant object images. The clinical implications of the double dissociation of reward type and temporal phase in reward circuitry function in ASD are discussed.
Unified equivalent circuit model of V2 control

V2 control and its variety named ripple-based control, are popular control schemes in point-of-load Buck converters and Voltage Regulators for microprocessor. This control scheme is elegant when output capacitors with sufficient ESR are employed, such as OSCON capacitors. However, in most cases with small-ESR capacitors, such as ceramic capacitors, instability problem will occur. Up to now, no equivalent circuit model is proposed which is able to predict instability issue. This paper proposes a unified equivalent circuit model which is suitable to all kinds of capacitors by considering the effect of both inductor current ripple and capacitor voltage ripple. The equivalent circuit model is a simple yet accurate, complete model and can be used to investigate all transfer functions. The proposed equivalent circuit model is applicable to both variable frequency modulation and constant frequency modulation. Furthermore, the model can be extended to enhanced V2 control and muti-phase V2 converters. The equivalent circuit model is verified with Simplis simulation and experimental results.
Types of intra‐ and extrafusal muscle fibre innervated by dynamic skeleto‐fusimotor axons in cat peroneus brevis and tenuissimus muscles, as determined by the glycogen‐depletion method.

1. The types of intra‐ and extrafusal muscle fibre innervated by dynamic skeleto‐fusimotor (beta) axons were determined by using a modification of the glycogen‐depletion method of Edström & Kugelberg (1968) combined with histochemical tests for various enzyme reactions. A single beta axon was prepared in each of the experiments, which were carried out on six peroneus brevis and two tenuissimus muscles. 2. The intrafusal distribution of dynamic beta axons is almost exclusively restricted to bag1 fibres. The bags fibre was depleted in each of twenty‐four beta‐innervated spindle poles; the only fibres of a different type depleted intrafusally were a bag2 fibre in one pole and a long chain in another. 3. Depletion in the bag1 fibres was usually restricted to one zone in one pole, generally in a mid‐polar location. 4. The extrafusal muscle fibres depleted by dynamic beta axons belong to the slow oxidative type as defined by Ariano, Armstrong & Edgerton (1973). The number of such fibres in each motor unit could not be accurately determined, but is almost certainly small. 5. The slow oxidative muscle fibres innervated by dynamic beta axons were not depleted over their entire length. Since there is no reason to assume that they are not twitch fibres, it would seem that the localized depletions result from the conditions required to obtain glycogen depletion, i.e. long periods of motor stimulation applied during the occlusion of the muscle's blood supply. Under similar experimental conditions depletion of glycogen was also restricted to portions of fibres in fast oxidative‐glycolytic motor units, but extended over most of the length of the fibres in fast glycolytic units.
Temporal Dissection of T-bet Functions1

T-bet is a transcription factor of the T-box family that regulates the expression of numerous immune system-associated genes. T-bet directs the acquisition of the Th1-associated genetic program in differentiating CD4+ lymphocytes. It also influences the development of NK and NKT cells through its regulation of the IL-2/IL-15Rβ-chain (CD122) and the trafficking of these lymphocytes through CxCR3. The temporal requirements of T-bet activity for the production of IFN-γ and the regulation of CD122 and CxCR3 expression remain undefined. We produced an ectopically controllable form of T-bet by fusing its C-terminal domain with a mutated ligand-binding domain of human estrogen receptor α. By temporally controlling the expression of T-bet-estrogen receptor α by the addition or removal of 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-HT), we show that IFN-γ, CD122, and CxCR3 are direct gene targets of T-bet whose expression are acutely regulated by T-bet activity.
Effects of Fiscal, Monetary, and Exchange rate policies on Output in 12 Asian Economies, 1974-2007

Since the 1960s, the relative importance of monetary and fiscal policy in economic stabilization has been a matter of debate among monetarists and fiscalists. According to the monetarists’ view, monetary policy has had a more significant role than fiscal policy. On the other hand, the Keynesians School believes that fiscal policy is more powerful than monetary policy. So far, there have been a good number of empirical studies on the action of fiscal and monetary policy in developed and underdeveloped economies. Most of these studies emphasised different variables and different estimation procedures for analysing the effects of the two types of policy on output using a single equation. However, the findings have been equivocal. This study investigates panel data analysis to examine the effects of fiscal, monetary, Exchange rate policies on output in twelve selected Asian countries over the period 1974-2007. In order to test the relative strength of these two policies on output, the panel VAR technique utilized. The study reveals that the fiscal policy has a more powerful effect on output than the monetary policy in the case of these Asian economies.
Identification and sequence analysis of the gene mutated in the conditionally lethal outer membrane permeability mutant SS‐C of Salmonella typhimurium.

The biosynthesis and structure‐function relationships of the enterobacterial outer membrane are subjects of current intensive research. We have previously described the antibiotic supersensitive SS‐C mutant (SH7622) of Salmonella typhimurium and shown that its outer membrane permeability barrier against hydrophobic antibiotics is severely defective. In this study, we show that this mutant is heat‐sensitive, conditionally lethal, and carries a missense base‐pair substitution in a novel gene which we have recently reported and now named the ssc gene. ssc encodes an earlier uncharacterized 36 kd protein (the Ssc protein) and the mutant expresses Ssc which has valine 291 changed to methionine in a methionine‐rich region of Ssc. A plasmid containing the wild‐type ssc allele completely reverts the antibiotic‐ and heat‐sensitive phenotype of the SS‐C mutant. Corresponding plasmids carrying the mutant allele, or an identical mutant allele prepared by localized mutagenesis, are inactive. The ssc gene is probably analogous to the firA locus of Escherichia coli which has earlier been implicated in a totally different function, mRNA synthesis. Furthermore, ssc apparently lies very close to the lpx genes involved in the thus far known steps of lipid A biosynthesis (the distance, approximately 560 bp). To conclude, our findings define a new essential gene involved in the generation of the outer membrane.