Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ant colony optimization with parameter adaptation for multi-mode resource-constrained project scheduling

An effective algorithm capable of solving the multi-mode resource-constrained project scheduling problem (MRCPSP) is an essential component for project planning and control since it can fully exploit the available resources and minimize the makespan of a given project. The MRCPSP is extremely complex and is known to be NP-hard in the strong sense. On the basis of the principles of ant colony optimization (ACO), we therefore propose a constructive-oriented iterative algorithm to acquire satisfactory solutions of the MRCPSP within a reasonable amount of computation time. The proposed algorithm, namely ACO-MRCPSP, attempts to identify a project schedule with minimum completion time without violating precedence and resource constraints. ACO-MRCPSP is characterized by its use of a self-adaptive parameter control strategy to guide artificial ants to effectively construct feasible solutions for the MRCPSP. The performance of the proposed algorithm is evaluated by comparing it against other existing metaheuristic implementations, such as simulated annealing (SA) and genetic algorithms (GAs), in terms of overall completion time for a set of project instances obtained form the Project Scheduling Library (PSPLIB). Experimental results indicate that ACO-MRCPSP is a significant improvement compared with the previous attempts at solving the MRCPSP.
Wealth and contra-culture in the "Passio sanctarum Perpetuae et Felicitatis"

The prison diary ascribed to Vibia Perpetua, who presumably died a martyr’s death in Carthage in 203, contains the tenets of an early North African Christian identity. The article investigates this identity as the formation of a culture contrary to the wealth and values of Carthage. This contra-culture valued communion higher than the purple and gold for which Carthage was known, and replaced the child sacrifice practised in Carthage with mutual care between people of faith. It is argued that the notion of “communion as wealth” is conveyed in the text, with “food” and “body” as intertext. The cheese received by Perpetua from heavenly hands counters the blood and meat culture of Carthage. This value is highlighted by her bloodless victory over the Egyptian in the fourth vision. The celebration of her body as that of a nursing mother is posed as contraculture to the sacrificing of children in Carthage.
Δγ134.5 Herpes Simplex Viruses Encoding Human Cytomegalovirus IRS1 or TRS1 Induce Interferon Regulatory Factor 3 Phosphorylation and an Interferon-Stimulated Gene Response

ABSTRACT The chimeric herpes simplex viruses (HSV) are Δγ134. 5 vectors encoding the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) IRS1 or TRS1 genes. They are capable of late viral protein synthesis and are superior to Δγ134. 5 HSVs in oncolytic activity. The interferon (IFN) response limits efficient HSV gene expression and replication. HCMV TRS1 and IRS1 restore one γ134. 5 gene function: evasion of IFN-inducible protein kinase R, allowing late viral protein synthesis. Here we show that, unlike wild-type HSV, the chimeric HSV do not restore another γ134. 5 function, the suppression of early IFN signaling mediated by IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3).
Considerations in the design and sensitivity optimization of the micro tactile sensor

Although miniaturization has been considered the only technology with which to increase sensitivity of tactile sensors, we recently developed the micro tactile sensor (MTS) that performs with high sensitivity without microfabrication. In this study, we examined design and sensitivity optimization of the MTS using theory based upon Mason's equivalent circuit. The touch probe, which is attached to the lead zirconate titanate (PZT) element, was expressed as a purely inductive circuit component. Resonance frequency was calculated as a function of the length of the touch probe, and sensitivity was predicted to be dependent on the length. Furthermore, many kinds of MTS were fabricated with different touch probe lengths, and actual sensitivity was measured as phase shift between nonloaded and loaded conditions. And, from the consideration of theory and experimental data, a sensitivity coefficient was proposed and found to be useful.
Preferential repair and strand-specific repair of benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide adducts in the HPRT gene of diploid human fibroblasts.

If excision repair-proficient human cells are allowed time for repair before onset of S phase, the premutagenic lesions formed by (+/-)-7 beta,8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 alpha,10 alpha-epoxy- 7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide, BPDE) are lost from the transcribed strand of the hypoxanthine (guanine) phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) gene faster than from the nontranscribed strand. No change in strand distribution is seen with repair-deficient cells. These results suggest strand-specific repair of BPDE-induced DNA damage in human cells. To test this, we measured the initial number of BPDE adducts formed in each strand of the actively transcribed HPRT gene and the rate of repair, using UvrABC excinuclease in conjunction with Southern hybridization and strand-specific probes. We also measured the rate of loss of BPDE adducts from the inactive 754 locus. The frequencies of adducts formed by exposure to BPDE (1.0 or 1.2 microM) in either strand of a 20-kilobase fragment that lies entirely within the transcription unit of the HPRT gene were similar; the frequency in the 14-kilobase 754 fragment was approximately 20% lower. The rates of repair in the two strands of the HPRT fragment differed significantly. Within 7 hr after treatment with 1.2 microM BPDE, 53% of the adducts had been removed from the transcribed strand, but only 26% from the nontranscribed strand; after 20 hr, these values were 87% and 58%, respectively. In contrast, only approximately 14% of the BPDE adducts were lost from the 754 locus in 20 hr, a value even lower than the rate of loss from the overall genome (i.e., 38%). These results demonstrate strand-specific and preferential repair of BPDE adducts in human cells. They suggest that the heterogeneous repair of BPDE adducts in the human genome cannot be accounted for merely by the greatly increased rate of the repair specific to the transcribed strand of the active genes, and they point to a role for the chromatin structure.
SEU Hardened Flip-Flop Based on Dynamic Logic

A conventional master-slave flip-flop is very sensitive to particle strike that causes an SEU. When the clock is high, an SEU may upset the logic state of the master latch resulting in a faulty output of this flip-flop, and the erroneous value will also be locked in the slave latch when clock is low. When the clock is low, an SEU may also upset the logic state of the slave latch, resulting in a faulty output of this flip-flop. This paper presents an SEU hardened flip-flop that can mitigate SEU using an error detection circuit and a multiplexer. When the clock is high or low, an SEU in the master or slave latch of a flip-flop can be detected by the error detection circuit using dynamic logic. The multiplexer selects a correct output according to the error indication signal. The proposed flip-flop has small area, power and delay overheads and good radiation hardening capabilities.
A higher order Rao-Blackwellized particle filter for monocular vSLAM

This paper generalizes the traditional formulation of Rao-Blackwellized particle filter (RBPF) by incorporating a higher order state variable and a modified undelayed initialization scheme to solve the 3D monocular visual SLAM problem (vSLAM). In the proposed approach, velocity has been included in the state variables so that filtering progresses based on sampling from velocity distribution, not the displacement. The new sampling posterior has been obtained with respect to observations, control inputs and the robot path. The proper importance weight for resampling has been derived in this paper. To solve the bearing-only problem, the proposed approach features a modified initialization scheme that uses an inverse depth of the landmarks. The proposed higher order RBPF approach has been compared to the traditional (lower order) RBPF approach for proof of concept through a tangible simulation routine. The results of the numerical simulation indicate the superiority of the higher order RBPF in certain conditions e.g., high parallax angles.
Transformer-Based Dual-Mode Voltage-Controlled Oscillators

In this brief, we propose to use a transformer-based resonator to build a dual-mode oscillator, e.g., a system capable of oscillating at two different frequencies without recurring to switched inductors, switched capacitors, or varactors. The behavior of the resonator configured as a one-port and a two-port network is studied analytically, and the dependence of the quality factor on the design parameters is thoroughly explored. These results, combined with the use of traditional frequency tuning techniques, are applied to the design of a wide-band voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) that covers the frequency range 3.6-7.8 GHz. The performance of the designed VCO, implemented in a digital 0.13-mum CMOS technology, has been studied by transistor-level and 2.5D electromagnetic simulation (Agilent Momentum). A typical phase noise performance at 1-MHz offset of -104 dBc/Hz has been predicted, while the power consumption ranges from 1 to 8 mW, depending on the VCO configuration
The effectiveness of a routine versus an extensive laboratory analysis in the diagnosis of anaemia in general practice

Background We investigated the percentage of patients diagnosed with the correct underlying cause of anaemia by general practitioners when using an extensive versus a routine laboratory work-up. Methods An online survey was distributed among 836 general practitioners. The survey consisted of six cases, selected from an existing cohort of anaemia patients (n = 3325). In three cases, general practitioners were asked to select the laboratory tests for further diagnostic examination from a list of 14 parameters (i.e. routine work-up). In the other three cases, general practitioners were presented with all 14 laboratory test results available (i.e. extensive work-up). General practitioners were asked to determine the underlying cause of anaemia in all six cases based on the test results, and these answers were compared with the answers of an expert panel. Results A total of 139 general practitioners (partly) responded to the survey (17%). The general practitioners were able to determine the underlying cause of anaemia in 53% of cases based on the routine work-up, whereas 62% of cases could be diagnosed using an extensive work-up (P = 0.007). In addition, the probability of a correct diagnosis decreased with the patient’s age and was also affected by the underlying cause itself, with anaemia of chronic disease being hardest to diagnose (P = 0.003). Conclusion The use of an extensive laboratory work-up in patients with newly diagnosed anaemia is expected to increase the percentage of correct underlying causes established by general practitioners. Since the underlying cause can still not be established in 31.3% of anaemia patients, further research is necessary.
Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography to Distinguish Muscle Changes in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Type 1 from Those of Neuropathic Pain: An Observational Study

Musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSK USG) can identify myofascial structural lesions. We describe in this retrospective report the observational findings of USG data of muscles from limbs affected with neuropathic pain in 7 patients and compare them with muscles affected with complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS‐1) in 7 patients. We highlight findings that distinguish between the 2 conditions.
Influence of diet on growth yields of rumen micro-organisms in vitro and in vivo: influence on growth yield of variable carbon fluxes to fermentation products

The efficiency of rumen microbial production (EMP) in vitro and in vivo was examined for three roughages (lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) hay, oat (Avenia sativa L.)–berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum cultivar BigBee) hay and maize (Zea mays L.) crop residue (MCR)) and for five isonitrogenous (106 g crude protein (N × 6·25)/kg) diets formulated from lucerne hay, oat–berseem clover hay, MCR, soya-bean meal and maize grain to provide degradable intake protein for the production of 130 g microbial protein/kg total digestible nutrients. EMP in vivo was determined by intestinal purine recovery in sheep and ranged from 240 to 360 g microbial biomass/kg organic matter truly degraded in MCR and in one of the diets respectively (P<0·05). EMP in vitro was estimated by the substrate degraded: gas volume produced thereby (termed partitioning factor, PF (mg/ml)) at times of estimated peak microbial production and after 16·0 and 24·0h of incubation. For the diets, PF values were significantly related to EMP in vivo at peak microbial production (P = 0·04), but not after 16·0 (P = 0·08) and 24·0h (P = 0·66). For roughages, PF values were significantly related to EMP in vivo only when measured after 16·0 h (P = 0·04). For MCR and diets, a close non-linear relationship was found between PF values at peak microbial production and EMP in vivo (R2 0·99, P<0·0001) suggesting a maximum EMP in vivo of 0·39. Low gas production per unit substrate degraded (high PF) was associated with high EMP in vivo. The in vitro study of the products of fermentation, short-chain fatty acids, gases and microbial biomass (by purine analysis) after 16·0h of incubation showed very strong relationships (R2 ≥ 0·89, P<0·0001) between short-chain fatty acids, gases and gravimetrically measured apparent degradability. Except for maize grain, the true degradability of organic matter estimated by neutral-detergent solution treatment agreed with the sum of the products of fermentation (R2 0·81, P=0·0004). After 16·0h of incubation, the synergistic effects of diet ingredient on diets were greater for microbial biomass (18%) than for short-chain fatty acids and gas production (7 %). It is concluded that measurement of gas production only gives incomplete information about fodder quality; complementation of gas measurements by true degradability measurements is recommended.
Effects of Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Personal Hearing Aids on Cortical Event-Related Potential and Behavioral Measures of Speech-Sound Processing

Objective: To systematically investigate the combined effects of sensorineural hearing loss and prescribed personal hearing aid(s) on cortical event-related potentials (ERPs) (waves N1, MMN, N2b, and P3b) and their related behavioral measures of discrimination (d-prime sensitivity and reaction time) to the speech sounds /ba/ and /da/ presented at 65 and 80 dB peak-to-peak equivalent SPL. Design: Cortical ERPs were recorded to /ba/ and /da/ speech stimuli presented at 65 and 80 dB peak-to-peak equivalent SPL from 20 normal-hearing adults and 14 adults with sensorineural hearing losses. The degree of sensorineural impairment at 1000 to 2000 Hz ranged from moderate losses (50 to 74 dB HL) to severe-profound losses (75 to 120 dB HL). The speech stimuli were presented in an oddball paradigm and cortical ERPs were recorded in both active and passive listening conditions at both stimulus intensities. The adults with hearing impairments were tested in the unaided and aided conditions at each stimulus intensity. Electroacoustic and real-ear testing was performed on each subject’s hearing aid(s) before electrophysiology testing to ensure that the hearing aids were functioning at the time of testing. Results: The use of personal hearing aids substantially improved the detectability of all the cortical ERPs and behavioral d-prime performance scores at both stimulus intensities. This was especially true for individuals with severe-profound hearing losses. At 65 dB SPL, mean ERP amplitudes and d-prime sensitivity scores were all significantly higher or better in the aided versus unaided condition. At 80 dB SPL, only the N1 amplitudes and d-prime sensitivity scores were significantly better in the aided condition. Even though the majority of the hearing-impaired subjects showed increased amplitudes, decreased latencies, and better waveform morphology in the aided condition, the amount of response change (improvements) seen in these measures showed considerable variability across subjects. When compared with the responses obtained from the normal-hearing subjects, both hearing-impaired groups had significantly prolonged aided RT latencies at both stimulus intensities and N2b latencies at the higher stimulus intensities. Conclusions: These results suggest that hearing-impaired individuals’ brains process speech stimuli with greater accuracy and in a more effective manner when these individuals use their personal hearing aids. This is especially true at the lower stimulus intensity. The effects of sensorineural hearing loss and personal hearing aids on cortical ERPs and behavioral measures of discrimination are dependent on the degree of sensorineural loss, the intensity of the stimuli, and the level of cortical auditory processing that the response measure is assessing. The possible clinical significance of these cortical ERP and behavioral findings is discussed.
Glycine protects cardiomyocytes against lethal reoxygenation injury by inhibiting mitochondrial permeability transition

Post‐ischaemic reperfusion may precipitate cardiomyocyte death upon correction of intracellular acidosis due in part to mitochondrial permeability transition. We investigated whether glycine, an amino acid with poorly understood cytoprotective properties, may interfere with this mechanism. In cardiomyocyte cultures, addition of glycine during re‐energization following 1 h of simulated ischaemia (NaCN/2‐deoxyglucose, pH 6.4) completely prevented necrotic cell death associated with pH normalization. Glycine also protected against cell death associated with pH normalization in reoxygenated rat hearts. Glycine prevented cyclosporin‐sensitive swelling and calcein release associated with re‐energization in rat heart mitochondria submitted to simulated ischaemia or to Ca2+ stress under normoxia. NMR spectroscopy revealed a marked glycine depletion in re‐energized cardiomyocytes that was reversed by exposure to 3 mm glycine. These results suggest that intracellular glycine exerts a previously unrecognized inhibition on mitochondrial permeability transition in cardiac myocytes, and that intracellular glycine depletion during myocardial hypoxia/reoxygenation makes the cell more vulnerable to necrotic death.
Determination of field capacity of municipal solid waste with surcharge simulation

The following study was carried out as part of the environmental monitoring of a landfill in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas (Mexico). The parameter of field capacity is important in predicting the amount of leachate generated by solid waste disposal sites, because of the polluting potential of leachate. This paper describes how the field capacity for municipal solid waste was determined, and the purpose of this document is to present a methodology, and to describe the devices designed for determining the field capacity of municipal solid waste. The method consists of applying a surcharge to a representative sample of rubbish, to simulate the effects of the overlying layers in a landfill. The experimental results showed that the higher the compaction of the sample, the smaller the amount of water required to satisfy the field capacity and thus to start the leaching process. Standardisation of the methodology for determining this parameter is required in order to be able to compare the results with those obtained in other parts of the world.
A stable prostacyclin analogue reduces high serum TNF-alpha levels in diabetic patients.

AIMS To confirm whether a prostacyclin (prostaglandin I (2)) affects the increased TNF-alpha concentration in sera of diabetic patients, we measured serum TNF-alpha concentration and treated these patients with oral administration of the stable prostacyclin analogue (Beraprost). Twelve of 20 type II diabetic patients were investigated for follow up-study and 6 of those patients were for therapy with Beraprost for diabetic neuropathy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Serum TNF-alpha concentration was quantified by EASIA using monoclonal antibodies directed against distinct epitopes of TNF-alpha. RESULTS In diabetic patients, serum TNF-alpha concentration was significantly increased compared with that of healthy subjects. The augmented TNF-alpha concentration in these patients was not decreased by diabetic control using antihyperglycemic agents for 8 weeks but was reduced with oral administration of a stable prostacyclin (prostaglandin I (2)) analogue for 5 weeks without any changes of blood glucose levels. CONCLUSIONS Stable prostacyclin analogue administration for a short term period reduced increased TNF-alpha levels in diabetic patients, not through the improved hyperglycemic condition but another pathway, probably a cAMP system. These results imply that treatment with the prostacyclin analogue may contribute to the prevention of progression in diabetic complications.
Proteomic analysis of ubiquitinated proteins in normal hepatocyte cell line Chang liver cells

Post‐translational modification by ubiquitin (Ub) and Ub‐like modifiers is one of the most important mechanisms regulating a wide range of cellular processes in eukaryotes. Through mediating 26S proteasome‐dependent degradation of substrates, the covalent modification of proteins by multiple Ub (ubiquitination) can regulate many different cellular functions such as transcription, antigen processing, signal transduction and cell cycle. To better understand ubiquitination and its functions, proteomic approaches have been developed to purify and identify more protein substrates. The S5a subunit of the 26S proteasome binds to poly‐Ub chains containing four or more Ub. In this study, immobilized GST‐S5a fusion protein was used to affinity‐purify ubiquitinated proteins from Chang liver cells. The purified proteins were then identified with multi‐dimensional LC combined with MS/MS. Eighty‐three potential ubiquitination substrates were identified. From these proteins, 19 potential ubiquitination sites on 17 potential substrates were determined. These potential ubiquitination substrates are mainly related to important cellular functions including metabolism, translation and transcription. Our results provide helpful information for further understanding of the relationship between ubiquitination machinery and different cell functions.