Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Heuristics-Based Trust Estimation in Multiagent Systems Using Temporal Difference Learning

The application of multiagent system (MAS) is becoming increasing popular as it allows agents in a system to pool resources together to achieve a common objective. A vital part of the MAS is the teamwork cooperation through the sharing of information and resources among the agents to optimize their efforts in accomplishing given objectives. A critical part of the teamwork effort is the ability to trust each other when executing any task to ensure efficient and successful cooperation. This paper presents the development of a trust estimation model that could empirically evaluate the trust of an agent in MAS. The proposed model is developed using temporal difference learning by incorporating the concept of Markov games and heuristics to estimate trust. Simulation experiments are conducted to test and evaluate the performance of the developed model against some of the recently reported model in the literature. The simulation experiments indicate that the developed model performs better in terms of accuracy and efficiency in estimating trust.
A new species of Hasseltia (Salicaceae) from Costa Rica and Panama

Hasseltia allenii is described as a new species from the Pacific drainage of Costa Rica and Panama. It differs from other species ofHasseltia in its long petioles, ovate leaf shape, and glabrous staminal filaments. Data on its morphology, wood anatomy, pollen, and geographical distribution are presented, and a key is privided to distinguish the new species from other species ofHasseltia and closely related genera. The circumscriptions of two of the other species ofHasseltia are modified, and three lectotypes ofHasseltia are designated.ResumenSe describe una nueva especie deHasseltia,H. allenii, de la vertiente Pacífica de Costa Rica y Panamá. Se puede distinguir de las otras especies deHasseltia por sus pecíolos largos, hojas ovadas y estambres con los filamentos glabros. Se presentan datos sobre la morfología, anatomía de madera, polen y distribución geográfica y se presenta una clave taxonómica para distinguir la especie nueva de las otras especies deHasseltia y de géneros relacionados. Se modifican las cireunscripciones de dos especies deHasseltia y se designan tres lectotipos deHasseltia.
A fractional-order multifunctional n-step honeycomb RLC circuit network

We investigate a multifunctional n-step honeycomb network which has not been studied before. By adjusting the circuit parameters, such a network can be transformed into several different networks with a variety of functions, such as a regular ladder network and a triangular network. We derive two new formulae for equivalent resistance in the resistor network and equivalent impedance in the LC network, which are in the fractional-order domain. First, we simplify the complex network into a simple equivalent model. Second, using Kirchhoff’s laws, we establish a fractional difference equation. Third, we construct an equivalent transformation method to obtain a general solution for the nonlinear differential equation. In practical applications, several interesting special results are obtained. In particular, an n-step impedance LC network is discussed and many new characteristics of complex impedance have been found.
Privatization, State Capitalism, and State Ownership of Business in the 21st Century

This study summarizes the economic and political developments relating to privatization, state capitalism, and state ownership of business since 2000 and then surveys the extensive recent research examining these issues empirically. Through the early 21st century, there was an unambiguous global trend towards reducing government ownership of business enterprise, but this trend has since at least been slowed, and perhaps even reversed. We discuss the factors that have promoted a global resurgence of state ownership, then define and analyze the new ideology labeled â€œstate capitalism. â€ Recent research examines whether privatization improves the operating and financial performance of divested companies, as well as when, where and how governments decide to privatize individual companies and how these sales are priced. All the performance studies surveyed document significant improvements after companies are divested. Recent academic and professional research categorizes and evaluates various types of state owners; examines determinants of the level of state ownership; studies how state ownership impacts the valuation of corporate assets and examines the relative efficiency of state versus private ownership; and assesses how state ownership impacts corporate financial policies, especially capital investment. This research highlights that different types of state owners have very different impacts on corporate value and performance, and that state ownership generally has a significant, and mostly pernicious, impact on corporate investment and financial policies. The separate effect of state ownership on corporate valuation is less clear-cut. This survey also summarizes recent empirical research examining the relationship between state ownership of business assets and financial markets and institutions, and also surveys the literature examining political connections between politicians and corporate managers. Sovereign wealth fund research yields essentially benign findings, but almost all studies examining state-owned banking show that state ownership reduces banksâ€™ efficiency. All the financial markets and institutions studies examined highlight the distortive effects and economic costs of bailouts and guarantees, and almost all the political connections studies find that these connections are privately beneficial but socially costly. Finally, the research surveyed here convinces the author that â€œstate capitalismâ€ is an essentially failed model.
A Robust Free-Viewpoint Video System for Sport Scenes

This contribution describes robust methods to provide a free-viewpoint video visualisation of sport scenes using a multi-camera set-up. This allows generation of novel views of actions from any angle and is of interest for visualisation in TV productions. The system utilises 3D reconstruction techniques previously developed for studio use. This paper discusses some experiences found while applying these techniques for an uncontrolled outdoor environment and addresses robustness issues. This includes segmentation, camera calibration and 3D reconstruction. A number of different 3D representations, including billboards, visual hulls and view-dependent geometry are evaluated for the purpose.
Validation of the Turkish Version of the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale for Patients With Low Back Pain

Study Design. A reliability and validity study of a translated, culturally adapted questionnaire. Objective. The aims of the present study were to translate the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QDS) into Turkish, to perform its cross-cultural adaptation for Turkish patients with LBP, and to investigate its validity and test-retest reliability. Summary of Background Data. As a widely used scale in the evaluation of patients with low back pain (LBP), the QDS awaits formal translation and validation into Turkish to achieve an equivalent questionnaire and to allow comparability of data. Methods. The translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the original questionnaire were performed in accordance with published guidelines. Translation and retranslation of the English version of the QDS was performed blindly and independently by 4 different individuals, and adapted by a team. Hundred patients with LBP were included in our study. The physical examinations were evaluated and the Schober test was assessed for a mobility measurement of the spine. The patients were asked to complete a questionnaire booklet containing the Turkish versions of the modified Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and QDS, and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) measure of pain. All assessments were repeated 24 hours later for all of the patients. Reliability was evaluated using internal consistency and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Concurrent validity was measured by comparing the Turkish version of the QDS results to VAS and the Schober test scores. Also, for construct validity, the results of the scale were compared with the Turkish version of modified ODI. Results. The QDS showed excellent test-retest reliability as evidenced by the high ICC for 2 test occasions (ICC = 0.9221, P < 0.000). Also, internal consistency was found to be adequate at both assessments with Cronbach’s alpha (0.9405 and 0.9537 at day 0 and 1, respectively). There was a positive correlation between QDS and VAS both for day 0 (r = 0.368; P < 0.000) and for day 1 (r = 0.441; P < 0.000). There was no correlation determined in the comparison of the QDS sum scores with Schober testing for day 0; however, significant negative correlations in these parameters were observed for day 1 (r = −0.249 P = 0.014). Also significantly positive correlations were deter- mined between the Turkish version of the QDS and the Turkish version of the modified ODI for both day 0 and day 1 (r = 0.666, P < 0.000, r = 0.681; P < 0.000, respectively). Conclusion. The results of our study show that QDS as a functional status questionnaire has been translated into Turkish without losing the psychometric properties of the original version. The Turkish version of the QDS has good comprehensibility, internal consistency, and validity and is an adequate and useful instrument for the evaluation of disability in patients with LBP.
Assessing the research efficiency of higher education institutions in Chile: A data envelopment analysis approach

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the research efficiency of the Chilean higher education institutions (HEIs). As it has been argued in the literature, universities in Chile are far from being considered research-oriented institutions. Current governmental reforms have put pressures on the efficient use of public resources, especially, public expenditures in higher education. In response, the proposed data-driven approach can be used to inform educational managers and policy makers about research efficiency. Therefore, a better allocation of the scarce educational resources can be achieved. Design/methodology/approach – Data envelopment analysis is used to assess the research efficiency of a set of Chilean universities. Four models are proposed based on different parameters to cover various drivers of the research productivity. Findings – The paper provides evidence that only a few universities in Chile are efficient in regards to research. Moreover, interesting results in terms of the diff.
Effect of Chronic Oral Gabapentin on Capsaicin-induced Pain and Hyperalgesia: A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Crossover Study

ObjectivesThere is an abundance of literature on the efficacy of gabapentin for the treatment of neuropathic pain. Two studies have demonstrated an effect of a single dose of gabapentin on experimental cutaneous hyperalgesia. This study evaluated the effect of chronic delivery of oral gabapentin on experimentally induced cutaneous hyperalgesia. MethodsA randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover design methodology was conducted. Participants took part in two 10-day study sessions, separated by a 7-day washout period. One session was with gabapentin and one with placebo. Study drug was administered 300 mg b.i. d. from day 1 to 3, 300 mg q.i. d. from day 4 to 6 and 600 mg t.i. d. from day 7 to 10. At baseline, day 4, day 7, and day 10, quantitative sensory testing was performed to thermal and mechanical stimuli. On day 10, only intradermal capsaicin was injected on the volar aspect of the forearm followed by an assessment of pain and hyperalgesia. Side effects were recorded by the participants each evening. ResultsThirteen participants were enrolled into the study. Three dropped out because of intolerable side effects. Ten participants completed the study and were able to tolerate the highest dose of gabapentin. Oral gabapentin had no significant effect on acute sensory thresholds, pain, secondary hyperalgesia, or flare response induced by intradermal capsaicin. There were significantly more side effects associated with gabapentin with sedation and dizziness being the most common. DiscussionThis study demonstrated a lack of effect of the chronic delivery of oral gabapentin on experimentally induced cutaneous hyperalgesia. The discrepancy of this finding with other studies using single oral doses may be the result of differences in the models used and differences in drug kinetics and plasma levels. The results of this study do not correlate with the clinical studies on gabapentin, which demonstrate efficacy at 1800 mg/d.
The p38 MAP kinase pathway signals for cytokine‐induced mRNA stabilization via MAP kinase‐activated protein kinase 2 and an AU‐rich region‐targeted mechanism

Stabilization of mRNAs contributes to the strong and rapid induction of genes in the inflammatory response. The signaling mechanisms involved were investigated using a tetracycline‐controlled expression system to determine the half‐lives of interleukin (IL)‐6 and IL‐8 mRNAs. Transcript stability was low in untreated HeLa cells, but increased in cells expressing a constitutively active form of the MAP kinase kinase kinase MEKK1. Destabilization and signal‐induced stabilization was transferred to the stable β‐globin mRNA by a 161‐nucleotide fragment of IL‐8 mRNA which contains an AU‐rich region, as well as by defined AU‐rich elements (AREs) of the c‐fos and GM‐CSF mRNAs. Of the different MEKK1‐activated signaling pathways, no significant effects on mRNA degradation were observed for the SAPK/JNK, extracellular regulated kinase and NF‐κB pathways. Selective activation of the p38 MAP kinase (=SAPK2) pathway by MAP kinase kinase 6 induced mRNA stabilization. A dominant‐negative mutant of p38 MAP kinase interfered with MEKK1 and also IL‐1‐induced stabilization. Furthermore, an active form of the p38 MAP kinase‐activated protein kinase (MAPKAP K2 or MK2) induced mRNA stabilization, whereas a negative interfering MK2 mutant interfered with MAP kinase kinase 6‐induced stabilization. These findings indicate that the p38 MAP kinase pathway contributes to cytokine/stress‐induced gene expression by stabilizing mRNAs through an MK2‐dependent, ARE‐targeted mechanism.
Management of rectal cancer in France in a well-defined population

Objective The aim of this study was to draw a picture of diagnostic assessment and patterns of care for rectal cancer in France using population-based registries data. Methods The study included a random sample of 669 cases of rectal cancers diagnosed in 2005. Results Diagnostic assessment was performed by colonoscopy in 91.4% of the cases. An abdominal computed tomography was performed in 59.4% of the cases and chest computed tomography in 47.8%. An R0 resection was performed in 65.8% of cases and an R1/R2 resection in 16.1%. A rectal endosocography was performed in 40.4% and MRI in 10.4%. The sphincter was preserved in 73.6% of patients aged younger than 75 years of age and in 62.5% of those older than 75 years of age (P=0.002). In cases of R0 resection, neoadjuvant radiotherapy was performed in 47.8% of patients younger than 75 years of age and in 34.1% of older patients (P=0.007). Postoperative chemotherapy was administered in 23.9% of stage II and 67.8% of stage III resected patients. Conclusion The management of rectal cancers can be improved. Preoperative staging has not reached its full development; very few patients received neoadjuvant treatment, whereas adjuvant chemotherapy was often performed, although its benefit is still unclear. The management of elderly patients was less optimal than that of younger patients.
Global MPPT of grid connected solar PV inverter under partially shaded condition

The power generated by a solar photovoltaic (SPV) system depends upon the solar radiation level and cell temperature. A suitable maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm is required to extract the maximum power from the SPV. However at a partial shading condition (PSC) the conventional MPPT techniques may lead to the operation at a local maximum power point (LMPP) instead of global maximum power point (GMPP). This paper used a GMPPT algorithm to extract maximum power from the solar PV system, and a DC/AC inverter is used to convert extracted solar DC power into AC power to inject into the grid. A three-leg intelligent power module (IPM) is used for implementation of both DC-DC converter and DC-AC inverter. A hysteresis current control (HCC) is used to track the inverter current. All the simulation studies have been done using PSCAD (4.5.1 ver.) simulation software. An experimental setup is developed which consists of IPM, capable of MPPT with DC/DC converter and generates AC output using DC/AC inverter. A solar array simulator (E4260A) is used for laboratory generation of the solar power. In this paper FPGA controller has been used to implement the GMPPT and HCC algorithms using LabVIEW platform.
Optimal bidding strategy for demand response aggregator in day-ahead markets via stochastic programming and robust optimization

This paper evaluates the optimal bidding strategy for demand response (DR) aggregator in day-ahead (DA) markets. Because of constraint of minimum power quantity requirement, small-sized customers have to become indirect participants of electricity markets via the DR aggregator, who could offer various contracts accessing customers' demand reduction capacity in advance. In day-ahead markets, DR aggregator schedules those contracts and submits accumulated DR offers to the system operator. The objective is to maximize the profit of the DR aggregator. The key element affecting the bidding decision and aggregator's profit is the uncertain hourly DA prices. The stochastic programming adopts scenario-based approach for helping the profit-seeking DR aggregator control uncertainties. Robust optimization employs forecast values with bounded price intervals to address uncertainties while adjusting the robustness of the solution flexibly. Both scenarios can be modelled as mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) problems which could be solved by available solvers.
Product Market Competition and the Ownership Choice of Business Groups: Evidence from Korean Chaebols

ABSTRACT This study investigates the effect of product market competition on the ownership choice of controlling shareholders in the Korean business groups known as chaebols. We find that member firms in more competitive markets have less disparity between the control and cash flow rights of controlling shareholders. The adjustment in ownership due to product market competition is implemented mainly through an adjustment in the ownership of affiliates rather than in the direct ownership of controlling shareholders. The disciplinary effect of product market competition is observed only in member firms with lower market power in their own industries. The result implies that product market competition works as a disciplinary mechanism that reduces the incentive of chaebols’ controlling shareholders to pursue the private benefits of control.
Method of detection of early falling asleep while driving using EOG analysis

The main interest of this study is to find a system that could detect typical signs of drowsiness progression and warn a car driver before driving behavior becomes dangerous. An early detection of impaired conditions due to drowsiness would probably lead to a reduction in traffic accidents. In this matter, a lot of researches have already been done but although many detection devices are available on the market today, the validity of most of them needs to be confirmed. The aim of this project is to develop and test a model for detection and categorization of driver drowsiness by evaluating EOG data from a number of test subjects. The data were recorded using an advanced module system and used to simulate normal and sleepy drivers. The empirical mode decomposition method is proposed as a signal decomposition tool. This kind of methods is useful for the analysis of natural and non-stationary processes. Some parameters are calculated for each intrinsic mode function (IMF). EMD is proved to be adaptive and highly efficient in the analysis of such signals and the proposed parameters provided significant differences between normal and sleepy status.
Genetic algorithm based approaches for medium-thick plate stress analysis feature extraction and product defect prediction

In order to accurately predict the plate production process defects, and increase the rate of finished products, and improve enterprise profits, on the base of large-scale industrial data accumulated in medium-thick plate production process, this paper uses the hybrid data analysis theory method that combines GA and machine learning to study intelligent modeling and analysis method of stress and product defect prediction model of plate. The method proposed in this paper uses the 0–1 coding mechanism of GA to realize the selection of data features, and uses the logistic classification prediction model and the cross validation method to decode the individual coding in the genetic algorithm to calculate the fitness value of the individual. The evolutionary mechanism of genetic algorithm is used to realize the optimal selection of data features. The experimental results show that the feature extraction and prediction model can accurately predict the stress defect classification of the medium-thick plate production process.
Twenty-four-hour ambulatory recording of cerebral hemodynamics, systemic hemodynamics, electrocardiography, and actigraphy during people’s daily activities

Abstract. The feasibility and utility of wearable 24-h multimodality neuromonitoring during daily activities are demonstrated. We have developed a fourth-generation ambulatory near infrared spectroscopy device, namely NINscan 4. NINscan 4 enables recording of brain function (via cerebral hemodynamics), systemic hemodynamics, electrocardiography, and actigraphy simultaneously and continuously for up to 24 h at 250-Hz sampling rate, during (and with minor restriction to) daily activities. We present initial 24-h human subject test results, with example analysis including (1) comparison of cerebral perfusion and oxygenation changes during wakefulness and sleep over a 24-h period and (2) capturing of hemodynamic changes prior, during and after sudden waken up in the night during sleep. These results demonstrate the first ambulatory 24-h cerebral and systemic hemodynamics monitoring, and its unique advantages including long-term data collection and analysis capability, ability to catch unpredictable transient events during activities of daily living, as well as coregistered multimodality analysis capabilities. These results also demonstrate that NINscan 4’s motion artifact at 1-g head movement is smaller than physiological hemodynamic fluctuations during motionless sleep. The broader potential of this technology is also discussed.