Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Branch-Price-and-Cut for the Soft-Clustered Capacitated Arc-Routing Problem

The soft-clustered capacitated arc-routing problem (SoftCluCARP) is a variant of the classical capacitated arc-routing problem. The only additional constraint is that the set of required edges, that is, the streets to be serviced, is partitioned into clusters, and feasible routes must respect the soft-cluster constraint, that is, all required edges of the same cluster must be served by the same vehicle. In this article, we design an effective branch-price-and-cut algorithm for the exact solution of the SoftCluCARP. Its new components are a metaheuristic and branch-and-cut-based solvers for the solution of the column-generation subproblem, which is a profitable rural clustered postman tour problem. Although postman problems with these characteristics have been studied before, there is one fundamental difference here: clusters are not necessarily vertex-disjoint, which prohibits many preprocessing and modeling approaches for clustered postman problems from the literature. We present an undirected and a windy formulation for the pricing subproblem and develop and computationally compare two corresponding branch-and-cut algorithms. Cutting is also performed at the master-program level using subset-row inequalities for subsets of size up to five. For the first time, these nonrobust cuts are incorporated into MIP-based routing subproblem solvers using two different modeling approaches. In several computational studies, we calibrate the individual algorithmic components. The final computational experiments prove that the branch-price-and-cut algorithm equipped with these problem-tailored components is effective: The largest SoftCluCARP instances solved to optimality have more than 150 required edges or more than 50 clusters.
Democracy in transition economies: Grease or sand in the wheels of growth?

The post-communist countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union introduced, at least initially, political and economic reforms simultaneously. This paper explores the consequences of simultaneous implementation of economic and political liberalization for economic growth. It is found that democracy indeed had a negative marginal effect on growth during early phases of transition (1990-93). Nevertheless, democracy reinforces progress in economic liberalization, which in turn has a strongly positive effect on growth. When accounting for this indirect effect, the overall effect of democracy on growth turns out overwhelmingly positive.
Adrenergic chromaffin cells are adrenergic even in the absence of epinephrine

Adrenal chromaffin cells release epinephrine (EPI) and norepinephrine (NE) into the bloodstream as part of the homeostatic response to situations like stress. Here we utilized EPI‐deficient mice generated by knocking out (KO) the phenylethanolamine N‐methyltransferase (Pnmt) gene. These Pnmt‐KO mice were bred to homozygosis but displayed no major phenotype. The lack of EPI was partially compensated by an increase in NE, suggesting that EPI storage was optimized in adrenergic cells. Electron microscopy showed that despite the lack of EPI, chromaffin granules retain their shape and general appearance. This indicate that granules from adrenergic or noradrenergic cells preserve their characteristics even though they contain only NE. Acute insulin injection largely reduced the EPI content in wild‐type animals, with a minimal reduction in NE, whereas there was only a partial reduction in NE content in Pnmt‐KO mice. The analysis of exocytosis by amperometry revealed a reduction in the quantum size (−30%) and Imax (−21%) of granules in KO cells relative to the wild‐type granules, indicating a lower affinity of NE for the granule matrix of adrenergic cells. As amperometry cannot distinguish between adrenergic or noradrenergic cells, it would suggest even a larger reduction in the affinity for the matrix. Therefore, our results demonstrate that adrenergic cells retain their structural characteristics despite the almost complete absence of EPI. Furthermore, the chromaffin granule matrix from adrenergic cells is optimized to accumulate EPI, with NE being a poor substitute.
Oxidative stress and antioxidant activity as the basis of senescence in Hemerocallis (day lily) flowers

Senescence can be viewed as a developmental change that leads to the death of plant tissues. Naturally senescence is generally accepted as being genetically programmed. Petals are the floral organs which primarily determine the commercial longevity of flowers and as a consequence, it is necessary to study the physiological, biochemical and genetic processes that occur during floret senescence. Most of the early work on flower senescence focused on ethylene sensitive flowering plants. It has also been reported that lipid peroxidation and membrane damage are involved in deterioration of petals of several ethylene sensitive or insensitive plants. However, little information is available on the actual role of oxidative stress and the protective enzymatic systems with their corresponding isoenzymes in relation to progression of flower senescence in plants. One important bulbous ornamentals (Hemerocallis) was used as experimental materials in order to establish a proposed model of petal senescence based on the changes in antioxidant enzymes behavior over the senescence period. Hemerocallis flower blooms and fades at the end of same day. The vase life parameters were evaluated at 21°C and 16 h illumination (36 mol m s) under laboratory condition. The stage of flower bud development was arbitrarily divided into 4 different developmental stages. Different parameters selected for the studies were changes in fresh weight, antioxidant enzymes like ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR) and Guaiacol peroxidase (G-POD), membrane integrity, H2O2 etc. Significant decrease in petal fresh weight, increase in lipid peroxidation, decrease in membrane stability index, decline in APX activity, progressive increase in SOD activity, changes in GR activity and increase in endogenous H2O2 were observed over the senescence period. All the parameters have been critically analysed and compared over the senescence period to understand the petal senescence in day lily.
The Effect of Nepotism on Organizational Silence, Alienation and Commitment: A Study on Hotel Employees in Turkey

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of nepotism on organizational silence, alienation and commitment. As a data collecting method a questionnaire which contains nepotism, organizational silence, alienation and commitment scales was used. It was applied on 662 employees working in 30 five star hotels in Turkey. Since nepotism covers the practices in establishments in which family-relative relations are concentrated, the hotels included in the sampling group have been selected from establishments whose proprietors are a part of a family/family group. Factor analysis, Cronbach’s Alpha, mean, standard deviation, correlation and regression analysis were used to analyze the acquired data. The study results revealed that nepotism has a positive relationship with organizational silence and alienation and a negative relationship with organizational commitment.
Channel Measurement and Modeling in Highway Scenario at 460 MHz

In this paper we investigate the statistical channel characterizations in a highway scenario at 460MHz with 20MHz bandwidth. Based on the measurements, the channel characterizations, such as Ricean K-factor, root mean square (RMS) delay spread and multipath statistics are analyzed and modeled. The results can promote the evaluation and verification of wireless communication system at 460 MHz in a significant way.
A research on productivity change and efficiency determinants of Chinese power generation industry: In view of parametric approach

This paper employs B-C (95) model to conduct a parametric efficiency analysis with a panel data set covering 27 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in the period from 2000 to 2010. Results show that the productivity of Chinese power generation industry increased by 1.37 percent per year on average and the majority of the growth came from technical progress. Our empirical study also shows coal-electricity pricing linkage scheme had little impact on power plants’ motivation to improve efficiency.
Copula models of economic capital for life insurance companies

The objective of the paper is to introduce a copula methodology of economic capital modeling, which is practically applicable for life insurance companies. Copula methods make it possible to address multiple dependent risk factors including both investment and underwriting risks in the framework of a portfolio approach. We identify a relevant set of asset and liability variables, and suggest a copula model for the joint distribution of these variables. Estimates of economic capital are constructed via VaR and TVaR calculations based on the tails of this joint distribution. This approach requires ARIMA and copula model selection followed by Monte Carlo simulation of the time series of the joint asset/liability portfolio. Models are implemented in open source software (R and MS Excel) and tested using historical and simulated asset/liability data. The results are applied to the construction of a software tool which can be utilized for customization and direct user application. The novelty of the approach consists in estimating interdependent underwriting and investment risks in one multivariate model taking into account short-term (daily or monthly) fluctuations of the market. In particular, we address the challenges that life insurance companies face in the low interest environment, using the market data for the 15-year period 2003–2018.
Position Control of Textile-Reinforced Composites by Shape Memory Alloys

This contribution describes the position control of textile reinforced composites actuated by shape memory alloys. The system exhibits highly nonlinear behaviour including hysteresis due to the mechanical properties of the actuator. From experimental data and system identification an uncertainty model is derived. A classical controller based on the nominal model and a robust controller using the uncertainty model are designed. The performance of the controllers is examined experimentally.
Title Lycium barbarum polysaccharides reduce neuronal damage , blood-retinal barrier disruption and oxidative stress in retinal ischemia / reperfusion injury

Neuronal cell death, glial cell activation, retinal swelling and oxidative injury are complications in retinal ischemia/ reperfusion (I/R) injuries. Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP), extracts from the wolfberries, are good for ‘‘eye health’’ according to Chinese medicine. The aim of our present study is to explore the use of LBP in retinal I/R injury. Retinal I/R injury was induced by surgical occlusion of the internal carotid artery. Prior to induction of ischemia, mice were treated orally with either vehicle (PBS) or LBP (1 mg/kg) once a day for 1 week. Paraffin-embedded retinal sections were prepared. Viable cells were counted; apoptosis was assessed using TUNEL assay. Expression levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), aquaporin-4 (AQP4), poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) and nitrotyrosine (NT) were investigated by immunohistochemistry. The integrity of blood-retinal barrier (BRB) was examined by IgG extravasations. Apoptosis and decreased viable cell count were found in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) and the inner nuclear layer (INL) of the vehicle-treated I/R retina. Additionally, increased retinal thickness, GFAP activation, AQP4 up-regulation, IgG extravasations and PAR expression levels were observed in the vehicle-treated I/R retina. Many of these changes were diminished or abolished in the LBP-treated I/R retina. Pre-treatment with LBP for 1 week effectively protected the retina from neuronal death, apoptosis, glial cell activation, aquaporin water channel up-regulation, disruption of BRB and oxidative stress. The present study suggests that LBP may have a neuroprotective role to play in ocular diseases for which I/R is a feature. Citation: Li S-Y, Yang D, Yeung C-M, Yu W-Y, Chang RC-C, et al. (2011) Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharides Reduce Neuronal Damage, Blood-Retinal Barrier Disruption and Oxidative Stress in Retinal Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury. PLoS ONE 6(1): e16380. doi:10.1371/journal.pone. 0016380 Editor: Ben Ko, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Received October 4, 2010; Accepted December 14, 2010; Published January 26, 2011 Copyright: 2011 Li et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Funding: This project was supported by the Small Project Funding (C.M. Yeung) and the University Development Fund from The University of Hong Kong. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. * E-mail: amylo@hkucc.hku. hk
Geometry analysis and optimal design of Geneva mechanisms with curved slots

Abstract A systematic procedure is proposed for the design of Geneva mechanisms with curved slots. Based on the theory of conjugate surfaces, mathematical expressions for the slot profile, pressure angle and cutter's location for manufacturing are presented. In addition, to evaluate the combined kinematics and structural performance of the mechanism, the maximum contact stress and degree of wear are established as the performance index. Effects of variations in various design parameters on the values of the performance indices are investigated. Using the indices as the objective function, the optimum design that takes into account the initial crank angle, offset and roller radius is performed.
“Bowel on the Bench”: Proof of Concept of a Three-Stage, In Vitro Fermentation Model of the Equine Large Intestine

The equine gut model that we have developed and describe has the potential to facilitate the exploration of how the equine gut microbiota is affected by diet, disease, and medication. It is a convenient, cost-effective, and welfare-friendly alternative to in vivo research models. ABSTRACT The intestinal microbiota of the horse, an animal of huge economic and social importance worldwide, is essential to the health of the animal. Understanding the intestinal ecosystem and its dynamic interaction with diet and dietary supplements currently requires the use of experimental animals, with consequent welfare and financial constraints. Here, we describe the development and assessment, using multiple analytical platforms, of a three-vessel, continuous-flow, in vitro model of the equine hindgut. After inoculation of the model with fresh horse feces, the bacterial communities established in each vessel had a taxonomic distribution similar to that of the source animal. Short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) and branched-chain fatty acid (BCFA) production within the model at steady state was consistent with the expected bacterial function, although higher concentrations of some SCFA/BCFA relative to those in the ex vivo gut content were apparent. We demonstrate the intermodel repeatability and the ability of the model to capture some aspects of individual variation in bacterial community profiles. The findings of this proof-of-concept study, including recognition of the limitions of the model, support its future development as a tool for investigating the impact of disease, nutrition, dietary supplementation, and medication on the equine intestinal microbiota. IMPORTANCE The equine gut model that we have developed and describe has the potential to facilitate the exploration of how the equine gut microbiota is affected by diet, disease, and medication. It is a convenient, cost-effective, and welfare-friendly alternative to in vivo research models.
Risky Choices of Poor People: Comparing Risk Preference Elicitation Approaches in Field Experiments

This paper studies the risk preferences of poor rural households in Malawi and compares the Holt and Laury (2002) (HL) multiple price list approach with hypothetical real-world framing and monetary incentive-compatible framing with the Tanaka, Camerer and Nguyen (2010) (TCN) monetary framing approach to elicit prospect theory parameters. The consistency of the results, the role of and potential bias attributable to measurement error, and correlations with socioeconomic characteristics are assessed. The study shows that measurement error can lead to upward bias in risk aversion estimates and over-weighting of low probabilities. The hypothetical real–world HL framing experiments are associated with higher sensitivity to background variation such as exposure to a recent drought shock and distance to markets/poor market access.
Elevated ceramides 18:0 and 24:1 with aging are associated with hip fracture risk through increased bone resorption

We assessed whether circulating ceramides, which play a role in a number of degenerative changes with aging, significantly differed according to fragility hip fracture (HF) status. We also performed a human study using bone marrow (BM) aspirates, directly reflecting the bone microenvironment, in addition to in vitro experiments. Peripheral blood and BM samples were simultaneously collected from 74 patients 65 years or older at hip surgery for either HF (n = 28) or for other causes (n = 46). Ceramides were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Age was correlated positively with circulating C16:0, C18:0, and C24:1 ceramide levels. Patients with fragility HF had 21.3%, 49.5%, 34.3%, and 22.5% higher plasma C16:0, C18:0, C18:1, and C24:1 ceramide levels, respectively, than those without HF. Higher C16:0, C18:0, C18:1, and C24:1 ceramide levels were positively related to bone resorption markers in both blood and BM samples. Furthermore, in vitro studies showed that C18:0 and C24:1 ceramides directly increased osteoclastogenesis, bone resorption, and expression levels of osteoclast differentiation markers. These results suggested that the association of increased ceramides, especially C18:0 and C24:1, with adverse bone phenotypes in elderly people could be explained mainly by the increase in osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption.
Speech Processing for Digital Home Assistants: Combining signal processing with deep-learning techniques

Once a popular theme of futuristic science fiction or far-fetched technology forecasts, digital home assistants with a spoken language interface have become a ubiquitous commodity today. This success has been made possible by major advancements in signal processing and machine learning for so-called far-field speech recognition, where the commands are spoken at a distance from the sound-capturing device. The challenges encountered are quite unique and different from many other use cases of automatic speech recognition (ASR). The purpose of this article is to describe, in a way that is amenable to the nonspecialist, the key speech processing algorithms that enable reliable, fully hands-free speech interaction with digital home assistants. These technologies include multichannel acoustic echo cancellation (MAEC), microphone array processing and dereverberation techniques for signal enhancement, reliable wake-up word and end-of-interaction detection, and high-quality speech synthesis as well as sophisticated statistical models for speech and language, learned from large amounts of heterogeneous training data. In all of these fields, deep learning (DL) has played a critical role.
Interactions of diet and behavior in a death-feigning snake (Heterodon nasicus)

Studies of animal behavior in captivity are limited in their ability to explain the influence of a natural environment on behavioral ecology. Defensive behaviors vary among individual animals, between sexes and with age, as well as with other less well-known factors. The toxin-rich diet of many toad-eating snakes might enable or cause their passive terminal defensive behavior of death-feigning. I videotaped death-feigning behavior in wild Plains Hog-Nosed Snakes (Heterodon nasicus) subjected to standardized harassment. Using stable isotopes, I also described the diet of the same individuals subjected to behavioral analysis (n = 40). Heterodon had broader diets than other snakes at the study site. Both diet and behavior differed between sexes and age classes. Male H. nasicus death-feigned for longer than females, but initiated death-feigning later. Female H. nasicus had more specialized diets than males; adults of both sexes consumed mostly turtle eggs during the study period, while juveniles fed on Six-lined Racerunners and their eggs. Residual individual variation in behavior might be attributable to diet or to other factors. Further research is necessary to elucidate the complex relationship between diet and behavior in toad-eating snakes.
Response of Arterial Mechanical Impedance to Different Concentrations of Remifentanil during Abdominal Laparoscopic Colectomy

A specific and reliable method for monitoring analgesia during general anesthesia is urgently required. Previously, we introduced a method that indicates arterial mechanical properties for estimating arterial wall stiffness (K). However, whether the response of K actually indicates changes in remifentanil target concentrations under continuous surgical stress, is unclear. Thus, we aimed to evaluate how K responds to different remifentanil target concentrations. This prospective study enrolled 30 patients who underwent laparoscopic colectomy. The patients received 3 different effect-site concentrations (2, 4, and 6 ng/ml) of remifentanil 3 times during the study period. The K values at 4-ng/ml administration were used as control values (Kcontrol). K values at 6-ng/ml administration (K6ng) and those at 2-ng/ml administration (K2ng) were normalized by dividing them by the control values. The results showed that K responded to the changes in remifentanil concentration, significantly decreasing at 6-ng/ml remifentanil effect-site concentration and increasing at 2-ng/ml concentration. The stress response at low analgesia was higher than that at high analgesia, and, as predicted, normalized K2ng was significantly greater than normalized K6ng. In conclusion, we found that K is a sensitive stress response monitor and dynamically responds to changes in remifentanil concentration in invasive stimulation during laparoscopic colectomy.