Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Energy-aware service provisioning in volunteers clouds

The goal pursued in this study is to optimise the service provisioning and the energy consumed in a special existing cloud system named SlapOS. The SlapOS cloud innovates in considering that the data centre can be composed by dedicated and volunteer machines. We will use the term volunteer clouds for referring to such organisations. Volunteer clouds offer potential advantages for cloud elasticity, storage of big data and the minimisation of the energy consumption. But, we must manage the potential unavailability of volunteer machines. In this paper, we focus on the design of energy-efficient scheduling approaches in such clouds. Our first contribution is to formulate the scheduling challenges in two new computational problems. These problems are NP-hard. Then, we propose an integer linear programming (ILP) formulation and several greedy heuristics. Finally, we evaluate our approaches throughout various simulations of the SlapOS system in a realistic volunteer computing context.
Corporate governance fraud detection from annual reports using big data analytics

Financial reports of corporations publicise their performance. This in turn motivates manipulation of financial statements. Falsification of financial statements over prolonged period results in sudden collapse of multi-national companies, long-term economic loss to government and loss of trust of public. Detecting management frauds using normal audit procedures is time expensive as huge volume of data needs to be analysed. Hence additional analytical procedures should be used. The proposed work aims at automated analysis of annual reports using MapReduce paradigm to identify fraudulent companies. Annual reports of companies from public repositories are parsed to extract features for preparing a score card. Principal component analysis is applied on the score card to extract the principal features to train support vector machine. Experimental results show that 90% accuracy can be achieved using 10% to 25% of the principal features. Using MapReduce paradigm for feature extraction and classification improves the time efficiency by 85%.
Optimal design of constraint engineering systems: application of mutable smart bee algorithm

In the current investigation, a new optimisation technique called mutable smart bee algorithm (MSBA) is used for optimal design of real-life engineering systems that are subjected to different types of constraints. MSBA is a memory-based diversified optimisation technique that hires mutable smart bee (MSB) instead of conventional bee. MSB heuristic agents are capable of maintaining their historical memory for the location and quality of food sources and also a little chance of mutation is considered for them. Exerted experiments reveal that these features are really effective for optimising multi-modal constraint problems. To elaborate on the authenticity of MSBA, obtained results are compared to state-of-the-art optimisation techniques.
Response to Larson

Abshire, T. , Brackmann, H. -H. , Scharrer, I. , Hoots, K. , Gazengel, C. , Powell, J.S. , Gorina, E. , Kellermann, E. , Vosburgh, E. & The International Kogenate-FS Study Group (2000) Sucrose-formulated recombinant human antihemophilic factor VIII is safe and efficacious for treatment of hemophilia A in home therapy: results of a multicenter, international, clinical investigation. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 83, 811–816. Aygören-Pürsün, E. & Scharrer, I. (1997) A multicenter pharmacosurveillance study for the evaluation of the efficacy and safety of recombinant factor VIII in the treatment of patients with hemophilia A. German Kogenate Study Group. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 78, 1352–1356. Giles, A.R. , Rivard, G.E. , Teitel, J. & Walker, I. (1998) Surveillance for factor VIII inhibitor development in the Canadian hemophilia A population following the widespread introduction of recombinant factor VIII replacement therapy. Transfusion Science, 19, 139– 148. Gringeri, A. , Tagliaferri, A. , Tagariello, G. , Morfini, M. , Santagostino, E. & Mannucci, P. (2004) Efficacy and inhibitor development in previously treated patients with haemophilia A switched to a B domain-deleted recombinant factor VIII. British Journal of Haematology, 126, 398–404. Rothschild, C. , Scharrer, I. , Brackmann, H.H. , Stieltjes, N. , Vicariot, M. , Torchet, M.F. & Effenberger, W. (2002) European data of a clinical trial with a sucrose formulated recombinant factor VIII in previously treated haemophilia A patients. Haemophilia, 8(Suppl. 2), 10–14. Schwartz, R.S. , Abildgaard, C.F. , Aledort, L.M. , Arkin, S. , Bloom, A.L. , Brackmann, H.H. , Brettler, D.B. , Fukui, H. , Hilgartner, M.W. , Inwood, M.J., Kasper, C.K. , Kernoff, P.B.A., Levine, P.H. , Lusher, J.M. , Mannucci, P.M. , Scharrer, I. , MacKenzie, M.A., Pancham, N. , Kuo, H.S. , Allred, R.U. & The Recombinant Factor VIII Study Group (1990) Human recombinant DNA-derived antihemophilic factor (factor VIII) in the treatment of hemophilia A. Recombinant Factor VIII Study Group. New England Journal of Medicine, 323, 1800–1805. Seremetis, S. , Lusher, J.M. , Abildgaard, C.F. , Kasper, C.K. , Allred, R. & Hurst, D. (1999) Human recombinant DNA-derived antihaemophilic factor (factor VIII) in the treatment of haemophilia A: conclusions of a 5-year study of home therapy. Haemophilia, 5, 9–16. Yoshioka, A. , Shima, M. , Fukutake, K. , Takamatsu, J., Shirahata, A. on behalf of the Coganate FS Study Group (2001) Safety and efficacy of a new recombinant FVIII formulated with sucrose (r-FVIII-FS) in patients with haemophilia A: a long-term, multicentre clinical study in Japan. Haemophilia, 7, 242–249.
Chord-Length Shape Features for Human Activity Recognition

Despite their high stability and compactness, chord-length shape features have received relatively little attention in the human action recognition literature. In this paper, we present a new approach for human activity recognition, based on chord-length shape features. The most interesting contribution of this paper is twofold. We first show how a compact, computationally efficient shape descriptor; the chord-length shape features are constructed using 1-D chord-length functions. Second, we unfold how to use fuzzy membership functions to partition action snippets into a number of temporal states. On two benchmark action datasets (KTH and WEIZMANN), the approach yields promising results that compare favorably with those previously reported in the literature, while maintaining real-time performance.
Shared services: towards a more holistic conceptual definition

The concept of shared services has been popular with many organisations. From a research perspective, relatively little is known about how this concept manifests itself in organisations. The literature shows that it is viewed in a highly fragmented manner in terms of functions and activities that are included and how it is implemented. These have led to, inter alia, little consensus on its definition. In this paper, an attempt is made to better understand its definition. A case study design involving a large publicly owned company from Australia that is in the process of implementing shared services was used to analyse the definition of the term. Results show that shared services is a broad concept with a number of key features. These features are discussed, followed by the presentation of a synthesised conceptual definition. The implications of this conceptualisation for practitioners and researchers are discussed.
Reproducibility of scoring emphysema by HRCT: Comparison of visual interpretation methods with pulmonary function tests among farmer's lung patients

Purpose: We evaluated the reproducibility of three visual scoring methods of emphysema and compared these methods with pulmonary function tests (VC, DLCO, FEV1 and FEV%) among farmer's lung patients and farmers. Material and Methods: Three radiologists examined high-resolution CT images of farmer's lung patients and their matched controls (n=70) for chronic interstitial lung diseases. Intraobserver reproducibility and interobserver variability were assessed for three methods: severity, Sanders' (extent) and Sakai. Pulmonary function tests as spirometry and diffusing capacity were measured. Results: Intraobserver κ-values for all three methods were good (0.51-0.74). Interobserver κ varied from 0.35 to 0.72. The Sanders' and the severity methods correlated strongly with pulmonary function tests, especially DLCO and FEV1. Conclusion: The Sanders' method proved to be reliable in evaluating emphysema, in terms of good consistency of interpretation and good correlation with pulmonary function tests.
Comparative advantage model founded on enterprise architecture in Japanese firms

This paper proposes a structural model founded on enterprise architecture (EA) for firms listed on the Japanese stock market. The model examined whether firms with an EA effort had an advantage compared to firms without an EA effort. The advantage of interest was business performance exemplified by profitability and business growth. We identified management of the information technology (IT) portfolio as a key factor that contributes to the business value linked with IT governance mechanisms for the model. We examined whether the model has advantages by analysing not only financial data from the Japanese firms but also macro data in the public domain through the Japanese Government. Results reveal that IT governance based on organisational abilities affected factors which influence the effects of EA, and that the model is associated with business performance.
Observability of Spectral Components beyond Nyquist Limit in Nonuniformly Sampled Signals

Identification of a signal component with the frequency exceeding the Nyquist limit is a challenging problem in signal theory as well as in some specific applications areas like astronomy and biosciences. A consequence of the well-known sampling theorem for a uniformly sampled signal is that the spectral component above the Nyquist limit is aliased into lower frequency range, making a distinction between true and aliased components impossible. The nonuniform sampling, however, offers a possibility to reduce aliased components and uncover information above the Nyquist limit. In this paper, we provide a theoretical analysis of the aliased components reduction in the nonparametric periodogram for two sampling schemes: the random sampling pattern and the sampling pattern generated by the integral pulse frequency modulation (IPFM), the latter widely accepted as the heart rate timing model. A general formula that relates the variance of timing deviations from a regular scheme with the aliased component suppression is proposed. The derived relation is illustrated by Lomb-Scargle periodograms applied on simulated data. Presented experimental data consisting of the respiration signal derived from the electrocardiogram and the heart rate signal also support possibility to detect frequencies above the Nyquist limit in the condition known as the cardiac aliasing.
Healthy IDEAS

This study evaluated an evidence-based intervention for depression delivered by case managers in three community-based service agencies to high-risk, diverse older adults. Case managers were trained to provide screening and assessment, education, referral and linkage, and behavioral activation. Outcomes addressed depression, general health status, social and physical activation, and mental health services use at baseline and 6 months. Participants (n = 94) were predominantly women (79%) and Hispanic (44%), with a mean age of 72 years. Mean Geriatric Depression Scale—15 scores differed significantly between baseline and 6 months (9.0 versus 5.5). At 6 months, significantly more participants knew how to get help for depression (68% versus 93%), reported that increasing activity helped them feel better (72% versus 89%), and reported reduced pain (16% versus 45 %). The authors conclude that nonspecialty providers can be trained to successfully implement an evidence-based self-management intervention for depression with frail, high-risk, and diverse older adults.
Green supply chain performance appraisement and benchmarking using fuzzy grey relation method

In the last decades, multi-criterion decision making has also impounded the performance measurement of industries in green extent. In this context, an efficient performance appraisement framework index system has been conceptualised from the resource of existing literature in order to appraise and benchmark the candidate industries in green performance extent running under similar green supply chain architecture. In this reporting, on account of the ill-defined criterions and inherent vagueness associated with subjectivity of evaluation indices, the linguistic assessment evaluated score of the expert panel have been acquired and fruitfully transformed into generalised triangular fuzzy number TFN set. A fuzzy-based computation module embedded with grey relation method GRM has been explored from the prospectus of evaluation, appraisal and benchmarking the preferred candidate industries green supply chain performance extent running under similar green indices. Finally, an empirical case study has been led in purpose to checking feasibility of the proposed decision-making approach.
University website quality characteristics and success: lecturers' perspective

This study aims to understand which factors influence a lecturer's intention to use a university website. A specific questionnaire was constructed based on the related literature to collect relevant data from the research informants. The population of this study consists of all lecturers working at the Middle East University. As the population of this research is small, a decision was made to survey the whole population. Developing and testing a website quality and success model from a lecturers' perspective using Smart PLS approach. Results revealed that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are key determinant of behavioural intention. Perceived usefulness is a function of apparent enjoyment and perceived ease of use. Further, the system quality is a precondition for information quality, perceived enjoyment, and perceived ease of use but not for perceived usefulness. Unexpectedly, there was no link between information quality, professed usefulness, and perceived ease of use.
A mixed opinion-based reputation prediction approach for reliable web service discovery

Prediction of service reputation is an important research issue to include reliable services in service discovery and composition. A user of the service plays an important role in the prediction of service reputation. Therefore, feedback ratings provided by service users cannot be completely avoided. Most of the existing approaches fully trust on service users' feedback rating for reputation prediction, which often leads to bias towards positive or negative ratings. In this paper, a mixed opinion-based reputation prediction approach is proposed, which uses theoretical t-probability distribution and propositional logic to assess and predict the service reputation. The proposed approach combines users' feedback ratings and run time access rate to minimise the probable bias towards feedback ratings provided by users. Experimental result shows that proposed approach provides effective solution for prediction of service reputation, which can be helpful in performing reliable service discovery and composition.
Draft Genome Sequence of Plesiomonas shigelloides MD22D9, Isolated from the Digestive Tract of Macrobdella decora

Here, we present a draft genome sequence of Plesiomonas shigelloides MD22D9, isolated from the digestive tract of the North American medicinal leech Macrobdella decora. The gut microbiome of the medicinal leech is hypothesized to be critical for maintaining host fitness. This genome can provide insights into this uncharacterized microbe-host relationship. ABSTRACT Here, we present a draft genome sequence of Plesiomonas shigelloides MD22D9, isolated from the digestive tract of the North American medicinal leech Macrobdella decora. The gut microbiome of the medicinal leech is hypothesized to be critical for maintaining host fitness. This genome can provide insights into this uncharacterized microbe-host relationship.
Women and Alcohol-Use Disorders

• Summary: This article reviews the extent of current knowledge, particularly with reference to US sources about gender-specific alcohol-related life experience consequences, and explores the implications of these differences for practice. • Findings: Alcohol affects women in significantly different ways from men. Women’s consumption of alcohol is capable of inflicting more severe problems over shorter periods of time with less alcohol consumed. The sequence of alcohol-related life experience consequences also differs significantly between genders. Women with alcohol-use disorders experience gender-specific medical impairments as well as other significant differences and are more likely to be exposed to victimization. • Applications: The purpose of this article is to provide social work practitioners with relevant information about the effects of alcohol on women. It also provides important interviewing strategies for workers who will encounter women with alcohol-related problems. These strategies are intended to enhance the practitioner’s ability to broach the subject and initially screen for alcohol-related problems among female clients.
Robust iris recognition algorithm for non-cooperative environment

Non-cooperative iris recognition system results in blurred and noisy images that can degrade the performance of the system. This paper proposes a novel feature extraction algorithm for non-cooperative environment. The proposed iris subdivision method reduces the effect of noise due to non-cooperative behaviour in an authentication system. Optimal projection analysis is proposed to obtain the rotation invariant features from the directional subband coefficients of the normalised image block. A fusion algorithm combines the matching scores from individual subimages to reduce the false rejection rate. The performance of the proposed method is compared with other algorithms on UBIRIS iris image database.
SQL or NoSQL? Performance and scalability evaluation

The big data era brought a set of new database features, such as parallel execution of requests and data distribution among different nodes as well as new types of databases. NoSQL technology emerged to aid people and companies to easily scale systems with simple and transparent data distribution. It became possible to cope with higher demand in less time while performing different types of operations and storing large amounts of data. In this paper, we evaluate Cassandra's scalability and execution time of CRUD operations and, posteriorly, compare one relational and one non-relational system by evaluating their performance during execution of decision support queries. For that purpose, we used two standard benchmarks, Yahoo! Cloud Serving Benchmark, to evaluate execution time of requests and speedup of Cassandra, and Star-Schema Benchmark, to run queries over MySQL cluster, as relational database, and Hadoop with Hive as non-SQL counterpart. We conclude about the capabilities and limitations of those systems.
Expression of Integrin •5•1 and the Relationship to Collagen and Elastin Content in Human Suprarenal and Infrarenal Aortas

The infrarenal aorta is especially prone to the development of aneurysm, suggesting an intrinsic structural and molecular difference in different parts of the aorta. Previous study from this laboratory has implicated a potential role of integrin a5b1 in maintaining aortic integrity. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of integrin a5b1 and the relationship to collagen and elastin content between 2 different aortic segments. In this study, the variation of smooth muscle cells and the localization of integrin a5b1 in the suprarenal and infrarenal aorta tissues removed from organ donors were studied immunohistochemically. The biochemical analysis for matrix proteins and integrin a5b1 protein was done by Western Blot on the corresponding tissues. All interested protein content was normalized to the smooth muscle a-actin protein. No significant difference of smooth muscle cells density between the 2 segments of aortas was observed. Integrin a5b1 was localized in the outer layer of all aortic media. The authors found that the ratio of collagen/elastin in infrarenal aortas was significantly increased 2-fold because elastin content in infrarenal aortas decreased 49% as compared with suprarenal aortas. Integrin a5b1 content relative to its specific ligand — collagen—did not differ between these 2 different aortic segments. These results suggest that the infrarenal aorta differed biochemically from the suprarenal aorta. A decrease in infrarenal elastin without a corresponding decrease in collagen and integrin a5b1 may affect the compliance and integrity of the distal aorta. These intrinsic anatomic differences may be important in the susceptibility of the infrarenal aortas to aneurysm formation.
Integrated model for selection of third party service providers by global lead logistics providers

Selection of service providers has been the focus of a large number of studies. The selection problem contains many criteria. Multi-criteria decision-making tools have come in handy in the synthesis of such problems. One such tool is the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), which can be very useful in reaching a likely result that can represent the subjective opinion of the decision maker. The dependence of AHP on subjective inputs leads us to the need of integrating it with a method – the data envelopment analysis (DEA), which can select vendors objectively with quantitative data inputs. A four-stage model is proposed herein, which blends the AHP and the DEA to arrive at precise results. This work pertains to a selection being made by the fourth party lead logistics provider (LLP) who acts as an integrator. A case from the province of Uttrakhand (India) is used to exemplify the postulates of the proposed model. This is specific to the global scenario in logistics service providers within the ambit of global LLPs.
Utilizing Popularity Characteristics for Product Recommendation

This paper presents a novel approach to automated product recommendation based on the popularity characteristics of products. Popularity plays a significant role in the consumer purchasing process but has not been given much attention in recommendation research. A three-dimensional model of popularity is used to develop popularity classes of products. These are joined with the MovieLens dataset to create a hybrid movie recommendation system that combines genre and popularity information. As compared with collaborative filtering, the hybrid system shows positive results under the conditions of data sparsity and cold-starting. Many interesting issues for further research are suggested.
How to Assess Simple Screening Strategies

In early stage drug discovery screens, the efficacy of a potential drug candidate in an in vivo assay is often judged, rather informally, on the proportion of animals that respond to the drug. Only if at least a prespecified proportion of animals respond is the drug considered active enough for further testing. This is a “simple screening strategy. ” Researchers are often unaware of the properties of such strategies and what effects changing the parameters of the strategy, such as the sample size, could have. It is suggested and demonstrated here that the properties of a simple screening strategy can be easily understood by considering its true and false positive rates.