Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stochastic simulation-based genetic algorithm for chance constrained fractional programming problem

The field of chance constrained fractional programming (CCFP) has grown into a huge area over the last few years because of its applications in real life problems. Therefore, finding a solution technique to it is of paramount importance. The solution technique so far has been deriving deterministic equivalence of CCFP with random coefficients in the objective function and/or constraints and is possible only if random variable follows some specified distribution with known parameters. This paper presents a stochastic simulation-based genetic algorithm (GA) for solving CCFP problems, where random variables used can follow any continuous distribution. The solution procedure is tested on a few numerical examples. The results demonstrate that the suggested approach could provide researchers a promising way for solving various types of chance constrained programming (CCP) problems.
Passive Properties of Canine Left Ventricle: Diastolic Stiffness and Restoring Forces

Left ventricular (LV) diastolic pressure-volume (P-V) relations arise from a complex interplay of active decay of force (i.e., relaxation), passive elastic myocardial properties, and time-varying inflow across the mitral orifice. This study was designed to quantify the passive properties of the intact ventricle and the effects of elastic recoil by separating filling from relaxation with a method of LV volume clamping with a remote-controlled mitral valve. Eleven open-chest fentanyl-anesthetized dogs were instrumented with aortic and mitral flow probes, LV and left atrium micromanometers, and a remote-controlled mitral valve. We prevented complete (end-systolic volume clamping) or partial filling at different times in diastole. The ventricle thus relaxed completely at different volumes, and we generated P-V coordinates for the passive ventricle that included negative, as well as positive, values of pressure. We then estimated ventricular volumes from ventricular weight in eight dogs, using regression equations based on data in the literature, to determine the equilibrium volume (V0), that is, volume at zero transmural pressure, in the working ventricle. We abandoned the traditional exponential approach and characterized the P-V relation with a logarithmic approach that included maximum LV volume (Vm), minimum volume (Vd), and stiffness parameters (Sp and Sn) for the positive (p) and negative (n) phases: Pp = -Sp In[(Vm - V)/(Vm-V0)] and Pn = Sn In[(V-Vd)/(V0-Vd)]. With this formulation, the chamber compliance, dP/dV, is normalized by the LV operating volume, and Sp and Sn are size-independent chamber stiffness parameters with the units of stress. In eight ventricles with LV weight = 131 ± 20 g, Vm = 116 ± 18 ml, V0 = 37 ± 6 ml, and Vd = 13 ± 2ml, stiffness Sp = 14.6 mm Hg and Sn = 5.1 mm Hg were determined from the slopes of the log-linearized equations. Also, the duration of LV relaxation is increased by the process of ventricular filling (161 ± 31 msec, filling versus 108 ± 36 msec, nonfilling, measured from dP/dtmin, p < 0.0001). We conclude that volume clamping is a useful method of studying restoring forces and that the logarithmic approach is conceptually and quantitatively useful in characterizing the passive properties of the intact ventricle.
An Encoding / Packetization Solution for M PEG-4 Facial Animations Delivery over RTP

The number of web-based applications exploiting three-dimensional, animated virtual characters has significantly increased in the recent past. However, the HTTP/TCP protocols used for animation delivery in the majority of existing systems fail to guarantee fast interaction over a wide range of network conditions. In the case of natural audio and video, unreliable, connectionless transport protocols, such as RTP over UDP, have been effectively used to reduce end-to-end latency and improve robustness against network
Island time and the interplay between ecology and evolution in species diversification

Research on the dynamics of biodiversity has progressed tremendously over recent years, although in two separate directions – ecological, to determine change over space at a given time, and evolutionary, to understand change over time. Integration of these approaches has remained elusive. Archipelagoes with a known geological chronology provide an opportunity to study ecological interactions over evolutionary time. Here, I focus on the Hawaiian archipelago and summarize the development of ecological and evolutionary research; I emphasize spiders because they have attributes allowing analysis of ecological affinities in concert with diversification. Within this framework, I highlight recent insights from the island chronosequence, in particular the importance of (i) selection and genetic drift in generating diversity; (ii) fusion and fission in fostering diversification; and (iii) variability upon which selection can act. Insights into biodiversity dynamics at the nexus of ecology and evolution are now achievable by integrating new tools, in particular (i) ecological metrics (interaction networks, maximum entropy inference) across the chronosequence to uncover community dynamics and (ii) genomic tools to understand contemporaneous microevolutionary change. The work can inform applications of invasion and restoration ecology by elucidating the importance of changes in abundances, interaction strengths, and rates of evolutionary response in shaping biodiversity.
Resistance to starvation of first-stage juveniles of the Caribbean spiny lobster

The non-feeding postlarva (puerulus) of spiny lobsters actively swims from the open ocean to the coastal habitats where it settles and molts to the first-stage juvenile (JI). Because pueruli use much of their energy reserves swimming and preparing for the post-settlement molt, the survival of JIs presumably depends on resuming feeding as soon as possible. To test this hypothesis, the resistance to starvation of JIs of the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, was evaluated by measuring their point-of-no-return (PNR, minimum time of initial starvation preventing recovery after later feeding) and point-of-reserve-saturation (PRS, minimum time of initial feeding allowing for food-independent development through the rest of the molting cycle) in a warm and a cold season. Each experiment consisted of eight groups: a continuously fed control (FC) group, a continuously starved control (SC) group, and six groups subjected to differential periods of either initial starvation and subsequent feeding (PNR experiments) or initial feeding and subsequent starvation (PSR experiments). No JIs molted under continuous absence of food (SC). In both PNR experiments (temperature in warm season: 29.79 ± 0.07°C, mean ± 95% CI; in cold season: 25.63 ± 0.12°C) mortality increased sharply after 9 d of initial starvation and intermolt periods increased with period of initial starvation, but were longer in the cold season. The PNR50 was longer in the warm season (12.1 ± 1.2 d, mean ± 95% CI) than in the cold season (9.5 ± 2.1 d). In PRS experiments (temperature in warm season: 29.54 ± 0.07 °C; in cold season: 26.20 ± 0.12 °C), JIs that molted did so near the end of the feeding period; all JIs initially fed for up to 6 d succumbed, and no JIs molted after 13 d of starvation despite having fed previously. The PRS50 did not differ between the cold (13.1 ± 0.7 d) and warm seasons (12.1 ± 1.1 d). JIs of P. argus exhibit a remarkable resistance to starvation considering that the previous non-feeding, energy-demanding puerulus phase lasts for ∼3 weeks. However, JIs appear to have a relatively higher degree of dependence on food to complete development to JII during the cold season than during the warm season. Therefore, JIs of P. argus would appear to be more resistant to starvation during the warm season.
The More the Better? Exploring the Relationship between Social Commerce Feature Intensity, Social Factors, and Consumers' Buying Behavior

Today, several social commerce features exist, which can be integrated into e-commerce websites. Integrating such features facilitates interactions among consumers and shall positively affect the perception of social factors and the buying behavior. As social commerce features differ regarding the stimulated interactions, it is recommended to increase their effectiveness by using multiple features. However, there also exist warnings that introducing multiple features might overwhelm consumers. To study the effects of the intensity of social commerce features on the perception of social factors and the buying behavior, we present the results of a controlled experiment, in which 115 participants used variants of an e-commerce platform with differing sets of features. The findings indicate that the intensity of features might positively influence the perception of social factors and the buying behavior. The provided research model moreover allows examining the causal relations between social commerce features, social factors, and the buying behavior systematically.
Polyamide-12/Functionalized Carbon Nanofiber Composites: Evaluation of Thermal and Mechanical Properties

This work aims at improving the interfacial bonding between polyamide-12 and CNFs. CNFs were oxidized and dispersed in polyamide-12 giving rise to polymer nanocomposites. The oxidation caused an increase in the specific surface area and structural defects of the fibers, as indicated by surface area and Fourier-transform Raman spectroscopy. The nanocomposites exhibited improved thermal and thermo-oxidative stabilities. The oxidized nanofibers had marginal effect on the crystallinity and crystallization of the polyamide-12. An over-proportional enhancement of stiffness due to the fibers could be achieved. In spite of these improvements the fiber/polymer adhesion should be further improved.
Application of electron backscatter diffraction to the study of phase transformations

The application of the electron backscatter diffraction technique to the investigation of phase transformations is reviewed. The wide variety of results obtained using this technique is illustrated and discussed, focusing on thermodynamics and kinetics of phase transformations, solidification, solid state phase transformations, environmentally assisted reactions and thin film deposition. Emphasis is also placed on two rapidly growing developments: coupling electron backscatter diffraction with advanced experimental techniques and with more and more complex modelling of phase transformations and of resulting material properties.
A novel face representation using local Zernike moments

This study proposes a novel image representation and demonstrates its advantages when used for face recognition. The proposed representation is obtained by computing the global moments, which are popular tools for object and especially character recognition, locally at each pixel, thus by decomposing the image into a set of images corresponding to different moment components. Our experiments on FERET face database indicates the superiority of the proposed method over methods employing Gabor or LBP representations.
VIBRODIAGNOSTICS OF COMPRESSOR VALVES VIA MUSIC PSEUDO-SPECTRA

The paper presents a mathematical model of a piston compressor which is part of nitrogen-oxygen gas generator. Taking into account the struc- tural parameters of the compressor, as well as the suction and pressurization valves, such model allows to obtain the dynamics of the pressure amplitude un- der the compressor's piston together with the vibration velocity and vibration acceleration that are transmitted in the form of mechanical affections to the equipment (such mechanical affections can be observed using the correspond- ing sensors). Also we investigate the pseudo-spectra of vibration signals using the MUSIC algorithm for the set of parameters of compressor's model (such pa- rameters determine the evolution of a defect).
Effects of Parametrical and Trial-to-Trial Variation in Prior Probability Processing Revealed by Simultaneous Electroencephalogram/Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Prior knowledge of the probabilities concerning decision alternatives facilitates the selection of more likely alternatives to the disadvantage of others. The neural basis of prior probability (PP) integration into the decision-making process and associated preparatory processes is, however, still essentially unknown. Furthermore, trial-to-trial fluctuations in PP processing have not been considered thus far. In a previous study, we found that the amplitude of the contingent negative variation (CNV) in a precueing task is sensitive to PP information (Scheibe et al., 2009). We investigated brain regions with a parametric relationship between neural activity and PP and those regions involved in PP processing on a trial-to-trial basis in simultaneously recorded electroencephalographic (EEG) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. Conventional fMRI analysis focusing on the information content of the probability precue revealed increasing activation of the posterior medial frontal cortex with increasing PP, supporting its putative role in updating action values. EEG-informed fMRI analysis relating single-trial CNV amplitudes to the hemodynamic signal addressed trial-to-trial fluctuations in PP processing. We identified a set of regions mainly consisting of frontal, parietal, and striatal regions that represents unspecific response preparation on a trial-to-trial basis. A subset of these regions, namely, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, the inferior frontal gyrus, and the inferior parietal lobule, showed activations that exclusively represented the contributions of PP to the trial-to-trial fluctuations of the CNV.
Virtual interaction in cognitive neuropsychology

Several recent studies have investigated whether knowledge representation turns possible within virtual reality simulated environments. According to these affirmative results different clinical applications were developed in psychology. Among these applications virtual reality seems to have a specific role in assessment and treatment of neuropsychological diseases. This chapter will firstly investigate possibilities and challenges carried from virtual-reality-based neuropsychological applications focusing both on patient's and therapist's point of view. Afterward it will provide a survey of research and intervention application examples. More in detail a clear explanation of contribution goals will be discussed, in order to place research and applied works within a cognitive neuroscience frame of reference, according with their usefulness and effectiveness in clinical treatment. Fulfilling these objectives neuropsychological virtual reality approaches in memory, motor abilities, executive functions and spatial representation will be shown.
A novel low-cost pre-concentrator concept to boost sensitivity and selectivity of gas sensor systems

Several highly relevant applications for gas sensor systems cannot be adequately addressed today due to the limited sensitivity and selectivity of available low-cost sensors. We present a novel approach to simultaneously boost sensitivity and selectivity by using low-cost, selective micro pre-concentrators (μPC) to accumulate target molecules. Micromachined Si hotplates coated with Molecular Imprinted Polymer (MIP) or Metal Organic Framework (MOF) layers are used as μPC and heated to release the adsorbed target molecules. The μPC is mounted in a small housing adjacent to a micro gas sensor to achieve an effective gas transfer. By combining several μPCs with broadband sensors, this simple device can detect several gases with unrivalled sensitivity and selectivity.
Microfluorometric analysis of cellular DNA following incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine

Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation into cellular DNA has a differential effect on the cell‐associated fluorescence of several DNA‐specific dyes. After cells were treated with BrdU, flow microfluorometry was used to study the relative increase or decrease in fluorescence of stained cells. Bromodeoxyuridine incorporation into CHO cells increased the fluorescence of mithramycin‐, olivomycin‐, or chromomycin‐stained cells, decreased that of propidium iodide‐stained cells, and had little, if any, effect on the fluorescence of acriflavine Feulgen‐stained cells. Changes in relative fluorescence of cell‐associated dyes are due to changes in the amounts of dye bound to cells with BrdU‐substituted DNA. Colorimetric and absorbance measurement of DNA content showed that BrdU does not alter the diploid DNA content of CHO cells; however, BrdU induces perturbations in the distribution of cells about the cell cycle which cause an increase in average DNA content.
On Mispronunciation Lexicon Generation Using Joint-Sequence Multigrams in Computer-Aided Pronunciation Training (CAPT)

We investigate the use of joint-sequence multigrams to generate L2 mispronunciation lexicons for mispronunciation detection and diagnosis. In the joint-sequence framework, a pair of parallel strings (namely, the input string of either graphemes or phonemes of the canonical pronunciation and the phonetic string of the mispronunciation) are aligned to form joint units for probabilistic estimation. We compare results on lexicons produced by phoneme-to-mispronunciation conversion and those by grapheme-to-mispronunciation conversion. Results reflect the hypothesized advantage (1.1% reduction in expected miss rate) in unifying phonetic confusion due to L1 negative transfer with those due to grapheme-to-phoneme errors. The impact of mispronunciation by mis-use of analogy is also studied. Recognition results show the benefit of a lexicon with proper priors.
Pre-exposure of infected human endometrial epithelial cells to penicillin in vitro renders Chlamydia trachomatis refractory to azithromycin.

OBJECTIVE The clinical significance of the potential for persistent human chlamydial infections in vivo is being actively reassessed because of the increased frequency of recurrent infection with the same serovar despite compliance with an effective antibiotic regimen. The ability to extend the length of time of in vitro cultivation of polarized human endometrial epithelial cells (HEC-1B) provided the opportunity to establish a model system to determine if a persistent form of Chlamydia trachomatis had the same susceptibility as the actively growing form to a cidal concentration of azithromycin. METHODS Polarized HEC-1B cells cultivated on extracellular matrix were infected with C. trachomatis serovar E and exposed to penicillin at 24 h post-infection (hpi) to induce a persistent infection characterized by slowly metabolizing but non-dividing, ultrastructurally aberrant reticulate bodies within the chlamydial inclusion; at 48 hpi, infected cultures were exposed to a bactericidal concentration of azithromycin for 72 h. RESULTS Persistent chlamydiae were phenotypically resistant to azithromycin; the number of chlamydial inclusions on subpassage of progeny from persistent chlamydiae following removal of penicillin and recovery was essentially the same as from progeny from persistent chlamydiae following removal of penicillin and azithromycin and recovery. Neutrophils were attracted in vitro to persistently infected HEC-1B cells that had been exposed to penicillin and azithromycin. CONCLUSIONS Thus, this study provides evidence at the cellular microbiology level in vitro for mechanisms that could exist in vivo to create sustained, but perhaps clinically inapparent inflammation, which might eventually lead to conditions such as silent pelvic inflammatory disease.
Nanoparticle-in-Microparticle Delivery Systems (NiMDS): Production, Administration Routes and Clinical Potential

Fil: Imperiale, Julieta Celeste. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquimica. Departamento de Tecnologia Farmaceutica; Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Industrias; Argentina;
Task-constrained motion planning with moving obstacles

We consider the problem of planning the motion of redundant robotic systems subject to geometric task constraints in the presence of obstacles moving along known trajectories. Building on our previous results on task-constrained motion planning, we propose a control-based motion planner that works directly in the task-constrained configuration space extended with the time dimension. The generated trajectories are collision-free and satisfy the task constraint with arbitrary accuracy. Bounds on the achievable generalized velocities may also be taken into account. The proposed approach is validated through planning experiments on a 7-dof articulated robot and an 8-dof mobile manipulator.
Hypercalcemia of malignancy with simultaneous elevation in serum parathyroid hormone--related peptide and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D in a patient with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE To determine the cause of refractory hypercalcemia in a patient with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. METHODS We describe the clinical, pathologic, and immunostain findings in a patient with metastatic renal cell carcinoma and hypercalcemia of malignancy refractory to intravenous bisphosphonates. RESULTS A 57-year-old man with a remote history of clear cell renal cell carcinoma was referred to our clinic for evaluation of resistant hypercalcemia 12 years after nephrectomy. The patient had simultaneous elevation of serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone-related peptide. Computed tomographic scan of the chest and abdomen demonstrated numerous ring-enhancing lesions in the liver, and histologic examination of a biopsy specimen revealed liver tissue infiltrated by a malignant neoplasm composed of cells with clear and eosinophilic cytoplasm, arranged in tubules and nests. Findings were morphologically consistent with renal cell carcinoma of clear cell type, and positive immunostaining with the epithelial markers EMA and CAM 5.2 were supportive of the morphologic impression of renal cell carcinoma. The tumor showed expression of 25-hydroxyvitamin D 1alpha-hydroxylase by immunostaining. After failing to respond to intravenous bisphosphonates, the hypercalcemia improved with prednisone treatment. CONCLUSIONS In some patients with renal cell carcinoma, hypercalcemia of malignancy is associated with simultaneous elevation in serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D and parathyroid hormone-related peptide. As our case exemplifies, it is imperative to identify such patients because hypercalcemia due to elevated 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels may respond better to glucocorticoid treatment than to the conventional bisphosphonate therapy.
Offline Scheduling of Map and Reduce Tasks on Hadoop Systems

MapReduce is a model to manage quantities massive of data. It is based on the distributed and parallel execution of tasks over the cluster of machines. Hadoop is an implementation of MapReduce model, it is used to offer BigData services on the cloud. In this paper, we expose the scheduling problem on Hadoop systems. We focus on the offline-scheduling, expose the problem in a mathematic model and use the time-indexed formulation. We aim consider the maximum of constraints of the MapReduce environment. Solutions for the presented model would be a reference for the on-line Schedules in the case of low and medium instances. Our work is useful in term of the problem definition: constraints are based on observations and take into account resources consumption, data locality, heterogeneous machines and workflow management; this paper defines boundaries references to evaluate the online model.