Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On domination game analysis for microeconomic data mining

Game theory is a powerful tool for analyzing the competitions among manufacturers in a market. In this article, we present a study on combining game theory and data mining by introducing the concept of domination game analysis. We present a multidimensional market model, where every dimension represents one attribute of a commodity. Every product or customer is represented by a point in the multidimensional space, and a product is said to “dominate” a customer if all of its attributes can satisfy the requirements of the customer. The expected market share of a product is measured by the expected number of the buyers in the customers, all of which are equally likely to buy any product dominating him. A Nash equilibrium is a configuration of the products achieving stable expected market shares for all products. We prove that Nash equilibrium in such a model can be computed in polynomial time if every manufacturer tries to modify its product in a round robin manner. To further improve the efficiency of the computation, we also design two algorithms for the manufacturers to efficiently find their best response to other products in the market.
Media coverage of celebrity DUIs: teachable moments or problematic social modeling?

AIM Alcohol in the media influences norms around use, particularly for young people. A recent spate of celebrity arrests for drinking and driving (DUI) has received considerable media attention. We asked whether these newsworthy events serve as teachable moments or problematic social modeling for young women. METHOD Qualitative analysis of US media coverage of four female celebrities (Michelle Rodriguez, Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and Lindsay Lohan) was conducted over the year following their DUI arrest (December 2005 through June 2008). The media sample included five television and three print sources and resulted in 150 print and 16 television stories. RESULTS Stories were brief, episodic and focused around glamorous celebrity images. They included routine discussion of the consequences of the DUI for the individual celebrities without much evidence of a consideration of the public health dimensions of drinking and driving or possible prevention measures. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis found little material in the media coverage that dealt with preventing injury or promoting individual and collective responsibility for ensuring such protection. Media attention to such newsworthy events is a missed opportunity that can and should be addressed through media advocacy efforts.
A wide spectrum type system for transformation theory

0.1 History Of Type Systems. 1 0.1. 1 Lambda Calculus. 1 0.1. 2 Type Systems In Imperative Programming Languages . 2 0.1. 3 Type Systems In Object-Oriented Programming Languag es. 5 0.1. 4 Type Systems In Functional Programming Languages . 7 0.2 Properties Of A Type System. 8 0.2. 1 Type Checking Strategies . 8 0.2. 2 Definition Of Equality . 9 0.2. 3 Safety Of A Type System. 9 0.2. 4 Accuracy Of A Type System. 10 0.3 Type Inference . 10 0.4 Composition Of A Programming Language With A Type System . 11 0.4. 1 Curry-Style Vs. Church-Style. 11 0.4. 2 Syntax Of A Programming Language . 12 0.4. 3 Backus Naur Form. 12 0.4. 4 Abstract Syntax Tree. 14 0.4. 5 Attribute Grammars. 15 0.4. 6 Semantics Of A Programming Language . 18 0.4. 7 Operatinal Sematics. 19 0.4. 8 Denotational Sematics. 19 0.4. 9 Axiomatical Sematics. 19 0.5 Other Variations Of Formal Semantics . 20 0.5. 1 Example . 20 0.6 Formal Methods and Software Evolution . 22 0.7 Maintaining legacy applications. 23 0.8 FermaT Program Transformation Theory . 23 0.9 History of FermaT. 24 0.10 The WSL language. 25 0.11 Mathematical Foundation . 26 0.11. 1 Semantics Of A WSL Program . 27 0.12 Proof Theoretic Refinement And Equality . 28 0.13 Specification Statement . 30 0.14 Conditional Semantic Slicing in FermaT . 31
Identification of a Conserved Interface between PUF and CPEB Proteins

Background: CPEB and PUF proteins collaborate to control mRNA expression by binding to elements in the 3′-UTR. Results: A conserved region of PUF proteins is required for PUF/CPEB interactions in nematodes and humans. Conclusion: PUF proteins from diverse species utilize a common surface to interact with diverse protein partners. Significance: Understanding molecular recognition between RNA-binding proteins is crucial for describing their roles in biology. Members of the PUF (Pumilio and FBF) and CPEB (cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding) protein families collaborate to regulate mRNA expression throughout eukaryotes. Here, we focus on the physical interactions between members of these two families, concentrating on Caenorhabditis elegans FBF-2 and CPB-1. To localize the site of interaction on FBF-2, we identified conserved amino acids within C. elegans PUF proteins. Deletion of an extended loop containing several conserved residues abolished binding to CPB-1. We analyzed alanine substitutions at 13 individual amino acids in FBF-2, each identified via its conservation. Multiple single point mutations disrupted binding to CPB-1 but not to RNA. Position Tyr-479 was particularly critical as multiple substitutions to other amino acids at this position did not restore binding. The complex of FBF-2 and CPB-1 repressed translation of an mRNA containing an FBF binding element. Repression required both proteins and was disrupted by FBF-2 alleles that failed to bind CPB-1 or RNA. The equivalent loop in human PUM2 is required for binding to human CPEB3 in vitro, although the primary sequences of the human and C. elegans PUF proteins have diverged in that region. Our findings define a key region in PUF/CPEB interactions and imply a conserved platform through which PUF proteins interact with their protein partners.
Relation of sputum inflammatory markers to symptoms and lung function changes in COPD exacerbations

BACKGROUND Although it is presumed that exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with increased airway inflammation, there is little information available on inflammatory markers during an exacerbation and the relationship with severity or time course of recovery. A study was undertaken to investigate the sputum cell and cytokine characteristics of COPD when stable and during an exacerbation. METHODS Induced sputum samples from 57 patients with moderate to severe COPD were analysed (44 samples were taken during a stable period and 37 during an exacerbation). The patients recorded daily symptoms on diary cards. Cell counts and sputum levels of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 were measured. RESULTS Patients with ⩾3 exacerbations/year had higher median stable sputum levels of IL-6 (110 (95% CI 11 to 215) pg/ml) and IL-8 (6694 (95% CI 3120 to 11995) pg/ml) than those with ⩽2 exacerbations/year (22 (95% CI 12 to 93) and 1628 (95% CI 607 to 4812) pg/ml, respectively). Median IL-6 levels were increased during exacerbations compared with stable conditions. The levels of IL-6 during exacerbations were related to the presence of a cold and to the total cell count and eosinophil and lymphocyte numbers, while IL-8 was positively correlated with all sputum cell counts. Sputum cell counts and cytokine levels during an exacerbation did not predict the size and duration of lung function changes in the exacerbation. CONCLUSIONS Patients with more frequent exacerbations have higher baseline sputum cytokine levels, which may predict the frequency of future exacerbations.
A Well-organized Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation Algorithm for MANET

The anxiety made by users are mounting as the 'mobile ad hoc networks' became an essential part of this stage and call for the use of significant applications such as multimedia and videoconferencing. In this paper we introduce a new examine model with a dynamic stipulating architecture that provides bandwidth allocation dynamically based on its utility. Initially allocate the required bandwidth with respect to the users subscription & monitors the broadcast to reshuffle the bandwidth allocation if any congestion occurs. In addition, the network periodically individuates unused bandwidth and suggests immediate convention where extra-bandwidth is allocated and guaranteed entirely to users who can utilize it to transmit at a higher rate than their subscribed rate. We exhibit through simulation in a network scenario that the proposed dynamic bandwidth provisioning model is greater than the static bandwidth provisioning algorithm with respect to the utilization of bandwidth and users support.
Tissue-Mimicking Oil-in-Gelatin Dispersions for Use in Heterogeneous Elastography Phantoms

A ten-month study is presented of materials for use in heterogeneous elastography phantoms. The materials consist of gelatin with or without a suspension of microscopic safflower oil droplets. The highest volume percent of oil in the materials is 50%. Thimerosal acts as a preservative. The greater the safflower oil concentration, the lower the Young's modulus. Elastographic data for heterogeneous phantoms, in which the only variable is safflower oil concentration, demonstrate stability of inclusion geometry and elastic strain contrast. Young's modulus ratios (elastic contrasts) producible in a heterogeneous phantom are as high as 2.7. The phantoms are particularly useful for ultrasound elastography. They can also be employed in MR elastography, although the highest achievable ratio of longitudinal to transverse relaxation times is considerably less than is the case for soft tissues.
Multi-robot Motion Coordination based on Swing Propagation

A simple swing propagation mechanism for multi-robot motion coordination is presented. This mechanism is based on local-perception and low-level communication. It is oriented to coordinate situated modular robots. The swing propagation mechanism is divided into two movements: simple following and collective obstacle-avoidance. The first movement is executed when the leader of a robot formation is able to move and proposes a movement that is copied by its followers in the formation. The second movement is executed when the leader of a robot formation is unable to move and asks its followers to undo an action. In the first movement, motion is propagated backwards in a robot formation, whereas in the second movement, a request is propagated backwards and motion is propagated forward in a robot formation. Experimental results of multi-robot motion coordination using Mini-trans, a physical homemade modular system, are presented
The role of the posed smile in overall facial esthetics.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the role of the posed smile in overall facial esthetics, as determined by laypersons and orthodontists. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty orthodontists and 20 lay evaluators were asked to perform six Q-sorts on different photographs of 48 white female subjects. The six Q-sorts consisted of three different photographs for each of two time points (pre- and posttreatment), as follows: (1) smile-only, (2) face without the smile, and (3) face with the smile. The evaluators determined a split-line for attractive and unattractive images at the end of each Q-sort. The proportions of attractive patients were compared across Q-sorts using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test for paired data. The evaluators also ranked nine facial/dental characteristics at the completion of the six Q-sorts. RESULTS Evaluators found the pretreatment face without the smile to be significantly more attractive than the face with the smile or the smile-only photographs. Dissimilar results were seen posttreatment; there was not a significant difference between the three posttreatment photographs. The two panels agreed on the proportion of "attractive" subjects but differed on the attractiveness level of each individual subject. CONCLUSIONS The presence of a malocclusion has a negative impact on facial attractiveness. Orthodontic correction of a malocclusion affects overall facial esthetics positively. Laypeople and orthodontists agree on what is attractive. Overall facial harmony is the most important characteristic used in deciding facial attractiveness.
Darboux-type barrier certificates for safety verification of nonlinear hybrid systems

Benefit from less computational difficulty, barrier certificate based method has attracted much attention in safety verification of hybrid systems. Barrier certificates are inherent existences of a hybrid system and may have different types. A set of well-defined verification conditions is a prerequisite for successfully identifying barrier certificates of a specific type. Therefore, how to define verification conditions that can identify barrier certificates invisible to existing conditions becomes an essential problem in barrier certificate based verification. This paper proposes a set of verification conditions that helps to construct a new type of barrier certificate, namely, the Darboux-type barrier certificate made of Darboux polynomial. The proposed verification conditions provide powerful aids in non-linear hybrid system verification as the Darboux-type barrier certificates can verify systems that may not be settled by existing verification conditions. Furthermore, we give a novel computational approach, combining the sampling-based relaxation method with least-squares and quadratic programming (LS-QP) alternating projection, to find Darboux-type barrier certificates. We demonstrate on the benchmark examples from the literature that our verification conditions can enhance the capability of barrier certificate based approaches through successfully verifying those systems that are difficult to be handled by existing verification conditions, and our algorithm is efficient.
Effect of various hepatic membrane fractions on microtubule assembly- with special emphasis on the role of membrane phospholipids

This report describes an interaction between rat brain microtubule protein and various hepatic fractions in vitro. Purified preparations of Golgi membranes, plasma membrane, rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, nuclear membranes, and mitochondria were obtained from the livers of 200-g rats. Several concentrations of fresh or sonicated frozen membranes were incubated with twice-cycled rat brain microtubule protein in a microtubule assembly buffer for 60 min at 30 degrees C. Changes in microtubule assembly were assessed either by quantitative electron microscopy on negatively stained samples or by spectrophotometric methods. The results show that all the tested membranes "bound" microtubule protein, preventing assembly: Golgi and plasma membranes, as well as mitochondria, were especially potent in this regard. To identify the membrane-associated components responsible for microtubule protein binding, the membranes were extracted with methanol-chloroform, and liposomes were prepared from the resulting lipids. Microtubule protein incubated with these liposomes showed a differential ability to assemble that was similar to the effect obtained with intact membranes. Membrane-extracted phospholipids were identified as the lipid component responsible for these changes, with the negatively charged phospholipids (cardiolipin and phosphatidylserine) being uniquely active. These findings indicate that hepatic membranes differentially interact with brain microtubule protein; this interaction may be dependent on membrane phospholipids.
Development of Aspirin Resistance in Persons With Previous Ischemic Stroke

The ex vivo effect of aspirin (ASA) on platelet aggregation, the platelet component of thrombosis, was studied at repeated intervals in a cohort of patients taking aspirin for recurrent ischemic stroke prevention to define the maintenance of efficacy over time. Methods We administered increasing doses of aspirin (from 325 to 1300 mg/d) to patients with previous ischemic stroke and determined the extent of inhibition of platelet aggregation after 2 weeks and thereafter at approximately 6-month intervals. Results Over 33 months, 306 patients had platelet aggregation studies performed to define their initial response to ASA therapy. Of these, 228 had complete and 78 had partial inhibition of platelet aggregation at initial testing. To date, 119 of those who had complete inhibition and 52 who had partial inhibition have undergone repeat testing at least once. At repeat testing 39 of the 119 (32.7%) with complete inhibition at initial testing had lost part of the antiplatelet effect of ASA and converted from complete to partial inhibition without change in ASA dosage. Of the 52 with partial inhibition at initial testing, 35 achieved complete inhibition either by ASA dosage escalation (in 325 mg/d increments) or fluctuation of response at the same dosage, but 8 of those 35 (22.8%) had reverted to partial inhibition when tested again. Overall, 8.2% of patients ultimately exhibited ASA resistance to 1300 mg/d-8 of 52 (15.4%) with partial inhibition and 6 of 119 (5.0%) with complete inhibition at initial testing. Conclusions The antiplatelet (and presumably the antithrombotic) effect of a fixed dose of ASA is not constant over time in all individuals. The mechanisms by which increased dosage requirement or ASA resistance develops and the clinical significance of this development are currently undefined.
Human Antibody Responses to the Anopheles Salivary gSG6-P1 Peptide: A Novel Tool for Evaluating the Efficacy of ITNs in Malaria Vector Control

To optimize malaria control, WHO has prioritised the need for new indicators to evaluate the efficacy of malaria vector control strategies. The gSG6-P1 peptide from gSG6 protein of Anopheles gambiae salivary glands was previously designed as a specific salivary sequence of malaria vector species. It was shown that the quantification of human antibody (Ab) responses to Anopheles salivary proteins in general and especially to the gSG6-P1 peptide was a pertinent biomarker of human exposure to Anopheles. The present objective was to validate this indicator in the evaluation of the efficacy of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs). A longitudinal evaluation, including parasitological, entomological and immunological assessments, was conducted on children and adults from a malaria-endemic area before and after the introduction of ITNs. Significant decrease of anti-gSG6-P1 IgG response was observed just after the efficient ITNs use. Interestingly, specific IgG Ab level was especially pertinent to evaluate a short-time period of ITNs efficacy and at individual level. However, specific IgG rose back up within four months as correct ITN use waned. IgG responses to one salivary peptide could constitute a reliable biomarker for the evaluation of ITN efficacy, at short- and long-term use, and provide a valuable tool in malaria vector control based on a real measurement of human-vector contact.
Ryanodine as a Tool to Determine the Contributions of Calcium Entry and Calcium Release to the Calcium Transient and Contraction of Cardiac Purkinje Fibers

Our object was to assess the relative roles of transsarcolemmal calcium entry and intracellular calcium release in the contraction of cardiac Purkinje fibers. We observed intracellular calcium transients, membrane potential, and contraction in aequorin-injected canine cardiac Purkinje fibers exposed to highly selective pharmacological modifiers of excitation-contraction coupling. To influence selectively the release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, we used the plant alkaloid, ryanodine. To influence calcium entry, selectively, we used either the calcium channel antagonist, nitrendipine, or the calcium channel agonist, Bay k 8644. Ryanodine alone (1μM) reduced both components of the intracellular aequorin luminescence signal (L1 and L2). In three muscles, the luminescence signals were 3% of control in amplitude (standard error of the mean, 2%) without two distinct components and the twitch tension was 2% of control (standard error of the mean, 3%), whereas the action potential was prolonged. The aequorin signal and twitch remaining in ryanodine were abolished by the calcium antagonist nitrendipine (10 μM), which also lowered the action potential plateau, consistent with the block of functional calcium channels. In two experiments, the calcium-channel agonist, Bay k 8644, in the presence of ryanodine, increased the aequorin luminescence and the contraction, but only to a very small fraction of their control values. Sodium withdrawal in potassium-free, ryanodine-containing solution produced large slow increases in calcium and tension, showing that tension could still be produced, that aequorin remained functional, and that sodium/calcium exchange was not inhibited by ryanodine. Caffeine increased intracellular calcium, showing that calcium stores were not depleted. In summary, the negative inotropic effect of ryanodine is due to a decrease in the calcium released from internal stores, and calcium entry normally contributes only a very small fraction of the total activator calcium.
Appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections in general practice: Comparison between Denmark and Iceland

Abstract Objective: To compare the appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing for upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in two countries with different prevalence of antimicrobial resistance: Denmark and Iceland. Design: A cross-sectional study. Settings and subjects. General practitioners (GPs) in Denmark (n = 78) and Iceland (n = 21) registered all patients with URTI according to the Audit Project Odense (APO) method during a three-week period in the winter months of 2008 and 2009. Main outcome measures: Appropriateness of antibiotic prescribing in patients with URTI in Denmark and Iceland. Results: A total of 1428 patients were registered (Denmark: n = 1208; Iceland: n = 220). A majority of patients in both countries were prescribed antibiotics, and only a minority of the prescriptions could be classified as appropriate prescribing. In general, Icelandic GPs more often prescribed antibiotics (Iceland = 75.8% vs. Denmark = 59.3%), but Danish GPs had a higher percentage of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for sinusitis, and Icelandic GPs for pharyngotonsillitis. No differences were found for acute otitis media (AOM). The different antibiotic prescribing patterns between Denmark and Iceland could not fully be explained by different symptoms and signs among patients. Conclusion: Icelandic GPs have a higher antibiotic prescribing rate compared with Danish GPs, but the percentage of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing is highest in Denmark for sinusitis, and in Iceland for pharyngotonsillitis. Key points Within the Nordic countries there are marked differences in antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic use. Iceland differs from Denmark by a higher antibiotic prescribing rate and a higher prevalence of antimicrobial resistance. The majority of antibiotics are prescribed in primary care and most often for upper respiratory infections (URTIs). Only a minor amount of antibiotic prescriptions for URTIs can be classified as appropriate; inappropriate antibiotic prescribing is higher in Denmark than in Iceland for sinusitis and the opposite for pharyngotonsillitis. The different antibiotic prescribing patterns between Denmark and Iceland cannot be fully explained by different clinical criteria among patients.