Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Developing Efficient Metaheuristics for Communication Network Problems by using Problem-specific Knowledge

Metaheuristics, such as evolutionary algorithms or simulated annealing, are widely applicable heuristic optimization strategies that have shown encouraging results for a large number of difficult optimization problems. To show high performance, metaheuristics need to be adapted to the properties of the problem at hand. This paper illustrates how efficient metaheuristics can be developed for communication network problems by utilizing problem-specific knowledge for the design of a high-quality problem representation. The minimum communication spanning tree (MCST) problem finds a communication spanning tree that connects all nodes and satisfies their communication requirements for a minimum total cost. An investigation into the properties of the problem reveals that optimum solutions are similar to the minimum spanning tree (MST). Consequently, a problem-specific representation, the link biased (LB) encoding, is developed, which represents trees as a list of floats. The LB encoding makes use of the knowledge that optimum solutions are similar to the MST, and encodes trees that are similar to the MST with a higher probability. Experimental results for different types of metaheuristics show that metaheuristics using the LB-encoding efficiently solve existing MCST problem instances from the literature, as well as randomly generated MCST problems of different sizes and types.
A new robust stability analysis of uncertain switching fuzzy time-delay systems

In this work, delay-independent stability conditions for discrete-time switched fuzzy TS time-delay systems described by delayed difference equations are presented. Vectorial norm approach and M-matrix properties are utilized for the stability analysis. The main benefit of this technique is that it avoids the problem of existence of Lyapunov functions. A numerical example is given to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method.
Design of a Robotic Mobility System with a Modular Haptic Feedback Approach to Promote Socialization in Children

Self-initiated mobility is a causal factor in children's development. Previous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of our training methods in learning directional driving and navigation. The ultimate goal of mobility training is to enable children to be social, that is, to interact with their peers. A powered mobility device was developed that can localize itself, map the environment, plan an obstacle-free path to a goal, and ensure safety of a human driver. Combined with a positioning system, this system is able to apply a force field using a modular haptic feedback approach to train subjects to drive towards an object, a caregiver, a peer, or a group of peers. System feasibility was tested by designing a `ball chasing' game. Results show that the system is promising in promoting socialization in children.
Some Socio‐cultural Factors Militating against Drift towards Science and Technology in Secondary Schools

Abstract Although it is a truism that the natural sciences do transcend cultural and national boundaries, the issue of the effect of culture on the teaching and learning of science continues to preoccupy the minds of researchers. The learning of the natural sciences calls into question, very often, beliefs and practices that are part of the contemporary culture in an environment. Within our own culture and other non‐Western environments, the effects of socio‐cultural factors seem to exert a very strong effect on the learning and teaching of science. This study was carried out to ascertain what socio‐cultural factors within our environment militate against the learning and teaching of science in the secondary school. A 30‐item Socio‐Cultural Environment Scale (SCES) was developed and used to collect the data in the study. The instrument has a reliability of 0#lb92. Class four and five secondary school students (470 boys, 237 girls, totalling 707) of biology, chemistry and physics from eight randomly select.
TCP over Wireless Networks Using MultipleAcknowledgements ( Preliminary Version )

TCP protocol has been designed and tuned to perform well on wired network where the packet loss is due mainly to congestion. On heterogeneous networks where some links can be wireless this assumption is no more valid. In this paper, we propose a protocol which makes the TCP protocol layer aware of high bit error rates on wireless links while it tries to minimize the traac load on the wired network. This is done by avoiding unnecessary retransmissions from TCP. The idea is to acknowledge partially a packet which reaches a base station, if it experiences diiculty (errors or congestion) on the wireless link. The base station is responsible for retransmissions on the wireless link, while it delays timeout at the sender by sending a partial acknowledgement.
InPhaDel: integrative shotgun and proximity-ligation sequencing to phase deletions with single nucleotide polymorphisms

Phasing of single nucleotide (SNV), and structural variations into chromosome-wide haplotypes in humans has been challenging, and required either trio sequencing or restricting phasing to population-based haplotypes. Selvaraj et al. demonstrated single individual SNV phasing is possible with proximity ligated (HiC) sequencing. Here, we demonstrate HiC can phase structural variants into phased scaffolds of SNVs. Since HiC data is noisy, and SV calling is challenging, we applied a range of supervised classification techniques, including Support Vector Machines and Random Forest, to phase deletions. Our approach was demonstrated on deletion calls and phasings on the NA12878 human genome. We used three NA12878 chromosomes and simulated chromosomes to train model parameters. The remaining NA12878 chromosomes withheld from training were used to evaluate phasing accuracy. Random Forest had the highest accuracy and correctly phased 86% of the deletions with allele-specific read evidence. Allele-specific read evidence was found for 76% of the deletions. HiC provides significant read evidence for accurately phasing 33% of the deletions. Also, eight of eight top ranked deletions phased by only HiC were validated using long range polymerase chain reaction and Sanger. Thus, deletions from a single individual can be accurately phased using a combination of shotgun and proximity ligation sequencing. InPhaDel software is available at: http://l337x911.github. io/inphadel/.
Huntington’s disease: revisiting the aggregation hypothesis in polyglutamine neurodegenerative diseases

After the successful cloning of the first gene for a polyglutamine disease in 1991, the expanded polyglutamine tract in the nine polyglutamine disease proteins became an obvious therapeutic target. Early hypotheses were that misfolded, precipitated protein could be a universal pathogenic mechanism. However, new data are accumulating on Huntington’s disease and other polyglutamine diseases that appear to contradict the toxic aggregate hypothesis. Recent data suggest that the toxic species of protein in these diseases may be soluble mutant conformers, and that the protein context of expanded polyglutamine is critical to understanding disease specificity. Here we discuss recent publications that define other important therapeutic targets for polyglutamine‐mediated neurodegeneration related to the context of the expanded polyglutamine tract in the disease protein.
The use of population‐level data to advance interdisciplinary methodology: a cell‐through‐society sampling framework for child development research

The authors argue that population‐level data should be used to advance interdisciplinary research about community effects on early development. These data permit the identification of neighborhoods in which development patterns deviate from predictions based on local socioeconomic status (SES). So‐called ‘off‐diagonal’ places signal where researchers are likely to discover processes that either deflect the risks of low SES or dampen the salutary impact of favorable SES. Since such neighborhoods will be best understood relative to nearby ‘on‐diagonal’ neighborhoods where macro‐economic and/or public policy factors are constant, the authors present a methodology for illuminating these regional clusters. The method is deployed in British Columbia, Canada, where a team has collected developmental observations from two censuses of kindergarten children (n = 82,632). The article discusses how these clusters can be used to coordinate sampling decisions among academics representing the range of disciplines needed to study child development from cell‐through‐society, as is recommended in the literature.
Insights on Transfer Optimization: Because Experience is the Best Teacher

Traditional optimization solvers tend to start the search from scratch by assuming zero prior knowledge about the task at hand. Generally speaking, the capabilities of solvers do not automatically grow with experience. In contrast, however, humans routinely make use of a pool of knowledge drawn from past experiences whenever faced with a new task. This is often an effective approach in practice as real-world problems seldom exist in isolation. Similarly, practically useful artificial systems are expected to face a large number of problems in their lifetime, many of which will either be repetitive or share domain-specific similarities. This view naturally motivates advanced optimizers that mimic human cognitive capabilities; leveraging on what has been seen before to accelerate the search toward optimal solutions of never before seen tasks. With this in mind, this paper sheds light on recent research advances in the field of global black-box optimization that champion the theme of automatic knowledge transfer across problems. We introduce a general formalization of transfer optimization, based on which the conceptual realizations of the paradigm are classified into three distinct categories, namely sequential transfer , multitasking, and multiform optimization. In addition, we carry out a survey of different methodological perspectives spanning Bayesian optimization and nature-inspired computational intelligence procedures for efficient encoding and transfer of knowledge building blocks. Finally, real-world applications of the techniques are identified, demonstrating the future impact of optimization engines that evolve as better problem-solvers over time by learning from the past and from one another.
Understanding quality assurance: a cross country case study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the level of understanding between an Australian university and its offshore partner institution, on quality assurance. It attempts to highlight the dynamics of quality assurance policy implementation within and across institutions for an offshore degree.Design/methodology/approach – The study used interviews as the research method to gather data from the Business school of a university that is a major exporter of higher education degrees and its offshore business partner, a business school of a private university college in Malaysia.Findings – The findings show that gaps exist in the current practices of quality assurance measures in Malaysia. In addition, top‐level management from both sides of the exchange believe that the university should bear the overall responsibility for quality assurance. However, the findings also reveal that such heavy reliance on the university for quality assurance might not be healthy, especially when the university's own pol.
Water Stress in Plants: Causes, Effects and Responses

Biosphere’s continued exposure to abiotic stresses, for example, drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, chemical toxicity, oxidative stress, etc., cause imbalances in the natural status of the environment. Each year, stresses on arable plants in different parts of the world disrupt agriculture and food supply with the final consequence famine. Factors controlling stress conditions alter the normal equilibrium, and lead to a series of morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular changes in plants, which adversely affect their growth and productivity. The average yields from the major crop plants may reduce by more than 50% owing to stresses. However, plants also have developed innate adaptations to stress conditions with an array of biochemical and physiological interventions that involves the function of many stress-associated genes. In this chapter, we aim at the stresses related to water and the expression 'drought' which is derived from the agricultural context, is used as equal to water stress throughout the article. Water, comprising 80-90% of the biomass of non-woody plants, is the central molecule in all physiological processes of plants by being the major medium for transporting metabolites and nutrients. Drought is a situation that lowers plant water potential and turgor to the extent that plants face difficulties in executing normal physiological functions. However, a few groups of animals and a wide variety of plants are known for their tolerance to desiccation during the adult stages of their life cycle. Though our knowledge on plant’s drought tolerance is ancient, the modern scientific study of drought tolerance started in 1702 with Anthony von Leeuwenhoek’s discovery of the survival of rotifers without water for months.
Language as a Problem of Development: Ideological Debates and Comprehensive Education in the Philippines.

Fixation on language in language policy debates is not a natural given. In fact, it has to be re-examined. This paper argues that another effective way to look at language policy is to suspend talk on language, and instead first engage with social development issues where people are at the heart of the social landscape. It discusses three ways of engagement with language policy as seen in the landscape of the politics of language, education and social development in the Philippines. The first way is engaging language policy which means debating the key features of the existing language policy usually based on ideological concerns. The second way is re-engaging language policy which highlights previously sidelined provisions of the policy such as those concerning local languages in education. The third way is disengaging from language policy which primarily sees language policy as part of a general social development framework, i.e. the imperative to focus on specific needs of local communities from which the roles of language emerge. The key point to note is that language does not seem to figure as a fundamental problem that needs to be addressed.
Infection prevalence and outcomes in Brazilians ICUs: another brick in the wall...

Infections significantly influence the morbidity and mortality rates of intensive care units (ICUs), and the prevalence and impact of severe infections in critically ill patients have increased progressively in recent years. (1,2) In addition, more than 70% of critically ill patients admitted to ICUs are prescribed an antimicrobial agent during their stay. (1) Unfortunately, the actual situation in Brazil is difficult to assess because high-quality data on the local conditions are scarce in the literature. The few studies that sought to retrieve Brazilian data on infections and sepsis reported extremely important results, showing that both the prevalence and the lethality associated with infection in critically ill patients is high compared to the values reported in the international literature. For instance, the mortality rate of patients in Brazil with septic shock is greater than 50%. (3-5) The reasons underlying such unfavorable outcomes are unclear; however, organizational issues and early detection are certainly important features in such an assessment. This issue of the Brazilian Journal of Intensive Care (Revista Brasileira de Terapia Intensiva – RBTI) includes an article that is crucial for a better understanding of the current status of sepsis and infections in critically ill patients. (6) This study performed a sub-analysis of EPIC II (Extended Prevalence of Infection in Intensive Care), which is a cross-sectional study that included 13,796 patients, more than 9,000 patients who received antimicrobial agents and approximately 7,000 patients who were diagnosed as infected. The sub-analysis assessed only patients in Brazil and provides precise, high-quality data on the prevalence and characteristics of the patients admitted to Brazilian ICUs. More than 1,200 patients admitted to 90 ICUs across Brazil were included for analysis in this sub-analysis, which is currently the largest study of its type in the literature. Some data in the cross-sectional study are worth noting. Approximately 62% of the patients admitted to Brazilian ICUs presented with clinical evidence of infection; this prevalence is significantly higher than the prevalences reported by the same database for other areas, such as Europe and North America (where the prevalence is less than 50%). (1) In addition to higher prevalence, our ability to identify the etiology of infection is poor; thus, the pathogens that were potentially responsible for the infection were isolated in only 50% of the cases. The most frequent site of infection was the respiratory system (61%). The distribution of the pathogens associated with infection in Brazilian ICUs is also worth noting for several reasons. Brazil has a higher prevalence of Gram-negative agents compared to other Thiago Lisboa1, Pedro Póvoa2
Liberalism, Unintended Orders and Evolutionism

There is something gravely amiss about a liberalism based upon evolutionism, as F. A. Hayek bases his endorsement of the free, open, or ‘Great Society’. Such a society—one based upon individual liberty, autonomy, and free-market institutions —is not guaranteed by the evolutionary process, as Hayek's own indictment of twentieth-century totalitarianism in The Road to Serfdom amply demonstrated. In the first section of this paper, I explore some of the pitfalls for a liberalism grounded on evolutionary foundations: a relucance to tamper with existing institutions which borders on traditionalism; a tension between individualism and holism, the latter born of an evolutionist's concern for the survival of the group; and a relativism derived from evolutionism which seems ill-suited to a liberalism which values freedom. The last two sections of the paper examine some striking connections between Hayek's liberalism and that of William Graham Sumner and Herbert Spencer. While there are important differences between Hayek's and Sumner's positions, on the one hand, and Spencer's, on the other, all three suffer from a common problem: their liberalism sits uneasily upon evolutionary foundations.
A holistic approach to primary—secondary transitions

A longitudinal study was conducted to follow children, in a city in Scotland, to understand their experiences of primary—secondary transition. The children were purposively selected as known to be having/potentially having problems with transition. Initial interviews were conducted with children, their parents and professionals when five were in the first year of secondary school, two in the second year of secondary school and two in the last year of primary school. Follow-up interviews were undertaken with six children again after six months when four were in the second year and two in the first year of the secondary school. Three out of the nine children were finding it difficult to deal with transition even at the follow-up. The issue of transition was complex, with considerable impact of a child's internal attributes, family, peers, school systems, professionals and community on his/her primary—secondary transition being successful or not.
ASGS: an alternative splicing graph web service

Alternative transcript diversity manifests itself a prime cause of complexity in higher eukaryotes. The Alternative Splicing Graph Server (ASGS) is a web service facilitating the systematic study of alternatively spliced genes of higher eukaryotes by generating splicing graphs for the compact visual representation of transcript diversity from a single gene. Taking a set of transcripts in General Feature Format as input, ASGS identifies distinct reference and variable exons, generates a transcript splicing graph, an exon summary, splicing events classification and a single line graph to facilitate experimental analysis. This freely available web service can be accessed at .
On representations of the exceptional superconformal algebra $CK_6$

We realize the exceptional superconformal algebra $CK_6$, spanned by 32 fields, inside the Lie superalgebra of pseudodifferential symbols on the supercircle $S^{1|3}$. We obtain a one-parameter family of irreducible representations of $CK_6$ in a superspace spanned by 8 fields.
On Principles of Egocentric Person Search in Social Networks

Person search is the problem of finding, by means of keyword search, relevant people in a social network. In egocentric person search, the search query is issued by a person s participating in the social network, and the goal is to find people that possess two qualities: relevancy to the query, and relevancy to s herself. This position paper considers the latter quality, and specifically, scoring functions that rank persons by their relevancy to s. In particular, the paper proposes general principles (i.e., properties) that should be held by such scoring functions. Several functions, which were proposed in the past for measuring node connectivity, are analyzed with respect to the proposed principles. It is shown that none of these functions suciently satisfy the principles. In contrast, the paper presents two additional functions that satisfy the principles in a strong sense.
Comparative evaluation of different enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay systems for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B, C, and D

We compared four versions of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for their suitability for detecting staphylococcal enterotoxins. The sandwich with labeled antibody proved to be the best. We used it with a sorbent consisting of antibody-coated polystyrene spheres reacted with 20 ml of food extract. The sensitivity of the test was 0.1 ng of enterotoxin per ml, which is far below clinical relevance. The succinimidyl-pyridyl-dithio-propionate enzyme coupling method of Pharmacia was superior to the two-step glutaraldehyde technique. Interfering protein A was eliminated by the simple addition of normal rabbit serum to the extracts. A diagnostic kit is now available.
Sociocognitive Processes in Guided Silent Reading: A Microanalysis of Small-Group Lessons.

Generalement la lecture a haute-voix et la lecture silencieuse sont etudiees dans une perspective intra-individuelle, sans prendre en consideration le contexte scolaire. Les AA. examinent les effets de la lecture silencieuse en situation de petit groupe. Cent enfants ont recu deux lecons de lecture silencieuse et deux de lecture orale. La dynamique du groupe et la comprehension ont ete mesurees. Bien que plus lente, la lecture silencieuse permet une plus grande attention des eleves et une plus grande activite pendant la discussion