Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A communication strategy for cooperative robots

In this paper, we present a new language of communication between cooperative mobile robots. Generally, in order to interact they must exchange various information. In mobile robotics, communication can generally only be performed using HF channel. Originally, our language and protocol are designed to carry out safe communication between several ICAR agents (intelligent cooperative autonomous robots), but they can be used to perform another type of communication. We consider mobile robots which must be able to achieve some tasks given by another one, or a supervisor. We are developing a dynamically extendable (i.e. while robots are performing their missions) language which supports nine conversation types and works with twenty six message types. Because of communications nature (radio link), we use macro messages to reduce network congestion.
Development of a repair inventory model for effective maintenance of modular electronic equipment

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to compare various features of modular repair inventory flow in large maintenance organizations such as the Indian army with those of basic multi‐echelon repair inventory model METRIC.Design/methodology/approach – Two models are selected and validated with user trials for a period of six months. A few performance measures for multi‐echelon repair inventory systems (MERIS) have also been identified using questionnaires. These two models are compared with the base model using developed performance measures and finally the most preferred model is identified which may replace the existing model. Finally, some recommendations are made for future researchers working in the area of multi‐echelon repair inventory systems.Findings – The action research (AR)‐based approach has been used to solve a problem which is interactive and aims at developing a holistic understanding. A crisp codification scheme has also been suggested for a multi‐echelon repair inventory environment.Ori.
Media framing of women in politics: an analysis of print media coverage of women members of parliament in Kenya

Scholars in media, gender and politics have interest in the apparent gender differences in media coverage and framing of those in politics. This study sought to explore how the Kenyan news print media have framed the twenty two women parliamentarians in the tenth parliament in their coverage. The objectives of the study are twofold. The first one is to examine the amount of media coverage and level of prominence given to stories on women in politics; and secondly, to identify the dominant gender frames used in news print media content. The theoretical underpinning of this study is borrowed from the media framing theory. The research approach of the study was qualitative in nature and employed content analysis and in-depth interview data collection techniques. The sample frame for the study included two main media houses namely Nation Media Group and the Standard Group and their newspaper publications published daily over a six months period from 1st January to 30th June 2011. The sample size for the content analysis included all the newspaper articles that mentioned any on the twenty two women aspirants. A total of ten senior editors and writers working for the Nation Media Group and the Standard Group were purposively selected for the indepth interviews. A key finding was that news print media coverage of women in politics is low, their stories placed in the inside pages and rarely do their names hardly make it to the headlines making them ‘invisible’. The researcher concludes that ‘hidden’ influences such as cultural backgrounds of the media professionals, principles of what makes news and commercial interest contribute tQ the low coverage of women.
Robust Registration Method of 3D Point Cloud Data

3D point cloud data is used for 3D model acquisition, geometry processing and 3D inspection. Registration of 3D point cloud data is crucial for each field. The difference between 2D image registration and 3D point cloud registration is that the latter requires several things to be considered: translation on each plane, rotation, tilt and etc. This paper describes a method of registering 3D point cloud data with noise. The relationship between the two sets of 3D point cloud data can be obtained by Affine transformation. In order to calculate 3D Affine transformation matrix, corresponding points are required. To find the corresponding points, we use the height map which is projected from 3D point cloud data onto XY plane. We formulate the height map matching as a cost function and estimate the corresponding points. To find the proper 3D Affine transformation matrix, we formulate a cost function which uses the relationship of the corresponding points. Also the proper 3D Affine transformation matrix can be calculated by minimizing the cost function. The experimental results show that the proposed method can be applied to various objects and gives better performance than the previous work.
Evaluation of the clinical relevance and limitations of current pre-clinical models of peripheral artery disease.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) usually results from atherosclerosis and associated thrombosis and limits blood supply to the lower limbs. Common presenting symptoms include intermittent claudication (IC), rest pain and tissue loss. When limb viability is threatened, known as critical limb ischaemia (CLI), surgical and endovascular interventions are frequently undertaken; however, these are not always successful and ultimately major amputation may be required. There is significant interest in developing new therapeutic approaches to manage PAD which can be applied to patients unlikely to benefit from interventional approaches. Many of the therapeutic agents successful in inducing angiogenesis and arteriogenesis in pre-clinical animal models of PAD have failed to have efficacy in human randomized control trials. One possible reason for this inability to translate findings to patients could be the type of pre-clinical animal models used. In the present review, we describe currently available pre-clinical models of PAD and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the available models. A detailed assessment of the currently available pre-clinical animal models shows major limitations such as variability in the surgical procedure used to induce limb ischaemia, variability in the strains of rodents used, lack of risk factors incorporated into the model and lack of standardized functional outcomes. The most commonly used outcome assessments in studies within pre-clinical models differ from those employed in clinical trials within PAD patients. Most current pre-clinical models are designed to produce acute ischaemia which leads to muscle necrosis and inflammation. Patients, however, most commonly present with chronic ischaemia suggesting that more representative models are needed to evaluate therapeutic modalities that can be potentially translated to clinical practice.
Direct Thrombin Inhibitors: Appraisal of the Antithrombotic/ Hemorrhagic Balance

The growing recognition of the importance of thromboem-bolism in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases has strongly stimulated the search for more effective and safer antithrombotic drugs. There are numerous ways to interfere with the complex coagulation systems of platelets and coaguation. Direct inhibition of thrombin is one of the recent pharmacological approaches. Basis of the search fo, new direct antithrombin drugs Based on the clinical effectiveness of unfractionated and low-molecular-weight heparin, two classes of indirect thrombin inhibitors, the search for specific thrombin inhibitors
The superconducting magnet system for the ATLAS Detector at CERN

The superconducting magnet system for the ATLAS Detector for the Large Hadron Collider at CERN is under construction since 1997. The magnet system is a hybrid of 4 superconducting magnets, a 2.5 m bore, 5.3 m long 2 T central solenoid servicing the inner detector and three 4 T toroids with global dimensions of 20 m diameter, 25 m long providing the magnetic field of about 1 T for the muon detectors. The operating currents of the solenoid and toroids are 8 and 20 kA respectively with a total stored energy of 1.6 GJ. The realization of the system is challenging due to its unusual size and complexity. Last year the construction of the coils and cryostats commenced in industry. The manufacture of the solenoid cold mass is already finished and the delivery of the individual toroid coils will commence in 2001. An on-surface test of all magnets will occur. After installation in a new cavern 100 m underground this will start in 2003 leading to commissioning of the entire magnet system in early 2005. In the paper various magnets are introduced as well as the common infrastructure and services required. The status of the project is reviewed.
Real Estate Investment Trusts: An Appraisal

REAL ESTATE CORPORATIONS, syndicates, certain small business investment corporations, industrial corporations with major land holdings, and real estate investment trusts are the alternative vehicles found in the public securities market through which the individual can invest in real estate. This study is concerned with one of these: real estate investment trusts. Real estate investment trusts (REITs), burst into the news late in 1960 when a change in the law gave them a federal income tax advantage. They caught the investing public's fancy and their star appeared bright until the stock market dropped in the spring of 1962. Since then little has been heard about the trusts. They fell from favor with investors, apparently tarred with the same brush as real estate syndicates. REITs currently appear to be regaining some investor interest, even though major brokerage houses have tended to view them skeptically, and some have declined to supply their customers with information on the trusts. While the popular press has contained some information about real estate investment trusts, little has appeared in the more serious financial publications. The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of a study of REITs: their organization, operation, performance, and prospects.
High and Rising Health Care Costs: Demystifying U.S. Health Care Spending

Between 1985 and 2006, health care spending increased by an average of 7.7 percent per year, while GDP increased 5.6 percent per year (Figure 1). The data on health spending are from the National Health Expenditure Accounts (NHEA) maintained by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Office of the Actuary. The NHEA are considered the gold standard for U.S. spending data (Reference 3).
Supplemental fat and ionophores in finishing diets: feedlot performance and ruminal digesta kinetics in steers.

One feedlot trial (116 d; 192 steers) with a factorial arrangement of treatments was conducted to determine effects of supplemental fat and ionophores in corn-based finishing diets. Factors were level of fat (0 or 4% tallow) and ionophore type (none [N], lasalocid [L], monensin plus tylosin [MT], or daily rotation of L and MT [LMT]); L, M, and T were fed at 31, 25, and 10 ppm (DM basis), respectively. Fat and ionophore interacted for DMI (P < .10), ADG (P < .01), and gain:feed G/F, P < . 05). Compared with 0%-fat diets, 4% fat decreased (P < .005) DMI by steers fed MT by 8.9%. In 0%-fat diets, MT increased (P < .05) ADG and G/F compared with N or L; however, this increase was negated or reversed in 4%-fat diets. Fat and ionophore interacted (P < .16) on dietary NE concentration. In the 0%-tallow diet, MT increased NEm and NE(g) by 5.1 and 7.0%, respectively, but MT had not effect on NE concentration of the 4%-tallow diet. Alternate feeding of L and MT did not increase animal performance above that of separate, continuous feeding. Six ruminally fistulated steers were used in a metabolism study to evaluate potential mechanisms underlying the interactions observed in the feedlot trial. Treatments were the same as the feedlot trial, except that LMT was not included. Ruminal digesta kinetics were not altered (P > .30) by the addition of fat or ionophores to the diet. Fat and ionophore interacted (P < .05) for molar proportions of ruminal acetate and propionate. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Strategy and Circumstance: The Success of the NUJ's New Technology Policy

This article assesses the success of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) in negotiating the introduction of computerised editorial systems (direct input) into provincial newspapers. It employs a quantitative and qualitative analysis to suggest that the NUJ has been exemplary in using the New Technology Agreement (NTA) as a bargaining tool in order to limit the negative effects of technological change and to secure notable benefits — particularly pay increases. This contrasts with other survey evidence which concludes that NTAs have fallen short of the TUC's original objectives in advocating their use. The success of the NUJ is attributed to an appropriate match between the union's new technology policy/strategy and the particular industrial circumstances. It may also explain the recent moves towards decollectivisation in the newspaper industry.
Improving Video Streaming Quality in 5G Enabled Vehicular Networks

The 5G mobile communication technologies are the most prominent candidates for vehicular networks to support various types of applications. In this article, we describe several 5G technologies and how these technologies support various types of vehicular applications. Since high-quality video streaming over vehicular networks is one of the most popular on-road entertainment applications for passengers, this article discusses the challenges of video streaming over 5G enabled vehicular networks. To achieve better video streaming quality, we introduce a double-buffer system to mitigate the delay effect due to a vehicle's frequent handoffs among 5G small cells and the intermittent connection effect resulting from millimeter-wave propagation features. We also discuss potential future work on joint optimization of buffer space and bandwidth allocation for video streaming, and maintaining connectivity for real-time applications in 5G enabled vehicular networks.
Local anesthetics inhibit glutamate release from rat cerebral cortex synaptosomes

Local anesthetics have been widely used for regional anesthesia and the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. Recent studies have also demonstrated that low‐dose systemic local anesthetic infusion has neuroprotective properties. Considering the fact that excessive glutamate release can cause neuronal excitotoxicity, we investigated whether local anesthetics might influence glutamate release from rat cerebral cortex nerve terminals (synaptosomes). Results showed that two commonly used local anesthetics, lidocaine and bupivacaine, exhibited a dose‐dependent inhibition of 4‐AP‐evoked release of glutamate. The effects of lidocaine or bupivacaine on the evoked glutamate release were prevented by the chelation of extracellular Ca2+ ions and the vesicular transporter inhibitor bafilomycin A1. However, the glutamate transporter inhibitor dl‐threo‐beta‐benzyl‐oxyaspartate did not have any effect on the action of lidocaine or bupivacaine. Both lidocaine and bupivacaine reduced the depolarization‐induced increase in [Ca2+]C but did not alter 4‐AP‐mediated depolarization. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of lidocaine or bupivacaine on evoked glutamate release was prevented by blocking the Cav2.2 (N‐type) and Cav2.1 (P/Q‐type) channels, but it was not affected by blocking of the ryanodine receptors or the mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ exchange. Inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) and protein kinase A (PKA) also prevented the action of lidocaine or bupivacaine. These results show that local anesthetics inhibit glutamate release from rat cortical nerve terminals. This effect is linked to a decrease in [Ca2+]C caused by Ca2+ entry through presynaptic voltage‐dependent Ca2+ channels and the suppression of the PKA and PKC signaling cascades. Synapse 67:568–579, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
CATS: Cognitive Analytic Trail System

Analytic systems provide insights to decision makers based on data. Conclusion quality depends on the input data and the reasoning steps made by analysts during exploration. This paper presents CATS, a system able to: (i) Store and leverage information about analytical processes conducted by analysts; (ii) Improve the quality and conﬁdence on analytical reports, by improving how well analysts recall their activities; (iii) Provide ways of comparing different analytical reports; (iv) Help with the dissemination of best practices within analytical teams; (v) Produce the provenance of analytical reports. The use of CATS is illustrated through an example of tracking the work in WISE (Weather InSights Environment) a real tool that combines forecast and observed environmental data to provide an integrated platform to make informed decisions.
Evolving research on expatriates: what is ‘known’ after four decades (1970–2012)

The purpose of this paper was to provide a comprehensive review of the evolving research on a still key challenge for human resource management (HRM) in the globalized business of today: the expatriates and their impact on business performance. Research of four decades was reviewed to show what was known and what was not yet known. A bibliometric analysis was conducted to build a conceptual map of the evolving research. Up to 438 papers published in 104 different journals by 233 authors were analyzed. Most of the literature studies and research does not show a systematic approach, so this review may be useful for scholars and practitioners in the field of HRM and International Business Management in order to advance into the next stage of development on how to deal with and take advantage of hiring expatriates. Even after more than four decades of intensive research, the literature on expatriation is still nascent and requires higher order content. New contexts and organizations should be included in the research agenda, while an effort must be made in systematic approaches and in building higher order content in the international HRM field.
Development, optimization, and in vitro characterization of dasatinib-loaded PEG functionalized chitosan capped gold nanoparticles using Box–Behnken experimental design

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this research study was to develop, optimize, and characterize dasatinib loaded polyethylene glycol (PEG) stabilized chitosan capped gold nanoparticles (DSB-PEG-Ch-GNPs). Methods: Gold (III) chloride hydrate was reduced with chitosan and the resulting nanoparticles were coated with thiol-terminated PEG and loaded with dasatinib (DSB). Plackett–Burman design (PBD) followed by Box–Behnken experimental design (BBD) were employed to optimize the process parameters. Polynomial equations, contour, and 3D response surface plots were generated to relate the factors and responses. The optimized DSB-PEG-Ch-GNPs were characterized by FTIR, XRD, HR-SEM, EDX, TEM, SAED, AFM, DLS, and ZP. Results: The results of the optimized DSB-PEG-Ch-GNPs showed particle size (PS) of 24.39 ± 1.82 nm, apparent drug content (ADC) of 72.06 ± 0.86%, and zeta potential (ZP) of −13.91 ± 1.21 mV. The responses observed and the predicted values of the optimized process were found to be close. The shape and surface morphology studies showed that the resulting DSB-PEG-Ch-GNPs were spherical and smooth. The stability and in vitro drug release studies confirmed that the optimized formulation was stable at different conditions of storage and exhibited a sustained drug release of the drug of up to 76% in 48 h and followed Korsmeyer–Peppas release kinetic model. Conclusions: A process for preparing gold nanoparticles using chitosan, anchoring PEG to the particle surface, and entrapping dasatinib in the chitosan-PEG surface corona was optimized.
PCA and PLS monitoring approaches for fault detection of wastewater treatment process

In order to produce the goods with high quality, the industrial system is becoming more complex than before. Meanwhile, the plant is suffering from high potential risks and the faults within it is difficult to be detected. Researchers have made efforts to diagnose the possible faults occurred in the system to further prevent the process from being broken down. Model-based method is proposed at the beginning and it receives effective monitoring results indeed. However, the mathematic model of the system should be known as prior, and it is challenging to achieve the goal. On the other hand, the Multivariate Statistical Process Monitoring (MSPM) does not require that people have clearly understood the process model before carrying out the diagnosis method. Two approaches based on Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares (PLS) separately are included in the framework of MSPM. This paper firstly introduces PCA and PLS techniques, including the algorithms, the test statistic, and differences between them. Then the thesis proposes Benchmark Simulation Model No.1 (BSM1), which is used to testify the efficiency of the proposed methods. Finally, the simulation is carried out and the result is reported.
Spatial and stimulus‐type tuning in the LEC, MEC, POR, PrC, CA1, and CA3 during spontaneous item recognition memory

According to the “two streams” hypothesis, the lateral entorhinal (LEC) and the perirhinal (PrC) cortices process information related to items (a “what” stream), the postrhinal (POR) and the medial entorhinal cortices (MEC) process spatial information (a “where” stream), and both types of information are integrated in the hippocampus (HIP). However, within the framework of memory function, only the HIP is reliably shown to preferentially process spatial information, and the PrC items' features. In contrast, the role of the LEC and MEC in memory is virtually unexplored, and conflicting results emerge for the POR. Moreover, the specific contribution of the hippocampal subfields CA1 and CA3 to spatial and non‐spatial memory is not thoroughly understood. To investigate which of these areas is specifically tuned to spatial demands or stimulus identity (odor or object), we assessed the pattern of activation of these areas during recognition memory by detecting the immediate‐early gene Arc, commonly used as a marker of neuronal activation. We report that all MTL areas were recruited during the spatial and the non‐spatial tasks. However, the LEC, MEC, POR, and CA1 were activated to a comparable level in spatial and non‐spatial tasks, while the PrC was tuned to stimulus‐type, not spatial demands, and CA3 to spatial demands but not stimulus‐type. Results are discussed within the frame of a recent model suggesting that the MTL could be segregated in terms of memory processes, such as recollection and familiarity, rather than information content. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Organization and Regulation of metaCleavage Pathway Genes for Toluene and o-Xylene Derivative Degradation in Pseudomonas stutzeri OX1

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas stutzeri OX1 meta pathway genes for toluene and o-xylene catabolism were analyzed, and loci encoding phenol hydroxylase, catechol 2,3-dioxygenase, 2-hydroxymuconate semialdehyde dehydrogenase, and 2-hydroxymuconate semialdehyde hydrolase were mapped. Phenol hydroxylase converted a broad range of substrates, as it was also able to transform the nongrowth substrates 2,4-dimethylphenol and 2,5-dimethylphenol into 3,5-dimethylcatechol and 3,6-dimethylcatechol, respectively, which, however, were not cleaved by catechol 2,3-dioxygenase. The identified gene cluster displayed a gene order similar to that of thePseudomonas sp. strain CF600 dmp operon for phenol catabolism and was found to be coregulated by thetou operon activator TouR. A hypothesis about the evolution of the toluene and o-xylene catabolic pathway inP. stutzeri OX1 is discussed.