Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Short term impact of smoke-free legislation in England: retrospective analysis of hospital admissions for myocardial infarction

Objective To measure the short term impact on hospital admissions for myocardial infarction of the introduction of smoke-free legislation in England on 1 July 2007. Design An interrupted time series design with routinely collected hospital episode statistics data. Analysis of admissions from July 2002 to September 2008 (providing five years’ data from before the legislation and 15 months’ data from after) using segmented Poisson regression. Setting England. Population All patients aged 18 or older living in England with an emergency admission coded with a primary diagnosis of myocardial infarction. Main outcome measures Weekly number of completed hospital admissions. Results After adjustment for secular and seasonal trends and variation in population size, there was a small but significant reduction in the number of emergency admissions for myocardial infarction after the implementation of smoke-free legislation (−2.4%, 95% confidence interval −4.06% to −0.66%, P=0.007). This equates to 1200 fewer emergency admissions for myocardial infarction (1600 including readmissions) in the first year after legislation. The reduction in admissions was significant in men (3.1%, P=0.001) and women (3.8%, P=0.007) aged 60 and over, and men (3.5%, P<0.01) but not women (2.5% P=0.38) aged under 60. Conclusion This study adds to a growing body of evidence that smoke-free legislation leads to reductions in myocardial infarctions. It builds on previous work by showing that such declines are observed even when underlying reductions in admissions and potential confounders are controlled for. The considerably smaller decline in admissions observed in England compared with many other jurisdictions probably reflects aspects of the study design and the relatively low levels of exposure to secondhand smoke in England before the legislation.
L-Graphs and Monotone L-Graphs

In an $\mathsf{L}$-embedding of a graph, each vertex is represented by an $\mathsf{L}$-segment, and two segments intersect each other if and only if the corresponding vertices are adjacent in the graph. If the corner of each $\mathsf{L}$-segment in an $\mathsf{L}$-embedding lies on a straight line, we call it a monotone $\mathsf{L}$-embedding. In this paper we give a full characterization of monotone $\mathsf{L}$-embeddings by introducing a new class of graphs which we call "non-jumping" graphs. We show that a graph admits a monotone $\mathsf{L}$-embedding if and only if the graph is a non-jumping graph. Further, we show that outerplanar graphs, convex bipartite graphs, interval graphs, 3-leaf power graphs, and complete graphs are subclasses of non-jumping graphs. Finally, we show that distance-hereditary graphs and $k$-leaf power graphs ($k\le 4$) admit $\mathsf{L}$-embeddings.
Institutionalisation of Enterprise Resource Planning Systems: An Integrative Framework

The importance of studying institutional view and theories in the context of contemporary business organisations have been emphasized by many researchers. However, the literature overlooked the institutional elements which are influencing technology implementation in organisations. This study aims to investigate the issues posed to ERP implementation through the lens of technology institutionalisation perspective by considering institutional theory, institutional pressures, and other organisational and technological factors. This research in progress paper describes the research framework for ERP institutionalisation that provides an integrative view of how ERP is implemented, assimilated, and institutionalised within the organisations. This framework brings together the effects of various well-defined IS theories into a unified and integrated structure. Moreover, this paper looks at a broad sample of current IS literature on ERP systems’ successes and failures over various stages of institutionalisation process. Based on the results of literature analysis, tackling an ERP institutionalisation, for any organisation, requires some introspection and true assessment of priorities, objectives and external business environment of the organisation.
Automatic test data generation for programs with integer and float variables

The paper presents a novel approach for automated test data generation of imperative programs containing integer, boolean and/or float variables. Our approach is based on consistency techniques integrating integer and float variables. We handle statement, branch and path coverage criteria. Our purpose is thus to automatically generate test data that will cause the program to execute a statement, to traverse a branch or to traverse a specified path. For path coverage, the specified path is transformed into a path constraint which is solved by an interval-based constraint solving algorithm handling integer, boolean and real variables. A valid test input is then extracted from the interval solutions. For statement (and branch) coverage, a path reaching the specified statement or branch is dynamically constructed. Our algorithm for path coverage is then applied. The search for a suitable path and the solving of path constraints make extensive use of consistency techniques. We propose a simple consistency notion called eBox consistency, for generalizing box consistency to integer and float variables. The eBox consistency is sufficient for our purpose. A prototype has been developed and experimental results show the feasibility of our approach. This work is an extension of work by A. Gotlieb (2000) for float and boolean variables.
Position control of a stewart-gough platform using inverse dynamics method with full dynamics

The Stewart-Gough platform is a six DOF parallel robot manipulator with a force-to-weight ratio and positioning accuracy far exceeding those of a conventional serial-link arm. In this article, application of an inverse dynamics control scheme Stewart-Gough platform is proposed. Control of the parallel manipulator is an open field and the works reported are not rigorous. Kinematic equations of the robot are presented; full dynamic equations of the Stewart-Gough platform are derived using Lagrange's formulation approach. Simulation results illustrate the performance of the control algorithm
The role of unchelated Fe in the iron nutrition of phytoplankton

The important question of iron bioavailability in the sea has become complicated by the discovery that marine phytoplankton can take up Fe bound in very stable chelates via reductive processes, and some particular Fe species through specialized transport mechanisms. As a result there is some question of whether the small fraction of Fe that is "free" or unchelated in seawater is important in the nutrition of natural phytoplankton assemblages. A careful examination of published laboratory studies on Fe uptake by model organisms all support the idea that unchelated Fe(III) is highly available for uptake and that it is an important source of the Fe taken up by phytoplankton under a variety of experimental conditions. Comparing these results with field data on Fe speciation shows that unchelated Fe can be an important source of Fe to the phytoplankton in the sea: it is likely sufficient to contribute the bulk of the Fe supporting primary production in regions that are not limited by Fe and a significant fraction everywhere, including high‐nutrient low‐chlorophyll areas.
Comparison of Alvarado Score Evaluation and Clinical Judgment in Acute Appendicitis

ABSTRACT Background: Acute appendicitis is the most common surgical emergency in children, but its diagnosis is sometimes difficult. The aim: of this study is to evaluate retrospectively the Alvarado score in relation to the surgical management based on clinical judgment. Methods: Medical files of 232 children who underwent appendectomy at Makassed General Hospital from January 1997 till December 2006 were reviewed. Demographic characteristics, symptoms and signs, laboratory results and imaging findings for all children were recorded. Results: The positive predictive value of our clinical judgment was 86.4% and the negative appendectomy rate was 13.6% based on the pathology results. The reliability of Alvarado score in our population found a PPV of 80.7% and a negative appendectomy rate of 11.3%. A multivariate analysis revealed that anorexia, neutrophils left shift and rebound tenderness are significantly correlated with a correct diagnosis of appendicitis (p = 0.012, 0.023 and 0.046 respectively). Conclusion: Although, Alvarado score provides measurably useful diagnostic information in evaluating children with suspected appendicitis, we found that good clinical judgment remain the main stay of correct diagnosis of appendicitis.
An approach to automated hardware/software partitioning using a flexible granularity that is driven by high-level estimation techniques

Hardware/software partitioning is a key issue in the design of embedded systems when performance constraints have to be met and chip area and/or power dissipation are critical. For that reason, diverse approaches to automatic hardware/software partitioning have been proposed since the early 1990s. In all approaches so far, the granularity during partitioning is fixed, i.e., either small system parts (e.g., base blocks) or large system parts (e.g., whole functions/processes) can be swapped at once during partitioning in order to find the best hardware/software tradeoff. Since the deployment of a fixed granularity is likely to result in suboptimum solutions, we present the first approach that features a flexible granularity during hardware/software partitioning. Our approach is comprehensive in so far that the estimation techniques, our multigranularity performance estimation technique described here in detail, that control partitioning, are adapted to the flexible partitioning granularity. In addition, our multilevel objective function is described. It allows us to tradeoff various design constraints/goals (performance/hardware area) against each other. As a result, our approach is applicable to a wider range of applications than approaches with a fixed granularity. We also show that our approach is fast and that the obtained hardware/software partitions are much more efficient (in terms of hardware effort, for example) than in cases where a fixed granularity is deployed.
Two dimensional filters for enhancing the resolution of interpolated CT scan images

This paper introduces new algorithms for enhancing the resolution of interpolated images. The aim of this algorithm is to have a high resolution image from a single low resolution image. The new algorithms used the interpolation technique with the two dimensional filter that is specifically designed for the image by maximizing the peak signal to noise ratio and structural similarity. The processed images are assessed by comparing them with the ground truth images. The algorithm performance is assessed using the peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity (SSIM). The new algorithm gives better result than the previous 2D filters algorithms.
Sampling open source projects from portals: some preliminary investigations

In this paper, we provide a preliminary evaluation of the quality and quantity of data on 50000 open source (OS) projects hosted at the SourceForge.net portal. Using several indicators of project activity, we identify one sample from the entire dataset: the 'most-broadly-active' OS projects. The number of projects that are active across all of our main indicators of activity account for less than 1% of the projects on the portal. 75% of the projects currently hosted on the SourceForge.net portal are not, and have never really been, active on the portal. Furthermore, whilst there has been a substantial increase in the number of projects being added to SourceForge.net over time, the number of projects being added that then go on to become most-broadly-active projects seems to be decreasing over time. Finally, we recognise that care needs to be taken in defining samples, such as the most-broadly-active projects, as these definitions raise implications for the conclusions that one makes and the generalisations that one should draw
Endogenous Precision of Performance Measures and Limited Managerial Attention‡

Abstract In this paper, we model two drivers that underlie the economic trade-off that shareholders face in designing incentives for optimal effort allocation by managers. The first driver is the presence of a performance-reporting task, by which we mean managers may exert effort to improve the precision of their performance measures. The second is limited managerial attention, where performing one task may have an adverse effect on the cost efficiency of performing another. We show that the subtle interactions of the two drivers may alter the characteristics of incentive provision. First, the interaction may lead to a positive relation between the strength of the incentive and the variance of the performance measures. Second, the interaction may cause an informative performance signal to not be used in equilibrium incentive contracts. In particular, it is possible that the principal will not use a signal whose precision can be improved by the manager in order to discourage the manager from diverting attention to the performance-reporting task. Finally, we apply the model to a project-selection setting and show that, in order to induce the agent to choose higher risk, higher return projects, the principal may need to raise the bonus rate when the choice of project is unobservable.
Alternating proximal gradient method for nonnegative matrix factorization

Nonnegative matrix factorization has been widely applied in face recognition, text mining, as well as spectral analysis. This paper proposes an alternating proximal gradient method for solving this problem. With a uniformly positive lower bound assumption on the iterates, any limit point can be proved to satisfy the first-order optimality conditions. A Nesterov-type extrapolation technique is then applied to accelerate the algorithm. Though this technique is at first used for convex program, it turns out to work very well for the non-convex nonnegative matrix factorization problem. Extensive numerical experiments illustrate the efficiency of the alternating proximal gradient method and the accleration technique. Especially for real data tests, the accelerated method reveals high superiority to state-of-the-art algorithms in speed with comparable solution qualities.
Effect of Platooning on Fuel Consumption of Class 8 Vehicles Over a Range of Speeds, Following Distances, and Mass

This research project evaluates fuel consumption results of two Class 8 tractor-trailer combinations platooned together compared to their standalone fuel consumption. A series of ten modified SAE Type II J1321 fuel consumption track tests were performed to document fuel consumption of two platooned vehicles and a control vehicle at varying steady-state speeds, following distances, and gross vehicle weights (GVWs). The steady-state speeds ranged from 55 mph to 70 mph, the following distances ranged from a 20-ft following distance to a 75-ft following distance, and the GVWs were 65K lbs and 80K lbs. All tractors involved had U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SmartWay-compliant aerodynamics packages installed, and the trailers were equipped with side skirts. Effects of vehicle speed, following distance, and GVW on fuel consumption were observed and analyzed. The platooning demonstration system used in this study consisted of radar systems, Dedicated Short-Range Communication (DSRC) vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications, vehicle braking and torque control interface, cameras and driver displays. The lead tractor consistently demonstrated an improvement in average fuel consumption reduction as following distance decreased, with results showing 2.7% to 5.3% fuel savings at a GVW of 65k. The trailing vehicle achieved fuel consumption savings ranging from 2.8% to 9.7%; tests during more » which the engine cooling fan did not operate achieved savings of 8.4% to 9.7%. 'Team' fuel savings, considering the platooned vehicles as one, ranged from 3.7% to 6.4%, with the best combined result being for 55 mph, 30-ft following distance, and 65k GVW. « less
RESOLUTION OF GRANULES FROM RABBIT HETEROPHIL LEUKOCYTES INTO DISTINCT POPULATIONS BY ZONAL SEDIMENTATION

Postnuclear supernates from homogenates of essentially pure rabbit heterophil leukocytes were fractionated by means of zonal differential centrifugation through a discontinuous sucrose gradient at various speeds. Three distinct groups of granules were characterized biochemically and morphologically. They were, in order of decreasing sedimentation coefficient: (a) Large, relatively dense granules, identified morphologically as the azurophil or primary granules, and containing essentially all of the myeloperoxidase activity of the preparations, about one-third of their lysozyme activity, and between 50 and 80% of their content in five acid hydrolases typically associated with lysosomes in other cells; (b) smaller, less dense granules, with the morphological appearance of the specific or secondary granules, and carrying most of the alkaline phosphatase and the remainder of the lysozyme activity of the preparations; (c) a second group of lysosome-like particles, associated with a morphologically heterogeneous fraction, and containing the remainder of the acid hydrolases, but little or no myeloperoxidase. When p-nitrophenyl phosphate was used instead of β-glycerophosphate for the assay of acid phosphatase, only small proportions of the total activity accompanied the two main lysosomal bands, and considerable activity was found in a zone slightly retarded with respect to the slowly moving band of acid hydrolases.
A Linear Method for Deviation Detection in Large Databases

We describe the problem of finding deviations in large data bases. Normally, explicit information outside the data, like integrity constraints or predefined patterns, is used for deviation detection. In contrast, we approach the problem from the inside of the data, using the implicit redundancy of the data. We give a formal description of the problem and present a linear algorithm for detecting deviations. Our solution simulates a mechanism familiar to human beings: after seeing a series of similar data, an element disturbing the series is considered an exception. We also present experimental results from the application of this algorithm on real-life datasets showing its effectiveness.
Macrophage‐colony stimulating factor is required for the production of neutrophil‐promoting activity by mouse embryo fibroblasts deficient in G‐CSF and GM‐CSF

G‐CSF and GM‐CSF play important roles in regulating neutrophil production, survival, differentiation, and function. However, we have shown previously that G‐CSF/GM‐CSF double‐deficient [knockout (KO)] mice still develop a profound neutrophilia in bone marrow and blood after infection with Candida albicans. This finding suggests the existence of other systems, which can regulate emergency neutrophil production. We have now developed an “in vitro” technique to detect and characterize a neutrophil‐promoting activity (NPA) in the media conditioned by mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from G‐CSF−/−/GM‐CSF−/− mice. NPA is produced in vitro by the MEFs after stimulation with LPS or heat‐inactivated C. albicans. Although M‐CSF added directly to bone marrow cultures does not sustain granulocyte production, our studies indicate that production of NPA requires activation of the M‐CSF receptor (c‐fms). First, G‐CSF−/−/GM‐CSF−/− MEFs produce high levels of NPA after stimulation with LPS or C. albicans, and G‐CSF/GM‐CSF/M‐CSF triple‐KO MEFs do not. Second, the production of NPA by the G‐CSF−/−/GM‐CSF−/− MEFs is reduced significantly upon incubation with neutralizing antibodies to M‐CSF or c‐fms. Third, NPA production by G‐CSF−/−/GM‐CSF−/−/M‐CSF−/− fibroblasts is enhanced by supplementing culture medium with M‐CSF. Thus, stimulation of c‐fms by M‐CSF is a prerequisite for the production of NPA.
Fast, precise and dynamic distance queries

We present an approximate distance oracle for a point set <i>S</i> with <i>n</i> points and doubling dimension λ. For every ε > 0, the oracle supports (1 + ε)-approximate distance queries in (universal) constant time, occupies space [ε<sup>−<i>O</i>(λ)</sup> + 2<sup><i>O</i>(λ log λ)</sup>]<i>n</i>, and can be constructed in [2<sup><i>O</i>(λ)</sup> log<sup>3</sup> <i>n</i> + ε<sup>−<i>O</i>(λ)</sup> +2<sup><i>O</i>(λ log λ)</sup>]<i>n</i> expected time. This improves upon the best previously known constructions, presented by Har-Peled and Mendel [13]. Furthermore, the oracle can be made fully dynamic with expected <i>O</i>(1) query time and only 2<sup><i>O</i>(λ)</sup> log <i>n</i> + ε<sup>−<i>O</i>(λ)</sup> +2<sup><i>O</i>(λ log λ)</sup> update time. This is the first fully dynamic (1 + ε)-distance oracle.
Specimen Preparation for Scanning Electron Microscopy 1

Microscopy plays an important role in the examination of cementitious materials. Optical and electron-optical techniques allow examination of microstructural details with sub-micrometer definition. The increased application of scanning electron microscopy in cement and concrete investigations has brought attention to differences in preparation techniques. The success of these investigations is, in part, influenced by the type and quality of specimen preparation. In particular, backscattered electron and X-ray imaging modes are influenced by the specimen surface characteristics, with the ideal surface being highly polished. Saw-cut surfaces that have not been epoxy-impregnated, nor polished, are not representative of the true microstructure, and are difficult to examine and interpret without bias. Sawing creates a series of fractures, which are enhanced with subsequent drying shrinkage. Particulate matter from the sawing is also deposited on the surface. These effects combine to present a surface that is not well suited for any type of microscopy and that is substantially different from the true concrete microstructure. Polished epoxy-impregnated surfaces are relatively simple to prepare and allow the researcher to avoid the above-mentioned difficulties. Claims that this procedure alters, or 'smears', the microstructure have not been substantiated. Procedures developed in our laboratory for preparation of polished sections of clinker, cements, and hardened portland cement concrete preparations are presented here.
DA EXPECTATIVA À AÇÃO: UMA ANÁLISE DA QUEBRA DA CONFIANÇA INTERORGANIZACIONAL EM UM HABITAT DE INOVAÇÃO | FROM EXPECTATION TO ACTION: AN ANALYSIS OF THE DISRUPTION OF INTERORGANIZATIONAL TRUST IN AN INNOVATION HABITAT

O modelo de inovacao aberta busca, em sua essencia, a integracao de conhecimentos entre agentes de inovacao. Nesse contexto, a confianca desempenha um papel importante na criacao e desenvolvimento das relacoes interorganizacionais. No entanto, a confianca interorganizacional e, ao mesmo tempo, um fator complexo e fragil, que pode ser quebrada. Seu reestabelecimento nao ocorre de forma facil, pois a mesma se desenvolve com o tempo e diante de interacoes continuas. Dessa forma, o objetivo deste trabalho e compreender como ocorre a quebra da confianca em empresas inseridas em um habitat de inovacao especifico. Assim, para o desenvolvimento da pesquisa qualitativa, optou-se pela entrevista como tecnica de coleta de dados. Foram entrevistados os gestores de empresas incubadas em uma incubadora de Vitoria – ES. Para a analise dos dados, utilizou-se a tecnica de analise de conteudo tematica. Os resultados da pesquisa demonstram que a quebra da confianca ocorre em um processo dinâmico tendo como base a formacao de expectativas anteriores a relacao, sendo determinada, no entanto, no desenvolvimento e manutencao das relacoes a partir do oportunismo. Tal achado pode indicar que, mesmo diante de algumas tensoes relacionais ocorridas, a quebra emergira efetivamente quando o parceiro nao cumprir o que foi estabelecido. DOI: 10.18226/23190639.v5n3. 03