Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On Computational Issues of Market-Based Optimal Power Flow

The deregulated electricity market calls for robust optimal power flow (OPF) tools that can provide a) deterministic convergence; b) accurate computation of nodal prices; c) support of both smooth and nonsmooth costing of a variety of resources and services, such as real energy, reactive energy, voltages support, etc.; d) full active and reactive power flow modeling of large-scale systems; and e) satisfactory worst-case performance that meets the real-time dispatching requirement. Most prior research on OPF has focused on performance issues in the context of regulated systems, without giving much emphasis to requirements a)-c). This paper discusses the computational challenges brought up by the deregulation and attempts to address them through the introduction of new OPF formulations and algorithms. Trust-region- based augmented Lagrangian method (TRALM), step-controlled primal-dual interior point method (SCIPM), and constrained cost variable (CCV) OPF formulation are proposed. The new formulations and algorithms, along with several existing ones, are tested and compared using large-scale power system models.
Healthcare Associated Infections of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A Case-Control-Control Study

Background Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most widespread and dangerous pathogens in healthcare settings. We carried out this case-control-control study at a tertiary care hospital in Guangzhou, China, to examine the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, risk factors and clinical outcomes of MRSA infections. Methods A total of 57 MRSA patients, 116 methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) patients and 102 S. aureus negative patients were included in this study. We applied the disk diffusion method to compare the antimicrobial susceptibilities of 18 antibiotics between MRSA and MSSA isolates. Risk factors of MRSA infections were evaluated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. We used Cox proportional hazards models and logistic regression analysis to assess the hospital stay duration and fatality for patients with MRSA infections. Results The MRSA group had significantly higher resistance rates for most drugs tested compared with the MSSA group. Using MSSA patients as controls, the following independent risk factors of MRSA infections were identified: 3 or more prior hospitalizations (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.3–5.8, P = 0.007), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR 5.9, 95% CI 1.7–20.7, P = 0.006), and use of a respirator (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.0–12.9, P = 0.046). With the S. aureus negative patients as controls, use of a respirator (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.0–13.9, P = 0.047) and tracheal intubation (OR 8.2, 95% CI 1.5–45.1, P = 0.016) were significant risk factors for MRSA infections. MRSA patients had a longer hospital stay duration and higher fatality in comparison with those in the two control groups. Conclusions MRSA infections substantially increase hospital stay duration and fatality. Thus, MRSA infections are serious issues in this healthcare setting and should receive more attention from clinicians.
NGS: a framework for multi-domain query answering

If we consider a query involving multiple domains, such as "find all database conferences held within six months in locations whose seasonal average temperature is 28degC and for which a cheap travel solution exists", we note that (i) general- purpose search engines fail to answer multi-domain queries and (ii) specific search services may cover one of such domains, but no general integration framework is readily available. Currently, the only way to treat such cases is to separately query dedicated services and feed the result of one search as input to another, or to pairwise compare them by hand. This paper presents NGS, a framework providing fully automated support for cross-domain queries. In particular, NGS (a) integrates different kinds of services (search engines, web services, and wrapped web pages) into a global ontology, i.e., a unified view of the concepts supported by the available services, (b) covers query formulation aspects over the global ontology, and query rewriting in terms of the actual services, and (c) offers several optimization opportunities leveraging the characteristics of the different services at hand, based on several different cost metrics.
Prediction of Velocities on Motorways by k-Means Clustering

In this paper a method for the prediction of vehicle velocities is described that can be used for any point of time in the future. The approach is based on a two step clustering which uses toll transaction data of the training of the model. The results are different clusters for each road segment, containing the velocity value and its probability of occurrences. Furthermore the results of the method have been compared to a statistical method as well as to a neural network.
A routing strategy with small world feature and node authority in energy constrained delay tolerant networks

In delay tolerant networks, the design of routing strategy is very challenging due to the characteristics of dynamic topology, long delay and intermittent connectivity. Most of existing routing strategies neglect the number limitation of intermediate nodes during forwarding messages. Owing to the small-world feature in delay tolerant networks, messages can reach destination nodes at most by five or six intermediate nodes. Since aggressively employing intermediate nodes will waste much more resources without improving the delivery probability, the routing strategy of TBSF (the-best-so-far) [1] is put forward by utilizing the small-world feature to limit the number of intermediate nodes. However, the issue of energy efficiency is not resolved in TBSF. In the actual situation, energy of nodes is constrained for the portability, and hence we propose an enhanced strategy with energy efficiency. In our strategy, we design the energy control mechanism, and investigate the node authority by extending the degree centrality to the case of multi-hop neighbor nodes. The extensive simulation results based on the real world traces validate that our proposed strategy can cut down the energy consumption as well as attain the high message delivery probability.
DGHPSim: Supporting smart thinking to improve hospital performance

DGHPSim is a suite of discrete event simulation models that enable managers and clinicians to investigate improvement scenarios for UK general hospitals. The models were developed in Micro Saint Sharp and are configured using hospital data and nationally available health episode statistics. The models can be separately but function best as a single, overall system model that allow users to develop understanding of the interaction effects of possible changes. An example of the use of DGHPSim is given, using UK NHS data, demonstrating how it can be used to investigate improvement options whilst keeping an eye on side effects.
Distinct Disease Profiles in Tuberculosis Metalloproteinase-1 Expression Underlies Heme Oxygenase-1 Regulation of Matrix

Alan Sher Daniel L. Barber, Thomas B. Nutman, Subash Babu and Jackson, Mahtab Moayeri, Stephen Leppla, Irini Sereti, H. Sampaio, Kenneth N. Olivier, Steven M. Holland, Sharon Moss, Joseph R. Fontana, Beatriz E. Marciano, Elizabeth P. Jawahar, Theolis Barbosa, Vincent C. Manganiello, Joel S. Rathinam Sridhar, Vaithilingam V. Banurekha, Mohideen Tosh, Nolan Maier, Elisabete L. Conceição, Andre Kubler, Amaral, Nicolas Riteau, Katrin D. Mayer-Barber, Kevin W. Bruno B. Andrade, Nathella Pavan Kumar, Eduardo P.
The Satiety Signaling Neuropeptide Perisulfakinin Inhibits the Activity of Central Neurons Promoting General Activity

The metabolic state is one of the determinants of the general activity level. Satiety is related to resting or sleep whereas hunger correlates to wakefulness and activity. The counterpart to the mammalian satiety signal cholecystokinin (CCK) in insects are the sulfakinins. The aim of this study was to resolve the mechanism by which the antifeedant activity of perisulfakinin (PSK) in Periplaneta americana is mediated. We identified the sources of PSK which is used both as hormone and as paracrine messenger. PSK is found in the neurohemal organ of the brain and in nerve endings throughout the central nervous system. To correlate the distributions of PSK and its receptor (PSKR), we cloned the gene coding for PSKR and provide evidence for its expression within the nervous system. It occurs only in a few neurons, among them are the dorsal unpaired median (DUM) neurons which release octopamine thereby regulating the general level of activity. Application of PSK to DUM neurons attenuated the spiking frequency (EC50=11pM) due to reduction of a pacemaker Ca2+ current through cAMP-inhibited pTRPγ channels. PSK increased the intracellular cAMP level while decreasing the intracellular Ca2+ concentration in DUM neurons. Thus, the satiety signal conferred by PSK acts antagonistically to the hunger signal, provided by the adipokinetic hormone (AKH): PSK depresses the electrical activity of DUM neurons by inhibiting the pTRPγ channel that is activated by AKH under conditions of food shortage.
Discrimination the Roller Bearing Faults with Harmonic Wavelet Package, Kernel Principal Component Analysis and Relevance Vector Machine

For the purpose of discriminating the roller bearing faults, this paper proposes a novel method with harmonic wavelet package, Kernel Principal Component Analysis (KPCA) and Relevance Vector Machine (RVM). Firstly, compute the vector energy with wavelet coefficients after the roller bearing vibration signals have been decomposed with harmonic wavelet package. The feature vectors are available after the vector energy has been standardized. Secondly, this paper uses several kernel principal components to extract nonlinear feature from the former vector according to the cumulative principle component contribution rate while greater than 90 %. Thirdly, a multiple classification model is proposed with RVM to discriminate the roller bearing faults. Finally, vibration data from Case Western Reserve University is used to test the proposed method. The experimental results show the proposed method reflects more roller bearing fault characteristics than the conventional method. Meanwhile, it can identify roller bearing states more accurately and efficiently. Copyright © 2014 IFSA Publishing, S. L.
Development of actuated and sensor integrated forceps for minimally invasive robotic surger

In minimally invasive surgery (MIS) the patient's skin forms a spatial barrier between the operation area and the surgeon. This prevents direct access to the operation site which causes a lack of dexterity and limits the sensation of tissue manipulation forces, therefore complicating MIS procedures significantly. A telepresence approach can overcome these limitations: Additional degrees of freedom (DoF) inside the patient provide full manipulability and force torque sensors at the distal end of the instrument allow precise measurement of interaction forces. Using a suitable man‐machine interface and free cartesian motion kinaesthetic feedback can be achieved, thus providing a virtual open surgery environment to the surgeon. This article focuses on the development and first results of actuated and sensor integrated instruments as part of the DLR minimally invasive robotic surgery (MIRS) setup. The instruments as a front‐end part of the MIRS setup form one base of a telepresence working environment and are crucial for semi‐autonomous functions, e.g. motion compensation. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ESTIMATING THE EFFECTS OF BRAND SWITCHING, STOCKPILI NG AND FLEXIBLE CONSUMPTION WITH CONSUMER HETEROGENEIT Y -- A DYNAMIC STRUCTURAL APPROACH

It is well known that in package goods categories a temporary price cut of a brand leads to increase in the sales of that brand in the current period. Under the assumption of stable consumption rate, previous literature has identified that the sources for the increase in sales are brand switching, purchase acceleration, and increase in quantity. However, there are very few studies that have formally modeled the impact of price promotions on consumption when consumption rate in a category is not constant. In this paper we offer a methodology to decompose the effects of price promotions into brand switching, stockpiling and change in consumption and explicitly allow for consumer heterogeneity in brand preferences and consumption needs. A dynamic structural model of a household that decides when, what, how much to buy as well as how much to consume to maximize its expected utility over an infinite horizon is developed. By making simplifying behavior assumptions we enable to reduce the dimensionality of the problem. We estimate the proposed model using scanner panel data of 1000 households on canned tuna purchases for 12 product alternatives over a two-year period. The results from the model shed insights on the decomposition of the price elasticity into its components that could help managers make inferences about for which brands and categories household stockpiling and consumption expansion occur as well as understand how temporary price cuts affect future sales. Contrary to previous literature, we find that brand switching is not a dominant force for brand sales increase. We also find that a household's brand preference has significant impact on its stockpiling and flexible consumption behavior. More specifically, we show that brand loyals respond to a price promotion mainly with stockpiling for future consumption while brand switchers do not stockpile at all. We also find that heavy users stockpile more and increase less consumption than light users when there is a price promotion.
Trends in the Development of Machinery and Associated Technology ” TMT 2008 , Istanbul , Turkey , 26-30 August , 2008 THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON SENSITIVITY COEFFICIENT OF THE AMORPHOUS RIBBON FORCE SENSOR

The dependence of the changes of relative electrical resistance on the relative changes of ribbon length (dR/R)/(dl/l) i.e. sensitivity coefficient on temperature has been experimentally investigated in Fe81B13Si4C2 amorphous ribbons. Thermo-electrical measuring of interrelations between electrical resistance and temperature resulted in establishing temperature interval of thermal stability of the investigated alloy, from room temperature to 300°C. The study suggests that within this temperature interval coefficient of sensitivity is independent on temperature. Measuring of the dependence of electrical resistance on temperature has shown that the temperature coefficient of electrical resistance, within the range of room temperature to 300oC, is rather low. The sample underwent the process of structural relaxation during annealing whereupon the coefficient of sensitivity of the ribbon was increased by some 20%, whereas the temperature interval of thermal stability was expanded up to 400oC.
A time-varying, analysis/synthesis auditory filterbank using the gammachirp

A time-varying, analysis/synthesis auditory filterbank has been developed using a new implementation of the "gammachirp", which has been shown to be an excellent function for the asymmetric, level-dependent auditory filter. The gammachirp filter is shown to be implemented through a combination of a gammatone filter and an IIR asymmetric compensation filter; which largely reduces the computational cost for time-varying filtering. The gammachirp filterbank is designed using a linear gammatone filterbank and a bank of time-varying asymmetric compensation filters controlled by the sound pressure level estimated at the output of the filterbank. Since the inverse filter of the asymmetric compensation filter is always stable, it is possible to resynthesize signals from time-varying, level-dependent auditory representations. The resynthesis error is only determined by the linear analysis/synthesis gammatone filterbank. The proposed filterbank is applicable to various types of signal processing required to model human auditory filtering.
Genetic insights into the neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia.

The original neurodevelopmental hypothesis of schizophrenia presented by D.R. Weinberger in 1987 focused on pathogenesis and did not address etiology. Available evidence indicates that genetic factors are the principal cause of schizophrenia. It is imperative that any pathogenetic model for schizophrenia takes into account what is now known about genetic mechanisms of illness. Recent advances in molecular genetics can provide insights into the neurodevelopmental expression of the illness and what future genetic discoveries are likely to contribute to our understanding of schizophrenia. In this article, we propose a genetic model of etiopathogenesis that is consistent both with a modified neurodevelopmental hypothesis and our current knowledge about schizophrenia and molecular genetics.
Financial Time Series Analysis and the Impact of Announcement

This paper studies a high frequency time series of oil futures trading contracts and the affect that publicly announced macroeconomic information in the form of an Oil Inventory announcement given by the Energy Information Association in the US has upon it. Using the time series sampled at a five-minute frequency, it is the intention to detect any impacts to the price of the contracts after the announcement has been made and obtain an overall view of the affect on price around the time of the announcement. It is from modelling this behaviour that a forecast is generated in an attempt to predict future values derived from the empirically built model of price distribution.
Mortality in COPD: role of comorbidities

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents an increasing burden throughout the world. COPD-related mortality is probably underestimated because of the difficulties associated with identifying the precise cause of death. Respiratory failure is considered the major cause of death in advanced COPD. Comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease and lung cancer are also major causes and, in mild-to-moderate COPD, are the leading causes of mortality. The links between COPD and these conditions are not fully understood. However, a link through the inflammation pathway has been suggested, as persistent low-grade pulmonary and systemic inflammation, both known risk factors for cardiovascular disease and cancer, are present in COPD independent of cigarette smoking. Lung-specific measurements, such as forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), predict mortality in COPD and in the general population. However, composite tools, such as health-status measurements (e.g. St George's Respiratory Questionnaire) and the BODE index, which incorporates Body mass index, lung function (airflow Obstruction), Dyspnoea and Exercise capacity, predict mortality better than FEV1 alone. These multidimensional tools may be more valuable because, unlike predictive approaches based on single parameters, they can reflect the range of comorbidities and the complexity of underlying mechanisms associated with COPD. The current paper reviews the role of comorbidities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease mortality, the putative underlying pathogenic link between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and comorbid conditions (i.e. inflammation), and the tools used to predict chronic obstructive pulmonary disease mortality.
On achieving consensus using a shared memory

Chor, Israeli and Li recently published three randomized algorithms for a version of the consensus problem for a shared memory model of distributed computing. Their model requires, as atomic instructions on the shared memory, reads and random writes (in which a random choice and a write are done together in a single atomic instruction). This paper develops randomized algorithms for a model in which the only atomic operations on the shared memory are reads and writes.
Riemannian light cone from vanishing birefringence in premetric vacuum electrodynamics

We consider premetric electrodynamics with a local and linear constitutinen7vareve law for the vacuum. Within this framework, we ﬁnd quartic Fresnel wave surfaces for the propagation of light. If we require (i) the Fresnel equation to have only real solutions and (ii) the vanishing of birefringence in vacuum, then a Riemannian light cone is implied. No proper Finslerian structure can occur. This is generalized to dynamical equations of any order.
A Mechanism to Prevent Side Channel Attacks in Cloud Computing Environments

Cloud computing provides the benefits of scalability, agility, reliability, security, performance, and maintenance to enterprises and has emerged to become a reality. While cloud computing brings in many benefits it also introduces several security issues. One of the most serious security issues is the side channel attacks which are attacks based on information gained from the physical implementation of a machine. In this paper, we aim at providing a platform to prevent various types of side channel attacks, e.g., cache-based and timing attacks.
Kinematics of slow turn maneuvering in the fruit bat Cynopterus brachyotis

SUMMARY Maneuvering abilities have long been considered key factors that influence habitat selection and foraging strategies in bats. To date, however, very little experimental work has been carried out to understand the mechanisms that bats use to perform maneuvers. In the present study, we examined the kinematics of slow-speed turning flight in the lesser short-nosed fruit bat, Cynopterus brachyotis, to understand the basic mechanics employed to perform maneuvers and to compare them with previous findings in bats and other flying organisms. Four individuals were trained to fly in L-shaped flight enclosure that required them to make a 90 deg. turn midway through each flight. Flights were recorded with three low-light, high-speed videocameras, allowing the three-dimensional reconstruction of the body and wing kinematics. For any flying organisms, turning requires changes of the direction of travel and the reorientation of the body around the center of mass to maintain the alignment with the flight direction. In C. brachyotis, changes in body orientation (i.e. heading) took place during upstroke and preceded the changes in flight direction, which were restricted to the downstroke portion of the wingbeat cycle. Mean change in flight direction was significantly correlated to the mean heading angular velocity at the beginning of the downstroke and to the mean bank angle during downstroke, although only heading velocity was significant when both variables were considered. Body reorientation prior to changes in direction might be a mechanism to maintain the head and body aligned with the direction of travel and, thus, maximizing spatial accuracy in three-dimensionally complex environments.
TECHNOFERENCE, CONFLICTS, SATISFACTION WITH COUPLE’S RELATIONSHIPS AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE CONNECTION

The purpose of the study Tehnoference, conflict, satisfaction with couple’ s relationships and emotional intelligence connection is to find out is there a relationship to technology and the frequency of conflicts in couple relationships, satisfaction with relationships and emotional intelligence. Main questions of the study: 1. Is there a connection to the technoference and the frequency of conflicts in the relationship? 2. Is the frequency of conflicts in a relationship related to satisfaction with relationships? 3. Is there a relationship to an emotional intelligence with a technofrence? 4. Is there a relationship between emotional intelligence and satisfaction with relationships?