Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extracting Biological Knowledge by Fuzzy Association Rule Mining

Last years' mapping of diverse genomes has generated huge amounts of biological data which are currently dispersed through many databases. Biological data are often heterogeneous, imprecise and noisy. Integration and analysis of this information are required to understand genes roles in cell behaviour. Fuzzy set theory is specially suitable to model imprecise and noisy data and association rules are very appropriate to deal with heterogeneous data. In this work we propose a novel fuzzy methodology based on a fuzzy association rule mining method. Interesting relations between functional and structural gene features are obtained. Furthermore, it is shown that fuzzy association rules model these relations in a more intuitive way than previously used techniques.
Comparative Study of REST and SOAP: Case of Registrar of Political Parties’ Kenya

This research is a comparative study of Representational State Transfers (REST) and Simple Object Access protocol (SOAP). The research is an objective experimental study that investigates how REST compares to SOAP web services in terms of performance, scalability, maintainability and extensibility. Two prototypes one for each web service were developed that consolidate data from different sources into the same database tables. Data from registrar of political parties of Kenya was presented from MYSQL database via the web services in the forms of HTML, XML and JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) using the common browsers. On average from the experiments performed in this research, Performance results indicated by the amount of time taken to pull data from the server and the memory required to finish the process, shows that SOAP web services takes approximately over one and half times memory required by REST and about 3 times the amount of time needed to fetch the same data from the same database table. However scalability measured via throughput values (Kbps) against number of users accessing the same data at the same time, indicates that both REST and SOAP scale almost evenly but with REST having a slightly higher throughput with the increase in number of users.
Protective effects of ulinastatin against ischemia-reperfusion injury.

We investigated the protective effect of urinary trypsin inhibitor (ulinastatin: UTI) in vitro, in relation to the neutrophil activity in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. The rat liver was removed and preserved in cold Ringer's lactate solution for 60 min, followed by 120 min of reperfusion with oxygenated perfusate. The rats were divided into four groups (n = 8 in each group). The livers were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit (K-H) solution containing no additives in group 1, 50,000 U/kg of UTI in group 2, 3.5 x 10(6) of neutrophils in group 3, and both neutrophils and UTI in group 4. In group 3, the AST and ALT levels were always higher than those in other three groups at any point evaluated (P < 0.01) and the LDH levels were observed to be significantly higher than those in other three groups at 0, 5, 10, 60, and 90 min after reperfusion (P < 0. 01). These increase were suppressed by additional pretreatment with UTI in group 4. The bile flow during reperfusion was significantly suppressed in group 3 compared to that of group 4, at both 30 (P < 0. 01) and 60 (P < 0.05) min after reperfusion. The MPO activity after reperfusion in group 3 also significantly increased compared to other three groups (P < 0.01). These data thus suggest that UTI ameliorated the ischemia/reperfusion injury in vitro by inhibiting of neutrophil accumulation in the postischemic liver.
The State Price Density Implied by Crude Oil Futures and Option Prices

Both large oil price increases and decreases are associated with deteriorating economic conditions. The projection of the state price density (SPD) onto oil returns estimated from oil futures and option prices displays a U-shaped pattern. Because investors assign high state prices to large negative and large positive oil returns, the U-shaped SPD may steepen in either tail when economic conditions deteriorate. The positive return region of the SPD is more closely related to economic conditions. The oil SPD contains information about economic conditions and future security returns that is distinct from the information in the stock index SPD.
Study of a complementary antenna for wearable applications

A complementary antenna for wearable applications is proposed. By introducing a loop-monopole combined structure, unidirectional beam is obtained and the interaction between the antenna and the human body can be potentially mitigated. The antenna's operation principle is analyzed and validated at first. Then, prototypes are designed and measured. When the antenna is placed in free space, an impedance bandwidth (20log|S11| <; -10 dB) from 2.76 to 8.13 GHz is obtained. When it is worn on different persons, stable impedance from 1.8-5.6 GHz can be achieved. Finally, a prototype is worn on a pork phantom and measured for its radiation patterns. It is seen stable unidirectional radiation patterns can be achieved within the whole impedance bandwidth. Therefore, the proposed antenna should be a good candidate for wearable applications.
Adhesion of Lactic Acid Bacteria to Caco‐2 Cells and Their Effect on Cytokine Secretion

Cytokines secreted by human enterocytes play a critical role in mucosal and systemic immunity. Intestinal microorganisms can influence this secretion. In the present study, 30 strains of lactic acid bacteria were characterized for their adhesion to Caco‐2 cells and their potential to stimulate proinflammatory cytokine secretion by this cell line. The bacteria adhered in a strain‐dependent manner to Caco‐2 cells. Contact with lactobacilli did not result in the production of IL‐6 or IL‐8. A slight IL‐6 and IL‐8 production by a Caco‐2 cell was detected after exposure to 8 of the tested Bifidobacterium strains. No correlation was found between adhesion and cytokine induction among the bacteria tested. This indicates that lactic acid bacteria, even those with strong adhesive properties, are not very likely to trigger an inflammatory response in human enterocytes.
A reference signal phase independent high precision timing skew mismatch estimation scheme for time interleaved ADC

This paper proposed a band-limited signal based timing skew estimation scheme for time interleaved (TI) analog to digital convertor (ADC). In general, such method is more sensitive to the phase of the reference signal. A simple method to extract the timing skew mismatch without tracking the phase of the reference signal is presented. Besides, the reference signal is a filtered sinusoidal signal, thus it takes only a very small bandwidth to achieve better anti-interference capability. Generated by the same clock management unit which generates the sampling clock of the sub-ADCs, the reference signal dose not require additional circuits, and provides the system with real-time tracking capability against environmental changes. And there is no frequency error/jitter between the digital domain clock and the reference signal, thereby reducing the consumption of computational resources for signal frequency synchronization.
Assessing sensor accuracy for non-adjunct use of continuous glucose monitoring.

BACKGROUND The level of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) accuracy needed for insulin dosing using sensor values (i.e., the level of accuracy permitting non-adjunct CGM use) is a topic of ongoing debate. Assessment of this level in clinical experiments is virtually impossible because the magnitude of CGM errors cannot be manipulated and related prospectively to clinical outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS A combination of archival data (parallel CGM, insulin pump, self-monitoring of blood glucose [SMBG] records, and meals for 56 pump users with type 1 diabetes) and in silico experiments was used to "replay" real-life treatment scenarios and relate sensor error to glycemic outcomes. Nominal blood glucose (BG) traces were extracted using a mathematical model, yielding 2,082 BG segments each initiated by insulin bolus and confirmed by SMBG. These segments were replayed at seven sensor accuracy levels (mean absolute relative differences [MARDs] of 3-22%) testing six scenarios: insulin dosing using sensor values, threshold, and predictive alarms, each without or with considering CGM trend arrows. RESULTS In all six scenarios, the occurrence of hypoglycemia (frequency of BG levels ≤50 mg/dL and BG levels ≤39 mg/dL) increased with sensor error, displaying an abrupt slope change at MARD =10%. Similarly, hyperglycemia (frequency of BG levels ≥250 mg/dL and BG levels ≥400 mg/dL) increased and displayed an abrupt slope change at MARD=10%. When added to insulin dosing decisions, information from CGM trend arrows, threshold, and predictive alarms resulted in improvement in average glycemia by 1.86, 8.17, and 8.88 mg/dL, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Using CGM for insulin dosing decisions is feasible below a certain level of sensor error, estimated in silico at MARD=10%. In our experiments, further accuracy improvement did not contribute substantively to better glycemic outcomes.
MTN: A South African mobile telecommunications group in Africa and Asia

ABSTRACT The MTN Group, based in South Africa, is a multinational enterprise from an emerging economy (EE-MNE), operating mobile telecommunications networks in Asia and Africa. It was built up by negotiating licences and by acquiring operators, notably Investcom, a Lebanese-owned firm with operations in Asia, Africa and Cyprus. Such opportunities arose from the liberalisation of national markets and the financialisation of the sector. MTN now has licences from some very unattractive governments, to which it pays taxes, provides wire-tapping, collects metadata and censors content. Its business partners have included political parties, cronies of political leaders and individuals on a United Nations asset freeze list. It denies allegations it displaced a rival in Iran by corrupt means. It successfully became a major international operator, but acquisitions have stopped, forcing it to rely on organic growth and new technologies.
Stakeholders’ receptiveness to an ethnomathematics curriculum foundation : the case of Cameroon

The purpose of this study is to assess the curriculum stakeholders' receptiveness to a curriculum built on an ethnomathematics foundation. The stakeholders who participated in this study were secondary school students, secondary mathematics teachers, pedagogic personnel and teacher educator. The students and the teachers were from two secondary schools in Cameroon, one of which was public and the other private. Data collected for analysis include audiotaped interview transcripts, questionnaires and field notes from classroom observations of the teaching of an ethnomathematics unit. From an analysis and interpretation of the data, a picture emerged of the stakeholders' level of interests and concern about adopting an ethnomathematics curriculum foundation. Findings from this study indicate that the stakeholders are generally receptive to an ethnomathematics curriculum but are also concerned about the demands such a curriculum would have on the cultural knowledge background of those in the mathematics classroom. The study also indicates that the stakeholders' encounter with an ethnomathematics approach can help them develop a broader view of mathematics and raise awareness of the presence of mathematical processes in cultural practices. The study notes that the stakeholders demonstrated both situational and actualized interests that were complex and not fixed. When a particular cultural activity facilitated mathematics teaching and learning, the stakeholders exhibited actualized interest to an ethnomathematics curriculum. When the lesson activities demanded much from the stakeholders in terms of cultural background knowledge and the teaching and learning implements, the stakeholders showed situational interest. The study also suggests that stakeholders' interests in an ethnomathematics curriculum are complex and interrelated, and are influenced more by external factors than by a given phenomenon.
Does the presence of accompanying symptom clusters differentiate the comparative effectiveness of second‐line medication strategies for treating depression?

Background: We explored whether clinical outcomes differ by treatment strategy following initial antidepressant treatment failure among patients with and without clinically relevant symptom clusters. Methods: The Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) trial was used to examine depression remission and response in patients with coexisting anxiety, atypical features, insomnia, and low energy. We applied propensity scoring to control for selection bias that precluded comparisons between augmentation and switch strategies in the original trial. Binomial regressions compared the likelihood of remission or response among patients with and without symptom clusters for switch versus augmentation strategies (n = 269 per arm); augmentation strategy type (n = 565); and switch strategy type (n = 727). Results: We found no statistically significant difference in remission or response rates between augmentation or switch strategies. However, symptom clusters did distinguish among augmentation and switch strategies, respectively. For patients with low energy, augmentation with buspirone was less likely to produce remission than augmentation with bupropion (remission Risk Ratio (RR): 0.54, 95% CI: 0.35–0.85, response RR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.43, 1.03). Also, for patients with low energy, switching to venlafaxine or bupropion was less likely to produce remission than switching to sertraline (RR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.36–0.97; RR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.38–1.06, respectively). Conclusions: Remission and response rates following initial antidepressant treatment failure did not differ by treatment strategy for patients with coexisting atypical symptoms or insomnia. However, some second‐step treatments for depression may be more effective than others in the presence of coexisting low energy. Subsequent prospective testing is necessary to confirm these initial findings. Depression and Anxiety, 2011. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Multi-target detection algorithm for FMCW radar

FMCW (Frequency Modulation Continuous Wave) radar has been a popular method for automotive applications. The typical FMCW radar, however, has serious problems in multi-target situations. That is, range-velocity processing gives rise to so-called ghost targets due to Doppler shift in the received beat-frequency. In this paper, we propose a new transmit wave and detection algorithm. In the proposed method, the rough range is detected in the first period, and the fine range and velocity are obtained in the second period.
Indicators of Regulatory Quality

Better state regulation is a key component of economic reform. This is the first book to comprehensively explore international experience in the use of Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA), which involves assessing the potential benefits and costs of any regulatory change. The contributors reveal that RIA is being adopted by an increasing number of countries as a route to better regulation with varying degrees of success. The book includes contributions from leading experts on regulatory reform and introduces a range of case studies from developed, developing and transitional economies.
Have Unskilled Youths Become More Vulnerable to Unemployment in Switzerland?

Unskilled workers are seen as having increasing difficulties in advanced economies, where a minimal set of skills is often required even at the low end of jobs distribution. We attempt to see if any structural change has occurred in Switzerland for young workers with only compulsory schooling and how they fare compared to adults or youths with an apprenticeship. Some change seems to be visible, but it is still unclear whether the break is due to a structural change or to greater job insecurity during downturns for unskilled workers.
Behavioural pharmacology of the new generation of antipsychotic agents

Antipsychotic agents have been the mainstay in the management of schizophrenia for a number of years. Their therapeutic efficacy is primarily attributed to dopamine receptor antagonism (Creese et al, 1976), leading to a reduction in the positive symptoms of schizophrenia such as paranoia and hallucinations. Unfortunately, they have little effect on the negative symptoms (such as flattened affect, poverty of speech, anhedonia and social withdrawal) or cognitive deficits. The blockade of central dopamine receptors by classical antipsychotic agents also leads to the development of both acute and chronic motor disturbances (extrapyramidal side-effects) (EPS) (Meltzer, 1992).
Whiplash and Minor Head Injury: The Problem is Finding the Problem

Subsequent to reading Guerrero et al article entitled “Epicrania Fugax: Ten New Cases and Therapeutic Results”, we were struck by the similarities encountered in some of our own patients, who complain of sudden, sharp shooting episodic pains on the vertex, lasting from a few seconds to a maximum of 30 seconds, with intense discomfort, occurring multiple times, mostly during daytime, and disappearing spontaneously, leaving the patient scared. We have come across 16 such patients in the headache clinic of our tertiary care hospital in the last 5 years. Such pains do not have any precipitating factors and occur spontaneously, without any associated symptoms or any post headache features. Often such headaches are seen in pediatric and adolescent populations, more so in school aged boys. Neurological examination is completely normal. Brain imaging (CT scan or magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) of such patients does not show any abnormalities. Most of these patients did not respond to traditional analgesics and often visited psychiatrists as these were considered escape phenomena. In view of the episodic attack like features, the possibility of them being ictal was considered and electroencephalographic examination invariably showed epileptiform discharges in the form of spike and sharp waves. These children have shown dramatic response to carbamazepine, which was generally continued for a period of 4-6 weeks. Recovery is generally complete. Recurrence occurs in about 10-20% cases. Rare reports of an entity called cephalgic seizures have appeared in published literature since the 1980s. The case descriptions include paroxysmal headache as a manifestation of cerebral seizure. The electroencephalographic changes and the response to anticonvulsants were considered diagnostic in these cases. Epicrania fugax is an interesting headache variant with strictly unilateral, shooting pain paroxysms starting in a focal area of the posterior parietal or temporal region and rapidly spreading forward to the ipsilateral eye or nose along a linear or zigzag trajectory, lasting 1-10 seconds. More detailed studies can be planned taking into consideration the possibility of ictal phenomena underlying these paroxysmal events. EEGs should be conducted in all such cases. It would not be surprising if epicrania fugax and cephalgic seizures turn out to be similar entities. Moreover, in the recent times, evidence suggesting an association of migraine with childhood epileptic syndromes like benign occipital epilepsy and benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes strengthens the speculation of existence of shared underlying mechanisms involving neuronal hyper-excitability in these seemingly diverse phenomena.
Point-to-Point Telemedicine using the ISDN

Two pilot telemedicine trials were established, one using basic-rate ISDN (minor injuries service) and one using primary-rate ISDN (remote fetal scanning). Preliminary results were most encouraging. In the first 10 months of operation, 49 patients with minor injuries were managed successfully using telemedicine. Preliminary calculations suggest that the use of a low-cost telemedicine link was extremely cost-effective in comparison with the cost of providing conventional medical cover. In the first six months of operation the fetal scanning link was used for 39 consultations in 29 patients. In 25 cases (86%) a definitive diagnosis was made using the telemedicine link and physical referral was avoided. However, the current cost of the required hardware (approximately £35,000 per end) is likely to militate against the widespread introduction of the technique, especially since the principal savings are intangible from the perspective of any hospital considering purchase. From the point of view of its use as an information transport system for telemedicine, the ISDN proved reliable (only one failure to establish a connection on demand). Picture quality was acceptable in most cases.
Mexican Americans and wealth: economic status, family and place

ABSTRACT We examine the effect of economic, family, and metropolitan area characteristics on Mexican Americans’ wealth outcomes. We use data from the Mexican American Study Project, a data set that allows us to examine longitudinal and intergenerational change. We find that Mexican Americans have one main source of wealth – home equity. Moreover, length of marriage among parent respondents was key for their wealth accumulation, while education and income were important for wealth accumulation among their adult children. Additionally, we find that parents’ wealth has a limited impact on their children’s wealth. Our results suggest that Mexican Americans’ wealth outcomes are mainly attributed to their own economic efforts, rather than the resources passed down from their parents. We argue that Mexican Americans’ modest financial resources and limited intergenerational support stymies their wealth progress. These findings substantiate the challenges of building wealth from a low starting point in socioeconomic resources and structurally-disadvantaged labour market position. Since parental wealth can lift a family beyond its own achievements, Mexican Americans may not be able to achieve financial security in the same manner as do whites. These findings have important implications for the financial conditions of Mexican immigrants and their descendants.