Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimizing the Renewable Energy Potential: Myth or Future Trend in Romania

This paper investigates the potential of Romanian renewable energy across energy production and consumption definitions. Moreover, it presents a model that estimates the regional evolution of renewable energy diffusion, focusing primarily on hydro energy. Statistics showed that Romanian consumers have a key role in developing the renewable energy market, while it is also very important to ensure the ability of renewable energy suppliers to accommodate this demand. Sample data and econometric analysis were applied to delineate factors influencing Romanian consumers’ awareness about renewable energy. The findings highlighted a strong connection between those who bear the cost of renewable energy development and the actual beneficiaries of a clean environment; in that sense, they identify the major drivers and barriers for renewable energy diffusion in Romania. The results of this research could be used for further research in the area of implementing renewable energy projects in the region.
Improving intensive care: Observations based on organizational case studies in nine intensive care units A prospective, multicenter study

To examine organizational practices associated with higher and lower intensive care unit (ICU) outcome performance. Design:Prospective multicenter study. On-site organizational analysis; prospective inception cohort. Setting:Nine ICUs (one medical, two surgical, six medical-surgical) at five teaching and four nonteaching hospitals. Participants:A sample of 3,672 ICU admissions; 316 nurses and 202 physicians. Materials and Methods:Interviews and direct observations by a team of clinical and organizational researchers. Demographic, physiologic, and outcome data for an average of 408 admissions per ICU; and questionnaires on ICU structure and organization. The ratio of actual/predicted hospital death rate was used to measure ICU effectiveness; the ratio of actual/predicted length of ICU stay was used to assess efficiency. Measurements and Main Results:ICUs with superior risk-adjusted survival could not be distinguished by structural and organizational questionnaires or by global judgment following on-site analysis. Superior organizational practices among these ICUs were related to a patient-centered culture, strong medical and nursing leadership, effective communication and coordination, and open, collaborative approaches to solving problems and managing conflict. Conclusions:The best and worst organizational practices found in this study can be used by ICU leaders as a checklist for improving ICU management. (Crit Care Med 1993; 21:1443–1451)
Combining static analysis and model checking for software analysis

We present an iterative technique in which model checking and static analysis are combined to verify large software systems. The role of the static analysis is to compute partial order information which the model checker uses to reduce the state space. During exploration, the model checker also computes aliasing information that it gives to the static analyzer which can then refine its analysis. The result of this refined analysis is then fed back to the model checker which updates its partial order reduction. At each step of this iterative process, the static analysis computes optimistic information which results in an unsafe reduction of the state space. However, we show that the process converges to a fixed point at which time the partial order information is safe and the whole state space is explored.
Constrained Convolutional Sparse Coding for Parametric Based Reconstruction of Line Drawings

Convolutional sparse coding (CSC) plays an essential role in many computer vision applications ranging from image compression to deep learning. In this work, we spot the light on a new application where CSC can effectively serve, namely line drawing analysis. The process of drawing a line drawing can be approximated as the sparse spatial localization of a number of typical basic strokes, which in turn can be cast as a non-standard CSC model that considers the line drawing formation process from parametric curves. These curves are learned to optimize the fit between the model and a specific set of line drawings. Parametric representation of sketches is vital in enabling automatic sketch analysis, synthesis and manipulation. A couple of sketch manipulation examples are demonstrated in this work. Consequently, our novel method is expected to provide a reliable and automatic method for parametric sketch description. Through experiments, we empirically validate the convergence of our method to a feasible solution.
Carbogen and Nicotinamide Increase Blood Flow and 5-Fluorouracil Delivery but not 5-Fluorouracil Retention in Colorectal Cancer Metastases in Patients

Purpose: To examine whether carbogen and nicotinamide increases 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) delivery to colorectal cancer metastases. Experimental Design: Six patients were scanned using positron emission tomography. Two scans were done to coincide with the start of separate chemotherapy cycles. At the second positron emission tomography session, 60 mg/kg nicotinamide was given orally 2 to 3 hours before 10-minute carbogen inhalation. In the middle of carbogen treatment, [15O]H2O (to measure regional tissue perfusion) and then [18F]5-FU (to measure 5-FU tissue pharmacokinetics) were administered. Results: Regions of interest were drawn in 12 liver metastases, 6 spleens, 6 livers, and 12 kidneys. Nicotinamide and carbogen administration increased mean blood pO2 from 93 mm Hg (95% confidence interval, 79-198) to 278 mm Hg (95% confidence interval, 241-316; P = 0.031). Regional perfusion (mLblood/min/mLtissue) increased in metastases (mean change = 52%, range −32% to +261%, P = 0.024), but decreased in kidney (mean change = −42%, range −82% to −11%, P = 0.0005) and liver (mean change = −34%, range −43% to −26%, P = 0.031). 5-FU uptake at 3.75 minutes (m2/mL) increased in tumor (mean change = 40%, range −39% to +196%, P = 0.06) and decreased in kidney (mean change = −25%, range −71% to 12%, P = 0.043). 5-FU delivery measured as K1 increased in tumor (mean change = 74%, range −23% to +293%, P = 0.0039). No differences were seen in [18F]5-FU tumor exposure (net area under curve) and retention. Conclusion: Nicotinamide and carbogen administration can increase 5-FU delivery to colorectal cancer liver metastases. Despite an increase in perfusion and 5-FU delivery, the effects were not directly related and did not increase 5-FU retention or tissue exposure.
A Robust, Multi-criteria Modeling Approach for Optimizing Aeromedical Evacuation Asset Emplacement

According to current force health protection policy, the U.S. Army’s Health Service Support system is designed to maintain a healthy force and to conserve the combat strength of deployed soldiers. Specifically, this system remains particularly effective by employing standardized aeromedical evacuation assets and providing a responsive field-sited medical treatment facility for the wounded soldiers evacuated from the battlefield. Since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom, military commanders have faced a significant combinatorial challenge integrating these life-saving yet limited air evacuation assets into a fully-functional, comprehensive system for the entire theatre, which deserves thorough analysis for decision-making. This work describes a robust, multi-criteria decision analysis methodology using a scenario-based, stochastic optimization goal-programming model that U.S. Army medical planners can use as a strategic and tactical aeromedical evacuation asset-planning tool to help bolster and improve the current air evacuation system in Afghanistan. Specifically, this model optimizes over a set of expected scenarios with stochastically-determined casualty locations to emplace the minimum number of helicopters at each medical treatment facility necessary to maximize the coverage of the theatre-wide casualty demand and the probability of meeting that demand, while minimizing the maximal medical treatment facility evacuation site total vulnerability to enemy attack.
Kernel Cox Regression Models for Linking Gene Expression Profiles to Censored Survival Data

In functional genomics, one important problem is to relate the microarray gene expression profiles to various clinical phenotypes from patients. The success has been demonstrated in molecular classification of cancer in which gene expression data serve as predictors and different types of cancer are the binary or multi-categorical outcome variable. However, there has been less research in linking gene expression profiles to other types of phenotypes, in particular, the censored survival data such as patients' overall survival or cancer relapse times. In the paper, we develop a kernel Cox regression model for relating gene expression profiles to censored phenotypes in the framework the penalization method in terms of function estimation in reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces. To circumvent the problem of censoring, we use the negative partial likelihood as a loss function in the estimation procedure. The functional combinations of the original gene expression data identified by the method are highly correlated with the patients' survival times and at the same time account for the variability in the gene expression levels. We apply our method to data sets from diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, lung adenocarcinoma and breast carcinoma studies to verify its effectiveness. The results from these analyses indicate that the proposed method works very well in identifying subgroups of patients with different risks of death or relapse and in predicting the risk of relapse or death based on the gene expression profiles measured from the tumor samples taken from the patients.
Power control of CDMA systems with successive interference cancellation using the knowledge of battery power capacity

Successive interference cancellation (SIC) has been used in multirate code division multiple access (CDMA) systems to eliminate the cochannel interference. In SIC, the required transmission power of a certain user can be reduced if it is detected late in the cancellation order as the interferences caused by the users that are detected before have been cancelled. We study the power control strategy based on different orderings for the SIC given the knowledge of the battery capacity of the mobiles. In particular we propose different ordering schemes for SIC for different optimization objectives such as minimizing the total power, maximizing the minimum transmission/connection time for a group of users within the same cell and maximizing the total amount of data transmitted for a group of users. Experimental results show that significant improvement can be achieved by using the proposed ordering methods.
25-Hydroxylation of vitamin D3: relation to circulating vitamin D3 under various input conditions.

BACKGROUND Neither the efficiency of the 25-hydroxylation of vitamin D nor the steady state relation between vitamin D(3) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] has been studied in humans. OBJECTIVE We aimed to examine the relation between serum vitamin D(3) and 25(OH)D in normal subjects after either oral administration of vitamin D(3) or ultraviolet-B radiation across a broad range of inputs. DESIGN Values for serum vitamin D(3) and (OH)D(3) were aggregated from 6 studies--1 acute and 5 near-steady state--at various vitamin D(3) inputs. In 3 of the steady state studies, vitamin D(3) had been administered for 18-26 wk in doses of 0 to 11000 IU/d; in 2 studies, subjects had received solar or ultraviolet-B irradiation. RESULTS In the acute study, subjects receiving a single 100000-IU dose of vitamin D(3) had a rise in serum cholecalciferol to a mean of 521 nmol/L at 1 d and then a fall to near-baseline values by 7-14 d. Serum 25(OH)D peaked at 103 nmol/L on day 7 and fell slowly to baseline by day 112. In the 5 steady state studies, the relation of serum 25(OH)D to serum vitamin D(3) was biphasic and was well described by a combined exponential and linear function: Y = 0.433X + 87.81[1-exp (-0.468X)], with R(2) = 0.448. CONCLUSIONS At physiologic inputs, there is rapid conversion of precursor to product at low vitamin D(3) concentrations and a much slower rate of conversion at higher concentrations. These data suggest that, at typical vitamin D(3) inputs and serum concentrations, there is very little native cholecalciferol in the body, and 25(OH)D constitutes the bulk of vitamin D reserves. However, at supraphysiologic inputs, large quantities of vitamin D(3) are stored as the native compound, presumably in body fat, and are slowly released to be converted to 25(OH)D.
Relationships among the Y balance test, Berg Balance Scale, and lower limb strength in middle-aged and older females

Background: Older females have less dynamic postural control and muscle strength than do middle-aged females. Aging-related strength losses may limit balancing performance. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of the Y Balance Test (YBT) and lower limb strength to discriminate between females in 2 age groups, the relationship between YBT distance and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the degree to which performance on YBT distance is related to lower limb strength in middle-aged and older females. Method: The 40 healthy, independently active females were divided into 2 groups: older and middle-aged. The participants underwent measurements of YBT distance using the YBT, maximal muscular strength of the lower limbs using a handheld dynamometer, and the BBS. Results: The YBT distance in 3 directions and lower limb muscle strength for both lower limbs were significantly lower in the older adults than in the middle-aged group. A moderate correlation but insignificant correlation was found between the YBT composite distance and the BBS score. In the older females, YBT distance was significantly positively correlated with strength of the knee flexor and hip abductor. In the middle-aged group, YBT distance was significantly positively correlated with strength of the knee flexor and hip extensor. Conclusions: Performance on the YBT was influenced by the strength of lower limb. We suggested that YBT can be used to alternative as a measurement of dynamic balance. Proper training programs for older people could include not only strengthening exercises but also YBT performance to improve balance.
Distribution of Cerebral Blood Flow During Halothane Versus Isoflurane Anesthesia In Rats

The effects of halothane versus isoflurane on distribution of cerebral blood flow (CBF) were compared using 14C-iodoantipyrine autoradiography. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 1 MAC of either halothane (n = 8) or isoflurane (n = 7) in 33% O2/balance nitrogen for 55 min prior to determination of CBF. Normoxia, normothermia, and normocapnia were maintained throughout the experiment and mean arterial pressures (MAP) were held within the range of 90–100 mmHg by infusion of blood. Coronal autoradiographic brain images were then digitized and optical density values converted to CBF with the use of 14C autoradiographic standards and arterial radioactivity data. Hemispheric, neocortical, subcortical, and selected local anatomical regions were defined on a cathode ray screen display by cursor outline. Mean CBF for each region was determined at each of eight standardized coronal brain sections, and area weighted average values for the whole brain were also calculated. Hemispheric CBF was identical in the two anesthetic groups: halothane = 150 ± 16 ml · 100 gm−1 · min−1; isoflurane = 147 ± 19 ml-100 gm−1 -min−1. However, neocortical CBF was greater in halothane anesthetized animals (halothane = 185 ± 16 ml-100 gm−1- min−1; isoflurane = 154 ± 19 ml-100 gm−1 min−1, P = .004). The authors conclude that halothane and isoflurane exert regionally selective effects on CBF with halothane appearing to have a more pronounced effect on the neocortex. Previously reported discrepancies concerning the relative effects of these two agents on CBF may be due to inherent differences in the tissue regions measured by the different techniques.
Using bi-modal alignment and clustering techniques for documents and speech thematic segmentations

In this paper, we describe a new method for a simultaneous thematic segmentation of the meeting dialogs and the documents discussed or visible throughout the meeting. This bi-modal method is suitable for multimodal applications that are centered on documents, such as meetings and lectures, where documents can be aligned with meeting dialogs. Bringing into play this alignment, our bi-modal segmentation method first transforms its results into a set of nodes in a 2D graph space, where the two axes represent respectively the document units and the meeting dialogs units. Secondly, via a clustering method, the most connected regions in the constituted bi-graph are detected. Finally, the denser clusters are projected on the two axes. The two sequences of segments, obtained on both axes, represent the thematic structure of the document and of the meeting dialogs respectively. We present in this article this bi-modal segmentation technique and its performance compared with two mono-modal segmentation methods.
Tobacco Smoking: Patterns, Health Consequences for Adults, and the Long-term Health of the Offspring

Tobacco use started several centuries ago and increased markedly after the invention of the cigarette making machine. Once people start smoking they find it difficult to quit the habit. This is due to the addictive effect of nicotine in tobacco smoke. Various epidemiologic and laboratory studies clearly showed that smoking is associated with various diseases such as heart diseases, asthma and emphysema and the associated increase in morbidity and mortality of smokers. Several studies implicate nicotine as the causative factor in tobacco smoke. Apart from nicotine, various carcinogens also occur in tobacco smoke resulting in an increase in the incidence of cancer in smokers. While the smoking habit is decreasing in developed countries, tobacco use increases in the developing countries. Smoking prevalence is also highest in poor communities and amongst those with low education levels. It is important to note that, although ther is a decline in the number of smokers in the developed countries, there is a three to four decades lag between the peak in smoking prevalence and the subsequent peak in smoking related mortality. It has been shown that maternal smoking induces respiratory diseases in the offspring. There is also evidence that parental smoking may program the offspring to develop certain diseases later in life. Various studies showed that maternal nicotine exposure during pregnancy and lactation via tobacco smoke of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), program the offspring to develop compromised lung structure later in life with the consequent compromised lung function. This implies that NRT is not an option to assist pregnant or lactating smokers to quit the habit. Even paternal smoking may have an adverse effect on the health of the offspring since it has been shown that 2nd and 3rd hand smoking have adverse health consequences for those exposed to it.
A parametric mixture model for clustering multivariate binary data

The traditional latent class analysis (LCA) uses a mixture model with binary responses on each subject that are independent conditional on cluster membership. However, in many practical applications, the responses are correlated because they are observed on the same subject; this is known as local dependence. In this paper, we extend the LCA model to allow for local dependence in each cluster to improve clustering accuracy. The clustering problem is hard because of its unsupervised learning nature (the true cluster memberships and even the true number of clusters are unknown), the difficulty of estimating a correlation matrix for each cluster and the paucity of information in binary data. Therefore, we follow a parametric approach in which we fit a mixture model whose components follow multivariate Bernoulli distributions (one for each cluster). An extension of a family of parametric models by Oman and Zucker 1 is adopted for this purpose and the maximum likelihood estimation method is used for fitting. The Bayesian information criterion (BIC) due to Schwarz 2 is employed to select the number of clusters. Subjects are classified to clusters using the maximum posterior rule. The proposed method is tested and compared with the LCA method via simulation and by applying both methods to two real data sets. Significant improvement is demonstrated relative to the LCA method. Copyright © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Statistical Analysis and Data Mining 3: 3‐19, 2010
One-dimensional nanostructures: fabrication, characterisation and applications

This review presents the advancement in synthesis and characterisation techniques of one-dimensional nanostructures (ODNS) as well as their potential for novel applications. In the first section of the review, the authors describe the synthesis techniques of one-dimensional nanostructures, i.e. template based synthesis, vapour phase growth, solution based growth and other innovative techniques. Various characterisation techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) are described in detail, followed by a comprehensive review of the unique material properties of one-dimensional nanostructures. The final section of this paper presents current state of the art chemical and biological sensing applications as well as other potential technologies which may emerge due to the advantage nanomaterials have over their bulk counterparts.
Enumeration of Test Sequences in Increasing Chronological Order to Improve the Levels of Compaction Achieved by Vector Omission

We describe a method to improve the levels of compaction achievable by static compaction procedures based on vector omission. Such procedures are used to reduce the lengths of test sequences for synchronous sequential circuits without reducing the fault coverage. The proposed procedure enumerates, in increasing chronological order, test sequences consisting of subsets of the vectors included in a given test sequence that needs to be compacted. The unique feature of this approach is that test vectors omitted from the test sequence at an earlier iteration can be reintroduced at a later iteration. This results in a less greedy procedure and helps reduce the compacted test sequence length beyond the length that can be achieved if vectors are omitted permanently as in earlier procedures.
Optimal Real and Reactive Power Management for Residential Users in Smart Grid

In this paper, we consider the problem of optimal real and reactive power management for a residential user with renewable energy production, photovoltaic (PV) inverter and battery. The user's objective is to find an optimal control policy of PV inverter and battery to minimize his time average cost. We propose an algorithm based on Lyapunov optimization techniques. This algorithm has low complexity and does not need prior knowledge of system's probability distribution. Simulation results show our algorithm can significantly reduce user's cost. We also prove this algorithm is able to achieve near-optimal performance as the battery size increases.
Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems ( PACIS ) 9 July 2011 Design Theorizing Individual Information Systems

An individual information system is an activity system in which individual persons, according to idiosyncratic needs and preferences, perform processes and activities using information, technology, and other resources to produce informational products and/or services for themselves or others. These small information systems have evolved with increasing complexity around the increasing computing power available to individuals. This paper provides an influence model of premises for theorizing the design activity in these individual systems. The influence model is grounded on previous research related to such systems.