Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Model-Based Scheduling Analysis for Software Projects

We show how to compute optimal policies for the scheduling of software development projects under uncertainty. Our approach is based on a stochastic scheduling model that explicitly captures the strong feedback between the tasks in software development ("ripple effects"). We apply reinforcement learning to the optimization problem. For a selected sample project, we compute the optimal policy, simulate the project, and analyze the task assignments that are made by the optimal policy. From the analysis of the simulated schedules, we derive tentative, generic scheduling guidelines. The guidelines prioritize certain tasks based on the characteristics of the software architecture, and assign tasks according to the past performance of the developers.
Supporting SMEs Towards E-Business Success: Exploring the Importance of Training, Competence and Stimulation.

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) generate a substantial share of the GDP in industrial economies. The more than 20 million SMEs in Europe are an important source of new jobs and entrepreneurial activity (European Commission, 2002a, 2002b). Considerable funding has been granted to research programs targeting the development of SMEs in general and in specific areas such as the diffusion of e-business. It is assumed that success with e-business in the SME segment will increase a country’s competitiveness in the long run, and that successful adoption and use of abStract
Implementation of a text-to-speech system for farsi language

In this research, a Text-To-Speech system for Farsi language has been implemented. The proposed synthesizer concatenates Farsi syllables in a TD-PSOLA manner. This paper is mainly concentrated on investigation about pitch variations in Farsi sentences and presentation of some novel rules for modeling these variations. Based on the location of stressed syllable, we obtain a primary pitch curve for each word. Using prosodic grouping and sentence type effects, the final pitch contour can be determined. High intelligibility and acceptable naturalness of the synthesized speech have been confirmed by subjective listening tests.
Deeply Exploiting Link Structure : Setting a Tougher Life for Spammers

Previous anti-spamming algorithms based on link structure suffer from either the weakness of the page value metric or the vagueness of the seed selection. In this paper, we propose two page value metrics, AVRank and HVRank. These two “values” of all the web pages can be well assessed by using the bidirectional links’ information. Moreover, with the help of bidirectional links, it becomes easier to enlarge the propagation coverage and reduce the bias of seed sets. We further discuss the effectiveness of the combination of these two metrics, such as the quadratic mean of them. Our experimental results show that with such two metrics, an automatically selected large seed set can achieve a better propagation coverage as well as less bias of ranking results. Most important, our method can filter out spam sites and identify reputable sites more effectively.
Psychiatric diagnoses in the child and adolescent members of extended families identified through adult bipolar affective disorder probands.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the type and distribution of psychiatric disorders in the child and adolescent members of extended pedigrees identified through bipolar probands. METHOD The child and adolescent offspring (24 male, 26 female, aged 6 to 17 years) and the adult parents (60) of 14 bipolar pedigrees ascertained for the National Institutes of Mental Health Genetics Initiative Study of Bipolar Affective Disorder were personally assessed using structured psychiatric interviews. A parent was also interviewed about each child or adolescent offspring. RESULTS Twelve of the 50 interviewed offspring received a lifetime DSM-III-R diagnosis of an affective disorder. This included six cases of bipolar disorder, five cases of major depressive disorder, and one case of dysthymia. Eight of the offspring who received an affective disorder diagnosis also qualified for an anxiety disorder (four), a disruptive behavior disorder (two), or both (two). Offspring who had a parent with an affective disorder had a 5.1-fold higher risk for receiving an affective disorder diagnosis than did offspring with healthy parents. CONCLUSIONS In a consecutive series of families identified through a proband with bipolar disorder, there were significant increases in the prevalence of affective disorder diagnoses in the child and adolescent offspring. The distribution of illness in offspring was compatible with the presence of important genetic factors which contribute to early-onset affective illness.
Factors associated with self-disclosure of HIV serostatus to significant others.

OBJECTIVES To examine rates and patterns of self-disclosure of HIV serostatus amongst individuals attending an out-patient HIV clinic in East London. DESIGN A cross-sectional survey design was used. METHODS A volunteer sample of 95 out-patient HIV clinic attendees completed a self-report questionnaire examining patterns of disclosure to self-identified significant others, reasons for disclosure and non-disclosure, satisfaction with social support (SSQ6), quality of life (MOS-30) and anxiety and depression (HADS). Self-disclosure was examined in relation to cultural background, gender, satisfaction with social support, and medical and psychological variables. RESULTS Seventy-nine men and 16 women reported a mean disclosure rate of 68% to self-identified significant others. Five individuals had not disclosed their HIV status to anyone; 91% of individuals had informed their partner. Friends were more frequently informed (79%) than family (53%). Ethnicity (p <.001) and length of time since testing HIV seropositive (p <.05) emerged as significant predictors of disclosure. Global satisfaction with social support was negatively correlated with depression but was not associated with the total rate of HIV disclosure. Frequently reported reasons for non-disclosure included wanting to protect others from distress and fear of discrimination. CONCLUSIONS Self-disclosure of HIV serostatus rates was highest for partners, followed by friends, and lowest for family members. Patterns of disclosure of HIV serostatus varied in relation to ethnicity. Fifteen years into the HIV epidemic, social stigma continues to contribute towards non-disclosure of diagnosis.
Application of computational media aesthetics methodology to extracting color semantics in film

Using film grammar as the underpinning, we study the extraction of structures in video based on color using a wide configuration of clustering methods combined with existing and new similarity measures. We study the visualisation of these structures, which we call Scene-Cluster Temporal Charts and show how it can bring out the interweaving of different themes and settings in a film. We also extract color events that filmmakers use to draw/force a viewer's attention to a shot/scene. This is done by first extracting a set of colors used rarely in film, and then building a probabilistic model for color event detection. We demonstrate with experimental results from ten movies that our algorithms are effective in the extraction of both scene-cluster temporal charts and color events.
Steps Toward a Design Theory for Virtual Worlds

Virtual worlds, construed in a broad enough sense to include text-based systems, as well as video games, new media, and user interfaces of all kinds, are increasingly important in scientific research, entertainment, communication, and art. However, we lack scientific theories that can adequately support the design of such virtual worlds, even in simple cases. Semiotics would seem a natural source for such theories, but this field lacks the precision needed for engineering applications, and also fails to addresses interaction and social issues, both of which are crucial for applications to communication and collaboration. This paper suggests an approach called algebraic semiotics to help solve these and related problems, by providing precise application-oriented basic concepts such as sign, representation, and representation quality, and a calculus of representation that includes blending. This paper also includes some theory for narrative and metaphor, and case studies on information visualization, proof presentation, humor, and user interaction.
Practical Risk Assessment and Management Issues Arising were we to Adopt Low-Dose Linearity for all Endpoints

The 2009 National Research Council report, Science and Decisions, proposes harmonizing dose-response approaches for cancer and non-cancer endpoints, and for non-cancer quantitative risk assessment, this would usually take the form of a low-dose linear no-threshold dose-response curve. The soundness of this recommendation has been questioned, but I focus on its consequences if adopted, many of them apparently unintended. If most endpoints for most agents are assumed to have non-zero low-dose risks, then the critical–effect concept, choosing the one endpoint on which to calculate acceptable doses, loses its basis. All regulatory decisions, since they entail substituting some exposures (and their attendant risks) for others, become risk-risk trade-off decisions, and equity questions are raised since risk transfer is inevitably involved. A valid basis for estimating low-dose linear components is not evident, and upper-bound approaches fail to be reliably public health-protective owing to the risk trade-off decisions that need to be faced.
Performance of zero-forcing equalizers for single-carrier zero-padded transmissions over multipath fading channels

We study the bit-error rate (BER) performance of single-carrier (SC) zero-padded (ZP) transmissions with zero-forcing (ZF) equalization. Padded redundant zeros mitigate multipath effects but reduce the bandwidth efficiency. We show analytically that the BER improves as the bandwidth efficiency decreases, i.e., there is a clear trade-off between BER and bandwidth efficiency. We also demonstrate that ZP outperforms SC cyclic prefixed (CP) transmission.
Changes in Neural Stem Cells in Neonatal Rats with Hypoxic-ischaemic Encephalopathy

Background: Human neural stem cells (hNSC) transplantation has been used for the treatment of neurological injury and neurodegenerative disease and has produced some desired effects, but the beneficial effects are limited and the long-term effects remain unknown because the best time for NSC transplantation after hypoxic-ischaemia (HI) is unclear. Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the changes in NSC after cerebral HI-damage, and to provide a theoretical reference for NSC' therapeutic benefits to the HI-damaged brain. Methods: 210 seven-day-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned into three groups: a HI group, a hypoxic group and a normal control group. They were subdivided into 7 time point groups: 3-hour, 6-hour, 1-day, 3-day, 7-day, 14-day and 21-day. Cells were stained for Nestin, a representative protein of NSC. The counts of immunoreactive cells were made under a light microscope, photographed at 400X magnification and counted in ten random different visual fields per section. Results: The results showed that: (1) In normal controls, hypoxic groups and HI groups, there was NSC organisation in SD rat brains at 3-hour, 6-hour or 1-, 3-, 7-, 14and 21-day time points. (2) NSC were reduced at 2 weeks of life in the normal control group, and reduced to the lowest number at 3 weeks after birth, presenting a trend of NSC gradually reducing with age. (3) Hypoxia can improve NSC proliferation to some degree, but proliferation begins to decrease with development of the HI. Conclusions: The results provide reference value for selecting the best treatment time window of NSC transplantation for the treatment of neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic brain damage.
Discovering social behaviour variances of younger and older users through social interaction analysis

The popularity of Social Networking has risen considerably in recent years, increasing opportunities for social interaction. As an approach, it has the potential to reduce the burden of social isolation for older users. However, the current state of older user engagement requires investigation. In a study exploring the possibilities of Interaction Analysis to undercover user behaviours / characteristics, five aspects of younger and older online engagement were investigated comprising; connectivity, length of engagement, application usage, engagement frequency classification and profile maintenance frequency. Results derived from user generated content, enabled direct comparisons on the engagement levels of both cohorts. Results established Interaction Analysis as an approach to detect user behaviour(s), observing the degree older users fail to return and maintain activity as significant; however users who do engage, maintain activity with a broad range of functions. Results quantified the interactions and behaviours of two disparate cohorts, determining key user characteristics.
Blunted renal vascular response to angiotensin II is associated with a common variant of the angiotensinogen gene and obesity

Objective Recently, we reported evidence for genetic linkage between human essential hypertension and the angiotensinogen gene (AGT) and an association with a common molecular variant of this gene (methionine 235->threonine or T235). Other studies had led us to hypothesize that blunted renal plasma flow responses to infused angiotensin II (Ang II) when in high salt balance may reflect increased intrarenal formation of Ang II, a condition that might promote hypertension. Here we examine the relationship between AGT genotype and renal vascular response to infused Ang II. Methods Hypertensive (n=34, all off medication) and normotensive (n=57) members of families with a history of hypertension (age 18-60 years) as well as 29 normotensive volunteers without a family history of hypertension were studied after controlled diets with 200 mequiv. /day sodium. Ang II was infused at a mildly pressor dose (3ng/kg/min) and renal plasma flow was determined by steady-state plasma para-aminohippurate concentration. Results After correction for covariates in multivariate analyses, participants homozygous for the T235 variant had significantly diminished renal plasma flow responses to the Ang II infusion (P=0.005). Changes in renal arterial resistance were also blunted in the T235 homozygotes. Similar results were found when analysis was restricted to normotensive participants or subdivided based on family history of hypertension. No confounding factors associated with AGT genotype that could explain these differences were found. Furthermore, obesity, which also suppressed renovascular response to Ang II, was found to interact significantly (P=0.017) with genotype such that, among T235 homozygotes, obesity had a greater blunting effect on renal vascular response. Conclusions Expected renovascular response to infused Ang II was blunted in persons with the AGT TT genotype. This is the first report of an association between a specific gene variant and altered renal physiology in humans with particular relevance to essential hypertension.
Genetics of natural populations. XXXIX. A test of the possible influence of two insecticides on the chromosomal polymorphism in Drosophila pseudoobscura.

ATURAL populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura are polymorphic for the gene arrangements, particularly in the third chromosomes. The relative frequencies of the different karyotypes are sensitive to the environmental condi-tions. and may change seasonally from month to month, as well as from year to year. During approximately a quarter of a century, 1940-1964, very significant changes in the chromosomal composition of the populations have taken place, especially in the Facific Coast states, from California to British Columbia PAVLOVSKY and further therein). The causation of these year-to-year changes remains an unsolved problem. Attempts to correlate the genetic changes with climatic variations, such as droughts and years, were not successful. Correlations with biotic variables, such as relative frequencies of competing Drosophila species, were also absent PAVLOVSKY, One is led to look for a possible explanation in environmental changes caused by man. The genetic changes in the population of a California locality (Mather) were first detected in the late nineteen-forties. This happens to coincide with the beginning of mass use of DDT as an insecticide for controlling agricultural pests in California. D. pseudoobscuru lives chiefly outside the agricultural zones in which the insecticides on a large scale, traces of insecticide contaminants be found well outside these zones. It is, conceivable that the carriers of some karyotypes of Drosophila are more, and of others less resistant to contaminants. the populations may be altered genetically by the insecticides. Control-111, DLR-11. S-4. generation-228 chromosomes experiments in Japan), and samples in the generation, experiments in New
Optimization of Machining Parameters in Turning of Titanium (Grade-5) Alloy Using Response Surface Methodology

In this study, the performance of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) cutting insert has been described using response surface methodology (RSM) for turning of titanium (Grade-5) alloy. The machining parameters such as cutting speed, feed rate, depth of cut, and approach angle of the cutting edge have been considered in the investigations. The surface roughness and tangential forces are the response variables for investigations. The experimental plan used for four factors at three levels was based on face centered, central composite design (CCD) using RSM. The experimental results obtained indicate that the surface roughness increases with increase in the cutting speed and the feed rate, and decreses with decrese in approach angle and depth of cut, whereas the tangential force increases with increase in approach angle and depth of cut, and decreases with decrease in cutting speed and feed rate.
Physical activity, exercise, and physical fitness: definitions and distinctions for health-related research.

"Physical activity," "exercise," and "physical fitness" are terms that describe different concepts. However, they are often confused with one another, and the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. This paper proposes definitions to distinguish them. Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that results in energy expenditure. The energy expenditure can be measured in kilocalories. Physical activity in daily life can be categorized into occupational, sports, conditioning, household, or other activities. Exercise is a subset of physical activity that is planned, structured, and repetitive and has as a final or an intermediate objective the improvement or maintenance of physical fitness. Physical fitness is a set of attributes that are either health- or skill-related. The degree to which people have these attributes can be measured with specific tests. These definitions are offered as an interpretational framework for comparing studies that relate physical activity, exercise, and physical fitness to health.
Neutron Bragg-edge mapping of weld seams

Abstract Cold neutrons have a wavelength that is in the same range as the lattice spacings of most polycrystalline metallic materials. Imaging of such materials with monochromatic cold neutrons of different wavelengths provides a unique contrast due to coherent Bragg scattering. Additionally, the spectral positions of the Bragg edges can be mapped for each point of an image by using the transmission data of corresponding wavelength scans. We present investigations of welded components with such energy-selective neutron radiography around specific Bragg-edges in the transmission spectrum. Features in the local microstructure of the weld have been visualized.
An 1.61mW mixed-signal column processor for BRISK feature extraction in CMOS image sensor

In mobile object recognition (OR) applications, the power consumption of image sensor and data communication between image sensor and digital OR processor becomes crucial as digital OR processor consumes less power in deep sub-micron process. To reduce the amount of data transaction from image sensor to digital OR processor, digital/analog mixed-signal focal-plane processing of Binary Robust Invariant Scalable Keypoints (BRISK) feature extraction in CMOS image sensor (CIS) is proposed. The proposed CIS processor sends BRISK feature vectors instead of the whole image pixel data, resulting in 79% reduction of data communication. In this work, mixed-signal processing of corner detection and successive approximation register (SAR)-based scoring are implemented for BRISK feature point detection. To achieve scale-invariance in object recognition, scale-space is generated and stored in analog line memory. In addition, noise reduction scheme is integrated in column processing chain to remove salt and pepper noise, which degrades recognition accuracy. In a post layout simulation, the proposed system achieves 0.70pW/pixel*frame*feature at 30fps in a 130nm CMOS technology, which is 13.6% lower than the state-of-the-art.
Hamster Sperm Capacitation: Role of Pyruvate Dehydrogenase A and Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase1

Abstract Recently, we demonstrated that pyruvate dehydrogenase A2 (PDHA2) is tyrosine phosphorylated in capacitated hamster spermatozoa. In this report, using bromopyruvate (BP), an inhibitor of PDHA, we demonstrated that hamster sperm hyperactivation was blocked regardless of whether PDHA was inhibited prior to or after the onset of hyperactivation, but the acrosome reaction was blocked only if PDHA was inhibited prior to the onset of the acrosome reaction. Further, inhibition of PDHA activity did not inhibit capacitation-associated protein tyrosine phosphorylation observed in hamster spermatozoa. It is demonstrated that the essentiality of PDHA for sperm capacitation is probably dependent on its ability to generate effectors of capacitation such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cAMP, which are significantly decreased in the presence of BP. MICA (5-methoxyindole-2-carboxylic acid, a specific inhibitor of dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase [DLD]), another component of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHc), also signficantly inhibited ROS generation and cAMP levels thus implying that these enzymes of the PDHc are required for ROS and cAMP generation. Furthermore, dibutryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate could significantly reverse the inhibition of hyperactivation observed in the presence of BP and inhibition of acrosome reaction observed in the presence of BP or MICA. The calcium ionophore, A23187, could also significantly reverse the inhibitory effect of BP and MICA on sperm acrosome reaction. These results establish that PDHA is required for hamster sperm hyperactivation and acrosome reaction, and DLD is required for hamster acrosome reaction. This study also provides evidence that ROS, cAMP, and calcium are involved downstream to PDHA.
General practitioners must educate patients in the appropriate use of services

EDITOR,—I get concerned about the picture painted of morale in general practice, particularly distressing examples such as that given in the recent anonymous personal view.1 I believe that, of all the areas of clinical medicine in which I have worked, general practice provides the greatest opportunity for clinicians to practise unfettered medicine. Some general practitioners may disagree with this view and will point to the 1990 contract for general practitioners as heavy handed interference by the government. Morale is often mentioned to me …