Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal changes in peritoneal kinetics: the effects of peritoneal dialysis and peritonitis.

BACKGROUND Peritoneal infection and poor ultrafiltration continue to be the major causes of treatment failure in CAPD. The combined effects of peritonitis and the continuous exposure to dialysis fluid remain the most likely candidates affecting the peritoneum in the long term. The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of peritonitis and dialysis on longitudinal peritoneal function. METHODS The peritoneal equilibration test (PET) was utilized to quantify longitudinal changes in low-molecular-weight solute transfer (D/P(creat)) and ultrafiltration (UF) in 233 patients treated with CAPD. Of these, 166 represented an unselected cohort (Group 1) studied prospectively from commencing treatment for up to 54 months, and 67 were selected patients (Group 2) with PET data available at commencement of the study, having been on dialysis for a minimum of 18 months. PETs were performed either 6-monthly or following peritonitis episodes. RESULTS Data on the short-term effect of peritonitis kinetics were pooled for groups 1 and 2. Single, isolated episodes (n = 86) had no significant effect on D/P(creat) or UF, whereas recurrences or clusters of infection (n = 70) caused increases in D/P(creat) and reductions in UF, the significance of which increased with the number of episodes. There were significant correlations between both changes in D/P(creat) and UF with the cumulative dialysate leukocyte count, regardless of infecting organism, suggesting that intensity of peritoneal inflammation is also important. Those organisms associated with greater change in peritoneal kinetics, e.g. S. aureus, Pseudomonas, also had the highest neutrophil counts. The longitudinal changes in peritoneal kinetics were analysed for patients in group 1 only. There was a highly significant increase in D/P(creat) after 6 months treatment; this increased further with time on treatment, reaching further significance at 42 and 48 months. There was an associated reduction in UF. In view of the short-term effects of peritonitis on kinetics group 1 was further subdivided into patients who were either peritonitis free or only experienced isolated infections, group 1a, and those that had multiple infection episodes, group 1b. Treatment drop-out, due to death or technical failure occurred at double the rate in group 1b, who also had significantly higher D/P(creat) and lower UF at 1, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of treatment. Group 1a subsequently caught up, however, indicating that peritonitis is not the only factor influencing long-term changes in peritoneal kinetics. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that solute transfer increases and UF declines with time on peritoneal dialysis. This process is exacerbated and accelerated by peritonitis, and appears to be proportional to the degree of associated inflammation and number of infections in close proximity.
Credibility and Inflation Targeting in Chile

In this paper we present new evidence on the recent changes of the inflationary dynamics for the Chilean economy. We show that price rigidity has increased while the degree indexation based on past inflation has decreased over time. We also show that the passthrough from the exchange rate to traded goods inflation has decreased in recent years. We argue that these changes are related to an enhanced credibility of the monetary policy that has improved the tradeoff faced by the Central Bank. Consistently with this hypothesis, we show that the policy rule that characterizes the behavior of the Central Bank of Chile has become more aggressive in fighting inflation deviations from the target, and also more forward-looking.
A Markov Model of the 802.11 Distributied Coordination Function: Part I -- The Characteristic Equation of Network Throughput

This two-part paper series is devoted to a comprehensive study of IEEE 802.11 DCF protocol. Part I focuses on the derivation of throughput characteristic equation. Part II presents the stability analysis of 802.11 DCF protocol. In Part I, a Markov model of the protocol with K-Exponential Back off scheduling algorithms is proposed. The input buffer of each access node is modeled as a Geo/G/1 queue, and the service time distribution of each individual head-of-line packet is derived from the Markov chain of underlying scheduling algorithm, from which we obtain the throughput expression of 802.11 DCF networks.
Physiological age structure of adult tabanid populations (Diptera: Tabanidae) in Alberta, Canada.

The seasonal distributions of age classes of Atylotus incisuralis and 11 species of Hybomitra (frontalis, itasca, liorhina, rhombica osburni, rupestris, affinis, arpadi, lasiophthalma, lurida, nuda, typhus) collected in Manitoba fly traps were determined. The first 6 species were autogenous. In these species maximum numbers occurred after mid-July. In the anautogenous species maximum numbers were trapped before mid-July. In the anautogenous species, survival of nullipars to the beginning of the 2nd gonotrophic cycle ranged between 19% and 51% and survival of unipars to the beginning of the 3rd cycle ranged between 31% and 63%. In the autogenous species few biparous flies were trapped, survival of unipars ranging between 1% and 15%. It is probable that some anautogenous species had individuals completing 3 gonotrophic cycles. More uniparous than biparous flies retained eggs after oviposition. Anautogenous and autogenous species retained eggs to the same extent.
Leptin Is Present in Human Cord Blood

It has recently been reported that the ob gene receptor was expressed on human and murine hematopoietic stem cells and that the ob gene product leptin stimulated hemato- and lymphopoiesis at the stem cell level. These findings suggest a role for leptin in hemato- and lymphopoiesis during fetal development. There is at present no evidence, however, that leptin is synthesized and released by the fetus. To investigate this possibility, we have measured plasma leptin concentrations in the cord blood of 78 newborn infants. We found that leptin was present in all 78 infants in concentrations comparable with those found in adults (0.6–55.7 ng/ml). Overall, plasma leptin concentrations in the cord blood of infants correlated with birth weight (r = 0.74, P < 0.001). These observations show that leptin is synthesized and released by fetal fat cells. In addition, they are compatible with the concept that leptin may play a role in human fetal hematopoiesis.
Relationship Between Cerebrospinal Fluid Visfatin (PBEF/Nampt) Levels and Adiposity in Humans

OBJECTIVE—Observations of elevated circulating concentrations of visfatin (PBEF/Nampt) in obesity and diabetes suggest that this recently described adipokine is involved in the regulation of body weight and metabolism. We examined in humans whether visfatin is found in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and, if so, how CSF visfatin concentrations relate to adiposity and metabolic parameters. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We measured visfatin concentrations in the plasma and CSF of 38 subjects (18 men and 20 women; age 19–80 years) with a wide range of body weight (BMI 16.24–38.10 kg/m2). In addition, anthropometric parameters and endocrine markers were assessed. Bivariate correlation coefficients were determined and stepwise multiple regression analyses were performed to detect associations of CSF and plasma visfatin levels with relevant parameters. RESULTS—Plasma visfatin levels increased with rising BMI (P < 0.0001) and body fat mass (P < 0.0001). In contrast, CSF visfatin levels decreased with increasing plasma visfatin concentrations (P < 0.03), BMI (P < 0.001), body fat mass (P < 0.0001), and insulin resistance (P < 0.05). Body fat was the only factor independently associated with CSF visfatin, explaining 58% of the variation of CSF visfatin levels (P < 0.0001). Neither plasma (P > 0.13) nor CSF (P > 0.61) visfatin concentrations differed between men and women. CONCLUSIONS—Our data indicate that visfatin concentrations in human CSF decrease with rising body fat, supporting the assumption that visfatin transport across the blood-brain barrier is impaired in obesity and that central nervous visfatin insufficiency or resistance are linked to pathogenetic mechanisms of obesity.
PENGARUH PENDEKATAN PEMBELAJARAN DAN LOCUS OF CONTROL TERHADAP KEMAMPUAN PENALARAN MATEMATIKA SISWA SMP

This study aims to determine: (1) whether there are differences in mathematical reasoning ability of students who were given open-ended learning approach with students who are given conventional teaching approaches. (2) whether students' mathematical reasoning abilities that have an internal locus of control is better than students who have external locus of control on the open-ended approach to learning and conventional learning approach. (3) whether there is an interaction between learning approach with the locus of control that students have in influencing students' mathematical reasoning. The population of this study are all SMP Negeri Lhokseumawe are selected by purposive sampling SMP 11 and SMP 13 as the sample with the students as many as 135 people. This research used quasi-experimental 2x2 factorial design. The instrument used is the mathematical reasoning ability and locus of control with the reliability of each of 0.923 and 0.611. Based on the analysis of variance (ANOVA) found that: (1) there are significant differences in reasoning ability on learning approach with conventional open-ended. (2) there are significant differences in reasoning abilities in both types of locus of control, mathematical reasoning abilities of students who have internal locus of control is better than an external locus control. (3) there is no interaction between learning approach with the locus of control 's students. Based on the results of the study, researchers suggested that open-ended learning approach can be used as an alternative capable of learning to develop students' mathematical reasoning and is also able to gradually change an external locus of control students have an internal direction.
The Cognitive and Interpersonal Costs of Video

As advances in communication technology proliferate, organizations are rapidly incorporating new communication media into their environment. Unfortunately, not much is known about the effect of communication technologies on the processing of interpersonal information. Interactive communication media that place more cognitive demands on interactants may impoverish the process of impression formation. Today's video, because of the additional information conveyed and problems with signal quality, may reduce systematic processing of information and interfere with the impression-formation process. Three studies explore the relationship between communication media, cognitive load, and impression formation. Study 1 establishes that interacting over an audio-video system requires more cognitive load than does interacting over audio only. Study 2 replicates work by Ford and Kruglanski (1995) that finds that people's impressions are more biased toward a primed trait under high cognitive load. Study 3 assesses the i.
Development of multi-layer interior permanent magnet synchronous machine for vehicle

Interior permanent magnet synchronous machine has many advantages such as reluctance torque, high power density, and wide speed range due to the rotor structure with saliency. In addition to, multi-layer interior permanent magnet synchronous machine (multi-layer IPMSM) which adopts multilayer magnet structure in the rotor has large saliency and improved characteristics, such as high starting torque and suitability for constant power operation in the wide speed range, which are the useful features for vehicle application. In this paper, design strategy considering various design constraints in the 42 [V] ISG applications is presented and a practical design example of the 8-pole multi-layer IPMSM is shown. Analysis result and experimental data of manufactured one are shown and compared to verify the design process.
A Separated Approach to Control of Markov Jump Nonlinear Systems With General Transition Probabilities

This paper is devoted to the control of Markov jump nonlinear systems with general transition probabilities (TPs) allowed to be known, uncertain, and unknown. With the help of the S-procedure to dispose the system nonlinearities and the TP property to eliminate the coupling between unknown TP and Lyapunov variable, an extended bounded real lemma for the considered system to be stochastically stable with the prescribed H∞ performance is established in the framework of linear matrix inequalities. To handle the nonlinearity incurred by uncertain TP for controller synthesis, a separated method is proposed to decouple the interconnection between Lyapunov variables and controller gains. A numerical example is given to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Making faces with computers: Witness cognition and technology

Knowledge concerning the cognition involved in perceiving and remembering faces has informed the design of at least two generations of facial compositing technology. These systems allow a witness to work with a computer (and a police operator) in order to construct an image of a perpetrator. Research conducted with systems currently in use has suggested that basing the construction process on the witness recalling and verbally describing the face can be problematic. To overcome these problems and make better use of witness cognition, the latest systems use a combination of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) facial synthesis and an array-based interface. The present paper describes a preliminary study conducted to determine whether the use of an array-based interface really does make appropriate use of witness cognition and what issues need to be considered in the design of emerging compositing technology.
Adaptive variance function estimation in heteroscedastic nonparametric regression

We consider a wavelet thresholding approach to adaptive variance function estimation in heteroscedastic nonparametric regression. A data-driven estimator is constructed by applying wavelet thresholding to the squared first-order differences of the observations. We show that the variance function estimator is nearly optimally adaptive to the smoothness of both the mean and variance functions. The estimator is shown to achieve the optimal adaptive rate of convergence under the pointwise squared error simultaneously over a range of smoothness classes. The estimator is also adaptively within a logarithmic factor of the minimax risk under the global mean integrated squared error over a collection of spatially inhomogeneous function classes. Numerical implementation and simulation results are also discussed.
The rise and fall of repetitive behaviours in a community sample of infants and toddlers

This thesis examines motor stereotypies and repetitive actions with objects. These repetitive behaviours are an early diagnostic feature of autism. To date, no studies have systematically examined repetitive behaviours in a community sample of children aged 6 to 36 months, when behavioural signs of autism begin to emerge and the age at which motor and socio-communication skills are achieved. In this thesis, repetitive behaviours were assessed within the context of two studies, the First Friends and the Cardiff Child Development Study. Firstly, the Repetitive Behaviours Coding Scheme was developed; it is the first scheme developed from narrative records of behaviours that accurately represent the range of repetitive behaviours commonly seen in infants and toddlers (Chapter 2). Repetitive behaviours were measured during 6- and 12-month-olds’ object exploration (Chapter 4); they were ubiquitous at 12 months and there was a significant increase in the use of the repetition from early to late infancy. The investigation extended to examining the association between repetition and developmental milestones. Frequent use of motor stereotypies but not repetitive actions with objects characterised infants who were more immature in their locomotor development (Chapter 5). Infants who engaged in more repetition were no worse at nonverbal communication, as measured by joint attention. I examined the decline in repetitive behaviours by conducting longitudinal assessments and found a significant decrease in the frequency of repetition from infancy to toddlerhood (Chapter 6). I found that toddlers who still engage in repetitive behaviours in their third year did not have poorer inhibitory control nor have higher ratings of ADHD symptoms but had better socio-communicative skills (Chapter 7). These findings offer a developmental framework to assess the function of repetitive behaviours; repetitive behaviours characterise children who are less motorically mature but they are not associated with a deficit in communicative abilities or social competence.
Influences on classroom interest

Theories of interest and motivation give little specific advice to teachers regarding curriculum decisions about how to attract interest in classroom activities. Although educators should keep in mind the fact that attempts to enhance interest can be irrelevant to learning, and may even undermine learning, promoting interest can enhance learning if applied appropriately; therefore, educators could benefit from understanding factors that predict and enhance interest. In this article, I discuss individual and situational factors that influence interest. The individual factors are belongingness (which includes cultural value, identification, and social support), emotions, competence, utility-goal relevance, and background knowledge (which includes a hole in the schema). The situational factors are hands-on, discrepancy, novelty, food, social interaction (which includes visible author), modeling, games and puzzles, content, biophilia, fantasy, humor, and narrative. To the degree that teachers integrate these .
A Longitudinal Study of Non-Voice Mobile Phone Usage by Teens from an Underserved Urban Community

We report a user study of over four months on the non-voice usage of mobile phones by teens from an underserved urban community in the USA where a community-wide, open-access Wi-Fi network exists. We instrumented the phones to record quantitative information regarding their usage and location in a privacy-respecting manner. We conducted focus group meetings and interviewed participants regularly for qualitative data. We present our findings on what applications our participants used and how their usage changed over time. The findings highlight the challenges to evaluating the usability of mobile systems and the value of long-term methodologies. Based on our findings, we analyze the unique values of mobile phones, as a platform technology. Our study shows that the usage is highly mobile, location-dependent, and serves multiple social purposes for the participants. Furthermore, we present concrete findings on how to perform and analyze similar user studies on mobile phones, including four contributing factors to usage evolution, and provide guidelines for their design and evaluation.
Hypermedia, information systems and organizations: a research agenda

There are few hypermedia applications within business and industrial organizations. It is argued that this phenomenon is rooted in the concept of hypermedia applications as stand-alone programs. Larger acceptance of hypermedia within organizations will occur once this technology is better integrated with other organizational systems and applied to carefully selected tasks. Three areas for research in this context are identified: the tasks perspective, which deals with selecting tasks to develop hypermedia applications; the knowledge perspective, which deals with representing and managing the knowledge processed by organizations; and the integration perspective, which deals with technical issues in software integration. It is suggested that solutions to the problems presented will prompt the acceptance of hypermedia technology within organizations. <<ETX>>
Electric vehicle charging stations with renewable power generators: A game theoretical analysis

Summary form only given. In this paper, we study the price competition among electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs) with renewable power generators (RPGs). As electric vehicles (EVs) become more popular, a competition among EVCSs to attract EVs is inevitable. Thereby, each EVCS sets its electricity price to maximize its revenue by taking into account the competition with neighboring EVCSs. We analyze the competitive interactions between EVCSs using game theory, where relevant physical constraints such as the transmission line capacity, the distance between EV and EVCS, and the number of charging outlets at the EVCSs are taken into account. We show that the game played by EVCSs is a supermodular game and there exists a unique pure Nash equilibrium for best response algorithms with arbitrary initial policy. The electricity price and the revenue of EVCSs are evaluated via simulations, which reveal the benefits of having RPGs at the EVCSs.
Remote access of SCADA with online video streaming

Owners of industries traveling around the world need some system from where they can monitor and keep control of their industry remotely. Speedily advancing software technologies have made it possible to develop a new generation of Supervisory Control and Data-Acquisition (SCADA) system. This generation of SCADA is known as PROPOSED SCADA SYSTEMS. This paper present a concept of how industrial and commercial areas can be monitored and controlled via SCADA system from anywhere in the world on supported portable devices. Through Remote access of SCADA, the Remote Desktop Protocol (ROP) brings SCADA real-time and passes information to users. The presented solution provides reduced software costs while improving reliability. The system also allows Open Process Control (OPC) linkage between the controller and SCADA systems. An additional monitoring approach in this system is lP CAMERAS based online visual monitoring. Life videos of the industry and commercial area can be viewed from anywhere in the globe on the portable devices. The proposed concept is simulated on two prototype industrial plants 1) An automated Car Wash System and 2) Load Cell based luggage segregation. Proposed system was tested on simulator and show remarkable results.
Vietnamese Diacritics Restoration as Sequential Tagging

Diacritics restoration is the process of restoring original script from diacritic-free script by correct insertion of diacritics. In this paper, this problem is casted as a sequential tagging task where each term is tagged with its own accents. We did careful evaluations on three domains of Vietnamese: writing language, spoken language and literature using two methods: conditional random fields (CRFs) and support vector machines (SVMs), and achieved promising results. We also investigated two levels of lexical: learning from letters and learning from syllables. Although the former performs poorly than the latter, it shows stable results in all three language domains. Therefore, the letter level approach is more useful when we have to deal with unknown words or when words in a sentence are reordered and repeated to achieve stylistic and artistic effect.
OBJECT LANGUAGE AND THE LANGUAGE SUBJECT: ON THE MEDIATING ROLE OF APPLIED LINGUISTICS

As linguistics has extended its scope over the past thirty years from an exclusive concern with knowledge of the abstract code, what Chomsky referred to as Internalized (I) language, to a consideration of the way this knowledge is actualized in Externalized (E) language (Chomsky 1988), so it has inevitably gained in face validity as an area of inquiry relevant to practical life. A linguistics that deals with real, as distinct from ideal, speaker-listeners has a more obvious applicability to the problems real people actually have with language. Nevertheless, one cannot just assume a direct correspondence between the E externalized language the linguist describes and the E experienced language that is a reality for the user. The applicability of linguistic descriptions is a potential that has to be realized, and this is where applied linguistics comes in.