Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Standardization and Its Effects on K-Means Clustering Algorithm

Data clustering is an important data exploration technique with many applications in data mining. K- means is one of the most well known methods of data mining that partitions a dataset into groups of patterns, many methods have been proposed to improve the performance of the K-means algorithm. Standardization is the central preprocessing step in data mining, to standardize values of features or attributes from different dynamic range into a specific range. In this paper, we have analyzed the performances of the three standardization methods on conventional K-means algorithm. By comparing the results on infectious diseases datasets, it was found that the result obtained by the z-score standardization method is more effective and efficient than min-max and decimal scaling standardization methods.
Macrolides and bronchiolitis in infants

To the Editors: In a recent issue of the European Respiratory Journal , Tahan et al. 1 presented their results on clarithromycin therapy in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis in 12 infants aged ≤7 months, compared with nine controls. They concluded that clarithromycin had a beneficial effect assessed by: the length of hospital stay; the need for oxygen therapy; the need for β2-agonist treatment; and the rate of readmission to hospital within the subsequent 6 months 1. The authors explained their findings in terms of …
Multistep virtual metrology approaches for semiconductor manufacturing processes

In semiconductor manufacturing, state of the art for wafer quality control relies on product monitoring and feedback control loops; the involved metrology operations are particularly cost-intensive and time-consuming. For this reason, it is a common practice to measure a small subset of a productive lot and devoted to represent the whole lot. Virtual Metrology (VM) methodologies are able to obtain reliable predictions of metrology results at process time; this goal is usually achieved by means of statistical models, linking process data and context information to target measurements. Since production processes involve a high number of sequential operations, it is reasonable to assume that the quality features of a certain wafer (e.g. layer thickness, electrical test results) depend on the whole processing and not only on the last step before measurement. In this paper, we investigate the possibilities to improve the VM quality relying on knowledge collected from previous process steps. We will present two different scheme of multistep VM, along with dataset preparation indications; special consideration will be reserved to regression techniques capable of handling high dimensional input spaces. The proposed multistep approaches will be tested against actual data from semiconductor manufacturing industry.
Globalisation and the determinants of domestic inflation, March 2008

The remarkable stability of low domestic inflation in many countries requires explanation. In this paper, a number of competing hypotheses are evaluated on a stand-alone basis, and all are found to be inadequate. This includes the view that this outcome has been solely the result of more effective disinflationary monetary policies. However, a combination of these hypotheses (including a significant role for increased global competition) seems to provide a plausible explanation, not only for continuing low inflation, but also its coexistence with rapid growth and low real interest rates. Unfortunately, the analysis also leads to the conclusion that rising inflation, unwinding financial imbalances, or both, could easily follow the welcome stability seen to date. JEL Classification Numbers: E31, E52, E58, F02, F41
/'g#sfhvmbujpopgfoepuifmjbmdfmmgvodujpo Evsjoh-14joevdfeupyfnjbboedbodfs the Transcription Factor Nf-gb Is an Important Regulator of Homeostatic Growth and Inflammation. Although Gene-targeting Studies Have Revealed Important Roles for Nf-gb, They Have Been Complicated by Component Redundancy and Le

The transcription factor NFB is an important regulator of homeostatic growth and inflammation. Although gene-targeting studies have revealed important roles for NFB, they have been complicated by component redundancy and lethal phenotypes. To examine the role of NFB in endothelial tissues, Tie2 promoter/enhancer–I B S32A/S36A transgenic mice were generated. These mice grew normally but exhibited enhanced sensitivity to LPS-induced toxemia, notable for an increase in vascular permeability and apoptosis. Moreover, B16-BL6 tumors grew significantly more aggressively in transgenic mice, underscoring a new role for NFB in the homeostatic response to cancer. Tumor vasculature in transgenic mice was extensive and disorganized. This correlated with a marked loss in tight junction formation and suggests that NFB plays an important role in the maintenance of vascular integrity and response to stress.
Drawer compacted sand filter: a new and innovative method for on-site grey water treatment

In this paper, results of a new sand filter design were presented. The drawer compacted sand filter (DCSF) is a modified design for a sand filter in which the sand layer is broken down into several layers, each of which is 10 cm high and placed in a movable drawer separated by a 10 cm space. A lab-scale DCSF was designed and operated for 330 days fed by synthetic grey water. The response of drawer sand filters to variable hydraulic and organic loading rates (HLR and OLR) in terms of biological oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), pH, electrical conductivity and Escherichia coli reductions were evaluated. The HLR was studied by increasing from 72 to 142 L m−2 day−1 and OLR was studied by increasing it from 23 to 30 g BOD5 m−2 day−1 while keeping the HLR constant at 142 L m−2 day−1. Each loading regime was applied for 110 days. Results showed that DCSF was able to remove>90% of organic matter and total suspended solids for all doses. No significant difference was noticed in terms of overall filter efficiency between different loads for all parameters. Significant reduction in BOD5 and COD (P<.05) was noticed after water was drained through the third drawer in all tested loads. The paper concludes that DCSF would be appropriate for use in dense urban areas as its footprint is small and is appropriate for a wide range of users because of its convenience and low maintenance requirements.
Prospective study of the treatment of infected hip arthroplasties with or without the use of an antibiotic-loaded cement spacer.

PURPOSE Our purpose was to compare 2 methods of treatment of chronic infection in hip arthroplasties--with or without an antibiotic-loaded cement spacer. METHODS In a prospective study, we treated 68 infected hip arthroplasties with discharging sinuses and bone loss, comparing 30 patients treated in 2 stages without the use of a spacer (control group) and 38 patients treated with a vancomycin-loaded spacer (study group). The average follow-up was 4 years (2-8.5 years). One patient died of unrelated causes 4 months after first-stage surgery and was excluded from the study. RESULTS The 2-stage surgery without spacer controlled the infection in 66.7% of patients, and the 2-stage surgery using the spacer controlled it in 89.1% (P < 0.05). At last follow-up, the average Harris Hip Score increased from 19.3 to 69.0 in the control group versus 19.7 to 75.2 in the study group (P > 0.05). The average leg length discrepancy was 2.6 cm in the control group and 1.5 cm in the study group (P < 0.05). The patients treated with a spacer had better clinical results (81.5% of patients with good results against 60.0% for the control group). CONCLUSION The use of an antibiotic-loaded spacer in the 2-stage treatment of infected hip arthroplasties provides better infection control with good functional results and is superior to treatment in 2 stages without a spacer. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic study, Level I-1.
Estimating Visceral Fat Area by Multifrequency Bioelectrical Impedance

OBJECTIVE We developed a new method of estimating visceral fat area (VFA) using multifrequency bioelectrical impedance (BI). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We considered abdominal composition as a parallel circuit model composed of VFA and subcutaneous fat area and calculated the impedance of VFA (IPVFA) from this model. The methods were tested against measures of VFA by computed tomography (CT). Multiple regression analysis was performed on 103 participants to estimate VFA. We cross-validated the regression equation against CT-measured VFA in 30 additional participants. RESULTS The regression equation was VFA = 3.57 × sagittal abdominal diameter + 311.97 × waist-to-height ratio + 0.71 × age + 23.93 × sex + 1.57 × IPVFA (250 kHz) − 174.35 (r = 0.904, P < 0.01). We observed a strong correlation by cross-validation (r = 0.905). CONCLUSIONS Our method using BI is a simple and convenient method for accurately estimating VFA.
Optimal mean-based algorithms for trace reconstruction

In the (deletion-channel) trace reconstruction problem, there is an unknown n-bit source string x. An algorithm is given access to independent traces of x, where a trace is formed by deleting each bit of x independently with probability δ. The goal of the algorithm is to recover x exactly (with high probability), while minimizing samples (number of traces) and running time. Previously, the best known algorithm for the trace reconstruction problem was due to Holenstein et al. [SODA 2008]; it uses exp(O(n1/2)) samples and running time for any fixed 0 < δ < 1. It is also what we call a "mean-based algorithm", meaning that it only uses the empirical means of the individual bits of the traces. Holenstein et al. also gave a lower bound, showing that any mean-based algorithm must use at least nΩ(logn) samples. In this paper we improve both of these results, obtaining matching upper and lower bounds for mean-based trace reconstruction. For any constant deletion rate 0 < Ω < 1, we give a mean-based algorithm that uses exp(O(n1/3)) time and traces; we also prove that any mean-based algorithm must use at least exp(Ω(n1/3)) traces. In fact, we obtain matching upper and lower bounds even for Ω subconstant and ρ := 1 - Ω subconstant: when (log3 n)/n ≪ Ω ≤ 1/2 the bound is exp(-Θ(δδ n)1/3), and when 1/√n ≪ ρ ≥ 1/2 the bound is exp(-Θ(n/Θ)1/3). Our proofs involve estimates for the maxima of Littlewood polynomials on complex disks. We show that these techniques can also be used to perform trace reconstruction with random insertions and bit-flips in addition to deletions. We also find a surprising result: for deletion probabilities δ > 1/2, the presence of insertions can actually help with trace reconstruction.
94 08 03 7 v 1 5 A ug 1 99 4 Realizations of the Monster Lie Algebra

In this paper we reinterpret the theory of generalized Kac-Moody Lie algebras in terms of local Lie algebras formed from reductive or Kac-Moody algebras and certain modules (possibly infinite-dimensional) for these algebras. We exploit the fact, established in [19], that certain generalized Kac-Moody algebras contain specific large free subalgebras, in order to exhibit these generalized KacMoody algebras as explicitly prescribed Lie algebras of operators acting on tensor algebras. In the most important special case, that of R. Borcherds’ Monster Lie algebra m, introduced in [4] (see also [5]), we apply the free subalgebra result [19] to simplify Borcherds’ work [4] on the Conway-Norton conjectures (see [8]) for the “moonshine module” V ♮ ([11], [12]) for the Fischer-Griess Monster group M . In particular, we realize m as an explicitly prescribed M -covariant Lie algebra of operators acting on the tensor algebra over a certain gl2and M -module built in a simple way from the M -module V . In [4], Borcherds produces recursion relations which, along with initial conditions, uniquely characterize the McKay-Thompson series (i.e., the graded traces) of the elements of M acting on the infinite-dimensional M -module V ♮ constructed in [11], [12]. In this way he completes the proof of the Conway-Norton conjectures as they relate to V , in the sense that he shows that the McKayThompson series for V ♮ do indeed agree with the modular functions listed in [8] for all elements of M , since the coefficients of those modular functions satisfy the same recursion relations (replication formulas) and initial conditions. For instance, for the identity element of M the corresponding McKay-Thompson
Improving Latency of Quantum Circuits by Gate Exchanging

Quantum circuit design flow consists of two main tasks: synthesis and physical design. In the current flows, two procedures are performed subsequently; synthesis converts the design description into a technology-dependent netlist and then physical design takes the fixed netlist, produces layout, and schedules the netlist on the layout. This style of design suffers from limiting the optimization process in the physical design stage, whereas using a flexible netlist and changing it locally during physical design using layout information often can provide more chance to optimize quantum circuit metrics. Focusing on this issue, in this paper, we propose an optimization flow using gate exchanging heuristic to improve the latency of quantum circuits. We have chosen ion trap technology as the underlying technology to study our flow. Our experimental results show that the proposed flow decreases the latency of quantum circuit by about 23% for the attempted benchmarks.
Predictive Models of Primary Tropical Forest Structure from Geomorphometric Variables Based on SRTM in the Tapajós Region, Brazilian Amazon

Surveying primary tropical forest over large regions is challenging. Indirect methods of relating terrain information or other external spatial datasets to forest biophysical parameters can provide forest structural maps at large scales but the inherent uncertainties need to be evaluated fully. The goal of the present study was to evaluate relief characteristics, measured through geomorphometric variables, as predictors of forest structural characteristics such as average tree basal area (BA) and height (H) and average percentage canopy openness (CO). Our hypothesis is that geomorphometric variables are good predictors of the structure of primary tropical forest, even in areas, with low altitude variation. The study was performed at the Tapajós National Forest, located in the Western State of Pará, Brazil. Forty-three plots were sampled. Predictive models for BA, H and CO were parameterized based on geomorphometric variables using multiple linear regression. Validation of the models with nine independent sample plots revealed a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 3.73 m2/ha (20%) for BA, 1.70 m (12%) for H, and 1.78% (21%) for CO. The coefficient of determination between observed and predicted values were r2 = 0.32 for CO, r2 = 0.26 for H and r2 = 0.52 for BA. The models obtained were able to adequately estimate BA and CO. In summary, it can be concluded that relief variables are good predictors of vegetation structure and enable the creation of forest structure maps in primary tropical rainforest with an acceptable uncertainty.
Machine Translation from English to Tamil using Hybrid Technique

The corpus based techniques in Machine Translation involves parallel corpora, but it is not applicable for the languages for which there are less or no parallel corpora available. In such case the Rule based machine Translation suits best. The main objective of our work is to build a translation system that translates English sentences to Tamil Sentences. Due to the less availability of parallel corpora for English to Tamil the system is implemented using a Hybrid Technique (the combination of both Rule Based Technique and Statistical Technique). The system is first implemented in a Rule Based approach which involves segmentation and tagging, Rule Based Reordering, Morphological Analyzing, and dictionary based translation to the Target language. Then the errors in the translated sentences are corrected by applying Statistical technique.
Kidney-Induced Hypertension Depends on Superoxide Signaling in the Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla

Reactive oxygen species in peripheral cardiovascular tissues are implicated in the pathogenesis of 2 kidney-1 clip hypertension. We recently identified an imbalance between reactive oxygen species generation and oxidant scavenging in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) of 2 kidney-1 clip in rats. We tested whether enhanced superoxide signaling in RVLM of 2 kidney-1 clip rats contributes to the chronic hypertension via sympathetic activation in conscious rats. We enhanced superoxide scavenging in RVLM by overexpressing cytoplasmically targeted superoxide dismutase using an adenoviral vector (Ad-CMV-CuZnSOD) in Wistar rats (male, 150 to 180 g) in which the left renal artery was occluded partially 3 weeks earlier. Hypertension was documented using radiotelemetry recording of arterial pressure in conscious rats for 6 weeks. Renovascular hypertension elevated both serine phosphorylation of p47phox subunit of NADPH and superoxide levels in RVLM. The elevated superoxide levels were normalized by expression of CuZnSOD in RVLM. Moreover, the hypertension produced in the 2 kidney-1 clip rats was reversed 1 week after viral-mediated expression of CuZnSOD. This antihypertensive effect was maintained and associated with a decrease in the low-frequency spectra of systolic blood pressure variability, suggesting reduced sympathetic vasomotor tone. The expression of CuZnSOD was localized to RVLM neurons, of which some contained tyrosine hydroxylase. None of the above variables changed in control rats receiving Ad-CMV-eGFP in RVLM. In Goldblatt hypertension, superoxide signaling in the RVLM plays a major role in the generation of sympathetic vasomotor tone and the chronic sustained hypertension in this animal model.
Mechanism of Amphotericin B Resistance inLeishmania donovani Promastigotes

ABSTRACT Amphotericin B (AmB)-resistant Leishmania donovanipromastigotes were selected by increasing drug pressure, and their biological features were compared with those of the wild-type parent strain. The 50% inhibitory concentration for resistant cells was 20 times higher than that for the wild-type. Resistance was stable after more than 40 passages in drug-free medium, and resistant promastigotes were infective to macrophages in vitro but lost their virulence in vivo. They had 2.5 times longer generation time, decreased AmB uptake, and increased AmB efflux in comparison to the wild type. Fluorescence measurement with a specific plasma membrane probe, 1-[4-(trimethylammonio)-1,6-diphenylhexa]-1,3,5-triene, showed increased membrane fluidity in drug-resistant promastigotes. Analysis of lipid composition showed that in resistant cells saturated fatty acids were prevalent, with stearic acid as the major fatty acid, and the major sterol was an ergosterol precursor, the cholesta-5, 7, 24-trien-3β-ol and not ergosterol as in the AmB-sensitive strain.
Efficient composition for virtual camera control

Automatically positioning a virtual camera in a 3D environment given the specification of visual properties to be satisfied (on-screen layout of subjects, vantage angles, visibility) is a complex and challenging problem. Most approaches tackle the problem by expressing visual properties as constraints or functions to optimize, and rely on computationally expensive search techniques to explore the solution space. We show here how to express and solve the exact on-screen positioning of two or three subjects using a simple and very efficient technique. We express the solution space for each couple of subjects as a 2D manifold surface. We demonstrate how to use this manifold surface to solve Blinn's spacecraft problem with a straightforward algebraic approach. We extend the solution to three subjects and we show how to cast the complex 6D optimization problem tackled by most contributions in the field in a simple 2D optimization on the manifold surface by pruning large portions of the search space. The result is a robust and very efficient technique which finds a wide range of applications in virtual camera control and more generally in computer graphics.
Solving an Open Shop Scheduling Problem by a Novel Hybrid Multi-Objective Ant Colony Optimization

This paper considers an open shop scheduling problem that minimizes bi-objectives, namely makespan and total tardiness. This problem, due to its complexity, is ranked in the class of NP-hard problems. In this case, traditional approaches cannot reach to an optimal solution in a reasonable time. Thus, we propose an efficient method based on multi-objective simulated annealing and ant colony optimization, in order to solve the given problem. Finally, we compare our computational results with a well-known multi-objective genetic algorithm, namely NSGA II. Comparisons are made in single objective case too. The outputs show the encouraging results in the form of the solution quality.
Peripheral Mechanisms of Dental Pain: The Role of Substance P

Current evidence supports the central role of neuropeptides in the molecular mechanisms underlying dental pain. In particular, substance P, a neuropeptide produced in neuron cell bodies localised in dorsal root and trigeminal ganglia, contributes to the transmission and maintenance of noxious stimuli and inflammatory processes. The major role of substance P in the onset of dental pain and inflammation is increasingly being recognised. Well-grounded experimental and clinical observations have documented an increase in substance P concentration in patients affected by caries, pulpitis, or granulomas and in those undergoing standard orthodontic or orthodontic/dental care procedures. This paper focuses on the role of substance P in the induction and maintenance of inflammation and dental pain, in order to define future lines of research for the evaluation of therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating the complex effects of this mediator in oral tissues.
World Bank HIV/AIDS Interventions: Ex-ante and Ex-post Evaluation

This paper evaluates World Bank activities to prevent and mitigate the effects of AIDS in all regions of the developing world during fiscal years 1986 to 1996. It first prioritizes HIV-prevention and treatment interventions using the principles of public economics. Based on this framework, it assesses the appropriateness of Bank lending and grants, Bank Country Assistance Strategies, and country economic and sector work. While the Bank provided extensive assistance for efforts to collect information (surveillance and behavioral studies), support was less extensive for interventions that focus on reducing risky behaviors of those at highest risk for contracting and transmitting HIV. Few of the projects reviewed in the paper relied on strong economic analysis in ex-ante or ex-post evaluation. These findings suggest two primary challenges for the World Bank: (i) to focus its support for HIV prevention interventions that reach groups at highest risk to contract and spread HIV; and (ii) to improve the economic analysis used in preparing Bank HIV-related projects and in evaluating their effectiveness.
Dakar ville moderne: la médiation des entrepreneurs sénégalais en Chine

RÉSUMÉ Le début des années 2000 marque résolument un tournant dans l’évolution de Dakar dû, pour une part, à l’impact des importants investissements du gouvernement sénégalais dans la construction de nouvelles infrastructures urbaines, et d’autre part à la mise en œuvre, par la Ville, d’un plan d’urbanisme résolument moderne. Dans un contexte où le “Chine-Afrique” et le rôle de la Chine dans ces transformations envahit les medias et la recherche, le propos de cet article concerne le rôle des entrepreneurs africains qui travaillent en Chine. Ces derniers “traduisent” leurs expériences de Chine dans leur quotidien et leur mode de vie, et leurs importations de biens manufacturés ouvrent les voies de transformations sociales qui influencent l’émergence de Dakar ville moderne et son appropriation par les Dakarois.