Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Performance Metrics in Engineering Change Management: Towards a Methodology to Investigate the Efficiency of Handling Engineering Changes

The efficient management of engineering changes highly influences the success of an engineering design project. Additionally, the increasing complexity, the faster development cycles and the growing competition in many industries turn the focus in engineering science to the engineering change management and its improvement. Although the research activity increased steadily in recent years, the literature lacks a broad understanding of performance metrics either to analyze the structural implications of the applied engineering change management process or to measure its efficiency in its implementation. Therefore, the paper presents a first draft of a procedure to support the project management in investigating its engineering change management. Consequently, a method is introduced which defines and details the steps necessary for the analysis. Hence, Performance criteria are developed to leverage the performance measurement. In addition to criteria developed in advance for the investigation, historical data of change orders is used to take company specific change characteristics into account. By utilizing the given data, pattern within the engineering change data can be found to further improve the quality of the performance criteria. Finally, the application is enabled by introducing a way to implement the criteria and conduct a performance analysis.
When modularization fails to occur: A developmental perspective

We argue that models of adult cognition defined in terms of independently functioning modules cannot be applied to development, whether typical or atypical. The infant brain starts out highly interconnected, and it is only over developmental time that neural networks become increasingly specialized—that is, relatively modularized. In the case of atypical development, even when behavioural scores fall within the normal range, they are frequently underpinned by different cognitive and neural processes. In other words, in neurodevelopmental disorders the gradual process of relative modularization may fail to occur.
The Prevalence of NIDDM and Associated Coronary Risk Factors in Mexico City

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of diabetes and associated coronary risk factors in the Mexico City population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A sample of 805 adults was selected from Mexico City. The participants, 20–90 years of age and living in the city, were selected by the method of multistage cluster sampling with proportional allocation. Diabetes was diagnosed by previous history or if fasting blood glucose was ≥ 7.8 mmol/l (≥ 140 mg/dl). RESULTS The crude rate prevalence of NIDDM was 8.7%, with an age-adjusted rate of 10.6% for women and 6.0% for men. Age strongly influenced diabetes prevalence, with a χ2 of risk tendency of 39.1 (P < 0.00005). A significant proportion (5.9%) of younger individuals (35–44 years of age) was affected by the disease. Diabetes was associated with advanced age, had a greater impact in the low-income group, and showed increased odds ratio for hypertension, dyslipidemias, and myocardial infarction in men and women and for obesity only in women. CONCLUSION There is a high prevalence of NIDDM in Mexico City that also strikes a significant group of younger individuals. Associated coronary risk factors are also common and more prevalent in diabetic individuals. Current epidemiological data in Mexico and Mexican-Americans in the U.S. suggest that we may be on the ascending limb for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. There is a critical need for resources to be allocated to programs for primary and secondary prevention, which must be well structured and organized so that proper standards of care are followed to prevent progression of the disease.
Glad You Asked: Participants' Opinions of Re-Consent for DbGap Data Submission

No consensus exists about when researchers need additional participant consent (re-consent) to submit existing data to the federal database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGaP). Re-consent for submission of their data to dbGaP was sought from 1,340 study participants, 1,159 (86%) of whom agreed. We invited the first 400 of those who agreed to complete a telephone survey about their reasoning for their consent decision and their satisfaction with the re-consent process; 365 participants completed the survey. Respondents reported that it was very (69%) or somewhat (21%) important that they were asked for their permission. Many respondents considered alternatives to consent, such as notification-only or opt-out, to be unacceptable (67% and 40%, respectively). These results suggest that re-consent for dbGaP deposition may be advisable in certain cases to anticipate and honor participant preferences.
[Evaluation of clinical data and effort test in patients with angina pectoris: an approach to a multivariate analysis in different groups].

One-hundred and eighty-nine patients who underwent cardiac catheterization for suspected ischemic heart disease were assigned to four different groups depending on the number of diseased vessels (0, 1, 2, 3), the dominant artery and the presence of left main coronary stenosis. Among the 45 parameters obtained from history, physical examination, E.C. G. , and exercise test multivariate analysis identified (positive stress test, maximal systolic blood pressure, documented myocardial infarction, maximal heart rate, ipercholesterolemia, lateral myocardial infarction, angina during stress test) that were statistically significant. A score system was devised on the basis of the summed-up value of the seven parameters. When the patients were assigned, according to the score, to one of the previously mentioned 4 groups, the classification proved to be correct in 54% of the cases. When we divided the patients in two groups with or without coronary artery disease so that the attribution turned out to be correct in 92% of the cases (sensitivity 94%, specificity 77%), whereas when based on ST segment depression only, the classification was correct in 85% of the cases (sensitivity 84%, specificity 88%).
Defining and Teaching Interdisciplinary Studies

considerations as from any traditional belief that knowledge is somehow all of a piece and deserves to be exhibited as such. Gresham Riley, for example, in his essay on the goals of a liberal education, claims that "never more than at the present time has there been a need for citizens to be able to focus the insights of various disciplines on the problems and issues which beset our collective existence. "1 Underlying such calls for an interdisciplinary component to liberal education is the recognition that interdisciplinary studies encourage breadth of vision and develop the skills of inte gration and synthesis so frequently demanded by the prob lems of a culture in the midst of a profound transition.
Learning Effective Query Management Strategies from Big Data

The availability of big data collections, together with powerful hardware and software mechanisms to process them, gives nowadays the possibility to learn useful insights from data, which can be exploited for multiple purposes, including marketing, fault prevention, and so forth. However, it is also possible to learn important metadata that can suggest how data should be manipulated in several advanced operations. In this paper, we show the potentiality of learning from data by focusing on the problem of relaxing the results of database queries, that is, trying to return some approximated answer to a query when a result for it is unavailable in the database, and the system will return an empty answer set, or even worse, erroneous mismatch results. In particular, we introduce a novel approach to rewrite queries that are in disjunctive normal form and contain a mixture of discrete and continuous attributes. The approach preprocesses data collections to discover the implicit relationships that exist among the various domain attributes, and then uses this knowledge to rewrite the constraints from the failing query. In a first step, the approach tries to learn a set of functional dependencies from the data, which are ranked according to special mechanisms that will successively allow to predict the order in which the extracted dependencies have to be used to properly rewrite the failing query. An experimental evaluation of the approach on three real data sets shows its effectiveness in terms of robustness and coverage.
Is stock market overpriced? A benchmark approach

Abstract The fact that stock market is unpredictable does not deter investors, pundits, and academicians from speculating about the next market move. This paper uses multiple benchmarks to judge the current level of the stock market. Among those benchmarks are bonds; commodities; REITs; international stocks; company earnings, sales, and profits; and GDP. Ten-year moving averages of benchmark variables are individually and then collectively compared with S&P 500 index. Although our analysis finds that fundamentals do not support the current high level of the stock market, we do find evidence that a rational bubble exists in that market using the duration dependence test.
Investigating the Post-Training Persistence of Expert Interaction Techniques

Expert interaction techniques enable users to greatly improve their performance; however, to realize these advantages, the user must first acquire the skill necessary to use a technique, then choose to use it over competing novice techniques. This article investigates several factors that may influence whether use of an expert technique persists when the context of use changes. Two studies examine the effect of changing performance requirements, and find that a high performance requirement imposed in a training context can effectively push users to adopt an expert technique, and that use of the technique is maintained when the requirement is subsequently reduced or removed. In a final study, performance requirement, high-level task, and environment of use are changed—participants played a training game to learn the menu for a drawing application, which they then used to complete a series of drawings over the following week. Participants exhibited a somewhat surprising “all-or-nothing” effect, using the expert technique nearly exclusively or not at all, and maintaining this behavior over a range of qualitatively different tasks. This suggests that switching to an expert technique involves a global change by the user, rather than an incremental change as suggested by previous work.
Elevated extracellular calcium levels induce smooth muscle cell matrix mineralization in vitro.

BACKGROUND Hyperphosphatemia, elevated calcium x phosphorus product (Ca x P), and calcium burden, major causes of vascular calcification, are correlated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in dialysis patients. METHODS To address the underlying mechanisms responsible for these findings, we have utilized an in vitro human smooth muscle cell (HSMC) model of vascular calcification. Previous studies using this system demonstrated enhanced calcification of HSMC cultures treated with phosphorus levels in the hyperphosphatemic range, and implicated a sodium-dependent phosphate cotransport-dependent mechanism in this effect. In the present study, we examine the effect of increasing calcium concentrations on HSMC calcification in vitro. RESULTS Increasing calcium to levels observed in hypercalcemic individuals increased mineralization of HSMC cultures under normal phosphorus conditions. Importantly, at these total calcium concentrations, ionized calcium levels increased from 1.2 mmol/L to 1.7 mmol/L, consistent with levels observed physiologically in normocalcemic and hypercalcemic individuals, respectively. Furthermore, increasing both calcium and phosphorus levels led to accelerated and increased mineralization in the cultures. Calcium-induced mineralization was dependent on the function of a sodium-dependent phosphate cotransporter, since it was inhibited by phosphonoformic acid (PFA). While elevated calcium did not affect short-term phosphorus transport kinetics, long-term elevated calcium treatment of HSMCs induced expression of the sodium-dependent phosphate cotransporter, Pit-1. CONCLUSION These studies suggest that elevated calcium may stimulate HSMC mineralization by elevating Ca x P product and enhancing the sodium-dependent phosphate cotransporter-dependent mineralization pathway previously observed in HSMCs.
The Meningococcal Vaccine Candidate GNA1870 Binds the Complement Regulatory Protein Factor H and Enhances Serum Resistance

Neisseria meningitidis binds factor H (fH), a key regulator of the alternative complement pathway. A ∼29 kD fH-binding protein expressed in the meningococcal outer membrane was identified by mass spectrometry as GNA1870, a lipoprotein currently under evaluation as a broad-spectrum meningococcal vaccine candidate. GNA1870 was confirmed as the fH ligand on intact bacteria by 1) abrogation of fH binding upon deleting GNA1870, and 2) blocking fH binding by anti-GNA1870 mAbs. fH bound to whole bacteria and purified rGNA1870 representing each of the three variant GNA1870 families. We showed that the amount of fH binding correlated with the level of bacterial GNA1870 expression. High levels of variant 1 GNA1870 expression (either by allelic replacement of gna1870 or by plasmid-driven high-level expression) in strains that otherwise were low-level GNA1870 expressers (and bound low amounts of fH by flow cytometry) restored high levels of fH binding. Diminished fH binding to the GNA1870 deletion mutants was accompanied by enhanced C3 binding and increased killing of the mutants. Conversely, high levels of GNA1870 expression and fH binding enhanced serum resistance. Our findings support the hypothesis that inhibiting the binding of a complement down-regulator protein to the neisserial surface by specific Ab may enhance intrinsic bactericidal activity of the Ab, resulting in two distinct mechanisms of Ab-mediated vaccine efficacy. These data provide further support for inclusion of this molecule in a meningococcal vaccine. To reflect the critical function of this molecule, we suggest calling it fH-binding protein.
Differentiating cancerous tissues from noncancerous tissues using single-fiber reflectance spectroscopy with different fiber diameters

Abstract. Elastic light-scattering spectra acquired with single-fiber optical probes with diameters of 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200, and 1500 μm were used to differentiate cancerous from noncancerous prostate tissues. The spectra were acquired ex vivo on 24 excised prostate tissue samples collected from four patients. For each probe, the spectra and histopathology results were compared in order to investigate the correlation between the core diameters of the single-fiber optical probe and successful differentiation between cancerous and noncancerous prostate tissues. The spectra acquired using probes with a fiber core diameter of 400 μm or smaller successfully differentiated cancerous from noncancerous prostate tissues. Next, the spectra were acquired from monosized polystyrene microspheres with a diameter of 5.00±0.01 μm to investigate the correlation between the core diameters of the probes and the Mie oscillations on the spectra. Monte Carlo simulations of the light distribution of the tissue phantoms were run to interrogate whether the light detected by the probes with different fiber core diameters was in the ballistic or diffusive regime. If the single-fiber optical probes detect light in the ballistic regime, the spectra can be used to differentiate between cancerous and noncancerous tissues.
Verification of the dependence of factors determining the market value of residential real estate at the stages of the life cycle

Russia Abstract. The paper reflects the results of the study of the dependence of factors that form the market value of residential real estate objects at the stages of life cycle on the example of the residential real estate market in the city of Krasnoyarsk. It was determined that the location and lifetime of facilities are the key factors in the formation of the market value of residential property. Based on the conducted economic and statistical analysis, it is proved that the importance of the residential object location can suppress the influence of a high degree of depreciation of the building, thereby increasing the market value of residential property in it. It is justified in the work that the value of a location, being a qualitative characteristic of residential real estate, involves the development of quantitative approaches to its measuring and valuating in order to solve theoretical and methodological problems of management and development of housing
Immigration, Housing Rents, and Residential Segregation: Evidence from Syrian Refugees in Turkey

The massive inflow of Syrian refugees is argued to drastically affect various social and economic outcomes in the hosting countries and regions. In this paper, we use micro-level data to investigate whether the Syrian refugee inflows have affected the market for housing rentals in Turkey. The unexpected arrival of a large number of refugees due to civil conflict in Syria is used to construct a quasi-experimental design. Since the construction of new housing units takes a long time, refugee inflow resembles a positive demand shock to the sector. We find that the refugee inflows have led to an increase in the rents of higher-quality housing units, while there is no statistically significant effect in the rents of lower-quality units. This finding supports a residential segregation story, which suggests that the refugee wave has increased the demand for native-dominant neighborhoods with better amenities especially among natives. We argue that negative attitudes towards refugees – potentially due to refugee-native conflict along several dimensions – may be generating this result.
Positively Charged Cyclic Hexapeptides, Novel Blockers for the Cardiac Sarcolemma Na+-Ca2+ Exchanger (*)

Positively charged cyclic hexapeptides have been synthesized and tested for their effects on the cardiac sarcolemma Na+-Ca2+ exchange activities with a goal to identify a potent blocker. The cyclic hexapeptides, having the different amino acid sequence, contain two arginines (to retain a positive charge), two phenylalanines (to control hydrophobicity), and two cysteines (to form an intramolecular S-S bond). The effect of cyclic hexapeptides were tested on Na+-Ca2+ exchange and its partial reaction, the Ca2+-Ca2+ exchange, by measuring the 45Ca fluxes in the semi-rapid mixer or monitoring the calcium-sensitive dye Arsenazo III and voltage-sensitive dyes (Oxanol-V or Merocyanine-540). Seven cyclic hexapeptides inhibit Na+-Ca2+ exchange with a different potency (IC50 = 2-300 μM). Phe-Arg-Cys-Arg-Cys-Phe-CONH2 (FRCRCFa) inhibits the Na+o-dependent 45Ca uptake (Na+-Ca2+ exchange) and Ca2+i-dependent 45Ca uptake (Ca2+-Ca2+ exchange) in the isolated cardiac sarcolemma vesicles with IC50 = 10 ± 2 μM and IC50 = 7 ± 3 μM, respectively. Interaction of FRCRCFa with a putative inhibitory site does not involve a “slow” binding (a maximal inhibitory effect is already observed after t = 1 s of mixing). The inside positive potential, generated by Na+o-dependent Ca2+ efflux, was monitored by Oxanol-V (A635-A612) or Merocyanine-540 (A570-A500). In both assay systems, FRCRCFa inhibits the Na+-Ca2+ exchange with IC50 = 2-3 μM, while a complete inhibition occurs at 20 μM FRCRCFa. The forward (Na+i-dependent Ca2+ influx) and reverse (Na+o-dependent Ca2+ efflux) modes of Na+-Ca2+ exchange, monitored by Arsenazo III (A600-A785), are also inhibited by FRCRCFa. The L-Arg4 → D-Arg4 substitution in FRCRCFa does not alter the IC50, meaning that this structural change may increase a proteolytic resistance without a loss of inhibitory potency. At fixed [Na50]50 (160 mM) or [Ca50]50 (250 μM) and varying 50Ca50(2-200 μM), FRCRCFa decreases V without altering the K50. Therefore, FRCRCFa is a noncompetitive inhibitor in regard to extravesicular Ca50 either for Na+-Ca2+ or Ca2+-Ca2+ exchange. It is suggested that FRCRCFa prevents the ion movements through the exchanger rather than the ion binding.
Vector control of permanent magnet synchronous motor with surface magnet using artificial neural networks

This paper describes the vector control of a three phase permanent magnet synchronous motor with surface magnet (PMSM) drive using artificial neural networks. After reviewing the advantages of this solution, a possible vector control schemes for PMSM drives based on the principle of rotor flux oriented control is considered. Based on motor dynamics and non-linear load characteristics, an ANN speed controller is developed and integrated with the vector control scheme of the PMSM drive. The simulation results at various operating conditions validate the efficiency of the ANN for precise speed control of the PMSM drive and the feasibility of the proposed control system. Furthermore the use of ANN makes the drive system robust, accurate and insensitive to parameter variations.
Sigma 1 protein of mammalian reoviruses extends from the surfaces of viral particles

Electron microscopy revealed structures consisting of long fibers topped with knobs extending from the surfaces of virions of mammalian reoviruses. The morphology of these structures was reminiscent of the fiber protein of adenovirus. Fibers were also seen extending from the reovirus top component and intermediate subviral particles but not from cores, suggesting that the fibers consist of either the mu 1C or sigma 1 outer capsid protein. Amino acid sequence analysis predicts that the reovirus cell attachment protein sigma 1 contains an extended fiber domain (R. Bassel-Duby, A. Jayasuriya, D. Chatterjee, N. Sonenberg, J. V. Maizell, Jr., and B. N. Fields, Nature [London] 315:421-423, 1985). When sigma 1 protein was released from viral particles with mild heat and subsequently obtained in isolation, it was found to have a morphology identical to that of the fiber structures seen extending from the viral particles. The identification of an extended form of sigma 1 has important implications for its function in cell attachment. Other evidence suggests that sigma 1 protein may occur in virions in both an extended and an unextended state.
A direct synaptic connexion between the left and right giant cells in Aplysia

1. In Aplysia fasciata, intrasomatic stimulation of the giant cell (RGC) of the right upper quadrant of the abdominal ganglia is followed after a constant delay by the appearance of a synaptic potential recorded in the giant cell (LGC) of the left pleural ganglion.