Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Agent-Based Expert System Architecture for Product Return Administration

Product return is a critical but controversial issue. To deal with such a vague return problem, businesses must improve their information transparency in order to administrate the product return behaviour of their end users. This study proposes an intelligent return administration expert system (iRAES) to provide product return forecasting and decision support for returned product administration. The iRAES consists of two intelligent agents that adopt a hybrid data mining algorithm. The return diagnosis agent generates different alarms for certain types of product return, based on forecasts of the return possibility. The return recommender agent is implemented on the basis of case-based reasoning, and provides the return centre clerk with a recommendation for returned product administration. We present a 3C-iShop scenario to demonstrate the feasibility and efficiency of the iRAES architecture. Our experiments identify a particularly interesting return, for which iRAES generates a recommendation for returned product administration. On average, iRAES decreases the effort required to generate a recommendation by 70% compared to previous return administration systems, and improves performance via return decision support by 37%. iRAES is designed to accelerate product return administration, and improve the performance of product return knowledge management. key words: product return, intelligent agent, case-based reasoning, intelligent system design
A high-performance architecture and BDD-based synthesis methodology for packet classification

Packet classification is a computationally intensive task that routers need to perform in order to implement basic functions such as next-hop lookup, as well as advanced features such as quality of service and security. Formally, a classifier examines each incoming packet, and determines which rules to apply to it. Semantically, the classifier is characterized by a function mapping the packet header to an integer encoding the action to be taken for that packet. The function itself is syntactically presented as a chain of if-then-else statements. Since the header consists of a fixed number of bits, it is natural to use logic synthesis to implement fast small classifiers in hardware. When doing this, there are two key issues that must be kept in mind: 1) these functions change over time, so the target architecture needs to be reconfigurable and 2) classification functions have a structure which should be exploited. We show that Internet Protocol forwarding, which is a special case of classification, can be performed by provably small circuits at very high speed by mapping the binary decision diagram (BDD) representation of the classification function to a cascaded array of lookup tables. This approach does not immediately carry over to general packet classification; the BDD for the classification function grows very large. We develop a solution based on partitioning to overcome this problem. We prove NP-completeness of optimal partitioning. We describe a heuristic for partition. The latency introduced by pipelining can be reduced by partially collapsing the BDD. We present an efficient algorithm based on dynamic programming to obtain an optimum grouping of variables that minimizes the total amount of memory required for a given number of levels.
Genetic polymorphisms in cell cycle regulatory genes MDM2 and TP53 are associated with susceptibility to lung cancer

The tumor suppressor TP53 pathway plays a crucial role in preventing carcinogenesis through its ability to impose cell cycle arrest and apoptosis following DNA damage and oncogene activation. MDM2 is a key negative regulator of the TP53 pathway and is overexpressed in many cancers as oncoprotein. We investigated the association between genetic variation in the promoter region of MDM2 (c.–5+309G>T, rs2279744:g.G>T) and the coding region of TP53 (c.215G>C, rs1042522:g.G>C, designated Arg72Pro) and the risk of developing lung cancer. The genotypes of 1,106 patients and 1,420 controls were determined by tetra‐primer amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS)‐PCR or PCR‐based restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Associations with risk of lung cancer were estimated by logistic regression. We observed an increased lung cancer risk associated with the MDM2 GG (odds ratio [OR]=1.83, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.45–2.32) and TG (OR=1.33, 95% CI=1.09–1.63) genotypes. An increased risk was also associated with the TP53 Pro/Pro genotype (OR=1.47, 95% CI=1.17–1.85, P=0.003) compared to the Arg/Arg genotype. The gene–gene interaction of MDM2 and TP53 polymorphisms increased lung cancer risk in a supermultiplicative manner (OR for the presence of both MDM2 GG and TP53 Pro/Pro genotypes=4.56, 95% CI=2.76–7.54). Significant interactions were observed between these polymorphisms (respectively and jointly) and smoking (OR=10.41, 95% CI=5.26–20.58) for smokers with both the MDM2 GG and TP53 Pro/Pro genotypes. In conclusion, genetic polymorphisms in cell cycle regulatory genes MDM2 and TP53 contribute to the risk of developing lung cancer. Hum Mutat 27(1), 110–117, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Identification of factors affecting production-worker-effectiveness for Six Sigma output level in small and medium size manufacturing enterprises

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are the driving force behind a large number of innovations and contribute to the growth of the national economy through employment creation and investments and exports. For manufacturing SMEs in countries like India, production-worker is one of the key elements in the conversion process of inputs to outputs. Therefore, it becomes imperative for such SMEs to focus on production issue, namely, the importance of role of production-worker for turning out an output of near Six Sigma quality level for Six Sigma approach has been accepted as the standard for world class manufacturing. As a step towards achieving this level of output quality, production-worker related problems that afflict the growth and success of manufacturing Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), especially, in the North Karnataka must be resolved.
Output Feedback Nonlinear H∞-Tracking Control of a Nonminimum-Phase 2-DOF Underactuated Mechanical System

Nonlinear 𝐻∞ synthesis is developed to solve the tracking control problem restricted to a two degrees-of-freedom (DOF) underactuated mechanical manipulator where position measurements are the only available information for feedback. A local 𝐻∞ controller is derived by means of a certain perturbation of the differential Riccati equations, appearing in solving the 𝐻∞ control problem for the linearized system. Stabilizability and detectability properties of the control system are thus ensured by the existence of the proper solutions of the unperturbed differential Riccati equations, and hence the proposed synthesis procedure obviates an extra verification work of these properties. Due to the nature of the approach, the resulting controller additionally yields the desired robustness properties against unknown but bounded external disturbances. The desired trajectory is centered at the upright position where the manipulator becomes a nonminimum-phase system. Simulation results made for a double pendulum show the effectiveness of the proposed controller.
Activity of Fungicides Against Epiphytic Yeast-Like Fungi of Winter Wheat

In a field experiment the susceptibility of yeast-like fungi to selected fungicides with the active ingredients (a.i.) propiconazole, epoxyconazole, kresoxim-methyl, fenpropimorph, carbendazim, prochloraz and flusilazole, was analyzed. The direct effect of the fungicides on the colonies of yeast-like fungi was determined based on antibiograms – the diffusion method. The survival rate of the isolates of yeast-like fungi on the leaves of winter wheat seedlings was determined in a phytotron. The fungicides Alert 375 SC and Bumper 250 EC inhibited the growth of yeast-like fungi most effectively, both under field conditions and in laboratory tests. Juwel TT 483 SE significantly reduced the abundance of Sporobolomyces roseus on both upper and lower leaves of wheat plants under in vivo conditions. The isolate of Pichia sp. was resistant to the tested fungicides.
Expression of RNase H of human hepatitis B virus polymerase in Escherichia coli.

AIM To amplify HBV-RNase H gene fragment and expression of RNase H for further use in the studies of HBV associated liver diseases. METHODS The encoding gene of HBV-RNase H was separately amplified for the first half and second half (H1 and H2) by PCR from full length HBV gene and cloned into pT7Blue-T vector. Clones were first screened by digestion with XbaI and Hind III enzyme for the correct size, and analyzed further by DNA sequencing. The RNase H1 and H2 fragments isolated from XbaI and Hind III digestion products of pT7 Blue-RNase H plasmid were ligated to the GSTag expressing vectors separately, and expressed in E.coli BL21. The expressed proteins were checked by PAGE gel and Western blot. RESULTS Both H1 and H2 nucleotide seqences consisting of known genes and proteins, in correct size, were further confirmed by Western blot to be the GST and RNase H1 or H2 fusion proteins. CONCLUSION The successful cloning and expression of HBV-RNase H will contribute to further research and application in HBV-associated diseases.
ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF NATURAL PRODUCTS FROM MEDICINAL PLANTS

In the recent years, research on medicinal plants has attracted a lot of attentions globally. Large body of evidence has accumulated to demonstrate the promising potential of Medicinal Plants used in various traditional, complementary and alternate systems of treatment of human diseases. Plants are rich in a wide variety of secondary metabolites such as tannins terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, etc, which have been found in vitro to have antimicrobial properties.1,2
Measurement of dead–space in a model lung using an oscillating inspired argon signal

In a model lung, airways dead–space can be accurately measured using a forced inspired oscillating argon signal, which varies sinusoidally about a mean concentration of 6% v/v with an amplitude of ± 4% v/v. With sinusoid forcing periods longer than 120 seconds, and at a breathing rate of 13.4 breaths minute‐1, the mean airways dead–space can be measured with a standard error of less than 5%. Sinusoid forcing periods shorter than 120 s provided inaccurate estimates of dead–space and so should not be used with this technique.
Effects of eccentric exercise on trunk extensor torque and lumbar paraspinal EMG.

PURPOSE Little is known about the effects of eccentric contractions on the function of the lumbar paraspinal muscles. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a single bout of eccentric contractions using the trunk extensor muscles on torque and lumbar paraspinal electromyographic (EMG) parameters. METHODS Twenty healthy men between the ages of 18 and 49 yr participated in the study. Subjects performed a single bout of 50 maximal voluntary concentric (N = 10) or eccentric (N = 10) trunk extension movements while surface EMG signals were recorded from the multifidus and iliocostalis lumborum muscles. A series of isometric contractions were performed both before the exercise protocol and at five additional time points over the following 7 d. RESULTS During the exercise protocol, peak torque decreased 30% and 24% in the eccentric and concentric groups, respectively, whereas no change occurred in EMG root-mean-square (RMS). There were no group differences in peak torque generation at any of the postexercise protocol time points. Compared with the preexercise protocol values, multifidus EMG was elevated 27% immediately post and 15 min post in the eccentric group. Similarly, compared with the concentric group, multifidus EMG in the eccentric group was increased 34%, 40%, and 25% immediately post, 15 min post, and 1 d after the exercise protocol, respectively. CONCLUSION Eccentric contractions using the trunk extensor muscles result in higher levels of multifidus EMG activity to produce a given level of torque. This reduction in neuromuscular efficiency persisted for one day with recovery to baseline levels by the third day. Contrary to studies using other muscle groups, no sustained alteration in muscle function was observed.
A primate genesis model of focal dystonia and repetitive strain injury

In this study we tested a neuroplasticity/learning origins hypothesis for repetitive strain injuries (RSIs), including occupationally induced focal dystonia.Repetitive movements produced in a specific form and in an appropriate behavioral context cause a degradation of the sensory feedback information controlling fine motor movements, resulting in the ``learned'' genesis of RSIs. Two adult New World owl monkeys were trained at a behavioral task that required them to maintain an attended grasp on a hand grip that repetitively and rapidly (20 msec) opened and closed over short distances. The monkeys completed 300 behavioral trials per day (1,100 to 3,000 movement events) with an accuracy of 80 to 90%. A movement control disorder was recorded in both monkeys. Training was continued until the performance accuracy dropped to below 50%. We subsequently conducted an electrophysiologic mapping study of the representations of the hand within the primary somatosensory (SI) cortical zone. The hand representation in the true primary somatosensory cortical field, SI area 3b, was found to be markedly degraded in these monkeys, as characterized by (1) a dedifferentiation of cortical representations of the skin of the hand manifested by receptive fields that were 10 to 20 times larger than normal, (2) the emergence of many receptive fields that covered the entire glabrous surface of individual digits or that extended across the surfaces of two or more digits, (3) a breakdown of the normally sharply segregated area 3b representations of volar glabrous and dorsal hairy skin of the hand, and (4) a breakdown of the local shifted-overlap receptive field topography of area 3b, with many digital receptive fields overlapping the fields of neurons sampled in cortical penetrations up to more than four times farther apart than normal. Thus, rapid, repetitive, highly stereotypic movements applied in a learning context can actively degrade cortical representations of sensory information guiding fine motor hand movements. This cortical plasticity/learning-based dedifferentiation of sensory feedback information from the hand contributes to the genesis of occupationally derived repetitive strain injuries, including focal dystonia of the hand. Successful treatment of patients with RSI will plausibly require learning-based restoration of differentiated representations of sensory feedback information from the hand. NEUROLOGY 1996;47: 508-520
Suicide in Jordan 1980–1985

ABSTRACT– In a study of suicide from 1980 through 1985 in Jordan, there were 219 suicides with an annual suicide rate of 2.1 per 100,000. The peak suicide rate was found to be among the age group 15–34 years. Nearly two‐thirds of males that committed suicide were single, which was not the case with suicides among females. Over half of males that committed suicide were either unemployed and/or unskilled manual workers and over two‐thirds of females that committed suicide were either housewives and/or students. Nearly two‐thirds of the total population that committed suicide had previous psychiatric treatment. Violent methods of suicide were most frequently used. Some of the results were observed for the first time and the role of sociocultural factors is discussed. Suggestions are made to explore the role of religion in combatting suicide.
Effects of chronic Cortisol administration and daily acute stress on growth, physiological conditions, and stress responses in juvenile rainbow trout

Juvenile rainbow trout Salmo gairdnen were either fed cortisol or subjected to an acute stress daily for 10 wk to determine the long-term effects of these factors on growth, physiological conditions, and stress responses. In fish fed cortisol, growth and condition factor, liver glycogen, and circulating lymphocytes were reduced and resting plasma glucose and hematocrit were increased. In fish stressed daily, all condtions were similar to those in controls except that lymphocyte numbers were lower. Continuous feedng of cortisol to fish for 10 wk completely eliminated the plasma cortisol elevation after acute handling, but the magnitude of the stress-induced glucose increase was unchanged. In fish stressed daily for 10 wk, a reduction in post-stress levels of both plasma cortisol and glucose after handling demonstrated the effect of habituation on these stress responses. We concluded that continuously elevated plasma cortisol from exogenous feedng had a profound long-term effect on juvenile rainbow trout, but that d d y stress-induced acute elevations of endogenous cortisol did not, except for a suppression of circulating lymphocytes. The occurrence of changes commonly observed in chronically stressed fish that are smilar to those in the cortisol-fed trout in our experiment supports the view that long-term detrimental effects of stress in fish are largely medated by cortisol. The results also indicated that continuous negative feedback of cortisol on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis may compromise the abihty of fish to cope with additional stress factors by limiting their capacity to elicit an interrenal response to a stimulus.
Surgical procedures in the intensive care unit: A critical review

Introduction Increasingly, surgical procedures are performed at bedside in the intensive care unit (ICU). Cost savings and gaining timely access to the operating room (OR) have helped to spur this trend towards more ICU-based procedures. Patient physiology and the patient transport concerns have made performing bedside procedures a more attractive option than the OR in certain settings. Discussion ICUs have begun to adapt to accommodate these bedside surgical procedures. Specialized personnel have been trained to facilitate and support procedures in some hospitals. Because the operating room remains the best location for most surgical procedures, there are only a few indications to perform bedside surgical procedures. These indications include lesser procedures for which the OR costs and transport risks are not justified or emergent procedures in patients are too unstable for transport to the OR. The most common procedures performed in the ICU include percutaneous tracheostomy, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube and inferior vena cava filter. Performing these procedures in the ICU is equally safe and more cost effective than performing them in the OR. Procedures of a more urgent nature can also be performed in the ICU and include laparotomy and damage control orthopaedics. Patient instability often dictates the need for these procedures to be performed in the ICU. Conclusion The operating room is no longer the only location that surgical procedures can be performed. The ICU is becoming a more common location where selected bedside procedures are being performed. Reasons to perform bedside procedures in the ICU rather than the operating room include cost savings, elimination of risks of transporting critically ill patients, and avoidance of OR availability concerns. The operating room remains the preferred location for almost all surgical procedures, but the ICU offers an attractive alternative for certain selected patients and procedures.
Q fever: Transmission from one human being to others.

An epidemiologic study of Q fever, as made in the endemic area of southern California, suggests three modes in which the infection may be spread: ( a ) occupation in dairy or livestock industries, ( b ) use of raw milk and ( c ) residence within 1/4 mile of places where cattle are maintained or beef is processed. 1 It has been estimated that more than 10 per cent of the cattle in this region are infected with Coxiella burnetii, the etiologic agent of Q fever, and that more than 50 per cent of the raw milk produced in this area is infective for guinea pigs. 2 Cases of Q fever have occurred among slaughterhouse workers 3 and laboratory technicians. 4 C. burnetii has been found in ticks, 5 and 1 case has been reported in which the infection was probably caused by the crushing of ticks between the fingers. 6 It has been stated
The Corpus Inscriptionum Etruscarum

I himself; and of course Mr. Glover is I easier to follow than the old Greek I historian. i How far it will be useful to scholars 1 is more difficult to say; he quotes freely from English, German, and French writers, and he does full justice to recent Oxford contributions to the study of his subject. But there are curious omissions—e.g., it is doubtful whether ' most people would accept' (p. 9: at least not in Germany, where they believe in Wilamowitz against Herodotus) as much as Mr. Glover does of the story of Ionian colonisation; and Diels' hypothesis about Herodotus and Hecataeus probably holds the field, though Mr. Glover (pp. 53 f.) ignores it. Again there is a great amount of irritating repetition—natural enough in lectures, but tiresome in print: we get very tired of Herodotus' fondness for tales, his 'desire to know,' and other points very true but very familiar. And as a result there are whole sides of the subject omitted. There is little discussion of the relation of Herodotus to the thought of his age ; it would have been interesting to hear Mr. Glover on Jacoby's view that Herodotus drew his inspiration from Athens; there is still less discussion of Herodotus' literary style. But this is more than enough in the way of criticism. The book is, as has been said, always interesting, for Mr. Glover is himself interested; he puts many points extremely well—e.g., as to Herodotus' knowledge of mining (p. 135), the comparisons of Herodotus and Polybius (pp. 38, 66 et pass.); he is exceedingly accurate; the only actual mistakes we have noted are Bk. IV. 107 for III. 106 on p. 170, and the date 1837 f° Rawlinson's great discovery (p. 48 : Rawlinson travelled in Susiana in 1837, but it was later that he copied the inscription, and he published his translation in 1846). And Mr. Glover rightly believes in his subject; to him Herodotus is one of the greatest authors of the world, and one to whom we may well go for ' criticism of life ' (p. 289). But it was to ' poetry ' and not to ' literature' in general that Matthew Arnold sent us.
Insect herbivory stimulates allelopathic exudation by an invasive plant and the suppression of natives

Exotic invasive plants are often subjected to attack from imported insects as a method of biological control. A fundamental, but rarely explicitly tested, assumption of biological control is that damaged plants are less fit and compete poorly. In contrast, we find that one of the most destructive invasive plants in North America, Centaurea maculosa, exudes far higher amounts of (±)-catechin, an allelopathic chemical known to have deleterious effects on native plants, when attacked by larvae of two different root boring biocontrol insects and a parasitic fungus. We also demonstrate that C. maculosa plants experimentally attacked by one of these biocontrols exhibit more intense negative effects on natives.