Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
University of Birmingham REMEDA: Random Embedding EDA for optimising functions with intrinsic dimension

It has been observed that in many real-world large scale problems only few variables have a major impact on the function value: While there are many inputs to the function, there are just few degrees of freedom. We refer to such functions as having a low intrinsic dimension. In this paper we devise an Estimation of Distribution Algorithm (EDA) for continuous optimisation that exploits intrinsic dimension without knowing the inﬂuential subspace of the input space, or its dimension, by employing the idea of random embedding. While the idea is applicable to any optimiser, EDA is known to be remarkably successful in low dimensional problems but prone to the curse of dimensionality in larger problems because its model building step requires large population sizes. Our method, Random Embedding in Estimation of Distribution Algorithm (REMEDA) remedies this weakness and is able to optimise very large dimensional problems as long as their intrinsic dimension is low.
Estimation of Assist Effects by Additional Permanent Magnets in Salient-Pole Synchronous Generators

The characteristic improvements of salient-pole synchronous generators by inserting additional permanent magnets are investigated from both results of finite-element analyses and experiments. First, the assist effects of the magnets in a megavoltampere-class generator are analyzed by the finite-element method. It is clarified that the additional permanent magnets have the effects of reducing magnetic saturation at the rotor-pole bodies, as well as the effects of increasing the direct flux linkage of armature windings. It is also clarified that the output of the generator can be increased by more than 20% by inserting the magnets without any increase in total machine size and decrease in efficiency. Finally, the characteristic improvements are validated by the experiment of a small prototype generator. The experimental and calculated results are found to be in good agreement.
ASSOCIATION OF TESTOSTERONE AND CHOLESTEROL LEVEL IN MODULATION OF IMMUNITY AND SEVERITY OF DISEASE IN VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS PATIENTS-A PRELIMINARY STUDY

Males are more prone to Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) as compared to females. The role of androgens in host defence against Leishmania and other pathogens is of considerable interest. This study was aimed to understand a baseline mechanistic understanding of the pathogenesis of visceral leishmaniasis with respect to testosterone. We examined the relationship between serum testosterone and cholesterol levels, antigen induced Interleukin-10 (IL-10) and Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and production by Peripheral Blood Mono Nuclear Cells (PBMCs) and parasite burden as determined by microscopic examination on male patients (n = 18) with VL and gender-and age-matched controls (n = 10). Testosterone plasma levels were found to be up regulated in VL patients as compared to healthy controls. In severely infected patients, the mean testosterone concentration was observed to be increased compared with other VL patients (p
Actuator placements and Variations in the Control Path estimates in the Active Control of Boring Bar Vibrations

A classical example of chatter prone machining is the boring operation. Turning under conditions with high vibrations in the cutting tool deteriorates the surface finish and may cause tool breakage. Severe noise is also a consequence of the high vibration levels in the boring bar. Active control is one possible solution to the noise and vibration problem in boring operations. In boring operations the boring bar usually have vibration components in both the cutting speed and the cutting depth direction. The introduction of the control force in different angles in between the cutting speed and the cutting depth directions have been investigated. Furthermore, control path estimates produced when the active boring bar was not in contact with the workpiece and during continuous cutting operation are compared. Experimental results indicate that the control force should be introduced in the cutting speed direction. Although the vibrations are controlled in just the cutting speed direction the vibrations in the cutting depth direction are also reduced significantly.
COMPARISON OF CONCEPTION RATES IN BEEF CATTLE INSEMINATED WITH EITHER SEXEDULTRA™ SEX-SORTED SEMEN OR CONVENTIONAL SEMEN IN FIXED-TIME ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION (FTAI) PROTOCOLS

OF THESIS COMPARISON OF CONCEPTION RATES IN BEEF CATTLE INSEMINATED WITH EITHER SEXEDULTRATM SEX‐SORTED SEMEN OR CONVENTIONAL SEMEN IN FIXED‐TIME ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION (FTAI) PROTOCOLS Estrous synchronization and artificial insemination (ESAI) are reproductive technologies that cattlemen can use to improve the reproductive performance of their herds. Controlling the gender ratio of the calf‐crop can also improve the opportunity for increased revenue and profit. Producers are able to shift and/or control the gender ratio of their calf crop by incorporating sex‐sorted semen into their AI programs. However, decreased conception rates to AI have been previously observed when sex‐sorted semen was used in comparison to conventional semen of the same sires. The objective of the first study was to determine if conception rates will differ in females inseminated with conventional semen or SexedULTRATM sex‐sorted semen when estrus is synchronized using an industry‐standard, 7‐d CO‐Synch + Controlled Internal Drug Release (CIDR) protocol for fixed‐time artificial insemination (FTAI). The objective of the second study was to determine if conception rate to FTAI differs between SexedULTRATM sex‐sorted and conventional semen when yearling beef heifers are synchronized using a 14‐d controlled internal drug release (CIDR) ‐ PGF2α (PGF) protocol modified to optimize the control of ovulation and timing of insemination.
Recurrent transient ischemic attacks and stroke associated with an internal carotid artery web.

Recurrent Transient Ischemic Attacks and Stroke Associated With an Internal Carotid Artery Web To the Editor We read with interest the recent article by Morgenlander and Goldstein. I believe, however, that the case the authors report is the fifth reported case rather than the third. They appear to have overlooked two previously reported studies. One was reported by Houser et al, and the fourth was one that we reported. The similarity of the pathological changes that we described and those reported by the authors is striking.
New Challenges for Tourism Destination Management in Romania

Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries with an estimated 940 million international arrivals in 2010 and more than US$ 919 billion revenues, or 30% of the world’s export services. In the last years, the industry is expanding at an average rate of 4% annually (except 2009). Moreover, in the first half of 2011, international tourist arrivals are estimated to have grown by 4.5%, after a 6.6% increase in 2010 (UNWTO, 2010).
MICROFLUIDIQUE DE GOUTTES POUR LES ANALYSES BIOLOGIQUES

Cette these presente divers dispositifs fonctionnant sur le principe de la microfluidique diphasique et dedies aux analyses biologiques. Dans une premiere partie, nous decrivons la conception d'un systeme permettant d'effectuer en flux et sans contamination la reaction de PCR dans des microgouttes transportees par une huile immiscible. Cette etude a debouche sur une plateforme automatisee au debit theorique de 3000 echantillons par jour, egalant les systemes actuels avec une consommation 50 fois moindre en reactifs. Dans les parties suivantes, nous presentons deux nouvelles idees pour la manipulation d'objets en microfluidique digitale : l'utilisation de phenomenes hydrodynamiques pour encapsuler des cellules uniques dans des microgouttes et les trier, et l'application de champs electriques pour induire melange et coalescence de gouttes aqueuses. La combinaison de ces deux methodes au sein d'une meme puce est le premier pas vers un systeme integre d'analyse de cellules uniques.
Average hospital length of stay, nurses' work demands, and their health and job outcomes.

PURPOSE To examine the relationship between average hospital length of stay (LOS) of nursing units and work demands perceived by nurses, and between work demands and nurses' health and job outcomes. DESIGN A cross-sectional study using nurse survey data collected in a tertiary university hospital in Seoul, South Korea, in 2013 including 746 staff nurses working on 36 general, oncology, or intensive care units. METHODS Each unit's average LOS was categorized as short (1st quartile), medium (2nd and 3rd quartiles), or long (4th quartile). Work demands (i.e., quantitative demands, work pace, and emotional demands), and nurses' health and job outcomes were measured using the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire II. Their relationships were examined by multiple linear or logistic regression analyses with multilevel modeling. FINDINGS The nurses reported high mean scores of work demands and poor health and job outcomes, compared with other occupations. The nurses working on units with a short or medium (vs. long) LOS perceived higher quantitative and emotional demands, and a higher work pace. Greater quantitative and emotional demands were associated with poor self-rated health, greater sleeping troubles, work-family conflict, stress and burnout, lower job satisfaction, and a greater intent to leave. A higher work pace was also significantly related to greater work-family conflict. CONCLUSIONS A shorter LOS was associated with higher work demands, and higher work demands were associated with worse nurse outcomes. Thus, excessive work demands should be avoided to prevent nurses' health and job outcomes from deteriorating. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Nurse managers need to monitor the impacts of reducing LOS on work demands and nurse outcomes and request additional nurses to meet increasing work demands.
Stay or Out: Commitment and Employee Turnover Intentions among Indonesian Employees

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of the working commitment to the intention turnover in employees in Indonesia. The subjects in the study consisted of 111 employees from Borneo, Maluku and Java from various agencies. The average age of employees is 29.64 years with the number of female employees is a total of 61 and male employees are 50. The study was conducted by using a scale commitment of Meyer & Allen, who have 18 items (r = .86) as well as the scale of which has a turnover of Dreher 27 items (r = .93). In general, the results showed that work commitment has a role or significance of 63% of the turnover intention. The role has a negative value which means a highly committed employees has a low turnover intention, and vice versa. Not much different, commitment to play a significant role in the employee turnover intention of Borneo, Maluku, Java or partially. In addition, work commitment of Indonesian officials is at the level of medium to high, while turnover was at low levels on the whole among the employees coming from Borneo, Maluku, and Java.
Analysis on the Impact of International Technology Transfer on China's Industrial Restructuring and Upgrading

Under China’s New Normal, international technology transfer put forward new requirements for China's industrial development. Based on the meaning of international technology transfer, this paper analyzed the effects of technology transfer and TFP from the perspectives of technical input and technical output, and discussed theoretically the internal mechanism that international technology transfer effected the transformation and upgrading of industrial structure. In the end, the paper proposed some policy recommendations about China’s industrial restructuring and upgrading including establishment of a virtuous cycle mechanism on technology introduction, adjustment about industrial organizations and industrial technology policy, improvements on the legal and market environment of international technology transfer.
Evaluation of Weight Loss and Adipocytokine Levels after Two Hypocaloric Diets with Different Macronutrient Distribution in Obese Subjects with the rs6923761 Gene Variant of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor

Background: The role of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) variants on body weight response after dietary intervention has not been evaluated so far. Objective: Our aim was to evaluate weight loss and adipocytokine levels after two hypocaloric diets with different macronutrient distribution in obese subjects with rs6923761. Design: A sample of 280 obese subjects was randomized to two hypocaloric diets. Results: 124 patients (44.3%) had the genotype GG (wild-type) and 156 (55.7%) had another genotype (mutant), i.e. GA (n = 132, 47.1%) or AA (n = 24, 8.6%). With the type I diet (low in carbohydrates) in the wild-type and mutant groups, BMI, weight, fat mass, waist circumference, insulin levels, insulin resistance and triglycerides decreased. Anthropometric parameters were higher in non-A-allele carriers than A-allele carriers. With the type II diet (low in fats) in all genotypes, BMI, weight, fat mass, waist circumference, insulin levels, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol decreased. Conclusion: Our data showed better anthropometric parameters in obese subjects with the mutant allele (A) of the rs6923761 GLP-1R polymorphism. A lack of association of this polymorphism with weight loss or biochemical parameters after two different hypocaloric diets was observed.
Late-life myopathy occurring with Sjogren's syndrome.

Introduction Myopathies commencing during the adult years have been shown to be associated with several groups of generalized diseases. For example, the relationship of late-life myopathy to malignancies, particularly those of the lung, is now well recognized.1,2Similarly, myopathy has occurred frequently in combination with the so-called collagen diseases—rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosis, scleroderma, and polyarteritis.3-8A number of other conditions, many of them poorly understood systemic diseases such as sarcoidosis, have also been associated with myopathy. We have recently studied 4 cases of myopathy which were found to be associated with Sjogren's syndrome, a symptom complex including hypofunction of the lacrimal glands, diminished salivary secretion, and, often, rheumatoid arthritis. Aside from the present cases,*this association has not been remarked upon previously. It is the purpose of this article to report in detail the clinical and laboratory features of these cases, and to review briefly some of the
Open trial of risperidone in 24 young children with pervasive developmental disorders.

OBJECTIVE To describe tolerability and efficacy of risperidone in very young children with pervasive developmental disorders. METHOD Twenty-four children aged 3.6 to 6.6 years (mean 4.6 years +/- 8 months) enrolled during 1999 and 2000 participated in a 16-week open-label trial with risperidone monotherapy. Outcome measures included the Children's Psychiatric Rating Scale (CPRS), Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I), and Children's Global Assessment Scale (C-GAS). RESULTS Two subjects did not complete the trial because of side effects. The optimal dose was 0.5 mg/day. After the treatment a 21% improvement in CPRS and a 14% improvement in CARS total scores was found. Items related to behavioral control (hyperactivity, fidgetiness, rhythmic motions) and affect regulation (lability of affect, angry affect) improved more than 25%. Based on improvement of at least 25% on the CPRS and a score of 1 or 2 on the CGI-I, eight subjects were considered responders. Functional impairment (C-GAS) improved more than 25%. Thirteen subjects (54%) were free of any side effects; in the other participants risperidone was well tolerated. Only three subjects had a weight gain greater than 10%. CONCLUSIONS Low-dose risperidone may positively affect symptoms in young autistic children, improving disruptive/hyperactive behavior and affective dysregulation. Further controlled studies in this age group are warranted.
Systematic Prediction of cis-Regulatory Elements in the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Genome Using Comparative Genomics1[C][W]

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is one of the most important microalgae model organisms and has been widely studied toward the understanding of chloroplast functions and various cellular processes. Further exploitation of C. reinhardtii as a model system to elucidate various molecular mechanisms and pathways requires systematic study of gene regulation. However, there is a general lack of genome-scale gene regulation study, such as global cis-regulatory element (CRE) identification, in C. reinhardtii. Recently, large-scale genomic data in microalgae species have become available, which enable the development of efficient computational methods to systematically identify CREs and characterize their roles in microalgae gene regulation. Here, we performed in silico CRE identification at the whole genome level in C. reinhardtii using a comparative genomics-based method. We predicted a large number of CREs in C. reinhardtii that are consistent with experimentally verified CREs. We also discovered that a large percentage of these CREs form combinations and have the potential to work together for coordinated gene regulation in C. reinhardtii. Multiple lines of evidence from literature, gene transcriptional profiles, and gene annotation resources support our prediction. The predicted CREs will serve, to our knowledge, as the first large-scale collection of CREs in C. reinhardtii to facilitate further experimental study of microalgae gene regulation. The accompanying software tool and the predictions in C. reinhardtii are also made available through a Web-accessible database (http://hulab.ucf.edu/research/projects/Microalgae/sdcre/motifcomb.html).
Energetics of sequence-specific protein-DNA association: computational analysis of integrase Tn916 binding to its target DNA.

The N-terminal domain of the bacterial integrase Tn916 specifically recognizes the 11 bp DNA target site by positioning the face of a three-stranded beta-sheet into the major groove. Binding is linked to structural adaptation. We have characterized INT-DBD binding to DNA in detail by calorimetry [Milev, S. , Gorfe, A. , Karshikoff, A. , Clubb, R. T. , Bosshard, H. R. , and Jelesarov, I. (2003) Biochemistry 42, 3481-3491]. Our thermodynamic analysis has indicated that the major driving force of association is the hydrophobic effect while polar interactions contribute less. To gain more comprehensive information about the binding process, we performed a computational analysis of the binding free energy and report here the results. A hybrid molecular mechanics/continuum approach was followed. The total binding free energy is predicted with reasonable accuracy. The calculations confirm that nonpolar effects stabilize the protein-DNA complex while electrostatics opposes binding. Structural changes optimizing surface complementarity are costly in terms of energy. The energetic consequences from the replacement of nine DNA-contacting residues by alanine were investigated. The calculations correctly predict the binding affinity decrease of eight mutations and the destabilizing effect of one wild-type residue. Bulky side chains stabilize the wild-type complex through packing interactions and favorable nonpolar dehydration, but the net nonpolar energy changes do not correlate with the relative affinity loss upon mutation. Discrete protein-DNA electrostatic interactions may be net stabilizing or net destabilizing depending on the local environment. In contrast to nonpolar energy changes, the magnitude of the electrostatic free energy ranks the mutations according to the experimentally measured DeltaDeltaG. Free energy decomposition analysis from a structural perspective leads to detailed information about the thermodynamic strategy used by INT-DBD for sequence-specific DNA binding.
Accurate residual wireless channel simulation using a two-tier Markov model

Accurate models of wireless channels are a necessary pre-requisite for correct simulation and analysis of wireless protocols, applications and systems. However, commonly used wireless channel models do not correctly capture the characteristics of a real channel mainly because these models ignore either the frame-loss process or the bit-error process. In this paper, we propose a novel two-tier Markov model in which a frame-level model is executed first and the bit-level model is excited only when the frame-level model produces an error. We compare the accuracy of the proposed model with several existing models using four independently collected sets of wireless (802.11 and 802.15.4) residual bit-error traces. We validate the accuracy of the proposed model using the bit-error rate, frame-error rate, cumulative distributions of error and error-free bursts, and information divergence measures. We show that the proposed two-tier Markov model generally provides better accuracy than other models.
Implications of early versus late onset of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms.

OBJECTIVE The current diagnostic criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) require that symptoms emerge prior to age 7 in order for a formal diagnosis to be considered. However, this age-of-onset criterion (AOC) has recently been questioned on both theoretical and empirical grounds. METHOD Data from 4 annual waves of interviews with 9- to 16-year-olds from the Great Smoky Mountains Study were analyzed. RESULTS Confirming previous studies, a majority of youths who had enough symptoms to meet criteria for ADHD were reported to have first exhibited these symptoms prior to age 7. Early onset of ADHD symptoms was associated with worse clinical outcomes in youths with the combined subtype of ADHD but not youths with the inattentive subtype. CONCLUSIONS Findings support the continued inclusion of the AOC for the assessment of the combined but not necessarily the inattentive subtype of ADHD. Too few youths had a late onset of solely hyperactive-impulsive symptoms to evaluate the AOC for that group. However, regardless of the age of onset, youths who had elevated levels of ADHD symptoms were at increased risk for negative outcomes that may necessitate intervention.
A 470 nA performance-enhanced instrumental amplifier for bio-signal acquisition

This paper proposes a novel approach for enhancing performance of instrumental amplifier(IA) for bio-signal recording application. Differential difference amplifier based structure performs high input impedance, and the subthreshold operation with capacitive-coupled chopping topology achieves a great noise efficiency. A DC servo loop is implemented without using pseudo-resistors to perform high-pass transfer function and suppress electrode offset. The circuit is designed in standard 0.18-μm CMOS technology and simulated over process corners at extreme temperatures. The results show the key specifications of IA are insensitive to process variations even under extreme temperatures. For typical case, the circuit achieves the input impedance up to 470 MΩs. The input referred noise is 4.7 μV(0.5 Hz to 2.5 kHz) while consuming a current of 470 nA from 1.2 V supply. Also, the circuit handles an electrode-offset of ±120 mV.