Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A hybrid genetic algorithm approach for solving an extension of assembly line balancing problem

The lively field of assembly line configuration and adjustment often have a significant impact on the performance of manufacturing systems. In this context, assembly line balancing problems (ALBPs) are widely cited in the literature. An ALBP consists of distributing the total product manufacturing workload among the stations along the manufacturing line. Previous research has focused on developing effective and fast solution methods for solving simple assembly line balancing problems (SALBP) and their various extensions. Each extension is motivated by several real-life applications and the need for solving precise practical problems. In this article, another interesting extension of SALBP (named in this work ‘Task Restrictions Assembly Line Balancing Problem’ of type 2 (TRALBP-2)) is focused on. In this situation, the number of stations is known and the objective is to minimise cycle time where both precedence and zoning constraints between tasks must be satisfied. For the resolution of such problem, an innovative hybrid genetic algorithm (HGA) scheme hybridised with a local search procedure is implemented. This genetic algorithm consists of a new representation scheme and a special genetic operator. The effectiveness of the proposed HGA is evaluated through various sets of instances which are (1) theoretically and randomly generated, (2) collected from the literature and (3) based on a real case study of an automotive cable manufacturer. Comparison of the proposed HGA results with CPLEX software for the TRALBP-2 demonstrates that, in a reasonable time, the proposed HGA generates consistent solutions that are very close to their optimal ones. Therefore, the proposed HGA approach is very effective and competitive.
Welfare and Distribution Effects of Water Pricing Policies

In this paper, distribution and welfare effects of changes in block price systems are evaluated. A method is discussed to determine, for a Marshallian demand function, equivalent variation in case of a block price system. The method is applied to compare, for the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, alternative pricing policies on the basis of their demand, welfare and distribution effects of changing water prices. Results show that there is a trade off between average welfare and income distribution. A pro-poor price system may result in lower average welfare than a flat price system, but in higher individual welfare for the poor. Moreover, there is a trade off between revenues for the water company and income distribution. Even though pro-poor price systems may not be as good for average welfare as flat price systems, their direct effects on poverty are important. Introducing pro-poor price systems, however, may have financial consequences for the water companies.
Cardiac Rehabilitation in Older Coronary Patients

The majority of patients presenting with acute coronary disease or undergoing coronary revascularization procedures are older than age 65. Disability rates are very high in these patient populations, particularly in women, the older‐old, and patients with clinical manifestations of angina pectoris or chronic heart failure. The presence of mental depression is also an important determinant of poor physical functioning. Cardiac rehibilitation has been demonstrated to safely increase aerobic capacity, muscular strength, and endurance in older coronary populations.
The Expression of CD4 and CD8 Accessory Molecules on Mature T Cells is not Random but Correlates with the Specificity of the αβ Receptor for Antigen

The expression of CD4 or CD8 molecules was initially believed to correlate with lymphocytes exhibiting distinct effector functions, i.e. helper and killer T lymphocytes (Kisielow et al. 1975, Cantor & Boyse 1975, Dialynas et al. 1983). When it became apparent that the effector functions of CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes were not as distinct as initially believed, i.e. CD4 cells could become cytotoxic (Krensky et al. 1982, Bell & Stastny 1982) and CD8 cells could produce at least some lymphokines (von Boehmer & Haas 1981, Widmer & Bach 1981), it was pointed out that the CD4 and CD8 accessory molecules may correlate with T-cell specificity, i.e. MHC restriction rather than lymphocyte function (Swain 1983). Even though there are apparent exceptions to this rule we think that there is a true correlation between the specificity of the ajff T-cell receptor and the expression of CD4 or CD8 molecules by mature T cells (Haas & von Boehmer 1984). We believe that the apparent exceptions simply reflect fortiiitous cross reactions of self MHC-restricted afi receptors on T cells which are selected by thymic MHC antigens to be either class I or class II MHC-restricted (Haas & von Boehmer 1984, Teh et al. 1988). Some time ago, we postulated that during
Elevated Expression of A 3 Adenosine Receptors in Human Colorectal Cancer Is Reflected in Peripheral Blood Cells

Purpose: Adenosine is a ubiquitous nucleoside that accumulates at high levels in hypoxic regions of solid tumors, and A3 adenosine receptors have been recently demonstrated to play a pivotal role in the adenosine-mediated inhibition of tumor cell proliferation. In the present work, we addressed the question of the putative relevance of A3 subtypes in colorectal adenocarcinomas. Experimental Design: Seventy-three paired samples of tumor and surrounding peritumoral normal mucosa at a distance of 2 and 10 cm from the tumor and blood samples obtained from a cohort of 30 patients with colorectal cancer were investigated to determine the presence of A3 receptors by means of binding, immunocytochemistry, and real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction studies. Results: As measured by receptor binding assays, the density of A3 receptor was higher in colon carcinomas as compared with normal mucosa originating from the same individuals (P < 0.05). Overexpression of A3 receptors at the protein level was confirmed by immunohistochemical studies, whereas no changes in A3 mRNA accumulation in tumors as compared with the corresponding normal tissue were revealed. The overexpression of A3 receptors in tumors was reflected in peripheral blood cells, where the density was approximately 3-fold higher compared with healthy subjects (P < 0.01). In a cohort of 10 patients studied longitudinally, expression of A3 receptors in circulating blood cells returned to normal after surgical resection for colorectal cancer. Conclusions: This study provides the first evidence that A3 receptor plays a role in colon tumorigenesis and, more importantly, can potentially be used as a diagnostic marker or a therapeutic target for colon cancer.
Valgus stability of the elbow

The valgus stabilizers of the elbow have been identified anatomically, but their relative importance has not been quantified. The purpose of this study was to analyze the acute changes of the torque‐displacement curve to valgus stress following (a) section of the posterior portion of the medial collateral ligament; (b) excision of the radial head; (c) prosthetic replacement of the radial head; and (d) excision of the anterior portion of the medical collateral ligament. Thirty cadaver specimens underwent load‐displacement testing in three positions: 0°, 45°, and 90° of flexion. The anterior portion of the medial collateral ligament was the primary stabilizer of the elbow to valgus stress. The relative contribution of the posterior ligament was minimal. After excision of the radial head alone, the slope of the load‐displacement curve decreased an average of 30%. Silicone rubber radial head replacement did not significantly improve the stability to valgus stress after radial head excision.
Interaction of Glycosaminoglycans with Lipoproteins a

Apolipoproteins B-100 and E are protein constituents of human plasma chylomicrons, very low (VLDL), and low density lipoproteins (LDL). The interaction of lipoproteins with cell receptors is mediated by apoB and E. Lipoproteins also bind to the extracellular matrix, such as glycosaminoglycans (GAG), forming insoluble complexes in the presence of Ca2+. The purpose of this study was to identify the GAG-binding domains in apoB and E. By a combination of fragmentation of the intact proteins, peptide synthesis and quantitative GAG-binding, domains in apoB and apoE were identified and are shown below. These domains contain clusters of basic amino acids that we suggest are required for GAG-binding. table; see text.
Case finding for COPD in primary care: a systematic review.

S tr u c tu re d s u m m a ry 2 P ro v id e a s tr u c tu re d s u m m a ry in c lu d in g , a s a p p lic a b le : b a c k g ro u n d ; o b je c ti v e s ; d a ta s o u rc e s ; s tu d y e lig ib ili ty c ri te ri a , p a rt ic ip a n ts , a n d i n te rv e n ti o n s ; s tu d y a p p ra is a l a n d s y n th e s is m e th o d s ; re s u lt s ; lim it a ti o n s ; c o n c lu s io n s a n d im p lic a ti o n s o f k e y f in d in g s ; s y s te m a ti c r e v ie w r e g is tr a ti o n n u m b e r. N /A IN T R O D U C T IO N R a ti o n a le 3 D e s c ri b e t h e r a ti o n a le f o r th e r e v ie w i n th e c o n te x t o f w h a t is a lr e a d y k n o w n . 1 O b je c ti v e s 4 P ro v id e a n e x p lic it s ta te m e n t o f q u e s ti o n s b e in g a d d re s s e d w it h r e fe re n c e to p a rt ic ip a n ts , in te rv e n ti o n s , c o m p a ri s o n s , o u tc o m e s , a n d s tu d y d e s ig n ( P IC O S ). 1
Both global gray matter volume and regional gray matter volume negatively correlate with lifetime alcohol intake in non-alcohol-dependent Japanese men: a volumetric analysis and a voxel-based morphometry.

BACKGROUND Non-alcohol-dependent heavy drinkers, as well as alcohol-dependent individuals, show brain atrophy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether there are correlations between global and regional gray matter volumes and the lifetime alcohol intake using volumetric analysis and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) among Japanese non-alcohol-dependent male individuals. METHODS High-resolution three-dimensional magnetic resonance images were acquired from 405 Japanese non-alcohol-dependent male individuals. The collected images were normalized, segmented for volumetric analysis, and additionally smoothed for VBM. For volumetric analysis, the partial correlation coefficient was estimated between the gray matter ratio, which represents the percentage of gray matter volume in the intracranial volume, and the lifetime alcohol intake adjusted for the age of each subject. Multiple regression analysis was performed among regional gray matter volume, lifetime alcohol intake, and age using VBM. RESULTS Volumetric analysis revealed that gray matter ratio showed a negative correlation with the lifetime alcohol intake adjusted for age (p=0.059, partial correlation coefficient=-0.091). The VBM revealed that the gray matter volumes of the bilateral middle frontal gyri showed a significant negative correlation with the lifetime alcohol intake adjusted for age and systolic blood pressure (left side, p=0.006, Z=4.77; right side, p=0.023, Z=4.45, and p=0.046, Z=4.27). CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that non-alcohol-dependent Japanese male individuals show that both global gray matter volume and regional gray matter volume have negative correlations with the lifetime alcohol intake. Our study may contribute to clarifying the mechanism underlying the brain structural changes because of alcohol influence in healthy non-alcohol-dependent individuals.
Automatic Diabetic Retinopathy using Morphological Operations

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR )is a main cause for blindness, detecting it as early by exudates that form in the retina. The old method followed by opthalmogists is the regular supervision of the retina. By way of this method takes time and energy of the opthalmogists, classification is done on the basis of new features for the detection of exudates in color fundus image is proposed in this paper. This method reduces work to examine on every fundus image rather than only on abnormal image. The exudates are extracted from the fundus image by applying thresholding and removal of optic disk and region of interest using morphological operation like closing, dilation, erosion. The features are extracted from processed image and used for classifying into exudates and non-exudates.
A Critical Role for TLR4 Induction of Autophagy in the Regulation of Enterocyte Migration and the Pathogenesis of Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) develops in response to elevated TLR4 signaling in the newborn intestinal epithelium and is characterized by TLR4-mediated inhibition of enterocyte migration and reduced mucosal healing. The downstream processes by which TLR4 impairs mucosal healing remain incompletely understood. In other systems, TLR4 induces autophagy, an adaptive response to cellular stress. We now hypothesize that TLR4 induces autophagy in enterocytes and that TLR4-induced autophagy plays a critical role in NEC development. Using mice selectively lacking TLR4 in enterocytes (TLR4ΔIEC) and in TLR4-deficient cultured enterocytes, we now show that TLR4 activation induces autophagy in enterocytes. Immature mouse and human intestine showed increased expression of autophagy genes compared with full-term controls, and NEC development in both mouse and human was associated with increased enterocyte autophagy. Importantly, using mice in which we selectively deleted the autophagy gene ATG7 from the intestinal epithelium (ATG7ΔIEC), the induction of autophagy was determined to be required for and not merely a consequence of NEC, because ATG7ΔIEC mice were protected from NEC development. In defining the mechanisms involved, TLR4-induced autophagy led to impaired enterocyte migration both in vitro and in vivo, which in cultured enterocytes required the induction of RhoA-mediated stress fibers. These findings depart from current dogma in the field by identifying a unique effect of TLR4-induced autophagy within the intestinal epithelium in the pathogenesis of NEC and identify that the negative consequences of autophagy on enterocyte migration play an essential role in its development.
Angiogenic cytokines in serum and plasma of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcimona

INTRODUCTION: Angiogenesis is critical for tumour growth and dissenmination. Some angiogenic cytokines can be detected in the serum/plasma, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), angiogenin (ANG) and endostatin. VEGF, bFGF and ANG are pro-angiogenic cytokines implicated in tumour angiogenesis. Endostatin is antiangiogenic and arises from tumour-induced porteolysis. The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether there are differences between healthy controls and patients head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) for each cytokine; and whether there is any association with clinico-pathological variables or prognosis. METHODS: Serum/plasma was assayed by ELISA in the following numbers of patients and controls: serum VEGF (80 : 80); plasma VEGF (32 : 15); serum bFGF and ANG (25 : 15); and plasma endostatin (26:15). RESULTS: Serum VEGF is raised in patients with HNSCC (P < 0.001) but there were no associations with clinico-pathological variables or outcome. Serum VDGF correlated with platelet count (P = 0.05) and plasma VDGF (P = 0.02) although the latter is substantially lower (P < 0.001). bFGF and ANG were not raised in patients with HNSCC. Plasma endostatin was lower in patients with HNSCC than controls (P = - 0.02). However, with the HNSCC group endostatin was positively associated with disease recurrence (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that plasma endostatin may be a clinically useful prognostic marker in patients with HNSCC. Serum VDGF arises from platelet aggregation and does not reflect tumour load, dissemination or prognosis. bFGF and ANG are not raised in patients with HNSCC.
Neighbourhood book exchanges: localising information practices

Introduction. Through this paper we report on an exploratory study into the design and use of neighbourhood book exchanges in North America. We identify dominant media framings of these book exchanges in North America, along with claims made concerning the influence of the exchanges. We compare the media claims with insights from interviews with the stewards of six book exchanges in an urban centre of the Pacific Northwest and weekly inventories of the six exchanges. Method. We collected and analysed over 150 newspaper and media articles, conducted weekly extensive inventories of six book exchanges for three months and interviewed stewards of the six book exchanges at the beginning and end of our inventory period. Analysis. We draw upon grounded theory analytic methods as developed by Kathy Charmaz. Results. We provide the first empirically rigorous investigation focused on the information practices associated with neighbourhood book exchanges. Conclusions. Through this work we provide an initial framing of the neighbourhood book exchange phenomenon. Most significantly, the neighbourhood book exchange stewards in this study actively work to design and support local information practices, reinvigorating and sustaining relationships with their neighbours.
Gelatin cryogels crosslinked with oxidized dextran and containing freshly formed hydroxyapatite as potential bone tissue‐engineering scaffolds

Gelatin‐based cryogels were prepared by using a novel crosslinker, oxidized dextran, which was synthesized and used in the study. The cryogels were also loaded with freshly formed hydroxyapatite (HA) particles. These cryogels are opaque, spongy and highly elastic and have a pore structure with large interconnected pores. They swell about 500% in aqueous media and within a few minutes reach their final swollen forms. The elastic moduli of HA‐containing cryogels were 18.5 ± 3.0 kPa, which is suitable for non‐load‐bearing bone tissue‐engineering (TE) applications, especially for the craniofacial area. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Screening for infants' and toddlers' dietary quality through maternal diet.

PURPOSE To investigate the relationship of mothers' dietary quality to that of their infants and toddlers in limited-income families at risk for poor health. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Secondary data analysis was conducted of dietary quality from 24-hour dietary recalls collected from 113 mother-infant/toddler pairs in limited-income families with a child at age 6 months and again at age 14 months. Dietary quality of mothers was evaluated on the basis of eating breakfast and having at least one serving of the five food groups from the Food Guide Pyramid. Diet quality of infants was determined by comparison to the Women, Infants, and Children feeding guidelines for their ages; the diet quality of the mother was then compared to that of her infant and, later, toddler. RESULTS Most mothers and their infants had poor diet quality at the first interview. By 14 months most mothers still had poor diet quality, but diet quality for the children improved such that only about one-half remained poor. Poor diet quality of mothers was useful to detect poor diet quality for her infant or toddler showing high concordance at both interviews. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS A consistent marker for infants at risk for poor diet quality is having a mother who skipped breakfast and omitted fruits, vegetables, or dairy products. This could be a quick indicator to identify those at greatest risk for not following recommended guidelines in feeding their infants and toddlers.
PII: S0963-8687(00)00039-1

Knowledge management (KM) has been a topic of considerable researcher and practitioner interest the past several years. Although a well-established tradition of organizational learning research could be considered an adumbration if not a forerunner of organizational KM, KM as a research discipline has drawn less from organizational learning than from strategy research, namely the resource-based view of the ®rm. Building on the resource-based theory which argues that it is the services rendered by a ®rm's tangible resources, rather than the resources in and of themselves, that create a ®rm's competitive advantage (Barney, 1991; Conner, 1991; Wernerfelt, 1984), the knowledgebased perspective of the ®rm posits that the services rendered by tangible resources depend upon how the resources are combined and applied Ð a function of the ®rm's know-how or knowledge, an intangible resource. Because knowledge-based resources are dif®cult to imitate and are socially complex, the knowledge-based view of the ®rm suggests that knowledge assets may produce sustainable competitive advantage. Given the perceived centrality of knowledge assets to organizational competitiveness, the management of an organization's knowledge has assumed a role of critical importance. Already by 1998, one survey revealed that one in ten ®rms claimed that KM was transforming the way their organization did business and 43% claimed to be undertaking a KM initiative (KPMG, 1998). In practice, KM initiatives have been prompted by several factors, among them employee turnover, rapid ®rm growth, and pressures to reduce cycle times. The loss of key personnel results in a concomitant loss of that individual's knowledge. One survey of European ®rms found that half of those surveyed reported to have suffered signi®cant damage from losing key employees with impaired client or supplier relations and loss of income being the most widely cited damages (Nolan Norton, 1998). While larger organizations face a problem of employee mobility, smaller ®rms, particularly startups in the fast-paced ecommerce sector, face the problem of such rapid organizational growth that the assimilation of new employees is dif®cult. This has prompted interest in knowledge repositories to help bring new employees quickly to a productive capacity. Finally, pressures to respond quickly to bid proposals, or to bring products to market faster, necessitates intense coordination of a ®rm's knowledge resources. Too many ®rms face problems maintaining, locating, and applying their own knowledge (Cran®eld, 1998), which, if readily assessible, would enable them to reduce cycle times. For example, Ford found that by sharing knowledge internally, the development time for cars was Journal of Strategic Information Systems 9 (2000) 101±105
Mitochondrial DNA mutations in Leber's optic neuropathy

I am writing to congratulate D r Joseph Martin on his concise summary of molecular neurogenetics 111 and to correct an apparently inadvertent error regarding the mutation(s) underlying Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy. Leber’s has not been associated with the missense mutation (T8993G) in the mitochondrial gene encoding subunit 6 of ATP synthase that results in pigmentary retinopathy, neurogenic weakness, and ataxia in some individuals 121 and Leigh’s syndrome in others 13-53. Leber’s optic neuropathy has been associated with point mutations elsewhere in the mitochondrial genome. Some of these can be considered primary, in that they are sufficient to cause expression of the disorder in an appropriate nuclear background, whereas others are considered secondary, in that they can modify phenotypic expression in the presence of other mutations in the mitochondrial genome
Picture Mediation in Abstract-Concrete Paired Associates

The present study investigated the hypothesis that pictures of abstract-concrete paired associates would serve to make the abstract stimulus member more concrete thereby enhancing the learning process. 60 subjects were equally divided into 6 groups, varying conditions of concreteness and abstractness of the stimulus items and pictures or no picture. The results supported the basic proposition that the picture mediation presented during the learning-testing condition facilitated the learning of the abstract paired associates.