Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adaptive Sharing Scheme Based Sub-Swarm Multi-Objective PSO

To improve the optimization performance of multi-objective particle swarm optimization, a new sub-swarm method, where the particles are divided into several sub-swarms, is proposed. To enhance the quality of the Pareto front set, a new adaptive sharing scheme, which depends on the distances from nearest neighbouring individuals, is proposed and applied. In this method, the first sub-swarms particles dynamically search their corresponding areas which are around some points of the Pareto front set in the objective space, and the chosen points of the Pareto front set are determined based on the adaptive sharing scheme. The second sub-swarm particles search the rest objective space, and they are away from the Pareto front set, which can promote the global search ability of the method. Moreover, the core points of the first sub-swarms are dynamically determined by this new adaptive sharing scheme. Some Simulations are used to test the proposed method, and the results show that the proposed method can achieve better optimization performance comparing with some existing methods.
Linked Balance Sheet Presentation

Certain financial statement items are closely related, such as items in hedging relationships. In this paper, we develop theory and conduct two experiments to investigate three different balance sheet presentation formats for related financial statement items. We posit that a linked presentation format rarely used in practice allows financial statement users to better distinguish among firms with different economics. Neither net presentation nor separate presentation of related balance sheet items allows users to make this distinction. The results of two experiments—one in a hedging context and the other in a lending context—support our theory-based predictions.
Acupuncture for cancer-related fatigue in patients with breast cancer: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE We aimed to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture for cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in patients with breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS We conducted a pragmatic, randomized controlled trial comparing acupuncture with enhanced usual care. Three hundred two outpatients with breast cancer participated. We randomly assigned 75 patients to usual care and 227 patients to acupuncture plus usual care (random assignment of 1:3 respectively) with minimization controlling for baseline general fatigue and maintenance treatment. Treatment was delivered by acupuncturists once a week for 6 weeks through needling three pairs of acupoints. The usual care group received a booklet with information about fatigue and its management. Primary outcome was general fatigue at 6 weeks, measured with the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI). Other measurements included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General quality-of-life scale, and expectation of acupuncture effect. Analyses were by intention to treat. RESULTS Two hundred forty-six of 302 patients randomly assigned provided complete data at 6 weeks. The difference in the mean General Fatigue score, between those who received the intervention and those who did not, was -3.11 (95% CI, -3.97 to -2.25; P < .001). The intervention also improved all other fatigue aspects measured by MFI, including Physical Fatigue and Mental Fatigue (acupuncture effect, -2.36 and -1.94, respectively; both at P < .001), anxiety and depression (acupuncture effect, -1.83 and -2.13, respectively; both at P < .001), and quality of life (Physical Well-Being effect, 3.30; Functional Well-Being effect, 3.57; both at P < .001; Emotional Well-Being effect, 1.93; P = .001; and Social Functioning Well-Being effect, 1.05; P < .05). CONCLUSION Acupuncture is an effective intervention for managing the symptom of CRF and improving patients' quality of life.
An Investigation of Methods for Determining Depth from Focus

The concept of depth from focus involves calculating distances to points in an observed scene by modeling the effect that the camera's focal parameters have on images acquired with a small depth of field. This technique is passive and requires only a single camera. The most difficult segment of calculating depth from focus is deconvolving the defocus operator from the scene and modeling it. Most current methods for determining the defocus operator employ inverse filtering. The authors reveal some fundamental problems with inverse filtering: inaccuracies in finding the frequency domain representation, windowing effects, and border effects. A general, matrix-based method using regularization is presented, which eliminates these problems. The new method is confirmed experimentally, with the results showing an RMS error of 1.3%. >
Examining a Model of Success in Export Relationship Marketing: Evidence from Korean Exporters

Export-relationship marketing is increasingly crucial to export performance. Among a wide variety of strategic options for developing export relationships, exporter-export intermediary relationships are a prevalent option for success in export marketplaces. Recent research has given little attention to these relationships. The present study attempts to provide an understanding of how to succeed in export-relationship marketing. Using the resource-advantage (R-A) theory of competition as an overarching framework, this study develops a model that builds on the resource-based theory of the firm, the alliance theory, and the relationship-marketing theory in order to explain how to succeed in export-relationship marketing. The model was empirically tested using data obtained from a survey of exporter-export intermediary relationships in Korea. The partial least square analysis was adopted to empirically assess the model. The results show that the hypothesized paths in the model are confirmed in the manner of the R-A theory. Finally, the author discusses important implications of this research for theory and practice, presents research limitations, and offers some suggestions for future research.
Diversity of Rickettsiales in the Microbiome of the Lone Star Tick, Amblyomma americanum

ABSTRACT Ticks are important vectors for many emerging pathogens. However, they are also infected with many symbionts and commensals, often competing for the same niches. In this paper, we characterize the microbiome of Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae), the lone star tick, in order to better understand the evolutionary relationships between pathogens and nonpathogens. Multitag pyrosequencing of prokaryotic 16S rRNA genes (16S rRNA) was performed on 20 lone star ticks (including males, females, and nymphs). Pyrosequencing of the rickettsial sca0 gene (also known as ompA or rompA) was performed on six ticks. Female ticks had less diverse microbiomes than males and nymphs, with greater population densities of Rickettsiales. The most common members of Rickettsiales were “Candidatus Rickettsia amblyommii” and “Candidatus Midichloria mitochondrii. ” “Ca. Rickettsia amblyommii” was 2.6-fold more common in females than males, and there was no sequence diversity in the sca0 gene. These results are consistent with a predominantly vertical transmission pattern for “Ca. Rickettsia amblyommii. ”
Tryptophan hydroxylase and serotonin in spinal cord and brain stem before and after chronic transection

THE SPINAL cord of vertebrates contains appreciable amounts of serotonin (AMIN, CRAWFORD and GADDUM, 1954; CARLSSON, MAGNUSON and ROSENGREN, 1963; CARLSSON, FALCK, FUXE and HILLARP, 1964; ANDEN, 1965; ANDERSON and HOLGERSON, 1966). Serotonin in spinal cord is believed to be exclusively localized in descending axons from neurons whose cell bodies lie in the raphi nuclei of the brain stem (CARLSSON et al. 1964; DAHLSTROM and FUXE, 1964, 1965). However, recent neuropharmacological evidence indicates that there may be serotoninergic interneurons in the spinal cord (CLINESCHMIDT and ANDERSON, 1970). In another recent report, AZMITIA, ALGERI and COSTA (1970) have suggested that the brain stem level of tryptophan hydroxylase exceeds the amount required to maintain the steady-state level of serotonin, perhaps because the brain stem contains mostly cell bodies where the enzyme presumably is synthesized. The present study on tryptophan 5-hydroxylase (EC 1.99.1.4) and serotonin in brain stem and spinal cord of normal and transected animals was undertaken to obtain information pertaining to the possibility of serotonincontaining interneurons in spinal cord and to compare the ratios of the enzyme to the amine in an area rich in cell bodies with an area containing axons many cm removed from their cell bodies.
Isolation and Screening of Highly Cellulolytic Filamentous Fungi

A large number of microorganisms are capable of degrading cellulose, only a few of these microorganisms produce significant quantities of enzymes capable of completely hydrolysing cellulose. Fungi are the main cellulase-producing microorganisms. In this purposed study, seventeen fungal species belonging to three genera i.e. Trichoderm, Aspergillus and Penicillium were isolated from different sources, screened and compared for their ability to degrade cellulose. The plate screening assay recommended by International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) were used in the investigation. Cellulolytic fungi were evaluated after 7 days for the production of cellulolytic enzymes by staining with 1% Congo red. The diameter of clear zone on fungal plates, gave an approximate indication of cellulase activities. Fungal species were grouped as high and low celluloytic isolates on the basis of cellulase activity using Index of Relative Enzyme Activity (ICMC). Fungal species i.e. T. harzianum, T. viride, T. koningii, A. japonicus, A. nidulans ver. dentatus P. lanosum, P. expansum and P. oxalicum gave the highest cellulase activity. Whereas, A. flavus, A. raperi, A. acculeatus, A. tamarri, A. niger, A. terreus, A. nidulans, P. citrinum and P. simplicissimum showed least or no enzyme activity. Keywords: Cellulose; cellulolytic fungi; Trichoderma , fungal isolates, Congo red J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage . Sept. , 2012, Vol. 16 (3) 223 - 226
Financial aspects of cloud computing business models

Department of Business Technology Master's thesis Jaakko Jäätmaa The purpose of the study was to explore financial aspects of cloud computing business models from information technology (IT) services provider's perspective. The financial aspects were divided into revenue model and related pricing mechanisms and cost structure and related cost accounting mechanisms according to business model ontology. Cloud computing is a new computing paradigm and the latest megatrend in IT industry developed as a result of the convergence of numerous new and existing technologies. It is characterized by provision of rapidly scalable and measurable IT capabilities as a service on on-demand and self-service basis over the network from common resource pool. The study was carried out as a single case study in a global company offering IT services for large enterprises and public organizations and currently preparing to introduce its own cloud services. Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers of the case company for exploring the financial aspects of cloud services. Qualitative data analysis was employed for processing and summarizing the findings. Findings of the study suggested that each cloud service should have a distinct business model. The business model is a mediating construct that translates the new technology to the serv-ice's value proposition. The business model also defines appropriate pricing and cost accounting mechanism for a service. The business models are based on services provider's position in cloud computing value chain. A cloud computing business logic framework was created to illustrate the interaction between the value chain, business models and its elements. The key cost types of services do not necessarily change much with cloud computing. Cloud computing has still potential to significantly reduce services provider's costs through reengi-neering of production architecture. A cloud computing cost accounting model was created to illustrate how production costs should be aggregated and distributed. Pricing of services changes with cloud computing and pay per use and subscription-based pricing mechanisms are most typical for cloud services. The pricing should be based on cus-tomer's perceived value instead of production costs of services. A generic cloud computing pricing mechanism that combines pay per use and subscription mechanisms was created to better balance risk sharing between services provider and customer. The main contributions of the study were the establishment of services provider focus in cloud computing literature and discussion of financial aspects of cloud computing. Tutkimuksen pääkontribuutiot olivat palveluntarjoajan näkökulman tuominen pilvitietojenkä-sittelytutkimukseen sekä pilvitietojenkäsittelyn taloudellisten näkökohtien tarkastelu.
Steatosis: Co‐factor in other liver diseases

The prevalence of fatty liver is rising in association with the global increase in obesity and type 2 diabetes. In the past, simple steatosis was regarded as benign, but the presence of another liver disease may provide a synergistic combination of steatosis, cellular adaptation, and oxidative damage that aggravates liver injury. In this review, a major focus is on the role of steatosis as a co‐factor in chronic hepatitis C (HCV), where the mechanisms promoting fibrosis and the effect of weight reduction in minimizing liver injury have been most widely studied. Steatosis, obesity, and associated metabolic factors may also modulate the response to alcohol‐ and drug‐induced liver disease and may be risk factors for the development of hepatocellular cancer. The pathogenesis of injury in obesity‐related fatty liver disease involves a number of pathways, which are currently under investigation. Enhanced oxidative stress, increased susceptibility to apoptosis, and a dysregulated response to cellular injury have been implicated, and other components of the metabolic syndrome such as hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia are likely to have a role. Fibrosis also may be increased as a by‐product of altered hepatocyte regeneration and activation of bipotential hepatic progenitor cells. In conclusion, active management of obesity and a reduction in steatosis may improve liver injury and decrease the progression of fibrosis. (HEPATOLOGY 2005;42:5–13.)
Traffic Sign Recognition Application Based on Image Processing Techniques

Abstract This paper describes a software application for traffic sign recognition (TSR). The application works in four stages. First, an image preprocessing step and the detection of regions of interest (ROIs), which involves a series of steps that include transforming the image to grayscale and applying edge detection by the Laplacian of Gaussian (LOG) filter. Secondly, the potential traffic signs detection, where the ROIs are compared with each shape pattern. Thirdly, a recognition stage using a cross-correlation algorithm, where each potential traffic sign, if validated, is classified according to the data-base of traffic signs. Finally, the previous stages can be managed and controlled by a graphical user interface, which has been specially designed for this purpose. The results obtained show a good performance of the developed application, taking into account acceptable conditions of size and contrast of the input image.
Analysis of network rumor dissemination and control mechanisms on Chinese social network : Sina Weibo

The social network has become a major source of information. The openness and swiftness of the network bring instant accessing to both true and false information. Sometimes the false information such as network rumors can mislead people from obtaining the true information and even create chaos. The social network platforms and the governments in different countries are making effort on enacting their own mechanisms to strive on eliminating the rumors. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the spreading of rumors on the Chinese social networking website Sina Weibo. The censorship policy of the Chinese government and the methods used to control the spreading of rumors are discussed. The latest rumor control policy is a particular focus. It states that, if a post on Sina Weibo is tagged as a rumor and it is retweeted more than 500 times and/or viewed/clicked more than 5000 times, the originator of the post can be charged and sentenced to imprisonment for up to three years. The penalty also includes limiting access to Sina Weibo. Previous research into rumor dissemination on social networks is reviewed, including the definition and content of the rumors, as well as rumor spreading models, such as DK (Daley-Kendal) and its variant MK (Maki-Thompson), improved ones based on SIR (susceptible-infected-removed) from the theory of epidemics such as Weighted CSR, SIHR and
Statistical modeling to determine sources of variability in exposures to welding fumes.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Exposures to total particulate matter (TP) and manganese (Mn) received by workers during welding and allied hot processes were analyzed to assess the sources and magnitudes of variability. METHODS Compilation of data from several countries identified 2065 TP and 697 Mn measurements for analysis. Linear mixed models were used to determine fixed effects due to different countries, industries and trades, process characteristics, and the sampling regimen, and to estimate components of variance within workers (both intraday and interday), between workers (within worksites), and across worksites. RESULTS The fixed effects explained 55 and 49% of variation in TP and Mn exposures, respectively. The country, industry/trade, type of ventilation, and type of work/welding process were the major factors affecting exposures to both agents. Measurements in the USA were generally higher than those in other countries. Exposure to TP was 67% higher in enclosed spaces and 43% lower with local exhaust ventilation (LEV), was higher among boilermakers and was higher when either a mild-steel base metal or a flux cored consumable was used. Exposure to Mn was 750% higher in enclosed spaces and 67% lower when LEV was present. Air concentrations of Mn were significantly affected by the welding consumables but not by the base metal. Resistance welding produced significantly lower TP and Mn exposures compared to other welding processes. Interestingly, exposures to TP had not changed over the 40 years of observation, while those of Mn showed (non-significant) reductions of 3.6% year(-1). After controlling for fixed effects, variance components between worksites and between-individual workers within a worksite were reduced by 89 and 57% for TP and 75 and 63% for Mn, respectively. The within-worker variation (sum of intraday and interday variance components) of Mn exposure was three times higher than that of TP exposure. The estimated probabilities of exceeding occupational exposure limits were very high (generally much >10%) for both agents. CONCLUSIONS Welding exposures to TP and Mn vary considerably across the world and across occupational groups. Exposures to both contaminants have been and continue to be unacceptably high in most sectors of industry. Because exposures to the two agents have different sources and characteristics, separate control strategies should be considered to reduce welders' exposures to TP and Mn.
Public Sector Investment Funds: How the Best-in-Breed Evolved

This paper looks at the evolution of ten public pension and sovereign wealth funds which have been on the cutting edge of innovation and best practice with respect to governance and investment management. The analysis is based on an inductive approach, proceeding from specific observations to general principles. In particular, we review ten case studies of individual funds from three regions – Northern Europe, Canada and Australasia. We look at three funds in Canada and one each in Australia, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, Singapore, and Sweden, using the same template for each entity. We start with a brief description of the fund and explicate its liability profile, covering the source of funding and the intended use for the assets. We then review the fund’s current governance arrangements, with a particular emphasis on how these may have helped or hindered the fund’s investment professionals in their activity. We then look at the evolution of the fund’s investment strategy, focusing in particular on asset allocation and portfolio construction. We conclude each case by highlighting a feature unique to the fund in question, which we believe is worthy of further study and emulation by their less advanced peers. At the end, we bring all of these separate strands together, with a view to formulating some general observations about how the best‐in‐breed public pension and sovereign wealth funds within our universe have evolved with respect to governance and investment strategy. Specifically, we try to determine whether the ten funds in question have been converging onto one model, or whether their experiences suggest increasing divergence. This section can effectively be viewed as a distillation of some preliminary recommendations for the less advanced funds, based on what we believe to be an emerging consensus around ‘best practice’ in public sector fund management.
Comparative effects of PACAP and VIP on pancreatic endocrine secretions and vascular resistance in rat

1 The effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase‐activating polypeptide (PACAP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and secretin on pancreatic endocrine secretions and vascular resistance were investigated and compared in the isolated perfused pancreas of the rat. The PACAP/VIP receptor types involved have been characterized. 2 On insulin secretion, in the range 10−11 to 10−8 m, PACAP and VIP elicited a concentration‐dependent biphasic response from pancreas perfused with 8.3 mM glucose; the peptides were equipotent. In contrast, secretin was ineffective in the range 10−11 to 10−9 m; at 10−8 and 10−7 m, it induced only low and transient insulin responses. On the other hand, the peptides did not modify the basal insulin release in the presence of a non stimulating glucose concentration (2.8 mM). 3 On glucagon secretion, PACAP and VIP (10−11 to 10−8 m) but also secretin (10−9 to 10−7 m) caused a concentration‐dependent peak shaped response from pancreas perfused with 2.8 mM glucose; PACAP and VIP were equipotent and 20 times more potent than secretin. On the other hand, the peptides did not affect the glucagon release in the presence of 8.3 mM glucose. 4 On pancreatic vessels, in the range 10−11 to 10−9 m, the three peptides were equipotent in inducing a concentration‐dependent sustained increase in pancreatic flow rate. On the other hand, at the high concentration of 10−7 m PACAP but not VIP provoked a transient decrease of flow rate. 5 This study provides evidence for PACAP/VIP type II receptors mediating insulin and glucagon secretion as well as vasodilatation in rat pancreas. In addition, the different efficacies of secretin suggest that these effects are mediated by different PACAP/VIP type II receptor subtypes.