Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Improving churn prediction in telecommunications using complementary fusion of multilayer features based on factorization and construction

High dimensional and unbalanced datasets are the main problems which prevent from achieving ideally churn prediction performance. Features selection is necessary to be adopted to enhance the model performance. A new predicting framework is proposed in this paper which uses complementary fusion of the multilayer features. Several subsets and new features were acquired according to feature factorization and feature construction respectively. The effective features were selected by multilayer complementary fusion which according to the contribution of feature subsets and new features. In this way, the imbalance defects of class distributions can be fixed, prediction accuracy can be improved and system stability can be reinforced. Five data mining models were applied in customer churn. Experimental results demonstrated that the method we proposed could preferably overcome the inelasticity of traditional feature selection algorithms, and more effective than those existing methods in telecommunications industry. Furthermore, we found optimal fusion with prediction model for customer churn prediction in telecommunications industry through exploring the advantages and limitations of each feature subset and prediction techniques.
Real-Time Control Prototyping in MATLAB/Simulink: Review of tools for research and education in mechatronics

The simulation modeling and the control of real plant are two-very often separated-fields of mechatronic practice, research and education. The deep gap between simulation world of controlled system and practical implementation in e.g. embedded hardware can be bridged through the use of special hardware and software directly in MATLAB/Simulink environment. This paper presents the review of available tools with respect to their usability, sampling rate capability, the necessary software needs and also the financial requirements. Most of approaches require the C code generation using Real-Time Workshop. However e.g. the Real-Time Toolbox works directly with normal mode of Simulink which can be especially recommended for the educational applications. The paper briefly describes several case studies where undergraduate students can deal with real educational models without previous knowledge of the real-time systems. The list of available hardware and software tools is not complete but includes all important approaches: low cost general purpose I/O card with/without C code generation, high-performance hardware for comfort rapid prototyping or hardware-in-the-loop simulation and code generation for embedded targets (16 or 32bit microcontrollers or DSP).
Functions of the Lentiviral Accessory Protein Nef During the Distinct Steps of HIV and SIV Replication Cycle

Human and Simian Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV and SIV) are the etiological agents of the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in humans and the Simian AIDS (SAIDS) in macaques, respectively. HIVs and SIVs are members of the Retroviridae family, Lentivirus genera, and are considered complex retroviruses since its genome organization predicts the presence of at least 6 open reading frames (ORFs) in addition to the main Gag, Pol and Env ORFs present in the genomes of all retroviruses. These additional ORFs code for both regulatory (Tat and Rev) and accessory (Nef, Vif, Vpr, Vpu and Vpx) viral proteins and are all organized from the 5’ half of the genome in a way that overlap both with each other and with the Pol and Env ORFs and the non-coding 3’ Long Terminal Repeat (LTR) region (Figure 1). To ensure its expression and to achieve an optimal production of the viral progeny, complex mechanisms have evolved in these viruses that tightly control the expression of these ORFs during the viral replication cycle. The existence of such a number of viral proteins in addition to the viral structural (Gag and Env) and enzymatic (Pol) proteins allows the virus to explore new mechanisms to control the different steps of the replication cycle and to avoid the host cell defense. In this chapter we shall review the different steps of the HIV and SIV replication cycle with emphasis in the role taken by the viral accessory protein Nef, in both subverting the host cell machinery and influencing the function and activation of viral structural and enzymatic proteins in order to optimize viral progeny production as well as in evading the host cell defenses. Lentiviral accessory proteins Vif, Vpr, Vpu and Nef were classically regarded as nonessential for virus production and/or infectivity since laboratory adapted HIV strains lacking the expression of these proteins could still replicate to several levels (Adachi et al., 1991). Since then, several studies demonstrated the crucial importance of these proteins to the efficient replication, infectivity and spread of both HIV and SIV (Kirchhoff, 2010). Vif (Aguiar and Peterlin, 2008) and Vpu (Adachi et al., 1991) have now been acknowledged as crucial viral factors that counteract the host cell innate defense. Vif interacts and prompts the degradation of a family of cytidine deaminases DNA/RNA editing enzymes, known as Apoliprotein B mRNA-editing Enzymes (APOBECs), that otherwise would inhibit HIV and SIV replication by causing hypermutation of nascent
Chapter 8 Is Peritoneal Dialysis a Suitable Method of Renal Replacement Therapy in Acute Kidney Injury ?

Research focus: The role of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in the management of acute kidney injury (AKI) is not well defined, although it remains frequently used, especially in lowresource settings. A review was performed to ascertain its suitability as the “first choice” in AKI patient treatment and to compare PD with extracorporeal blood purification (EBP), such as hemodialysis (HD). Research methods used: Design, setting, participants, and measurements of MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched. The review selected eligible adult population studies on PD in the setting of AKI. Results/findings of the research: This paper suggests that PD should be consid‐ ered as a valuable method for AKI since it offers several advantages over HD, such as technical simplicity, no extracorporeal circuit, and no bleeding risk. It offers good cardiovascular tolerance and less cardiovascular instability, thus reducing kidney aggression by ischemia and hydroelectrolytic imbalance. Main conclusions and recommendations: Finally, not only in developing countries but also in developed countries, PD is relatively simple and inexpensive and is more widely used. Various techniques of PD have been developed, and these have been adapted for use in AKI. There is currently no evidence to suggest significant differences in mortality between PD and HD in AKI. There is a need for further good-quality evidence in this impor‐ tant area.
Social Media and the Organization of Collective Action: Using Twitter to Explore the Ecologies of Two Climate Change Protests

The Twitter Revolutions of 2009 reinvigorated the question of whether new social media have any real effect on contentious politics. In this article, the authors argue that evaluating the relation between transforming communication technologies and collective action demands recognizing how such technologies infuse specific protest ecologies. This includes looking beyond informational functions to the role of social media as organizing mechanisms and recognizing that traces of these media may reflect larger organizational schemes. Three points become salient in the case of Twitter against this background: (a) Twitter streams represent crosscutting networking mechanisms in a protest ecology, (b) they embed and are embedded in various kinds of gatekeeping processes, and (c) they reflect changing dynamics in the ecology over time. The authors illustrate their argument with reference to two hashtags used in the protests around the 2009 United Nations Climate Summit in Copenhagen.
Performance analysis of a 100kw solar photovoltaic power plant

The performance analysis of a solar power plant is very important from the point of view of technology and economy. The PV systems incorporate power conditioning units, which are harmonic generating devices. Thus have an influence on the quality of supply, reliable operation of system equipments and life of the system components. The harmonics generated at the output of the solar power plant depends on the input to the power conditioning unit, which further depends upon the PV system operating conditions like module operating temperature, solar insolation, shading and dusting on the module. This paper presents the performance of a 100KW solar system over a period of time. The performance ratio of the system is evaluated and analyzed.
Neighborhood Cache for Mobile Ad-hoc Networks

Distributed cache data placement in ad-hoc networks enables higher performance and better quality of service for mobile users. Prior work in the area has focused much of its effort for minimizing the cost of data access within an adhoc network by using different strategies for data placement, replication, and data access. Formation of such networks in common work places requires support for underlying technologies such as special routing protocols to enable data access across multiple-hops. This may not be possible in many day-to-day practical scenarios wherein only one-hop neighbors may be identifiable using existing technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth. We propose a neighborhood cache wherein each mobile node utilizes the cache of its one-hop neighbors to improve performance and quality of service in scenarios where the neighbors share common data access patterns and have a limited caching capacity. We have designed and implemented various flavors of a centralized and a decentralized algorithm for distributed cache data placement in support of a neighborhood cache which aims to minimize data access to frequently accessed items beyond the 1-hop neighborhood. Our experimental results show that our algorithms can provide significant benefits in caching data items for resource constrained devices without relying on support from additional technologies such as multi-hop ad-hoc routing protocols.
Investigation of post-fault voltage recovery performance with battery-based energy storage system in a microgrid

Robust and resilient delivery are two principal features of future smart grids and energy storage can play a significant role in meeting these challenges. With increased renewable penetration, energy storage can improve the operating capabilities of hybrid microgrids. However, capability of storage system to support voltage and frequency in microgrids largely depends on its proper placement and size. In this paper, battery-based energy storage system (BESS) has been placed in a renewable integrated microgrid depending on the voltage sensitivity factors of the network buses. Then, impact of such a placement on post-fault voltage recovery in a 43 bus industrial microgrid has been investigated. Results show that distributed placement of BESS across highly sensitive buses results in grid compatible and faster voltage recovery in comparison to centralised placement.
Physical Activity in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

We aimed to measure physical activity in patients with COPD, to identify the disease stage at which physical activity becomes limited, to investigate the relationship of clinical characteristics with physical activity, to evaluate the predictive power of clinical characteristics identifying very inactive patients, and to analyze the reliability of physical activity measurements. 163 patients with COPD (GOLD I –IV; BODE 0 –10) and 29 patients with chronic bronchitis (normal spirometry; former GOLD stage 0) wore activity monitors that recorded steps per day (SPD), minutes of at least moderate activity (MMA), and physical activity levels (PAL) for 5 days (3 weekdays, 1 weekend). Compared to patients with chronic bronchitis SPD, MMA, and PAL were reduced from GOLD stage II/BODE score 1on, from GOLD stage III/BODE score 3/4 on, and from GOLD stage III/BODE score 1 on, respectively. Reliability of physical activity measurements improved with the number of measured days and with higher GOLD stages. Moderate relationships were observed between clinical characteristics and physical activity. GOLD stages III and IV predicted best very inactive patients. Physical activity is reduced in patients with COPD from GOLD stage II/BODE score 1 on. Clinical characteristics of patients with COPD only incompletely reflect their physical activity.
Temperature Behaviour of Pulse Repetition Frequency in Passively Mode-Locked InGaAsP/InP Laser Diode—Experimental Results and Simple Model

In this paper, we report on a laser diode design that can be passively mode locked up to heat sink temperature of 75degC. The dependence of mode-locked frequency and the dependence of the tuning range of the mode-locked laser diode, on operating temperature were investigated. A simple model is presented that can be used to identify the major contributing factors toward the positive shift of mode-locked frequency with temperature. The model takes into account the change of refractive indexes with temperature, change of cavity length with temperature, effect of wavelength shift on refractive indexes, and effect of injected carriers on effective index. While lacking absolute accuracy due to the simplicity of the model, the calculated results demonstrate similar trend to the measured values. The model identifies waveguide dispersion and carrier-induced refractive index change as the major contributing factors to the positive shift of mode-locked frequency with temperature.
Οι απόψεις και οι εμπειρίες των κωφών μαθητών: από την φοίτησή τους σε σχολεία ειδικής και γενικής εκπαίδευσης

Η φοίτηση των παιδιών μe eιδικές ανάγκeς μέσα στις συνηθισμένeς δομές της γeνικής eκπαίδeυσης αποτeλeί eπίσημη πολιτική και πρακτική πολλών κυβeρνήσeων σe διάφορeς χώρeς τα τeλeυταία eίκοσι χρόνια. Σαν αποτέλeσμα συτής της πολιτικής ένα μeγάλο ποσοστό μαθητών μe eιδικές ανάγκeς, συμπeριλαμβάνομeνων και των κωφών, φοιτούν σe σχολeία γeνικής eκπαίδeυσης, eνώ ο αριθμός των eιδικών σχολeίων και eιδικά των σχολeίων - οικοτροφίων (ιδρυμάτων) μeιώνeται σημαντικά (Schildroth and Hottto, 1991). Η ιδέα της φοίτησης των παιδιών μe eιδικές ανάγκeς στα συνηθισμένα σχολeία της γeίτονιάς τους δeν έναι κάτι καινούργιο (Cole, 1989). Κωφά παιδιά για παράδeιγμα και όταν χρησιμοποιούμe τον όρο κωφά (.) ΘEΜΑΤΙΚEΣ EΠΙΚEΦΑΛΙΔEΣ Eιδική αγωγή - Eλλάδα Κωφά παιδιά - Γλώσσα Παιδιά μe αναπηρίeς, eκπαίδeυση
Evaluating the Downstream Utility of User Tests and Examining the Developer Effect: A Case Study

In this article, a case study on evaluating the downstream utility of user tests performed on a digital library with reference to the developer effect is reported. Downstream utility is defined as the effectiveness with which the resolution to a usability problem (UP) is implemented, and developer effect is defined as developers' bias toward fixing UPs with particular characteristics. To measure the effectiveness of the user tests, the actual impacts of fixing or not fixing the UPs identified were analyzed. To address a theoretical void in studying the persuasive power of usability evaluation results, Information Integration Theory was employed. Six research questions that predict the persuasiveness of different qualities of usability problems to induce fixes and the effectiveness of such fixes were investigated. Multiperspective data have been collected from usability specialists, the development team of the digital library, and its old as well as new users. Implications for reporting UPs and future research are inferred.
Application of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) for Reservoir Water Level Forecasting

Future water level forecast helps in knowing the water storage capacity of reservoir which can further be employed for irrigation, water supply, hydropower, etc. These soft computing techniques can map an input-output pattern without the prior knowledge of the criteria that influence the forecast procedure. Amongst the all, the artificial neural network (ANN) is one of the most accurate models that is used in water resource management. The principal inputs that are used to compute water level at t+1 time are: Inflow, water level at t time and released water. The statistics parameters room mean square error (RMSE), coefficient of correlation (R), coefficient of determination (R 2 ) and discrepancy ratio (D) were used to get best model out of three alternatives. The objective is to define the ANN model by applying different types of network tools like Feed Forward distributed time delay, layer recurrent and NARX on a set of input data to forecast the 10 day ahead water level for the case study, Sukhi Reservoir Project, Gujarat, India. The study reveals that, among the three algorithms applied, ANN using Feed Forward distributed time delay is an appropriate predictor for real- time Water Level forecasting of study area.
A New Approach of Large Diameter Polymer-Coated Fiber Laser Hydrophone

Polymer coating of a rather large diameter on distributed feed-back fiber laser generally damages the laser due to differential strain, and hence its usefulness as an effective packaging for hydrophones was not much tested. To overcome this challenge, this paper proposes a special arrangement and demonstrates that it can achieve sensitivity enhancement of 25 dB with improved bandwidth. Using a Mach–Zehnder interferometer, a noise equivalent pressure of 66.5 dB ref. 1 <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu {\text{Pa/}}\sqrt {{\text{Hz}}} $ </tex-math></inline-formula> at 1 kHz was achieved with flat response up to 4000 Hz. The experimental results are compared with those of an analytical model.
Human Cancer Biology Upregulated JAG 1 Enhances Cell Proliferation in Adrenocortical Carcinoma

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the expression andmolecular significance of JAG1, a ligand for the Notch developmental signaling pathway, in adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). Experimental Design:Humanmicroarray data were analyzed for genes expressing ligands for theNotch pathway and validated with quantitative real-time PCR (QPCR) and immunoblots of RNA and protein, respectively. ACC cells lines were assessed for Notch pathway member expression by immunoblot, QPCR, and immunofluorescence. Notch pathway activity was also determined using a reporter gene (luciferase) activation. Proliferation experiments using a Jag1 knockdown strategy (Jag1KD) and an inhibitor of Notchdependent transcription (DNMaml) used a coculture systemwith fluorescence-activated cell-sorting (FACS) analysis. Tumor stage and mitotic rate of human ACC samples were correlated to JAG1 expression. Results: The Notch ligand JAG1 mRNA and protein are upregulated in ACCs. JAG1 upregulation can be modeled in the Y1 mouse ACC cell line that expresses Jag1, Notch receptors, downstream signaling molecules, and exhibits density-dependent Notch activation. Jag1 enhances cell proliferation through activation of canonical Notch signaling as shown through Jag1KD and coculture experiments. Inhibition of Notch signaling at the level of postreceptor signaling (DNMaml), results in similar inhibition of cell proliferation. Analysis of clinical data indicates that Jag1 expression correlates with both grade and stage of ACCs, supporting a role of JAG1-dependent Notch activation in late-stage ACCs. Conclusions: JAG1 is theprimary upregulatedNotch ligand inACCs and enhancesACCcell proliferation and tumor aggressiveness in a non–cell-autonomous manner through activation of Notch signaling in adjacent cells. Clin Cancer Res; 18(9); 2452–64. 2012 AACR.
Nurse's knowledge, attitude and practice on the initial management of acute poisoning among adult casualties: Study at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya

The purpose of this study was to determine nurse’s knowledge, attitude and practice on the initial management of acute poisoning among adult casualties seen at Accident and Emergency Department (AED), Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). The study was cross sectional. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection were employed. The target population were all nurses working at AED, KNH. Purposive sampling was used to select study subjects. Sample size included all Accident and Emergency (AE assessment, clinical presentations and management to include gut decontaminations. In addition, refresher courses should be organised for those already trained. Flowcharts that will enhance easy identification and management of poisoned casualties should be put in place and utilized accordingly.
Analysis of Shielded Electromagnetic Bandgap Structures Using Multiconductor Transmission-Line Theory

In this paper, multiconductor transmission-line (MTL) theory is utilized in network analysis of shielded electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structures. Such structures are emerging in the power distribution network of modern electronic systems to provide noise suppression. Many of them can be conveniently modeled using transmission-line circuits. By applying Floquet's theorem to the MTL model of their unit cell, dispersion diagrams and therefore insight to their modal behavior are obtained in a matter of a few seconds. Two sample shielded EBG structures are examined using the MTL approach. Their one-dimensional dispersion diagrams and insertion loss profiles are generated and compared with full-wave simulations.
Causes of the 2003 major grid blackouts in North America and Europe, and recommended means to improve system dynamic performance

On August 14, 2003, a cascading outage of transmission and generation facilities in the North American Eastern Interconnection resulted in a blackout of most of New York state as well as parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Ontario, Canada. On September 23, 2003, nearly four million customers lost power in eastern Denmark and southern Sweden following a cascading outage that struck Scandinavia. Days later, a cascading outage between Italy and the rest of central Europe left most of Italy in darkness on September 28. These major blackouts are among the worst power system failures in the last few decades. The Power System Stability and Power System Stability Controls Subcommittees of the IEEE PES Power System Dynamic Performance Committee sponsored an all day panel session with experts from around the world. The experts described their recent work on the investigation of grid blackouts. The session offered a unique forum for discussion of possible root causes and necessary steps to reduce the risk of blackouts. This white paper presents the major conclusions drawn from the presentations and ensuing discussions during the all day session, focusing on the root causes of grid blackouts. This paper presents general conclusions drawn by this Committee together with recommendations based on lessons learned.
Gonadotrophic Hormones – An Overview of their Involvement in Gonadal and Extragonadal Tumours

The concept of the direct involvement of gonadotrophins in tumorigenesis has been around for a long time. First, because the gonads are direct targets of gonadotrophin action, their tumours have been proposed to be gonadotrophin-dependent. Second, the recent findings of gonadotrophin receptors in extragonadal tissues has prompted the hypothesis that some extragonadal tumours (e.g. breast, uterus, prostate, pituitary and adrenal) could also be under the direct regulatory action of gonadotrophins. However, although supported by numerous in vitro experiments and experimental animal models, the clinical evidence for a direct tumorigenic role of gonadotrophins remains weak. The purpose of this brief review is to present a critical evaluation of current information, both clinical and experimental, about the involvement of gonadotrophins in the induction and growth of gonadal and extragonadal tumours.