Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evolutionary multitasking in permutation-based combinatorial optimization problems: Realization with TSP, QAP, LOP, and JSP

Evolutionary computation (EC) has gained increasing popularity in dealing with permutation-based combinatorial optimization problems (PCOPs). Traditionally, EC focuses on solving a single optimization task at a time. However, in complex multi-echelon supply chain networks (SCNs), there usually exist various kinds of PCOPs at the same time, e.g., travel salesman problem (TSP), job-shop scheduling problem (JSP), etc. So, it is desirable to solve several PCOPs at once with both effectiveness and efficiency. Very recently, a new paradigm in EC, namely, multifactorial optimization (MFO) has been introduced to explore the potential of evolutionary multitasking, which can serve the purpose of simultaneously optimizing multiple PCOPs in SCNs. In this paper, the evolutionary multitasking of PCOPs is studied. In particular, based on a recently proposed multitasking engine known as the multifactorial evolutionary algorithm (MFEA), two novel mechanisms, namely, a new unified representation and a new survivor selection procedure, are introduced to better adapt to PCOPs. Experimental results obtained on well-known benchmark problems not only show the benefits of the two new mechanisms but also verify the promise of evolutionary multitasking for PCOPs. In addition, the results on a test case involving four optimization tasks demonstrate the potential scalability of evolutionary multitasking to many-task environments.
The effect of chelation therapy with succimer on neuropsychological development in children exposed to lead.

BACKGROUND Thousands of children, especially poor children living in deteriorated urban housing, are exposed to enough lead to produce cognitive impairment. It is not known whether treatment to reduce blood lead levels prevents or reduces such impairment. METHODS We enrolled 780 children with blood lead levels of 20 to 44 microg per deciliter (1.0 to 2.1 micromol per liter) in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of up to three 26-day courses of treatment with succimer, a lead chelator that is administered orally. The children lived in deteriorating inner-city housing and were 12 to 33 months of age at enrollment; 77 percent were black, and 5 percent were Hispanic. Follow-up included tests of cognitive, motor, behavioral, and neuropsychological function over a period of 36 months. RESULTS During the first six months of the trial, the mean blood lead level in the children given succimer was 4.5 microg per deciliter (0.2 micromol per liter) lower than the mean level in the children given placebo (95 percent confidence interval, 3.7 to 5.3 microg per deciliter [0.2 to 0.3 micromol per liter]). At 36 months of follow-up, the mean IQ score of children given succimer was 1 point lower than that of children given placebo, and the behavior of children given succimer was slightly worse as rated by a parent. However, the children given succimer scored slightly better on the Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment, a battery of tests designed to measure neuropsychological deficits thought to interfere with learning. All these differences were small, and none were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with succimer lowered blood lead levels but did not improve scores on tests of cognition, behavior, or neuropsychological function in children with blood lead levels below 45 microg per deciliter. Since succimer is as effective as any lead chelator currently available, chelation therapy is not indicated for children with these blood lead levels.
Symptom distress and quality of life in patients with cancer newly admitted to hospice home care.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To evaluate the relationships between quality of life (QOL) and symptom distress, pain intensity, dyspnea intensity, and constipation intensity in people with advanced cancer who were newly admitted to hospice home care. DESIGN Descriptive and correlational. SETTING A large hospice that provides primarily home care. SAMPLE 178 adult hospice homecare patients with cancer who were accrued to a clinical trial funded by the National Institutes of Health focusing on symptom management and QOL. Patients were excluded if they received a score lower than seven on the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire. METHOD The patients were invited to participate in the clinical trial within 48 hours of admission to hospice home care. Among the questionnaires they completed were a QOL index and a distress scale. Scales measuring present intensity of pain, dyspnea, and constipation also were administered. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES QOL, symptom distress, pain intensity, dyspnea intensity, and constipation intensity. FINDINGS The most frequently reported symptoms among the sample were lack of energy, pain, dry mouth, and shortness of breath. Lack of energy caused the greatest distress, followed closely by dry mouth and pain. The results of the regression analysis indicated that total distress score, pain intensity, dyspnea intensity, and constipation intensity were related to QOL at the univariate level. When all predictors were considered simultaneously, only the total distress score remained a significant predictor of QOL (p< 0.001), accounting for about 35% of variance. CONCLUSIONS QOL was affected by symptom distress in people with advanced cancer near the end of life. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING The symptoms most commonly reported and those that cause the greatest patient distress should be addressed first by hospice nurses. Continued effort is needed in the important area of symptom management.
Is Family Control Relevant for Corporate Cash Holding Policy?

This empirical research examines the effect of family control on firms’ cash holding policy. Using a sample of western European firms, we confirm the precautionary motive for holding cash as family-controlled firms’ desire to perpetuate the family legacy for future generations motivates them to accumulate more cash than their nonfamily counterparts. We also show that, given family-controlled firms’ long-term perspective, they focus on cash flow volatility rather than cash flow level. Finally, the relation between financing constraints and cash holdings is not homogeneous: Financially constrained family-controlled firms hold higher levels of cash than financially constrained nonfamily firms. Overall, these results suggest that family firms’ cash holding policy is the result not of a specific financial outcome but rather on the strategic objectives of the firm.
Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Does Not Affect Resolution of Murine Chlamydial Genital Tract Infections or Eradication of Chlamydiae in Primary Murine Cell Culture

ABSTRACT Mice lacking inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) or treated with iNOS inhibitors resolved chlamydial genital tract infections. Additionally, treatment of primary murine cell cultures with gamma interferon restricted chlamydial growth in the absence of nitric oxide. From these results, iNOS activity is unnecessary for the resolution of chlamydial genital tract infections in mice and inhibition of chlamydial growth in culture.
Survival after phase II treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma with taxol or high-dose interleukin-2.

From 1986 to 1989, 71 patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma were treated at one institution with either the Phase II agent, taxol, or one of several high dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) protocols. As no responses to taxol were seen, that group may represent the natural history of renal cell carcinoma in a Phase II population. The results of treatment with IL-2 were examined against this background. Concurrently, 17 patients received taxol and 14 patients IL-2. An additional 40 patients subsequently received IL-2. Five taxol patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 2 were excluded from the comparison as similar patients were ineligible for the IL-2 studies. There were more patients in the IL-2 groups with non-liver/lung metastases and ECOG PS 0 than in the taxol group. Six (43%) of concurrent IL-2 patients responded [complete response (CR) = 14%; partial response (PR) = 29%]. The response rate for all IL-2-treated patients was 22% (CR +/- 7%, PR +/- 15%). The response rate to IL-2 was higher in cases with ECOG PS 0, time to treatment < 12 months, and no prior chemotherapy. The median time to progression for the concurrent IL-2 group was 4.5 months (4.0 months for all IL-2 patients) and 2.5 months for taxol patients. Median survival for concurrent IL-2 patients was 12.5 months (12 months for all IL-2 patients) and 10 months for taxol patients. Durable remissions resulted in a 21% overall survival at 40 months for all IL-2 patients. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Cross holdings in Germany - Comment

The leading themes of the paper by Professor Adams [1999] on the governance of German firms concern cross holdings and limited transparency. In particular, it describes with clarity several misuses of cross holdings and opportunities to circumvent transparency laws. Moreover, it suggests that lack of transparency is created on purpose, and that secrecy about corporate ownership and voting power as well as the ownership structures are aimed at protecting the powerful position of a small group of managers. As correctly pointed out in the discussion by Professor Nyborg [1999], the suggestions made in Michael Adams' paper need to be supported by empirical evidence showing that the system is detrimental to companies, or at least that it has important drawbacks relative to a governance system with more transparency and less interlocking ownership. Existing empirical evidence, however, is incomplete. As discussed by Kjell Nyborg, several studies for Germany indicate that some disciplining may be going on in the market for corporate control (e.g., Franks and Mayer [1997], Kaplan [1994] and Gorton and Schmid [1996]). Furthermore, Kjell Nyborg also points out that there is always a possibility that a system of self-regulation among insiders materializes as suggested, for example, by Hommel [1998] for Germany, or by Berglof and Perotti [1994] for Japan. By contrast, the fact that lack of transparency and defects in the protection of small shareholders may cause sizeable agency costs is an important theme in recent empirical work. In particular the international comparative empirical evidence in La Porta, Lopez-de-Silanes, Shleifer and Vishny [1997a], and further supported in La Porta, Lopez-de-Silanes, Shleifer and Vishny [1997b], suggests that legal protection of outside investors differs enormously across countries. Defective laws or enforcement cause agency problems that primarily manifest themselves through non-value-maximizing investment choices. La Porta, Lopez-de-Silanes, Shleifer and Vishny [1997a], [1997b] conclude that the level of agency costs varies a great deal across countries, and the legal system would be a good proxy for these costs. When applied to a specific country like Germany, this latter evidence is obviously coarse in nature. Nevertheless it indicates that one is still far from understand-
Does Diversification Drive Down Risk-adjusted Returns? A Quantile Regression Approach

Abstract This study examines diversification-performance relationship in the U.S. property-liability insurance industry over the period of 1996–2010. Unlike prior studies that rely on the conditional mean estimation method, we employ quantile regression, which captures the heterogeneous effects of diversification on conditional return distribution. The results show that diversification does not necessarily drive down risk-adjusted returns and its effects vary along return distribution. We find that there is a diversification discount for firms in the lower levels of return distribution, whereas a diversification premium exists for firms in the upper levels of return distribution. We provide evidence that the relations between risk-adjusted returns and other explanatory variables are not constant, but vary over the quantiles of return distribution. Our results are robust to alternative measures of an insurer’s performance and product diversification.
The Position and Length of the Steroid-Dependent Hypersensitive Region in the Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus Long Terminal Repeat Are Invariant despite Multiple Nucleosome B Frames

ABSTRACT Stimulation of the mouse mammary tumor virus with steroids results in the generation of a DNase I-hypersensitive region (HSR) spanning the hormone responsive element (HRE) in the long terminal repeat. Restriction enzymes were used to characterize the accessibility of various sites within the HSR of mouse mammary tumor virus long terminal repeat-reporter constructions in four different cell lines. The glucocorticoid-dependent HSR was found to span minimally 187 bases, a stretch of DNA longer than that associated with histones in the core particle. Although the 5′-most receptor binding site within the HRE is downstream of −190, hypersensitive sites were found further upstream to at least −295. The relationship in the accessibility between pairs of sites in the vicinity of the HSR was further examined in one cell line by a two-enzyme restriction access assay. In the uninduced state, the accessibilities at these sites were found to be independent of each other. In contrast, when stimulated with hormone, the accessibilities at these sites were observed to become linked. That is, once a distinct promoter was activated, all of the sites within the HSR of that molecule became accessible. The HSR formed along an invariant stretch of DNA sequence despite the multiplicity of nucleosome frames in the nucleosome B region, where the HRE is located. The results indicate that the macroscopic length of the HSR does not arise from core length-remodeling events in molecules containing Nuc-B in alternative positions.
The Importance of Lifelong Learning in XXI Century

The aim of article is to show importance of lifelong learning in the context of currently labour market. In that respect, the employability, adaptability and mobility of citizens is vital for Europe. To attain these objectives, European systems of education and training must adapt to the requirements of the knowledge society and the need for an enhanced level of education and better quality employment. This processes don’t understand the polish entrepreneurs. The article definides of lifelong learning, describes the types of adult education and some statistical data of adult education in 28 countries integrated Europe and also possibilities to apply to costs on lifelong learning from European Social Fund in the period 2014-2020. JEL Classification Code: F00.
Neuronal correlates of gastric pain induced by fundus distension: a 3T‐fMRI study

Visceral hypersensitivity in gastric fundus is a possible pathogenesis for functional dyspepsia. The cortical representation of gastric fundus is still unclear. Growing evidence shows that the insula, but not the primary or secondary somatosensory region (SI or SII), may be the cortical target for visceral pain. Animal studies have also demonstrated that amygdala plays an important role in processing visceral pain. We used fMRI to study central projection of stomach pain from fundus balloon distension. We also tested the hypothesis that there will be neither S1 nor S2 activation, but amygdala activation with the fundus distension. A 3T‐fMRI was performed on 10 healthy subjects during baseline, fullness (12.7 ± 0.6 mmHg) and moderate gastric pain (17.0 ± 0.8 mmHg). fMRI signal was modelled by convolving the predetermined psychophysical response. Statistical comparisons were performed between conditions on a group level. Gastric pain activated a wide range of cortical and subcortical structures, including thalamus and insula, anterior and posterior cingulate cortices, basal ganglia, caudate nuclei, amygdala, brain stem, cerebellum and prefrontal cortex (P < 0.001). A subset of these neuronal substrates was engaged in the central processing of fullness sensation. SI and SII were not activated during the fundus stimulation. In conclusion, the constellation of neuronal structures activated by fundus distension overlaps the pain matrices induced musculocutaneous pain, with the exception of the absence of SI or SII activation. This may account for the vague nature of visceral sensation/pain. Our data also confirms that the insula and amygdala may act as the central role in visceral sensation/pain, as well as in the proposed sensory‐limbic model of learning and memory of pain.
Performance Modeling and Analysis of Heterogeneous Machine Type Communications

With the pervasiveness of wireless devices, machine-to-machine (M2M) communications or machine-type-communications (MTC) is emerging to support data transfer among devices without human interaction. In this paper, we introduce a tractable queueing model for performance modeling and analysis for heterogeneous MTC. We then demonstrate versatile applications of the proposed queueing model. Firstly, we use the queueing model to study the coexistence between M2M communications of MTC devices and human-to-human (H2H) communications in the same networks. We also consider more sophisticated settings, where the MTC user equipments (UEs) are able to perform the transmission to the macro Evolved Node B (eNodeB) or small-cell eNodeB, or perform the relay transmission. In addition, we extend our study to analyze the eNodeB selection and coalition formation for relay transmission when MTC UEs coexist with H2H UEs. In this case, we formulate the non-transferable utility (NTU) coalitional game to model the eNodeB selection and coalition formation for relay transmission. The performance evaluation reveals some interesting results. For example, the throughput of MTC UEs can be improved when the MTC UEs spend more time inactive due to lower contention in the network, compared with the case when the MTC UEs are mostly active.
Food Insecurity Is Associated with Cost-Related Medication Non-Adherence in Community-Dwelling, Low-Income Older Adults in Georgia

Low-income older adults are at increased risk of cutting back on basic needs, including food and medication. This study examined the relationship between food insecurity and cost-related medication non-adherence (CRN) in low-income Georgian older adults. The study sample includes new Older Americans Act Nutrition Program participants and waitlisted people assessed by a self-administered mail survey (N = 1000, mean age 75.0 ± 9.1 years, 68.4% women, 25.8% African American). About 49.7% of participants were food insecure, while 44.4% reported practicing CRN. Those who were food insecure and/or who practiced CRN were more likely to be African American, low-income, younger, less educated, and to report poorer self-reported health status. Food insecure participants were 2.9 (95% CI 2.2, 4.0) times more likely to practice CRN behaviors than their counterparts after controlling for potential confounders. Improving food security is important inorder to promote adherence to recommended prescription regimens.
NF-κB Signaling Pathway Governs TRAIL Gene Expression and Human T-cell Leukemia Virus-I Tax-induced T-cell Death*

The Tax oncoprotein encoded by human T-cell leukemia virus induces both T-cell activation and apoptosis. The mechanism by which Tax induces apoptosis has remained unclear. Using genetically manipulated T-cell lines, we demonstrate that Tax-induced T-cell death is dependent on NF-κB signaling. Tax fails to induce apoptosis in T cells lacking IκB kinase γ (IKKγ), an essential component of the NF-κB signaling pathway. This defect was rescued when the mutant cells were reconstituted with exogenous IKKγ. We further demonstrate that the Tax-induced T-cell death is mediated by TNF (tumor necrosis factor)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), because this event can be effectively inhibited by a TRAIL-blocking antibody. Consistent with this functional aspect, Tax stimulates the expression of TRAIL mRNA. Finally, we provide genetic evidence demonstrating that the NF-κB signaling pathway is essential for TRAIL gene induction by both Tax and T-cell activation signals. These studies reveal a novel function of the NF-κB signaling pathway and suggest a key mechanism by which Tax induces T-cell death.
Recruitment of Polymerase to Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Replication Foci in Cells Expressing Mutant Primase (UL52) Proteins

ABSTRACT The ordered assembly of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 replication apparatus leading to replication compartments likely involves the initial assembly of five viral replication proteins, ICP8, UL9, and the heterotrimeric helicase-primase complex (UL5-UL8-UL52), into replication foci. The polymerase and polymerase accessory protein are subsequently recruited to these foci. Four stages of viral infection (stages I to IV) have been described previously (J. Burkham, D. M. Coen, and S. K. Weller, J. Virol. 72:10100-10107, 1998). Of these, stage III foci are equivalent to the previously described promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML)-associated prereplicative sites and contain all seven replication proteins. We constructed a series of mutations in the putative primase subunit, UL52, of the helicase-primase and have analyzed the mutant proteins for their abilities to form intermediates leading to the formation of replication compartments. The results shown in this paper are consistent with the model that the five proteins, ICP8, UL5, UL8, UL9, and UL52, form a scaffold and that formation of this scaffold does not rely on enzymatic functions of the helicase and primase. Furthermore, we demonstrate that recruitment of polymerase to this scaffold requires the presence of an active primase subunit. These results suggest that polymerase recruitment to replication foci requires primer synthesis. Furthermore, they support the existence of two types of stage III intermediates in the formation of replication compartments: stage IIIa foci, which form the scaffold, and stage IIIb foci, which contain, in addition, HSV polymerase, the polymerase accessory subunit, and cellular factors such as PML.
Cerebral Perfusion Pressure in Neurotrauma: A Review

It is now well recognized that low cerebral blood flow (and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP)) is associated with poor outcome after traumatic brain injury. What is less clear is whether altering cerebral blood flow or CPP will lead to clinical improvement. Initial studies indicated that increasing CPP may be beneficial and the Brain Trauma Foundation acknowledged this by incorporating a target of 70 mm Hg in the 1996 guidelines. However, the lack of a demonstrable benefit and the increased complication rate associated with this approach led to a reduction in the CPP goal to 60 mm Hg. More recently, evidence that autoregulation may be disrupted after traumatic brain injury has led some authors to propose an individualized approach to CPP management. Furthermore, with the advent of advanced neuromonitoring techniques, clinicians are able to more closely monitor the effects of hemodynamic manipulations on cerebral metabolism. As yet, there is no strong outcome evidence to support this approach. Until then, the current debate over the optimal approach to CPP management is likely to continue.