Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Surveillance of work related mortality among seafarers employed on board Isle of Man registered merchant ships from 1986 to 2005.

BACKGROUND The Isle of Man is a UK crown dependency able to operate a category 1 shipping register, permitting its marine administration to register vessels of unlimited size and tonnage. Little is known about work related mortality among seafarers who are employed in Isle of Man registered shipping. OBJECTIVES To establish the causes and circumstances of all work related deaths among seafarers who were working on board Isle of Man registered ships during the 20 year period from 1986 to 2005, to compare mortality rates with those in other merchant fleets, and to discuss preventative measures. METHODS A longitudinal population based study, based on examination of death inquiry files, and information from marine investigations of fatal accidents. RESULTS Over the 20 year study period, there were 65 work related deaths identified among seafarers employed in Isle of Man shipping. These deaths were caused by disease (20), accidents (34), suicide (2) and from unexplained circumstances (9). The mortality rate for accidents occurring at work was 53 per 100000 seafarer-years for the seven years 1990, 1991, 1993-1997. Over the 18 years from 1988 to 2005 it was estimated at 44 per 100000, while for confirmed suicides the suicide rate was estimated at 1.3 per 100000. CONCLUSIONS Although the fatal accident rate was higher in Isle of Man shipping than in the national UK fleet; compared with those in other merchant fleets internationally, the fatal accident and suicide rates in the Isle of Man fleet are quite low.
Efficient Numerical Integration for Postprocessing and Matrix Assembly of Finite-Element Subdomains

The efficiency of numerical integration methods for finite-element analysis (FEA) is investigated. The focus of this paper, within the context of traditional FEA, is the postprocessing operation of numerical integration over a subdomain containing potentially large numbers of elements. Improvements to the efficiency of such operations directly increase the efficacy of the assembly process for the mass and stiffness matrices of a generalized family of macroelements. The analogous postprocessing and matrix assembly methods are refined such that repeated computations are eliminated, effectively treating a large number of traditionally separate numerical integrations as one full-domain integral. Electromagnetic applications are tested to demonstrate the reduction in computational cost of the method. Results demonstrate increased efficiency as higher order basis functions and larger numbers of elements are employed.
The host response in graft versus host disease. II. The emergence of host protective cells is in part determined by background genomic compatibility.

Murine graft versus host (GVH) disease takes two forms depending on the parental/F1 strain combination employed. In an accompanying paper (Singh et al., Clin. Immunol. 151, 1993) many of the clinical features of these two forms of GVH disease are described. In addition to these clinical characteristics, acute lethal GVH (ALGVH) disease is characterized by diminished natural killer cell activity, whereas chronic GVH disease is characterized by normal or increased natural killer cell activity. Previously we have reported that this marked disparity in disease expression can be attributed to radiosensitive host cells which protect the F1 mouse from parental anti-F1 cytotoxicity (CTX) in mice undergoing chronic GVH (CGVH) disease. These cells fail to functionally emerge in mice undergoing ALGVH disease. We now report that the background genome, presumably the minor lymphocyte stimulatory loci, of the donor cells determines whether these host cells emerge and thereby dictates the form of GVH disease which is induced. C57BL/6 (B6) cells (H-2b, minor lymphocyte stimulatory locus (Mls)b) and B10.D2 cells (H-2d, Mlsb) were found to induce ALGVH disease when adoptively transferred to [C57BL/6xDBA/2]F1 (B6D2) (H-2b/d, Mls-1a/b, Mls-2a/b) recipient mice. DBA/2 cells (H-2d, Mls-1a, Mls-2a) and Balb/c cells (H-2d, Mls-1a, Mls-2b) induced CGVH disease in B6D2 mice. Using Mls congenic strains we have demonstrated that donor cell reactivity against Mls-2a was necessary and sufficient to induce ALGVH disease as determined by anemia, lymphopenia, anti-F1 cytotoxicity, and loss of cytotoxicity against allogeneic targets. Such Mls-2a reactivity correlated with the impaired induction of a host protective cell capable of vetoing self-directed CTX. Failure of this host protective cell to emerge in turn correlated with donor anti-host CTX and the emergence of ALGVH disease.
A Hybrid Framework for Online Execution of Linked Data Queries

Linked Data has been widely adopted over the last few years, with the size of the Linked Data cloud almost doubling every year. However, there is still no well-defined, efficient mechanism for querying such a Web of Data. We propose a framework that incorporates a set of optimizations to tackle various limitations in the state-of-the-art. The framework aims at combining the centralized query optimization capabilities of the data warehouse-based approaches with the result freshness and explorative data source discovery capabilities of link-traversal approaches. This is achieved by augmenting base-line link-traversal query execution with a set of optimization techniques. The proposed optimizations fall under two categories: metadata-based optimizations and semantics-based optimizations.
Tabu Search Based On-Chip Communication Bus Synthesis for Shared Multi-Bus Based Architecture

This paper presents a method of on-chip communication bus topology synthesis for a shared multi-bus based architecture. An assumption for the synthesis is that the system has already been partitioned and mapped onto the appropriate modules of a SoC so that size of data to be transferred at each time by an on-chip module is fixed. We define the problem of on-chip communication topology synthesis into two main problems namely scheduling and allocation binding problem. The communication behavior of each module is modeled as a set of communication lifetime intervals (CLTIs), which are evaluated and scheduled for different size of bus width to get the minimum number of overlaps, minimum size of bus width and the minimum number of bus(es) using tabu search method. These optimized CLTIs are given to the clique partitioning algorithm as an allocation-binding problem to synthesize the communication topology
Linear aggregation of proteins on the membrane as a prelude to membrane remodeling

Significance The remodeling of lipid membranes accompanies many cellular processes, such as the formation of organelles, division, trafficking, and signaling. Although many proteins have been implicated to play roles in these processes, their vast complexity precluded the profound understanding of how they occur at the molecular level. The most notable membrane remodelers are proteins containing one of several types of Bin/amphiphysin/Rvs (BAR) domains. They adhere and insert into the membrane to sculpt it into different shapes. Our work demonstrates that N-BAR proteins arrange into string-like aggregates and meshes that generate the initial curvature on the membrane. Our observation on the self-assembly of proteins elucidates the way these proteins may interact rapidly to participate in complex cellular machineries. Adhesion and insertion of curvature-mediating proteins can induce dramatic structural changes in cell membranes, allowing them to participate in several key cellular tasks. The way proteins interact to generate curvature remains largely unclear, especially at early stages of membrane remodeling. Using a coarse-grained model of Bin/amphiphysin/Rvs domain with an N-terminal helix (N-BAR) interacting with flat membranes and vesicles, we demonstrate that at low protein surface densities, binding of N-BAR domain proteins to the membrane is followed by a linear aggregation and the formation of meshes on the surface. In this process, the proteins assemble at the base of emerging membrane buds. Our work shows that beyond a more straightforward scaffolding mechanism at high bound densities, the interplay of anisotropic interactions and the local stress imposed by the N-BAR proteins results in deep invaginations and endocytic vesicular bud-like deformations, an order of magnitude larger than the size of the individual protein. Our results imply that by virtue of this mechanism, cell membranes may achieve rapid local increases in protein concentration.
Diffuse craniospinal choroid plexus papilloma with involvement of both cerebellopontine angles

Background: The authors studied mortality, vascular events, and preventive therapies following ischemic stroke among adults aged ≥65 years. Methods: The authors identified 546 subjects with first ischemic stroke during 1989 to 2001 among Cardiovascular Health Study participants. Deaths, recurrent strokes, and coronary heart disease (CHD) events were identified over 3.2 years (median) follow-up. Results: During the first year of follow-up, rates were 105.4/1,000 for recurrent stroke and 59.3/1,000 for CHD. After the first year, the stroke rate was 52.0/1,000 and the CHD rate was 46.5/1,000. Cardioembolic strokes had the highest mortality (185.4/1,000) and recurrence rates (86.6/1,000). Lacunar strokes had the lowest mortality (119.3/1,000) and recurrence rates (43.0/1,000). Age and male sex predicted death and CHD, but not recurrence. Outcomes did not differ by race. Following stroke, 47.8% used aspirin and 13.5% used other antiplatelet agents; 52.6% of patients with atrial fibrillation used warfarin; 31.3% of hyperlipidemic subjects, 57.0% of diabetic patients, and 81.5% of hypertensive patients were drug-treated; and 40.0% of hypertensive patients had blood pressure (BP) <140/90 mm Hg. Older subjects were less likely to use lipid-lowering therapy, women were less likely to have BP <140/90 mm Hg, and low-income subjects were less likely to use diabetes medications. Conclusions: Recurrent strokes were nearly twice as frequent as coronary heart disease (CHD) events during the first year after initial stroke, but stroke and CHD rates were similar after the first year. Preventive drug therapies were underused, which may reflect clinical uncertainty due to the lack of clinical trials among the elderly. Utilization was lower among the oldest patients, women, and low-income individuals.
Using optimal power flow for management of power flows in active distribution networks within thermal constraints

The Autonomous Regional Active Network Management System (AuRA-NMS) research consortium is investigating real time control algorithms for voltage control, power flow management (PFM) and restoration. The functionality offered by this developmental distributed control architecture meets the requirements of being a robust ‘plug and play’ platform that must be safe, secure and have the ability to be flexible and extensible. Ongoing work has been investigating and comparing novel and existing control techniques for real-time power flow management which includes a current tracing method, a constraint programming approach and an optimal power flow (OPF) technique. This paper will discuss the properties of OPF and how these properties can be adapted, augmented and applied in a real time environment for solving distribution network power flow constraint problems using, in essence, real-time information available for normally non-dispatchable renewable generation. Proposed OPF problem formulations and case studies will be used to show how research undertaken to date will be taken forward to development and demonstration of the OPF algorithms for power flow constraint management.
Factor Investing in South Africa

Risk factors and systematic factor strategies are fast becoming an integral part of the global asset management landscape. In this report, we provide an introduction to, and critique of, the factor investing paradigm in a South African setting. We initially discuss the general factor construction process at length and construct a comprehensive range of risk factors for the South African equity market according to international factor modelling standards. In this report, we focus on the size, value, momentum, profitability, investment, low volatility and low beta risk factors respectively. We critically examine the historical behaviour and robustness of these factors, paying particular attention to the issues of long-only versus long/short factors, the impact of size, the effect of rebalancing frequency and data, and the robustness of performance to alternative factor definitions.We also review how these factors can be used generally in risk management and portfolio management. In the risk management space, we firstly consider risk attribution to factors and introduce the Factor Efficiency Ratio as a means of quantifying a fund’s desired versus undesired factor exposure. Secondly, we consider returns-based style analysis as a means of identifying a fund’s factor style mix and also as a method for replicating existing indices with long-only risk factors. In the portfolio management space, we discuss several approaches for creating multi-factor portfolios. We start by considering the simplest case of portfolio mixing, which allocates to a set of predefined factor building blocks. We then review the integrated scoring approach, which accounts for multiple factors within the scoring process directly. Finally, we consider a mixed integer programming optimisation approach, which allows an investor to construct an optimal multi-factor portfolio that is as consistent with their return objectives and risk preferences as their constraint set will permit.
Adding a dimension to the infrared spectra of interfaces using heterodyne detected 2D sum-frequency generation (HD 2D SFG) spectroscopy

In the last ten years, two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy has become an important technique for studying molecular structures and dynamics. We report the implementation of heterodyne detected two-dimensional sum-frequency generation (HD 2D SFG) spectroscopy, which is the analog of 2D infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy, but is selective to noncentrosymmetric systems such as interfaces. We implement the technique using mid-IR pulse shaping, which enables rapid scanning, phase cycling, and automatic phasing. Absorptive spectra are obtained, that have the highest frequency resolution possible, from which we extract the rephasing and nonrephasing signals that are sometimes preferred. Using this technique, we measure the vibrational mode of CO adsorbed on a polycrystalline Pt surface. The 2D spectrum reveals a significant inhomogenous contribution to the spectral line shape, which is quantified by simulations. This observation indicates that the surface conformation and environment of CO molecules is more complicated than the simple “atop” configuration assumed in previous work. Our method can be straightforwardly incorporated into many existing SFG spectrometers. The technique enables one to quantify inhomogeneity, vibrational couplings, spectral diffusion, chemical exchange, and many other properties analogous to 2D IR spectroscopy, but specifically for interfaces.
Riding on the Primary: A New Spectrum Sharing Paradigm for Wireless-Powered IoT Devices

In this paper, a new spectrum sharing model referred to as riding on the primary (ROP) is proposed for wireless-powered IoT devices with ambient backscatter communication capabilities. The key idea of ROP is that the secondary transmitter harvests energy from the primary signal, then modulates its information bits to the primary signal, and reflects the modulated signal to the secondary receiver without violating the primary system’s interference requirement. Compared with the conventional spectrum sharing model, the secondary system in the proposed ROP not only utilizes the spectrum of the primary system but also takes advantage of the primary signal to harvest energy and to carry its information. In this paper, we investigate the performance of such a spectrum sharing system under fading channels. To be specific, we maximize the ergodic capacity of the secondary system by jointly optimizing the transmit power of the primary signal and the reflection coefficient of the secondary ambient backscatter. Different (ideal/practical) energy consumption models, different (peak/average) transmit power constraints, different types (fixed/dynamically adjustable) reflection coefficient, and different primary system’s interference requirements (rate/outage) are considered. Optimal power allocation and reflection coefficient are obtained for each scenario.
Visual Contrast Processing in Migraine

Some migraine sufferers report certain visual patterns can reliably trigger a migraine attack, such as high contrast striped patterns or flickering lights. Differences between people with and without migraine on tasks that involve these patterns have been attributed to abnormal cortical processing in migraine, although the locus and extent of the abnormality remains unclear, as is any relationship between impairment on various visual tasks. In this study 58 migraine sufferers and 61 control subjects participated in three visual tasks involving striped patterns. One assessed pattern sensitivity with high contrast patterns, the second detection thresholds for low contrast patterns and the third supra-threshold contrast scaling. With each measure, the performance of migraine sufferers as a group differed to the performance of non-migraine control subjects. There were no significant differences between the migraine subgroups when classified according to the presence or absence of aura. Cross-correlating the results from the three tasks, however, revealed consistent associations: impaired or extreme responses on one task were associated with impaired or extreme responses on the others. There were no overall effects due to migraine duration, the frequency of migraine attacks or the time since the last attack. These results are discussed in the context of visually induced migraine, proposed causes of abnormal cortical function in migraine and the prospects for developing clinically useful tests of visual function.
The press exception in the Dutch copyright act

Th is chapter focuses on the press exception as laid down in Article 15 of the Dutch Copyright Act. Information has gained increasing social and economic importance in the course of the past century, not only for those who make it their business to gather, treat and circulate it, but also for those who receive and use it. Th e transformation of the 20th century from an industrialized into an information society has intensifi ed the need for a free fl ow of information where the news of the day and its analysis constitutes one of the building blocks of a participating citizenry and a booming information sector. Th e Netherlands, with its strong democratic and publishing traditions, exemplifi es this evolution. Not surprisingly, the press exception has a long history in international and Dutch copyright law, albeit one marked by dramatic changes in technology and market conditions. In the following pages, the fi rst section describes the justifi cations for the press exception. Th e next section gives an overview of the main legislative changes that took place over the years, analyses the judicial interpretation of the diff erent elements of the provision and discusses the current practice with respect to the exchange of articles on current topics between news organizations. Th e following section puts the press exception in a European context: given the optional character of the press exception in the Information Society Directive, this section focuses on the solutions put in place in the neighbouring countries. Th e last section draws a short conclusion.
Sequential context modeling for smart devices by Collaborative Hidden Markov Model

Smart devices become prevalent in our daily lives, as the advancement of mobile networks, sensor technologies and distributed computing. They easily collect rich context information (e.g., time, GPS location, Wifi info, app usage, etc.) from the device owners (i.e., the users). Modeling such sequential context data is important — it not only helps to profile the user, but also enables many context-aware applications, such as location-based services with the next location prediction and app usage predictions. However, context modeling is challenging, because the context data is heterogeneous and high-dimensional in terms of the huge number of possible contexts. In this paper, we propose a novel Collaborative Hidden Markov Model (CHMM). CHMM extends the sequential generative model HMM to a collaborative setting, such that only those users sharing similar behaviors can pool their data together to build a reliable model. We evaluate CHMM with real-world data for both next location prediction and app usage prediciton, and the results show that CHMM outperforms the baselines in both cases.
Know Thyself: A Prerequisite for Educational Leaders

Several recent reports point to the need to create more responsive leadership preparation programs to better prepare school leaders for the 21st century. This manuscript describes a beginning learning experience within the new administrator preparation program at the University of Northern Colorado. The new component is called “Understanding Self”; it is designed to assist future leaders in gaining a greater awareness of their values and beliefs as they relate to leadership. The importance of intrapersonal development and reflective practice, as well as specific activities used in the learning experience, is addressed.