Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nonparametric Prediction Intervals of Wind Power via Linear Programming

This letter proposes a machine learning-based linear programming model that quickly establishes the nonparametric prediction intervals of wind power by integrating extreme learning machine and quantile regression. The proportions of quantiles can be adaptively determined via sensitivity analysis. The proposed method has been proven to be significantly efficient and reliable, with a high application potential in power systems.
Benzathine penicillin G: its effectiveness in the prevention of streptococcal infections in a heavily exposed population.

BENZATHINE penicillin (N-N′ dibenzylethylenediamine dipenicillin G), a slowly absorbed depot penicillin, has recently been recommended for the prevention of streptococcal infections in patients with active or inactive rheumatic fever1 and in military populations2 experiencing epidemics of streptococcal disease. Evidence that one injection will eradicate Group A streptococci and protect a person from acquiring new infections for several weeks has made this form of penicillin an agent of choice in streptococcal prophylaxis. On the basis of a number of studies of rheumatic patients the American Heart Association is currently recommending 1,200,000 units of benzathine penicillin per month as adequate protection against .
Hope, Work Engagement, and Organizationally Valued Performance Outcomes: An Empirical Study in the Hotel Industry

This article proposes and tests a research model that investigates whether work engagement mediates the effect of hope on job performance, service recovery performance, and extra-role customer service. These relationships were tested using data gathered from full-time frontline hotel employees and their managers in Romania. The results from structural equation modeling suggest that the impact of hope on job performance, service recovery performance, and extra-role customer service is fully mediated by work engagement. Based on the results reported in this study, several useful implications concerning acquisition and retention of frontline employees who can display quality performance in the workplace are provided.
Exact results for a damped quantum-mechanical harmonic oscillator.

Exact calculations for a quantum oscillator linearly coupled to a thermal reservoir are presented. Explicit results (variances and correlations) for the response and the spontaneous fluctuations are evaluated for two different models of the heat bath; a reservoir with a spectrum which is similar to that of acoustic phonons and another which is analogous to optic phonons. The low-temperature behavior is shown to depend sensitively on the spectral density of the thermal reservoir. The mass and the frequency of the oscillator become renormalized through the coupling to the bath. These renormalizations are intrinsically frequency dependent. Moreover, the commonly used form of Ehrenfest's equation for the dynamics of the linearly damped oscillator is shown to only be a reasonable approximation within certain frequency regimes.
Unique site of IgG2a and rheumatoid factor production in MRL/lpr mice

Summary: MRL/lpr (Fas‐deficient) mice develop an autoimmune syndrome associated with excessive production of autoantibodies. A significant portion of these autoantibodies are IgG2a molecules specific for many of the autoantigens recognized by the sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. In addition, MRL/lpr mice make exceedingly high titers of IgG or IgA rheumatoid factors (RF) specific for autologous IgG2a, The microenvironment of the IgG2a‐producing B cells as well as the prototypic RF autoantibodies was determined by a combination of immunohistochemical and m situ hybridization techniques. In contrast to the anti body‐producing cells present in mice responding to conventional foreign antigens, both IgG2a+ and RF+ B cells were found to be densely clustered in the T‐cell‐rich inner periarteriolar lymphatic sheath of the spleen. These results suggest that conventional antibody and autoantibody production in MRL/lpr mice may be mechanistically distinct processes.
Remote Channel Customer Contact Strategies for Complaint Update Messages

This research focuses on the preservation and repairing of relationships once a banking customer has raised a complaint. This research investigates the impact of different messaging channels email, Internet banking site messages, SMS text messages, and messages on the ATM screen and the impact of different styles of complaint update messages on customers' perceptions of their relationship with their bank. The empirical research is conducted on a sample of 96 banking customers. Quantitative data are collected to examine the impact of the banking channel and the update message style on customers' perceptions of their relationship with the bank. The results indicate that update messages are a reassurance tool for the bank to use for customers who had cause to raise a complaint. The preferred channels of communication with the customer base for update messages are email and Internet banking. Also, customer-brand relationship was found to be higher for complaint-specific content in the messages than for generic messages.
A Study on The Influence of Convergence Benefit of Facebook Fan Page in Brand Attachment and Brand Commitment

This study is the convenience Facebook brand fan page users who seek functional, emotional, divided into three levels of symbolic benefits to the brand benefit was to examine whether structurally affect to brand attachment and brand commitment. Results and emotional benefits are found to affect the brand attachment relative to the functional convenience. In addition, the symbolic benefits were to affect brand attachment compared with the functional convenience. But the emotional benefits and symbolic benefits was shown to affect different brand without attachment, brand attachment points have been identified that affect the antecedents of brand engagement.
Some possible causes of children's early word overextensions

ABSTRACT One child's lexical development was followed from 1; 1 to 1; 7 to look for possible causes of early word overextensions. Lexical acquisition was observed for comprehension and production through the use of a parental diary and systematic language sampling. In addition, 16 nonsense words were taught in 10 experimental sessions over a two-month period to control for phonological effects. The results isolated six distinct factors behind early word overextensions. It is concluded that overextensions should not constitute the primary data for the construction of theories of semantic acquisition.
Glutathionylation of human thioredoxin: A possible crosstalk between the glutathione and thioredoxin systems

To identify proteins undergoing glutathionylation (formation of protein-glutathione mixed disulfides) in human T cell blasts, we radiolabeled the glutathione pool with 35S, exposed cells to the oxidant diamide, and analyzed cellular proteins by two-dimensional electrophoresis. One of the proteins undergoing glutathionylation was identified by molecular weight, isoelectric point, and immunoblotting as thioredoxin (Trx). Incubation of recombinant human Trx with glutathione disulfide or S-nitrosoglutathione led to the formation of glutathionylated Trx, identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The glutathionylation site was identified as Cys-72. Glutathionylation of rhTrx abolished its enzymatic activity as insulin disulfide reductase in the presence of NADPH and Trx reductase. Activity was, however, regained with sigmoidal kinetics, indicating a process of autoactivation due to the ability of Trx to de-glutathionylate itself. These data suggest that the intracellular glutathione/glutathione disulfide ratio, an indicator of the redox state of the cell, can regulate Trx functions reversibly through thiol-disulfide exchange reactions.
Curcumin Protects Rat Myocardium Against Isoproterenol-Induced Ischemic Injury: Attenuation of Ventricular Dysfunction Through Increased Expression of Hsp27 Alongwith Strengthening Antioxidant Defense System

This investigation examines the role of heat shock protein (Hsp) 27 and its modulation by curcumin in isoproterenol-induced myocardial ischemic injury in rats. Evidence from hemodynamic functions and oxidative stress parameters were also included in the study. The animals were divided into control, isoproterenol, and curcumin 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg treatment groups. Curcumin was administered orally for 15 days to all the treated groups. On 13th and 14th day, isoproterenol (85 mg/kg, s.c.) was injected to curcumin-treated and isoproterenol group. On day 15, hemodynamic parameters were recorded. Thereafter, animals were sacrificed and hearts were kept for biochemical and Western blot analysis. We found dose-dependent increase in the expression of Hsp27 with drastic fall at highest dose. Hemodynamically, the lower 2 doses also restored the cardiac function as evident by improved contractile functions, decreased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, restored arterial pressures, and heart rate. In addition, there was an increase in then level of superoxide dismutase, catalase, reduced glutathione, and decreased production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and leakage of cardiac necroenzyme creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme and lactate dehydrogenase in curcumin 100 and 200 mg/kg group as compared with isoproterenol. However, at a dose of 400 mg/kg, there was ineffectual protection against isoproterenol-induced myocardial damage. Our results suggested 200 mg/mg as the most optimum therapeutic dose showing improved cardiac function due to stabilization of cytoskeleton structure which in turn is attributed to Hsp27 expression along with fortified antioxidant defense system.
Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms - a consensus statement

Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a common condition that may be lethal when it is unrecognized. Current guidelines suggest repair as the aneurysm diameter reaches 5.0 to 5.5 cm. Most aortic aneurysms are detected incidentally when imaging is done for other purposes or through screening programs. Ninety percent of these aneurysms are below the threshold for intervention at the time of detection. A number of studies have sought to determine factors that lead to progression of aneurysmal disease that might be amenable to intervention during this period of observation. We review these studies and make recommendations for the medical management of small abdominal aortic aneurysms. On the basis of our current knowledge of the causes of aneurysm, a number of approaches have been proposed to prevent progression of aneurysmal disease. These include hemodynamic management, inhibition of inflammation, and protease inhibition. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association clinical practice guidelines rules of evidence have helped to define strength of evidence to support these approaches. Level A evidence (from large randomized trials) is available to indicate that observation of small aneurysms in men is safe up to a size of 5.5 cm and that propranolol does not inhibit aneurysm expansion. Level B evidence (from small randomized trials) suggests that roxithromycin or doxycycline will decrease the rate of aneurysm expansion. A number of studies agree that tobacco use is associated with an increased rate of aneurysm expansion. Level B and C evidence is available to suggest that 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) may inhibit aneurysm expansion. There are animal data but no human data demonstrating that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or losartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker, will decrease the rate of AAA expansion. A pharmacological agent without important side effects that inhibited aneurysm expansion could change current approaches to aneurysm treatment. Additional studies are needed to clarify the potential role of doxycycline, roxithromycin, and statin therapy in the progression of aneurysmal disease. (Circulation. 2008;117:1883-1889.)
Attributes of Service Quality: The Consumers′ Perspective

Examines the assessment of service quality as perceived by consumers. Identifies and ranks the attributes for good and poor quality of five selected types of services. The five types of services considered in this study are physician service, retail banking, auto maintenance, college/university, and fast food. The findings indicate that consumers have well‐conceived ideas about service quality, and that certain quality attributes are considered important for most types of services. Interestingly, finds that some attributes seem to have effects similar to Herzberg′s hygiene factors, i.e. the absence of certain attributes may lead consumers to perceive service quality as poor. However, the presence of these attributes may not substantially improve the perceived quality of the service. Also suggests that most customers would be willing to trade some convenience for a price break, and that the behaviour, skill level and performance of service employees are key determinants of perceived quality of services. Th.
Effect of levodopa treatment on contrast sensitivity in Parkinson's disease

We studies contrast sensitivity function in 10 parkinsonian patients before and after levodopa treatment. Pretreatment contrast sensitivity function was abnormal in 16 of the 20 eyes. After treatment, only high‐frequency loss was observed in 6 eyes. All other types of deficit disappeared under treatment. These changes of contrast sensitivity function following treatment suggest that dopamine is functional transmitter in the visual pathways.
eOPA1: An online database for OPA1 mutations

Autosomal dominant optic atrophy (ADOA), also known as Kjer disease, is characterized by moderate to severe loss of visual acuity with an insidious onset in early childhood, blue‐yellow dyschromatopsia, and central scotoma. An optic atrophy gene, called OPA1, has been identified in most cases of the disease. A total of 83 OPA1 mutations, often family‐specific, have been reported so far, and the observations support the hypothesis that haploinsufficiency and the functional loss of a single allele may lead to ADOA. We have developed a new locus‐specific database (LSDB), eOPA1 (http://lbbma.univ‐angers.fr/eOPA1/) aimed at collecting published and unpublished sequence variations in OPA1. The database has been designed to incorporate new submissions rapidly and will provide a secured online catalog of OPA1 mutations and nonpathogenic sequence variants (NPSVs). The LSDB should prove useful for molecular diagnosis, large‐scale mutation statistics, and the determination of original genotype–phenotype correlations in studies on ADOA. Hum Mutat 25:423–428, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Use of Placental Growth Factor and Uterine Artery Doppler Pulsatility Index in Pregnancies Involving Intrauterine Fetal Growth Restriction or Preeclampsia to Predict Perinatal Outcomes

Aim: The potential of uterine artery (UA) Doppler pulsatility index (PI) and maternal serum placental growth factor (PlGF) level to predict perinatal outcome was explored in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR) or preeclampsia (PE). Methods: This longitudinal, prospective, and case-controlled study was conducted over a period of 24 months. At-risk pregnancies involving small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetuses, IUGR, gestational hypertension (GH), or PE were investigated, analyzing UA Doppler PI findings and maternal PlGF levels determined at the time of diagnosis (third trimester). Results: UA Doppler PI and maternal serum PlGF values differed significantly in pregnancies complicated by IUGR and/or PE (vs. SGA or GH, p < 0.01). In the context of IUGR or PE, both parameters also differed significantly by perinatal outcome (adverse vs. normal, p < 0.01), although no predictive advantage over UA Doppler PI alone was conferred by adding a PlGF assay. Conclusion: UA Doppler PI and maternal serum PlGF determinations in the third trimester help identify pregnancies at the highest risk of adverse perinatal outcomes due to IUGR and/or PE. Although joint testing confers no predictive benefit over UA Doppler PI alone, the two diagnostics are interchangeable for this purpose.
Personalising vibrotactile displays through perceptual sensitivity adjustment

Haptic displays are commonly limited to transmitting a discrete set of tactile motives. In this paper, we explore the transmission of real-valued information through vibrotactile displays. We simulate spatial continuity with three perceptual models commonly used to create phantom sensations: the linear, logarithmic and power model. We show that these generic models lead to limited decoding precision, and propose a method for model personalization adjusting to idiosyncratic and spatial variations in perceptual sensitivity. We evaluate this approach using two haptic display layouts: circular, worn around the wrist and the upper arm, and straight, worn along the forearm. Results of a user study measuring continuous value decoding precision show that users were able to decode continuous values with relatively high accuracy (4.4% mean error), circular layouts performed particularly well, and personalisation through sensitivity adjustment increased decoding precision.
60-GHz Retrodirective Array System with Efficient Power Management

In this paper, a 60-GHz retrodirective array system is proposed with an efficient power management. The system consists of three sections; a retrodirective array, a local oscillator (LO), and a power management. For efficient battery operation of the retrodirective array, the power management circuit controls the power of the LO by way of a rectenna technology. While there is no interrogating signal, it is initially in a sleeping mode where the system is off with extremely low power. When it is interrogated by an RF signal, the system is awaken and starts consuming full power. The proposed idea is experimentally demonstrated. When the received power density is larger than 0.013 mW/cm 2, the system turns on and starts working as a retrodirective array
Investor Sentiment Measures

This paper compares investor sentiment measures based on consumer confidence surveys with measures extracted from the closed-end fund discount (CEFD). Our evidence suggests that these two kinds of sentiment measures do not correlate well with one another. For a short 2 - 4 year period in which we have direct investor sentiment survey data from UBS/Gallup, only the consumer confidence correlates well with investor sentiment. Further, only the consumer confidence based measure can robustly explain the small-firm return spread and the return spread between stocks held disproportionately by retail investors and those held by institutional investors. Surprisingly, there is even a hint that the consumer confidence measure can explain closed-end fund IPO activity, while the CEFD cannot. In sum, our evidence supports the view that sentiment plays a role in financial markets, but that the CEFD may be the wrong measure of sentiment.
Notes on Amanita section Caesareae from Malaysia

ABSTRACT Some Amanita specimens collected from Malaysia are critically investigated by morphological examination and molecular analysis of two gene fragments, the nuc rDNA partial 28S (28S) gene and the internal transcriber spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) regions. Six phylogenetic species of Amanita section Caesareae are recognized among the studied collections. One of them is described as new, A. malayensis. Four of the phylogenetic species correspond with existing morphology-based taxa: A. aporema, A. javanica, A. princeps, and A. similis. The remaining species is not described because of the paucity of material. Detailed descriptions and the distribution of these southeastern Asian species are provided, along with a key to the species of section Caesareae from Malaysia.
Using design patterns for design of software environment for researches in genetic algorithms

Genetic algorithms are known as common and robust optimization concept. One of their main disadvantages is the lack of theoretical and practical research results. We are going to introduce the program environment "GA Workshop" project that has convenient tools for research purposes. This software is designed with the use of design patterns approach, which guarantees further extendibility, flexibility and scalability of the introduced program product. This software is distributed free with its source codes for research and education centers.
VISITING THAILAND: INVESTIGATING CHOICE CRITERIA AMONG TOURISTS FROM CHINA

Tourism generates high levels of revenue and is a major source of foreign exchange for Thailand. China is considered a large and attractive market, with visitors from China being the third most numerous annually, behind Malaysia and Japan. Survey research was conducted to explore choice criteria among leisure tourists from China to identify drivers and inhibitors to choice, as well as to identify what other countries were in their consideration set and whether they traveled to more than one country on their trip. Findings are discussed, as well as directions for future research.
CHREBROVASCULAR CHANGES IN TOCOPHEROLDEPLETED CHICKS, FED LINOLEIC ACID

Chicks on an encephalomalacia-inducing diet (EID), lacking in tocopherol and augmented with linoleic acid, exhibit the following triad of fluorescence, light and electron microscopic changes, selectively affecting the endothelium of brain capillaries: 1) development of a gradually intensifying fluorescence, 2) increased deposition of acid phosphatase reaction products, 3) accumulation of electron-dense structures within the endothelial eytoplasm. These changes develop contemporaneously and coincide morphologically. The alterations precede the onset of pathologic lesions. They represent metabolic disturbances induced in cerebral endothelium by feeding the EID. Excessive ingestion of linoleic acid without antioxidant coverage could lead to peroxidative damage and degradation of subcellular constituents. Possibly the alterations reflect an early stage of ceroid formation associated with activation of endothelial lysosomes. The vascular changes may be a determining factor in the pathogenesis of nutritional encephalomalacia.
Molecular dynamics simulation reveals a surface salt bridge forming a kinetic trap in unfolding of truncated Staphylococcal nuclease

Surface salt bridges are ubiquitous in globular proteins. Their contribution to protein stability has been extensively debated in the past decade. Here, molecular dynamics simulations are performed starting from a non‐equilibrium state of Staphylococcal nuclease (SNase) with C‐terminal truncation (SNaseΔ). The results indicate a key role in the unfolding of the surface salt bridge between arginine 105 and glutamate 135. Experimentally, SNaseΔ is known to be partially unfolded. However, in simulations over 1 ns at 300 K and over 500 ps at 400 K, SNaseΔ remains stable in the native‐like folded conformation, the salt bridge hindering unfolding. When the potential function is altered so as to selectively weaken the salt bridge, which then breaks rapidly at 430 K, the protein starts to unfold. The results suggest that breaking of this salt bridge presents a significant barrier to the unfolding transition of SNaseΔ from a native‐like state to the unfolded state. Potential of mean force calculations indicate that the barrier height for this transition is ∼7 kcal/mol. Proteins 2003;50:507–515. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.