Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An efficient strategy for enhancing traffic capacity by removing links in scale-free networks

An efficient link-removal strategy, called the variance-of-neighbor-degree-reduction (VNDR) strategy, for enhancing the traffic capacity of scale-free networks is proposed in this paper. The VNDR strategy, which considers the important role of hub nodes, balances the amounts of packets routed from each node to the node’s neighbors. Compared against the outcomes of strategies that remove links among hub nodes, our results show that the traffic capacity can be greatly enhanced, especially under the shortest path routing strategy. It is also found that the average transport time is effectively reduced by using the VNDR strategy only under the shortest path routing strategy.
The relationship between firm characteristic variables and stock returns: An empirical study based on principal component analysis

A large number of empirical studies show that the firm characteristic variables, including the firm size, book to market ratio (B/M), momentum and etc., they have a certain correlation with future stock returns. However, the information contained in many stock feature variables is too complicated, there is a linear correlation between them, leading to overlapping problems of the information. So in the study of stock returns, how to avoid information overlapping is worth studying. Based on this starting point, this paper uses principal component analysis method to extract new principal component variables from many variables that reflect the characteristics of stocks, and then use the new variables combined with Fama-Macbethe regression to predict future stock returns. It is of great theoretical and practical significance for the investors to make full use of the real-time information of the stock market, to effectively create the investment strategy and master the law of the securities market.
Corneal Melt in Rheumatic Disorders: Effect of Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs on Morbidity

Objective:The objective of this study was to review the characteristics of patients with corneal melt and to assess if treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) improved the visual outcome. Method:We did a retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with corneal melt between 1976 and 2002. Twenty-one patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 5 patients with primary Sjögren syndrome (26 patients, 42 eyes) were included in the analysis of visual outcome. Visual outcome was described as “fair” if the corrected visual acuity was 20/200 or better and as “poor” if the corrected visual acuity was worse than 20/200. Results:Visual outcome was fair in 9 patients (90%) in the DMARD group versus 2 patients (13%) in the no DMARD group (P= 0.001), and in 14 eyes (93%) in the DMARD group versus 7 eyes (26%) in the no DMARD group (P = 0.001). Conclusion:The use of DMARDs improves visual outcome in patients with corneal melt.
Origin and evolution of gnathostome dentitions: a question of teeth and pharyngeal denticles in placoderms

The fossil group Placodermi is the most phylogenetically basal of the clade of jawed vertebrates but lacks a marginal dentition comparable to that of the dentate Chondrichthyes, Acanthodii and Osteichthyes (crown‐group Gnathostomata). The teeth of crown‐group gnathostomes are part of an ordered dentition replaced from, and patterned by, a dental lamina, exemplified by the elasmobranch model. A dentition recognised by these criteria has been previously judged absent in placoderms, based on structural evidence such as absence of tooth whorls and typical vertebrate dentine.
Long-term results of the amplatzer cribriform occluder for patent foramen ovale with associated atrial septal aneurysm: impact on occlusion rate and left atrial functional remodelling.

BACKGROUND Treatment of patients with concomitant patent foramen ovale (PFO) and atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) poses a number of challenges; while some authors have suggested the off-label use of the Amplatzer Cribriform Occluder in such anatomy, the long-term outcomes of this strategy is unknown. Our study aimed to assess the long-term impact on closure rate, left atrial functional remodelling, and clinical outcomes of off-label implantation of Amplatzer ASD Cribriform Occluder in patients with PFO and ASA. METHODS We prospectively enrolled 160 consecutive patients with previous stroke (mean age 36 ± 9.5 years, 109 females), significant PFO and ASA. All patients were treated with Amplatzer Cribriform Occluder to ensure the most complete possible coverage of the ASA. Residual shunt and LA passive and active emptying, LA conduit function, and LA ejection fraction were computed before and after 6 months from the procedure and then yearly. All patients underwent successful transcatheter closure (mean ratio device/diameter of interatrial septum = 0.74). RESULTS Incomplete ASA coverage during intraprocedural intracardiac echocardiography was observed in 71 patients. During mean follow-up of 3.6 ± 1.8 years, when compared to patients with complete coverage, there were no differences in LA functional parameters and complete occlusion achieved in 150/160 patients (93.7%). No new cerebral ischemic events, aortic erosions or device thrombosis were recorded during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS THE USE OF THE AMPLATZER ASD CRIBRIFORM TO TREAT PFO AND ASSOCIATED ASA SEEMS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE: relatively small Occluder devices are probably effective enough to promote left atrial functional remodelling.
Regulation, Market Structure, Risk and Bank Profitability in the Emerging Countries during the Subprime Crisis

The aim of this paper is to study the effect of the regulatory and institutional environment on banking behavior using a panel of conventional banks in 10 emerging countries over the period 2007-2012. To this end, we adopt a simultaneous equations model to capture the dynamic adjustments of banking behavior and efficiency. The results indicate that there is a negative and significant impact of institutional quality on equity and risk. However, we find a positive and significant impact of the institutional environment on banking efficiency indicating the effectiveness of equity regulation insofar as it helped to increase the strength and stability of the international banking system. The imposition of regulatory requirements reduces credit risk and highlights the importance of market discipline as a crucial element in implementing effective regulation and supervision strategies.
On practical machine learning and data analysis

This thesis discusses and addresses some of the difficulties associated with practical machine learning and data analysis. Introducing data driven methods in e.g industrial and business applications can lead to large gains in productivity and efficiency, but the cost and complexity are often overwhelming. Creating machine learning applications in practise often involves a large amount of manual labour, which often needs to be performed by an experienced analyst without significant experience with the application area. We will here discuss some of the hurdles faced in a typical analysis project and suggest measures and methods to simplify the process. One of the most important issues when applying machine learning methods to complex data, such as e.g. industrial applications, is that the processes generating the data are modelled in an appropriate way. Relevant aspects have to be formalised and represented in a way that allow us to perform our calculations in an efficient manner. We present a statistical modelling framework, Hierarchical Graph Mixtures, based on a combination of graphical models and mixture models. It allows us to create consistent, expressive statistical models that simplify the modelling of complex systems. Using a Bayesian approach, we allow for encoding of prior knowledge and make the models applicable in situations when relatively little data are available. Detecting structures in data, such as clusters and dependency structure, is very important both for understanding an application area and for specifying the structure of e.g. a hierarchical graph mixture. We will discuss how this structure can be extracted for sequential data. By using the inherent dependency structure of sequential data we construct an information theoretical measure of correlation that does not suffer from the problems most common correlation measures have with this type of data. In many diagnosis situations it is desirable to perform a classification in an iterative and interactive manner. The matter is often complicated by very limited amounts of knowledge and examples when a new system to be diagnosed is initially brought into use. We describe how to create an incremental classification system based on a statistical model that is trained from empirical data, and show how the limited available background information can still be used initially for a functioning diagnosis system. To minimise the effort with which results are achieved within data analysis projects, we need to address not only the models used, but also the methodology and applications that can help simplify the process. We present a methodology for data preparation and a software library intended for rapid analysis, prototyping, and deployment. Finally, we will study a few example applications, presenting tasks within classification, prediction and anomaly detection. The examples include demand prediction for supply chain management, approximating complex simulators for increased speed in parameter optimisation, and fraud detection and classification within a media-on-demand system.
Nauta OTA in a second-order continuous-time delta-sigma modulator

This paper discusses and shows the use of Nauta operational transconductance amplifiers as integrator elements in a second-order continuous-time delta-sigma ADC. The structure is studied in order to take advantage of its potentially high bandwidth operation and simple inverter-based structure for wide output voltage range in current and future CMOS process. The second-order continuous-time delta sigma modulator circuit is implemented in CMOS 65nm, with simulation results showing that 63.29-dB SFDR, and an SNDR of 58.11-dB or 9.36 effective number of bits are achieved, with a signal bandwidth of 8 MHz and sampling frequency of 1.024 GHz. Challenges related to implementation issues and their trade-off are discussed.
Evaluation of Two New Immunochromatographic Assays (Rapid U Legionella Antigen Test and SD Bioline Legionella Antigen Test) for Detection of Legionella pneumophila Serogroup 1 Antigen in Urine

ABSTRACT We evaluated two new immunochromatographic assays for their abilities to detect Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen in urine. The results were compared with those obtained by the Binax NOW urinary antigen test. The sensitivities and specificities were estimated to be 71.2% and 96.6%, respectively, for the Rapid U test; 31.5% and 98.9%, respectively, for the SD Bioline test; and 91.8% and 100%, respectively, for the Binax NOW test.
Macular Symmetry Testing For Glaucoma Detection

To evaluate structural asymmetry in the macula using optical coherence tomography (OCT) in glaucomatous eyes with visual field defects localized to one hemifield. Methods:Complete examination, standard automated perimetry (SAP), and OCT imaging (512 A-scans) of the peripapillary retina and macula were performed. Exclusion criteria were visual acuity <20/40, diseases other than glaucoma, and SAP defects localized to both hemifields. Macular OCT images were obtained using four 5-mm radial scans centered on the foveola and passing obliquely through the macula (15° superotemporally and inferotemporally). Macular measurements temporal to the fovea (T) were sub-divided into nasal (T1) and temporal (T2) segments. Macular symmetry testing (MST) was performed in T, T1, and T2 segments by comparing the mean macular thickness of the perimetrically abnormal and perimetrically normal hemi-zones (macular thickness in perimetrically normal hemi-zone/macular thickness in perimetrically abnormal hemi-zone × 100), and superior and inferior hemi-zones in normal subjects (macular thickness in superior hemi-zone/macular thickness in inferior hemi-zone × 100). MST measurements were considered to be abnormal if they exceeded the 95% limits of normal variability. Results:Forty eyes of 40 patients (20 normal, 20 glaucoma) were enrolled (mean age 60 ± 19 years, range 21-89). All eyes with glaucoma had associated hemifield defect (average MD = −7.23 ± 4.8 dB, range −0.9 to −15.4). In glaucomatous eyes, mean retinal thickness in T, T1, and T2 within the perimetrically abnormal hemi-zone (222 ± 14 μm, 224± 17 μm, 221 ±13 μm, respectively) was significantly less (P = 0.002, 0.008, 0.001, respectively) than the corresponding segments in the perimetrically normal hemi-zone (235 ± 17 μm, 237 ± 18 μm, 233 ± 17 μm, respectively). Normal eyes showed no difference (P = 0.17, 0.20, 0.35) in T, T1, and T2 measurements within the superior hemi-zone (254 ± 11, 249 ± 14, 258 ± 14) and inferior hemi-zone (252 ± 11, 250 ± 13, 255 ± 13), respectively. MST values in glaucomatous eyes were outside 95% limits of normal variability in 17/20 (85%) T segments, 16 /20 (80%) T1 segments, and 16/20 (80%) T2 segments. Conclusion:Localized macular thickness changes exist in glaucomatous eyes with regional visual field loss. The MST may represent a novel strategy for glaucoma diagnosis.
Fuzzy Variable Structure Sliding-mode Control for Space Manipulator to Track Desired Trajectory in Joint Space

In this paper, the kinematics and dynamics of free-floating space manipulator systems are analyzed. By use the method of multibody dynamics, the dynamics equations of spare manipulator are established. Based on the result, the control problem for space manipulator to track the desired trajectory in joint workspace is discussed. Because of the high structure complexity and the parameter uncertainty of space manipulator systems, the scheme of variable structure sliding-mode control with better robustness to uncertainty and disturbance is proposed. Fuzzy controllers are designed at the aim of chattering reduction and rapid response. The fuzzy controllers can tune the sliding control law parameters automatically according to the relationship between system state and switching manifold. The effect of the controller is testified by computer simulation.
Effects of temperature on isotopic enrichment in Daphnia magna: implications for aquatic food-web studies.

Laboratory experiments were conducted with Daphnia magna and Hyalella sp. grown on a single food source of known isotopic composition at a range of temperatures spanning the physiological optima for each species. Daphnia raised at 26.5 degrees C were enriched in delta(13)C and delta(15)N by 3.1 and 2.8 per thousand, respectively, relative to diet. Daphnia raised at 12.8 degrees C were enriched 1.7 and 5.0 per thousand in delta(13)C and delta(15)N, respectively. Results imply a significant negative relationship between the delta(13)C and delta(15)N of primary consumers when a temperature gradient exists. Similar responses were observed for Hyalella. Results indicate a general increase in delta(13)C enrichment and decrease in delta(15)N enrichment as temperature rises. Deviations from the commonly applied isotopic enrichment values used in aquatic ecology were attributed to changes in temperature-mediated physiological rates. Field data from a variety of sources also showed a general trend toward delta(13)C enrichment with increasing temperature in marine and lacustrine zooplankton. Multivariate regression models demonstrated that, in oligotrophic and mesotrophic lakes, zooplankton delta(13)C was related to lake-specific POM delta(13)C, lake surface temperature and latitude. Temperature-dependent isotopic separation (enrichment) between predator and prey should be taken into consideration when interpreting the significance of isotopic differences within and among aquatic organisms and ecosystems, and when assigning organisms to food-web positions on the basis of observed isotope values.
The Institute of Medicine resident work hours recommendations: a program director's viewpoint.

Over the past several decades, the practice of medicine has changed dramatically. Hospitalized patients are sicker. The number of medication choices is larger. The pressure to discharge patients quickly is more intense. Despite these changes, the way in which we train residents has remained largely the same. The number of residents and the length of residency training have not changed significantly. Until recently, the hours remained quite long.
On the feasibility of a user-operated mobile content distribution network

The vast majority of mobile data transfers today follow the traditional client-server model. Although in the fixed network P2P approaches have been exploited and shown to be very efficient, in the mobile domain there has been limited attempt to leverage on P2P (D2D) for large-scale content distribution (i.e., not DTN-like, point-to-point message transfers). In this paper, we explore the potential of a user-operated, smartphone-centric content distribution model for smartphone applications. In particular, we assume source nodes that are updated directly from the content provider (e.g., BBC, CNN), whenever updates are available; destination nodes are then directly updated by source nodes in a D2D manner. We leverage on sophisticated information-aware and application-centric connectivity techniques to distribute content between mobile devices in densely-populated urban environments. Our target is to investigate the feasibility of an opportunistic content distribution network in an attempt to achieve widespread distribution of heavy content (e.g., video files) to the majority of the destination nodes. We propose ubiCDN as a ubiquitous, user-operated and distributed CDN for mobile applications.
Efficacy of Ampicillin plus Arbekacin in Experimental Rabbit Endocarditis Caused by an Enterococcus faecalis Strain with High-Level Gentamicin Resistance

ABSTRACT Enterococcus faecalis LC40 is an ampicillin-susceptible clinical isolate with high-level gentamicin resistance due to theaac(6′)-Ie-aph(2")-Ia aminoglycoside resistance gene. The combination of ampicillin plus arbekacin reduced mean bacterial vegetation counts significantly more than ampicillin alone or ampicillin plus gentamicin in a rabbit model of aortic-valve endocarditis caused by E. faecalis LC40.
High prevalence of symptomatic acute HIV infection in an outpatient ward in southern Mozambique: identification and follow-up

Objectives:To determine the prevalence of acute HIV infection (AHI) within the HIV-seronegative adult population presenting with reported fever in a district hospital in southern Mozambique and evaluate clinical, immunological and virological parameters of AHI. Design:This is a prospective observational study. Methods:Three hundred and forty-six adults presenting with reported fever at an outpatient ward at the Manhiça District Hospital in Mozambique were screened for AHI by HIV rapid serology testing, followed by HIV-RNA testing in HIV-seronegative individuals. Plasma from HIV-seronegative patients was pooled in the ratio of 1: 5 for HIV-RNA testing. Whole blood was used for Plasmodium falciparum rapid test determination at screening visit. Follow-up visits at day 7, 4 and 10 months included clinical examination, HIV serotesting and assessment of HIV-RNA, CD4 cell counts and percentage of activated CD8 T cells. Results:HIV serotesting revealed that 37.8% (95% confidence interval 32.7–43.2) of the adults had previously undiagnosed established HIV infection. Among the HIV-seronegative patients, 3.3% (95% confidence interval 1.3–6.7) were found to have AHI as demonstrated by positive HIV-1 RNA testing. Median HIV-1 RNA levels at diagnosis of AHI were 6.21 log10 copies/ml (interquartile range 5.92–6.41) and significantly higher than median HIV-RNA load at 4 months. At day 7 after screening, patients showed a median CD4 cell count of 384 cells/μl (interquartile range 239–441) and a median percentage of activated CD8 T cells of 68.4% (interquartile range 59.6–87.8). Conclusion:Of patients reporting with fever, 3.3% were shown to be potentially due to AHI. High prevalence of AHI in southern African populations may warrant investigation of tools and target populations for AHI screening as a novel way to address HIV prevention.
An empirical study on market knowledge competence, marketing capabilities, and organizational performance

Based on the review of the relevant researches in the field of market knowledge, this paper analyzed theories of market knowledge competence and summarized the structure of the market knowledge competence firstly. It puts forward that market knowledge competence is made up of three aspects: customer knowledge management capability, competitor knowledge management capability, and interior knowledge integration capability. Secondly, this study analyzed the relationship between market knowledge competence and organizational performance, and developed a theoretical model. Furthermore, this paper made an empirical investigation to test the model. The result shows, customer knowledge management capability and competitor knowledge management capability are positively related to interior knowledge integration capability, and the market knowledge competence has a positive effect on marketing capabilities. As a result, marketing capabilities plays a moderate role in the relationship between market knowledge competence and organizational performance.
Damage identification of bridges from vibration frequencies

This paper outlines research aimed at developing an effective and reliable monitoring method for structural damage identification. A computational procedure for the direct iteration technique based on the non-linear perturbation theory is proposed to identify structural damage, when information about only natural frequencies for the damaged structure is required. The presented damage identification technique is applied to six concrete girder bridges of different ages in Croatia. It is found that the proposed approach is quite sensitive to the quality of measured natural frequencies for structural damage identification due to the ill-conditioned system of governing equations.
The role of electron heat conductivity and radiation transport in 1D simulations of wire explosions in Zebra experiments

Experiments at the Zebra facility at the University of Nevada, Reno, have been conducted to study the behavior of thick metal wires at ultrahigh magnetic fields. Currents of about 1 MA with 100 ns rise time were passed through 0.5 mm to 2 mm diameter aluminum wires. A number of diagnostic techniques used in the experiments provided data on radial expansion of wires and radiation of dense plasma formed on their surface by electrical explosion. The experiments have demonstrated that wires remain rather uniform lengthwise and can therefore be simulated numerically using 1D simulations. This paper considers the influence of radiation and heat conductivity on plasma formation processes. The simulations have shown that both processes - electron heat conductivity and radiation transport - should absolutely necessarily be taken into account for adequate description of plasma formation and wire dynamics in the experiments. Along with this, processes of electron heat conductivity magnetizing in the low-density plasma region have a minor effect on plasma formation processes and profiles of different quantities, and can therefore be ignored. It is also shown that variation of radiation transport factors by an order of magnitude weakly affects simulation results; and one can therefore expect that 1D simulations can adequately describe the experiments despite the existing uncertainty in transport factors.