Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Integrating Behavioral Models in Network Operations

The main goal of the study was to integrate demand models into weather-responsive network traffic estimation and prediction system methodologies. The study examined the behavioral responses of travelers along several dimensions in response to weather-related transportation management strategies in conjunction with active travel demand management strategies before and during severe weather events. Specific management interventions included pretrip, information-based mode, and departure time choice adjustments, as well as policy-based rescheduling of school hours. The paper presents a case study of the Chicago, Illinois, area network under snow conditions to assess the effect of a combination of demand management strategies to maintain the same level of network performance as under clear weather conditions. A combination of earlier dissemination of information and school-opening policy resulted in a similar level of network performance maintained under a median snow day as compared with a clear weather day. The paper presents integrated supply and demand models for simulation and an assessment of demand management strategies in conjunction with weather-related congestion.
Phenotypic correlation between productivity traits in the Lithuanian dairy cattle breeds.

The aim of the work was to perform a research of phenotypic correlations between milk production and composition traits in Lithuanian dairy cattle breeds according to the data of all controlled cows (n = 1,489,264) during the period 2003–2012. The analysis showed strong positive, statistically significant correlations in all analyzed breeds between milk kg and fat kg correlations ranged from r = 0.915 in Lithuanian White-backed to r = 0.948 (p < 0.001) in Lithuanian Ash-grey controlled cows, and between milk kg and protein kg correlations ranged from r = 0.969 in Lithuanian White-backed to r = 0.984 (p < 0.001) in Lithuanian Red, and between fat kg and protein kg correlations ranged from r = 0.928 in Lithuanian Black-and-White to r = 0.949 (p < 0.001) in Lithuanian Ash-grey controlled cows. Low positive, statistically significant correlations in all analyzed breeds were estimated between fat and protein percentages. Correlations ranged from r = 0.256 in Lithuanian Black-and-White to r = 0.353 (p < 0.001) in Lithuanian Ashgrey controlled cows. Also low positive, statistically significant correlations in all analyzed breeds were estimated between milk kg and protein percentages, r = 0.020 (p < 0.01) in Lithuanian Red and r = 0.042 (p < 0.001) in Lithuanian Black-and-White controlled cows.
Avaliação in vivo da confiabilidade do localizador eletrônico Bingo na determinação do comprimento de trabalho, em situações de polpa vital e necrosada.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar in vivo, a confiabilidade do localizador eletronico Bingo, na determinacao do comprimento de trabalho, em situacoes de polpa vital e necrosada. Foram realizadas 56 afericoes eletronicas em pacientes entre 15 e 65 anos de idade, em tratamento na Disciplina de Endodontia da Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA – Canoas/RS). Dos dentes estudados, 25 possuiam canais com polpas vitais e 31, com polpa necrosada. Apos isolamento absoluto e abertura coronaria, estando a alca labial devidamente posicionada, introduziu-se, no interior do canal radicular, uma lima endodontica de 25 ou 31 mm conectada a um dos polos do aparelho, de diâmetro compativel com a anatomia do terco apical. Quando o visor do localizador eletronico acusava estar a ponta do instrumento a 1mm da saida foraminal, os dentes foram radiografados. Com o auxilio de uma lupa, regua milimetrada e negatoscopio, foi mensurada, na radiografia, a distância entre a ponta do instrumento e o vertice radiografico. Medidas compreendidas entre 0,5mm e 1,5mm foram consideradas confiaveis. Os resultados obtidos mostraram indice de confiabilidade de 92% para dentes com polpa viva e 83,87% para dentes com polpa mortificada. O localizador apical Bingo constitui-se em um excelente recurso auxiliar na odontometria, quando corretamente empregado. UNITERMOS: odontometria; canal radicular; endodontia. SUMMARY The aim of this study was to determine, in vivo, the ability of Bingo electronic apex locator to determine root length in vital and non vital teeth. For this purpose, 56 measurements were proceeded in patients aging 15 to 65 years, undergoing treatment at the Endodontics Discipline of the Brazilian Lutheran University (ULBRA – Canoas/RS). The teeth comprised of 25 vital pulp root canals and 31 with necrotic pulps. Following rubber dam placement and access cavity, with the liphook adequately positioned, a # 25 to 31 K-file, connected to the Bingo device was placed within the root canal. The file diameter was compatible to the canal at the root apex. When the screen would denote the file to be 1mm short of the apex, radiographs were taken. With the help of magnifying lenses and a ruler, the distance between the tip of the instrument and the radiographic vertex was measured. Values between 0.5 and 1.5mm were considered adequate. The results showed 92% of measurements within the adequate limits in teeth with vital pulps and 83.87% in cases of necrotic pulps. Bingo apex locator was considered an axcelent means to help root length determination, when used adequately. UNITERMS: root length; root canal; endodontics.
A collagen-GAG matrix for the growth of intervertebral disc tissue

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration and herniation is a significant problem, more so in the aviation field. The IVD also changes during spaceflight. Current treatments for IVD problems can have unfavorable long-term consequences. This thesis investigated a porous, biodegradable collagen-glycosaminoglycan (CG) matrix for the growth of IVD annulus fibrosus (AF) tissue in vitro in varied culture environments and in an in vivo experiment as an implant for defects in the AF. Five experiments were performed. The first component involved the manufacture and characterization of the CG matrices used in the other studies. Additionally, type I, type II, and 50/50 type I/I CG matrices were made with nearly equal pore diameters, glycosaminoglycan content, and swelling ratios. Second, the capability of intervertebral disc cells to grow into the matrices was assessed by culturing AF explants on top of or between matrices. Cells were able to migrate up to 1 cm from the explant, implying that AF defects of this size could be filled with CG matrices. In the third experiment, explants and explant-matrix constructs were cultured in a rotating-wall bioreactor designed to simulate microgravity. Static culture served as a control. Bioreactor explants were more hydrated and had greater cellular proliferation. This experiment could serve as the ground control for a spaceflight experiment of AF explants. The fourth research component studied the effect of collagen composition on the proliferative and biosynthetic responses of AF cells seeded into CG matrices. Collagen content was varied by using the type I, type II, and type I/II CG matrices with matched characteristics mentioned above. Although the results indicated that the type II matrix performed slightly better, no major differences were seen among the matrix types. The fifth investigation was a canine in vivo study to assess the capability of the CG matrix constructs to aid in regeneration of AF tissue in surgically-created defects. No treatment was compared with implantation of unseeded and cellseeded CG matrices. More tissue grew and more consistent hypercellularity was observed in defects with matrix implantation. From this research it has been shown that the matrix has potential for improving wound healing in the IVD. Thesis Supervisor: Myron Spector, Ph.D. Title: Professor of Orthopedic Surgery (Biomaterials)
Fluorescence Image Histology Pattern Transformation Using Image Style Transfer

Confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) allow on-the-fly in vivo intraoperative imaging in a discreet field of view, especially for brain tumors, rather than extracting tissue for examination ex vivo with conventional light microscopy. Fluorescein sodium-driven CLE imaging is more interactive, rapid, and portable than conventional hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-staining. However, it has several limitations: CLE images may be contaminated with artifacts (motion, red blood cells, noise), and neuropathologists are mainly trained on colorful stained histology slides like H&E while the CLE images are gray. To improve the diagnostic quality of CLE, we used a micrograph of an H&E slide from a glioma tumor biopsy and image style transfer, a neural network method for integrating the content and style of two images. This was done through minimizing the deviation of the target image from both the content (CLE) and style (H&E) images. The style transferred images were assessed and compared to conventional H&E histology by neurosurgeons and a neuropathologist who then validated the quality enhancement in 100 pairs of original and transformed images. Average reviewers' score on test images showed 84 out of 100 transformed images had fewer artifacts and more noticeable critical structures compared to their original CLE form. By providing images that are more interpretable than the original CLE images and more rapidly acquired than H&E slides, the style transfer method allows a real-time, cellular-level tissue examination using CLE technology that closely resembles the conventional appearance of H&E staining and may yield better diagnostic recognition than original CLE grayscale images.
Six Sigma Approach to Enhance Concurrency of the Procurement Process for Raw Materials

This paper presents the improvement of the procurement process for raw materials in a real manufacturing company supported by the Lean Sig Sigma as structured approach to deliver the improvement. The manufacturing company that is a subject of this paper have received a significant amount of complains regarding the internal purchase orders approval process and the overall procurement process of the company from both internal employees and external vendors and contractors. Considering that the company is procuring the raw goods from selected vendors, therefore the entire manufacturing plan depends on these materials, the company decided to improve this process trough Lean Six Sigma. The Lean Six Sigma approach was selected in order to obtain the improvement in a short time, based on indicators that were previously analyzed and prioritized. The paper focuses on simplifying of the process trough decreasing the number of mandatory steps.
Assessing the nutritional consequences of switching foraging behavior in wood bison

Abstract Diet is one of the most common traits used to organize species of animals into niches. For ruminant herbivores, the breadth and uniqueness of their dietary niche are placed on a spectrum from browsers that consume woody (i.e., browse) and herbaceous (i.e., forbs) plants, to grazers with graminoid‐rich diets. However, seasonal changes in plant availability and quality can lead to switching of their dietary niche, even within species. In this study, we examined whether a population of wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) in northeast Alberta, Canada, seasonally switched their foraging behavior, and if so, whether this was associated with changes in nutrient acquisition. We hypothesized that bison should switch foraging behaviors from grazing in the winter when standing, dead graminoids are the only foliar plants readily available to browsing during spring and summer as nutritious and digestible foliar parts of browse and forbs become available. If bison are switching foraging strategy to maximize protein consumption, then there should be a corresponding shift in the nutritional niche. Alternatively, if bison are eating different plants, but consuming similar amounts of nutrients, then bison are switching their dietary niche to maintain a particular nutrient composition. We found wood bison were grazers in the winter and spring, but switch to a browsing during summer. However, only winter nutrient consumption of consumed plants differed significantly among seasons. Between spring and summer, bison maintained a specific nutritional composition in their diet despite compositional differences in the consumed plants. Our evidence suggests that bison are selecting plants to maintain a target macronutrient composition. We posit that herbivore's can and will switch their dietary niche to maintain a target nutrient composition.
Identifying collaborators in large codebases

The way developers collaborate inside and particularly across teams often escapes management's attention, despite a formal organization with designated teams being defined. Observability of the actual, organically formed engineering structure provides decision makers invaluable additional tools to manage their talent pool. To identify existing inter and intra-team interactions - and suggest relevant opportunities for suitable collaborations - this paper studies contributors' commit activity, usage of programming languages, and code identifier topics by embedding and clustering them. We evaluate our findings collaborating with the GitLab organization, analyzing 117 of their open source projects. We show that we are able to restore their engineering organization in broad strokes, and also reveal hidden coding collaborations as well as justify in-house technical decisions.
Bivariate Gamma wear processes for track geometry modelling, with application to intervention scheduling

This article discusses the intervention scheduling of a railway track, based on the observation of two dependent randomly increasing deterioration indicators. These two indicators are modelled through a bivariate Gamma process constructed by trivariate reduction. Empirical and maximum likelihood estimators are given for the process parameters and tested on simulated data. An expectation-maximisation (EM) algorithm is used to compute the maximum likelihood estimators. A bivariate Gamma process is then fitted to real data of railway track deterioration. Intervention scheduling is defined, ensuring that the railway track remains of good quality with a high probability. The results arecompared to those based on both indicators taken separately, and also on one single indicator. The policy based onthe joint information is proved to be safer than the other ones, which shows the potential of the bivariate model.
Symmetric multilevel inverter with reduced components based on non-insulated dc voltage sources

Multilevel inverters have an important portion in power processing in power systems. These inverters have some inherent advantages such as ability to operate with high power and voltage, improved output waveform quality and flexibility which make them attractive and more popular. This study proposes a new topology based on the non-insulated dc voltage sources for multilevel inverter with reduced number of switching devices. As a result, it reduces control complexity and gate driver circuits. The proposed topology is a general topology which can be easily extended to a desired number of voltage levels. All of the desired output voltage levels (both odd and even) can be achieved using the proposed topology. The validity of the proposed multilevel inverter is verified with both computer simulation and experimental results from a 15-level laboratory prototype.
Reactive power pricing: a conceptual framework for remuneration and charging procedures

A new electrical sector regulation is being implemented in different countries all over the world. The new regulation stresses the role of competitive markets for the procurement and remuneration of ancillary services. Among these services stand the ones associated with reactive power supply and transmission network voltage control in order to maintain the required system security levels. The object of this paper is twofold. On one hand, reactive power supply and voltage control services, which today are bundled, are decomposed in two types: (i) voltage profile management and reactive dispatch, and (ii) voltage regulation. A theoretical approach based on marginal pricing is proposed in order to clarify the principles to remunerate the suppliers and to charge the consumers of these services. On the other hand, a practical organization of reactive supply and voltage service markets is presented to be implemented in a competitive environment.
Linear Multimodal Actuation Through Discrete Coupling

Due to technological limitations, robot actuators are often designed for specific tasks with narrow performance goals, whereas a wide range of behaviors is necessary for autonomous robots in uncertain complex environments. In an effort to increase the versatility of actuators, we introduce a new concept of multimodal actuation (MMA) that employs dynamic coupling in the form of clutches and brakes to change its mode of operation. The dynamic coupling allows motors and passive elements such as springs to be engaged and disengaged within a single actuator. We apply the concept to a linear series elastic actuator which uses friction brakes controlled online for the dynamic coupling. With this prototype, we are able to demonstrate several modes of operation including stiff position control, series elastic actuation as well as the possibility to store and release energy in a controlled manner for explosive tasks such as jumping. In this paper, we model the proposed concept of actuation and show a systematic performance analysis of the physical prototype that we developed in our laboratory.
A Statistical Current and Delay Model Based on Log-Skew-Normal Distribution for Low Voltage Region

The increasing performance variation and non-Gaussian distribution pose remarkable challenges to timing analysis for circuits operating in low voltage region. Accurate modeling of the statistical characteristics is urgently required with process variation consideration. In this paper, the statistical models for drain current and gate delay in low voltage region are established in analytical form based on the log-skew-normal (LSN) distribution via moment matching technique. Experimental results show that the probability distribution function (PDF) curves obtained from the proposed models for drain current and gate delay are highly fitted with Monte Carlo (MC) simulation results in sub/near-threshold regions. Moreover, owing to the proposed LSN-based statistical model, less than 8% error is introduced in the predicted sensitivity of gate delay and the maximum/minimum delay indicated by ±3σ percentile points can be calculated more precisely than the LN-based method with up to 3× accuracy improvement for low supply voltage.
The Impact of Transformational Leadership on Job Satisfaction and Organisational Commitment Among Hospital Staff: A Systematic Review

Background: Improving quality of relationship among hospital staff and leaders is a necessity to increase levels of job satisfaction and organisational commitment. Transformational leadership style has become an ideal practical solution that can resolve these dilemmas and enhance the quality of healthcare services and patients’ safety. This study aims to examine the impact of transformational leadership on job satisfaction and organisational commitment among hospital staff. Methods: The research strategy for this systematic review involves four electronic databases. Empirical peer-reviewed studies that uses quantitative design and that examines the relationship among transformational leadership, job satisfaction and organisational commitment among hospital staff, are included. Studies are evaluated by using a quality assessment tool, and the data extraction table and analysis are completed on the entire included studies. Results: A total of 367 titles and abstracts are screened, yielding 26 studies that are included in this review. The collected variables are analysed to determine the effect of transformational leadership style on job satisfaction and organisational commitment. A total of 19 studies examining the relationship between transformational leadership and job satisfaction (n = 15) are found to have a positive relationship, while 13 studies examining the relationship between transformational leadership and organisational commitment (n = 11) are found to have a positive relationship. Conclusion: The results of the review provide evidence that transformational leadership has a great effect on hospital staff and the hospital environment. The transformational leadership style should be universally used in hospitals to increase medical staff job satisfaction and organisational commitment, which may lead to increased productivity, quality of healthcare services and patients’ safety.
Analisis Pengaruh Faktor Lingkungan Dan Faktor Pekerja Terhadap Kapasitas Fungsi Paru Pekerja Industri Meubel Di Kota Pekanbaru Tahun 2013

The objectives of this research are to analyze and investigate the influence ofenvironmental factors and characteristics of workers towards lung function capacity offurniture industry workers at Pekanbaru. This study used a cross-sectional design, with totalsampling technique as much as 52 people of furniture industry workers. The result showed,there are 3 variables which affect lung function capacity of workers, that is exposure torespirable dust, smoking habit, and use of self protective tools. From the bivariate analyzes, itfound that exposure to respirable dust is the most dominant variable that affect the capacityof pulmonary function with p value: 0,000, that is equal to 41 times higher than workers withdust levels below the threshold value. Key words : environment factors, characteristic of workers, exposure to respirable dust, lungfunction capacity
Clinical pharmacists education and counselling in patients with co-morbid hypertension and diabetes in a Municipal hospital in Ghana

Hypertension and diabetes co-morbidity are very common chronic diseases in today’s world. Patients with such conditions may have medication related problems. Assessment was made on the impact of clinical pharmacists’ led education and counselling in patients with co-morbid hypertension and diabetes in a hospital setting. This study was done at the medical outpatient department (OPD) of a Municipal Hospital in Tema in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. This was an intervention study conducted in patients with co-morbid hypertension and diabetes (n=338). Patients were randomized to the case group (n=144) and the control group (n=194). Patients in the case group received the education and counselling from the clinical pharmacists’, whilst patients in the control group had the usual care. Patients in the case group had a better knowledge (p<0.0001) and adhered (p<0.0001) to their medication than those in the control group. The case group had a significant reduction in body mass index (p=0.005), systolic blood pressure (p<0.0001), diastolic blood pressure (p<0.0001) and fasting plasma blood glucose (p<0.0001). The clinical pharmacists’ led counselling and education to support the management of co-morbid hypertension and diabetes at the hospital helped improved patient outcomes.