Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Virtual Clustering Approach for Routing Problems in Telecommunication Networks

We propose an adaptable routing scheme for telecommunication networks based on the notion of virtual clustering. Virtual clustering logically reconfigures the network topology in a periodic basis according to the traffic requirements in the network. This temporary topology configuration imposes restrictions on the potential paths between certain groups of source? destination node pairs, thus regulating and balancing the global network traffic while maintaining sufficient local flexibility for real-time routing. The proposed routing scheme can be implemented in an established telecommunication environment where the actual routing of network traffic is conducted by an existing dynamic routing algorithm, while the routing tables are preprocessed by the current virtual clustering configuration. We develop a virtual clustering algorithm using problem space search proposed by Storer, Wu and Vaccari (1992, New Search Spaces for Sequencing Problems with Applications to Job Shop Schedule, Management Science 38, 1495-1509; 1996. Local Search in Problem and Heuristic Space for Job Shop Scheduling, ORSA Journal on Computing 7, 453-465). The algorithm iteratively evaluates clustering solutions and its potential impact to routing performance by perturbation of the traffic requirement matrix. The proposed routing scheme is tested through intensive computational experiments on randomly generated geometric networks, and on PREPNET, a real-world subnetwork on the Internet. Using Monte Carlo simulation, we compare the proposed routing scheme to centralized routing and decentralized asynchronous routing. Computational results show that the proposed approach significantly outperforms these traditional schemes under dynamic traffic fluctuation.
Audit Research after Sarbanes‐Oxley

The scrutiny auditing received following Enron's failure and the accounting scandals at Worldcom and other companies provides compelling evidence that auditing matters and is important. What is unclear, however, is whether auditing was sufficiently “broken” in the first place to warrant the radical reforms and changes effected by the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX). While there have been some high profile corporate failures and accounting scandals, the number of demonstrated audit failures as evidenced by successful litigation or U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sanctions is quite small and approaches an annual failure rate of close to zero. In addition, our interpretation of the academic research suggests that many of the “solutions” embodied in SOX are not only unlikely to solve the profession's alleged problems; they may well have serious unintended negative consequences. So the disconnect is large between the scientific evidence on audit quality and institutional changes premised on the .
A causality analysis of untied foreign assistance and export performance: the case of Germany

Three questions regarding the relationship between untied assistance and donor country exports are investigated. First, do untied aid flows cause donor country exports to increase, reflecting the goodwill of the recipient towards the donor? Second, does strong export performance financially enable or politically encourage the donor country to increase its level of untied aid to the recipient? Third, does causality proceed in both directions simultaneously? Using German data for the period 1973–1995, results vary across subsamples defined according to the recipient countries' region, income and ties to Germany.
Has the Dutch Miracle Come to an End

In the past decades unemployment in the Netherlands has gone down substantially. The main suspects responsible for this decline are the growth of part-time labor, the reform of the benefit system and wage moderation. Nevertheless, in 2002 the unemployment rate in the Netherlands has increased somewhat. However, since the huge decline in unemployment was due to structural improvements in the functioning of the labor market there is not a lot of reason to worry about the recent rise in unemployment. The current structure of the labor market is a lot ‘healthier’ than it was in the early 1980s. Therefore, the upward movement of the unemployment rate is bound to be a mild one.
Capital Structure, Ownership, and Capital Payment Policy: The Case of Hospitals

This study examines effects of pertinent features of hospital capital payment policies on hospital capital structure decisions in a one-period stochastic, value-maximization model. Separate models are developed for for-profit and not-for-profit hospitals. Hospital debt-to-assets ratios are analyzed empirically using a cross-section of data from the American Hospital Association. Although the effect on capital structure of hospital reliance on cost-based reimbursement cannot be signed theoretically, in both for-profit and not-for-profit cases, a higher cost-based share leads to higher leverage. Factors associated with high bankruptcy risk (e.g., earnings volatility) cause hospitals to take on less debt. THE HOSPITAL INDUSTRY EXHIBITS two prominent characteristics that have unique implications for its capital structure. First, the majority of hospitals are organized as private not-for-profit (NFP) institutions. Since there is no applicable corporate income tax, any risk of bankruptcy might imply that the NFP hospital would select an all-equity hospital structure. Yet it is a stylized fact that almost all NFP hospitals have debt obligations. At the same time, there exists a sizeable minority of hospitals operated by government or as for-profit organizations. Forprofit hospitals are subject to all tax privileges and obligations applicable to forprofit enterprises in other sectors. Thus, the industry provides a laboratory for analysis of the effect of ownership on organizations' capital structures. A second unique feature of the industry is that almost all hospital revenue is derived from public and private insurers (Waldo et al. [21]). At least until very recently, insurers in this industry paid hospitals on either a retrospective-cost or
Emphysema in Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis

A correlation survey has been carried out between the pathological, physiological, and radiological findings pertaining to emphysema in 247 deceased coal miners and ex-miners, most of whom had been diagnosed as suffering from coal workers' pneumoconiosis during life. The pathological findings, which included large lung sections and detailed histology in every case, were compared with similar findings in a contrast non-mining population matched for age and sex. The results indicated that emphysema was much more common among the coal miners, both with simple and with complicated pneumoconiosis, than among the contrast group. In addition the extent of the emphysema as measured by a recognized “counting” method carried out on paper-mounted lung sections was remarkably closely related to ventilatory impairment as evidenced by the forced expiratory volume in one second. Extensive emphysema was more commonly found in those pneumoconiosis cases, both simple and complicated, showing the finer punctiform type of radiological change than in cases showing the larger micronodular and nodular opacities.
Building wire frames from multiple range views

This paper describes a process by which wire frames of polyhedra may be generated from multiple range views of a scene. Line segments are extracted from each view and transformed into a world coordinate system to produce the wire frames. These wire frames are used in the construction of full polyhedral models with the algorithm of Markowsky and Wesley.
River ice responses to a warming Arctic—recent evidence from Russian rivers

This paper looks at the response of river ice to recent warming in the Arctic at six major downstream gauges on large Russian rivers flowing to the Arctic Ocean. For the Severnaya Dvina, Ob, Yenisey, Lena, Yana and Kolyma we determine how river ice has changed in recent years and we try to understand the underlying causes of those changes. Long-term variability and trends in beginning and ending dates of ice events, duration of ice conditions, and maximum ice thickness were analyzed over 1955–2012. Significant changes in timing of ice events and a decrease in ice thickness were found for the five Siberian rivers. Duration of ice conditions decreased from 7 days for the Severnaya Dvina, Lena and Yenisey to almost 20 days for the Ob at Salekhard. The change in timing of ice events is consistent with changes in regional air temperature, which has significantly increased at each of these river gauges, except Lena-Kusur. The primary cause of the considerable increase in maximum ice thickness was not identified. Variation of mean winter air temperature and river discharge do not correlate well with maximum ice thickness and it is assumed the influence of specific local conditions can play a more important role in ice formation at these locations. Understanding this interrelationship across the Eurasian pan-Arctic using more comprehensive data archives for river ice and discharge is therefore needed.
The Monetary Theory and Policy of Henry Simons

IT is a great honor for me to give the Henry Simons Lecture. He was my teacher and my friend-and above all, a shaper of my ideas. No man can say precisely whence his beliefs and his values come--but there is no doubt that mine would be very different than they are if I had not had the good fortune to be exposed to Henry Simons. If, in this lecture, I express much disagreement with him, that, too, bespeaks his influence. He taught us that an objective, critical examination of a man's ideas is a truer tribute than slavish repetition of his formulas. I am especially pleased to be giving this lecture under the auspices of the Law School. One of the unique advantages of the University of Chicago for economists has always been the close cooperation and interchange between economists and lawyers. Henry Simons was for many years on the Law School faculty, and Aaron Director and Ronald Coase have continued that fine tradition. The Journal of Law and Economics has set the seal on a happy affair. On re-reading Henry Simons' work in preparation for this lecture, I was struck by the contrast between my reaction to his discussion of monetary theory, on the one hand, and to his proposals for monetary reform, on the
Splintering Urban Populations: Emergent Landscapes of Reurbanisation in Four European Cities

During the last three decades, the countries of the developed world have been engulfed by the 'second demographic transition', which involves new family relations, less and later marriage, declining fertility rates, population ageing, postponement of child-bearing and smaller households, among other trends. It is being increasingly argued that such population dynamics are having a powerful transformative effect on the inner city, by diversifying and redensifying its social landscapes, and creating a 'splintered' urban form. Based on the findings of a recent EU Framework 5 research project, this paper investigates the demographic contingencies of this process-also known as reurbanisation-in four European cities: Leipzig (Germany), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Bologna (Italy) and Leon (Spain). Analyses of census and municipal registry data, as well as on-site questionnaire surveys and interviews, have revealed that the reviewed cities are being populated with, and fragmented by, multiple migration trends and new household structures connected to the second demographic transition.
HECS and HECS‐HELP: Equity issues

There have been many changes to the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) since its introduction in 1989. The most significant of these is possibly the reforms announced in the 2003 Federal Budget, which allow universities to increase the contributions required of students by up to 25%. This paper considers the distribution of deferred HECS liabilities according to the socioeconomic status of students. An algorithm is presented for converting area‐level data to its individual‐level equivalent. It is found that students of lower socioeconomic status defer a much larger proportion of their HECS than students of higher socioeconomic status. The adverse side effects of HECS identified in the literature will therefore be more acute for low socioeconomic status background students than for their wealthier counterparts.
Calprotectin in myeloid and epithelial cells of laminae from horses with black walnut extract-induced laminitis.

BACKGROUND Laminar inflammation is one of the earliest events in equine laminitis. Calprotectin (CP), a Damage-Associated Molecular Pattern protein, is overexpressed in inflammatory conditions of human skin. HYPOTHESIS CP is overexpressed in the laminar epidermis of horses with black walnut extract (BWE)-induced laminitis. ANIMALS Twenty adult horses. METHODS Experimental study. Horses were allocated to one of 4 groups. BWE was administered to horses in 3 groups, which were sampled 1.5, 3, and 12 hours (LAM) later. CP was visualized by immunohistochemistry. Laminar leukocyte counts and intensity of laminar epithelial staining were scored for all animals and statistically analyzed. RESULTS Laminar epidermal CP signal was significantly increased (P= .02) at the LAM time point, compared with other groups. Rare leukocytes were detected in laminae with CP staining in CON group, but there were marked increases in number of leukocytes in BWE-treated groups (P= .003). Sequential hematoxylin and eosin staining demonstrated that the majority of CP-positive leukocytes were perivascular polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) at each of the developmental time points. CP-positive PMN and mononuclear cells were detected in perivascular locations and close to the epidermal basement membrane in the LAM group. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE CP expression in the laminar epidermis occurs after extravasation of leukocytes, indicating that leukocyte emigration might be an initiating factor in laminar epithelial stress and inflammation in BWE-induced laminitis. These results indicate a possible role of CP in laminitis pathophysiology and laminar failure.
Comparison of mutagenesis induced in single- and double-stranded M13 viral DNA by treatment with N-hydroxy-2-aminofluorene.

The specificity of mutagenesis in single-stranded and its complementary double-stranded DNA of the bacteriophage M13mp8 induced by N-hydroxy-2-aminofluorene (N-OH-AF) was analyzed after transfection into its bacterial host Escherichia coli, strain JM103. In this forward mutation assay, randomly modified DNA with increasing levels of aminofluorene (AF) guanine adducts was transfected into competent host JM103 cells with or without prior induction of SOS functions in the host cells. These cells were then screened for mutants of the marker enzyme, beta-galactosidase, on a selective medium. In this assay, the mutation frequency was increased up to 10-fold in host cells with induced SOS functions as compared to the control host cells. Transfection of AF-substituted single-stranded DNA gave a 2.5-fold higher mutation frequency as compared to the double-stranded form at similar levels of AF modification and plaque-forming efficiency. DNA sequence analysis of the mutants showed that AF-modified single- and double-stranded DNA induced base substitutions (52-55%), large deletions (i.e. greater than 300 bp, 25-30%) and frameshifts (16-18%). The mutation sites for 73 base substitutions and frameshifts examined within a limited DNA sequence of 120 bases (6280-6400) were different in single- and double-stranded DNAs. A possible 'hotspot' for base substitutions within one of the two GGCG sequences has also been identified in single-stranded but not double-stranded DNA.
Does Partnership at Work Increase Trust? An Analysis Based on the 2004 Workplace Employment Relations Survey

In the late 1990s, partnership at work was embraced with some enthusiasm by a number of stakeholders in employment relations and incorporated in the 1999 Employment Relations Act. The implementation of the Information and Consultation Regulations has also been extensively signaled. We might therefore expect to see some evidence of partnership-related practices in Britain. The 2004 Workplace Employment Relations Survey (WERS 2004) provides an opportunity to explore the extent of partnership practice, and also, for the first time, to explore its link to trust relations. This article reports evidence from WERS 2004 suggesting that partnership practice remains relatively undeveloped and that it is only weakly related to trust between management and employee representatives and to employees trust in management. Direct forms of participation generally have a more positive association with trust than representative forms. There is also modest evidence that trust may be associated with certain workplace outcomes. The case for partnership and more particularly representative partnership as a basis for mutuality and trust is not supported by this evidence.
Effect of lullaby and classical music on physiologic stability of hospitalized preterm infants: a randomized trial.

BACKGROUND Music is considered a subset of developmental supportive care. It may act as a suitable auditory stimulant in preterm infants. Also, it may reduce stress responses in autonomic, motor and state systems. OBJECTIVE To assess and compare the influence of lullaby and classical music on physiologic parameters. METHOD This is a randomized clinical trial with cross-over design. A total of 25 stable preterm infants with birth weight of 1000-2500 grams were studied for six consecutive days. Each infant was exposed to three phases: lullaby music, classical music, and no music (control) for two days each. The sequence of these phases was assigned randomly to each subject. Babies were continuously monitored for heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation and changes between phases were analyzed. RESULT Lullaby reduced heart rate (p < 0.001) and respiratory rate (p = 0.004). These effects extended in the period after the exposure (p < .001 and p = 0.001, respectively). Classical music reduced heart rate (p = 0.018). The effects of classical music disappeared once the music stopped. Oxygen saturation did not change during intervention. CONCLUSION Music can affect vital signs of preterm infants; this effect can possibly be related to the reduction of stress during hospitalization. The implications of these findings on clinical and developmental outcomes need further study.
Final results of phase II trial of doxorubicin HCl liposome injection followed by bexarotene in advanced cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

BACKGROUND High response rates for doxorubicin HCl liposome injection (DLI) in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) have been reported with vague criteria until recently. Approximately 50% of CTCL patients respond to bexarotene (Bex). PATIENTS AND METHODS A phase II trial was carried out to clarify the true overall response rate (ORR) for DLI and to assess the role of sequential Bex. Patients were treated with DLI 20 mg/m(2) i.v. every 2 weeks for 16 weeks (8 doses) followed by 16 weeks with Bex 300 mg/m(2) orally. Response assessments were carried out after 16 (DLI) and 32 weeks (Bex). Skin responses were measured by the modified Severity-Weighted Assessment Tool (mSWAT) and the Composite Assessment of Index Lesion Severity (CA). RESULTS Thirty-seven patients were treated: stage IV (22, 8 with Sézary syndrome), IIB (10), earlier stage refractory to skin-directed therapies or radiation therapy (5). For 34 assessable patients: ORR 14/34 [41%: partial response (PR) 12, clinical complete response (CCR) 2]. Maximum responses were all seen after 16 weeks DLI. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5 months. There were 22 deaths: 21 of disease and 1 of heart failure. Twenty-seven grade 3 and 5 grade 4 toxic events were observed. CONCLUSION(S) With strict criteria, DLI ORR is among the highest reported for single agents in CTCL. Sequential Bex did not increase the response rate or duration.
-mu opiate receptor. Charged transmembrane domain amino acids are critical for agonist recognition and intrinsic activity.

The mu opiate receptor is a principal brain site for activities of morphine, other opiate drugs, and opioid peptides in modulating pain and altering mood. Recent cloning of cDNAs encoding rat and human mu receptors reveals charged amino acid residues within putative transmembrane domains (TMs) II, III, and VI, a substantial N-terminal extracellular domain, and a C-terminal intracellular domain. Deletion of 64 N-terminal amino acids produced little effect on receptor function (Wang, J.B., Imai, Y., Eppler, C.M., Gregor, P., Spivak, C.E., and Uhl, G.R. (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 90, 10230-10234). Further deletion of 33 C-terminal amino acids yielded a receptor at which morphine, but not the substituted enkephalin DAMGO ([D-Ala2,MePhe4,Glyol5]enkephalin), inhibited adenylate cyclase. Alanine substitution for each charged TM residue in the N-terminally deleted receptor reduced affinities for morphine, DAMGO, and the opiate antagonist naloxone. Replacement of TM II Asp114 with asparagine or glutamic acid increased mu receptor affinity for naloxone. TM II and TM III glutamic acid substitutions for Asp114 and Asp147 reduced agonist binding affinities but allowed full inhibition of adenylate cyclase at high agonist concentrations. TM VI histidine substitution with alanine yielded a receptor that produced almost twice the cyclase inhibition displayed by the wild type receptor in parallel transient expression assays. These findings underscore the importance of charged residues in TM II, III, and VI for different receptor functions and the modest involvement of extensive portions of N- and C-terminal receptor domains in these processes.
Strategic Environmental Policies When Waste Products are Tradable

The paper deals with international trade in hazardous waste products when there is an international oligopoly market for waste, and both waste-importing and waste-exporting countries act strategically to utilize national environmental policies to attach rents arising from trade in waste. The authors model a multiple-stage game where waste is generated in an industrialized country as a byproduct of production, and potentially is exported to some less-developed countries, if not abated locally, or imposed on local residents at a cost of an environmental tax. In the market for waste, an oligopolistic supply is assumed. The demand for waste is perfectly competitive, with waste-processing firms guided by marginal disposal costs and environmental taxes levied by foreign countries. With each country playing Nash, the analysis finds domestic and foreign taxes to be distorted from the Pigouvian taxes in such a way that the domestic (waste-exporter) tax rate is set below, and the foreign tax rate is set above, the Pigouvian taxes. However, a global welfare optimum requires tax distortions in the opposite direction, in the sense that foreign environmental taxes must be set below the Pigouvian tax rate.
Response of Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli to Human Serum Reveals a Protective Role for Rcs-Regulated Exopolysaccharide Colanic Acid

ABSTRACT Extraintestinal Escherichia coli (ExPEC) organisms are the leading cause of Gram-negative bacterial bloodstream infections. These bacteria adapt to survival in the bloodstream through expression of factors involved in scavenging of nutrients and resisting the killing activity of serum. In this study, the transcriptional response of a prototypic ExPEC strain (CFT073) to human serum was investigated. Resistance of CFT073 to the bactericidal properties of serum involved increased expression of envelope stress regulators, including CpxR, σE, and RcsB. Many of the upregulated genes induced by active serum were regulated by the Rcs two-component system. This system is triggered by envelope stress such as changes to cell wall integrity. RcsB-mediated serum resistance was conferred through induction of the exopolysaccharide colanic acid. Production of this exopolysaccharide may be protective while cell wall damage caused by serum components is repaired.