Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Eight RGS and RGS-like Proteins Orchestrate Growth, Differentiation, and Pathogenicity of Magnaporthe oryzae

A previous study identified MoRgs1 as an RGS protein that negative regulates G-protein signaling to control developmental processes such as conidiation and appressorium formation in Magnaporthe oryzae. Here, we characterized additional seven RGS and RGS-like proteins (MoRgs2 through MoRgs8). We found that MoRgs1 and MoRgs4 positively regulate surface hydrophobicity, conidiation, and mating. Indifference to MoRgs1, MoRgs4 has a role in regulating laccase and peroxidase activities. MoRgs1, MoRgs2, MoRgs3, MoRgs4, MoRgs6, and MoRgs7 are important for germ tube growth and appressorium formation. Interestingly, MoRgs7 and MoRgs8 exhibit a unique domain structure in which the RGS domain is linked to a seven-transmembrane motif, a hallmark of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). We have also shown that MoRgs1 regulates mating through negative regulation of Gα MoMagB and is involved in the maintenance of cell wall integrity. While all proteins appear to be involved in the control of intracellular cAMP levels, only MoRgs1, MoRgs3, MoRgs4, and MoRgs7 are required for full virulence. Taking together, in addition to MoRgs1 functions as a prominent RGS protein in M. oryzae, MoRgs4 and other RGS and RGS-like proteins are also involved in a complex process governing asexual/sexual development, appressorium formation, and pathogenicity.
Depression and Anxiety after Acute Myocardial Infarction Treated by Primary PCI

Aims The main objective of the study was to find out prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms in the population of patients with AMI with ST-segment elevation (STEMI), treated with primary PCI (pPCI). Secondary target indicators included the incidence of sleep disorders and loss of interest in sex. Methods and results The project enrolled 79 consecutive patients with the first AMI, aged <80 years (median 61 years, 21.5% of women) with a follow-up period of 12 months. Symptoms of depression or anxiety were measured using the Beck Depression Inventory II tests (BDI-II, cut-off value ≥14) and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS, cut-off ≥ 45) within 24 hours of pPCI, before the discharge, and in 3, 6 and 12 months). Results with the value p<0.05 were considered as statistically significant. The BDI-II positivity was highest within 24 hours after pPCI (21.5%) with a significant decline prior to the discharge (9.2%), but with a gradual increase in 3, 6 and 12 months (10.4%; 15.4%; 13.8% respectively). The incidence of anxiety showed a relatively similar trend: 8.9% after pPCI, and 4.5%, 10.8% and 6.2% in further follow-up. Conclusions Patients with STEMI treated by primary PCI have relatively low overall prevalence of symptoms of depression and anxiety. A significant decrease in mental stress was observed before discharge from the hospital, but in a period of one year after pPCI, prevalence of both symptoms was gradually increasing, which should be given medical attention.
The Effect of Time Pressure on Risky Financial Decisions from Description and Decisions from Experience

Time pressure has been found to impact decision making in various ways, but studies on the effects time pressure in risky financial gambles have been largely limited to description-based decision tasks and to the gain domain. We present two experiments that investigated the effect of time pressure on decisions from description and decisions from experience, across both gain and loss domains. In description-based choice, time pressure decreased risk seeking for losses, whereas for gains there was a trend in the opposite direction. In experience-based choice, no impact of time pressure was observed on risk-taking, suggesting that time constraints may not alter attitudes towards risk when outcomes are learned through experience.
Point Sets with Many k-Sets

For any n , k , n\geq 2k>0 , we construct a set of n points in the plane with $ne^{\Omega({\sqrt{\log k}})}$ k -sets. This improves the bounds of Erdős, Lovász, et al. As a consequence, we also improve the lower bound for the number of halving hyperplanes in higher dimensions.
Non-commercial Research and Educational Use including without Limitation Use in Instruction at Your Institution, Sending It to Specific Colleagues That You Know, and Providing a Copy to Your Institution's Administrator. All Other Uses, Reproduction and Distribution, including without Limitation Comm

A whiteboard can be an easy tool for collaboration such as brainstorming, and is widely used, but the content on a whiteboard is hard to archive and share. While digital cameras can be used to capture whiteboard content, the images are usually taken from an angle, resulting in undesired perspective distortion. They may contain other distracting regions such as walls and shadows. The visual quality of those images is usually poor. This paper describes a system that automatically locates the boundary of a whiteboard, crops out the whiteboard region, rectifies it into a rectangle, and corrects the color to make the whiteboard completely white. In case a single image is not enough (e.g., large whiteboard and low-resolution camera), we have developed a robust feature-based technique to automatically stitch multiple overlapping images. The system has been tested extensively, and very good results have been obtained.
Mining the Network Behavior of Bots

A botnet is a network of compromised hosts that fulfills the malicious intents of an attacker. Once installed, a bot is typically used to steal sensitive information, send SPAM, perform DDoS attacks, and other illegal activities. Research in botnet detection has been quite prolific in the past years, producing detection mechanisms that focus on specific command and control structures, or on the correlation between the activities of the bots and the communication patterns shared by multiple infected machines. We present an approach that aims to detect bot-infected hosts. Our approach ( i) is independent on the underlying botnet structure, ( ii) is able to detect individually infected hosts, ( iii) deals with encrypted communication, ( iv) does not rely on the presence of noisy malicious activities and can thus detect legitimate-resembling communication patterns, and ( v) has a low false positive rate. Our technique starts by monitoring a network trace produced by a bot sample B, which is summarized into a set of network flows. Similar flows are then grouped together by relying on a hierarchical clustering algorithm. The resulting clusters are analyzed for evidence of periodic behaviors. If no periodic behaviors are found, an output-based system selects those clusters that recur the most across different network traces obtained by running the sample B multiple times. Finally, our analysis automatically produces a network behavior model of B, which is deployed on a Bro NIDS sensor, that operates on real-time and realistic settings, raising few false positives.
Systematic Review. What is the evidence of the impact of microfinance on the well-being of poor people?

The concept of microcredit was first introduced in Bangladesh by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus. Professor Yunus started Grameen Bank (GB) more than 30 years ago with the aim of reducing poverty by providing small loans to the country’s rural poor (Yunus 1999). Microcredit has evolved over the years and does not only provide credit to the poor, but also now spans a myriad of other services including savings, insurance, remittances and non-financial services such as financial literacy training and skills development programmes; microcredit is now referred to as microfinance (Armendariz de Aghion and Morduch 2005, 2010). A key feature of microfinance has been the targeting of women on the grounds that, compared to men, they perform better as clients of microfinance institutions and that their participation has more desirable development outcomes (Pitt and Khandker 1998). Despite the apparent success and popularity of microfinance, no clear evidence yet exists that microfinance programmes have positive impacts (Armendariz de Aghion and Morduch 2005, 2010; and many others). There have been four major reviews examining impacts of microfinance (Sebstad and Chen, 1996; Gaile and Foster 1996, Goldberg 2005, Odell 2010, see also Orso 2011). These reviews concluded that, while anecdotes and other inspiring stories (such as Todd 1996) purported to show that microfinance can make a real difference in the lives of those served, rigorous quantitative evidence on the nature, magnitude and balance of microfinance impact is still scarce and inconclusive (Armendariz de Aghion and Morduch 2005, 2010). Overall, it is widely acknowledged that no well-known study robustly shows any strong impacts of microfinance (Armendariz de Aghion and Morduch 2005, p199-230). Because of the growth of the microfinance industry and the attention the sector has received from policy makers, donors and private investors in recent years, existing microfinance impact evaluations need to be re-investigated; the robustness of claims that microfinance successfully alleviates poverty and empowers women must be scrutinised more carefully. Hence, this review revisits the evidence of microfinance evaluations focusing on the technical challenges of conducting rigorous microfinance impact evaluations.
Statistical Romberg extrapolation: A new variance reduction method and applications to option pricing

We study the approximation of Ef(X-T) by a Monte Carlo algorithm, where X is the solution of a stochastic differential equation and f is a given function. We introduce a new variance reduction method, which can be viewed as a statistical analogue of Romberg extrapolation method. Namely, we use two Euler schemes with steps delta and delta(beta), 0 < beta < 1. This leads to an algorithm which, for a given level of the statistical error, has a complexity significantly lower than the complexity of the standard Monte Carlo method. We analyze the asymptotic error of this algorithm in the context of general (possibly degenerate) diffusions. In order to find the optimal beta (which turns out to be beta = 1/2), we establish a central limit: type theorem, based on a result of Jacod and Protter for the asymptotic distribution of the error in the Euler scheme. We test our method on various examples. In particular, we adapt it to Asian options. In this setting, we have a CLT and, as a by-product, an explicit expansion of the discretization error.
Content is Not King

Широко известно, что Интернет – это система распространения информации, некого содержания. В то же время, если смотреть исторически, связь сама по себе оказывается более материальным понятием, чем содержание. Даже в Интернете содержание не настолько важно, насколько оно претендует (если это не послание e-mail, содержащее зловредный вирус-убийцу). Главенство связи над содержимым объясняет феномен, который сбил с толку исследователей беспроводных систем: почему с энтузиазмом была воспринята SMS-технология (Short Message System) и весьма прохладно принят протокол WAP (Wireless Application Protocol)? Основываясь на статистических данных, показывающих уровень использования сотовых телефонов, автор показывает, что вводимые 3G-системы также будут первоначально использоваться для речевого общения, а не для доступа в Интернет. В статье подчеркивается мысль, что гигантские суммы, выделяемые на поддержку содержания (контента) расходуются не по назначению.
Stretch in Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells (cEND) as an In Vitro Traumatic Brain Injury Model of the Blood Brain Barrier

Due to the high mortality incident brought about by traumatic brain injury (TBI), methods that would enable one to better understand the underlying mechanisms involved in it are useful for treatment. There are both in vivo and in vitro methods available for this purpose. In vivo models can mimic actual head injury as it occurs during TBI. However, in vivo techniques may not be exploited for studies at the cell physiology level. Hence, in vitro methods are more advantageous for this purpose since they provide easier access to the cells and the extracellular environment for manipulation. Our protocol presents an in vitro model of TBI using stretch injury in brain microvascular endothelial cells. It utilizes pressure applied to the cells cultured in flexible-bottomed wells. The pressure applied may easily be controlled and can produce injury that ranges from low to severe. The murine brain microvascular endothelial cells (cEND) generated in our laboratory is a well-suited model for the blood brain barrier (BBB) thus providing an advantage to other systems that employ a similar technique. In addition, due to the simplicity of the method, experimental set-ups are easily duplicated. Thus, this model can be used in studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in TBI at the BBB.
Requirement of Podocalyxin in TGF-Beta Induced Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition

Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is characterized by the development of mesenchymal properties such as a fibroblast-like morphology with altered cytoskeletal organization and enhanced migratory potential. We report that the expression of podocalyxin (PODXL), a member of the CD34 family, is markedly increased during TGF-β induced EMT. PODXL is enriched on the leading edges of migrating A549 cells. Silencing of podocalyxin expression reduced cell ruffle formation, spreading, migration and affected the expression patterns of several proteins that normally change during EMT (e.g., vimentin, E-cadherin). Cytoskeletion assembly in EMT was also found to be dependent on the production of podocalyin. Compositional analysis of podocalyxin containing immunoprecipitates revealed that collagen type 1 was consistently associated with these isolates. Collagen type 1 was also found to co-localize with podocalyxin on the leading edges of migrating cells. The interactions with collagen may be a critical aspect of podocalyxin function. Podocalyxin is an important regulator of the EMT like process as it regulates the loss of epithelial features and the acquisition of a motile phenotype.
Pilot studies of wireless sensor networks: Practical experiences

For enabling successful field pilots of Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) applications, the network reliability and prototype testing become limiting factors. Application pilot studies need to operate end-to-end, covering the physical durability of devices, embedded software, and infrastructure interfaces and data collection. This paper summarizes our pilot study experiences, and what tools and practices were required. Six lessons are proposed: a systematic pilot template results straightforward pilot completion; shared WSN infrastructure reduces labor; tailored embedded software testing tools are needed; the pilot must be prepared carefully; the WSN technology must be usable for research partners; and the pilot must be maintained and maintenance tools are required in large scale pilots. Our experiences base on over 20 pilot studies and over 1000 deployed devices. This paper describes 11 main pilots, which utilize from 10 to 377 devices per pilot.
Equity Carve‐Outs and Managerial Discretion

This study proposes a managerial discretion hypothesis of equity carve-outs in which managers value control over assets and are reluctant to carve out subsidiaries. Thus, managers undertake carve-outs only when the firm is capital constrained. Consistent with this hypothesis, firms that carve out subsidiaries exhibit poor operating performance and high leverage prior to carve-outs. Also consistent with this hypothesis, in carve-outs wherein funds raised are used to pay down debt, the average excess stock return of + 6.63 percent is significantly greater than the average excess stock return of - 0.01 percent for carve-outs wherein funds are retained for investment purposes. Copyright The American Finance Association 1998.
A simple nonsaturated IEEE 802.11e EDCA model

We model a nonsaturated IEEE 802.11e EDCA network for a small buffer size. Our model is much simpler and more accurate than others that have appeared in the literature. The model is simple because 1) we invoke the Kumar renewal-reward approach for the saturated collision probability rather than the Bianchi Markov-chain approach, as in previous work, and 2) we approximate the nonsaturated attempt rate by scaling the attempt rate of the saturated setting with the probability of a packet arrival. We verify the accuracy of our model using ns-2 simulation and show that the collision probability obtained in our model is the most accurate amongst related work. The collision probability governs all other performance metrics, such as throughputs and delay characteristics; we show that since prior works do not model the nonsaturated collision probabilities accurately, they fail to correctly capture the delay characteristics. Also, our results indicate that if we accurately model the nonsaturated collision probability, the same formulas used for the saturated performance descriptors can produce accurate results for nonsaturated operation, and therefore is unnecessary to construct specific formulas for nonsaturated performance descriptors, as done in previous work.
"Discretionary Determination and Value Relevance of Accrual Expenses incurred by Nuclear Power Plant"(in Japanese)

This research focuses on the decommissioning cost and the recycle cost of used nuclear fuel, which are incurred by nuclear power plant. We examine what incentive factors affect the discretionary measurement of those expenses in the year and investigate whether the discretionary components are value relevant. First, the recycle expenses in the year is discretionally determined in order to smooth the uncertain fluctuations in operating profits, while the decommissioning expenses is not utilized for income smoothing. If some accruals were discretionally allocated inter-period for the purpose of income smoothing, the discretionary increase in those accruals (i.e. savings of earnings in current period) would communicate the manager's pessimistic forecasts on the performance to investors. Second, as consistent with the above hypothesis, the discretionary recycle expenses is value relevant and the coefficient on them is negative. Moreover, it is negatively related to the one-year ahead operating profits. These evidences imply that the value relevance of the recycle expenses is consistently estimated with the determinants and the predictive power of future performance. Third, both the decommissioning expenses and the recycle expenses do not deteriorate the quality of earnings. We cannot find the evidence supporting the repeated criticism that the opportunity to measure expenses based on managerial discretion must diminish the usefulness of accounting information.
In Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics

Campanula thyrsoides is one of the few monocarpic perennials of temperate alpine mountain ecosystems and native to the European Alps and adjacent mountain ranges. Individuals are rare but locally abundant and the species is protected in most of the Alpine countries. The exceptionally yellow-flowering member of the Campanulaceae grows preferably in alpine meadows with a moderate disturbance regime on limestone or carbonate bearing schists. Traditionally regarded as a rosette-forming ''biennial'', individuals usually flower after 8 years and grow considerably older at higher altitudes. This article reviews the taxonomy, morphology, distribution, ecology, life cycle, population biology, and genetics of this species as well as its status in the European countries. Please note that C. thyrsoidea Lapeyrouse has been used as synonym for C. speciosa Pourret from the Pyrenees (Picot de Lapeyrouse, 1813). Two subspecies have been recognized that differ in morphological and palynological characteristics as well as in ecology and distribution (Podlech, 1964; Cara-miello et al., 2002–2003). Nevertheless, transitional forms exist within and outside of their geographic contact zones (Podlech, 1964; Kuss, pers. obs.) and the two subspecies are sometimes regarded as altitudinal vicariants (Tomazˇicˇ, 1941). Common names: Gewo¨hnliche Strauß-Glockenblume – Campanule en thyrse – Campanula gialla – S ˇ opasta zvoncˇica – Brunzina pu¨schlada Common names: Krainer Strauß-Glockenblume – Campanule de Carniole – Campanula carniolica – Kranjska zvoncˇica – zˇuc´kastobijela zvoncˇika In the following text we will refer to C. thyrsoides subsp. thyrsoides as C. * thyrsoides and likewise to C. thyrsoides
An Information Based Explanation of the Domestic Bias in International Equity Investment

The domestic bias in international equity investment presents a major challenge to asset pricing models building on the assumption of symmetrically informed investors. Some further evidenc e on the home bias is provided and the question of why foreign exchang e risk or capital controls are not sufficient to explain the full effe ct is discussed. A simple noisy rational expectations model is introduc ed where, even in equilibrium, investors remain incompletely informed. It is shown that the domestic bias arises quite naturally when investor s are on average better informed about domestic stocks. Copyright 1993 by The editors of the Scandinavian Journal of Economics.
Application of Cost-Flow Forecasting Models

Cost-flow models are formulated for forecasting the cumulative cost-flow in housing and public buildings, as a function of total cost and construction period. This permits to estimate the cost increment for any interval even before any schedule is available. Detailed cost-flows are compiled for all individual projects, and brought to a common denominator by relating cost to time in percentage. The prediction curves are obtained by polynomial regression. Considering the dynamic characters of a company’s financial plan, and the need for permanent updating, the deviations obtained by this procedure between the predicted and actual cost of the individual project are insignificant for practical use. These deviations also tend to balance out in compiling the company’s overall picture that management is concerned with. The implementation of such models for all major categories of projects engaged in by a construction company can thus greatly simplify one of tha most time and cost consuming steps in establishing and updating a financial plan.
Solution of the time‐harmonic viscoelastic inverse problem with interior data in two dimensions

We consider the problem of determining the distribution of the complex‐valued shear modulus for an incompressible linear viscoelastic material undergoing infinitesimal time‐harmonic deformation, given the knowledge of the displacement field in its interior. In particular, we focus on the two‐dimensional problems of anti‐plane shear and plane stress. These problems are motivated by applications in biomechanical imaging, where the material modulus distributions are used to detect and/or diagnose cancerous tumors. We analyze the well‐posedness of the strong form of these problems and conclude that for the solution to exist, the measured displacement field is required to satisfy rather restrictive compatibility conditions. We propose a weak, or a variational formulation, and prove the existence and uniqueness of solutions under milder conditions on measured data. This formulation is derived by weighting the original PDE for the shear modulus by the adjoint operator acting on the complex‐conjugate of the weighting functions. For this reason, we refer to it as the complex adjoint weighted equation (CAWE). We consider a straightforward finite element discretization of these equations with total variation regularization, and test its performance with synthetically generated and experimentally measured data. We find that the CAWE method is, in general, less diffusive than a corresponding least squares solution, and that the total variation regularization significantly improves its performance in the presence of noise. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.