Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Competition between auctions

Even though auctions are capturing an increasing share of commerce, they are typically treated in the theoretical economics literature as isolated. That is, an auction is typically treated as a single seller facing multiple buyers or as a single buyer facing multiple sellers. In this paper, we review the state of the art of competition between auctions. We consider three different types of competition: competition between auctions, competition between formats, and competition between auctioneers vying for auction traffic. We highlight the newest experimental, statistical, and analytical methods in the analysis of competition between auctions.
Characterization of in vitro transcriptional responses of dorsal root ganglia cultured in the presence and absence of blastema cells from regenerating salamander limbs

Abstract During salamander limb regeneration, nerves provide signals that induce the formation of a mass of proliferative cells called the blastema. To better understand these signals, we developed a blastema−dorsal root ganglia (DRG) co‐culture model system to test the hypothesis that nerves differentially express genes in response to cues provided by the blastema. DRG with proximal and distal nerve trunks were isolated from axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum), cultured for 5 days, and subjected to microarray analysis. Relative to freshly isolated DRG, 1541 Affymetrix probe sets were identified as differentially expressed and many of the predicted genes are known to function in injury and neurodevelopmental responses observed for mammalian DRG. We then cultured 5‐day DRG explants for an additional 5 days with or without co‐cultured blastema cells. On day 10, we identified 27 genes whose expression in cultured DRG was significantly affected by the presence or absence of blastema cells. Overall, our study established a DRG−blastema in vitro culture system and identified candidate genes for future investigations of axon regrowth, nerve−blastema signaling, and neural regulation of limb regeneration.
Angiotensin II mesenteric and renal vasoregulation: Dissimilar modulatory effects with nitroprusside

Background: The role of systemic arterial pressure for the vascular effects of angiotensin II (Ang II) and the interactions between Ang II and perfusion pressure‐dependent local vascular control mechanisms are not well understood. This study addresses these aspects of exogenous Ang II in the mesenteric and renal regional circulations.
Multiple-Image Encryption by Rotating Random Grids

It is the well-known visual secret sharing (VSS) technique that encrypts a secret image into several share images and, later, decrypts the secret by stacking the share images and recognizing by the human visual system. Due to the perfect secrecy, VSS is one of well-candidate for achieving secure e-commerce. Furthermore, the other visual secret sharing technique is constructed by random grids. The main advantages of VSS by adopting random grids compared with VC include no pixel expansion, and no cost of sophisticated codebook design. In this paper, the authors present the new scheme which encrypts two secret images into two random grids without any pixel expansion and, later, decrypts the original secrets by directly stacking two random grids in an additional way of rotating one random grid at 90, 180 or 270 degrees. The proposed scheme not only has no pixel expansion so that the overhead of storage and communication can be reduced but also raises the capacity of secret communication.
High-Sensitivity Optically Modulated Scatterer for Electromagnetic-Field Measurement

The optically modulated-scatterer (OMS) technique is developed for electromagnetic-field-distribution measurement with minimum disturbance to the field under test. In this paper, an OMS with newly designed photoconductive-switching structure is proposed. The performances of the new OMS are evaluated with a monostatic-field-measurement system. Measurement results show that an improvement of 6 to 8 dB in sensitivity is achieved compared to previous OMS devices. The developed OMS was used in an electromagnetic-field-distribution mapping system to measure the field distribution in a cubic phantom radiated by a mobile phone. The results show the suitability of this OMS for specific-absorption-rate measurement application
Pathogenic Bacteria Resistance against Different Species of Type I IFN Signaling Is Crucial for Host

It is known that host cells can produce type I IFNs (IFN- (cid:1)(cid:2) ) after exposure to conserved bacterial products, but the functional consequences of such responses on the outcome of bacterial infections are incompletely understood. We show in this study that IFN- (cid:1)(cid:2) signaling is crucial for host defenses against different bacteria, including group B streptococci (GBS), pneumococci, and Escherichia coli . In response to GBS challenge, most mice lacking either the IFN- (cid:1)(cid:2) R or IFN- (cid:2) died from unrestrained bacteremia, whereas all wild-type controls survived. The effect of IFN- (cid:1)(cid:2) R deﬁciency was marked, with mortality surpassing that seen in IFN- (cid:3) R-deﬁcient mice. Animals lacking both IFN- (cid:1)(cid:2) R and IFN- (cid:3) R displayed additive lethality, suggesting that the two IFN types have complementary and nonredundant roles in host defenses. Increased production of IFN- (cid:1)(cid:2) was detected in macrophages after exposure to GBS. Moreover, in the absence of IFN- (cid:1)(cid:2) signaling, a marked reduction in macrophage production of IFN- (cid:3) , NO, and TNF- (cid:1) was observed after stimulation with live bacteria or with puriﬁed LPS. Collectively, our data document a novel, fundamental function of IFN- (cid:1)(cid:2) in boosting macrophage responses and host resistance against bacterial pathogens. These data may be useful to devise alternative strategies to kidney CFU blood agar. kidney weight not in different groups of mice, as CFU/kidney.
Triptolide reduces cyst formation in a neonatal to adult transition Pkd1 model of ADPKD.

BACKGROUND Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), a major cause of end-stage renal failure, results from genetic mutation of either polycystin-1 (Pkd1) or polycystin-2 (Pkd2). In order to develop novel therapies to treat the advancement of disease progression, numerous rodent models of different genetic backgrounds are available to study cyst development. METHODS Here, a Pkd1-floxed inducible mouse model using the interferon responsive Mx1Cre-recombinase was utilized to test the effect of the small molecule triptolide. Relative to other Pkd1 inactivation models, cyst progression in this neonatal to adult transition model is attenuated. Following the characterization of inducible cyst formation in these mice, the development of kidney cysts from triptolide or vehicle-treated animals was analysed. RESULTS Although Pkd1 deletion on postnatal Days P10 and P12 resulted in numerous cysts by P35, daily injections with triptolide beginning on Day P16 significantly reduced the total number of cysts per kidney, with a pronounced effect on the number of microcysts and the overall cystic burden. Additionally, renal function as assessed by blood urea nitrogen levels was also improved in triptolide-treated mice at both the P22 and P35 time points. As the Pkd1(flox/flox);Mx1Cre model has not been previously used for drug development studies, the feasibility of a 6-month adult Pkd1 inactivation study was also tested. While kidney cyst formation was minimal and focal in nature, livers of these Pkd1-deficient mice were severely cystic, enlarged and pale. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the Pkd1(flox/flox);Mx1Cre model of ADPKD is amenable to short-term kidney cyst formation drug studies; however, it may be problematic for long-term therapeutic research where widespread liver cysts and fibrosis could compromise drug metabolism.
Modeling place fields in terms of the cortical inputs to the hippocampus

A model of place‐cell firing is presented that makes quantitative predictions about specific place cells' spatial receptive fields following changes to the rat's environment. A place cell's firing rate is modeled as a function of the rat's location by the thresholded sum of the firing rates of a number of putative cortical inputs. These inputs are tuned to respond whenever an environmental boundary is at a particular distance and allocentric direction from the rat. The initial behavior of a place cell in any environment is simply determined by its set of inputs and its threshold; learning is not necessary. The model is shown to produce a good fit to the firing of individual place cells, and populations of place cells across environments of differing shape. The cells' behavior can be predicted for novel environments of arbitrary size and shape, or for manipulations such as introducing a barrier. The model can be extended to make behavioral predictions regarding spatial memory. Hippocampus 10:369–379, 2000 © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Typology of B-to-B e-commerce initiatives and related benefits in manufacturing SMEs

Empirical research into business-to-business e-commerce issues involving manufacturing small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is still embryonic. In an attempt to partially fill this gap, this paper presents empirical data from an electronic survey conducted among 96 manufacturing SMEs to investigate e-commerce initiatives and their perceived benefits for adopting firms. E-commerce initiatives are assessed in this study using a set of 36 business processes that can be executed using e-commerce tools. These processes were classified according to their focus: customer (downstream), supplier (upstream) or in-house. The research findings point to four main profiles for manufacturing SMEs with different e-commerce focuses. The first group seems to lack any focus or may still be exploring e-commerce opportunities. The second and third groups are supplier-and customer-focused, respectively. The fourth group consists of the more involved SMEs that have leveraged their e-commerce initiatives with both their customers and their suppliers. The results also suggest the existence of a close alignment between e-commerce focus and the related benefits.
Izumo is part of a multiprotein family whose members form large complexes on mammalian sperm

Izumo, a sperm membrane protein, is essential for gamete fusion in the mouse. It has an Immunoglobulin (Ig) domain and an N‐terminal domain for which neither the functions nor homologous sequences are known. In the present work we identified three novel proteins showing an N‐terminal domain with significant homology to the N‐terminal domain of Izumo. We named this region “Izumo domain,” and the novel proteins “Izumo 2,” “Izumo 3,” and “Izumo 4,” retaining “Izumo 1” for the first described member of the family. Izumo 1–3 are transmembrane proteins expressed specifically in the testis, and Izumo 4 is a soluble protein expressed in the testis and in other tissues. Electrophoresis under mildly denaturing conditions, followed by Western blot analysis, showed that Izumo 1, 3, and 4 formed protein complexes on sperm, Izumo 1 forming several larger complexes and Izumo 3 and 4 forming a single larger complex. Studies using different recombinant Izumo constructs suggested the Izumo domain possesses the ability to form dimers, whereas the transmembrane domain or the cytoplasmic domain or both of Izumo 1 are required for the formation of multimers of higher order. Co‐immunoprecipitation studies showed the presence of other sperm proteins associated with Izumo 1, suggesting Izumo 1 forms a multiprotein membrane complex. Our results raise the possibility that Izumo 1 might be involved in organizing or stabilizing a multiprotein complex essential for the function of the membrane fusion machinery. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 76: 1188–1199, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Clinicopathologic Correlations in a Large Alzheimer Disease Center Autopsy Cohort: Neuritic Plaques and Neurofibrillary Tangles "Do Count" When Staging Disease Severity

There is uncertainty regarding the association of cognitive decline in Alzheimer disease (AD) with classic histopathologic features- neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and "neuritic" amyloid plaques (NPs). This uncertainty fuels doubts about the diagnostic importance of NFTs and NPs and leads to confusion regarding hypotheses of AD pathogenesis. Three hundred ninety subjects who underwent longitudinal premortem clinical workup and postmortem quantitative neuropathologic assessment served as the group to address this issue. Subjects with concomitant brain disease(s) were analyzed independently to more accurately assess the contribution of distinct pathologies to cognitive decline. More than 60% of patients of all age groups had important non-AD brain pathologies. However, subjects without superimposed brain diseases showed strong correlations between AD-type pathology counts (NFTs > NPs) and premortem Mini-Mental State Examination scores. The observed correlation was stronger in isocortex than in allocortex and was maintained across age groups including patients older than 90 years. A theoretical model is proposed in which our results are interpreted to support the "amyloid cascade hypothesis" of AD pathogenesis. Our data show that there are many important contributory causes to cognitive decline in older persons. However, NFTs and NPs should not be dismissed as irrelevant in AD based on clinicopathologic correlation.
Light-Element Production in the Circumstellar Matter of Energetic Type Ic Supernovae

We investigate energetic Type Ic supernovae as production sites for 6Li and Be in the early stages of the Milky Way. Recent observations have revealed that some very metal-poor stars with [Fe/H] < -2.5 possess unexpectedly high abundances of 6Li. Some also exhibit enhanced abundances of Be as well as N. From a theoretical point of view, recent studies of the evolution of metal-poor massive stars show that rotation-induced mixing can enrich the outer H and He layers with C, N, and O (CNO) elements, particularly N, and at the same time cause the intense mass loss of these layers. Here we consider energetic supernova explosions occurring after the progenitor star has lost all but a small fraction of the He layer. The fastest portion of the supernova ejecta and the circumstellar matter (CSM), both of which are composed of He and CNO, can interact directly and induce light-element production through spallation and He-He fusion reactions. The CSM should be sufficiently thick to energetic particles so that the interactions terminate within its innermost regions. We calculate the resulting 6Li/O and 9Be/O ratios in the ejecta + CSM material out of which the very metal-poor stars may form. We find that they are consistent with the observed values if the mass of the He layer remaining on the preexplosion core is ~0.01-0.1 M☉ and if the mass fraction of N mixed in the He layer is ~0.01. Further observations of 6Li, Be, and N at low metallicity should provide us with critical tests of this production scenario.
Effects of Alveolar Hypoxia on Lung Fluid and Protein Transport in Unanesthetized Sheep

To determine whether hypoxia directly affects pulmonary microvascular filtration of fluid or permeability to plasma proteins, we measured steady state lung lymph flow and protein transport in eight unanesthetized sheep breathing 10% O2in N" for 4 hours. We also studied three sheep breathing the same gas mixture for 48 hours. We surgically prepared the sheep to isolate and collect lung lymph and to measure average pulmonary arterial (Ppa) and left atrial (Pla) pressures. We placed a balloon catheter in the left atrium to elevate Pla. After recovery, the sheep breathed air through a tracheostomy for 2-4 hours, followed by 4 or 48 hours of hypoxia. In 13 4-hour studies, the average arterial Po2 fell from 97 to 38 torr; Ppa rose from 20 to 33 cm H,O; and lung lymph flow and lymph protein flow were unchanged. We also found that during 48-hour hypoxia, with a sustained elevation in Ppa and a decline in Pla, lymph flow and protein flow did not increase. In four sheep, we also raised Pia for 4 hours, followed by 4 hours of hypoxia with elevated Pla. Again, despite the added stress of elevated Pla, we found that lymph flow and lymph protein flow remained constant during hypoxia. We conclude that severe alveolar hypoxia, for 4 or 48 hours, alone or with increased pulmonary microvascular pressure, produced no change in lung fluid filtration or protein permeability, a finding supported by normal postmortem histology and extravascular lung water content.
A single‐column model ensemble approach applied to the TWP‐ICE experiment

Single‐column models (SCM) are useful test beds for investigating the parameterization schemes of numerical weather prediction and climate models. The usefulness of SCM simulations are limited, however, by the accuracy of the best estimate large‐scale observations prescribed. Errors estimating the observations will result in uncertainty in modeled simulations. One method to address the modeled uncertainty is to simulate an ensemble where the ensemble members span observational uncertainty. This study first derives an ensemble of large‐scale data for the Tropical Warm Pool International Cloud Experiment (TWP‐ICE) based on an estimate of a possible source of error in the best estimate product. These data are then used to carry out simulations with 11 SCM and two cloud‐resolving models (CRM). Best estimate simulations are also performed. All models show that moisture‐related variables are close to observations and there are limited differences between the best estimate and ensemble mean values. The models, however, show different sensitivities to changes in the forcing particularly when weakly forced. The ensemble simulations highlight important differences in the surface evaporation term of the moisture budget between the SCM and CRM. Differences are also apparent between the models in the ensemble mean vertical structure of cloud variables, while for each model, cloud properties are relatively insensitive to forcing. The ensemble is further used to investigate cloud variables and precipitation and identifies differences between CRM and SCM particularly for relationships involving ice. This study highlights the additional analysis that can be performed using ensemble simulations and hence enables a more complete model investigation compared to using the more traditional single best estimate simulation only.
A 12-month prospective cohort study of injury in international rowers

Objective In this study, the injury incidence and association with type and volume of training in international rowers were described. Design A prospective cohort design was used over a 12-month period. Patients 20 international rowers who were competing as part of the Irish Amateur Rowing Union squad system. Methods The rowers were interviewed monthly, and data were collected regarding their training and competition exposure as well as their injury experience. Results A mean injury rate of 3.67 per 1000 exposure hours was reported with a total of 44 injuries reported in a 12-month period. The mean number of injuries sustained per athlete was 2.2 (1.24) over the 12-month period. The area where the greatest number of injuries were reported was the lumbar spine (31.82% of total injuries, 95% CI 20 to 50) (fig 2) followed by the knee (15.91% of total injuries, 95% CI 10 to 30) and the cervical spine (11.36% of total injuries, 95% CI 5 to 24). Half of the injuries (22 injuries, 50% of total reported injuries) were to the spine (χ2 = 30.8, df = 9, p = 0.0003). Ergometer training load was the most significantly associated with injury risk (r = 0.68, p = 0.01). Conclusion International rowers are at higher risk of injury than most non-contact sports and some contact sports. The high risk of lumbar spine injury and the significant association of high volume of ergometer training merit further research to reduce time and competition lost to injury.
A New Robot-Based Sheet Metal Forming Process

This paper describes a new sheet metal forming process for the production of sheet metal components for limited-lot productions and prototypes. The kinematic based generation of the shape is implemented by means of a new forming machine comprising of two industrial robots. Compared to conventional sheet metal forming machines this newly developed sheet metal forming process offers a high geometrical form flexibility and also shows comparatively small deformation forces for high deformation degrees. The principle of the procedure is based on flexible shaping by means of a freely programmable path-synchronous movement of the two robots. The sheet metal components manufactured in first attempts are simple geometries like truncated pyramids and cones as well as spherical cups. Among other things the forming results could be improved by an adjustment of the movement strategy, a variation of individual process parameters and geometric modifications of the tools. Apart from a measurement of the form deviations of the sheet metal with a Coordinate Measurement Machine rasterised and deformed sheet metals were used for deformation analyses. In order to be able to use the potential of this process, a goal-oriented process design is as necessary as specific process knowledge. In order to achieve process stability and safety the essential process parameters and the process boundaries have to be determined.
Content Delivery Networks: Status and Trends

CDNs improve network performance and offer fast and reliable applications and services by distributing content to cache servers located close to users. The Web's growth has transformed communications and business services such that speed, accuracy, and availability of network-delivered content has become absolutely critical - both on their own terms and in terms of measuring Web performance. Proxy servers partially address the need for rapid content delivery by providing multiple clients with a shared cache location. In this context, if a requested object exists in a cache (and the cached version has not expired), clients get a cached copy, which typically reduces delivery time. CDNs act as trusted overlay networks that offer high-performance delivery of common Web objects, static data, and rich multimedia content by distributing content load among servers that are close to the clients. CDN benefits include reduced origin server load, reduced latency for end users, and increased throughput. CDNs can also improve Web scalability and disperse flash-crowd events. Here we offer an overview of the CDN architecture and popular CDN service providers.
A functionally graded piezoelectric material created by an internal temperature gradient

Ultrasound transducers will have a broadband frequency characteristic if the relevant piezoelectric parameters could be graded in the thickness direction of the plate. As is well known, piezoelectric properties will fade away gradually if the material temperature approaches to the Curie point. From this viewpoint, we present a functionally graded piezoelectric material for broadband ultrasound transducers created by giving a temperature variation across a piezoelectric ceramic plate that has a relatively low Curie temperature. The distribution of the piezoelectric constant is estimated by comparing the measured impedance characteristic with that calculated by an equivalent network model specially derived by the authors for the plates with a graded piezoelectric constant.