Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rigorous Network and Full-Wave Electromagnetic Modeling of Wireless Power Transfer Links

The proposed approach makes use of full-wave electromagnetic modeling of wireless power transfer links in order to derive the network characterization, e.g., in terms of scattering or impedance matrix. Once the latter is obtained, we show that network theory provides the appropriate matching impedances for achieving either maximum efficiency, maximum power on the load, or conjugate matching. The proposed approach also permits to derive closed-form matching networks and expressions for power and efficiency. An example of full-wave numerical electromagnetic modeling of a wireless power transfer link is presented. The selected example, which is similar to the experiment published by Kurs et al., shows the importance of selecting the appropriate source/load impedance for obtaining significative results.
Seasonal and Lunar Variation in the Emergence Time of a Population of Uca lactea annulipes (Milne-Edwards, 1837) at a Shore in Kuwait

This study monitored the endogenous emergence time of the fiddler crab Uca lactea annulipes (Milne-Edwards, 1837) in the field, for the first time, at an intertidal shore in Kuwait, from 1997 to 2001. The results revealed a significant cyclic change in the median emergence time as the season progressed from winter, through spring and summer, to autumn (.44, 1.29, 3.12, and 1.1 h prior to the dead-low tide, respectively). The data also revealed a significant shift in the median emergence time according to moon phase (2.27 h at new moon versus 2.56 h at full moon prior to the dead-low tide). (Author correspondence: l.almusawi@ropme.org)
Upregulated expression of LOX is a novel independent prognostic marker of worse outcome in gastric cancer patients after curative surgery

Lysyl oxidase (LOX) initiates the enzymatic stage of collagen and elastin cross-linking. It also has intracellular functions involved in the regulation of cell differentiation, motility/migration and gene transcription. Aberrant expression of the LOX gene has been reported in multiple tumors. However, the correlation of its expression with clinicopathological parameters and its prognostic significance in gastric cancer remains largely unknown. In order to address this problem, total RNA of paired tissue samples (n=10) and a tissue microarray containing 161 paired tissues from patients with gastric cancers at different stages were collected. Quantitative real-time PCR and immunochemistry assay were conducted to investigate the expression of LOX. Based on the results, LOX mRNA was increased in gastric cancer tissues compared with the adjacent normal mucosa. Immunohistochemical detection revealed that expression of LOX was associated with depth of tumor invasion (P<0.05), lymph node status (P<0.05), TNM stage (P<0.05) and survival (P<0.05). Cox regression analysis revealed that positive expression of LOX (P=0.026) was an independent prognostic marker for survival in patients with gastric cancer.
Lymph Node Dissection in Curative Gastrectomy for Advanced Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-related death worldwide. Surgical resection with lymph node dissection is the only potentially curative therapy for gastric cancer. However, the appropriate extent of lymph node dissection accompanied by gastrectomy for cancer remains controversial. In East Asian countries, especially in Japan and Korea, D2 lymph node dissection has been regularly performed as a standard procedure. In Western countries, surgeons perform gastrectomy with D1 dissection only because D2 is associated with high mortality and morbidity compared to those associated with D1 alone but does not improve the 5-year survival rate. However, more recent studies have demonstrated that western surgeons can be trained to perform D2 lymphadenectomies on western patients with a lower morbidity and mortality. When extensive D2 lymph node dissection is preformed safely, there may be some benefit to D2 dissection even in western countries. In this paper, we present an update on the current literature regarding the extent of lymphadenectomy for advanced gastric cancer.
Industry peer effect and the maturity structure of corporate debt

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of industry peers in shaping firm debt maturity decisions. Design/methodology/approach - – The authors use idiosyncratic equity shocks as instruments to disentangle industry fixed and peer effects. The authors also employ a three-stage least squares regression (3SLS) model to capture the correlation among thee (short, medium, and long) debt maturity decisions. Findings - – The authors find that a one standard deviation change in peer short (medium, long) maturity debt leads to a 50 percent (37 percent, 23 percent) change in firm corresponding maturity debt and that these mimetic behaviors are statistically significant within, but not between, firm size groups. The findings also reveal that firms that mimic the short and medium (long) debt maturity structure of their peers tend to increase (decrease) firm performance as measured by profitability, return-on-assets, and stock returns. Research limitations/implications - – First, given the research design, the authors are constraint from pinpointing the exact date of the mimicking behaviors. This limitation prevents the authors from establishing the causality of the mimicking behavior and firm performance. Future research can extend the findings by solving this problem. Second, it should be interesting to address the question of whether mimicking behavior is good or bad for firm performance. The authors only compare the performance of Close Followers and Loose Followers; however, it would be more precise to compare the performance of mimicking firms with the performance of non-mimicking firms. Originality/value - – First, the findings extend the debt maturity structure literature by providing empirical evidence that an important determinant of firm debt maturity is industry peer debt maturity. Since debt maturity directly influences firm risk and performance, it is important for debt and equity holders to know how firms choose their debt maturity so that they can estimate their investment risk precisely. Second, the paper provides new empirical evidence supporting the information acquisition and principal-agent theories in demonstrating that firm performance increases when managers herd over short and medium debt maturity decisions and decreases when managers herd over long debt maturity decisions.
Self-organizing aerial mesh networks for emergency communication

Guaranteeing network connectivity in post-disaster scenarios is challenging yet crucial to save human lives and to coordinate the operations of first responders. In this paper, we investigate the utilization of low-altitude aerial mesh networks composed by Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (SUAVs) in order to re-enstablish connectivity among isolated end-user (EU) devices located on the ground. Aerial ad-hoc networks provide the advantage to be deployable also on critical scenarios where terrestrial mobile devices might not operate, however their implementation is challenging from the point of view of mobility management and of coverage lifetime. In this paper, we address both these issues with three novel research contributions. First, we propose a distributed mobility algorithm, based on the virtual spring model, through which the SUAV-based mesh node-called also Repairing Units (RUs) in this study- can self-organize into a mesh structure by guaranteeing Quality of Service (QoS) over the aerial link, and connecting the maximum number of EU devices. Second, we evaluate our scheme on a realistic 3D environment with buildings, and we demonstrate the effectiveness of the aerial deployment compared to a terrestrial one, in terms of coverage and wireless link reliability. Third, we address the problem of energy lifetime, and we propose a distributed charging scheduling scheme, through which a persistent coverage of RUs can be guaranteed over the emergency scenario.
A Theory of Optimal Capital Structure

This paper presents a multiperiod model of firm valuation derived under the assumptions that bankruptcy is possible and that secondary markets for assets are imperfect. Given the assumption that the probability of bankruptcy is zero, the model is formally identical to that proposed by Modigliani and Miller. Under plausible conditions the model implies a unique optimal capital structure. Comparative statics analysis is used to obtain a number of testable hypotheses which specify the parameters on which optimal financial policy depends. Implications for the debt policy of the regulated firm are also considered.
Variability of biomass burning aerosol optical characteristics in southern Africa during the SAFARI

A priority network utilizing a common bus coupled to a plurality of priority seeking peripheral devices wherein a processor or any number of processors is connected to the common bus. Each successive peripheral device is connected to the common bus in increasing priority order, such that each device will have a unique priority defined. Each peripheral device is provided with an associated peripheral control unit. Each of the peripheral control units is connected in serial fashion on an enabling line with the output of the higher priority control unit providing an enabling input to the next lowest priority peripheral control unit, such that the highest priority device requesting bus access prevents all lower priority devices from gaining access to the common bus until the higher priority device has completed its data transfer.
Modeling User Preferences in Recommender Systems

Recommender systems are firmly established as a standard technology for assisting users with their choices; however, little attention has been paid to the application of the user model in recommender systems, particularly the variability and noise that are an intrinsic part of human behavior and activity. To enable recommender systems to suggest items that are useful to a particular user, it can be essential to understand the user and his or her interactions with the system. These interactions typically manifest themselves as explicit and implicit user feedback that provides the key indicators for modeling users’ preferences for items and essential information for personalizing recommendations. In this article, we propose a classification framework for the use of explicit and implicit user feedback in recommender systems based on a set of distinct properties that include Cognitive Effort, User Model, Scale of Measurement, and Domain Relevance. We develop a set of comparison criteria for explicit and implicit user feedback to emphasize the key properties. Using our framework, we provide a classification of recommender systems that have addressed questions about user feedback, and we review state-of-the-art techniques to improve such user feedback and thereby improve the performance of the recommender system. Finally, we formulate challenges for future research on improvement of user feedback.
DECOMPOSITION OF CHANGES IN HONG KONG WAGE DISPERSION SINCE 1980s: A Distributional Approach

Decomposition of Changes in Hong Kong Wage Dispersion since 1980s: A Distributional Approach by HUANG Kai Wai Master of Philosophy Wage dispersion is one of the social and economic issues arousing public concern in Hong Kong. There are many studies exploring the possible causes and changes in wage dispersion. They often focus on the study of summary measures such as Gini and Theil indexes, or adopt OLS-based regression approach. In foreign studies on wage dispersion, Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition, originated from Oaxaca (1974) and Blinder (1973), is a common method of decomposing changes or differences in mean wages between two groups into wage structure effect and composition effect, and then further decomposing the two effects into contributions of each control variable. Nevertheless, focusing on summary measures or decomposing mean wages can just give people an insight into the causes and changes in general wage dispersion but not the entire wage distribution. As pointed out by Chi, Li and Yu (2007), the estimation of the entire wage distribution and decomposition of the distributional changes in wage dispersion has been attracting the attention of labour economists. This thesis adopts a distributional approach proposed by Firpo, Fortin and Lemieux (2007) to study the changes in wage dispersion of Hong Kong since 1980s. The FFL approach comprises a two-stage procedure. Firstly, changes in dispersion are divided into wage structure effect and composition effect without directly estimating a wage-setting model. This is done by doing a proper reweighting to obtain counterfactual wage vectors. Kernel density estimation is used for visualizing the wage distribution in different years and the counterfactuals; secondly, novel recentered influence function (RIF) regressions across quantiles are performed to further decompose the two effects into contributions of each control variable. The findings are outlined as follows: first, there was an increase in wage dispersion over the whole wage distribution from 1980s but a decrease from 2001 to 2006; second, the composition effect dominates the wage structure effect over years; third, changes in the distribution of characteristics and the returns to these characteristics are highly responsive to each other, suggesting that our labour market is highly responsive to structural changes; fourth, The common wage-determining factors may not be able to explain the earnings-profile of low wage earners well. In brief, the development of the economy since 1980s increased the wage dispersion over years. Nevertheless, the economic downturn due to external shocks and internal unfavourable events and general skill-upgrading in labour-intensive industries decreased the wage dispersion since 2000s.
Phosphorylation Site Dynamics of Early T-cell Receptor Signaling

In adaptive immune responses, T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling impacts multiple cellular processes and results in T-cell differentiation, proliferation, and cytokine production. Although individual protein–protein interactions and phosphorylation events have been studied extensively, we lack a systems-level understanding of how these components cooperate to control signaling dynamics, especially during the crucial first seconds of stimulation. Here, we used quantitative proteomics to characterize reshaping of the T-cell phosphoproteome in response to TCR/CD28 co-stimulation, and found that diverse dynamic patterns emerge within seconds. We detected phosphorylation dynamics as early as 5 s and observed widespread regulation of key TCR signaling proteins by 30 s. Development of a computational model pointed to the presence of novel regulatory mechanisms controlling phosphorylation of sites with central roles in TCR signaling. The model was used to generate predictions suggesting unexpected roles for the phosphatase PTPN6 (SHP-1) and shortcut recruitment of the actin regulator WAS. Predictions were validated experimentally. This integration of proteomics and modeling illustrates a novel, generalizable framework for solidifying quantitative understanding of a signaling network and for elucidating missing links.
The Effect of Depression on Labor Market Outcomes

We estimated the effect of depression on labor market outcomes using data from the 2004-2009 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. After accounting for the endogeneity of depression through a correlated random effects panel data specification, we found that depression reduces the likelihood of employment. We did not, however, find evidence of a causal relationship between depression and hourly wages or weekly hours worked. Our estimates are substantially smaller than those from previous studies, and imply that depression reduces the probability of employment by 2.6 percentage points. In addition, we examined the effect of depression on work impairment and found that depression increases annual work loss days by about 1.4 days (33 percent), which implies that the annual aggregate productivity loses due to depression-induced absenteeism range from $700 million to 1.4 billion in 2009 USD.
Non-orthogonal zero-diagonalization for source separation based on time-frequency representation

This paper is concerned with blind separation of source signals using time-frequency representations. We show that the separation can be realized through the non-orthogonal joint zero diagonalization of spatial quadratic time frequency matrices. One advantage of the proposed method is that it does not require any whitening stage and thus it is intended to work even with a class of correlated signals.
Growth and Poverty Reduction Under Globalization: The Systematic Impact of Exchange Rate Misalignment

This paper asseses of the role of economic growth in achieving the first target of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The analysis is composed of two parts. First, we address economic growth as the most effective instrument for achieving poverty reduction. In evaluating feasibility we extend the “exit-time” concept and we find that at least one half of all the targeted countries will not achieve the first target of the MDGs if they continue on their historical trajectory. Second, we focus on accelerating the rate of growth in the poorest countries of the world if the MDGs are to be achieved. In a standard reduced-form growth-regression model we introduce the exchange rate misalignment defined as the chronic deviation between the nominal exchange rate and the purchasing power parity rate. We confirm the negative relationship between misalignment and growth. Most importantly, the analysis proves misalignment originates in the currency substitution that takes place in developing countries that results in the systematic devaluation of their currencies. This finding highlights the importance of the proper combination of trade and exchange rate policies in fostering growth in developing countries.
Structural and Catalytic Properties of S1 Nuclease from Aspergillus oryzae Responsible for Substrate Recognition, Cleavage, Non–Specificity, and Inhibition

The single–strand–specific S1 nuclease from Aspergillus oryzae is an archetypal enzyme of the S1–P1 family of nucleases with a widespread use for biochemical analyses of nucleic acids. We present the first X–ray structure of this nuclease along with a thorough analysis of the reaction and inhibition mechanisms and of its properties responsible for identification and binding of ligands. Seven structures of S1 nuclease, six of which are complexes with products and inhibitors, and characterization of catalytic properties of a wild type and mutants reveal unknown attributes of the S1–P1 family. The active site can bind phosphate, nucleosides, and nucleotides in several distinguished ways. The nucleoside binding site accepts bases in two binding modes–shallow and deep. It can also undergo remodeling and so adapt to different ligands. The amino acid residue Asp65 is critical for activity while Asn154 secures interaction with the sugar moiety, and Lys68 is involved in interactions with the phosphate and sugar moieties of ligands. An additional nucleobase binding site was identified on the surface, which explains the absence of the Tyr site known from P1 nuclease. For the first time ternary complexes with ligands enable modeling of ssDNA binding in the active site cleft. Interpretation of the results in the context of the whole S1–P1 nuclease family significantly broadens our knowledge regarding ligand interaction modes and the strategies of adjustment of the enzyme surface and binding sites to achieve particular specificity.
Grp94, the endoplasmic reticulum Hsp90, has a similar solution conformation to cytosolic Hsp90 in the absence of nucleotide

The molecular chaperone, Hsp90, is an essential eukaryotic protein that assists in the maturation and activation of client proteins. Hsp90 function depends upon the binding and hydrolysis of ATP, which causes large conformational rearrangements in the chaperone. Hsp90 is highly conserved from bacteria to eukaryotes, and similar nucleotide‐dependent conformations have been demonstrated for the bacterial, yeast, and human proteins. There are, however, important species‐specific differences in the ability of nucleotide to shift the conformation from one state to another. Although the role of nucleotide in conformation has been well studied for the cytosolic yeast and human proteins, the conformations found in the absence of nucleotide are less well understood. In contrast to cytosolic Hsp90, crystal structures of the endoplasmic reticulum homolog, Grp94, show the same conformation in the presence of both ADP and AMPPNP. This conformation differs from the yeast AMPPNP‐bound crystal state, suggesting that Grp94 may have a different conformational cycle. In this study, we use small angle X‐ray scattering and rigid body modeling to study the nucleotide free states of cytosolic yeast and human Hsp90s, as well as mouse Grp94. We show that all three proteins adopt an extended, chair‐like conformation distinct from the extended conformation observed for the bacterial Hsp90. For Grp94, we also show that nucleotide causes a small shift toward the crystal state, although the extended state persists as the major population. These results provide the first evidence that Grp94 shares a conformational state with other Hsp90 homologs.
Exploring user expertise and descriptive ability in community question answering

The research on community question answering (CQA) has been paid increasing attention in recent years. In CQA, to reduce the number of unanswered questions and the time for askers to wait, it is very necessary to identify relevant experts or best answers for these questions. Generally, the experts' answers are more likely to be the best answers. Existing studies considered that user expertise is reflected by the voting scores of both answers and questions. However, voting scores of questions are not really related to user expertise. In this paper, we proposed a new probabilistic model to depict users' expertise based on answers and their descriptive ability based on questions. To exploit social information in CQA, the link analysis is also considered. Extensive experiments on the large Stack Overflow dataset demonstrate that our methods can achieve comparable or even better performance than the state-of-the-art models.
Unintentional miRNA Ablation Is a Risk Factor in Gene Knockout Studies: A Short Report

One of the most powerful techniques for studying the function of a gene is to disrupt the expression of that gene using genetic engineering strategies such as targeted recombination or viral integration of gene trap cassettes. The tremendous utility of these tools was recognized this year with the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to Capecchi, Evans, and Smithies for their pioneering work in targeted recombination mutagenesis in mammals. Another noteworthy discovery made nearly a decade ago was the identification of a novel class of non-coding genes called microRNAs. MicroRNAs are among the largest known classes of regulatory elements with more than 1000 predicted to exist in the mouse genome. Over 50% of known microRNAs are located within introns of coding genes. Given that currently about half of the genes in mouse have been knocked out, we investigated the possibility that intronic microRNAs may have been coincidentally deleted or disrupted in some of these mouse models. We searched published murine knockout studies and gene trap embryonic stem cell line databases for cases where a microRNA was located within or near the manipulated genomic loci, finding almost 200 cases where microRNA expression may have been disrupted along with another gene. Our results draw attention to the need for careful planning in future knockout studies to minimize the unintentional disruption of microRNAs. These data also raise the possibility that many knockout studies may need to be reexamined to determine if loss of a microRNA contributes to the phenotypic consequences attributed to loss of a protein-encoding gene.