Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Properties and nature of Be stars - 29. Orbital and long-term spectral variations of γ Cassiopeiae

A detailed analysis of more than 800 electronic high-resolution spectra of gamma Cas, which were obtained during a time interval of over 6000 days (16.84 yr) at several observatories, documents the smooth variations in the density and/or extent of its circumstellar envelope. We found a clear anticorrelation between the peak intensity and FWHM of the Hα emission, which seems to agree with recent models of such emission lines. The main result of this study is a confirmation of the binary nature of the object, determination of a reliable linear ephemeris Tmin.RV = HJD (2 452 081.9±0.6)+(203. 52±0. d 08)×E, and a rather definitive set of orbital elements. We clearly demonstrated that the orbit is circular within the limits of accuracy of our measurements and has a semi-amplitude of radialvelocity curve of 4.30 ± 0.09 km s −1 . No trace of the low-mass secondary was found. The time distribution of our spectra does not allow a reliable investigation of rapid spectral variations, which are undoubtedly present in the spectra. We postpone this investigation for a future study, based on series of dedicated whole-night spectral observations.
How complexity originates: The evolution of animal eyes

Learning how complex traits like eyes originate is fundamental for understanding evolution. Here, we first sketch historical perspectives on trait origins and argue that new technologies offer key new insights. Next, we articulate four open questions about trait origins. To address them, we define a research program to break complex traits into components and study the individual evolutionary histories of those parts. By doing so, we can learn when the parts came together and perhaps understand why they stayed together. We apply the approach to five structural innovations critical for complex eyes, reviewing the history of the parts of each of those innovations. Photoreceptors evolved within animals by bricolage, recombining genes that originated far earlier. Multiple genes used in eyes today had ancestral roles in stress responses. We hypothesize that photo-stress could have increased the chance those genes were expressed together in places on animals where light was abundant.
Trellis-based scalar vector quantization of sources with memory

The trellis-based scalar-vector quantizer (TB-SVQ) can achieve the rate-distortion performance bound for memoryless sources. This paper extends the scope of this quantizer to coding of sources with memory. First considered is a simple extension, called the predictive TB-SVQ, which applies a closed-loop predictive coding operation in each survivor path of the Viterbi codebook search algorithm. Although the predictive TB-SVQ outperforms all other known structured fixed-rate vector quantizers, due to practical reasons, it may not approach the rate-distortion limit. A new quantization scheme motivated by the precoding idea of Laroia et al. (1993), called the precoded TB-SVQ, is also considered; the granular gain is realized by the underlying trellis code while the combination of the precoder and the SVQ structure provides the boundary gain. This new quantization scheme is asymptotically optimal and can, in principle, approach the rate-distortion bound for Markov sources.
Stimulus velocity, duration and uncertainty as determiners of response structure and timing accuracy.

Abstract The present experiments examined the effects of stimulus velocity, stimulus duration, and stimulus uncertainty on the spatial-temporal structure and timing accuracy of coincident timing responses. The results of Experiment 1 indicated that the response structure for aimed movements differed from that of ballistic movements but response accuracy was comparable for both movement conditions. However, when information concerning the stimulus velocity was provided, the responses to the faster stimuli (i.e., stimuli of shorter duration) appeared to be “speeded up” copies of those to slower stimuli and response accuracy increased as the stimulus velocity increased (i.e., stimulus duration decreased). When the stimulus velocity was not known, subjects initiated a common response for approximately 260 msec and response accuracy appeared to decrease as the stimulus velocity increased (i.e., stimulus duration decreased). Experiment 2 indicated that the stimulus duration rather than the stimulus velocity was.
Bootstrapping Arabic-Italian SMT through Comparable Texts and Pivot Translation

This paper describes efforts towards the development of an Arabic to Italian SMT system for the news domain. Since only very little parallel data are available for this language pair, we investigated both the exploitation of comparable corpora and pivot translation. Experimental evaluation was conducted on a new benchmark developed by extending two Arabic-to-English NIST evaluation sets. Preliminary results show potentials of both approaches with respect to performance achieved by a popular state-of-the-art Web-based translation service.
Snapshot hyperspectral imaging: the hyperpixel array camera

Hyperspectral imaging has important benefits in remote sensing and material identification. This paper describes a class of hyperspectral imaging systems which utilize a novel optical processor that provides video-rate hyperspectral datacubes. These systems have no moving parts and do not operate by scanning in either the spatial or spectral dimension. They are capable of recording a full three-dimensional (two spatial, one spectral) hyperspectral datacube with each video frame, ideal for recording data on transient events, or from unstabilized platforms. We will present the results of laboratory and field-tests for several of these imagers operating in the visible, near-infrared, mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) and long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) regions.
Increased inflammatory cytokine expression in the vastus lateralis of patients with knee osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE Increased inflammation and pain are inseparable parts of knee osteoarthritis (OA) that may lead to disuse of the affected limb. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of knee OA on inflammation- and atrophy-related genes and proteins in the vastus lateralis muscle of patients with knee OA. METHODS Nineteen patients with knee OA and 14 asymptomatic control subjects matched for age and body mass index underwent strength measurements and a muscle biopsy. Muscle was analyzed for the total cellular protein of inflammatory kinases (p65 NF-κB, JNK1/2, STAT-3, and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 [SOCS-3]) and inflammatory intracellular molecules (interleukin-6 [IL-6], IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 [MCP-1], tumor necrosis factor α [TNFα], IL-1β, and atrogin-1). RESULTS Knee OA resulted in greater levels of IL-6 protein (34%; P = 0.002). The levels of inflammatory kinases, including STAT-3 (187%; P = 0.002), p65 NF-κB (156%; P = 0.002), and JNK1 (179%; P = 0.027), were also elevated. Furthermore, elevated expression of gene transcripts encoding MCP-1 (28%; P = 0.023), TNFα (85%; P < 0.001), and SOCS-3 (38%; P = 0.055) was observed in patients with knee OA compared with control subjects. Patients with knee OA had reduced muscle strength compared with control subjects (mean ± SEM 84.7 ± 8.7 versus 143.1 ± 20.8 Nm; P = 0.005). Negative correlations were observed between muscle strength and MCP-1 protein abundance (r = -0.37 [P = 0.042]) and the gene expression of TNFα and atrogin-1 messenger RNA (r = -0.46 [P = 0.012] and r = -0.36 [P = 0.040], respectively). CONCLUSION Gene expression and the protein abundance of numerous muscle markers of inflammation and atrophy were elevated in patients with knee OA, and the increase in muscle inflammation was associated with a reduction in muscle strength. Given the role inflammation markers may play in muscle strength and atrophy, further studies are needed to investigate the effect of exercise intervention on skeletal muscle inflammation.
PENGARUH UKURAN PERUSAHAAN, PROFITABILITAS, DAN SOLVABILITAS TERHADAP AUDIT DELAY (Studi Pada Perusahaan LQ 45 Sub-Sektor Bank serta Property dan Real Estate yang Terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia (BEI) Tahun 2010 – 2014)

The purpose of this study is to determine the significant influence simultaneously and partially between Firm Size, Profitability, and Solvency toward the Audit Delay in LQ 45 sub-sectors banks, property and real estate that are listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) Period 2010-2014. The independent variable in this study is Firm Size with its indicator is Total Assets, Profitability with its indicator is Return on Assets, and Solvency with its indicator is Debt to Assets Ratio. The dependent variable is Audit Delay, calculated from the time deviation between the date of the financial statements and the date of the independent auditor's report. This research is a causal comparative and quantitative research using purposive sampling technique in the sample determination that produces 11 samples of companies. The analysis model that is used in this research is multiple linear regression model. The results from the study showed that simultaneously Firm Size, Profitability, and Solvency has influences on Audit Delay, partially Firm Size and Solvency has influences on Audit Delay, while Profitability has no influence on Audit Delay. Keywords : Audit Delay, Total Assets, Return On Assets, Debt to Assets Ratio ABSTRAK Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh signifikan secara simultan maupun parsial antara Ukuran Perusahaan, Profitabilitas, dan Solvabilitas terhadap Audit Delay pada perusahaan LQ 45 sub-sektor bank serta property dan real estate yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia (BEI) tahun 2010-2014. Variabel independen pada penelitian ini adalah Ukuran Perusahaan dengan indikator Total Assets , Profitabilitas dengan indikator Return On Assets , dan Solvabilitas dengan indikator Debt to Assets Ratio . Variabel dependennya adalah Audit Delay dihitung dari selisih waktu tanggal laporan keuangan dengan tanggal laporan auditor independen. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kausal komparatif dan kuantitatif dengan menggunakan teknik purposive sampling pada penentuan sampel yang menghasilkan 11 sampel perusahaan. Model analisis yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah model regresi linear berganda. Hasil dari penelitian menunjukkan bahwa secara simultan Ukuran Perusahaan, Profitabilitas, dan Solvabilitas berpengaruh terhadap Audit Delay , dan secara parsial Ukuran Perusahaan dan Solvabilitas memiliki pengaruh terhadap Audit Delay sedangkan Profitabilitas tidak memiliki pengaruh terhadap Audit Delay . Kata kunci : Audit Delay, Total Aset, Return On Assets , Debt to Assets Ratio
Local administration of icariin contributes to peripheral nerve regeneration and functional recovery

Our previous study showed that systemic administration of the traditional Chinese medicine Epimedium extract promotes peripheral nerve regeneration. Here, we sought to explore the therapeutic effects of local administration of icariin, a major component of Epimedium extract, on peripheral nerve regeneration. A poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) biological conduit sleeve was used to bridge a 5 mm right sciatic nerve defect in rats, and physiological saline, nerve growth factor, icariin suspension, or nerve growth factor-releasing microsphere suspension was injected into the defect. Twelve weeks later, sciatic nerve conduction velocity and the number of myelinated fibers were notably greater in the rats treated with icariin suspension or nerve growth factor-releasing microspheres than those that had received nerve growth factor or physiological saline. The effects of icariin suspension were similar to those of nerve growth factor-releasing microspheres. These data suggest that icariin acts as a nerve growth factor-releasing agent, and indicate that local application of icariin after spinal injury can promote peripheral nerve regeneration.
Epidemiologic and Clinical Features of HIV‐Infected and HIV‐Uninfected Ugandan Children Younger Than 18 Months

Methods: Groups of HIV‐infected and HIV‐uninfected infants younger than 18 months (mainly younger than 6 months) were compared to identify clinical features that could differentiate the two groups. The HIV‐infected group also was compared with HIV‐infected children older than 18 months. Recruitment was as follows for the group younger than 18 months: 708 children admitted with sepsis and clinical features suggestive of HIV infection were screened for HIV1 and HIV2 by HIV enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was undertaken on all ELISA‐seropositive blood samples (270). HIV infection was confirmed in 136 (19.2%), 438 (61.9%) were HIV‐seronegative, 27 (3.8%) were HIV seroreverters, 36 (5.1%) were HIV‐seropositive but PCR negative (uninfected), and 71 (10.0%) were indeterminate. One hundred thirty‐six HIV‐infected children were compared with 501 uninfected children. Confirmed HIV‐infected children older than 18 months attending the pediatric HIV clinic were compared with the 136 HIV‐infected children younger than 18 months. Results: Under 18 months, the median age of HIV‐infected children (n = 136) was 4.0 months (range, 3 d‐18 mo) and the median age of the uninfected children (n = 501) was 1.0 month (range, 3 d‐18 mo). HIV‐infected children were more likely to have had injections, chloroquine, and nystatin, and to have attended a health center or hospital (p < .001). In the HIV‐infected group, the Z score for weight‐for‐age was ‐1.75, length‐for‐age ‐0.78, and weight‐for‐length 1.86, significantly lower scores than those of the uninfected group, which were ‐0.60, ‐0.23, and 3.05, respectively (p < .05). The mean head circumference was below the third percentile in 40% of HIV‐infected compared with 22% of uninfected children (p < .001). Overall, 56 (8%) children had marasmus, 6 (0.8%) kwashiorkor, and 3 (0.4%) marasmic kwashiorkor. Sixteen percent of the HIV‐infected and 7% of uninfected children had marasmus (p < .05). The 1989 revised World Health Organization clinical criteria for diagnosis of AIDS had sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values of 28%, 98%, and 93%, respectively. Older than 18 months (n = 109), the median age was 24 months (range, 18‐60 mo). The following were significantly more common in HIV‐infected children older than 18 months than in those younger than 18 months: bacille Calmette‐Guérin vaccination scar, parotid enlargement, nonspecific generalized dermatitis, and chronic diarrhea (p < .001). Oral candidiasis was more common in the group younger than 18 months (p < .001). In infants examined in the hospital for infective conditions, oropharyngeal candidiasis, ear discharge, dermatologic disorders, generalized lymphadenopathy, lobar consolidation, hepatosplenomegaly, and failure to thrive, especially marasmus, were important indicators of HIV infection.
Effects of Resort Service Quality, Location Quality and Environmental Practices on the Loyalty of Guests within the Malaysian Ecotourism Industry

This research investigated the effects of resort service quality, location quality and environmental practices on the loyalty of guests. Data were collected from 529 guests of river and lake resorts in Peninsular Malaysia. Partial least square technique was used in analysing the data. Results indicate that guest loyalty is affected by the quality of service and location of resorts, as well as their environmental practices. These results suggest that well-trained staff, prompt service and sufficient information on the tourism attributes of the resort are crucial to providing guests with high-quality service. The findings are useful for policymakers and resort managers in terms of enhancing the understanding of the combined effects of resort service quality, location quality and environmental practices on guest loyalty. With regard to its theoretical contribution, this study has extended the previous research on the effects of environmental practices on customers’ decisions by advancing the understanding of the relationship between resort environmental practices and guest loyalty.
An Extended TAM for Analyzing Adoption Behavior of Mobile Commerce

This study based on the technology acceptance model (TAM) and theory of planned behaviour (TPB) presents an extended TAM that integrates trust related construct (‘perceived credibility’) and two resource-related constructs (‘perceived self-efficacy’ and ‘perceived cost’) into the TAM to analyzing adoption behavior of mobile commerce (MC). The proposed model was empirically tested using data collected from a survey of MC consumers. The structural equation modeling technique was used to evaluate the causal model and confirmatory factor analysis was performed to examine the reliability and validity of the measurement model. Our findings indicated that all variables except perceived ease of use significantly affected users’ behavioral intention. The implication of this work to both researchers and practitioners is discussed.
Operations management in improving elderly home care

The roots of operations management (OM) in manufacturing context, but there has been a growing interest in applying OM approaches in different types of service contexts, including the non-profit sector. In this study, we explore what OM research can do to support the improving of elderly home care. A systematic literature review was done to find out the typical managerial implications of service operations management (SOM) research. Interviews and a group decision support system session during an improvement project were used to point out the operational-level problems and development targets in organising elderly home care. By comparing the research focus of SOM with the operational-level problems observed in the case context, the paper helps in bridging the gap between SOM theory and practice. This research helps both researchers and practitioners understand how SOM research can benefit different types of target organisations.
How temporary is temporary employment in Spain

We use the Spanish Labor Force Survey (EPA) for the period 1987-1996 to study trends, characteristics, and labor force transitions of temporary workers. These are workers who hold fixed-term contracts, which the Spanish labor law distinguishes from indefinite contracts. Since the EPA questionnaire allows us to identify permanent from temporary workers, we are able to compare their characteristics. More importantly, we can use matched fIles from the same data source to analyze transitions from temporary to permanent employment. The aim is to test the extent to which temporary workers tend to be trapped in temporary employment relationships. Indeed, we fmd some evidence of this.
Happy Losers: Subcontracting in International Asset Management

We study international outsourcing in the asset management industry. We argue that subcontractor management companies use the funds they manage on behalf of third parties to subsidize their own inhouse funds. On average, inhouse funds outperform the outsourced funds by 7.5 basis points per month. We attribute this difference in performance to within-company subsidization and identify risk-taking as the main source of the observed performance differentials. Portfolios of inhouse funds are 5-8% more illiquid, load 5% more on the market factor, and score consistently higher in the within-style tournament. Inhouse funds engage in performance-improving cross-trading with affiliated outsourced funds. The trades between inhouse and outsourced funds of the same company are more illiquid than outside trades. Inhouse funds use outsourced funds as insurance at the time of distress; a one standard deviation increase in the fraction of outsourced funds managed by the same company mitigates the negative performance impact of large outflows of an inhouse fund by up to 30%. However, outsourcing families still benefit from outsourcing even after subsidization. We endogenize the outsourcing decision and we see that, via outsourcing, fund families mitigate the negative effects of being located far away and improve expected return by 31.2 bp a month on average. This suggests that outsourcing is used as a means of overcoming segmented equity markets.
Mechanisms in the Development of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The leading cause of death among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is cardiovascular disease, with 75% of these deaths attributed to coronary heart disease. Over the previous two decades the pathophysiological basis of type 2 DM has been extensively investigated. Although many of the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in the development of this disorder remain to be explained, it is clear that type 2 DM is a complex medical disorder characterized by insulin resistance and defects in insulin secretion. The process through which the metabolic derangements of type 2 DM accelerate the development of cardiovascular disease in type 2 DM has yet to be determined and remains an area of intense investigation, focusing on hyperglycemia and insulin resistance as major underlying contributors. This article explores current information related to the pathophysiology of type 2 DM alone and its relationship to the development to cardiovascular disease.
Spill Over Effects of Executive Incentives on Corporate Cash Holdings: Evidence from Australia

We examine the effects of chief executive officer (CEO) compensation incentives on cash holdings in Australia, augmented with Remuneration Act 2011, to better understand how the regulatory changes affect the incentives to align the interest of shareholders and managers. We use sample of top 300 ASX listed firms over the period from 2004–2015 (3600 observations). We find a negative relationship of equity incentives with cash holding after the promulgation of new regulatory change on compensation. We also find that the negative effect of regulatory changes is robust after controlling for corporate governance mechanism. In a finer analysis, we document that the negative relationship makes the managers incapable to extract rent in the presence of governance mechanism and independent remuneration committee. Furthermore, our evidence supports the precautionary motive of cash holding.
Detection of matrix metalloproteinases in canine mammary tumours: analysis by immunohistochemistry and zymography.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) was examined immunohistochemically (MMP-9 and -2) and by gelatin zymography (MMP-9) in 12 benign and 12 malignant canine mammary tumours. In nine of 12 benign tumours, weak expression of MMP-9 was demonstrated immunohistochemically in the cytoplasm of neoplastic cells. In the remaining three benign tumours (mixed or complex) MMP-9 expression was observed in the neoplastic luminal epithelial cells and myoepithelial cells in some areas. The neoplastic luminal epithelial cells in 12 malignant tumours reacted strongly for MMP-9. MMP-2 immunolabelling was observed in both benign and malignant tumour tissues, but was stronger in the latter. Zymography and densitometry showed that expression of MMP-9 was higher in the benign mammary tumours than in normal canine mammary tissues, but highest in the malignant mammary tumours. In benign and malignant canine mammary tumours, the zymography and densitometry results for MMP-9 accorded well with the immunohistochemical results obtained with anti-human MMP-9 monoclonal antibody.