Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Insider Threats and Auctions: Formalization, Mechanized Proof, and Code Generation

This paper applies machine assisted formal methods to explore insider threats for auctions. Auction systems, like eBay, are an important problem domain for formal analysis because they challenge modelling concepts as well as analysis methods. We use machine assisted formal modelling and proof in Isabelle to demonstrate how security and privacy goals of auction protocols can be formally verified. Applying the costly scrutiny of formal methods is justified for auctions since privacy and trust are prominent issues and auctions are sometimes designed for one-off occasions where high bids are at stake. For example, when radio wave frequencies are on sale, auctions are especially created for just one occasion where fair and consistent behaviour is required. Investigating the threats in auctions and insider collusions, we model and analyze auction protocols for insider threats using the interactive theorem prover Isabelle. We use the existing example of a fictitious cocaine auction protocol from the literature to develop and illustrate our approach. Combining the Isabelle Insider framework with the inductive approach to verifying security protocols in Isabelle, we formalize the cocaine auction protocol, prove that this formal definition excludes sweetheart deals, and also that collusion attacks cannot generally be excluded. The practical implication of the formalization is demonstrated by code generation. Isabelle allows generating code from constructive specifications into the programming language Scala. We provide constructive test functions for cocaine auction traces, prove within Isabelle that these functions conform to the protocol definition, and apply code generation to produce an implementation of the executable test predicate for cocaine auction traces in Scala.
The Subthalamic Nucleus and Tremor in Parkinson's Disease

The role of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) in the origin of parkinsonian tremor is discussed. Previous studies in monkeys made parkinsonian by MPTP (1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine) administration suggested a direct participation of the STN in the pathophysiology of tremor. We recorded tremor‐related activity in the STN in 12 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and found that microstimulation of the sensorimotor region of the nucleus, where these neurons are present, stopped the tremor with a very short latency. Long‐term treatment by means of bilateral deep‐brain stimulation (DBS) in the same 12 patients led to a significant reduction of tremor as well as other cardinal features of PD. This effect was blindly assessed at 3 months after implantation. In another group of seven patients, a unilateral lesion of the STN was performed. Both postural and resting tremor were significantly improved on the limbs contralateral to the lesion side. In three patients, tremor disappeared completely after 12 months of follow up. The electrophysiologic data and therapeutic effect of inactivating the STN strongly indicated that this structure is directly involved in the origin of parkinsonian tremor, as suggested by the MPTP model.
Scalable architecture for word HMM-based speech recognition and VLSI implementation in complete system

This paper describes a scalable architecture for real-time speech recognizers based on word hidden Markov models (HMMs) that provide high recognition accuracy for word recognition tasks. However, the size of their recognition vocabulary is small because its extremely high computational costs cause long processing times. To achieve high-speed operations, we developed a VLSI system that has a scalable architecture. The architecture effectively uses parallel computations on the word HMM structure. It can reduce processing time and/or extend the word vocabulary. To explore the practicality of our architecture, we designed and evaluated a complete system recognizer, including speech analysis and noise robustness parts, on a 0.18-/spl mu/m CMOS standard cell library and field-programmable gate array. In the CMOS standard-cell implementation, the total processing time is 56.9 /spl mu/s/word at an operating frequency of 80 MHz in a single system. The recognizer gives a real-time response using an 800-word vocabulary.
What is marketing for SME entrepreneurs? The need to market the marketing approach

In Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), the adoption of the marketing approach is conditioned by entrepreneurs’ own conception of marketing, which may be substantially different from that proposed, in a paradigmatic way, by academics under different names (i.e., the transactional, relationship, or inductional marketing). This implies that the potential benefits for SMEs, coming from its adoption, rely upon what entrepreneurs really do when they think they are implementing a marketing programme. Hence, the purpose of the present paper is twofold: (1) To shed light on SME entrepreneurs’ conception of marketing, in order to verify whether their interpretation differs from that proposed by marketing researchers; and (2) To assess quantitatively the psychological determinants of the entrepreneurs’ intention to adopt a “marketing approach” (i.e., what they mean by that), by applying a well-known model for predicting both human and organizational behaviors (i.e., Ajzen’s [1991] Theory of Planned Behavior, TPB). Results of this study carried out on more than 200 Italian SMEs showed that: (1) most Italian SME entrepreneurs possess a misconception of the marketing concept in comparison with the conceptualization proposed by academic researchers; and (2) subjective norm, which in organization contexts can be interpreted as an indicator of corporate culture (i.e., the pattern of shared values and beliefs about organizational functioning) (cf. Elliott and Jobber 1995), seems to be the main determinant of the Italian SME entrepreneurs’ intention to adopt the marketing approach. Implications are discussed.
Physiologic Basis for the Treatment of Epiphrenic Diverticulum

ObjectiveTo quantitate and characterize the motility abnormalities present in patients with epiphrenic diverticula and to assess the outcome of surgical treatment undertaken according to these abnormalities. Summary Background DataThe concept that epiphrenic diverticula are complications of esophageal motility disorders rather than primary anatomic abnormalities is gradually becoming accepted. The inconsistency in identifying motility abnormalities in patients with epiphrenic diverticula is a major obstacle to the general acceptance of this concept. MethodsThe study population consisted of 21 consecutive patients with epiphrenic diverticula. All patients underwent videoesophagography, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and esophageal motility studies. The diverticula ranged in size from 3 to 10 cm and were predominantly right-sided. Seventeen patients underwent transthoracic diverticulectomy or diverticulopexy with esophageal myotomy and an antireflux procedure. The length of the myotomy was determined by the extent of the motility abnormality. Transhiatal esophagectomy was performed in one patient with multiple diverticula. Two patients declined surgical treatment and another patient died of aspiration before surgery. Symptomatic outcome was assessed via a questionnaire at a median of 24 months after surgery. ResultsThe primary symptoms were dysphagia in 5 (24%) patients, dysphagia and regurgitation in 11 (52%) patients, and pulmonary symptoms in 5 (24%) patients. The median duration of the primary symptoms was 10 years. Esophageal motility abnormalities were identified in all patients. An esophageal motor disorder was diagnosed only by 24-hour ambulatory motility testing in one patient, and 24-hour ambulatory motility testing clarified the motility diagnosis in five other patients. The most common underlying disorder was achalasia, which was detected in nine (43%) patients. A hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter was diagnosed in three patients, diffuse esophageal spasm in five, “nutcracker” esophagus in two, and a nonspecific motor disorder in two patients. One patient had an intraoperative myocardial infarction and died. Two patients had persistent mild dysphagia after surgery. The remaining patients had complete relief of their primary symptoms. ConclusionsThere is a high prevalence of named motility disorders in patients with epiphrenic diverticula, and this condition is associated with the potential for lethal aspiration. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory motility testing can be helpful if the results of the stationary examination are normal or indefinite. Resection of the diverticula and a surgical myotomy of the manometrically defined abnormal segment results in relief of symptoms and protection from aspiration.
Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 5 (Prmt5) Is Required for Germ Cell Survival During Mouse Embryonic Development1

ABSTRACT In mammals, germ cells undergo massive epigenetic remodeling during fetal development. However, the physiological functions of epigenetic modification in germ cell development remain unclear. In this study, we found that protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (Prmt5) was abundantly expressed in the germ cells of both male and female gonads. Deletion of Prmt5 by crossing with Tnap-Cre mice resulted in germ cell depletion in adult mice. Germ cell loss was first observed between Embryonic Days 12.5 and 13.5 (E12.5 and E13.5), and very few of these cells remained at birth. Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog were abundantly expressed in Prmt5-deficient germ cells at E13.5 and E15.5, whereas the expression of these genes was dramatically decreased in control germ cells. Interestingly, the expression of meiosis-associated genes was virtually absent in Prmt5-deficient female germ cells at E13.5, whereas the expression of other germ cell-specific genes was not changed. Further study revealed that H4R3me2s was completely absent after Prmt5 inactivation, whereas the level of H3R2me2s was not changed in Prmt5-deficient germ cells. Collectively, this study demonstrated that Prmt5 plays critical roles in germ cell development that are required for germ cell survival during embryonic stages.
Combining spatiotemporal corridor design for reindeer migration with harvest scheduling in Northern Sweden

ABSTRACT Reindeer husbandry and commercial forestry seek to co-exist in the forests of Northern Sweden. As interwoven as the two industries are, conflicts have arisen. Forest practices have reduced the distribution of lichen, the main winter diet for reindeer. Forest practices have also increased forest density, compromising the animals’ ability to pass through forested areas on their migration routes. In an attempt to reduce impacts on reindeer husbandry, we present a spatially explicit harvest scheduling model that includes reindeer corridors with user-defined spatial characteristics. We illustrate the model in a case study and explore the relationship between timber revenues and the selection and maintenance of reindeer corridors. The corridors are not only to include sufficient lichen habitat, but they are also supposed to ensure access for reindeer by connecting lichen areas with linkages that allow unobstructed travel. Since harvest scheduling occurs over a planning horizon, the spatial configuration of corridors can change from one time period to the next in order to accommodate harvesting activities. Our results suggest that maintaining reindeer corridors in harvest scheduling can be done at minimal cost. Also, we conclude that including corridor constraints in the harvest scheduling model is critical to guarantee connectivity of reindeer pastures.
COMPARISON OF TWO DOSES OF INTRAVITREAL BEVACIZUMAB AS PRIMARY TREATMENT FOR MACULAR EDEMA SECONDARY TO CENTRAL RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION: Results of the Pan American Collaborative Retina Study Group at 24 Months

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the injection burden, central macular thickness (CMT), and change in best-corrected visual acuity after injecting 1.25 mg or 2.5 mg bevacizumab as needed in patients with primary macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion. Methods: This is an interventional, retrospective, comparative multicenter study of 86 eyes with macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion that were treated primarily with intravitreal bevacizumab (44 eyes, 1.25 mg; 42 eyes, 2.5 mg). The main outcome measures were the CMT and the change of best-corrected visual acuity at 24 months. Results: All patients completed at least 24 months of follow-up. The mean number of injections per eye were 7.2 for the 1.25-mg dose group and 8.1 for the 2.5-mg dose group (P = 0.4492). At 24 months, in the 1.25-mg dose group, the logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution best-corrected visual acuity improved from baseline 0.35 ± 0.57 units (P < 0.0001) versus 0.27 ± 0.68 units for the 2.5-mg dose group (P < 0.0001). These differences were not statistically significant between both dose groups. In the 1.25-mg dose group, 25 (56.8%) eyes gained ≥3 lines of Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study visual acuity and 6 (13.6%) lost ≥3 lines of Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study visual acuity. In the 2.5-mg dose group, 24 (57.1 %) eyes improved ≥3 lines of Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study visual acuity and 7 (16.7%) lost ≥3 lines of Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study visual acuity. The CMT in the 1.25-mg dose group improved from 635 ± 324 μm to 264 ± 160 μm (P < 0.0001) versus 528 ± μm to 293 ± 137 μm in the 2.5-mg dose group (P < 0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference between both dose groups with regard to the CMT reduction. Conclusion: Intravitreal bevacizumab at doses up to 2.5 mg seems to be effective in improving visual acuity and reducing CMT in macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion. There were no statistically significant differences between the two dose groups with regard to the number of injections, CMT, and change in visual acuity.
Don't go it alone: alliance network composition and startups' performance in Canadian biotechnology

We combine theory and research on alliance networks and on new firms to investigate the impact of variation in startups’ alliance network composition on their early performance. We hypothesize that startups can enhance their early performance by 1) establishing alliances, 2) configuring them into an efficient network that provides access to diverse information and capabilities with minimum costs of redundancy, conflict, and complexity, and 3) judiciously allying with potential rivals that provide more opportunity for learning and less risk of intra-alliance rivalry. An analysis of Canadian biotech startups’ performance provides broad support for our hypotheses, especially as they relate to innovative performance. Overall, our findings show how variation in the alliance networks startups configure at the time of their founding produces significant differences in their early performance, contributing directly to an explanation of how and why firm age and size affect firm performance. We discuss some clear, but challenging, implications for managers of startups. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Conditional Security Choice and the Use of Shelf Offerings

We analyze three decisions in the shelf registration process. Firstly, we examine the determinants of shelf registration statement type, namely universal, common stock, or debt shelf. Secondly, we examine the drivers of the firm’s issue decision, that is, whether or not the firm issues securities under any shelf registration. Thirdly, we analyze the determinants of the debt-equity choice under a universal shelf registration statement. The results show that firms that register equity or debt shelves have characteristics that are common to equity or debt issuers. Firms that register universal shelves, have characteristics similar to dual issuers. Further, we find that larger firms are more likely to conduct offerings under all types of shelf registration statements implying that small firms have limited access to the capital market. The determinants of the debt-equity choice for firms that have an effective universal shelf registration statement are consistent with the prior literature on security issue decisions and the main theories of capital structure. This implies that a firm’s external financing behavior has not changed due to adoption of Rule 415. Firms use shelf offerings in a similar way to traditional security issues in the debt-equity choice decision.
MYC gene amplification reveals clinical association with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in Indian patients.

BACKGROUND Amplification of the MYC gene is reported to be associated with the development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This study is focused to analyze the correlation between MYC gene amplification and various clinicopathological features and outcome in a cohort of 49 dysplastic and 187 primary head and neck lesions. METHODS MYC gene amplification was assessed by differential polymerase chain reaction using primer sets from the MYC gene as target locus and DRD2 gene as the control locus. RESULT The MYC gene amplification was detected in a total of 23.7% (56/236) head and neck lesions comprising 14.2% (7/49) dysplastic lesions and 26% (49/187) HNSCC samples. The clinicopathological association study between MYC gene amplification with the different clinical parameters like sex, tumor stage, tumor differentiation, lymph node status, tobacco habit and HPV 16/18 status determined significant association of MYC amplification with tumor progression (P = 0.009). Kaplan Meier analysis revealed MYC gene has no prognostic significance on survival in HNSCC. CONCLUSION In conclusion, our results suggest that MYC gene amplification is associated with tumor progression in HNSCC.
Internodal length variability of dermal myelinated fibres.

Sir, We would like to make a few considerations on the recent paper published in Brain by Saporta et al. (2009), since our research focus in the recent years has been on quantification and morphometry of cutaneous myelinated endings. Measuring the very last endings of dermal myelinated fibres in the fingertip of normal subjects (Nolano et al. , 2003), we observed a mean internodal length of 79.1 ± 13.8 µm. Compared with the values reported by Saporta et al. (2009) in controls, this measure is shorter and has a lower standard deviation, which suggests a more homogeneous series of internodes. More recently, including measurements from all myelinated fibres, regardless of …
Regulation of volume‐activated chloride channels by P‐glycoprotein: phosphorylation has the final say!

1 P‐glycoprotein (Pgp) is a transmembrane transporter causing efflux of a number of chemically unrelated drugs and is responsible for resistance to a variety of anticancer drugs during chemotherapy. 2 Pgp overexpression in cells is also associated with volume‐activated chloride channel activity; Pgp is thought to regulate such activity. 3 Reversible phosphorylation is a possible mechanism for regulating the transport and chloride channel regulation functions of Pgp. Protein kinase C (PKC) is a good candidate for inducing such phosphorylation. 4 Hierarchical multiple phosphorylation (e.g. of different serines and with different PKC isoforms) may shuttle the protein between its different states of activity (transport or channel regulation). Cell volume changes may trigger phosphorylation of Pgp at sites causing inhibition of transport. 5 The possible regulation of chloride channels by Pgp and the potential involvement of reversible phosphorylation in such regulation is reviewed.
Financial Constraints on Corporate Goodness

An influential thesis, dubbed "Doing well by doing good," argues that corporate social responsibility is profitable. But heterogeneity in firm financial constraints can induce a spurious correlation between profits and goodness even if the motives for goodness are non-profit in nature. We use two identification strategies to show that financial constraints are indeed an important driver of corporate goodness. First, during the Internet bubble, previously constrained firms experienced a temporary relaxation of their constraints and their goodness temporarily increased relative to their previously unconstrained peers. Second, a constrained firm's sustainability score increases more with its idiosyncratic equity valuation and lower cost of capital than a less-constrained counterpart. In sum, firms are more likely to do good when they do well.
Responses Toward Corporate Crisis and Corporate Advertising

This article investigates how individual differences affect consumer responses to corporate advertising during a corporate crisis. Study 1, based on qualitative data, showed brand ownership, involvement with the crisis, and news media exposure were important factors in understanding consumer response toward the crisis and the company. Study 2, a survey, empirically demonstrated that prior attitude toward the company was the most critical factor affecting advertising-related behaviors. The study further suggested consumers of the brand were more likely to view the company favorably, to know more about the company, and to be more involved in their following of the crisis.
Reversal of hippocampal neuronal maturation by serotonergic antidepressants

Serotonergic antidepressant drugs have been commonly used to treat mood and anxiety disorders, and increasing evidence suggests potential use of these drugs beyond current antidepressant therapeutics. Facilitation of adult neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus has been suggested to be a candidate mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs, but this mechanism may be only one of the broad effects of antidepressants. Here we show a distinct unique action of the serotonergic antidepressant fluoxetine in transforming the phenotype of mature dentate granule cells. Chronic treatments of adult mice with fluoxetine strongly reduced expression of the mature granule cell marker calbindin. The fluoxetine treatment induced active somatic membrane properties resembling immature granule cells and markedly reduced synaptic facilitation that characterizes the mature dentate-to-CA3 signal transmission. These changes cannot be explained simply by an increase in newly generated immature neurons, but best characterized as “dematuration” of mature granule cells. This granule cell dematuration developed along with increases in the efficacy of serotonin in 5-HT4 receptor-dependent neuromodulation and was attenuated in mice lacking the 5-HT4 receptor. Our results suggest that serotonergic antidepressants can reverse the established state of neuronal maturation in the adult hippocampus, and up-regulation of 5-HT4 receptor-mediated signaling may play a critical role in this distinct action of antidepressants. Such reversal of neuronal maturation could affect proper functioning of the mature hippocampal circuit, but may also cause some beneficial effects by reinstating neuronal functions that are lost during development.