Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fuzzy named entity-based document clustering

Traditional keyword-based document clustering techniques have limitations due to simple treatment of words and hard separation of clusters. In this paper, we introduce named entities as objectives into fuzzy document clustering, which are the key elements defining document semantics and in many cases are of user concerns. First, the traditional keyword-based vector space model is adapted with vectors defined over spaces of entity names, types, name-type pairs, and identifiers, instead of keywords. Then, hierarchical fuzzy document clustering can be performed using a similarity measure of the vectors representing documents. For evaluating fuzzy clustering quality, we propose a fuzzy information variation measure to compare two fuzzy partitions. Experimental results are presented and discussed.
Nitric-oxide Synthase-2 Linkage to Focal Adhesion Kinase in Neutrophils Influences Enzyme Activity and β2 Integrin Function*

Background: Reactive nitrogen species increase by an unclear mechanism with exposure to hyperbaric oxygen, which inhibits neutrophil β2 integrin adherence. Results: Nitric-oxide synthase-2 activity increases when held in proximity to short filamentous actin by focal adhesion kinase. Conclusion: Protein associations are transient because of actin S-nitrosylation. Significance: Nitric-oxide synthase regulation in neutrophils depends on cytoskeletal protein associations. This investigation was to elucidate the basis for augmentation of nitric-oxide synthesis in neutrophils exposed to hyperbaric oxygen. Hyperoxia increases synthesis of reactive species leading to S-nitrosylation of β-actin, which causes temporary inhibition of β2 integrin adherence. Impaired β2 integrin function and actin S-nitrosylation do not occur in neutrophils from mice lacking type-2 nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) or when incubated with 1400W, an iNOS inhibitor. Similarly, effects of hyperoxia were abrogated in cells depleted of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) by treatment with small inhibitory RNA and those exposed to a specific FAK inhibitor concurrent with hyperoxia. Nitric oxide production doubles within 10 min exposure to hyperoxia but declines to approximately half-maximum production over an additional 10 min. Elevated nitric oxide production did not occur after FAK depletion or inhibition, or when filamentous actin formation was inhibited by cytochalasin D. Intracellular content of iNOS triples over the course of a 45-min exposure to hyperoxia and iNOS dimers increase in a commensurate fashion. Confocal microscopy and immunoprecipitation demonstrated that co-localization/linkage of FAK, iNOS, and filamentous actin increased within 15 min exposure to hyperoxia but then decreased below the control level. Using isolated enzymes in ex vivo preparations an association between iNOS and filamentous actin mediated by FAK could be demonstrated and complex formation was impeded when actin was S-nitrosylated. We conclude that iNOS activity is increased by an FAK-mediated association with actin filaments but peak nitric oxide production is transient due to actin S-nitrosylation during exposure to hyperoxia.
Vascular inflammation and aortic stiffness relate to early left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in prehypertension

Abstract Prehypertension is characterized by an increased cardiovascular risk and by an increased prevalence of target organ damage compared with the pure normotensive state. The present study was designed to assess in prehypertensive subjects the possible relationships between early left ventricular dysfunction, vascular inflammation and aortic stiffness. The study population consisted of 31 untreated prehypertensive subjects (age: 34 ± 6 years, mean ± SD) and 31 age-matched pure normotensive controls. Left ventricular function was assessed by echocardiography, aortic distensibility parameters were derived from aortic diameters measured by ultrasonography, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was assessed by latex-enhanced reagent. Prehypertensive subjects displayed a significantly lower E/A ratio and a significantly greater deceleration time and isovolumetric relaxation time compared with normotensive controls. They also displayed aortic systolic diameter, diastolic diameter and mean aortic stiffness index beta significantly increased while systo-diastolic diameter change, mean aortic distensibility and aortic strain were significantly reduced compared with controls. Values of inflammatory markers were increased. At multiple regression analysis, E/A ratio was significantly related to high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and aortic stiffness index beta, after correction for age, left ventricular mass index and mean blood pressure (β coefficient = −0.49, overall r2 = 0.24, p = 0.01 and β coefficient =−0.46, overall r2 = 0.21, p = 0.02, respectively). Thus, in prehypertension, left ventricular dysfunction is significantly related to vascular inflammation and aortic stiffness, suggesting that early cardiac and vascular alterations may have an increased inflammatory process as a common pathophysiological link.
Probing Genomic Aspects of the Multi-Host Pathogen Clostridium perfringens Reveals Significant Pangenome Diversity, and a Diverse Array of Virulence Factors

Clostridium perfringens is an important cause of animal and human infections, however information about the genetic makeup of this pathogenic bacterium is currently limited. In this study, we sought to understand and characterise the genomic variation, pangenomic diversity, and key virulence traits of 56 C. perfringens strains which included 51 public, and 5 newly sequenced and annotated genomes using Whole Genome Sequencing. Our investigation revealed that C. perfringens has an “open” pangenome comprising 11667 genes and 12.6% of core genes, identified as the most divergent single-species Gram-positive bacterial pangenome currently reported. Our computational analyses also defined C. perfringens phylogeny (16S rRNA gene) in relation to some 25 Clostridium species, with C. baratii and C. sardiniense determined to be the closest relatives. Profiling virulence-associated factors confirmed presence of well-characterised C. perfringens-associated exotoxins genes including α-toxin (plc), enterotoxin (cpe), and Perfringolysin O (pfo or pfoA), although interestingly there did not appear to be a close correlation with encoded toxin type and disease phenotype. Furthermore, genomic analysis indicated significant horizontal gene transfer events as defined by presence of prophage genomes, and notably absence of CRISPR defence systems in >70% (40/56) of the strains. In relation to antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, tetracycline resistance genes (tet) and anti-defensins genes (mprF) were consistently detected in silico (tet: 75%; mprF: 100%). However, pre-antibiotic era strain genomes did not encode for tet, thus implying antimicrobial selective pressures in C. perfringens evolutionary history over the past 80 years. This study provides new genomic understanding of this genetically divergent multi-host bacterium, and further expands our knowledge on this medically and veterinary important pathogen.
Determinants Of The Use Of Special Purpose Companies (SPCs) On Pre- And Post-IFRS: Empirical Evidence From Korea

We investigate which factors determine the use of a special purpose company (SPC) by a sponsoring company and whether those determinants differ before and after IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) adoption. Using financial data from Korean listed companies, our results indicate that use of an SPC is associated with financial reporting incentives (e.g., lowering leverage) and economic benefits (e.g., fundraising). However, the effect of leverage on the use of SPCs is not significant after the adoption of the IFRS. These results suggest that, although companies are generally motivated to use SPCs for both financial reporting and economic purposes, only economic motivation influences the use of SPCs after IFRS adoption. This implies that the regulation for reporting an SPC’s consolidated financial statement under IFRS plays a role in decreasing the use of SPCs for financial reporting discretion. We extend the prior literature on SPCs by documenting the effects of IFRS adoption on the determinants of the use of SPCs.
Capacity Analysis of Traffic-Actuated Intersections

This thesis proposes two models that estimate the capacity of an intersection with actuated control. The capacity of an approach to or a lane group of the intersection is a function of the saturation flow rate, the green time allocated to this approach or lane group, and the cycle length of the intersection. The Minimum Delay Model estimates the green times and the cycle lengths from flow rates, minimizing the total delay at the intersection. Parameters, the ratio of green extension period to queue service time specific to each approach or lane group, are introduced into this model. The parameters depend on the distribution of arrivals of vehicles at the intersection. The Hybrid Model combines the deterministic queuing model that estimates the queue service time and a theoretical model that estimates the green extension period from the unit extension, the flow rate, the speed limit of the approach, and the detector length. A method converting the left-turn traffic volume to equivalent through volume is developed. The method is applied to estimating the capacity of intersections with permitted left-turn phases. The Minimum Delay Model and the Hybrid Model are validated at the intersection level by comparing the estimations of effective green ratios with those simulated by MITSIMLab. These two models are also validated at the network level with real data from Irvine, California. The results show that both the Minimum Delay Model and the Hybrid model are appropriate for estimating capacity of intersections with actuated control. The Minimum Delay Model is also suitable for estimating capacity of intersections with adaptive control. The Emulation Model is applicable to off-line mesoscopic dynamic traffic assignment. Thesis Supervisor: Moshe E. Ben-Akiva Edmund K. Turner Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Thesis Supervisor: Haris N. Koutsopoulos Volpe National Transportation Systems Center
What Precedes Flexible Role Orientation

Wild race of business nowadays enforces organization to form a troop of reliable employee. This is not the time to rely on employee with mediocre vision and point of view. Organization needs a team of powerful employees with flexible role orientation who see broader task as something within their range of responsibilities. Having less number of employees who perceived other task outside the given task as their scope of role is more favorable than having large number of employees who patronized with given job description. This study investigates the notion precedes employee flexible role orientation on state owned bank employees in Surakarta, Indonesia. Job self-efficacy and role breadth self-efficacy significantly show their positive effect on flexible role orientation. However, role breadth selfefficacy shows stronger correlation to flexible role orientation than job self efficacy.
The mating of a fly.

Courtship in Drosophila is influenced by a wide variety of genes, in that many different kinds of pleiotropic mutations lead to defective courtship. This may seem to be a truism, but the broad temporal and spatial expression of most of the fly's "neuro genes" makes it difficult to exclude elements of such genes' actions as materially underlying reproductive behavior. "Courtship genes" that seem to play more particular roles were originally identified as sensory, learning, or rhythm mutations; their reproductive abnormalities have been especially informative for revealing components of male or female actions that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. Further behavioral mutations seemed originally to be courtship-specific, turned out not to have that property, and have led to a broadened perspective on the nature and action of Drosophila's sex-determination genes.
Lack of “immunological fitness” during fasting in metabolically challenged animals[S]

Subclinical inflammation is frequently associated with obesity. Here, we aim to better define the acute inflammatory response during fasting. To do so, we analyzed representatives of immune-related proteins in circulation and in tissues as potential markers for adipose tissue inflammation and modulation of the immune system. Lipopolysaccharide treatment or high-fat diet led to an increase in circulating serum amyloid (SAA) and α1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), whereas adipsin levels were reduced. Mouse models that are protected against diet-induced challenges, such as adiponectin-overexpressing animals or mice treated with PPARγ agonists, displayed lower SAA levels and higher adip-sin levels. An oral lipid gavage, as well as prolonged fasting, increased circulating SAA concurrent with the elevation of free FA levels. Moreover, prolonged fasting was associated with an increased number of Mac2-positive crown-like structures, an increased capillary permeability, and an increase in several M2-type macrophage markers in adipose tissue. This fasting-induced increase in SAA and M2-type macrophage markers was impaired in metabolically challenged animals. These data suggest that metabolic inflexibility is associated with a lack of “immunological fitness. ”
The native structure of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is a dimer. Correlation with binding to LFA-1.

In solution, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) exhibits extremely low affinity for its receptor, LFA-1, as direct binding to LFA-1 has not been reported. Furthermore, there are conflicting reports on the ability of ICAM-1 in solution to inhibit cell adhesion events. These differences could be due to the valency or an oligomeric native biochemical form of membrane-bound and soluble ICAM-1, which may correlate with its ability to bind to integrins. To test this, stimulated adenocarcinoma (A549) cells or HUVEC were labeled with 35S-methionine/cysteine and treated with a chemical cross-linker. A high m.w. form (200 kDa) of ICAM-1 but not ICAM-2 was specifically immunoprecipitated from cross-linked cell lysates and supernatants. Affinity purification of crosslinked supernatants revealed that the majority of ICAM-1 was dimeric as opposed to recombinant soluble ICAM-1, which contains a minor fraction of dimer. Gel filtration chromatography was used to isolate monomeric and dimer-rich fractions of recombinant soluble ICAM-1, and tested for direct binding to affinity-purified LFA-1. Dimer-rich fractions demonstrated an enhanced ability and estimated affinity, compared with monomeric protein, to bind to purified LFA-1. These data suggest that ICAM-1 exists in its native membrane-bound and shed form as a non-covalent dimer, and that dimerization directly correlates with enhanced binding to LFA-1.
Factors Influencing Cloud Computing Adoption by Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) In India

The purpose of this paper is to examine and assess the determinants of cloud computing adoption by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in an Indian context through an integrated research framework. A questionnaire based survey method was used to collect data from 271 SMEs from the northern region of India. An integrated model founded on Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) and Technology-OrganizationEnvironment (TOE) was proposed to test ten hypotheses through a confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling. The analysis reveals that relative advantage, security concerns, top management support, external pressure and service providers’ support are the significant factors which influence intention to adopt cloud computing by SMEs in India. The integrated research framework used and validated in this study is intended to enhance the predictive power of the ensuing model. The empirically validated research model and the instrument used for data collection can be adopted in other similar studies. The findings of this study can be useful for consumers, practitioners, and policy makers who are involved in utilizing, spreading and promoting the adoption of cloud computing among organizations, especially the SMEs.
Altered gene expression in rat cranial neural crest cells exposed to a teratogenic glucose concentration in vitro: paradoxical downregulation of antioxidative defense genes.

BACKGROUND Diabetic pregnancy is associated with increased risk of malformation in the infant. Diabetes-induced anomalies of the face and heart are strongly correlated with neural crest cell (NCC) maldevelopment. We aimed to study glucose-induced alterations of mRNA levels in cranial and trunk NCCs isolated from rat embryos with increased risk of developing mandibular and cardiac malformations in diabetic pregnancy. METHODS Inbred Sprague-Dawley rat embryos were used for NCC isolation from neural tube explants. The migrating cells were exposed to 5.5 or 30 mmol/l glucose concentration for 48 hr, harvested, and prepared for gene expression measurement by RT-PCR or immunostaining with either distal-less (Dlx) or AP-2-α antibodies. RESULTS Evaluation of the immunostained slides showed that approximately 75% of the cells were of NCC origin. Exposure to 30 mM glucose decreased mRNA levels of Copper-Zinc superoxide dismutase, manganese superoxide dismutase, extracellular superoxide dismutase, Catalase, Gpx-1, Nrf2, poly-ADP ribose polymerase, B-cell leukemia/lymphoma protein 2, and β-Catenin genes in cranial neural crest explant cultures. In addition, Pax-3, Pax-6, Wnt3a, and Apc mRNA levels were decreased by high glucose exposure in both cranial and trunk neural crest explant cultures. CONCLUSION Cranial NCCs diminish their mRNA levels of antioxidative enzymes and the Nrf2 response factor, as well as the antiapoptotic B-cell leukemia/lymphoma protein 2 gene, in response to increased ambient glucose concentration. Furthermore, both cranial and trunk NCC decrease the mRNA levels of the transcription factors Pax-3 and Pax-6, as well as key components of the Wnt pathway. These patterns of glucose-altered gene expression in a developmentally important cell population may be of etiological importance for NCC-associated malformations in diabetic pregnancy.
Relationship of Online Service Quality with Customer Satisfaction in Internet Banking Case Study: Pasargad Bank - TI Journals

Abstract: In providing new services, in addition to correspondence of new services to customer needs, the means by which these services are brought to the customer is also important. The growing IT and ICT applications have had far reaching implications for the mode of operation in all sectors, including banking industry. The Internet has radically changed the established concepts in marketing and provision of goods and services as well as the customer expectations regarding quality of products and services. The new means in provision of banking services which is closely tied to ITC plays a critical role in customer satisfaction and retention and in giving the bank a competitive edge over the rivals. In this study, using descriptive-correlation method, relationship of online service quality with customer satisfaction in Bank Pasargad was investigated on a sample consisted of 330 customers of this bank across the country. Customer satisfaction was measured in relation to the following dimensions of online service quality: efficiency, reliability, responsiveness, fulfillment, privacy, and empathy. The findings confirmed significant relationship of the dimension responsiveness, privacy, and empathy with customer satisfaction. However, no significant association was found between dimensions efficiency, reliability, and fulfillment with customer satisfaction.
Mediators of the relationship between service quality and customer loyalty

Purpose There is a dearth of studies that have investigated mediators of the effect of service quality on customer loyalty under the conditions prevailing in Zimbabwe; where bank customers’ confidence in the banking system has been dented by bank failures. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediators of the effect of service quality on loyalty among bank customers in Zimbabwe. Design/methodology/approach A cross-sectional survey of 310 bank customers was conducted in Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe. A questionnaire with Likert type questions was used to collect data. Customers were randomly intercepted as they walked out of five major banks. Structural equation modelling was used to test the proposed relationships. Findings The study found that service quality, satisfaction and corporate image all have positive direct effects on loyalty. It was also found that satisfaction and corporate image all mediate the effect of service quality on loyalty. Research limitations/implications The study was conducted in Chinhoyi, one of the emerging towns in Zimbabwe. There is a need to conduct more similar studies in other parts of the world in future in order to have a better understanding of this subject. Practical implications Banks are advised to address issues to do with service quality, customer satisfaction and corporate image when designing marketing programmes intended to increase customer loyalty. Originality/value Studies that have investigated mediators of the relationship between service quality and customer loyalty in banking environments such as in Zimbabwe are scarce. This study was conducted to address this knowledge gap. Relationships among customer loyalty and its antecedents are not likely to change due to conditions prevailing in a particular banking environment.
Truth functions realizable by single threshold organs

A threshold function is a mapping from {0, 1}n into {0, 1} satisfying: there exists integers w1, w2,. , wn, t such that f(x1, x2,., xn) = 1 iff Sigmai=1n wi xi \geq t. Two chains of conditions necessary for a function to be a threshold function are discussed. Early parts of the two chains are equivalent. One chain constitutes a sufficient condition while it is not known whether the other more intrinsic condition is sufficient or not. It is shown that any set of threshold functions of n variables realizable by a common set of weights is included in a maximal chain of threshold functions of length 1 + 2n realizable by a common set of weights. If f depends on at most 5 variables or if f or its dual has at most 4-prime implicants, then f is a threshold function iff it is 2-monotonic.
Leveraging Intercollegiate Athletics to Support Academic Giving at NCAA Division I Institutions

ABSTRACT On average, National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Division (top-level of U.S. Intercollegiate athletics) schools raise 15% of their athletic budget from private fundraising. Key questions remain as to how increased emphasis on athletic fundraising influences academic giving. Some authors claim symbiotic effects while others assert that athletic gifts “crowd out” academic giving. The current study analyzes the largest single-institution set of individual donor data available to date. First time donors were more than twice as likely to give to athletics as academics. Fifty-one percent of donors making gifts to both athletics and academics (SPLIT donors) made their initial gift to athletics. Problematically, the conversion rate of athletic-only to split donors has fallen to less than 1%. On three different retention measures split donors have higher retention rates than athletic-only donors, who have higher retention rates than academic-only donors. Among split donors, 41.67% give their largest gift to support an academic program. Rather than competing, development officers would be better advised to systematically cultivating donors to support both athletics and academics.