Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Shaker potassium channel gating. II: Transitions in the activation pathway

Voltage-dependent gating behavior of Shaker potassium channels without N-type inactivation (ShB delta 6-46) expressed in Xenopus oocytes was studied. The voltage dependence of the steady-state open probability indicated that the activation process involves the movement of the equivalent of 12-16 electronic charges across the membrane. The sigmoidal kinetics of the activation process, which is maintained at depolarized voltages up to at least +100 mV indicate the presence of at least five sequential conformational changes before opening. The voltage dependence of the gating charge movement suggested that each elementary transition involves 3.5 electronic charges. The voltage dependence of the forward opening rate, as estimated by the single- channel first latency distribution, the final phase of the macroscopic ionic current activation, the ionic current reactivation and the ON gating current time course, showed movement of the equivalent of 0.3 to 0.5 electronic charges were associated with a large number of the activation transitions. The equivalent charge movement of 1.1 electronic charges was associated with the closing conformational change. The results were generally consistent with models involving a number of independent and identical transitions with a major exception that the first closing transition is slower than expected as indicated by tail current and OFF gating charge measurements.
Supporting top-k join queries in relational databases

where A, B, and C are three relations and A.1,B.1,B.2, and C.2 are attributes of these relations. The Stop After operator limits the output to the first five tuples. In Query, the only way to produce ranked results on the expression 0.3*A.1+0.7*B.2 is by using a sort operator on top of the join.Despite the fact that individual orders exist on A.1 and B.2, current join operators cannot make use of these individual orders in producing the join results ordered on the expression 0.3*A.1+0.7*B.2 . Hence, the optimizer ignores these orders when evaluating the order by clause. Therefore, a sort operator is needed on top of the join. Two major problems arise when processing the previous rank-join query using current join implementations:
iKP - A Family of Secure Electronic Payment Protocols

This paper proposes a family of protocols { iKP { for secure electronic payments over the Internet. The protocols implement credit card-based transactions between the customer and the merchant while using the existing (cid:12)nancial network for clearing and authorization. They are based on public-key cryptography and can be implemented in either software or hardware. Individual protocols di(cid:11)er in key management complexity and degree of security. It is intended that their deployment be gradual and incremental. The iKP protocols are presented herein with the intention to serve as a starting point for eventual standards on secure electronic payment.
Tag and prune: a pragmatic approach to software product line implementation

To realise variability at the code level, product line methods classically advocate usage of inheritance, components, frameworks, aspects or generative techniques. However, these might require unaffordable paradigm shifts for the developers if the software was not thought at the outset as a product line. Furthermore, these techniques can be conflicting with a company's coding practices or external regulations. These concerns were the motivation for the industry-university collaboration described in this paper where we develop a minimally intrusive coding technique based on tags. It is supported by a toolchain and is now in use in the partner company for the development of flight grade satellite communication software libraries.
Experimental evaluation of a generative probabilistic image retrieval model on 'easy' data

textabstractWe present evaluation results of a generative probabilistic image retrieval model using `easy data'. Previous research into our model's retrieval effectiveness has used the test collection developed at TREC's Video Track, but as discussed in detail in [WeVr:SIGIR:03], its search task has been too difficult to measure actual performance of the retrieval model. The `easy data' experiments presented here evaluate our model under varying model parameters on the Corel set. The Corel data set is relatively easy because images are nicely grouped into coherent themes, the within theme similarity is high and the across theme similarity relatively low. These properties make Corel a nice vehicle for testing, presenting or selling new content based retrieval techniques and models. In contrast to the TREC data, the Corel collection gives statistically significant differences between varying experimental conditions, so we get more insight in the model's behaviour. We then discuss at length the limitations of the results obtained using this data set, comparing the experiments performed here to those on the TREC data.
Effects of Physical Activity and Exercise Training on Cardiovascular Risk in Coronary Artery Disease Patients With and Without Type 2 Diabetes

OBJECTIVE Leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and exercise training are essential parts of current guidelines for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the contributions of LTPA and exercise training to cardiovascular (CV) risk in CAD patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are not well established. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We examined the effects of LTPA (n = 539 and n = 507; with and without T2D, respectively) and 2-year controlled, home-based exercise training (n = 63 plus 64 control subjects with T2D and n = 72 plus 68 control subjects without T2D) on the CV risk profile and composite end point among CAD patients. RESULTS During the 2-year follow-up, patients with reduced LTPA at baseline had an increased risk of CV events (adjusted hazard ratio 2.3 [95% CI 1.1–5.1; P = 0.033], 2.1 [1.1–4.2; P = 0.027], and 2.0 [1.0–3.9; P = 0.044] for no LTPA, LTPA irregularly, and LTPA two to three times weekly, respectively) compared with those with LTPA more than three times weekly. Among patients who completed the 2-year exercise intervention, exercise training resulted in favorable changes in exercise capacity both in CAD patients with T2D (+0.2 ± 0.8 vs. −0.1 ± 0.8 MET, P = 0.030) and without T2D (+0.3 ± 0.7 vs. −0.1 ± 0.5 MET, P = 0.002) as compared with the control group but did not have any significant effects on major metabolic or autonomic nervous system risk factors in CAD patients with or without T2D. CONCLUSIONS There is an inverse association between habitual LTPA and short-term CV outcome, but controlled, home-based exercise training has only minor effects on the CV risk profile in CAD patients with T2D.
Combinatorial requirements for adhesion molecules in mediating neutrophil emigration during bacterial peritonitis in mice

To investigate the requirements for adhesion molecules in neutrophil emigration during peritonitis, mice received intraperitoneal injections of Streptococcus pneumoniae while the functions of multiple adhesion molecules were blocked. Emigration after 4 h was compromised by antibodies against ICAM‐1 or genetic deficiency of ICAM‐1. Anti‐CD11a/CD18 antibodies decreased emigration in ICAM‐1 mutant mice, suggesting that ICAM‐1 independent emigration requires CD11/CD18 complexes. In contrast, mice mutant in ICAM‐1 plus E‐selectin showed no defect in emigration, suggesting that E‐selectin commits neutrophils to an ICAM‐1‐dependent pathway during streptococcal peritonitis. However, in mutant mice lacking the three endothelial adhesion molecules E‐selectin, P‐selectin, and ICAM‐1, emigration after 4 h was significantly compromised. Thus, P‐selectin is essential to ICAM‐1‐and E‐selectin‐independent acute peritoneal inflammation. After 24 h of peritonitis, there were no differences between WT and E‐selectin/P‐selectin/ICAM‐1 mutant mice, demonstrating that these endothelial adhesion molecules are not essential to neutrophil emigration during later stages of peritonitis. J. Leukoc. Biol. 64: 291–297; 1998.
Matrix chain multiplication via multi-way join algorithms in MapReduce

In this paper, we translate the multiplication of several matrices into a multi-way join operation among several relations. Matrix multiplication is widely used for many graph algorithms, such as those that calculate the transitive closure. These algorithms benefit from the multi-way join operation because this operation reduces the number of binary multiplications. Our implementation is based on the MapReduce framework, allowing us to provide scalable computation for large matrices. Although several papers have investigated matrix multiplication using MapReduce, this paper takes a different perspective. First, we expand the problem from binary multiplication to n-ary multiplication. For this reason, we apply the concept of parallelism, not only to an individual operation but also to the entire equation. Second, we represent a matrix as a relation consisting of (row, col, val) records and translate a multiplication into a join operation in database systems. This facilitates the efficient storage of sparse matrices, which are very common in real-world graph data, and the easy manipulation of matrices. Although this work is still in progress, we conducted a number of experiments to verify the idea. We also discuss current limitations and future works.
The subcellular distribution of early endosomes is affected by the annexin II2p11(2) complex

The tyrosine kinase substrate annexin II is a member of a multigene family of Ca2+ and lipid-binding proteins which have been implicated in a number of membrane-related events. We have analyzed the subcellular distribution of annexin II in relation to other cellular components in normal and specifically manipulated MDCK cells. In a polarized monolayer of MDCK cells annexin II and its cellular ligand p11 are restricted almost exclusively to the cortical regions of the cells which also contain peripheral early endosomes. Treatment of the polarized cells with low Ca2+ medium leads to a disintegration of the cortical cytoskeleton and a translocation of both, the annexin II2p11(2) complex and early endosomes, to the cytoplasm. A similar translocation which is however specific for the annexin II2p11(2) complex and early endosomes and does not affect other elements of the cell cortex is observed in cells expressing a trans-dominant annexin II- p11 mutant. This chimeric mutant protein causes the aggregation of endogenous annexin II and p11 and the simultaneous detachment of early endosomes from the cell periphery resulting in the binding of the early endosomes but no other components of the endocytotic or biosynthetic pathways to the annexin II/p11 aggregates. The specificity of this effect argues for the association of the annexin II2p11(2) complex with early endosomes and suggests that this association contributes to establish the peripheral localization of early endosomal structures.
Sea-trial results for cyclic-prefix OFDM with long symbol duration

In this paper we report results from the Calibration and Communications Sea Trial 2010. We explain in detail the used cyclic-prefix orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signal design and adopted receiver processing, based on sparse channel estimation and intercarrier interference (ICI) equalization. We then focus on two phenomena that are not commonly treated in wireless communications literature, namely, colored noise due to (partially) untreated ICI and narrowband interference, and biased symbol estimates due to noisy channel estimates used in multi-phone combining.
Standardization of OMA DRM -Technologies for Handling Digital Content Distribution and Copyright Management-

Unlike tangible goods such as industrial products and food products, digital content distinguish themselves by the fact that it is very easy to duplicate products of the same quality. The copyright law prohibits duplication of content without the permission of the creators can be obtained, but in reality, there are many cases where content are duplicated and used illegally. Properly protecting the copyright of content is extremely important for content creators and it’s demand is strong as well. Considering these facts, the concept of Digital Rights Management (DRM), i.e., digital content copyright management technologies, has been attracting attention recently. At first, the focus of attention was on DRM technologies applied to music CDs, DVD movies, digital broadcast and similar media, but application of the DRM technology to mobile terminals is coming into the spotlight lately as well, as content provided to mobile terminals are becoming diversified and increasingly expensive. From the background above, the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA), a standardization organization dealing with mobile application technologies, standardized the OMA DRM specification for mobile terminals. OMA DRM is intended to protect any content delivered to mobile terminals; it can prevent illegal copy of digital content and allows defining restrictions related to content usage (e.g., number of usages and expiration date). Moreover, OMA DRM has various functions requested by content providers; it also has the super-distribution function for promoting content distributions that separate content and right information. There are two versions of OMA DRM: the simple OMA DRM version 1.0 (DRMv1.0), which is mainly targeted at inexpensive content, and the more sophisticated OMA DRM version 2.0 (DRMv2.0), which is mainly targeted at expensive content. This article describes the standardization of OMA DRM and provides a technical overview of each version.
A Multidimensional Exponential Utility Indifference Pricing Model with Applications to Counterparty Risk

This paper considers exponential utility indifference pricing for a multidimensional non-traded assets model subject to inter-temporal default risk, and provides a semigroup approximation for the utility indifference price. The key tool is the splitting method, whose convergence is proved based on the Barles-Souganidis monotone scheme, and the convergence rate is derived based on Krylov's shaking the coefficients technique. We apply our methodology to study the counterparty risk of derivatives in incomplete markets.
The effects of customer involvement on customer co-created value in non-trading virtual community

The research attempts to measure the effects of customer involvement on customer co-created value in non-trading virtual community. The dimensions of customer co-created value were proposed by literature research and qualitative research of focus group interview, including two dimensions of pragmatic value and hedonic value. 485 effective questionnaries were collected, and empirical study of structural equation model was applied to analyze the relations between customer involvement, customer co-created value and behavioral intention. The results show that customer involvement has significantly positive effect on pragmatic value and hedonic value; pragmatic value and hedonic value all have significantly positive effect on word-of-mouth and repeated use intention. Considering the relations between customer involvement, customer co-created value and behavioral intention, the research suggests that paying attention to customer involvement may help customers gain their value and spur customer loyalty intention in non-trading virtual community.
Crying colours and their influence on loudness judgments

The experiment took place inside a sound-proofed booth, the stimuli where presented on a calibrated 21” LC display (Eizo CG211, white point 6500K, 100 cd/m2). No other light sources were present. The adjustment was performed using the CIE 1976 (L*a*b*) colour space (Wyszecki and Stiles, [4]). A graphical user interface provided three faders to vary the three parameters L* (lightness), a* (“red-green content”), and b* (“blue-yellow content”) of a colour patch (width 29 cm, height 19 cm) which was visible in the middle of the screen with a medium grey surrounding. The viewing distance was 70 cm.
Distinct molecular targets including SLO‐1 and gap junctions are engaged across a continuum of ethanol concentrations in Caenorhabditis elegans

Ethanol (alcohol) interacts with diverse molecular effectors across a range of concentrations in the brain, eliciting intoxication through to sedation. Invertebrate models including the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans have been deployed for molecular genetic studies to inform on key components of these alcohol signaling pathways. C. elegans studies have typically employed external dosing with high (>250 mM) ethanol concentrations: A careful analysis of responses to low concentrations is lacking. Using the C. elegans pharyngeal system as a paradigm, we report a previously uncharacterized continuum of cellular and behavioral responses to ethanol from low (10 mM) to high (300 mM) concentrations. The complexity of these responses indicates that the pleiotropic action of ethanol observed in mammalian brain is conserved in this invertebrate model. We investigated two candidate ethanol effectors, the calcium‐activated K+ channel SLO‐1 and gap junctions, and show that they contribute to, but are not sole determinants of, the low‐ and high‐concentration effects, respectively. Notably, this study shows cellular and whole organismal behavioral responses to ethanol in C. elegans that directly equate to intoxicating through to supralethal blood alcohol concentrations in humans and provides an important benchmark for interpretation of paradigms that seek to inform on human alcohol use disorders. —Dillon, J., Andrianakis, I. , Mould, R. , Ient, B. , Liu, W. , James, C, O'Connor, V. , Holden‐Dye, L. , Distinct molecular targets including SLO‐1 and gap junctions are engaged across a continuum of ethanol concentrations in Caenorhabditis elegans. FASEB J. 27, 4266–4278 (2013). www.fasebj. org
Ab initiosimulation of solid electrolyte materials in liquid and glassy phases

Department of Physics and Astronomy, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701, USA(Received 10 November 2010; revised manuscript received 27 January 2011; published 16 March 2011)We use plane-wave density functional methods to model Ge-Se-Ag-Cu liquids and glasses. The models areanalyzed for structural and electronic properties and transition metal ion dynamics. Electronic properties areanalyzed with the electronic density of states and projected density of states. The optical gap increases withincreasing Ag content and decreases with increasing Cu content. We carry out thermal simulation at 300, 700,and1000 KontheseGe-Seglasses dopedwith variousconcentrations of copper andsilver.Our studyshowsthatthe most diffusive ions sample the widest variation in local density. The study of trap centers for Ag-rich andCu-richglassesshowsthatbecauseofthehighercoordinationnumberofCu,itismorerigidlytrappedcomparedto Ag, with its lower coordination number.DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.83. 094202 PACS number(s): 61 . 43 . Dq, 71 . 23 . Cq, 66 . 30 . hhI. INTRODUCTION
The Concept(s) of Accountability: Form in Search of Substance

Abstract Accountability has become a cornerstone of current discussion on the prospects of legitimate and effective global governance. In spite of its rather high currency, accountability does not partake in the select group of first-order political ideals: democracy, human rights, constitutionalism and rule of law have all been historically uttered in much more vocal tones and still remain at the forefront of public demands for legitimate authority. Rather than radiating a comprehensive legal or political vision, accountability supplies a power-constraining toolbox that allows for a variety of more or less attractive permutations. This rather commonplace story, though, tells very little about the concrete configurations, underlying values and ends of accountability. The concept of accountability remains unstable because, among other things, its descriptive and normative aspects lack a clearer articulation; traditional taxonomies fail to precisely illuminate its political and extra-political instantiations, and their respective connection with law; the relevant descriptive variables that shape accountability arrangements are not yet systematized in a comprehensive way; the specific normative goals that lurk behind the calls for more accountability tend to be taken for granted, and the trade-offs or internal tensions that necessarily occur are usually camouflaged. Conceptual clarification, thus, is indispensable whenever one comes across such multifaceted umbrella terms. The article attempts to diagnose such shortcomings, to elucidate a minimalist concept of accountability and to provide a large analytical map that can aid both the description and the critical assessment of accountability arrangements in light of their potential purposes. This analytical exercise is a pivotal starting point if accountability is to get a better grip on the debates about the improvement of global governance.
A new algorithm for fast discriminative training

Currently, almost all discriminative training algorithms for nonlinear classifier design are based on gradient-descent methods, such as the backpropagation and the generalized probabilistic descent algorithm. These algorithms are easy to derive and effective in applications. However, a drawback for the gradient-descent approaches is the slow training speed, which limits their applications in large training problems, such as large vocabulary speech recognition and other applications. For hidden Markov models, some training algorithms, such as the reestimation (or expectation-maximization) algorithm for maximum likelihood estimation (MLE), are fast, but they are not readily extendible to discriminative training for recognition performance improvements. To address the problem, we proposed a fast discriminative training algorithm in this paper. It is a batch-mode algorithm derived for the objective function of minimal error rate. The significant advantage is its closed-form solution for parameter estimation during iterations, instead of incremental search in the direction of gradient, as conventionally done. We experimentally show that the algorithm requires only a few iterations to achieve the optimization objective and that the estimated results lead to better recognition performance than a traditional MLE.
Standard ML Type Generativity as Existential Quantification

One of the distinguishing features of Standard ML is the use of type generativity. Each declaration of a datatype binds a globally fresh type name to the type identifier introduced. Type generativity has been regarded as an extra-logical device which, though desirable in a programming language to ensure data abstraction, bears no close resemblance to type theoretic constructs. We show that it corresponds precisely to existential quantification over types, and use the observation to suggest proper extensions to the current static semantics of Standard ML.
Acquisitions versus greenfield investments: international strategy and management of entry modes

This paper adds an important explanatory variable to the well-established list of factors shown to influence the choice between foreign acquisitions and greenfield investments: the international strategy followed by the multinational company (MNC) in question. The MNC's international strategy is subsequently linked to the management of the two different entry modes by showing that differences in strategy are reflected in different headquarters—subsidiary relationships for acquisitions and greenfields. Some aspects of this relationship are also shown to change over time, a process that is mediated by the MNC's strategy. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.