Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MMP‐2/MMP‐9 Plasma Level and Brain Expression in Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy‐Associated Hemorrhagic Stroke

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is one of the main causes of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) in the elderly. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in blood–brain barrier disruption and ICH pathogenesis. In this study, we determined the levels MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 in plasma and their brain expression in CAA‐associated hemorrhagic stroke. Although MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 plasma levels did not differ among patients and controls, their brain expression was increased in perihematoma areas of CAA‐related hemorrhagic strokes compared with contralateral areas and nonhemorrhagic brains. In addition, MMP‐2 reactivity was found in β‐amyloid (Aβ)‐damaged vessels located far from the acute ICH and in chronic microbleeds. MMP‐2 expression was associated to endothelial cells, histiocytes and reactive astrocytes, whereas MMP‐9 expression was restricted to inflammatory cells. In summary, MMP‐2 expression within and around Aβ‐compromised vessels might contribute to the vasculature fatal fate, triggering an eventual bleeding.
Control in Subsidiary Networks in Asia: Toward an Extension of the Centralisation-Formalisation-Socialisation (CFS) Model

Prior research establishes that international control by multinational corporations is based on three dimensions: centralisation, formalisation and socialisation. New control mechanisms appeared in the last decade, such as enterprise resource planning, short-term assignments and regional centres. Do these new mechanisms fit the three control dimensions? How do MNCs articulate their control mechanisms, including new ones? Using interviews with 77 managers of 47 French MNCs in 11 Asian countries, this study presents an exploratory factor analysis and clustering. The findings show that French MNCs control their Asian subsidiaries through four dimensions: centralisation of decision making, formalisation of subsidiaries, socialisation and expatriation.
Origins of Political Change. The Case of Late Medieval Guild Revolts

This study investigates the origins of the guild revolts in late medieval central Europe. At first, using newly compiled city level data, their temporal evolution and spatial distribution is discussed. Afterwards, the paper provides a historical discussion and empirical analysis of their origins. The results show that pre-existing city-level political institutions and location in a large territorial state were important for the emergence of late medieval guild revolts. Furthermore, the agricultural productivity of the region around a city matters in a negative way confirming the role of the late medieval agricultural crisis in the outbreak of the revolts. Other important factors are a cityOs urban environment and market potential, its degree of autonomy and its commercial, industrial as well as political importance. This suggests that economic change can trigger political changes. I also found evidence for the existence of spatial spillovers from the developments in neighboring cities implying that rational strategic considerations played a role in the spread of the revolts.
Industrial Competitiveness and Restructuring in Enlarged Europe: How Accession Countries Catch Up and Integrate in the European Union

Introduction and Overview A.Wziatek-Kubiak & I.Hashi How do the New Member States Cope with Competition in the EU Market? A.Wziatek-Kubiak & I.Magda Can Government Policy Influence Industrial Competitiveness: Evidence from Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic I.Hashi, D.Hajdukovic & E.Luci Interdependency of Real Exchange Rate, Trade, Innovation, Structural Change and Growth P.J.J.Welfens Divergent Growth Rates in CEECs: An Alternative View M.Brandmeier Networking and Competitiveness R.Woodward & P.Wojcik The Process of Structural Change in Polish Manufacturing in 1995-2003 and its Determinants K.Marczewski & K.Szczygielski Structural Change, Productivity and Performance: Evidence from Irish Manufacturing M.O'Donnell What Drives Trade Specialization in the New EU Member States? D.Borbely Specialization and Integration of Accession Countries into the EU Market: An Alternative View M.Brandmeier Policy Implications for New and Old Member States of the EU J.N. Ferrer & D.Kernohan
A Charge-Based Model for Long-Channel Cylindrical Surrounding-Gate MOSFETs From Intrinsic Channel to Heavily Doped Body

A charge-based model is presented for long-channel cylindrical surrounding-gate (SRG) MOSFETs from an intrinsic channel to a heavily doped body. The model derivation is based on an accurate inversion charge solution of Poisson's equation in a cylindrical coordinate system. The general drain-current equation is obtained from Pao-Sah's dual integral, which is expressed as a function of inversion charge at the source and drain terminals. The model is valid for all regions of operation without employing any smoothing function. The model has been extensively verified by numerical simulations with a wide range of SRG MOSFET geometry parameters and channel doping concentrations, including the undoped channel.
Measuring of marketing mix elements and their relationship with brand equity of Siam Commercial Bank

The objectives of this study were (1) to identify the relationship between the marketing mix elements of Siam Commercial Bank and the dimensions of brand equity (2) to identify the relationship between the dimensions of brand equity and brand equity of Siam Commercial Bank and (3) to identify the elationship between each marketing mix elements and brand equity of Siam Commercjal Bank This is a survey research. The population was the current customers of Siam Commercial Bank. To collect the data, 400 sets of questionnaire were distributed in Songkhla Province by using convenience sampling plan. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS for Windows, version 16.0 and Pearson Correlation Analysis was employed to test all 24 hypotheses. It was found that ( 1) each of marketing mix elements and each of brand equity dimension of Siam Commercial Bank ere positively related. In this study, price and perceived quality showed the strongest relationship (2) each brand equity dimensions were positively related to brand equity of Siam Commercial. The strongest correlation is evidenced between perceived quality and brand equity (3) each marketing mix elements were positively related to brand equity of Siam Commercial Bank. Distribution intensity and brand equity of Siam Commercial Bank showed the highest correlation.
A Configware Approach for High-Speed Parallel Analysis of genomic Data

Many problems in bioinformatics represent great computational challenges due to the huge amount of biological data to be analyzed. Reconfigurable systems can offer custom-computing machines, with orders of magnitude faster than regular software, running in general-purpose processors. We present a methodology for using a configware system in an interesting problem of molecular biology: the splice junction detection in eukaryote genes. Decision trees were developed using a benchmark of DNA sequences. They were converted into logical equations, simplified, and submitted to a Boolean minimization. The resulting circuit was implemented in reconfigurable parallel hardware and evaluated with a five-fold cross-validation procedure, run in a second level of parallelism. The average accuracy achieved was 90.41% and it takes 18 ns to process each data record with 60 nucleotides.
Characterizing and quantifying noise in PMU data

Data recorded by Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) contains noise. This paper characterizes and quantifies this noise for voltage, current and frequency data recorded at three different voltage levels. The probability distribution of the measurement noise and its typical power are identified. The PMU noise quantification can help in generation of experimental PMU data in close conformity with field PMU data, bad data removal, missing data prediction, and effective design of statistical filters for noise rejection.
Does the Mere Presence of a Cell Phone Impair Task Performance

The purpose of our study was to determine if the mere presence of a person’s cell phone serves as a distraction that impairs task performance, even if the person does not use it. In order to test this, we had two groups of participants complete several tasks that require attention and accurate memory in order to perform well. The tasks used were a card matching game (sometimes known as Concentration), a sequential memory game (Simon), and the n-back task. One group was instructed to put their cell phone away before they were presented with the tasks and the other group was told to put their cell phones on the table near them while performing the tasks because they would need them later. Both groups had their phones turned completely off during the tasks, however. Participants completed two trials with each task, and their average performance was calculated. We then compared the performance of the two groups to see if the presence of cell phones affected how quickly and accurately the participants were able to complete the tasks.
Isolation of ntrA-like mutants of Azotobacter vinelandii

A number of chlorate-resistant mutants of Azotobacter vinelandii affected in a general control of nitrogen metabolism were isolated. These mutants could not utilize dinitrogen, nitrate, or nitrite as a nitrogen source. The reason for this inability is that they were simultaneously deficient in nitrogenase and nitrate and nitrite reductase activities. They were complemented by a cosmid carrying a DNA fragment of A. vinelandii able to complement ntrA mutants of Escherichia coli, so they seemed to be ntrA-like mutants.
Secure human face authentication for mobile e-government transactions

This paper describes a joint biometric-cryptographic authentication system for mobile e-government transactions. The system can be used to verify, prove, and enforce 'mobile contracts'. The proposed system offers a cryptographical mutually-authenticated image exchange and face identification scheme, as well as remote signing of documents by transferring an authenticated image for personal face and signature operation. The system integrates two physically secured entities, a mobile device camera and a smart-card, both certified by some authority to enable undeniable visualised 'mobile signature'. The result is a secured, traceable e-government infeasible-to-clone virtual person in a form that can be seen as a trustable 'e-officer'.
The application of ‘endovaginal’ sonography during a laparoscopy‐assisted Vecchietti operation

Background. Many types of operations are described to create a neovagina in a patient with Mayer‐Rokitansky‐Küster‐Hauser (MRKH) syndrome, that sometimes result in injury of the surrounding organs. Many trials are detailed in the literature to avoid these complications. Our goal was to examine the benefit of ‘endovaginal’ sonography during a laparoscopy‐assisted Vecchietti operation to avoid bladder injuries. Methods. A neovagina was created in 15 women with MRKH syndrome by the method of Vecchietti assisted by laparoscopy. The method was modified with the use of ‘endovaginal’ sonography, in order to reduce bladder and rectal injuries. The vaginal ultrasound transducer, placed in front of the vaginal dimple, can guide penetration from the perineum into the peritoneal cavity. With this technique, the narrow space between the bladder and rectum can be well identified. Results. All operations were successful, without any complication, forming a well‐functioning 8–10 cm long neovagina, allowing easy introduction of two fingers in all cases, and with good quality of sexual life for the couples. Conclusion. Creation of a neovagina by any method in MRKH syndrome may sometimes result in injury of the bladder or rectum due to the narrow space between the bladder and rectum. The placement of the endovaginal ultrasound transducer in front of the vaginal dimple seems to be a promising method to avoid these complications during a laparoscopy‐assisted Vecchietti operation.
Optimal Portfolio Selection in a CIR Framework with a Solvency Constraint

The optimal investment problem for a riskless asset, a zero-coupon bond, and single risky stock is developed. The short-term interest rates follow the CIR dynamics. The investment objective is maximizing the expected utility from the terminal wealth with minimum performance constraints. The problem has been solved by the martingale approach. The explicitly optimal investment strategy and optimal wealth with HARA utility are obtained. A numerical example is presented.
Siderophore-mediated iron acquisition mechanisms in Vibrio vulnificus biotype 2

Vibrio vulnificus biotype 2 is a primary pathogen for eels and, as has recently been suggested, an opportunistic pathogen for humans. In this study we have investigated the ability of V. vulnificus biotype 2 to obtain iron by siderophore-mediated mechanisms and evaluated the importance of free iron in vibriosis. The virulence degree for eels was dependent on iron availability from host fluids, as was revealed by a reduction in the 50% lethal dose for iron-overloaded eels. This biotype produced both phenolate- and hydroxamate-type siderophores of an unknown nature and two new outer membrane proteins of around 84 and 72 kDa in response to iron starvation. No alterations in lipopolysaccharide patterns were detected in response to iron stress. Finally, our data suggest that V. vulnificus biotype 2 uses the hydroxamate-type siderophore for removal of iron from transferrin rather than relying on a receptor for this iron-binding protein.
Two results on words

The study of combinatorial patterns of words has raised great interest since the early 20th century. In this thesis we primarily study two combinatorial patterns. The first pattern is “abelian k-th power free” and the second one is “representability of a set of words of equal length”. In Chapter 1 we give a brief introduction to these two combinatorial patterns. In Section 2.1 we present a proof that the language of non-abelian squares is not context-free using Odgen’s Lemma. In Section 2.2 we present a more elegant proof for this quadratic case by applying a characterization theorem for the bounded context-free languages. Strengthening the technique applied in Section 2.2, we prove in Section 2.3 that the language of nonabelian cubes is not context-free. In Chapter 3 we study the representability of a set of words of a fixed length. A set S of words of length n is representable if there exists some word w such that the set of length-n factors of w equals S. In Section 3.1 we give a lower bound and an upper bound for the number of representable sets of words of fixed length. In Section 3.2 we give a lower bound l(n) such that if a set S of words of length n is representable, then there exists a word w, with |w| < l(n), such that the set of factors of w equals S. We study a variation of these problems in Section 3.3: we fix a length t, and try to evaluate the number of sets of words of length n such that there exists some word w of length t such that the set of length-n factors of w equals S. We give a closed-form formula in the case where n ≤ t < 2n. Finally in Chapter 4, we present some open problems which are related to these two combinatorial patterns.
Construct and concurrent validity of the Cambridge neuropsychological automated tests in Portuguese older adults without neuropsychiatric diagnoses and with Alzheimer’s disease dementia

ABSTRACT We aimed to analyze the construct and concurrent validity of the Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVP), Paired Associates Learning (PAL), Reaction Time (RTI), and Spatial Working Memory (SWM) tests from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB®). Inclusion criteria were checked in a first session. The CANTAB and additional pencil-and-paper tests were administered within 1 week. The participants (aged 69–96 years) were 137 Portuguese adults without neuropsychiatric diagnoses and 37 adults with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease dementia. Comparisons were made between the CANTAB tests and between these tests and the Rey Complex Figure Test (RCFT), Verbal Fluency (VF) test, and some Wechsler Memory Scale-III and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III subtests. Most intra-test correlations were stronger than the CANTAB inter-test correlations. The RVP correlated more with VF animals (.44), the PAL with RCFT immediate recall (–.52), the RTI with RVP mean latency (.42), and the SWM with Spatial Span backward (–.39).
Estrogen plus progestin and colorectal cancer incidence and mortality.

PURPOSE During the intervention phase in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) clinical trial, use of estrogen plus progestin reduced the colorectal cancer diagnosis rate, but the cancers were found at a substantially higher stage. To assess the clinical relevance of the findings, analyses of the influence of combined hormone therapy on colorectal cancer incidence and colorectal cancer mortality were conducted after extended follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS The WHI study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving 16,608 postmenopausal women with an intact uterus who were randomly assigned to daily 0.625 mg conjugated equine estrogen plus 2.5 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (n = 8,506) or matching placebo (n = 8,102). Colorectal cancer diagnosis rates and colorectal cancer mortality were assessed. RESULTS After a mean of 5.6 years (standard deviation [SD], 1.03 years) of intervention and 11.6 years (SD, 3.1 years) of total follow-up, fewer colorectal cancers were diagnosed in the combined hormone therapy group compared with the placebo group (diagnoses/year, 0.12% v 0.16%; hazard ratio [HR], 0.72; 95% CI, 0.56 to 0.94; P = .014). Bowel screening examinations were comparable between groups throughout. Cancers in the combined hormone therapy group more commonly had positive lymph nodes (50.5% v 28.6%; P < .001) and were at higher stage (regional or distant, 68.8% v 51.4%; P = .003). Although not statistically significant, there was a higher number of colorectal cancer deaths in the combined hormone therapy group (37 v 27 deaths; 0.04% v 0.03%; HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 0.78 to 2.11; P = .320). CONCLUSION The findings, suggestive of diagnostic delay, do not support a clinically meaningful benefit for combined hormone therapy on colorectal cancer.
Association of the Influenza A Virus RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase with Cellular RNA Polymerase II

ABSTRACT Transcription by the influenza virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is dependent on cellular RNA processing activities that are known to be associated with cellular RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription, namely, capping and splicing. Therefore, it had been hypothesized that transcription by the viral RNA polymerase and Pol II might be functionally linked. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that the influenza virus RNA polymerase complex interacts with the large subunit of Pol II via its C-terminal domain. The viral polymerase binds hyperphosphorylated forms of Pol II, indicating that it targets actively transcribing Pol II. In addition, immunofluorescence analysis is consistent with a new model showing that influenza virus polymerase accumulates at Pol II transcription sites. The present findings provide a framework for further studies to elucidate the mechanistic principles of transcription by a viral RNA polymerase and have implications for the regulation of Pol II activities in infected cells.
Les files et les reseaux zero-automatiques

On introduit un nouveau modele de file d'attente: les files Zero-automatiques. Tout d'abord, on considere la discipline de service Premier Arrive Premier Servi. Les files 0-automatiques sont caracterisees par une salle d'attente evoluant suivant un mecanisme de marche aleatoire sur un groupe ou un monoede infini. En considerant les deux cas les plus simples et aussi extremes de files 0-automatiques, nous retrouvons la file simple M/M/1 et la G-file de Gelenbe avec clients positifs et negatifs. Le resultat saillant est que toutes les files 0-automatiques ont une distribution stationnaire a forme produit et un processus de depart de Poisson. C'est un point crucial pour construire les reseaux a forme produit. On considere deux modeles correspondant aux differents routages classiques: reseaux a la Jackson et reseaux a la Kelly. Dans les deux cas, on a montre que la distribution stationnaire est a forme produit et peut etre determinee explicitement. De plus, le processus de depart est Poisson. Enfin, considerons les files 0-automatiques avec discipline de service Dernier Arrive Premier Servi. Dans ce cas, certaines proprietes restent vraies, mais pas toutes. On obtient des resultats interessants en comparant les zones de stabilite d'une meme file 0-automatique sous les discpilines Premier Arrive Premier Servi et Dernier Arrive Premier Servi.
Integrated Scorecard to Support Corporate Sustainability Strategies

This study aims to analyze the PT XYZ performance measurement system with the Integrated Scorecard method. The analysis is directed to analyze the problems that are aligned with the objectives of this study. This study uses qualitative methods, namely research on data collected and expressed in the form of words or pictures. The object of this study is PT XYZ in West Sumatra. The results show: (1). The use of the Integrated Scorecard can support PT XYZ's sustainability strategy by integrating environmental and social aspects into the company's core business strategy; (2) The use of the Integrated Scorecard can support PT XYZ's sustainability strategy by providing comprehensive monitoring of sustainability performance through the integration of three pillars of sustainability performance, namely economic, environmental and social. (3). Using the Integrated Scorecard can support the company's sustainability strategy by integrating stakeholder management.
Lean startups with industry 4.0 technologies: Overcoming the challenges of youth entrepreneurship in Serbia

Youth entrepreneurship is important for reducing youth unemployment rates and it overall contributes to economic growth. The main idea of this research is to determine the barriers and challenges that young entrepreneurs face in Serbia. The paper analyzes literature in this domain, and compares the status of youth entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship overall between Serbia, the EU and the US. Furthermore, a theoretical model is developed that includes the application of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies and lean startup approach. The results indicate that taxation regulation and the lack of financial support for new startups are the main barriers that the young face in Serbia. In addition, the lack of adequate entrepreneurial education creates difficulties, and demotivates potential entrepreneurs. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce or modify existing regulatory laws and introduce effective financial support for new enterprises.