Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of phenylalanine and threonine oligopeptides on milk protein synthesis in cultured bovine mammary epithelial cells.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of phenylalanine (Phe) and threonine (Thr) oligopeptides on αs1 casein gene expression and milk protein synthesis in bovine mammary epithelial cells. Primary mammary epithelial cells were obtained from Holstein dairy cows and incubated in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium-F12 medium (DMEM/F12) containing lactogenic hormones (prolactin and glucocorticoids). Free Phe (117 μg/ml) was substituted partly with peptide-bound Phe (phenylalanylphenylalanine, phenylalanyl threonine, threonyl-phenylalanyl-phenylalanine) in the experimental media. After incubation with experimental medium, cells were collected for gene expression analysis and medium was collected for milk protein or amino acid determination. The results showed that peptide-bound Phe at 10% (11.7 μg/ml) significantly enhanced αs1 casein gene expression and milk protein synthesis as compared with equivalent amount of free Phe. When 10% Phe was replaced by phenylalanylphenylalanine, the disappearance of most essential amino acids increased significantly, and gene expression of peptide transporter 2 and some amino acid transporters was significantly enhanced. These results indicate that the Phe and Thr oligopeptides are important for milk protein synthesis, and peptide-bound amino acids could be utilised more efficiently in milk protein synthesis than the equivalent amount of free amino acids.
Bank Financing as an Incentive for Earnings Management in Business Start-Ups

In this paper, we investigate whether business start-ups in need for external financing manage their earnings in the years prior to obtaining a first bank loan. Newly established firms typically face valuable growth opportunities whereas their external financing sources usually are limited to bank loans and trade credit. Due to lack of track record, information asymmetries between entrepreneurs and potential financiers tend to be large. Business start-ups, as a result, may manage their earnings upwards when applying for a first bank loan, to influence the lending decisions of banks. We use a unique sample of Belgian start-up firms to test this hypothesis. Earnings management behavior is captured through two measures of current accruals: trade accruals and non-cash working capital accruals. Our multivariate analyses indicate that, after controlling for elements that affect the normal level of accruals, business start-ups indeed have significantly increased levels of current accruals and thus earnings in the years preceding a first bank loan. However, we find no evidence that bank lending decisions are actually influenced by this earnings management behavior.
Automated control for SLA-aware elastic clouds

Although Cloud Computing provides a means to support remote, on-demand access top a set of computing resources, its ad-hoc management for quality-of-service and SLA poses significant challenges to the performance, availability and economical costs of the cloud. This paper discusses these issues and present early ideas to handle them. First, it introduces the SLAaaS model (SLA aware service) that enriches the general paradigm of Cloud Computing SLAaaS enables a systematic and transparent integration of service levels and SLA to the cloud. It is orthogonal to IaaS, PaaS and may apply to any of them. Furthermore, the paper discusses autonomic SLA management in the cloud and present early ideas to tackle it.
Technology's varying impact on the success of strategic business units within the miles and snow typology

The high-tech industry is usually treated as an homogeneous entity, without differentiating between organizations according to the relative importance of technology in their business strategy. This paper investigates the varying impact of technology on the success of strategic business units within the Miles and Snow typology. Although common wisdom might lead to the conclusion that prospectors are more dependent on technological progress than the other strategic types, the results show rather that the influence is greater and more fruitful for the defenders both in the short and the long term.
Risk assessment model for E-commerce security based on PRA

The risk level that it faces decides whether E-commerce system runs smoothly.However,there is not a uniform standard for E-commerce risk assessment.Based on E-commerce security structural levels,each layers’ composition,network attacks and attacks results are analyzed in a method of probabilistic risk assessment(PRA). Through fault tree,each layers’ probability risk is calculated to get the total value of the risk finally.The model of PRA that is used in the E-commerce can calculate the risk level better for system.
Emerging Rental Markets and Investment in Agricultural Land in China

With the emerging rental market in China,many farmers cultivate both owned land and rented land.This paper aims to document the changing trend of rental land and its impact on farmers' investment in agricultural land.Based on a national representative household survey from 6 provinces in 2000 and 2008,this study shows that after controlling for other factors,farmers tend to apply less organic fertilizers in rented land than in their own land.The analysis also reveals that the difference in organic fertilizer use between own land and rented land has been falling due to the improvement of land use rights of rented land.
Doing better by doing good – the experience of a community network in Brazil

The aim of this article is to comprehend the sustainability of social system by means of an exploratory study of a Brazilian community network. A number of internal and external members of this network were interviewed in order to identify the gains accruing to each member from their individual participation in the network. Two categories of analysis were selected: gains for the community and gains for the individual. It was noted that doing good 'does you good', a fact which is of decisive importance to the sustainability of social system especially when it is carried out by volunteers.
The Consumers’ Approach to Sustainable Consumption and Production: a Case Study in Lithuania

The promotion of sustainable consumption and production (SCP) as the most important goal and the main challenge to continuously improve the well-being of present and future generations was stated in the European Union (EU) Sustainable Development Strategy, which was renewed in 2006. Consumers show more concern about their consumption patterns. Unfortunately, actual consumption behaviour is changing very slowly and achievements in industrial efficiencies do not ensure significant positive changes. Even though old member states of the EU still have the largest volume of consumption expenditure, new member states are already not so far from them with one of the highest increases recorded in the Baltic States according to the data from Eurostat. This paper will highlight the most important results from the survey for Lithuanian consumers in order to ascertain their attitudes and habits and to determine relevant factors that influence, inhibit and motivate their consumption behaviour. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.5755/j01.erem. 71.4. 13642
Maximizing Parallelism without Exploding Deadlines in a Mixed Criticality Embedded System

Complex embedded systems today commonly involve a mix of real-time and best-effort applications. The recent emergence of low-cost multicore processors raises the possibility of running both kinds of applications on a single machine, with virtualization ensuring isolation. Nevertheless, memory contention can introduce other sources of delay, that can lead to missed deadlines. In this paper, we present a combined offline/online memory bandwidth monitoring approach. Our approach estimates and limits the impact of the memory contention incurred by the best-effort applications on the execution time of the real-time application. We show that our approach is compatible with the hardware counters provided by current small commodity multicore processors. Using our approach, the system designer can limit the overhead on the real-time application to under 5% of its expected execution time, while still enabling progress of the best-effort applications.
Energy concept taught using ICT

A new curriculum together with a novel educational software was designed and developed to teach the physical concept of energy. The software design has been previously discussed while the educational trial to examine the suitability of this new material followed. In this educational trial, 3 groups of students of various age participated. Experimental Group A was taught the subject with the aid of the novel software, experimental group B was taught the same curriculum without the use of the software, while group C served as control group and had not followed any special teaching except the one provided by the conventional education at school. In the present study a comparison will be made between the results obtained from the experimental group and those of the control group. The study focuses, therefore, on how well the newly developed curriculum (-as contained in the new software) prepares the students on the subjects taught and tested, and whether or not this teaching is more successful than the conventional one.
A novel gray system theory based core loss estimation method for VSI fed induction machines

In the vector control strategy of induction machines (IMs) fed by inverter, core loss information is critical to accurate determination of rotor magnetic field orientation and dynamic response control. However, methods introduced in IEEE-112 standard to separate the core loss on-line from the total loss are not available. This paper presents a novel real-time core loss determination approach considering the total harmonic distortion (THD) due to the voltage source inverter (VSI). In this method, the core losses estimation model is derived based on the Grey System Theory (GST). In order to consider VSI influence, time harmonics with different frequency bands are considered in the total losses calculation, and the core losses are segregated from the total losses using the proposed GST based core losses model. With the proposed approach, the core losses of the IM can be directly estimated from the measured currents and voltages, and the determined core losses can be used to the drive control system to improve the control performance. A comparison between the measured and determined core losses has been conducted to validate the proposed method.
Factors potentially affecting the successful promotion of electric vehicles

Purpose – The purpose of this paper was to identify whether the promotional materials used by government bodies and private producers to stimulate the mass market for electric vehicles (EVs) embodied themes deemed attractive by a sample of motorists in Greater London. Design/methodology/approach – The EV websites and advertisements of EV manufacturers and the EV websites of relevant public bodies were subjected to semantic network and categorical content analyses. Outcomes were inputted to a conjoint analysis, the results of which were clustered into customer segments using the NORMCLUS generalized market segmentation procedure. Findings – Substantial disparities between, on one hand, the EV characteristics emphasized in manufacturers’ and public bodies’ EV promotional materials and, on the other, potential EV buyers’ views regarding the key qualities of EVs became evident. Research limitations/implications – The sample size of motorists was limited and the research was completed in a single country. Prac.
Is Venture Capital Really a Local Business? Evidence from U.S. Cross-Border Investment

A collection of specialized pre- and post-investment practices help venture capital firms mitigate the tremendous information and agency problems associated with investment in early-stage startups. However, existing research sheds little light on if, and how, these practices change when investing across borders or the implications for investment performance. This study empirically examines cross-border impact on investment practice and the role local syndicate partners play in that process using a sample of 140,000 rounds of venture capital investment over a 30-year period. Results show little change in U.S. venture capital firm practice when investing across borders, and the addition of a local partner in cross-border deals is negatively associated with investment performance.
Mutual Fund Intermediation, Equity Issues, and the Real Economy

I study the real effects of mutual fund investment on productivity and output through their screening role in the new equity issues market. I present a simple model to show that when funds have information advantages over individuals about equity issuers, their participation in new equity issues can predict productivity and hence real output. Empirically I find that fund participation predicts the sensitivity of output to new issues, at both the aggregate and industry level. In addition, smaller net fund flows are associated with a stronger sensitivity of output to fund participation, due to funds' reduced information costs when they have less capital. The results offer a novel perspective by showing a relation between funds' screening and the real economy.
Implementation of Cloud Computing in Education - A Revolution

Innovation is necessary to ride the inevitable tide of change and one such hot recent area of research in Information Technology (IT) is cloud computing. Cloud computing is a distributed computing technology offering required software and hardware through Internet. It also provides storage, computational platform and infrastructure which are demanded by the user according to their requirement. Due to the growing need of infrastructure educational institutes, organizations have to spend a large amount on their infrastructure to fulfill the needs and demands of the users. Cloud computing is a next generation platform that allows institutions and organizations with a dynamic pools of resource and to reduce cost through improved utilization. In the present scenario, many education institutions are facing the problems with the growing need of IT and infrastructure. Cloud computing which is an emerging technology and which relies on existing technology such as Internet, virtualization, grid computing etc. can be a solution to such problems by providing required infrastructure, software and storage. In this paper a basic research has been carried out to show how cloud computing can be introduced in the education to improve teaching, agility and have a cost-effective infrastructure which can bring a revolution in the field of education. It also tries to bring out its benefits and limitations.
Jump into the Void? Factors Related to a Preferred Retirement Age: Gender, Social Interests, and Leisure Activities

Using the frameworks of the life course perspective and continuity theory, this study focuses on the association among working people between gender and specific leisure activities, social interests and individuals' preferred retirement age. The study is based on the first wave of the Norwegian Life Course, Aging and Generation (NorLAG) study, concentrating on workers 40–61 years old, thinking about retirement (n = 2339). Results indicate that some leisure activities and interests are associated with preferences for early retirement, while other activities and interests are associated with preferences for later retirement. Different leisure activities and interests are related to men's and women's retirement preferences. Single women prefer to retire later than married women. Findings suggest that leisure activities and social interests have different relevance for men's and women's preferences for leaving the labor force. Women active in voluntary work prefer later retirement, while men engaged in fishing and hunting prefer early retirement.
Selar Othman Ali Quality Assurance and Effectiveness in Kurdistan Higher Education : The Reform Process

Implementing quality assurance in higher education establishments is the main focus of the reform process currently undertaken by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The reform agenda has involved attempts to improve academic quality and management processes in universities, technical institutions and colleges. The central challenge for the reform process is to produce change in higher education in a region where administration is described as centralized and bureaucratic. To make these changes, there should be a well-designed plans and follow up processes in order to monitor progress and develop responses to obstacles. Lack of skills, resources, political dilemmas, poor motivation, and readiness to face the consequences of change are factors which will determine the success of the reform process. Keywords—Higher Education, Kurdistan-Iraq, Quality
The Study of Security Risk of Logistic Information System in Iron and Steel Enterprise

This paper integrate the Attribute Comprehensive Evaluation and Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP) together, which are applied in the field of evaluating the information Security risk of Iron and Steel Enterprise, so a scientific, effective, exact method isproposed for the evaluation of Information system’s Security Venture . It is positive and significant for dynamic management of Information system Security in modern Iron and Steel Enterprise.
Ifenprodil and SL 82.0715 as cerebral anti-ischemic agents. II. Evidence for N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist properties.

The effects of the anti-ischemic agents ifenprodil and its derivative SL 82.0715 ((+/-)-alpha-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-[(4-fluorophenyl) methyl]-1-piperidineethanol] have been analyzed in a number of models indicative of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonistic potential in vitro and in vivo. Ifenprodil and SL 82.0715 potently and noncompetitively antagonize the stimulatory effects of NMDA on cyclic GMP production in immature rat cerebellar slices (IC50 values, 0.4 and 10 microM, respectively), as well as the NMDA-evoked [3H]acetylcholine release in adult rat striatal slices (IC50 values, 1.6 and 6.6 microM, respectively). Ifenprodil is 10 times more potent than (+/-)3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP) but less active than the reference noncompetitive NMDA channel blockers [MK 801, ((+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo-[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine ], phencyclidine and 1-[1-(2-thienyl)cyclohexyl]piperidine (TCP)] in these models. Ifenprodil and SL 82.0715 partially displace (maximal displacement 40-50% at 10 microM) the NMDA receptor ligand [3H]CPP from its binding site to rat brain membranes (IC50 values, 0.1 and 0.3 microM, respectively) in a noncompetitive manner; in the micromolar range the two agents also partially displace the NMDA channel ligand [3H]TCP from its binding site to rat brain membranes, and noncompetitively antagonize the L-glutamate-induced increase in [3H]TCP binding. Ifenprodil (0.01-1 microM) partially antagonizes the depolarizing effects of NMDA on the immature rat hemisected spinal cord in vitro. In mouse cultured spinal cord neurons, ifenprodil dose-dependently antagonizes the depolarizing effects of micropressure applied NMDA. Inhibition of the effects of NMDA in this model by ifenprodil and SL 82.0715 is noncompetitive. In vivo and after systemic i.p. administration, ifenprodil and SL 82.0715 antagonize the stimulatory effects of intrastriatally dialyzed NMDA on striatal dopamine release in rats (ID50 values, 0.9 and 0.3 mg/kg, respectively), and block the harmaline-evoked increase in cerebellar cyclic GMP production in mice (ID50 values, 3 and 4 mg/kg, respectively). These results indicate that ifenprodil is a noncompetitive NMDA antagonist which has a mechanism of action distinct from either the reference competitive NMDA receptor antagonists (CPP and 2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate) or the noncompetitive NMDA channel blockers (phencyclidine, TCP and MK 801). The potent NMDA antagonistic effects of the ifenprodil class of compounds are likely to be related to the demonstrated anti-ischemic potential of these compounds.
Measuring Uncertainty in Monetary Policy Using Implied Volatility and Realized Volatility

We measure uncertainty surrounding the central bank’s future policy rates using implied volatility computed from interest rate option prices and realized volatility computed from intraday prices of interest rate futures. Both volatility measures show that uncertainty decreased following the most important policy actions taken by the Bank of Canada as a response to the financial crisis of 2007-08, such as the conditional commitment of 2009-10, the unscheduled cut in the target rate coordinated with other major central banks, and the introduction of term purchase and resale agreements. We also find that, on average, uncertainty decreases following the Bank of Canada’s policy rate announcements. Furthermore, our measures of policy rate uncertainty improve the estimation of policy rate expectations from overnight index swap (OIS) rates by predicting the risk premium in the OIS market.
Control of the kilA gene of the broad-host-range plasmid RK2: involvement of korA, korB, and a new gene, korE

Broad-host-range plasmid RK2 encodes several different kil genes which are potentially lethal to an Escherichia coli host. The kil genes and the essential RK2 replication gene trfA are regulated by the products of kor genes. We have shown previously that kilA can be controlled by a constitutively expressed korA gene. In this study, we have found that the wild-type, autoregulated korA gene is insufficient for control of kilA cloned on high-copy-number plasmids. One of two other genes must also be present with korA. One gene is korB, originally discovered by its ability to control the determinants in the kilB region and later found to affect expression of both trfA and korA. The other is a new gene, korE, which has been cloned from the 2.2' to 4.1' region located between korC and kilA. Studies with a kilA-cat fusion suggest that korA, korB, and korE all participate in the control of kilA gene expression.
Just Do It: Temporary restrictions and new consumption habits

I use a natural experiment to study how temporary restrictive policies can have last­ ing effects by changing consumption habits. I find that a 8-month compulsory rationing imposed to Brazilian households’ electricity consumption led to a persistent reduction on electricity use of 20% even 9 years later. This effect is equivalent to a 58% increase in electricity prices. I find no effects of the restrictions on average wages or electricity price neither in the short nor in the long run. Micro-data on households appliance inventory suggest that the restrictions reduced the acquisition of new appliances in the long run. When controlling by these covariates, I still find that the restrictions reduced electricity consumption by 13% post the rationing. Hence, the main source of persistence seems to come from changes on the intensive margin of households electricity use, i.e., their actual consumption habits. At last, I use these findings to make a brief policy discussion. JEL codes: D12, O33, Q41.