Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular dynamics of photoreceptor synapse formation in the developing chick retina

The cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying photoreceptor synaptogenesis are poorly understood. Furthermore, a detailed picture of the molecular composition of photoreceptor synapses, or their subtypes, is not yet available, nor do we know what differences, if any, exist among those subtypes. To address these questions, we investigated temporal and spatial patterns of expression and assembly of photoreceptor presynaptic components during chick embryo retinal development and early posthatched life by using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), dissociated retinal cells, laser‐capture microdissection (LCM), immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy. Immunocytochemistry in tissue sections and dissociated cells showed many similarities and few differences in the synaptic composition of rods and cone subtypes, which, however, were found to project to different strata within the outer plexiform layer. A striking finding was the precise timetable of expression of synaptic genes and proteins during synaptogenesis. Although mRNAs for some synaptic molecules appeared as early as embryonic day (ED) 5–8 (the time of inner retina synaptogenesis), others were undetectable before the time of onset of photoreceptor synaptogenesis on ED13, including CAST, rim2, synapsin‐2, syntaxin‐3, synaptotagmin, glutamate receptors ‐1, ‐4, and ‐5, homer‐1 and ‐2, and tenascin‐R. Most synaptic proteins in photoreceptors followed a similar sequence of expression: they were negative or weakly positive before ED13, appeared in inner segments between ED13 and ED15, became subsequently detectable in perinuclear and axonal regions, and by ED18 were assembled into synaptic terminals and became undetectable in the inner segments. The identity of the signals that regulate the coordinated expression of these synaptic components remains to be investigated. J. Comp. Neurol. 506:822–837, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Leisure time physical activity is associated with poor glycemic control in type 1 diabetic women: the FinnDiane study.

OBJECTIVE We studied the association between leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and glycemic control, insulin dose, and estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR) in type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This is a cross-sectional study of 1,030 type 1 diabetic patients participating in the Finnish Diabetic Nephropathy Study, a nationwide multicenter study. LTPA was assessed by a validated 12-month questionnaire and expressed in metabolic equivalent (MET) units. Patients were grouped as sedentary (LTPA <10 MET h/week, n = 247), moderately active (LTPA 10-40 MET h/week, n = 568), and active (LTPA >40 MET h/week, n = 215). Outcome measures were HbA(1c), insulin dose, and eGDR (estimate of insulin sensitivity based on waist-to-hip ratio, hypertension, and HbA(1c)). RESULTS LTPA correlated with HbA(1c) in women (r = -0.12, P = 0.007) but not in men (r = -0.03, P = 0.592). Sedentary women had higher HbA(1c) than moderately active and active women: 8.8 +/- 1.4% vs. 8.3 +/- 1.4% vs. 8.3 +/- 1.4% (P = 0.004), whereas HbA(1c) in men was 8.4 +/- 1.3% vs. 8.2 +/- 1.4% vs. 8.2 +/- 1.3% (P = 0.774), respectively. In men, insulin doses were 0.74 +/- 0.21 vs. 0.71 +/- 0.20 vs. 0.68 +/- 0.23 IU . kg(-1) . 24 h(-1) (P = 0.003). In both sexes, sedentary patients had lower eGDRs than active patients [median (interquartile range) 5.5 (4.0-8.2) vs. 6.8 (4.7-8.8) vs. 6.7 (4.6-8.6) mg . kg(-1) . min(-1); P < 0.01 for sedentary vs. others]. Age, obesity, smoking, insulin dose, social class, diabetic nephropathy, or cardiovascular disease did not explain the results. CONCLUSIONS Low levels of LTPA were associated with poor glycemic control in type 1 diabetic women. Men seem to use less insulin when physically active. Increased LTPA levels were associated with increased estimated insulin sensitivity. Longitudinal studies are needed to further clarify the effects of LTPA on type 1 diabetes.
A conceptual framework for information security and privacy

There are numerous information privacy approaches based on the four major models of privacy protection. That is, Comprehensive Privacy Laws, Sectoral Privacy Laws, Privacy Self-Regulation, and Technologies of Privacy. These solutions, used individually or without proper system privacy design considerations, have not been very effective. This is because there has been little in the way of instruction on how developers and designers are supposed to use these privacy tools. In this paper we address the problem by providing a privacy solution for integration into information systems called Shield Privacy. The Shield Privacy solution provides an effective system wide approach to privacy protection. It integrates relevant components from the various privacy models. We have implemented our Shield Privacy in a collaborative environment application. In this paper we also describe the prototype and discuss its advantages and areas of future work.
Controller design for hybrid vehicles — state of the art review

The control problem for a hybrid vehicle powertrain is commonly tackled as an optimal control problem, although this is often used in a general sense as opposed to a strict mathematical definition. The problem may be characterised in many ways depending on the performance objective, the hybrid vehicle model considered, the constraints imposed and the available control actions. However, as a general dynamics and control problem it is clearly not straightforward, and is likely to involve combinations of linear and non-linear elements, discrete and continuous systems, algebraic and dynamical systems.
Research and practices on 3D networks-on-chip architectures

To continue the growth of the number of transistors on a chip, the 3D IC practice, where multiple silicon layers are stacked vertically, is emerging as a revolutionary technology. Partitioning a larger die into smaller segments and then stacking them in a 3D integration can significantly reduce latency and energy consumption. Such benefits emanate from the notion that inter-wafer distances are negligible compared to intra-wafer distances which substantially reduce global wiring length in 3D chips. This progress has introduced novel architectures and new challenges for high-performance power-aware design exploration. In this paper, we outline the opportunities and challenges associated with three-dimensional networks-on-chip architectures, under consideration for different design metrics. In this context, we categorize and present several alternatives for 3D NoC architectures and we investigate and summarize the impact of these architectures on various system characteristics.
State ownership, tax status and size effect of effective tax rate in China

Political cost theory and political power theory are two views on the effect of firm size on effective tax rate (ETR) in extant literature. The size effect of ETR can be investigated further by focusing on the relationship between firms and the government. This paper uses state ownership and tax status to capture this relationship and examines how firm size, state ownership and tax status jointly affect effective tax rates. It is found that, when firms do not enjoy a preferential tax status, firm size is positively associated with effective tax rates for privately controlled firms and negatively associated for state-controlled firms. The results show that political cost theory explains the relationship between size and effective tax rate for privately controlled firms, whereas political power theory explains this relationship for state-controlled firms. For those firms that already enjoy a preferential tax status, there is no significant relationship between their size and their tax burdens.
Image-guided navigation systems for interstitial brachytherapy.

Interstitial brachytherapy has shown quite promising therapeutic effects in the treatment of tumors in various body regions. Prior to the navigation techniques with quantitative imaging feedback during the procedure, the safety and accuracy of interstitial brachytherapy mainly depended upon the operator's experience, spatial skills and mind reconstruction of the anatomical structures. Different navigation systems have been reported to be experimented on various phantoms and clinically applied in the brachytherapy of many anatomic sites. The numerous advancements of navigation systems integrated with multiple imaging modalities increase accuracy and standardization of the brachytherapy procedure, guarantee clinical effects and even enable less experienced operators to deliver a precise procedure. This article reviews the existing navigation systems and techniques for brachytherapy and discusses the relevant clinical applications.
Business Administration and Leadership for Sustainable Development a case study of a cross functional candidate program

This paper analyses critically a three year candidate program for educating change leaders for Sustainable Development. The program was started in 2007 in co-operation between the departments of Quality Management and Business Administration in Gotland University. The analysis of the program is based on a review of learning outcomes, courses created, pedagogy applied, interviews of students, interviews of teachers and reflection on challenges in cross departmental co-operation. The program was created in consultation with companies and organizations being potential employers of the students after their education. The overall idea of the program embodies thoughts from Liberal Education and System Thinking [1], [2]. The pedagogy used could be summarized in the continuous cycle of theory-practice-understanding. Sustainable Development has been dealt with in theory and practice using the Triple Bottom Line in combination with companywide process management. Focus has been on describing components of change and change management. The theoretical foundations are found in structured methodologies for improvement such as Total Quality Management, Six Sigma, Lean Management, Project Management and in leadership theory with focus on group dynamics. Successful change seems to require, apart from a good solution, the willingness to implement the solution and the ability to manage change. Working across departments is not easy in spite of the closeness typical for the small Gotland University with some 200 employees. Academia and universities could be seen as strong advocates of the old functional order where cross functional process thinking is not easy. Changing a curriculum fixed for many years and changing educational culture are formidable challenges. Not everything went according to plans which have provided some valuable learning experiences. The overall results are positive and many of the ideas of integrating theory and practice by using organizations including the campus as a study object have been successful.
Genetic polymorphisms of cytochrome P450c17α (CYP17) and progesterone receptor genes (PROGINS) in the assessment of endometriosis risk

We designed the present study in order to evaluate the eventual role of polymorphisms in the genes encoding cytochrome P450c17α (CYP17) and the progesterone receptor (PROGINS) as risk factors for endometriosis development. Eligible cases consisted of 121 women with surgically confirmed endometriosis who underwent treatment in a hospital in São Paulo, Brazil during the period from September 2003 to September 2005. The 281 controls were participants with normal gynecological as well as pelvic ultrasound evaluation, who did not have any gynecological conditions during their reproductive lives such as pelvic pain and/or dyspareunia nor infertility history. Genomic DNA was obtained from buccal cells and processed for DNA extraction using the GFX DNA extraction kit (GE Healthcare). The CYP17 (−34T→C) polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism assay has been described previously, as has the progesterone receptor polymorphism (PROGINS) detection assay. PROGINS heterozygosis genotype frequencies were shown to be statistically higher in endometriosis cases compared with controls. On the other hand, differences in the CYP17 polymorphism (−34T → C) frequencies were not even close to significance (p = 0.278) according to our findings.
The Impact of Project Impact on the Wilmington, North Carolina, Labor Market

In 1997, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced a new initiative called Project Impact. The initiative was designed to make communities more resistant and resilient to the disruption and disaster associated with natural hazards. One of the pilot communities was Wilmington/New Hanover County, North Carolina, an area susceptible to hurricanes and tropical storms. This article examines the impact of Project Impact on this community’s labor market, allowing for the disturbances caused by the storms themselves. The findings suggest that the activities and coordination efforts associated with Project Impact coincide with improvements in the Wilmington labor market characterized by a lower natural unemployment rate and a reduction of labor market risk. These findings may be taken as evidence that Project Impact can improve the performance of a local economy. The results suggest that at the very least, increased interaction between public and private sectors may be associated with improved labor market conditions.
A Methodology for Constructing Vacant Land Price Indices

Existing estimates of movements in vacant land prices are limited to a few metropolitan areas and infrequent time intervals. This paper develops a new methodology for estimating vacant land price trends for subareas within states and metropolitan areas. It utilizes data from a sales ratio study, a large database available in most states. The methodology uses assessed value to control for "hedonic characteristics" associated with the property and its location. A model is developed to correct assessed value for measurement errors. Statistical results for forty-one Connecticut towns indicate that the model provides a reasonable compromise between data availability and accuracy of price trend estimates. Copyright American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association.
Comparative analysis of control strategies for modular multilevel converters

Performances analysis of a modular multilevel converter using two different control strategies is presented. The first approach uses a voltage control with a feedback loop on each individual cell to assure cell's voltage balancing. Nonetheless, this latter can be affected by the total cell's voltage ripple if not compensated. As a consequence, low frequencies are injected in the phase output voltage. To overcome this drawback, the voltage references are modified accordingly to compensate for the voltage ripple and reject low frequencies. A circulating current control is necessary in this approach to reduce harmonics contents in the arm's current. The second approach uses the energy as an image of the state of the system to assure the voltage balancing between the cells. In this method, even though there is no need to use a circulating current controller, the arm's currents are exempt of the 2nd harmonic. Simulation results are presented to ascertain the operation of the system under steady and unsteady state conditions.
TNF-&agr;-Decreased Thrombomodulin Expression in Monocytes is Inhibited by Propofol Through Regulation of Tristetraprolin and Human Antigen R Activities

Thrombomodulin (TM) is expressed on the surface of monocytes and is a key regulator of actual immune capacity. Propofol is an anesthetic agent that exerts anti-inflammatory effects. The objective of this study was to determine whether propofol could modulate TM in TNF-&agr;-stimulated monocytes. THP-1 cells and male New Zealand rabbits were used in this study. The results showed that TNF-&agr; decreases the TM expression by mediating posttranscriptional modification, and this inhibition may be repressed by treatment with propofol. Immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, and pull-down assays were used to demonstrate that Rac1-dependent nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, Cdc42, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation, as well as tristetraprolin (TTP) expression, all contributed to the downregulation of TM in TNF-&agr;-treated cells. Propofol reversed the effects of TNF-&agr; on TM downregulation. Propofol mediated the expression of intracellular TTP and the distribution of cytosolic human antigen R (HuR) and changed their interactions with the 3&vprime;-untranslated region of TM mRNA regulating by Cdc42 and Rac1. In addition, the animal study showed that propofol regulates TM, TTP, and HuR expression on monocytes in TNF-&agr;-treated rabbits. In conclusion, the inhibition of TM expression in TNF-&agr;-treated monocytes was mediated by the activation of NADPH oxidase and the expression of TTP. Propofol may inhibit the downregulation of TM by mediating NADPH oxidase and TTP inactivation and through the activation of HuR in vitro and in vivo. Utilizing TTP and HuR to control TM expression may be a promising approach for controlling systemic inflammation, and propofol may possess potential implications for the clinical immunity of monocytes after anesthesia or surgery.
The Desired Sensation Level Multistage Input/Output Algorithm

The Desired Sensation Level (DSL) Method was revised to support hearing instrument fitting for infants, young children, and adults who use modern hearing instrument technologies, including multichannel compression, expansion, and multimemory capability. The aims of this revision are to maintain aspects of the previous versions of the DSL Method that have been supported by research, while extending the method to account for adult-child differences in preference and listening requirements. The goals of this version (5.0) include avoiding loudness discomfort, selecting a frequency response that meets audibility requirements, choosing compression characteristics that appropriately match technology to the user's needs, and accommodating the overall prescription to meet individual needs for use in various listening environments. This review summarizes the status of research on the use of the DSL Method with pediatric and adult populations and presents a series of revisions that have been made during the generation of DSL v5.0. This article concludes with case examples that illustrate key differences between the DSL v4.1 and DSL v5.0 prescriptions.
Effect of delayed specimen processing on cytomegalovirus antigenemia test results

Blood samples held at either 4 degrees C or room temperature for 1 day had similar mean decreases in number of cytomegalovirus antigenemia-positive cells (52 to 55%) and similar false-negative test results (13 to 14%). After 2 days, samples held at 4 degrees C showed no further decline, whereas samples held at room temperature had a mean 81% decrease in positive cells, a 32% false-negative rate, and a more marked deterioration in cell morphology.
Non-redundant VQ channel coding using modified tabu search approach with simulated annealing

Codeword Index Assignment (CIA) is a key issue to vector quantization (VQ). A new algorithm called Modified Tabu Search Algorithm (MTSA) is applied to codeword index assignment for noisy channels for the purpose of minimizing the distortion due to bit errors. Simulated annealing (SA) technique and a new parameter are introduced in the Tabu Search Approach (TSA) to improve the performance of the tabu search approach. Experimental tests show the modified tabu search algorithm is superior to the tabu search algorithm by evaluating the performance of channel distortion after the same number of iterations.
Transmission Systems A spectrally efficient frequency diversity technique for single-carrier modulations with frequency division multiplexing

When the number of relevant propagation paths between the transmitter and the receiver is small and/or when they are not separable (i.e. the difference between the corresponding delays is smaller than the symbol duration), we can have deep fading effects and poor performance, especially for slow-varying channels. In this case, the use of diversity techniques is strongly recommendable. In this paper, we consider an single-carrier-based (SC) block transmission, employing frequency domain equalisation (FDE) receivers and we present a frequency diversity technique that allows high spectral efficiencies. As with conventional frequency diversity techniques, L replicas of a given signal are transmitted at L different frequencies. However, contrarily to conventional frequency diversity schemes, up to L users can share this set of L frequency bands. Since this leads to strong interference levels, we propose an iterative, frequency-domain receiver where all the users sharing the L frequencies are jointly detected. Our performance results show that the proposed frequency diversity scheme allows high diversity gains, while keeping the spectral efficiency of conventional SC schemes. Moreover, we can cope with channels that can be severely time-dispersive and/or can have deep fading effects.
Naturally enterprising ‐ eco‐design, creative thinking and the greening of business products

Argues that currently many businesses are looking to reduce the environmental impact of their activities or products but sadly the results are often disappointing. Sustainable development remains elusive. The future clearly demands something different ‐ we need solution focused products that produce an E‐plus effect. These will increasingly dominate future markets and provide the key to a competitive edge. The challenges, and barriers, are, however, likely to be significant ‐ concurrently the environmental lobby is changing tactics, moving from problem/blame campaigning to preventive/solutions campaigning. Campaigners rightly point to the earth bank balance as continually overdrawn and unhealthy, with life support systems threatened and biodiversity declining. No one appears to re‐invest in this global bank balance. Withdrawals are easy, but investing is not so easy. With the E‐plus concept creativity and innovation will require different patterns of thinking from the people that have hitherto used their talent to create existing new products and markets or to survive hard times. Managers need not only promote a climate of innovation and creativity but do so in directions that are fundamentally different. Business talent and enterprise is poised to become a major player as a social force. The talent is out there and some of the new innovative thinking patterns are explained in this article through the description of simple examples from across Europe.
Outside in the Teaching Machine

1. In a Word: Interview 2. More on Power/Knowledge 3. Marginality in the Teaching Machine 4. Woman in Differnce 5. Limits and Openings of Marx in Derrida 6. Feminism and Deconstruction, Again: Negotiations 7. French Feminism Revisited 8. Not Virgin Enough to Say That [S]he Occupies the Place of the Other 9. The Politics of Translation 10. Inscriptions: Of Truth to Size 11. Reading The Satanic Verses 12. Sammy and Rosie Get Laid 13. Scattered Speculations of the Question of Culture Studies
Arbitrage-free smoothing of the implied volatility surface

The pricing accuracy and pricing performance of local volatility models depends on the absence of arbitrage in the implied volatility surface. An input implied volatility surface that is not arbitrage-free can result in negative transition probabilities and consequently mispricings and false greeks. We propose an approach for smoothing the implied volatility smile in an arbitrage-free way. The method is simple to implement, computationally cheap and builds on the well-founded theory of natural smoothing splines under suitable shape constraints.