Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inter-relationship of Soft Contact Lens Diameter, Base Curve Radius, and Fit.

PURPOSE To evaluate the inter-relationship of soft contact lens base curve radius (BC), diameter, and lens fit using a mathematical model. METHODS A spreadsheet mathematical model was used to evaluate theoretical fitting characteristics for various combinations of soft lens BC and diameter. The designs were evaluated using ocular topography data collected from 163 UK subjects. The model evaluated lens tightness (edge strain) and on-eye diameter (horizontal corneal overlap) and assumed that acceptable values fell within the range 0 to 6% and 0.2 to 1.2 mm, respectively. Analyses were undertaken of various trends relating to soft lens fit, including (1) the effect of BC and diameter on fitting success; (2) the effect of lens asphericity, BC, and sag on lens diameter on the eye; and (3) the effect of lens diameter on lens tightness. RESULTS The highest overall success rate (90.2%) was achieved with an 8.60/14.2 mm (BC/diameter) design. Using this design on the sample population, the median edge strain value was 3.2% (IQR: 2.1%) whereas median corneal overlap was 0.62 mm (IQR: 0.35). There was a positive correlation (r = 0.37, P < .0001) between edge strain and corneal overlap. Edge strain showed significant correlations with each of the ocular topography variables, most notably corneal asphericity (-0.62, P < .0001). Corneal overlap showed significant correlations with corneal asphericity (r = -0.42, P < .0001) and corneal diameter (r = 0.92, P < .0001). For a 0.4 mm change in BC, it is necessary to change diameter by 0.2 mm to maintain similar on-eye diameter (arclength). When changing lens diameter, a change in BC of 0.2 mm is required to maintain similar tightness of fit. CONCLUSIONS Mathematical modeling is a useful technique for large-scale evaluation of the interactions of soft contact lens design and fit. The study has given useful insights into the general performance of soft lens designs.
Are Lump Sum Investments Riskier than Systematic Investment Plans? Some Empirical Evidence

The asset management industry has marketed for years this idea of "disciplined investing" through Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs). Hence now there are numerous myths associated with SIPs. One of these myths is that a SIP is a successful prudent investment strategy that reduces risk avoiding market timing. But this idea has many opponents, that strongly support the concept of Lump Sum Investments (LSIs). The aim of this short paper is to compare SIPs and LSIs, focusing on the downside risk (without forgetting profitability) of these two popular strategies.
Relationships Between Sleep Spindles and Activities of the Cerebral Cortex After Hemispheric Stroke As Determined by Simultaneous EEG and MEG Recordings

This study aimed to determine the relationships between the amplitude and cortical-activating areas in each hemisphere for 14-Hz centro-parietal spindles to clarify the involvement of the cortex in the asymmetry of spindles after hemispheric stroke with putaminal or thalamic hemorrhage using simultaneous recording of the electroencephalogram and magnetoencephalogram. Spontaneous cortical activities during sleep stage 2 (spindles) were simultaneously recorded from 10 patients with putaminal or thalamic hemorrhage with a 60-channel electroencephalogram and a 306-channel whole-head magnetoencephalogram. Based on the frequencies and cortical distributions recorded with electroencephalogram, the 14-Hz centro-parietal and 12-Hz frontal spindles were differentiated. The cortical sources of the 14-Hz centro-parietal spindles were identified with magnetoencephalogram as equivalent current dipoles. Activation centered in four areas, the pre- and postcentral areas in posterior frontal cortex and parietal cortex of each hemisphere. However, these areas were not always activated simultaneously. Reduction of amplitude in the affected hemisphere after hemispheric stroke indicated reduction of areas of activation or activation strengths in the ipsilateral hemisphere. For some spindles, when reduction of amplitude of above 50% occurred in the affected hemisphere compared with the nonaffected hemisphere, no activation occurred in the ipsilateral hemisphere. Reduction of amplitude was related to the reduction of areas of cortical activation and activation strengths. Reduction of amplitude also occurred over the nonaffected hemisphere, and reduction of cortical activating area and activation occurred in the nonaffected hemisphere, suggesting that the cerebral hemispheres are involved in the eneration of spontaneous sleep spindles. The stronger ipsilateral effects of cerebral lesions on spindle oscillations indicated reduction of amplitude of sleep spindles in the ipsilateral hemisphere, as well as reduction of cortical activation of spindle oscillations and underlying corticothalamic projections. Simultaneous electroencephalogram and magnetoencephalogram recordings can yield valuable findings concerning the functional asymmetry between hemispheres after hemispheric stroke from the relationships between the amplitude and patterns of cortical activation associated with spindles.
Three Feruloyl Esterases in Cellulosilyticum ruminicola H1 Act Synergistically To Hydrolyze Esterified Polysaccharides

ABSTRACT Feruloyl esterases (Faes) constitute a subclass of carboxyl esterases that specifically hydrolyze the ester linkages between ferulate and polysaccharides in plant cell walls. Until now, the described microbial Faes were mainly from fungi. In this study, we report that Cellulosilyticum ruminicola H1, a previously described fibrolytic rumen bacterium, possesses three different active feruloyl esterases, FaeI, FaeII, and FaeIII. Phylogenetic analysis classified the described bacterial Faes into two types, FaeI and FaeII in type I and FaeIII in type II. Substrate specificity assays indicated that FaeI is more active against the ester bonds in natural hemicelluloses and FaeIII preferentially attacks the ferulate esters with a small moiety, such as methyl groups, while FaeII is active on both types of substrates. Among the three feruloyl esterase genes, faeI was the only one induced significantly by xylose and xylan, while pectin appeared to moderately induce the three genes during the late log phase to stationary phase. Western blot analysis determined that FaeI and FaeIII were secreted and cytoplasmic proteins, respectively, whereas FaeII seemed to be cell associated. The addition of FaeI and FaeII but not FaeIII enhanced the activity of a xylanase on maize cob, suggesting a synergy of the former two with xylanase. Hence, we propose that the three feruloyl esterases work in concert to hydrolyze ferulate esters in natural hemicelluloses.
Qi Standard Wireless Power Transfer Technology Development Toward Spatial Freedom

'Qi', the wireless power transfer interface specification published by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), has been regarded as the wireless charging standard and widely adopted in industry since its first release in August 2010. Larger spatial freedom between the power transmitter and power receiver provides significant convenience for users and device manufacturers, and is one of the critical factors for the success of wireless charging. In this paper, the recent progress of Qi technology development towards spatial freedom is reported. The achieved larger X/Y/Z placement shows that Qi standard is also capable to fulfill the spatial freedom requirement.
The Focus of Productivity in Determining the Long-Term Exchange Rate

This paper examines the behavior of the exchange rate over the long term from the perspective of the purchasing power parity theory (PPP) model developed empirically by Cassel and of the model proposed by Basso originating from the Marxist benchmark, which emphasizes prices and productivities to determine the exchange rate. The consumer price index (IPC), value-added price index and gross producer price index (EU KLEMS database) were used to test the models.The exchange rate behavior is examined for three countries over the 1977-2006 period, with annual frequency, using the causality tests of Granger and of Johansen, the Dickey-Fuller and Phillips-Perron unit root tests, the VAR (vector autoregression) and VEC (vector error correction) models and performing a projection with the Model Confidence Set.Accepting the reasoning of Milton Friedman that a consistent economic theory needs to be capable of performing predictions, we tested the predictive power of the two theories. The most efficient projection models were chosen by the Model Confidence Set.It is ascertained that PPP was only corroborated for one price index and for one pair of countries. Accordingly, we discarded the second step for this theory, namely, the predictive power. In Basso’s approach cointegration was found for five models of the United Kingdom-United States country pair, showing the ability to predict the long-term exchange rate, not yet allowing the new model to be generalized for all the pairs of countries.
Thermal analysis of a winding turn-to-turn fault in PM synchronous machine

This paper presents a detailed lumped parameter (LP) thermal model of an armature slot in a permanent magnet synchronous machine for traction applications. The model is used to investigate the temperature distribution in the slot after a turn-to-turn failure occurs. Steady-state analyses are conducted and a good agreement is found with FEM thermal simulations. The LP model is modified into a transient model and transient thermal analysis are conducted to predict the processing damage in the slot, which eventually might lead to a turn-to-tooth (ground) failure.
Kava in generalized anxiety disorder: three placebo-controlled trials

In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of kava kava (Piper methysticum) in generalized anxiety disorder. Data were analyzed from three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of kava, including one study with an active comparator (venlafaxine), in adult outpatients with DSM-IV generalized anxiety disorder. The pooled sample (n=64) included the following number of participants: kava, n=28; placebo, n=30; and venlafaxine, n=6. Given the comparability of the study designs, the data comparing kava and placebo were then pooled for further efficacy and safety analyses. No significant differences were observed between the treatment groups in any of the trials. In the pooled analyses, no effects were found for kava, while a significant effect in favor of placebo was observed in participants with higher anxiety at baseline. No evidence of hepatotoxicity was found with kava, and all of the treatments were well tolerated. Findings from these three controlled trials do not support the use of kava in DSM-IV generalized anxiety disorder.
Treatment of missing values for multivariate statistical analysis of gel‐based proteomics data

The presence of missing values in gel‐based proteomics data represents a real challenge if an objective statistical analysis is pursued. Different methods to handle missing values were evaluated and their influence is discussed on the selection of important proteins through multivariate techniques. The evaluated methods consisted of directly dealing with them during the multivariate analysis with the nonlinear estimation by iterative partial least squares (NIPALS) algorithm or imputing them by using either k‐nearest neighbor or Bayesian principal component analysis (BPCA) before carrying out the multivariate analysis. These techniques were applied to data obtained from gels stained with classical postrunning dyes and from DIGE gels. Before applying the multivariate techniques, the normality and homoscedasticity assumptions on which parametric tests are based on were tested in order to perform a sound statistical analysis. From the three tested methods to handle missing values in our datasets, BPCA imputation of missing values showed to be the most consistent method.
Contingent Valuation Methodology and the Distributional Effects of State-Financed Broadcasting

This paper examines distributional effects of services provided by the Irish public service broadcaster, RTE. Conditional probabilities of usage of, satisfaction with, willingness to pay for and perception of improvement of, RTE's broadcasting services are estimated. Flat licence fee funding appears to represent a transfer towards females, those living outside Dublin and those aged 35+. There is little support for a policy of redistribution whereby households with higher incomes would pay a higher licence fee.
A comparison of local variance, fractal dimension, and Moran's I as aids to multispectral image classification

The accuracy of traditional multispectral maximum‐likelihood image classification is limited by the multi‐modal statistical distributions of digital numbers from the complex, heterogenous mixture of land cover types in urban areas. This work examines the utility of local variance, fractal dimension and Moran's I index of spatial autocorrelation in segmenting multispectral satellite imagery with the goal of improving urban land cover classification accuracy. Tools available in the ERDAS ImagineTM software package and the Image Characterization and Modeling System (ICAMS) were used to analyse Landsat ETM + imagery of Atlanta, Georgia. Images were created from the ETM + panchromatic band using the three texture indices. These texture images were added to the stack of multispectral bands and classified using a supervised, maximum likelihood technique. Although each texture band improved the classification accuracy over a multispectral only effort, the addition of fractal dimension measures is particularly effective at resolving land cover classes within urbanized areas, as compared to per‐pixel spectral classification techniques.
Demonstration of a Physical Interaction between Microsomal Triglyceride Transfer Protein and Apolipoprotein B during the Assembly of ApoB-containing Lipoproteins (*)

Microsomal triglyceride (TG) transfer protein (MTP) is an endoplasmic reticulum lumenal protein consisting of a 97-kDa subunit and protein disulfide isomerase. It is believed that MTP delivers TG to nascent apoB molecules during the assembly of lipoprotein particles in the secretory pathway. Although in vitro studies have established the mechanism of TG transfer between donor and acceptor membranes, the mechanism of action of MTP in vivo remains unknown. The present studies were undertaken to examine whether or not the transfer of TG to nascent apoB in the endoplasmic reticulum involves the physical interaction between MTP and apoB. HepG2 cells were labeled with [3H]leucine, lysed in a nondenaturing homogenizing buffer, and immunoprecipitated with anti-MTP antiserum. We found that labeled apoB and protein disulfide isomerase were co-immunoprecipitated by this procedure. In addition, we were able to detect the 97-kDa subunit of MTP in these immunoprecipitates by immunoblot. The association of MTP and apoB, as assessed in pulse-labeled cells by co-immunoprecipitation, was transient; apoB was prominent on fluorgraphy at 10 min of chase but minimal thereafter. Oleic acid treatment, which protects apoB from rapid intracellular degradation by increasing TG availability, increased both the degree and the duration of association between MTP and apoB dramatically. Inhibition of TG synthesis by Triacsin D, on the other hand, significantly decreased the MTP-apoB binding. N-Acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal, a cysteine protease inhibitor, which directly protects apoB from rapid intracellular degradation but does not affect TG synthesis, increased the interaction between MTP and apoB only slightly, although it did prolong it. Our results suggest that direct interaction between MTP and apoB occurs during the assembly of apoB-containing lipoproteins in HepG2 cells.
Identification of the Tctex‐1 regulatory element that directs expression to neural stem/progenitor cells in developing and adult brain

Previous studies showed that Tctex‐1 immunoreactivity is selectively enriched in the germinal zones of adult brain. In this report we identify a regulatory region of the Tctex‐1 gene that is capable of directing transgenic expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter that recapitulates the spatial and temporal expression pattern of endogenous Tctex‐1. This construct specifically targeted expression to the nestin+/Pax6+/GLAST+ radial glial cells and Tbr2+ intermediate progenitors when the reporter construct was delivered to developing mouse neocortex via in utero electroporation. Characterization of mice transgenically expressing GFP under the same regulatory element showed that the GFP expression is faithful to endogenous Tctex‐1 at the subgranular zone (SGZ) of dentate gyrus, ventricular/subventricular zone of lateral ventricles, and ependymal layer of 3rd ventricle of adult brains. Immunolocalization and bromodeoxyuridine incorporation studies of adult SGZ in four independent mouse lines showed that Tctex‐1:GFP reporter selectively marks nestin+/GFAP+/Sox2+ neural stem‐like cells in two mouse lines (4 and 13). In two other mouse lines (17 and 18), Tctex‐1:GFP is selectively expressed in Type‐2 and Type‐3 transient amplifying progenitors and a small subset of young neuronal progeny. The P/E‐Tctex‐1 reporter mouse studies independently confirmed the specific enrichment of Tctex‐1 at adult SGZ stem/progenitor cells. Furthermore, these studies supported the notion that an analogous transcriptional program may be used to regulate neurogenesis in embryonic cerebral cortex and adult hippocampus. Finally, the genomic sequences and the reporter mouse lines described here provide useful experimental tools to advance adult neural stem cell research. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:3327–3342, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Land value dynamics with endogenous human and physical capital accumulation

This study builds a three-sector growth model with endogenous physical and human wealth accumulation. It deals with dynamic interactions among land value, economic structural change, wealth accumulation and human capital growth. The economy consists of industrial, agricultural and education sectors. The model is based on the neoclassical growth theory, the Ricardian theory, and the Uzawa-Lucas model with Zhang’s utility function. The human capital accumulation is through Arrow’s learning by doing, Uzawa’s learning through education, and Zhang’s learning through consuming (leisure creativity). By simulation, we demonstrate that the economic system has a unique stable steady state. Comparative dynamic analysis is conducted with regard to changes in the propensity to receive education, the propensity to consume housing, the propensity to consume industrial goods, the propensity to consume agricultural goods, the propensity to save, and the output elasticity of land of the agricultural sector.
Hardiness, Type A Behavior, and Physical Symptoms in a Japanese Sample

This study examined the possible mediating effects of hardiness and Type A behavior on the relationship between stressful life events and physical and psychological well-being in a Japanese male sample (N = 78). The ANOVA showed the main effects of hardiness on both physical symptoms and depression. It is indicated that hardiness protects individuals from both physical symptoms and depression. There was a significant stressful life events × Type A interaction, indicating that the Type As tended to possess physical symptoms even when stressful life events decreased. No three-way interaction among hardiness, Type A behavior, and stressful life events was found. The results suggested that hardiness and Type A were independently related to physical and psychological well-being. Implications for the influence of Japanese culture on hardiness and Type A behavior are discussed.
Ablation of Cx47 in transgenic mice leads to the loss of MUPP1, ZONAB and multiple connexins at oligodendrocyte–astrocyte gap junctions

Oligodendrocytes in CNS are linked to astrocytes by heterotypic gap junctions composed of Cx32 and Cx47 in oligodendrocytes and Cx30 and Cx43 in astrocytes. These gap junctions also harbour regulatory proteins, including ZO‐1 and ZONAB. Here, we investigated the localization of multi‐PDZ domain protein 1 (MUPP1) at these gap junctions and examined accessory proteins and connexins associated with oligodendrocytes in Cx47‐knockout mice. In every CNS region tested, punctate immunolabelling for MUPP1 was found on all oligodendrocyte somata in wild‐type mice. These MUPP1‐positive puncta were colocalized with punctate labelling for oligodendrocytic Cx32 or Cx47, and with astrocytic Cx30 or Cx43 at oligodendrocyte–astrocyte (O/A) gap junctions, but were not found at astrocyte–astrocyte gap junctions. In Cx47‐knockout mice, immunolabelling of MUPP1 and ZONAB was absent on oligodendrocytes, whereas some ZO‐1‐positive puncta remained. In Cx32‐knockout mice, MUPP1 and ZONAB persisted at O/A gap junctions. The absence of Cx47 in Cx47‐knockout mice was accompanied by a total loss of punctate labelling for Cx30, Cx32 and Cx43 on oligodendrocyte somata, and by a dramatic increase in immunolabelling for Cx32 along myelinated fibers. These results demonstrate MUPP1 at O/A gap junctions and Cx47‐dependent targeting of connexins to the plasma membranes of oligodendrocyte somata. Further, it appears that deficits in myelination reported in Cx47‐knockout mice may arise not only from a loss of Cx47 but also from the accompanied loss of gap junctions and their regulatory proteins at oligodendrocyte somata, and that loss of Cx47 may be partly compensated for by elevated levels of Cx32 along myelinated fibers.
Training Future Political Scientists: Reflections from an Undergraduate Research Methods Course

This article, co-authored by an instructor and a student of a research design and methods course at a liberal arts college, outlines key lessons learned by both instructor and student as the course progresses. Building on past scholarly writings about the teaching of research methods to undergraduates in political science and other social science disciplines, this paper continues the discussion about good practice in teaching research methods to social science undergraduates. We aim to narrow the gap between teacher and student, and to invigorate debate among instructors of undergraduate research methods about the need for innovative teaching and practice in such courses. Finally, we include recommendations for sustaining student interest in research methods, and for making research design and methods relevant to non-political science majors who might have to take the course to fulfill academic requirements. This paper will be of interest to instructors of research methods and heads of social science departments, as well as potential students of such courses.
An assessment of service quality for international distribution centers in Taiwan – a QFD approach with fuzzy AHP

ABSTRACT The purpose of this article is to examine the service quality of international distribution centers (IDCs). In this article, a quality function deployment with fuzzy analytic hierarchy process model was proposed to translate the service requirement attributes (SRAs) of the IDC users into the service operations attributes (SOAs) of IDC operators. Further, the IDCs in Taiwan were empirically investigated to validate the proposed model. The results create 18 SRAs and 17 SOAs for IDCs, in which the top five SRAs the IDC users perceive as important are: handlings of damaged cargos, correctness of shipping orders, punctuality, storage spaces, and frequency and routes of transportation. Further, with respect to those SRAs, the top five SOAs in terms of priority for IDC operators are: consolidation & deconsolidation, cargo stowage & discharge, delivery scheduling, logistic processing, and business inquiry. Finally, the theoretical and managerial implications of the findings are discussed.