Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
E-Municipality; New Step in Providing Electronic Services in Iran

Nowadays municipalities are the meeting-point of the government and citizens. E- Municipality is known as the main step of governments in the first decade of the third millennium. So improving the cultural, social and political infrastructures and gaining the e- readiness in order to establish the e-municipality are considered as the main municipalities’ mission. The purpose of this article is to examine the impacts of e-readiness on the emunicipality and the impact of e-municipality performance on urban activities and citizen and attitude of citizens. According to this purpose, besides reviewing the e-readiness and e-municipality literature; the improving on eservices is considered as the main topic. This study is practical according to its purpose and descriptivecorrelation based on its data-gathering method. The population is all personals of Zahedan’s municipality. The research’s result, in addition to present a comprehensive model; show that the e-readiness of Zahedan’s municipality is remarkable from the organizational, system-services and infrastructural perspective. Moreover, the establishment of e-municipality in Zahedan will cause to improve the business environment, strengthen the social participation and increase the public sectors’ effectiveness; but it will have no effect on improving the citizens’ life-quality level. Consequently, it is proposed to Zahedan’s municipality that besides the strengthening of cultural and social infrastructures, to flow the service-oriented view in order to raise the level of citizens’ convenience. Keyword: e-readiness, e-government, e-municipality, e-services, Zahedan
Board configuration: building better boards

Board configuration is discussed in the context of the perceived needs of the board as a strategic resource of the organization. This is highlighted in the context of the differing governance, performance and social requirements of organizations pertaining to private sector, state and local government ownership structures. Examined is the view that in bringing particular perspectives resulting from their professional, ethnic or gender backgrounds, directors contribute to board effectiveness. This notion is evaluated in terms of directors’ coping devices and their perceptions of their ability to be heard on the board. Initiatives that boards may use to ensure the success of such appointments are highlighted. Consideration is also given to enhancing the dynamics of established but dysfunctional appointments. In concluding, the paper develops criteria for success in making board appointments where the prospective appointee is a minority in terms of professional discipline or other forms of diversity.
An Estimate of the Potential Growth of the Spanish Economy

This paper seeks to estimate the potential output of the Spanish economy, using the production function methodology standard in the literature. According to these estimates, the growth of the potential output of the Spanish economy stood at around 3% in the period 2000-2007, owing to the marked increase in the population and in the participation rate and the fall in structural unemployment, as well as vigorous capital accumulation. The contribution of these factors to potential output was reduced by the negative evolution of total factor productivity. In addition, the economic crisis is estimated to have had a significant negative impact on potential output, which has primarily taken the form of a large increase in structural unemployment, a sharp slowdown in population growth, as a consequence of the loss of momentum in immigrant inflows, and a reduction in the contribution of the capital stock resulting from the impact of the crisis on investment. As a result, the potential growth of the Spanish economy stands at around 1% during the crisis years and in the years immediately thereafter, insofar as some of these negative effects take place with a certain time lag. Lastly, in the medium term, the potential output of the economy is estimated to recover progressively, once the effects of the crisis have disappeared, reaching growth rates about 2%, against a background of negative rates of change in the population of age 16-64, a smooth improvement in the NAIRU, a slight recovery in investment and a higher contribution from TFP. The application of a strong process of structural reforms could, however, significantly improve the growth prospects of our economy.
Longitudinal epigenetic variation of DNA methyltransferase genes is associated with vulnerability to post-traumatic stress disorder

Background. Epigenetic differences exist between trauma-exposed individuals with and without post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is unclear whether these epigenetic differences pre-exist, or arise following, trauma and PTSD onset. Method. In pre- and post-trauma samples from a subset of Detroit Neighborhood Health Study participants, DNA methylation (DNAm) was measured at DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), DNMT3A, DNMT3B and DNMT3L. Pre-trauma DNAm differences and changes in DNAm from pre- to post-trauma were assessed between and within PTSD cases (n = 30) and age-, gender- and trauma exposure-matched controls (n = 30). Pre-trauma DNAm was tested for association with post-trauma symptom severity (PTSS) change. Potential functional consequences of DNAm differences were explored via bioinformatic search for putative transcription factor binding sites (TFBS). Results. DNMT1 DNAm increased following trauma in PTSD cases (p = 0.001), but not controls (p = 0.067). DNMT3A and DNMT3B DNAm increased following trauma in both cases (DNMT3A: p = 0.009; DNMT3B: p < 0.001) and controls (DNMT3A: p = 0.002; DNMT3B: p < 0.001). In cases only, pre-trauma DNAm was lower at a DNMT3B CpG site that overlaps with a TFBS involved in epigenetic regulation (p = 0.001); lower pre-trauma DNMT3B DNAm at this site was predictive of worsening of PTSS post-trauma (p = 0.034). Some effects were attenuated following correction for multiple hypothesis testing. Conclusions. DNAm among trauma-exposed individuals shows both longitudinal changes and pre-existing epigenetic states that differentiate individuals who are resilient versus susceptible to PTSD. These distinctive DNAm differences within DNMT loci may contribute to genome-wide epigenetic profiles of PTSD.
The financial crisis: what implications for new statistics?

We live in a world of paradoxes. And the financial crisis has put the spotlight on a new one: in our internet age we are constantly bombarded with data, and yet the information that we would need to answer even the simpler questions we might ask about the health of our financial system is not at our fingertips. Either this information does not exist or, if it does, it is not collected in a way that makes it easily available and digestible.
Distributed Transfer Linear Support Vector Machines

Transfer learning has been developed to improve the performances of different but related tasks in machine learning. However, such processes become less efficient with the increase of the size of training data and the number of tasks. Moreover, privacy can be violated as some tasks may contain sensitive and private data, which are communicated between nodes and tasks. We propose a consensus-based distributed transfer learning framework, where several tasks aim to find the best linear support vector machine (SVM) classifiers in a distributed network. With alternating direction method of multipliers, tasks can achieve better classification accuracies more efficiently and privately, as each node and each task train with their own data, and only decision variables are transferred between different tasks and nodes. Numerical experiments on MNIST datasets show that the knowledge transferred from the source tasks can be used to decrease the risks of the target tasks that lack training data or have unbalanced training labels. We show that the risks of the target tasks in the nodes without the data of the source tasks can also be reduced using the information transferred from the nodes who contain the data of the source tasks. We also show that the target tasks can enter and leave in real-time without rerunning the whole algorithm.
Determinants of patient-rated and clinician-rated illness severity in schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE The contribution of specific symptoms on ratings of global illness severity in patients with schizophrenia is not well understood. The present study examined the clinical determinants of clinician and patient ratings of overall illness severity. METHOD This study included 1,010 patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of schizophrenia who participated in the baseline visit of the Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE) study conducted between January 2001 and December 2004 and who had available symptom severity, side effect burden, cognition, and community functioning data. Both clinicians and patients completed the 7-point Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness scale (CGI-S), the primary measure of interest in the present study. Symptoms were rated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia, and functional status with the Quality of Life Scale. Neurocognition, insight, and medication-related side effects were also evaluated. RESULTS Clinicians rated illness severity significantly higher than patients (P < .001). There was moderate overlap between CGI-S ratings made by clinicians and patients, with almost one third of patients showing substantial (ie, greater than 1 point) discrepancies with clinician ratings. Clinician-rated CGI-S scores were most strongly associated with positive symptoms, with additional independent contributions made by negative, disorganized, and depressive symptoms, as well as functional outcome (all P values < .01). Patient-rated CGI-S scores, on the other hand, were most closely related to depressive symptoms, with additional independent contributions made by positive and anxiety symptoms, clinical insight, and neurocognition (all P values < .01). Depressive symptoms were the strongest predictor of patient-rated CGI-S scores even in patients with good clinical insight (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS Patient and clinician views of overall illness severity are not necessarily interchangeable and differ in their clinical correlates. Taking these differences into account may enhance patient engagement in care and improve outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00014001.
Surveying User Reactions to Recommendations Based on Inferences Made by Face Detection Technology

It is increasingly possible to use cameras and sensors to detect and analyze human appearance for the purposes of personalizing user experiences. Such systems are already deployed in some public places to personalize advertisements and recommend items. However, since these technologies are not yet widespread, we do not have a good sense of users' perceptions of the benefits and drawbacks of public display systems that use face detection as an input for personalized recommendations. We conducted a user study with a system that inferred participants' gender and age from a facial detection and analysis algorithm and used this to present recommendations in two scenarios (finding stores to visit in a mall and finding a pair of sunglasses to buy). This work provides an initial step towards understanding user reactions to a new and emerging form of implicit recommendation based on physical appearance.
H/sub /spl infin// controller design of fuzzy dynamic systems based on piecewise Lyapunov functions

This paper presents a controller design method for fuzzy dynamic systems based on a piecewise smooth Lyapunov function. The basic idea of the proposed approach is to construct controllers for the fuzzy dynamic systems in such a way that a piecewise continuous Lyapunov function can be used to establish the global stability with H/sub /spl infin// performance of the resulting closed loop fuzzy control systems. It is shown that the control law can be obtained by solving a set of linear matrix inequalities (LMI) that is numerically feasible with commercially available software. An example is given to illustrate the application of the proposed method.
Destination Development

We explore the contribution of interdestination ties to destination development. As destinations search for practices that can be used to improve their co-producing efforts, they make use of actors connecting them to other destinations. Thus, interdestination bridge ties have important roles as information conduits in destination networks. We present a case study showing how public sector actors, multidestination actors, and industry-specific product and service providers play important and complementary roles in this developmental process. The study also indicates that bridge ties can initiate network dynamics. We present a novel set of propositions advancing a network perspective of destinations.
Business-process management: a proposed framework for future research

Firms have embarked on the business-process management (BPM) initiative to gain competitive advantages. However, many are still struggling to understand the concept. Moreover, most firms have not approached this initiative deliberately and formally due to a lack of understanding of its nature. This article first aims to provide a clear description of BPM, which includes its definition, evolution and two alternative perspectives. Second, to help enhance the understanding of BPM conduct, it discusses various BPM strategies and the conditions conducive to BPM. Lastly, this article culminates by proposing a framework for future research which is able to guide practitioners in implementing BPM successfully.
Comparison of the Pendulum appliance and the Jones Jig: A prospective comparative study

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare two molar distalization devices, the Pendulum appliance (PA) and the Jones Jig (JJ) in dental Class II patients. Materials and Methods: Pretreatment and postdistalization lateral cephalograms and study models of 20 subjects (6 males, 14 females) Class II malocclusion subjects were examined. PA and JJ group both consisted of 10 patients each with a mean pretreatment age of 12 years 1 month for females and 12 years 5 months for males. The PA and the JJ appliance were activated once in a month until Class II molar relationship was corrected to a super Class I molar relationship in both groups. Initial and final measurements and treatment changes were compared by means of Paired t-test. Results: Maxillary first molar distalized an average of 3.85 mm in the PA and 2.75 mm in the JJ between T1 and T2; rate of molar distalization was 1.59 mm/month for PA, and the JJ appliance averaged 0.88 mm/month, distal molar tipping was greater in PA (6.2°) than in the JJ (3.9°). Average mesial movement of the premolars was 2.2 mm with PA and JJ both. JJ showed a greater rotation of first molars after distalization as compared to PA. The increase in vertical facial height was also greater for JJ as compared to PA. Conclusions: Both the appliances were effective in molar distalization with PA requiring less distalization time (16 days less than JJ). Some adverse effects were noted with both which one should strive to control.
The Amateur's Lightning Rod: DV Documentary in Postsocialist China

Abstract This article examines the cultural politics of DV documentaries emerging from postsocialist China, discussing the documentary-makers as amateur-authors. It goes on to argue that the documentarians9 self-consciously deployed aesthetics of cruelty constitutes a socio-political claim for an alternative ““real,”” derived from a subaltern ““structure of feeling. ””
Pressure‐induced actin polymerization in vascular smooth muscle as a mechanism underlying myogenic behavior

We hypothesize that actin polymerization within vascular smooth muscle (VSM) in response to increased intravascular pressure is a novel and previously unrecognized mechanism underlying arterial myogenic behavior. This hypothesis is based on the following observations. 1) Unlike skeletal or cardiac muscle, VSM contains a substantial pool of unpolymer‐ized globular (G) actin whose function is not known. 2) The cytosolic concentration of G‐actin is significantly reduced by an elevation in intravascular pressure, demonstrating the dynamic nature of actin within VSM and implying a shift in the F:G equilibrium in favor of F‐actin. 3) Agents that inhibit actin polymerization and stabilize the cytoskeleton (cytochalasins and latruncu‐lin) inhibit the development of myogenic tone and decrease the effectiveness of myogenic reactivity. 4) Depolymerization of F‐actin with cytochalasin D causes VSM relaxation and increased G‐actin content, whereas polymerization of F‐actin with jasplakinolide causes VSM contraction and decreased G‐actin content. These results are consistent with observations in other cell types in which actin dynamics have been implicated in contractility and/or motility. Actin filament formation in VSM may therefore underlie mechanotransduction and, by providing additional sites for interaction with myosin, enhance force production in response to pressure. Although the mechanism by which actin polymerization is stimulated by pressure is not known, it likely occurs via integrin‐mediated activation of signal trans‐duction pathways previously associated with VSM contraction (e.g., PKC activation, Rho A, and tyrosine phosphorylation). —Cipolla, M. J., Gokina, N. I. , Osol, G. Pressure‐induced actin polymerization in vascular smooth muscle as a mechanism underlying myogenic behavior. FASEB J. 16, 72–76 (2002)
Development and Validation of a New, Sensitive Immunochemical Assay for O6-Methylguanine in DNA and Its Application in a Population Study

Background: Investigations of the presence of the precarcinogenic DNA adduct O6-methylguanine (O6-meG) in humans and its association with exposure or cancer risk have been hindered by the absence of analytic methods of adequate sensitivity and throughput. We report the development, validation, and application of an ELISA-type assay for O6-meG appropriate for large-scale population studies. Methods: In the new analytic method, restriction enzymes are used to digest DNA to fragments of size expected to contain no more than one O6-meG residue. Anti-adduct antisera are used to transfer O6-meG–containing fragments to a solid surface, where they are detected using anti-ssDNA antisera, the high ratio of normal nucleotides to adducts providing a strong signal enhancement. Results: An assay with a limit of detection of 1.5 adducts/109 nucleotides using 10 μg of DNA, a dynamic range of approximately two orders of magnitude and satisfactory precision and accuracy characteristics was established and validated. Analysis of samples from 120 subjects from the Rhea mother–child cohort in Crete led to the detection of O6-meG in 70% of maternal and 50% of cord blood buffy coat samples at mean levels of 0.65 and 0.38 adducts/108 nucleotides, respectively. Conclusions: The frequent observation of O6-meG in human DNA is compatible with dietary compounds (e.g. N-nitroso compounds or their precursors), or endogenous processes being responsible for the formation of this adduct. Impact: The new assay opens the way for large-scale population studies of O6-meG as a biomarker of exposure or risk. The approach used in this assay can, in principle, be extended to any DNA adduct for which suitable antisera are available. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 20(1); 82–90. ©2011 AACR.
Macrophages contribute to the maintenance of stable regenerating neurites following peripheral nerve injury

Normal adult uninjured nerve is unable to support axonal regeneration. We have studied the mechanisms underlying the regeneration of peripheral nerve by culturing adult mouse dorsal root ganglia (DRG) explants on unfixed, longitudinal cryosections of either the uninjured sciatic nerve or the distal segment of the transected sciatic nerve. We found that, initially, DRG grew vigorously on cryosections of both uninjured and postinjury sciatic nerves. However, the neurites began to degenerate shortly after contact with the uninjured nerve, whereas those growing on postinjury nerve substrate remained healthy for up to 9 days in culture. This ability to support stable outgrowth peaked at 8 days, gradually decreased by 10 days, and disappeared by 20 days after injury. Macrophages appeared in the distal segment by 4 days postinjury and had infiltrated its entire length by 8 days. Uninjured nerve cryosections could be rendered supportive of stable outgrowth by preincubation with macrophage‐conditioned medium or by brief trypsinization. The activity of the macrophage‐conditioned medium was augmented upon activation of macrophages. Together these findings suggest that the environment of the sciatic nerve undergoes a transformation during Wallerian degeneration such that it becomes transiently supportive of the stable outgrowth of neurites. This transformation may be mediated by a proteolytic activity, generated by activated macrophages, that removes a putative “degeneration signal” protein normally present in the adult nerve and thus contributes to the maintenance of stable regenerating neurites. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
1995 Derivatives Practices and Instruments Survey

0 The significant publicity surrounding losses on derivatives transactions, beginning in the Spring of 1994, prompted the Treasury Management Association (TMA) to undertake a study of derivatives practices and instruments among its members' organizations. Many of the surveys on derivatives usage conducted in the past year were sent to known samples of derivatives users. Since TMA membership is on an individual basis for those directly or indirectly engaged in the treasury profession, its membership represents a broad spectrum of employing organizations, including educational institutions, governmental units, and privately held corporations as well as the publicly held corporations that are frequently surveyed. This broad membership base allows TMA to assess on a wider basis than previously reported the extent of derivatives practices among treasury professionals.
Implementing ARP-path low latency bridges in NetFPGA

The demo is focused on the implementation of ARP-Path (a.k.a. FastPath) bridges, a recently proposed concept for low latency bridges. ARP-Path Bridges rely on the race between broadcast ARP Request packets, to discover the minimum latency path to the destination host. Several implementations (in Omnet++, Linux, OpenFlow, NetFPGA) have shown that ARP-Path exhibits loop-freedom, does not block links, is fully transparent to hosts and neither needs a spanning tree protocol to prevent loops nor a link state protocol to obtain low latency paths. This demo compares our hardware implementation on NetFPGA to bridges running STP, showing that ARP-Path finds lower latency paths than STP.
Preeclampsia in North Indian women: the contribution of genetic polymorphisms

Aim: To find association of angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D), angiotensinogen (AGT) T704C, methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T and factor V Leiden (FVL) G1691A polymorphisms with pre‐eclampsia (PE) in North Indian women.