Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Testing an evolutionary portfolio algorithm on the CEC2016 real-parameter single objective optimization

In order to take advantages of evolutionary algorithms inspired by different biological evolutions, varieties of approaches have been proposed to combine them together. One of them is the portfolio approach, which keeps choosing a component algorithm from a portfolio of evolutionary algorithms (EAs) to run during the optimizing process. In our approach, each component algorithm has its own population and runs independently without information exchange. At the beginning of each generation, only the component algorithm with the best predicted performance is allowed to run. The proposed portfolio approach is tested on the CEC2016 real-parameter single objective optimization benchmarks. The results show that it is competitive.
Fluorinated Beta-diketo Phosphorus Ylides Are Novel Efflux Pump Inhibitors in Bacteria.

BACKGROUND One of the most important resistance mechanisms in bacteria is the increased expression of multidrug efflux pumps. To combat efflux-related resistance, the development of new efflux pump inhibitors is essential. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ten phosphorus ylides were compared based on their MDR-reverting activity in multidrug efflux pump system consisting of the subunits acridine-resistance proteins A and B (AcrA and AcrB) and the multidrug efflux pump outer membrane factor TolC (TolC) of Escherichia coli K-12 AG100 strain and its AcrAB-TolC-deleted strain. Efflux inhibition was assessed by real-time fluorimetry and the inhibition of quorum sensing (QS) was also investigated. The relative gene expression of efflux QS genes was determined by real-time reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS The most potent derivative was Ph3P=C(COC2F5)CHO and its effect was more pronounced on the AcrAB-TolC-expressing E. coli strain, furthermore the most active compounds, Ph3P=C(COCF3)OMe, Ph3P=C(COC2F5)CHO and Ph3P=C(COCF3)COMe, reduced the expression of efflux pump and QS genes. CONCLUSION Phosphorus ylides might be valuable EPI compounds to reverse efflux related MDR in bacteria.
Functional role of transforming growth factor‐β type III receptor during palatal fusion

The molecular regulation of palatogenesis continues to be an active area of investigation to provide a foundation for understanding the molecular etiology of cleft palate. Transforming growth factor (TGF) ‐β type III receptor (TβR‐III) has been shown to be specifically expressed in the medial edge epithelium at critical stages of palatal shelf adherence during palatogenesis. The aim of this study was to examine TβR‐III mRNA localization and expression levels in vivo and to determine the requirement for TβR‐III expression during palatal fusion in vitro. TβR‐III gene expression was analyzed by in situ hybridization in tissue specimens and real‐time reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction using specific cells in the palatal shelf isolated by laser capture microdissection. TβR‐III was knocked down in embryonic day (E) 13 palatal shelves in organ culture. Palatal shelf organ cultures were treated with small interfering RNA (siRNA) at final concentrations of 300, 400, and 500 nM, respectively. The treatment with siRNA specific for TβR‐III decreased the amount of protein by approximately 75%. The reduction in TβR‐III resulted in a delay in the process of palatal fusion compared with control. The protein expression of phospho‐Smad2 was decreased in the TβR‐III siRNA group. In addition, palatal organ cultures treated with TβR‐III siRNA + rhTGF‐β3 completely fused by 72 hr in vitro. These results support our hypothesis that TβR‐III has a critical role in the process of palatal fusion. Developmental Dynamics 236:791–801, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dynamic panel cointegration approaches to the estimation of money demand functions

This paper investigates properties of the money demand functions of Group of Six (G6) member countries (Canada, France, Italy, Japan, U.K., and U.S.) using the estimation and inference techniques of panel cointegration. Empirical analyses are conducted by estimating money demand equations of G6 countries individually and as a whole, allowing heterogeneity in individual specific fixed effects across countries through dynamic, nonstationary panel estimation techniques. By using recently developed panel cointegration techniques, the paper contributes to the literature of money demand studies by improving the power performance of the relevant estimation and inference procedures. It reports fully modified OLS (FMOLS) estimation results of the money demand model for different data frequencies, to find varying signs and magnitudes of real income, interest rates and inflation elasticities of money demand for G6 nations.
Poverty Dynamics in Europe

This article uses multilevel recurrent discrete-time hazard analysis to simultaneously model the impact of life cycle events and structural processes on poverty entry and exit across European Regions. Research questions are, (1) what is the importance of life cycle events on the road to entry into and exit from poverty, (2) are there any differences in poverty dynamics between European Regions and if so, how can we explain these differences? The analysis is based on individual and household panel data of the European Community Household Panel linked with a regional time series database. Main findings are that men's poverty dynamics is dominated by employment-related events, while for women demographic events also play a role. Regional structural factors only have a slight or no influence on poverty transitions, but the welfare regime turns out to be highly significant for poverty entry.
Social identity, education and tax policy

This paper analyzes the implications of social identity and self-categorization in the context of optimal redistributive income taxation. A two-type model is supplemented by an assumption that individuals select themselves into social categories, in which norms are formed and education effort choices partly depend on these norms. Optimal tax policy is analyzed under two different assumptions about the social objective function: a welfarist objective based on consumer preferences and a paternalist objective that does not reflect the consumer preference for social identity. We show how the welfarist government implements a tax policy to internalize the externalities arising from social norms, while the paternalist government uses tax policy to make individuals behave as if their preferences for social identity were absent.
Perceptions of the Northern territory by travel agents in Kuala Lumpur

This paper describes the responses of 38 travel agents in Kuala Lumpur to a questionnaire about the potential demand of residents in Kuala Lumpur for holidays in Darwin and the Northern Territory, Australia. Two main forms of analysis are used in this paper — first, a classification of responses through a descriptive content analysis and second, an analysis derived from neural network software. The data suggest a lack of knowledge on the part of potential tourists about the Northern Territory, and more generally indicate that there is little interest in some of Australia's major tourist icons such as the ‘outback’ and Aboriginal culture. Nonetheless, a niche market is thought to exist for Darwin — as a stop‐over destination, a short break location, or as one of two destinations in multi‐destination holidays.
How to improve organizational performance through learning and knowledge

Purpose - Through investigating the relationship among human resource management (HRM), organizational learning (OL), organizational innovation (OI), knowledge management capability (KMC), and organizational performance (OP), the aim of this paper was to find a way of improving organizational performance through learning and knowledge. Design/methodology/approach - A survey questionnaire was utilized to collect data. The population of this study included 659 employees from electronic industrial listed and over-the-counter listed technological companies in Taiwan ( Findings - The results indicate that: HRM strategies result in better organizational learning, organizational innovation, and knowledge management capability, which ultimately contributes to achieving organizational performance; organizational learning improves organizational innovation and accumulates knowledge management capability; organizational innovation results in knowledge management capability development, which contributes to the establishment of organizational development; and technological companies should utilize organizational knowledge in order to enhance organizational performance. Research limitations/implications - The generalization of the present study is constrained by the existence of possible biases of the participants, and the regional-constrained data which were collected in and thus focused on Taiwan. Thus, the characteristics of the surveyed firms may be different from those in other areas or countries. Managerial implications are presented at the end of the work. Originality/value - This structure has rarely been explored and the findings are particularly useful for management in helping to set human resource management, learning, innovation, knowledge management and organizational performance in a bigger context.
Moral Hazard and Renegotiation in Agency Contracts

The authors modify the standard principal-agent model with oral hazard by allowing the contract to be renegotiated after the agent's choice of action and before the observation of the action's consequences. In equilibrium, the agent randomizes over effort levels. The optimal contract gives the agent a menu of compensation schemes: safe ones intended for low-effort workers and risky ones for those whose effort is high. The optimal contract may give the agent a positive rent, in contrast to the case without renegotiation. Copyright 1990 by The Econometric Society.
On the pricing of single premium variable annuities with periodic fees and periodic cost of insurance using option pricing techniques

The pricing of a series of products that combine insurance with investments, known as variable annuities, is considered. Given that there is a single premium instalment, then the death benefit at the time of death is equal to the maximum between the fund value and the sum assured. We have discussed in the past the problem in the case that there is a single premium instalment and the cost of insurance is collected at the beginning. We now move to examine the case that management fees need to be paid periodically via the cancellation of units and study the calculation of the charge that needs to be made by the insurer. We do not use standard actuarial techniques, but rather realise that the risk borne by the insurer resembles to the payoff of an option. We attempt to follow option valuation techniques in discrete time to find the insurance premium.
Sport and emerging capital markets: market reaction to the 2022 World Cup announcement

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine how the announcement of the mega sport event of the 2022 FIFA World Cup affected the stock market return and volatility for the hosting country (Qatar) and other economically related countries (United Arab of Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Oman). Design/methodology/approach - The paper includes empirical analysis in which data from the Qatar Stock Market as well as a sample of economically connected markets are collected for the period of 2010 and 2011 and analyzed to examine if mega sport events influence stock market return and volatility. Two testing methodologies are used in this study, event study as well as GARCH and EGARCH models. Additionally, sector effect is considered to examine if mega events can affect sectors' returns in different levels. Findings - The study found evidence of abnormal market return in the hosting country; in particular, the service sector is the most affected sector. However, it failed to find any evidence of abnormal return for the rest of selected Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. On the other hand, no significant volatility effects were found. Originality/value - This paper's originality lies in suggesting that policy makers in small economies expecting to host mega events need to work more seriously to promote investments and attract funds from investors and consumers to be able to reap the benefits out of these events – which should exceed the pay associated with improving the infrastructure of less developed markets. Given that Qatar, as well as most of the GCC countries, is planning to diversify their future income, sport may improve the country's reputation and attract external investments to the country.
Critical appraisal of pazopanib as treatment for patients with advanced metastatic renal cell carcinoma

The management of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has undergone significant changes during the past 10 years, with the treatment of metastatic RCC undergoing the most radical changes. These developments reflect an enhanced understanding of this tumor’s underlying biology, which was then translated into the development of a new treatment paradigm. Current therapeutic approaches for the management of patients with metastatic RCC utilize knowledge of histology, molecular abnormalities, clinical prognostic factors, the natural history of this malignancy, and the treatment efficacy and toxicity of available agents. The treatment options available for patients with metastatic RCC have changed dramatically over the past 6 years. Interferon-α and interleukin-2 were the previous mainstays of therapy, but since December 2005, six new agents have been approved in the US for the treatment of advanced RCC. Three are multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) including sunitinib, sorafenib, and pazopanib, two target the mammalian target of rapamycin (temsirolimus and everolimus), and one is a humanized monoclonal antibody (bevacizumab in combination with interferon-α). The current review focuses on the newest TKI available to treat patients with metastatic RCC, pazopanib. The development of this agent both preclinically and clinically is reviewed. The efficacy and safety data from the pivotal clinical trials are discussed, and the potential role of pazopanib in the treatment of patients with metastatic RCC in comparison to other treatment alternatives is critically appraised. This agent has a favorable overall risk benefit, and the available data demonstrate efficacy in patients with metastatic RCC who are either treatment-naïve or cytokine refractory. It therefore represents another alternative for treatment of metastatic RCC patients.
Crystal Structure of the Bacterial YhcH Protein Indicates a Role in Sialic Acid Catabolism

ABSTRACT The yhcH gene is part of the nan operon in bacteria that encodes proteins involved in sialic acid catabolism. Determination of the crystal structure of YhcH from Haemophilus influenzae was undertaken as part of a structural genomics effort in order to assist with the functional assignment of the protein. The structure was determined at 2.2-Å resolution by multiple-wavelength anomalous diffraction. The protein fold is a variation of the double-stranded β-helix. Two antiparallel β-sheets form a funnel opened at one side, where a putative active site contains a copper ion coordinated to the side chains of two histidine and two carboxylic acid residues. A comparison to other proteins with a similar fold and analysis of the genomic context suggested that YhcH may be a sugar isomerase involved in processing of exogenous sialic acid.
Cyclops lesions are associated with altered gait patterns and medial knee joint cartilage degeneration at 1 year after ACL‐reconstruction

In this exploratory study, gait analysis and quantitative MRI (QMRI) were used to assess biomechanical differences in patients that present with cyclops lesions at 12 months after ACL‐reconstruction (ACLR). Thirty ACLR patients without and 10 ACLR patients with cyclops lesions underwent 3T MR T1ρ mapping of the reconstructed knee joint prior to ACLR and at 12 months after ACLR, as well as a gait assessment during a fixed walking speed at 12 months after ACLR. Both external sagittal and frontal plane knee joint moments and joint moment impulses were calculated and assessed throughout the stance phase of gait. ACLR patients with cyclops lesions demonstrated a significantly greater (34% larger, p = 0.03) first peak knee flexion moment (KFM) and KFM impulse (42% larger, p = 0.05), compared to those without cyclops lesions, which may suggest an increased load during the loading response phase of gait. There were no differences (p > 0.05) in knee extension or adduction joint moments or moment impulses. ACLR patients with cyclops lesions demonstrated a significantly increased change in T1ρ (ΔT1ρ = 4.7 ms, p = 0.03), over 12 months, within the central medial tibia. The results of the study suggest that ACLR patients with cyclops lesions demonstrate altered sagittal plane loading patterns which may be related to an increased rate of medial tibiofemoral cartilage degeneration at 12 months after ACLR. The first peak external KFM may be an important target for intervention programs in ACLR patients with cyclops lesions in order to possibly slow the onset or progression of medial tibiofemoral cartilage degeneration. © 2017 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:2275–2281, 2017.
Contributions to charitable organizations in a developing country: the case of Singapore

This article makes use of pooled time series data to study the demand for donations to charitable organizations in Singapore, a newly‐industrializing country. As in the case of the developed nations, donations are found to be responsive to the price of giving and characteristics of the charities such as size and age. Government social expenditures are found to cause some crowding‐out of private donations. The results imply that the government can reduce its direct role in providing social services, and at the same time meet the rising demand through policy measures to encourage private giving.
Compliance to treatment in patients with chronic illness: A concept exploration

Background: Patients’ compliance to treatment is an important indicator for evaluating the successful management in chronic illnesses. Despite the fact an applicable definition of compliance is required to suitable intervention and research, this concept is not clear and there is no consensus concerning its meaning, definition, and measurement. The aim of this study was to explore the concept of compliance and to formulate a working definition. Materials and Methods: Theoretical phase of Schwartz-Barcott and Kim's Hybrid Model of concept analysis was used to analyze the concept of compliance. Data were collected by using literature reviews. Medline, CINAHL, Ovid, Elsevier, Pro Quest and Blackwell databases were searched from 1975 to 2010 using the keywords “Compliance,” “Non-compliance,” “Adherence,” and “Concordance. ” Articles published in English were selected if they included adult patients with chronic illnesses and reported attributes of compliance; 23 such relevant articles were chosen. Results: The attributes of compliance included patient obedience, ability to implement medical advice, flexibility, responsibility, collaboration, participation, and persistence in implementing the advices. Antecedents are organized into two interacting categories: Internal factors refer to the patient, disease, and treatment characteristics and external factors refer to the healthcare professionals, healthcare system, and socioeconomic factors. Compliance may lead to desirable and undesirable consequences. A working definition of compliance was formulated by comparing and contrasting the existing definitions with regard to its attributes which are useful in clinical practice and research. Conclusions: This finding will be useful in clinical practice and research. But this working definition has to be tested in a clinical context and a broad view of its applicability has to be obtained.
The Feasibility of Potential NHL Markets Under the New Collective Bargaining Agreement

Changes in the National Hockey League (NHL) since the lost 2004-2005 season have led to speculation about the feasibility of smaller market teams under the new structure. Recently, the NHL announced the move of the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg to resurrect the Jets franchise lost in 1996. But is there any evidence that small market teams can survive where they were previously unviable? The authors address this question using data for the seasons since the structural changes. The results suggest that the Winnipeg move is likely to be successful and that other small markets may be viable under the current setup.
Low-cost superior solid-state symmetric supercapacitors based on hematite nanocrystals

We present a facile method for the fabrication of hematite nanocrystal–carbon cloth (Fe2O3–CC) composite. Hierarchical manganite is chosen as the sacrificial precursor, that does not contribute to the component of final iron oxide but can be in situ dissolved by the acid produced from the Fe3+ hydrolysis. This method effectively enhances the specific surface area and conductivity of hematite (Fe2O3) by attaching Fe2O3 nanocrystals (around 5 nm) firmly on the surface of carbon fibers. The obtained Fe2O3–CC can be directly used as a binder-free electrode for a supercapacitor. Interestingly, the composite electrode exhibits synergistic electrochemical capacitance (electrochemical double-layer capacitance and pseudo-capacitance). It manifests a very high areal capacitance of 1.66 F cm−2 (1660 F g−1) at 2 mA cm−2 and excellent cycling performance at large current densities (88.6% retention at 30 mA cm−2 after 5000 cycles) in a three-electrode testing system, which is among the best performances reported in the literature. Importantly, when fabricated as a solid-state flexible symmetric supercapacitor it still shows a maximum energy density of 8.74 mW h cm−3 and power density of 253.9 mW cm−3. Additionally, its good flexibility makes it suitable for portable devices.
Unequal futures? Mass higher education and graduates' relative earnings in Portugal, 1995–2009

This article analyses the evolution of relative earnings premiums for young university graduates in Portugal (1995–2009), suggesting that the previous picture of a successful transition towards mass higher education changed significantly. Our results indicate a decline in the average premium and an increasing dispersion in the returns to higher education. The relative position of graduates at the top of the wage distribution, in jobs in which the majority of workers have a degree, has, however, remained stable. These trends raise the risk of increasing expectations mismatches among recent graduate cohorts.
Confidence interval estimation for the Bland–Altman limits of agreement with multiple observations per individual

The limits of agreement (LoA) method proposed by Bland and Altman has become a standard for assessing agreement between different methods measuring the same quantity. Virtually, all method comparison studies have reported only point estimates of LoA due largely to the lack of simple confidence interval procedures. In this article, we address confidence interval estimation for LoA when multiple measurements per individual are available. Separate procedures are proposed for situations when the underlying true value of the measured quantity is assumed changing and when it is perceived as stable. A fixed number of replicates per individual is not needed for the procedures to work. As shown by the worked examples, the construction of these confidence intervals requires only quantiles from the standard normal and chi-square distributions. Simulation results show the proposed procedures perform well. A SAS macro implementing the methods is available on the publisher's website.