Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
All about information - balancing ICT, IRS, users and making a difference

Purpose – The purpose of this contribution is to set the scenario for pursuing options to find a balance between information communication technology (ICT), information retrieval systems (IRS) such as databases, library catalogues, repositories, Google Scholar, digital libraries, portals, search engines and the users of these systems. Whose needs are served: the real users' with contemporary needs or the perceived users and their research tasks whom we intensely studied in the early years of databases and computerised information services? Design/methodology/approach – The contribution is written against the background of research from information retrieval and information behaviour. Findings – Although developments in ICT open a wealth of opportunities to study and serve the needs of a wide spectrum of information users, IRS are often on the surface level still very traditional in the needs they service: analytical information seeking according to planned search strategies, browsing, monitoring trends an.
Biophysical characterization of polyomavirus minor capsid proteins

Abstract The murine polyomavirus encodes three structural proteins, VP1, VP2 and VP3, which together form the viral capsid. The outer shell of this capsid is composed of the major capsid protein VP1, the inner shell consists of VP2 and its N-terminally truncated form VP3. These two minor capsid proteins interact with their identical C-terminal part in the central cavity of VP1 pentamers, building the capsid assembly unit. While the VP1 structure and functions are well studied, VP2 and VP3 are poorly understood. In order to get a detailed insight into the structure and function of the minor capsid proteins, they were produced recombinantly in Escherichia coli as inclusion bodies and refolded in vitro. The success of refolding was strictly dependent on the presence of detergent in the refolding buffer. VP2 and VP3 are monomeric and their structures exhibit a high α-helical content. The function of both proteins could be monitored by complex formation with VP1. Furthermore, we could demonstrate a hemolytic activity of VP2/VP3 in vitro, which fits well into a postulated membrane interaction of VP2 during viral infection.
Cochlear Labyrinth Volume and Hearing Abilities in Primates

The primate cochlea is a membranous, fluid‐filled receptor organ that is specialized for sound detection. Like other parts of the inner ear, the cochlea is contained within the bony labyrinth of the petrous temporal bone. The close anatomical relationship between the bony cochlear labyrinth and the membranous cochlea provides an opportunity to quantify cochlear size using osteological specimens. Although mechanisms of cochlear frequency analysis are well studied, relatively little is known about the functional consequences of interspecific variation in cochlear size. Previous comparative analyses have linked increases in basilar membrane length to decreases in both the high and low frequency limits of hearing in mammals. However, these analyses did not consider the potentially confounding effects of body mass or phylogeny. Here, we present measurements of cochlear labyrinth volume in 33 primate species based on high‐resolution computed tomography. These data demonstrate that cochlear labyrinth volume is strongly negatively allometric with respect to body mass. Scaling of cochlear volume in primates is very similar to scaling of basilar membrane length among mammals generally. Furthermore, an analysis of 10 primate taxa with published audiograms reveals that cochlear labyrinth volume is significantly negatively correlated with the high frequency limit of hearing. This result is independent of body mass and phylogeny, suggesting that cochlear size is functionally related to the range of audible frequencies in primates. Although the nature of this functional relationship remains speculative, our findings suggest that some hearing parameters of extinct taxa may be estimated using fossil petrosals. Anat Rec, 292:765–776, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Trust Negotiation in Electronic Markets

As business transactions migrate into electronic marketplaces, most interactions will occur between strangers. In order for strangers to conduct secure transactions, a sufficient level of mutual trust must be established. A new approach to gradually establishing trust between strangers is through the iterative exchange of digital credentials, known as trust negotiation. This paper briefly describes TrustBuilder, an architecture for automated trust negotiation that we are designing and developing. It also introduces client-initiated trust establishment, a new context for trust negotiation that has not been explored previously. When a client sends a request to a server, the request can sometimes contain sensitive content that the client must safeguard. The client must establish trust in the server before the request is sent. This paper presents the design of an architecture for client-initiated trust establishment and describes how the architecture can be used to address privacy concerns, a significant impediment to conducting on-line business transactions. The copyright of this paper belongs to the paper’s authors. Permission to copy without fee all or part of this material is granted provided that the copies are not made or distributed for direct commercial advantage. Proceedings of the Eighth Research Symposium on Emerging Electronic Markets (RSEEM 01) Maastricht, The Netherlands, September 16-18, 2001 (M. Schoop, R. Walczuch, eds.) http://www-i5.informatik. rwth-aachen.de/conf/rseem2001/ Todd Barlow, Adam Hess, Kent E. Seamons 2 Eighth Research Symposium on Emerging Electronic Markets 2001
Mechatronic design of PRH: A NEW 3D printed and anthropometric humanoid robotic platform

Bipedal locomotion is one of the main research focuses on humanoid robotics that has evolved towards new methods and prototypes, to successfully emulate the human gait. However, much of the research is done with low-cost robots with serious deficiencies in anthropometrics and biomechanics referred to the human body, that constraint the applicability of the research to further human scale prototypes or its use in new orthoses or prosthesis. This paper presents the design methodology of a 90-cm tall humanoid robotic platform, completely anthropometric, easy to assemble, modular, lightweight, inexpensive and produced mainly with 3D printing. The design comprises 56 degrees of freedom, being described primarily the development of the hardware of legs and some parts of the torso implied in bipedal locomotion. It is also explained the electronic architecture, sensors and power supply of the robot in order to execute stable gait patterns with the use of toe-off motion.
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release. 1 IMPLICATIONS OF HIERARCHIES FOR RSO RECOGNITION, IDENTIFICATION, AND CHARACTERIZATION

In our previous work, we demonstrated that hierarchical (taxonomical) trees can be used to depict hypotheses in a Bayesian object recognition and identification process using Figaro, an open source probabilistic programming language. We assume in this work that we have appropriately defined a satellite taxonomy that allows us to place a given space object (RSO) into a particular class of object without any ambiguity. Such a taxonomy allows one to assess the probability of assignment to a particular class by determining how well the object satisfies the unique criteria of belonging to that class. Furthermore, tree-based taxonomies delineate unique signatures by defining the minimum amount of information required to positively identify a RSO. Because of these properties of taxonomic trees, we can now explore the implications of RSO taxonomic trees for model distance metrics and sensor tasking. In particular, we seek to exploit the fact that taxonomic trees provide a model “neighborhood” that can be used to initiate a Monte Carlo or Multiple Hypothesis algorithm. We contend this feature of taxonomies will provide a quantifiable metric for model distances and the explicit number of models that should be considered, both of which currently do not exist. Additionally, the discriminating characteristics of taxonomic classes can be used to determine the kind of data and the associated sensor that needs to be tasked to acquire that data. We also discuss the concept of multiple interacting hierarchies that provide deeper insight into how object interact with one another.
Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SAGE): Experimental Method and Data Analysis

This unit provides a protocol for performing serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE). SAGE involves the generation of short fragments of DNA, or tags, from a defined point in the sequence of all cDNAs in the sample analyzed. This short tag, because of its presence in a defined point in the sequence, is typically sufficient to uniquely identify every transcript in the sample. SAGE allows one to generate a comprehensive profile of gene expression in any sample desired from as little as 100,000 cells or 1 µg of total RNA. SAGE generates absolute, rather than relative, measurements of RNA abundance levels, and this fact allows an investigator to readily and reliably compare data to those produced by other laboratories, making the SAGE data set increasingly useful as more data is generated and shared. Software tools have also been specifically adapted for SAGE tags to allow cluster analysis of both public and user‐generated data.
Regional Integration and the Location of Knowledge-Intensive Multinational Firms: Implications for Comparative Advantage and Welfare of Outsiders and Insiders

An institutional change, like an integration policy, drives a wedge between insiders and outsiders. Such discrepancies create incentives for outsider firms to relocate production into the integrated area. Mainstrearn contemporary general equilibrium modeis, however, only allow for factor mobility within countries. This paper shows how regional integration arnong a limited number of countries induce international factor flows between insiders and outsiders due to differences in, (1) information costs, (2) technological progress and (3) in knowledge based externalities. The effects of such international transfers of factors are shown to be either trade-augmenting or trade-depressing.
Evaluating CT Perfusion Deficits in Global Cerebral Edema after Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Global cerebral edema is an independent predictor of mortality and poor outcomes after aneurysmal SAH. Global cerebral edema, a complex disease process, is thought to be associated with an altered cerebral autoregulatory response. We studied the association between cerebral hemodynamics and early global cerebral edema by using CTP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied consecutive patients with aneurysmal SAH with admission CTP performed at days 0–3. Two neuroradiologists classified global cerebral edema and hydrocephalus on NCCT performed concurrently with CTP. Global cerebral edema was defined as diffuse effacement of the sulci and/or basal cisterns or diffuse disruption of the cerebral gray-white matter junction. CTP was postprocessed into CBF and MTT maps by using a standardized method. Quantitative analysis of CTP was performed by using standard protocol with ROI sampling of the cerebral cortex. The Fisher exact test, Mann-Whitney test, and independent-samples t test were used to determine statistical associations. RESULTS: Of the 45 patients included, 42% (19/45) had global cerebral edema and 58% (26/45) did not. Patient groups with and without global cerebral edema were well-matched for demographic and clinical data. Patients with global cerebral edema were more likely to have qualitative global CTP deficits than those without global cerebral edema (P = .001) with an OR = 13.3 (95% CI, 2.09–138.63). Patients with global cerebral edema also had a very strong trend toward statistical significance, with reduced quantitative CBF compared with patients without global cerebral edema (P = .064). CONCLUSIONS: Global perfusion deficits are significantly associated with global cerebral edema in the early phase after aneurysmal SAH, supporting the theory that hemodynamic disturbances occur in global cerebral edema.
Optimal control of a company's customer base using the customer lifetime value parameter

Anna Andreeva - Postgraduate Student, Department of Business Analytics, Faculty of Business Informatics, National Research University Higher School of Economics. Address: 20, Myasnitskaya str. , Moscow, 101000, Russian Federation.E-mail: ann.v. andreeva@gmail.comIn the current economic situation with its high level of competition and high volatility of consumer preferences, methods of management based on impersonal mass production are giving way to client-oriented ones, or CRM - Customer Relationship Management.The article focuses on the problem of improving the efficiency of a company’s customer management by using models predicting the number of clients on the basis of Markov’s chains.The research results in suggesting a new approach to estimating parameters of the model, predicting the number of customers by using a matrix evaluating the ratio of new customers to those who dropped out. A model has been developed, which predicts the number of customers by taking into account the intensity of transitions between groups of customers, both for the case of constant and time-varying intensity. Factors, affecting the intensity of the transition of clients, have been identified. On this basis, an integrated model of customer relationship management has been suggested, allowing taking into account specifics of consumers’ behavior and socio-demographic differences between groups of customers, both with and without budget limitations. Also, a mathematical programming problem has been formulated which when applied delivers an optimal, in the terms of the accepted quality criteria, solution to the CRM tasks. At the same time, as the parameter evaluating the management efficiency, we chose the increase of net income from a customer, but not the probability of the customer's purchase.The practical significance of the paper is based on the fact that it offered a model of optimal customer relationship management for addressing one of the most important tasks of tactical management of a company, which takes into account a wider set of features of customer base and impact of marketing activities on different groups of customers. The model can be applied in organizations working in the sector of consumer goods, when the impact of the previous customer-company interaction has not been diagnosed yet.
The Entrepreneurial View on Voluntary Disclosure of Sales in Small Private Companies

Small companies are the backbone of the economy in many countries. In Europe, for example, small companies represent more than 90% of all companies. Despite the fact that these companies represent such an important portion of the economy, few studies have been examining voluntary disclosure decisions by this type of companies. Since small companies possess certain unique characteristics as compared with their larger counterparts, the general applicability of past voluntary disclosure studies to small companies is questionable. Drawing on agency, signalling and proprietary cost theory, this study investigates whether ownership, competition and accountant factors influence the decision to disclose financially sensitive information on a voluntary basis. Our results (using an e-mail questionnaire, n=1,102) show that nearly 40% of the responding companies are not even aware of their disclosure behaviour. For the companies that are aware of their disclosure behaviour, the logistic regression analysis shows that the ownership structure of the company is the most important determinant of voluntary disclosure. This is followed by perceived competition and the type of accounting software.
Low unesterified:esterified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plasma concentration ratio is associated with bipolar disorder episodes, and omega‐3 plasma concentrations are altered by treatment

Omega (n)‐3 and n‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are molecular modulators of neurotransmission and inflammation. We hypothesized that plasma concentrations of n‐3 PUFAs would be lower and those of n‐6 PUFAs higher in subjects with bipolar disorder (BD) compared to healthy controls (HCs), and would correlate with symptom severity in subjects with BD, and that effective treatment would correlate with increased n‐3 but lower n‐6 PUFA levels. Additionally, we explored clinical correlations and group differences in plasma levels of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids.
A green autonomous self-sustaining sensor node for counting people in office environments

Energy consumption is of critical concern in large office buildings. While office spaces are dynamically used, current building automation systems lack information on space utilisation to adaptively adjust energy spending according to actual needs. In this work, we propose an approach to count people per office space using distributed strategically placed PIR sensor nodes. We present our concept of a self-powered PIR sensor node that is using a MSP430 family processor. The sensor node can be flexibly installed in building spaces providing specific advances over existing devices. We detail the design considerations, implementation, and evaluation of this novel embedded system. Our evaluations showed that the sensor node can emit triggers at 276 nAh, thus operating for 361 triggers in complete darkness on a single charge. The approach can be used for lighting, climate, and appliances control in office spaces.
The PIP5K2A and RGS4 genes are differentially associated with deficit and non‐deficit schizophrenia

Several putative schizophrenia susceptibility genes have recently been reported, but it is not clear whether these genes are associated with schizophrenia in general or with specific disease subtypes. In a previous study, we found an association of the neuregulin 1 (NRG1) gene with non‐deficit schizophrenia only. We now report an association study of four schizophrenia candidate genes in patients with and without deficit schizophrenia, which is characterized by severe and enduring negative symptoms. Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in the DTNBP1 (dysbindin), G72/G30 and RGS4 genes, and the relatively unknown PIP5K2A gene, which is located in a region of linkage with both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The sample consisted of 273 Dutch schizophrenia patients, 146 of whom were diagnosed with deficit schizophrenia and 580 controls. The strongest evidence for association was found for the A‐allele of SNP rs10828317 in the PIP5K2A gene, which was associated with both clinical subtypes (P = 0.0004 in the entire group; non‐deficit P = 0.016, deficit P = 0.002). Interestingly, this SNP leads to a change in protein composition. In RGS4, the G‐allele of the previously reported SNP RGS4‐1 (single and as part of haplotypes with SNP RGS4‐18) was associated with non‐deficit schizophrenia (P = 0.03) but not with deficit schizophrenia (P = 0.79). SNPs in the DTNBP1 and G72/G30 genes were not significantly associated in any group. In conclusion, our data provide further evidence that specific genes may be involved in different schizophrenia subtypes and suggest that the PIP5K2A gene deserves further study as a general susceptibility gene for schizophrenia.
Perspective: : The Evolution of R&D Conduct in the Pharmaceutical Industry

During the past three decades, a series of changes in the market environment have altered the structure of the pharmaceutical industry. While these changes have benefitted the generic drug sector, the effect on the branded drug sector has been detrimental. In sum, these changes have shortened the product life cycles for branded drugs by shifting market share to generic drugs sooner. As a result, it is more challenging for branded drugs to meet return on investment expectations because sales revenue has decreased. This study examines change in the pharmaceutical industry through the lens of the Structure-Conduct-Performance paradigm. While research and development intensity has remained stable during the past three decades, new product introductions have shifted to favor brand extension drugs over new, innovative drugs. This change in conduct, reflecting the structural changes that have impacted the industry, indicates a transformation in managers' expectations for returns from investment in new drug development. From a performance standpoint, in the latter part of the period studied, we find a positive relationship between stock return and the introduction of brand extensions reflecting the stock market's approval of the change in product strategy. Our discussion concludes that emerging structural changes may help offset the challenges faced by the branded drug sector and ultimately drive additional changes in the branded sector's conduct.
Quantitative Evaluation of the Performance of an Industrial Benchtop Enclosing Hood

Plain benchtop enclosing hoods are assumed to be highly effective in protecting workers from airborne contaminants, but there is little research published to support or rebut that assumption. The purpose of this research was to investigate the performance of a 36 in. wide, 30 in. high, and 40 in. deep benchtop enclosing hood. The study consisted of two parts: (1) investigating the effects of hood face velocity (five levels: 111, 140, 170, 200, and 229 ft/min) and wind tunnel cross-draft velocity (five levels: 14, 26, 36, 46, and 57 ft/min) on a plain benchtop enclosing hood, and (2) studying the effects of specific interventions (no-intervention, collar flange, bottom flange, cowling, and sash) added onto the same enclosing hood. A tracer gas method was used to study the hood's performance inside a 9 ft high, 12 ft wide, and 40 ft long wind tunnel. Freon-134a concentrations were measured at the mouth and nose of an anthropometrically scaled, heated, breathing manikin holding a source between its hands while standing at the enclosing hood's face. Roughly 3 L/min of pure Freon-134a mixed with 9 L/min of helium was released from the source during all tests. Results showed that hood face velocity, wind tunnel cross-draft velocity, and interventions had statistically significant effects (p < 0.05) on the concentrations measured at the manikin's breathing zone. Lower exposures were associated with higher face velocities and higher cross-draft velocities. The highest exposures occurred when the face velocity was at the lowest test value (111 ft/min), and the cross-draft velocity was at its lowest test value (14 ft/min). For the effects of interventions to the hood face, the results showed that flanges and the cowling failed to consistently reduce exposures and often exacerbated them. However, the customized sash reduced exposures to less than the detection limit of 0.1 ppm, so a similar sash should be considered when feasible. The hood face velocity should be at least 150 ft/min if a sash is not used.