Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of the maximal-operant principle to motivate children's intrinsic interest.

The present research examined the hypothesis that in contrast to theory and research indicating that tangible reward decreases subsequent interest in enjoyable academic activities, rewards are perceived by adults as effective techniques to maximize long- and short-term subsequent interest for academic tasks of both high and low initial interest level. The results of our first three studies demonstrated that college students and parents view tangible reward as more effective than other less controlling techniques to enhance intrinsic motivation and value rewards more for intrinsically interesting academic behaviors in comparison with others (e.g., prosocial behaviors). Our fourth study supported the hypothesis that adults do not subscribe to the minimal-sufficiency analysis of increasing intrinsic motivation but prefer a maximal-operant principle in which the likelihood of producing long-term interest in academic tasks is assumed to vary positively with the size of a reward. Our fifth and sixth studies investigated illusory correlation as one mechanism that may perpetuate beliefs about the assumed positive relation between tangible reward and intrinsic interest in academic tasks.
Insecticide Resistance and Dominance Levels

Abstract Dominance has been assessed in different ways in insecticideresistance studies, based on three phenotypic traits: the insecticideconcentration required to give a particular mortality(DLC), mortality at a particular insecticidedose (DML), and fitness in treated areas(DWT). We propose a general formula forestimating dominance on a scale of 0 to 1 (0 = completerecessivity and 1 = complete dominance). DLC, DML, andDWT are not directly related and their valuesdepend on genetic background and environmental conditions. We also showthat pest management strategies can have the consequence to increaseDWT via the selection of dominance modifiers.Studies on resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis toxinsprovide the ultimate example of the complexity of the definition of theconcept of dominance. Almost all studies have focused on calculation ofDLC, which provides little information about theefficiency of pest management programs. For instance, one assumption ofthe high dose/refuge strategy is that Bacillus thuringiensisresistance must be effectively recessive (i.e.,DML must be close to zero). However,DWT, rather than DML, isrelevant to the resistance management strategy. Therefore, we stronglysuggest that the time has come to focus on fitness dominance levels inthe presence and absence of insecticide.
Overproduced bacteriophage T4 gene 33 protein binds RNA polymerase

Bacteriophage T4 gene 33 protein (gp33), which is required for viral late transcription, has been overproduced. The purified gp33 binds to RNA polymerase core from uninfected or T4-infected Escherichia coli, but the major E. coli transcription initiation factor, sigma 70, competed effectively for this binding.
Modeling Corporate Bond Spreads: An Application-Oriented Forecasting Exercise

The question of predictability of credit spreads is of more than just academic interest. The ability to generate unerring spread forecasts is of considerable practical relevance for both treasurers of companies, who want to finance themselves through bonds, and institutional investors, who must manage their fixed income portfolios to an optimum. Against this background, the present paper discusses the quantitative modeling of aggregate credit spreads of Euro-denominated corporate bonds. The analysis comprises three main elements: identification and selection of important determinants of credit spreads, choice and implementation of appropriate econometric methods according to statistical time series properties as well as model evaluation on the basis of simulated real-time predictions. The results of this study show that monthly changes of credit spreads can be predicted quite well, and that the selected quantitative methods generate forecasts that are superior to the benchmark "random walk" model.
Propensity-adjusted association of methotrexate with overall survival in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE While medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may affect survival in RA, few studies take into account the propensity for medication use, which may reflect selection bias in treatment allocation in survival models. We undertook this study to examine the relationship between methotrexate (MTX) use and mortality in RA, after controlling for individual propensity scores for MTX use. METHODS We studied 5,626 RA patients prospectively for 25 years to determine the risk of death associated with MTX use, modeled in time-varying Cox regression models. We used the random forest method to generate individual propensity scores for MTX use at study entry and during followup in a time-varying manner; these scores were included in the multivariate model. We also investigated whether selective discontinuation of MTX immediately prior to death altered the risk of mortality, and we examined the association of duration of MTX use with survival. RESULTS During followup, 666 patients (12%) died. MTX use was associated with reduced risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio 0.30 [95% confidence interval 0.09-1.03]). Selective MTX cessation immediately before death did not account for the protective association of MTX use with mortality. Only MTX use for >1 year was associated with lower risks of mortality, but associations were not stronger with longer durations of use. CONCLUSION MTX use was associated with a 70% reduction in mortality in RA.
N-Cyclopentyl-N-(3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-yl)acetamide

The title molecule, C16H19NO2, consists of an indane moiety, which is connected through an N atom to an acetamide group and a cyclopentane ring. The N atom adopts planar triangular geometry. Intermolecular interactions, such as π–π stacking or hydrogen bonding, were not observed.
Dermal delivery of selected hydrophilic drugs from elastic liposomes: effect of phospholipid formulation and surfactants

The effect of phospholipid formulation and choice of surfactant on skin permeation of selected hydrophilic drugs from elastic liposomes across human epidermal membrane has been studied. Sodium cholate and various concentrations of phosphatidylcholine were used for the preparation of liposomes namely hydrogenated phosphatidylcholine 90% (Phospholipon 90H), phosphatidylcholine 95% (Phospholipon 90G), phosphatidylcholine 78.6% (Phospholipon 80), and phosphatidylcholine 50% (Phosal PG). To investigate the effect of the surfactant, liposomes were prepared from 95% phosphatidylcholine (Phospholipon 90G) and various surfactants (sodium cholate, sodium deoxycholate, Span 20 (sorbitan monolaurate), Span 40 (sorbitan monopalmitate), Span 60 (sorbitan stearate) and Span 80 (sorbitan monooleate)). The vesicles were prepared by the conventional rotary evaporation technique. The film was hydrated with phosphate‐buffered saline (10 mL) containing 9, 2 and 2.5 mg mL−1 of methotrexate, idoxuridine and aciclovir, respectively. All formulations contained 7% ethanol. Homogenously‐sized liposomes were produced following extrusion through 100‐nm polycarbonate filters using Lipex Extruder. Particle size was characterized by transmission electron microscopy. Vertical Franz diffusion cells were used for the study of drug delivery through human epidermal membrane. For the three drugs, the highest transcutaneous fluxes were from elastic liposomes containing 95% phosphatidylcholine. In general, a higher flux value was obtained for liposomes containing sodium cholate compared with sodium deoxycholate. For the liposomes containing sorbitan monoesters, there was no clearly defined trend between alkyl chain length and flux values. Overall, transcutaneous fluxes of liposomal preparations of hydrophilic drugs were comparable with those from saturated aqueous solutions (P > 0.05).
Less is more: is a green demarketing strategy sustainable?

Abstract The research explores consumers’ perceptions of the business motivations behind a new type of sustainable business strategy – green demarketing. Green demarketing refers to a strategy whereby a brand encourages consumers to buy less at the category level through purchase of the company’s brand for the sake of the environment. Two studies show that consumer motive attributions and attitudes may depend on the brand’s perceived fit with sustainable business practices. Specifically, results show that the brand’s environmental reputation is the strongest predictor of consumers’ responses towards a green demarketing campaign, with effects persisting above and beyond the influences of the brand’s length of commitment to environmental protection and consumers’ brand habits. Implications for practice and future research are proposed.
Counterfeit IC Detection : A Defect Database and Test Procedure

Counterfeit electronics are a long-standing problem, which pose an enormous threat to the electronics industry and supply chain. Critical systems used in medical, transportation, defense, etc. have long life cycles which make it easier for long-term counterfeiting success. Physical inspection and electrical tests are the most common approach for counterfeit parts detection. During the physical inspection, exterior, interior, and material composition are examined to detect anomaly from the component under test. There are a diverse set of counterfeit IC types, all of which have their own unique defects. Thus, detection process requires a long time to test an IC against a long list of defects [2]. It is immensely difficult to classify and provide a universal physical inspection process for all counterfeit types. Apart from this, physical inspection requires subject matters expert (SME), and a wide range of expensive test equipment which makes the process costly. An automated approach [1] to physical inspection with reduced cost and time can be a solution to above problems. The main barrier towards overcoming the above challenges is the lack of defect data of counterfeit components as in general academia do not have access to costly equipment and samples. To address this, we developed a large database www.counterfeit-ic.org [2] for counterfeit electronic ICs that provides a great opportunity to student, practitioners, and researchers to study the defects. On contrary, electrical tests are used to compare the IC parameters such as current, voltage, delay, etc. to the specifications or any known reference data.
Planning optimal grasps

The authors address the problem of planning optimal grasps. Two general optimality criteria that consider the total finger force and the maximum finger force are introduced and discussed. Their formalization using various metrics on a space of generalized forces is detailed. The geometric interpretation of the two criteria leads to an efficient planning algorithm. An example of its use in a robotic environment equipped with two-jaw and three-jaw is described. <<ETX>>
Hypoxia Represses the Differentiation of Rcho-1 Rat Trophoblast Giant Cells

Background: A hypoxic environment is known to be essential for early placentation. A low oxygen tension induces hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1α) which may play an important role as a transcription factor in maintaining the proliferative and undifferentiated phenotype in human trophoblasts. Methods: We analyzed the effect of a low oxygen tension on the rat trophoblast giant cell differentiation pathway using Rcho-1 cells which were derived from rat choriocarcinomas and consist of trophoblast stem cells. Results: We found that a low oxygen tension suppressed the morphological changes and steroidogenesis during differentiation. The anticipated downregulation of the Id-1 transcription factor, a negative regulator of trophoblast giant cell differentiation, was not observed in the hypoxic environment. On the other hand, deferoxamine, which mimics hypoxia and induces HIF-1α, caused downregulation of Id-1 transcription factor and trophoblast giant cell differentiation. Conclusion: These results indicate that hypoxia represses rat trophoblast giant cell differentiation via an HIF-1α-independent pathway.
THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE KOREAN FINANCIAL CRISIS ON POLICY, FIRMS, CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND INSIDER TRADING

In Korea, corporate governance has been a controversial issue for the last ten years. The Korean government and the International Monetary Fund agreed that some specific corporate governance structures in Korea, like the Chaebols, aggravated the negative effects of the Asian financial crisis. Thus the government passed a series of laws and created institutions to improve corporate governance. This chapter examines how corporate governance affects firm value using Korean market data after the Asian financial crisis. One core empirical problem in this kind of study is how to deal with the endogeneity problem since corporate governance is an endogenous variable which firms can choose to increase their value. We consider the Asian crisis as a natural experiment and analyze the effect of changes in the laws regulating corporate governance on firm value. The results show that the reform of corporate governance led to positive abnormal returns.
Psychological Flexibility and Mindfulness Explain Intuitive Eating in Overweight Adults

The current study investigated whether mindfulness and psychological flexibility, independently and together, explain intuitive eating. The participants were overweight or obese persons (N = 306) reporting symptoms of perceived stress and enrolled in a psychological lifestyle intervention study. Participants completed self-report measures of psychological flexibility; mindfulness including the subscales observe, describe, act with awareness, non-react, and non-judgment; and intuitive eating including the subscales unconditional permission to eat, eating for physical reasons, and reliance on hunger/satiety cues. Psychological flexibility and mindfulness were positively associated with intuitive eating factors. The results suggest that mindfulness and psychological flexibility are related constructs that not only account for some of the same variance in intuitive eating, but they also account for significant unique variances in intuitive eating. The present results indicate that non-judgment can explain the relationship between general psychological flexibility and unconditional permission to eat as well as eating for physical reasons. However, mindfulness skills—acting with awareness, observing, and non-reacting—explained reliance on hunger/satiety cues independently from general psychological flexibility. These findings suggest that mindfulness and psychological flexibility are interrelated but not redundant constructs and that both may be important for understanding regulation processes underlying eating behavior.
Goodwill measuring value creation of acquisitions: an empirical research

The reason for this research is that at the beginning of the 21st century, some important changes were introduced in the international standards of accounting affecting reporting on goodwill. The intentions of the standard-setting bodies in drafting the new rules were that the financial statements would better reflect the underlying economics of the acquired goodwill.1 In this research it is tested whether goodwill under the new accounting regime does reflect underlying economics and therefore provides information on expected value creation of the acquisition. The results of the research show that goodwill contains elements of value creation: characteristics of valuecreating acquisitions have a positive effect on purchased goodwill. However, also other characteristics determine the amount of purchased goodwill.
Over the Edge

A solution to get the problem off, have you found it? Really? What kind of solution do you resolve the problem? From what sources? Well, there are so many questions that we utter every day. No matter how you will get the solution, it will mean better. You can take the reference from some books. And the over the edge is one book that we really recommend you to read, to get more solutions in solving this problem.
A novel spectrum sensing method in cognitive radio based on suprathreshold stochastic resonance

To tackle the problem of performance degradation of traditional spectrum sensing technique with energy detection under the circumstances of weak signal and non-Gaussian environment in cognitive radio (CR), a novel spectrum sensing method based on suprathreshold stochastic resonance (SSR) is proposed in this paper. Through the resonance between the primary user (PU) signal and noise by introducing nonlinearity of a parallel of quantizers, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the received signal can be increased when the constraint we develop is satisfied. To obtain a constant false-alarm rate (CFAR), the detection probability of the proposed method is derived. Theoretical analyses and simulation results show that the detection performance is superior to the conventional energy detection method under low SNR circumstances when the a certain range of non-Gaussian noise is input.
Cloning of the contiguous 165-kilobase-pair region around the terminus of Escherichia coli K-12 DNA replication

Escherichia coli K-12 chromosomal DNA was partially digested with either EcoRI or HindIII, and cosmid libraries were constructed. By screening these libraries, a series of partially overlapping clones which covered the terC region was isolated. The cloned area spanned about 165 kilobase pairs, corresponding to the 29.7-to-33.2-min region of the genetic map of the E. coli chromosome.
Structure-function relationships of curaremimetic neurotoxin loop 2 and of a structurally similar segment of rabies virus glycoprotein in their interaction with the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Peptides corresponding to portions of curaremimetic neurotoxin loop 2 and to a structurally similar segment of rabies virus glycoprotein were synthetically modified in order to gain information on structure-function relationships of neurotoxin loop 2 interactions with the acetylcholine receptor. Binding of synthetic peptides to the acetylcholine receptor of Torpedo electric organ membranes was assessed by measuring their ability to inhibit the binding of 125I-alpha-bungarotoxin to the receptor. The peptides showing the highest affinity for the receptor were a peptide corresponding to the sequence of loop 2 (residues 25-44) of Ophiophagus hannah (king cobra) toxin b (IC50 = 5.7 x 10(-6) M) and the structurally similar segment (residues 173-203) of CVS rabies virus glycoprotein (IC50 = 2.6 x 10(-6) M). These affinities were comparable to those of d-tubocurarine (IC50 = 3.4 x 10(-6) M) and suberyldicholine (IC50 = 2.5 x 10(-6) M). These results demonstrate the importance of loop 2 in the neurotoxin interaction with the receptor. N- and C-terminal deletions of the loop 2 peptides and substitution of residues invariant or highly conserved among neurotoxins were performed in order to determine the role of individual residues in binding. Residues 25-40 are the most crucial in the interaction with the acetylcholine receptor. Modifications involving Lys-27, Trp-29, Phe-33, Arg-37, and Gly-38 reduced affinity of binding. R37D and F33T modifications reduced the affinity of alpha-bungarotoxin residues 28-40 by an order of magnitude. Arg-37 may correspond to the positively charged quaternary ammonium group and Phe-33 to the hydrophobic acetyl methyl group of acetylcholine. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effect of food on the pharmacokinetics of sunitinib malate (SU11248), a multi-targeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor: results from a phase I study in healthy subjects

The effect of food on the oral bioavailability of sunitinib malate (SU11248, an oral, multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor with anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor activities) was assessed in a randomized open-label, two-way crossover study. A 50-mg dose of SU11248 was administered to 16 healthy subjects after a 10-h fast in one period and after a high-fat, high-calorie meal in the other period. The 90% confidence intervals (CIs) for maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) were within the 80–125% bioequivalence range, indicating the absence of a food effect. SU11248 exposure increased slightly in the fed compared with the fasted state (ratios of fed/fasted geometric least square means: Cmax 104%, AUC0–last and AUC0–∞ both 112%). There was a delay in the formation/absorption of the active metabolite SU12662 in the fed state (mean Cmax decreased 23%), but exposure remained unaffected (90% CIs for AUC0–last and AUC0–∞were within 80–125%). These results indicate that SU11248 can be administered with or without food.
Digital reconstruction of three-dimensional serially sectioned optical images

The nature of out-of-focus noise is analyzed and linear filtering approaches are demonstrated for minimizing its effect. The analysis is based on concepts of geometrical optics, and takes into account the passage of light through the object. The object is assumed to be nondiffractive and to have low contrast. These assumptions, although not usually met in practice, are not overly restrictive. Experience shows that even dark, diffractive objects show substantial improvement after filtering. Sample images of a pollen grain and a rat pancreas islet are used to demonstrate the efficacy of the technique. >
Types of Investor Uncertainty and Cost of Equity

This study examines the explanatory power of different sources of investor uncertainty for expected stock returns and implied costs of equity. We develop novel estimates of two sources of investor uncertainty, one related to future performance and unrelated to accrual errors (cash flow uncertainty) and one related to investor uncertainty of future performance because of accrual errors (information quality uncertainty). Distinct from prior studies, our estimates of investor uncertainty are forward-looking, represent conditional volatilities surrounding expectations of future cash flows and accruals, and are based on a matched-firm process that minimizes the mechanical correlation between the two uncertainty variables. Our tests reveal that different types of investor uncertainty have different, and countervailing, effects on cost of equity in a manner directionally consistent with theory. We find a strong negative relation between cash flow uncertainty and multiple estimates of cost of equity with economic magnitudes similar to those on book-to-market and accruals. In addition, incremental to cash flow uncertainty, we find a strong positive association between information quality uncertainty and future stock returns. Collectively, our study offers the first direct empirical evidence that different sources of investor uncertainty can have countervailing effects on costs of equity.