Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low-complexity parallel evaluation of powers exploiting bit-level redundancy

In this work, we investigate the problem of computing any requested set of power terms in parallel using summations trees. This problem occurs in applications like polynomial approximation, Farrow filters (polynomial evaluation part) etc. In the proposed technique, the partial product of each power term is initially computed independently. A redundancy check is then made in each and among all partial products matrices at bit level. The redundancy here relates to the fact that same three partial products may be present in more than one columns, and, hence, can be mapped to the same full adder. The proposed algorithm is tested for different sets of powers and wordlengths to exploit the sharing potential.
Evaluation of the usability of selected innovation concepts for managing innovation activities

A significant number of enterprise owners and managers realize an importance of innovations for the future existence of their business and its development. It appears that in theory and business practice a number of innovation concepts can be found, however for managers and business owners it is difficult to be knowledgeable in innovation concepts in order to use them in practice. Innovation concepts represent solutions outline, which react to the business ability to innovate. Each innovation concept is different in the area of focusing on innovation problem and way of detailization. Chosen innovation concepts can be applied when solving following problems: Identifying the innovation potential, organizational readiness for innovation and achieved levels of innovation climate, or the actual implementation of the innovation process and the evaluation of innovation. It is worth noting that concrete innovation concepts are not at the same level of usability in practice, some of them need to be better specified for application in business. A set of innovation concepts was created and evaluated the usability of individual concepts in the enterprise. The evaluation was carried out by qualitative analysis using selected criteria, which were determined by an expert group with the assistance of the researcher. Variants of usability of innovation concepts were defined subsequently. At the same time, decision-making model based on the Analytic Hierarchical Process was designed and applied in order to classify innovation concepts. Decision-making model can be used by managers for the purpose of innovations management while choosing the concept of innovation.
Eco-efficiency measurement and improvement of Chinese industry using a new closest target method

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to measure Chinese industries’ eco-efficiency during 2006-2013. The Chinese industry attained rapid achievement in recent decades, but meanwhile, overconsumption of energy and environmental pollution have become serious problems. To solve these problems, many research studies used the data envelopment analysis (DEA) to measure the Chinese industry’s eco-efficiency. However, because the target set by these works is usually the furthest one for a province to be efficient, it may hardly be accepted by any province. Design/methodology/approach This paper builds a new “closest target method” based on an additive DEA model considering the undesirable outputs. This method is a mixed-integer programming problem which can measure the ecological efficiency of provinces and more importantly guide the province to perform efficiently with minimum effort. Findings The results show that the eco-efficiency of Chinese provinces increased at the average level, but the deviations remained at a larger value. Compared to the “furthest” target methods, the targets by the approach proposed by this study are more acceptable for a province to improve its performance on both economy and environment counts. Originality/value This study is the first attempt to introduce the closest targets concept to measure the eco-efficiency and set the target for each provincial industry in China.
PER and TIM Inhibit the DNA Binding Activity of aDrosophila CLOCK-CYC/dBMAL1 Heterodimer without Disrupting Formation of the Heterodimer: a Basis for Circadian Transcription

ABSTRACT The Drosophila CLOCK (dCLOCK) and CYCLE (CYC) (also referred to as dBMAL1) proteins are members of the basic helix-loop-helix PAS (PER-ARNT-SIM) superfamily of transcription factors and are required for high-level expression of the circadian clock genes period (per) andtimeless (tim). Several lines of evidence indicate that PER, TIM, or a PER-TIM heterodimer somehow inhibit the transcriptional activity of a putative dCLOCK-CYC complex, generating a negative-feedback loop that is a core element of theDrosophila circadian oscillator. In this report we show that PER and/or TIM inhibits the binding of a dCLOCK-CYC heterodimer to an E-box-containing DNA fragment that is present in the 5′ nontranscribed region of per and acts as a circadian enhancer element. Surprisingly, inhibition of this DNA binding activity by PER, TIM, or both is not accompanied by disruption of the association between dCLOCK and CYC. The results suggest that the interaction of PER, TIM, or both with the dCLOCK-CYC heterodimer induces a conformational change or masks protein regions in the heterodimer, leading to a reduction in DNA binding activity. Together with other findings, our results strongly suggest that daily cycles in the association of PER and TIM with the dCLOCK-CYC complex probably contribute to rhythmic expression of per andtim.
Macaque Multimeric Soluble CD40 Ligand and GITR Ligand Constructs Are Immunostimulatory Molecules In Vitro

ABSTRACT CD40 ligand (CD40L) and GITR ligand (glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor-related protein ligand [GITRL]) are tumor necrosis factor superfamily molecules that can be used as vaccine adjuvants. In a previous human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) DNA vaccine study in mice, we found that plasmids expressing multimeric soluble forms of trimeric CD40L (i.e., many trimers) were stronger activators of CD8+ T-cell responses than were single-trimer soluble forms or the natural membrane-bound molecule. This report describes similar multimeric soluble molecules that were constructed for studies in macaques. Both two-trimer and four-trimer forms of macaque CD40L were active in B-cell proliferation assays using macaque and human cells. With human cells, four-trimer macaque GITRL costimulated CD4+ T-cell proliferation and abrogated the immunosuppressive effects of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells on a mixed leukocyte reaction. These molecular adjuvants provide new tools for vaccine development in the simian immunodeficiency virus system and other macaque models.
Induction of tubulogenesis in telomerase-immortalized human microvascular endothelial cells by glioblastoma cells.

To facilitate the study of human endothelial cells we have used a replication defective retrovirus encoding the catalytic subunit of telomerase (hTERT) to derive populations of telomerase-immortalized human microvascular endothelial (TIME) cells. Whereas parental HMVECs became senescent on average within 35-45 population doublings (PDs), TIME cells have continued to proliferate for at least 200 PDs. TIME cells express readily detectable telomerase activity but display only a modest increase in telomere length. Karyotypic analysis reveals the cells to have a normal complement of human chromosomes with no evidence of gross genetic abnormalities. Furthermore, TIME cells retain many of the characteristics of the primary endothelial cells from which they were derived. For example, they express a panel of characteristic endothelial cell surface marker proteins such as CD31/PECAM-1 and alpha(v)beta3-integrin. In addition, TIME cells express receptors for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor as they are competent for receptor-mediated endocytosis of fluorescent acetylated LDL. Importantly, when plated on matrigel, TIME cells undergo tubule formation. Moreover, when cocultured in the presence of human glioma cells, but not primary human astrocytes, TIME cells are induced to form stable tubules. Detachment of TIME cells from extracellular matrix leads to a form of programmed cell death known as anoikis. Conditional activation of the protein kinase Akt (Akt:ER*) significantly inhibited the onset of TIME cell anoikis under these conditions. We believe that the ability of hTERT to immortalize primary human endothelial cells, and the fact that such cells retain the endothelial characteristics of the cells from which they were derived, will greatly facilitate the analysis of human endothelial cell biology in vitro.
Bare-fingers Touch Detection by the Button's Distortion in a Projector–Camera System

In this paper, we propose a novel interactive projection system (IPS), which enables bare-finger touch interaction on regular planar surfaces (e.g., walls, tables), with only one standard camera and one projector. The challenge of bare-finger touch detection is recovering the touching information just from the 2-D image captured by the camera. In our method, the graphical user interface (GUI) button is projected on the surface and is distorted by the finger when clicking it, and there is a significant positive correlation between the button's distortion and the finger's height to the surface. Therefore, we propose a novel, fast, and robust algorithm, which takes advantage of the button's distortion to detect the touch action. The proposed touch detection algorithm is performed in three stages: 1) region of interest extraction through a homography mapping, by which the computational complexity of the following processing is reduced; 2) the button's distortion detection using a special edge detection algorithm, which greatly reduces the errors due to the influence of the finger's shadows and edges; and 3) touch action judgment by the button's distortion. Several applications (e.g., virtual keyboard, power point viewing), which use the proposed touch detection method based on the buttons, are shown in this paper. An evaluation is performed on the virtual keyboard and the results demonstrate that the proposed approach can detect bare-finger touch in real time with the missed detection rate of 1.00%, false detection rate of 2.08%, and touch detection rate of 96.92% at the typical projected distance.
Eating disorders with binge-eating behaviour are associated with the s allele of the 3'-UTR VNTR polymorphism of the dopamine transporter gene.

OBJECTIVE The dopaminergic system is associated with feelings of pleasure and reward and with positive hedonic processes related to food, sexual activity and certain substances. Because it is recognized that patients who have eating disorders with binge-eating behaviour have a high comorbidity of substance dependence, we examined the association between the variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) polymorphism in the 3; untranslated region of the dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) and eating disorders with binge-eating behaviour. METHODS The subjects were 90 female Japanese patients with eating disorders diagnosed using DSM-IV; they were compared with 115 healthy female controls. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood, and standard polymerase chain reaction testing was performed. We compared the frequencies of a short allele (7 or 9 repeats) and a long allele (10 or 11 repeats) in both groups. RESULTS In the group who had an eating disorder with binge-eating behaviour, the frequency of a short allele was significantly higher compared with the control group. CONCLUSION It seems plausible that the association between the DAT1 VNTR and binge-eating behaviour indicates that dysregulation of dopamine reuptake may act as a common pathophysiologic mechanism in eating disorders with binge-eating behaviour and in disorders related to substance use.
A Novel Adaptive Fuzzy Local Information $C$ -Means Clustering Algorithm for Remotely Sensed Imagery Classification

This paper presents a novel adaptive fuzzy local information c-means (ADFLICM) clustering approach for remotely sensed imagery classification by incorporating the local spatial and gray level information constraints. The ADFLICM approach can enhance the conventional fuzzy c-means algorithm by producing homogeneous segmentation and reducing the edge blurring artifact simultaneously. The major contribution of ADFLICM is use of the new fuzzy local similarity measure based on pixel spatial attraction model, which adaptively determines the weighting factors for neighboring pixel effects without any experimentally set parameters. The weighting factor for each neighborhood is fully adaptive to the image content, and the balance between insensitiveness to noise and reduction of edge blurring artifact to preserve image details is automatically achieved by using the new fuzzy local similarity measure. Four different types of images were used in the experiments to examine the performance of ADFLICM. The experimental results indicate that ADFLICM produces greater accuracy than the other four methods and hence provides an effective clustering algorithm for classification of remotely sensed imagery.
The role of EMT and MET in cancer dissemination

Abstract Metastatic cancer cells are lethal. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that bolster the conversion from benign to malignant progression is key for treating these heterogeneous and resistant neoplasms. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a conserved cellular program that alters cell shape, adhesion and movement. The shift to a more mesenchymal-like phenotype can promote tumor cell intravasation of surrounding blood vessels and emigration to a new organ, yet may not be necessary for extravasation or colonization into that environment. Lymphatic dissemination, on the other hand, may not require EMT. This review presents emerging data on the modes by which tumor cells promote EMT/MET via microRNA and prepare the pre-metastatic niche via exosomes.
Towards inclusive tourism? Stakeholder collaboration in the development of accessible tourism

ABSTRACT Stakeholder collaboration is increasingly being lauded as important in the development of accessible tourism. The purpose of this study is to explore how stakeholders collaborate in the development of accessible tourism. Drawing on research conducted in Western Australia, the study utilises qualitative approaches in its exploration. The evidence from the study strongly indicates that there is minimal collaboration between stakeholders in the development of accessible tourism. The findings suggest that when there are multiple and diverse stakeholders at play, an organic, circulatory and developmental approach to stakeholder collaboration should be adopted to innovatively move towards inclusive tourism – an ideal that aspires to equal access and inclusion for all. To this end, four emergent interrelated themes are considered: control and coordination, communication, clarity of roles and responsibilities and collaboration and integration. From these themes, a framework that can be applied to encourage collaboration is proposed.
US shale oil and the behaviour of commodity prices

The US is committed to technological improvements in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing in its drive of toppling the worldâ€™s leading oil producers by the mid-2020s and evolving into a net oil exporter by 2030. Consequently, the technological innovations revolutionised the US oil sector and the international oil market with increasing relevance of the shale oil and attendant shock spill overs to financial and commodity markets. Upon these attractions and consistent with evidence in the literature, we trace the oil price and commodity price dynamics to the shale revolution using a recursive structural VAR model of the shale supply shocks. In line with the standard practice of ensuring sensitivity of results, we also conduct analyses such as impulse responses, forecast-error variance decomposition and historical decompositions for the total US oil production shocks. We show that the shale revolution, rather than the total US oil supply shocks, is associated with the recent oil price plunge while both oil supply shocks are associated with mild shock spill over to all- and nonfuel- commodity prices.
Ability of 1,5-Anhydro-d-glucitol Values to Predict Coronary Artery Disease in a Non-Diabetic Population.

Increasing evidence has indicated that postprandial hyperglycemia affects coronary artery disease (CAD). The serum 1,5-anhydro-d-glucitol (1,5-AG) value is a useful clinical marker to evaluate short-term glycemic status and reflects glycemic excursions with greater sensitivity when compared with hemoglobinA1c (HbA1c), especially for patients in the postprandial state. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of 1,5-AG for CAD in patients without diabetes mellitus.This study included 729 consecutive patients who had undergone their first coronary angiography. A total of 284 patients (246 diabetic patients and 38 patients with stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease) were excluded. The predictive values of 1,5-AG and HbA1c for CAD were evaluated by multivariable logistic regression analysis.Patients with CAD demonstrated significantly lower 1,5-AG values and higher HbA1c values than did patients without CAD (18.6 μg/mL [12.0, 23.3] versus 19.2 μg/mL [14.4, 25.2], P = 0.036, and 5.7% [5.5, 5.9] versus 5.6% [5.4, 5.8], P = 0.016, respectively). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, the HbA1c values did not indicate a predictive value for the prevalence of CAD. In contrast, the 1,5-AG levels were still an independent predictor of CAD (adjusted odds ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.93-0.99, P = 0.0097). Serum 1,5-AG is superior to HbA1c for predicting CAD prevalence in patients without diabetes mellitus.
Post-Carotid Endarterectomy Cerebral Hyperperfusion Syndrome : Is It Preventable by Strict Blood Pressure Control?

Objective Cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome (CHS) is a serious complication after carotid endarterectomy (CEA). However, the prevalence of CHS has decreased as techniques have improved. This study evaluates the role of strict blood pressure (BP) control for the prevention of CHS. Methods All 18 patients who received CEA from February 2009 through November 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were routinely managed in an intensive care unit by a same protocol. The cerebral perfusion state was evaluated on the basis of the regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) study by perfusion computed tomography (pCT) and mean velocity by transcranial doppler (TCD). BP was strictly controlled (<140/90 mm Hg) for 7 days. When either post-CEA hyperperfusion (>100% increase in the rCBF by pCT or in the mean velocity by TCD compared with preoperative values) or CHS was detected, BP was maintained below 120/80 mm Hg. Results TCD and pCT data on the patients were analyzed. Ipsilateral rCBF was significantly increased after CEA in the pCT (p=0.049). Post-CEA hyperperfusion was observed in 3 patients (18.7%) in the pCT and 2 patients (12.5%) in the TCD study. No patients developed clinical CHS for one month after CEA. Furthermore, no patients developed additional neurological deficits related to postoperative cerebrovascular complications. Conclusion Intensive care with strict BP control (<140/90 mm Hg) achieved a low prevalence of post-CEA hyperperfusion and prevented CHS. This study suggests that intensive care with strict BP control can prevent the prevalence of post-CEA CHS.
Genetic Control of Storage Oil Synthesis in Seeds of Arabidopsis1

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) that control seed oil content and fatty acid composition were studied using a recombinant inbred population derived from a cross between the Arabidopsis ecotypes Landsberg erecta and Cape Verdi Islands. Multiple QTL model mapping identified two major and two minor QTL that account for 43% of the variation in oil content in the population. The most significant QTL is at the bottom of chromosome 2 and accounts for 17% of the genetic variation. Two other significant QTL, located on the upper and lower arms of chromosome 1, account for a further 19% of the genetic variation. A QTL near to the top of chomosome 3 is epistatic to that on the upper arm of chromosome 1. There are strong QTL for linoleic (18:2) and linolenic (18:3) acids contents that colocate with the FAD3 locus, another for oleic acid (18:1) that colocates with FAD2 and other less significant QTL for palmitic (16:0), stearic (18:0), and eicosaenoic (20:1) acids. The presence of the QTL for seed oil content on chromosome 2 was confirmed by the generation of lines that contain a 22-cM region of Landsberg erecta DNA at the bottom of chromosome 2 in a background containing Cape Verdi Islands in other regions of the genome that had been shown to influence oil content in the QTL analysis.
The purification and characterization of liver glyoxalase I from normal mice and from mice bearing a lymphosarcoma.

Glyoxalase I has been purified from the livers of normal DBA/1J mice (565-fold) and mice bearing a lymphosarcoma (348-fold). There was a significant difference in the fractionation patterns of the glyoxalase I activities from the two sources. Molecular weight determinations for which Sephadex gel filtration was used were conducted on the purified enzymes. The estimated molecular weights are 48,000 for the normal liver enzyme and 60,000 for the “tumor liver” enzyme. Treatment with guanidine-HCl has no effect on the molecular weight of liver glyoxalase I from normal mice; however, similar treatment of the liver enzyme from tumor-bearing mice decreases the molecular weight of catalytically active enzyme to approximately 23,000. The Km values of the enzymes are similar. Studies with the tumor (lymphosarcoma) enzyme indicate that the liver enzyme from tumor-bearing mice is not of tumor origin. The results of the investigation suggest that the glyoxalase I enzyme in the liver of mice bearing a lymphosarcoma is modified due to the presence of the tumor.
Do Prior Experiences of Top Executives Enable or Hinder Product Market Entry?

How firms achieve entry into new&#8208;to&#8208;the&#8208;firm product markets is an important but overlooked topic. Some aspiring entrants fail during product development, and they miss the opportunity to enter. In such contexts, firms often take action to de&#8208;risk entry, for example, by drawing upon the experience of top executives with market&#8208;specific expertise obtained in prior jobs. However, the empirical evidence from this study shows that beyond a narrow threshold, greater prior experience in the top executive team was associated with a greater likelihood of failed entry attempts among the firms that I tracked over two decades in the biotechnology industry. This result held across product markets with low and high degrees of dynamism. Based on the literature on dynamic managerial capabilities, where entry into new markets indicates managers&#8217; ability to reconfigure organizational resources and adapt to a changing environment, this study&#8217;s main contribution is to illustrate how and why experience matters for entry.