Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimum Plant Size in United Kingdom Industries: Some Survivor Estimates

The survivor technique for estimating the optimum size of firms (or plants) derives from the assumption that the most efficient size of firm (plant) will perform best in the market place, and hence over time, with other things (such as technology) remaining unchanged, occupy an increasing share of the market.2 In applying the technique, firms (plants) in an industry are classified into size classes at two dates; and size classes with increased market shares are identified. If one size class alone has increased its share of the market, or if the size classes which have increased their share lie within a continuous range, then (subject to predetermined tests designed to reduce the risk of drawing inferences from random movements) that size class or size range is said to constitute the optimum size of firm (plant) given the existing size of the market. The concept of efficiency or optimality underlying the use of the survivor technique is different from and wider than that underlying the traditional analysis in the theory of the firm. Flexibility in the face of uncertainty and success in labour relations, if related to size, are among the matters which could affect the results produced by the survivor estimates. The optimum or the minimum efficient size of firm (plant) estimated by the survivor technique may well differ from that implicit in the long-run average cost curve of traditional analysis. The wider concept of efficiency may well be more relevant for the study of industrial structure and for policy purposes. Various criticisms have been levelled at the interpretation of survivor estimates, in particular by Shepherd [5]. The main criticism is that success in the market often depends on factors other than those which would normally represent genuine welfare gains. These factors include, for example, restrictive agreements and the control of scarce resources. But while such factors may affect survivor estimates forfirm sizes,3 they
State and Local Pension Fund Governance and the Process of Contracting for Investment Services: The Scope of Diversity and the Problem of Embeddedness

Abstract US state and local public employee retirement systems (PERS) utilise various models of contract with distinctive features in their form and substantive content in relation to industry norms. These models differ between states, within states, and even between PERS within major metropolitan areas. Diversity goes against expectations to the effect that the sector relies upon commonly accepted investment management agreements (IMAs), given the similarities between state and local PERS as to the nature of pension benefits. One goal of this paper is to account for apparent commonalities and differences. Another goal of the paper is to explain the nature and significance of the pre-contract screening of potential suppliers to the sector, suggesting that requests for proposals tend to ‘sterilise’ contracts for investment management services. We provide a comparison of the categories and items evident in model IMAs with reference to selected states, in particular Illinois and the Chicago-area PERS. We also briefly note relevant provisions of pending legislation establishing the Oregon Investment Corporation, emphasising provisions which would enable the fund to make contracts like its private sector peers. The paper concludes that it is important to focus on the process of contracting in the US state and local PERS as well as the form of contract.
Experimental Study of a Centrifugal Conductive MHD Pump

Results of experiments performed on disk models of a centrifugal conductive magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) pump, which can be considered as prototypes of pumps in casting of ferrous and nonferrous metals, are presented. Low-temperature Wood and Rose alloys are used as working fluids. Dependence values of the output pressure and flow rate on parameter IB (where I is the electric current and B is the magnetic field) in various pump operation modes are determined for a model centrifugal conductive MHD pump with an axisymmetric supply of current (the side surface of the MHD cell is electrically conductive). Similar experiments on the model with an insulated surface of the MHD cell and external electrodes in the zero flow rate regime show that the output pressure generated by the pump is appreciably greater than that in the case with an axisymmetric current supply.
MicroRNA-193b-3p represses neuroblastoma cell growth via downregulation of Cyclin D1, MCL-1 and MYCN

Neuroblastoma is the most common diagnosed tumor in infants and the second most common extracranial tumor of childhood. The survival rate of patients with high-risk neuroblastoma is still very low despite intensive multimodal treatments. Therefore, new treatment strategies are needed. In recent years, miRNA-based anticancer therapy has received growing attention. Advances in this novel treatment strategy strongly depends on the identification of candidate miRNAs with broad-spectrum antitumor activity. Here, we identify miR-193b as a miRNA with tumor suppressive properties. We show that miR-193b is expressed at low levels in neuroblastoma cell lines and primary tumor samples. Introduction of miR-193b mimics into nine neuroblastoma cell lines with distinct genetic characteristics significantly reduces cell growth in vitro independent of risk factors such as p53 functionality or MYCN amplification. Functionally, miR-193b induces a G1 cell cycle arrest and cell death in neuroblastoma cell lines by reducing the expression of MYCN, Cyclin D1 and MCL-1, three important oncogenes in neuroblastoma of which inhibition has shown promising results in preclinical testing. Therefore, we suggest that miR-193b may represent a new candidate for miRNA-based anticancer therapy in neuroblastoma.
Immunologic Control of Tumors by In Vivo Fcγ Receptor-Targeted Antigen Loading in Conjunction with Double-Stranded RNA-Mediated Immune Modulation

Despite the expression of non-self or neo-epitopes, many tumors such as lymphoid malignancies or cancers induced by oncogenic viruses are able to gradually overcome the immune defense mechanisms and spread. Using a preclinical model of hematological malignancy, we show that Ig-associated idiotypic determinants are recognized by the immune system in a fashion that results in immune deviation, allowing tumor progression and establishment of metastases. Using gene-targeted mice, we show that anti-idiotypic MHC class I-restricted immunity is promoted by ITAM motif (ITAM+) FcγR, but kept in check by ITIM motif (ITIM+) FcγRIIB-mediated mechanisms. In addition to interfering with the functionality of ITIM+ FcγR, effective anti-idiotypic and antitumoral immunity can be achieved by FcγR-targeted delivery of epitope in conjunction with administration of stimulatory motifs such as dsRNA, correcting the ineffective response to idiotypic epitopes. The immune process initiated by FcγR-mediated targeting of epitope together with dsRNA, resulted in control of tumor growth, establishment of immune memory and protection against tumors bearing antigenic variants. In summary, targeted delivery of MHC class I-restricted epitopes via ITAM+ FcγR, in conjunction with use of TLR-binding immune stimulatory motifs such as dsRNA, overcomes suboptimal responses to idiotypic determinants and may constitute a novel approach for the treatment of a broad range of malignancies. Finally, the results shed light on the mechanisms regulating the idiotypic network and managing the diversity associated with immune receptors.
Evaluation of mucosal adjuvants and immunization routes for the induction of systemic and mucosal humoral immune responses in macaques

Delivering vaccine antigens to mucosal surfaces is potentially very attractive, especially as protection from mucosal infections may be mediated by local immune responses. However, to date mucosal immunization has had limited successes, with issues of both safety and poor immunogenicity. One approach to improve immunogenicity is to develop adjuvants that are effective and safe at mucosal surfaces. Differences in immune responses between mice and men have overstated the value of some experimental adjuvants which have subsequently performed poorly in the clinic. Due to their closer similarity, non-human primates can provide a more accurate picture of adjuvant performance. In this study we immunised rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) using a unique matrix experimental design that maximised the number of adjuvants screened while reducing the animal usage. Macaques were immunised by the intranasal, sublingual and intrarectal routes with the model protein antigens keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH), β-galactosidase (β-Gal) and ovalbumin (OVA) in combination with the experimental adjuvants Poly(I:C), Pam3CSK4, chitosan, Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin (TSLP), MPLA and R848 (Resiquimod). Of the routes used, only intranasal immunization with KLH and R848 induced a detectable antibody response. When compared to intramuscular immunization, intranasal administration gave slightly lower levels of antigen specific antibody in the plasma, but enhanced local responses. Following intranasal delivery of R848, we observed a mildly inflammatory response, but no difference to the control. From this we conclude that R848 is able to boost antibody responses to mucosally delivered antigen, without causing excess local inflammation.
Improving Scalability of VoD Systems by Optimal Exploitation of Storage and Multicast

Today, video-on-demand (VoD) systems are challenged by a growing number of users, growing sizes of libraries, and increasing video streaming rates. Therefore, scalability and the bandwidth efficiency of VoD systems have become important considerations. In this paper, we propose a scalable and bandwidth efficient delivery scheme for VoD systems, which optimally exploits the storage and multicast capabilities to reduce the consumption of server capacity resources. Our proposed scheme, which we call prepopulation assisted batching with multicast patching (PAB-MP), facilitates video multicast from the server by strategic preplacement of initial segments of videos at the end-users' devices. Using an analytical approach, we show how the parameters for the PAB-MP scheme can be selected to achieve optimal performance. Moreover, we propose methods to replicate and place the initial video segments (IVSs) across the end-users' devices such that load arising from IVSs is evenly distributed among user-nodes. Using simulations, we show that our proposed scheme effectively reduces the load on the server especially under high load, while imposing less burden on individual user nodes. Simulation results indicate that our proposed PAB-MP scheme is significantly more scalable than the other popular approaches that exploit multicast and storage.
Pulmonary edema in meningococcal septicemia associated with reduced epithelial chloride transport

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that meningococcal septicemia-related pulmonary edema is associated with a systemic abnormality of epithelial sodium and chloride transport and to investigate an association with hormones regulating Na+ transport. Design: Prospective observational study. Setting: The 24-bed pediatric intensive care unit and pediatric wards of Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital. Patients: Consecutive children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit and pediatric wards with a diagnosis of meningococcal septicemia and children (controls) with noninfectious critical illness receiving ventilatory support in the pediatric intensive care unit. Measurements and Main Results: We measured sweat and saliva electrolytes, renal electrolyte excretion, nasal potential difference, and aldosterone, thyroxine, and cortisol levels. Pulmonary edema was diagnosed by chest radiography and its severity quantified by calculation of ventilation index at admission and duration of mechanical ventilation. We recruited 17 patients with severe meningococcal septicemia (nine patients with pulmonary edema), 14 patients with mild meningococcal septicemia, and 20 controls. Sweat andsaliva Na+ and Cl− concentrations and renal Na+ excretion were significantly (p < .05) higher in patients with pulmonary edema compared with controls. Nasal potential difference and amiloride response in patients with pulmonary edema were not significantly different to controls, but response to a low Cl− solution was reduced in the nasal airway of patients with pulmonary edema (p < .05). Sweat and saliva chloride concentrations correlated significantly and better with ventilation index and duration of ventilation than sodium concentrations. Aldosterone, thyroxine, and cortisol levels were not significantly different between groups. Conclusions: We have confirmed that meningococcal septicemia-related pulmonary edema is associated with reduced systemic sodium and chloride transport. Features of reduced Cl− transport were most closely associated with markers of respiratory compromise, and this was supported by the reduced chloride channel function detected on nasal potential difference measurement.
Monetary union and the stakes for democracy and social policy

The democratic and social aspects of the new European governance are not really separable. In the 1970s monetary union was seen as the successful culmination of political and social integration; subsequently, it was regarded as the trigger for such integration. Finally, the Maastricht Treaty opted for monetary union in the absence of political union, on a basis of rule-based governance for the public finances and with social policy playing the role of shock absorber. Since 2008 the crises in the euro area have shown that this route does not lead to increased convergence and their result has been to exacerbate the dismantling of social models. Today the question of political integration has come once again to the surface, albeit accompanied so far by scant democratic debate. The authors of this contribution consider that EMU will never be stable in the absence of real debate on the varying options and of a strengthening of the European social model.
Interdisciplinary research in field of biomedical image processing

The paper describes the up-to-date interdisciplinary research that has been established in Slovakia in recent years. It requires the close cooperation between specialists from medical fields as well as technicians as it deals with creating the supporting tool for physicians to evaluate a patient’s diagnosis. The research is based on the need of doctors to create a system reliable enough, that would help them to assess the health status of human respiratory system. This task first comprises the design of a working station that could serve for capturing series of images (video sequences) of investigated sample obtained by doctors, including a light microscope and a high-speed camera with appropriate software. Then is comprises also development of sophisticated methodologies for analysis of obtained images and detection of objects of interest within them, and finally the evaluation of behavior of investigated structures which determines the health status of a patient. This interdisciplinary cooperation is as unique as it is the only one of this kind in our country as there does not exist any other way how to evaluate the health status of human respiratory system using smart technological approach.
3D shape of asteroid (6) Hebe from VLT/SPHERE imaging: Implications for the origin of ordinary H chondrites

Context. The high-angular-resolution capability of the new-generation ground-based adaptive-optics camera SPHERE at ESO VLT allows us to assess, for the very first time, the cratering record of medium-sized (D ∼ 100–200 km) asteroids from the ground, opening the prospect of a new era of investigation of the asteroid belt's collisional history. Aims. We investigate here the collisional history of asteroid (6) Hebe and challenge the idea that Hebe may be the parent body of ordinary H chondrites, the most common type of meteorites found on Earth (∼34% of the falls). Methods. We observed Hebe with SPHERE as part of the science verification of the instrument. Combined with earlier adaptive-optics images and optical light curves, we model the spin and three-dimensional (3D) shape of Hebe and check the consistency of the derived model against available stellar occultations and thermal measurements. Results. Our 3D shape model fits the images with sub-pixel residuals and the light curves to 0.02 mag. The rotation period (7.274 47 h), spin (ECJ2000 λ, β of 343 • , +47 •), and volume-equivalent diameter (193 ± 6 km) are consistent with previous determinations and thermophysical modeling. Hebe's inferred density is 3.48 ± 0.64 g cm −3 , in agreement with an intact interior based on its H-chondrite composition. Using the 3D shape model to derive the volume of the largest depression (likely impact crater), it appears that the latter is significantly smaller than the total volume of close-by S-type H-chondrite-like asteroid families. Conclusions. Our results imply that (6) Hebe is not the most likely source of H chondrites. Over the coming years, our team will collect similar high-precision shape measurements with VLT/SPHERE for ∼40 asteroids covering the main compositional classes, thus providing an unprecedented dataset to investigate the origin and collisional evolution of the asteroid belt.
Discrimination of Golgi Type II Membrane Proteins Based on Their Hydropathy Profiles and the Amino Acid Propensities of Their Transmembrane Regions

Membrane proteins in the Golgi apparatus play important roles in biological functions, predominantly as catalysts related to post-translational modification of protein oligosaccharides. We succeeded in extracting the characteristics of Golgi type II membrane proteins computationally by comparison with those of Golgi no retention proteins, which are mainly localized in the plasma membrane. Golgi type II membrane proteins were detected by combining hydropathy alignment and a position-specific score matrix of the amino acid propensities around the transmembrane region. We achieved 96.2% sensitivity, 93.5% specificity, and a 0.949 success rate in a self-consistency test. In a 5-fold cross-validation test, 88.0% sensitivity, 85.5% specificity, and a 0.867 success rate were achieved.
Osteoarticular Involvement in Childhood Brucellosis: Experience With 133 Cases in an Endemic Region

Aim: To describe the main clinical and laboratory characteristics, frequency and distribution of osteoarticular involvement, therapeutic options and outcome in children with osteoarticular brucellosis. Methods: This descriptive study includes 133 pediatric patients with osteoarticular brucellosis who were treated at the University Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Febrile Conditions in Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, during the period between 1989 and 2011. Brucellosis was presumptively diagnosed on the basis of clinical signs and confirmed by the detection of specific antibodies at significant titers. Results: The median age of patients was 9 years (range, 2–14 years) and 63.9% were males. Family history of brucellosis was present in 54.1%. The dominant clinical symptoms were arthralgia and fever in 77.4% and 73.7%, respectively, and the dominant sign was hepatomegaly in 73.7% of patients. The main laboratory abnormalities were elevated C-reactive protein (81.0%) and circulating immunocomplexes (80.7%). In 71.4% of patients, the osteoarticular involvement was monoarticular. Hip arthritis was present in 49.6%, followed by the knee in 30.1%. Various therapeutic regimens with a duration of 6 weeks were used. In 87 patients during a follow-up of at least 6 months, relapse occurred in 13.8%. Conclusions: Osteoarticular involvement is frequent in children with brucellosis. It is most often manifested with monoarthritis of the large weight-bearing joints. Brucellosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of childhood arthritis in endemic countries, especially in the presence of family history, contact with infected animals or ingestion of unpasteurized food products, fever and hepatomegaly.
Learning Matching Models with Weak Supervision for Response Selection in Retrieval-based Chatbots

We propose a method that can leverage unlabeled data to learn a matching model for response selection in retrieval-based chatbots. The method employs a sequence-to-sequence architecture (Seq2Seq) model as a weak annotator to judge the matching degree of unlabeled pairs, and then performs learning with both the weak signals and the unlabeled data. Experimental results on two public data sets indicate that matching models get significant improvements when they are learned with the proposed method.
Exploring Chinese Outbound Tourism Motivation Using Means–End Chains: A Conceptual Model

Over the last decade, the Chinese outbound tourism market has experienced rapid development, and understanding the tourism motivations of this growth market is critical to understanding their decision-making processes and tourism behaviors. By reviewing the literature on tourism motivations and analyzing the limitations in this research area, this theoretical article develops a conceptual model based on means–end chain (MEC) theory to study the tourism motivations of Chinese outbound tourists and discusses the associated laddering technique required by the MEC theory. It is argued that exploring tourism motivation with the MEC theory will make both theoretical and methodological contributions to tourism motivation research, as well as provide more meaningful information for understanding Chinese outbound tourists.
Release of simian virus 40 virions from epithelial cells is polarized and occurs without cell lysis

We have investigated the process of release of simian virus 40 (SV40) virions from several monkey kidney cell lines. High levels of virus release were observed prior to any significantly cytopathic effects in all cell lines examined, indicating that SV40 utilizes a mechanism for escape from the host cell which does not involve cell lysis. We demonstrate that SV40 release was polarized in two epithelial cell types (Vero C1008 and primary African green monkey kidney cells) grown on permeable supports; release of virus occurs almost exclusively at apical surfaces. In contrast, equivalent amounts of SV40 virions were recovered from apical and basal culture fluids of nonpolarized CV-1 cells. SV40 virions were observed in large numbers on apical surfaces of epithelial cells and in cytoplasmic smooth membrane vesicles. The sodium ionophore monensin, an inhibitor of vesicular transport, was found to inhibit SV40 release without altering viral protein synthesis or infectious virus production.
Shifting of Pollution Loads to Informal Units in India: A Possible Escape Route for Compliance with WTO Standards

This article tries to examine the environmental and social costs imposed on the Indian economy as a result of globalization. It is shown that in the world market, India has strong revealed comparative advantage (RCA) in a number of dirty products. Constant Market Share (CMS) analysis for these products suggests enhanced price competitiveness in the post-liberalization period. However, an estimation of total pollution content of India’s trade vector indicates that though the pollution content increased during early liberalization and globalization period, it has come down in the post-World Trade Organization (WTO) period. Whether this is an outcome of switching to cleaner technology to comply with the stricter environmental and social standards or merely a consequence of shifting pollution load from the formal to the informal sector is our research question.