Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Title Financial Instability and Life Insurance Demand

The purpose of this research is to discuss Japanese financial instability and both private life insurance and public life insurance (Kampo) demand. At the same time, we also consider Kampo’s main role and what Kampo should be as an insurance service provider in the future. From empirically estimating private life insurance and Kampo demand functions using household-level data provided by the Postal Services Research Institute, the authors find that differences in income, children, pension and knowledge affect households’ decisions on the purchase of life insurance products. Income and financial assets also appear to have significant effect on the purchase of private life insurance products and Kampo. However, pension and bankruptcy experience appear to have an impact only on Kampo, while age (less than 40) and occupation (public official) factors affect only private life insurance. Dummy variables representing insurer comparison, knowledge and bankruptcy experience are not found to have any significant effect on decisions concerning private life insurance. The authors also conducted simultaneous estimations to examine the reasons why households with private life insurance products additionally purchase Kampo and vice versa. The results indicate that differences in income, children and bankruptcy experience variables do not affect the decision-making process, and that a knowledge dummy has a negative impact on additional purchases.
Optimization of conformal radiotherapy dose distributions by simulated annealing: II. Inclusion of scatter in the 2D technique

For pt.1 see ibid., vol.34, p.1349-69 (1989). Part 1 used the simulated annealing optimization method to deduce the beam profiles and showed how target areas with concave borders, containing organs at risk, could be achieved for a variety of clinical problems posed in the literature. In order to establish the method a simple 'primary-only' beam model was used. The author now reports further developments with this treatment planning technique to include scattered radiation. An extension of the method into three dimensions has also recently been completed (Webb, 1990,1991).
Equinus deformity in cerebral palsy: recurrence after tendo Achillis lengthening

Twenty‐seven patients with cerebral palsy (CP) were recalled and studied in detail 2 to 9 years post tendo Achillis lengthening (TAL). The recurrence rate of eauinus deformity was 22.2%. Multiple clinical characteristics and follow‐up examination findings were analyzed to determine their relation to recurrence. The recurrence group had a significantly (P<0.05) smaller preoperative popliteal angle, a greater popliteal angle at follow‐up, and a greater change in popliteal angle from preoperative to follow‐up than the non‐recurrence group. This indicated that increasing hamstring contracture was the major factor influencing recurrence. Spasticity of tibialis posterior and leg‐length discrepancy may be related factors as well.
Inhibition by aphidicolin of cell cycle progression and DNA replication in sea urchin embryos

We have recently found that aphidicolin, a tetracyclic diterpene‐tetraol produced by several fungi, blocks DNA synthesis of sea urchin embryos by interfering with the activity of DNA polymerase α. These cells fail to proliferate in the presence of aphidicolin.
Editorial: Plant and Cell Physiology's 2015 database issue.

We herewith present the 2015 Database Issue of Plant and Cell Physiology (PCP) (available online at http://pcp.oxfordjournals. org/content/56/1.toc). As with past issues (Matsuoka 2011, Obayashi and Yano 2013, Obayashi and Yano 2014), this year we aim to provide a valuable online resource and forum for the discussion of bioinformatics, novel approaches, and online tools to help handle and analyze large biological datasets available for plant research. Databases serve as a useful infrastructure upon which to base scientific advances in wet and dry lab research as well as bioinformatics. Further, the growing success of PCP’s database issues and the many participants for the ‘database sessions’ held at the annual meeting of the Japanese Society of Plant Physiologists and at genomics conferences world-wide prove their remarkable popularity and the increasing necessity to store large-scale biological datasets in databases. Today, an overwhelming amount of information on genome, transcriptome, metabolome, proteome, and phenome, as well as many other experimental resources flood through a number of databases. The development and progression of bio-databases together with analytical wet and dry lab technologies are indispensable factors for the advancement of plant science research. With next-generation sequencing technologies, genome and transcriptome information for many plant species including valuable crops have rapidly accumulated, and are stored in searchable online databases. The availability of numerous online data resources has led to the discovery and characterization of gene and protein functions geared towards crop improvement, such as in genome-wide association studies, genomic selection and targeted genome editing. The integration of these omics datasets in web databases will provide researchers with a wealth of desirable information. However it is not always easy for researchers to seek out the most suitable database, which provides reliable omics information that can be readily translatable. PCP’s database collection offers researchers a solution to this problem by providing a onestop portal for searching the latest plant-related omics databases. The PCP Database Issue is published annually and we believe that our collection of past, present and future issues will provide plant researchers with a valuable portal site housing the latest up to date information on newly released or updated plant-related omics and tool banks freely available to researchers. The next step will be to further develop the portal site to allow more user-friendly searches of the database
First formant transitions and the perception of synthetic semivowels.

The method of studying speech perception by means of a formant synthesizer has been facilitated by the use of a small digital computer to control the synthesizer, record the listeners' responses, and analyze the results. This method has been applied to the perception of the semivowels /w, r, l, y/ in isolated CV syllables. It has been found that the frequency of the locus of the first formant greatly affects the quality of the perceived sounds, and that the shape of the first‐formant transition is rather critical in the case of /l/ before open‐front vowels.
ARank: A Multi-agent Based Approach for Ranking of Cloud Computing Services

Cloud computing enables access to computing, processing and storage resources as a service. These services offered to users through internet and based on payment obligations. There are various service providers and services for users, so users have the challenge of choosing appropriate service, matching their needs. Therefore, having a system which helps users to choose the best service based on their need is very important. In this paper, we propose a new multi-agent based method named ARank, which is applied for ranking algorithm to reduce the waiting time of users. ARank method uses intelligent agents which they choose some candidate services and rank these services based on the quality of service values. Furthermore, the agents of ARank include the satisfaction rate of the earlier users in ranking process. The results of our evaluation show reduction in the waiting time of the users using ARank method, compared to the existing related work, Analytic Hierarchical Process (AHP) and Singular Value Decomposition (SVD).
Cross-border venture capital and the development of portfolio companies

This paper studies how cross-border venture capital investors as opposed to domestic venture capital investors influence the development of their portfolio companies. For this purpose, we use a longitudinal research design and track sales from the year of initial venture capital investment up to seven years after this investment in 692 European technology-based companies. Findings demonstrate how companies backed by cross-border venture capital investors initially exhibit lower sales growth compared to companies backed by domestic investors. After a couple of years, however, companies backed by cross-border investors exhibit higher sales growth compared to companies backed by domestic investors. Finally, companies that raise finance from a syndicate comprising both domestic and cross-border investors develop into the biggest sales generators. Overall, this study provides a more textured understanding of the role played by venture capital investors as their portfolio companies develop and thereby require different resources or capabilities over time.
Fuzzy Performance Evaluation with AHP and Topsis Methods: Evidence from Turkish Banking Sector after the Global Financial Crisis

Banking sector plays a crucial role in economies. As a financial institution that leads the economy and investments, the performance measurement of the bank concerns different segments of the society. The main purpose of the study is to provide decision support for decision makers about the performance of banks by using multi criteria decision making techniques. In according with this purpose, the financial performance of twelve commercial banks are evaluated in terms of seventeen financial performance indicators by employing Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (henceforth Fuzzy AHP) and Fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (henceforth Fuzzy TOPSIS) methods. The findings of the study show that these two methods rank banks in a similar manner.
Prognostic utility of combination of NT-proBNP with high sensitive cTn I in patients with heart failure: Results from retrospective study in an emergency department

Abstract Background: N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) and cardiac troponin I (cTn I) are widely used for the diagnosis of myocardial injury, but have not been used for routine evaluation in heart failure (HF) population. Aims: To evaluate the prognostic utility of combination of NT-proBNP and cTn I in patients with HF, including serial NT-proBNP/cTn I measurements and discharge NT-proBNP/cTn I levels. Patients and methods: A total of 610 patients presenting in our emergency department for acute HF were studied. The mortality and HF-related readmission were endpoints in the study. NT-proBNP and cTn I were tested on admission including first 5 consecutive days, and on discharge. Results: A discharge cTn I cut-off value at 24 ng/L and discharge NT-proBNP cut-off value at 350 ng/L were determined. The cTn I level more than 24 ng/L and NT-proBNP level more than 350 ng/L are associated with increased risk for mortality and readmission (p < 0.01). The mortality and HF-related readmission was significantly increased in patients with high cTn I + high NT-proBNP (p < 0.05), high cTn I + low NT-proBNP (p < 0.05), and low cTn I + high NT-proBNP (p < 0.0%). The increased cTn I or increased NT-proBNP measured in the first 5 consecutive days were significantly associated with 60-day HF-related events (p < 0.05), but the serial measurements did not have a predictive value of 1-year HF outcome. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that elevations of discharge cTn I and NT-proBNP are associated with increased 1-year mortality and HF-related readmission. Patients with increasing serial cTnI and NT-proBNP had increased risk for 60-day HF-related events. The two markers can act as independent predicators, and complete each other in prognostic utility of HF patients.
ABG1, a Novel and Essential Candida albicans Gene Encoding a Vacuolar Protein Involved in Cytokinesis and Hyphal Branching

ABSTRACT Immunoscreening of a Candida albicans expression library resulted in the isolation of a novel gene encoding a 32.9-kDa polypeptide (288 amino acids), with 27.7% homology to the product of Saccharomyces cerevisiae YGR106c, a putative vacuolar protein. Heterozygous mutants in this gene displayed an altered budding growth pattern, characterized by the formation of chains of buds, decreasingly in size towards the apex, without separation of the daughter buds. Consequently, this gene was designated ABG1. A conditional mutant for ABG1 with the remaining allele under the control of the MET3 promoter did not grow in the presence of methionine and cysteine, demonstrating that ABG1 was essential for viability. Western analysis revealed the presence of a major 32.9-kDa band, mainly in a particulate fraction (P40) enriched in vacuoles, and tagging with green fluorescent protein confirmed that Abg1p localized to the vacuole. Vacuole inheritance has been linked to the regulation of branching frequency in C. albicans. Under repressing conditions, the conditional mutant had an increased frequency of branching under hyphal inducing conditions and an altered sensitivity to substances that interfered with cell wall assembly. Repression of ABG1 in the conditional mutant strain caused disturbance of normal size and number of vacuoles both in yeast and mycelial cells and also in the asymmetric vacuole inheritance associated with the characteristic pattern of germ tubes and branching in C. albicans. These observations indicate that ABG1 plays a key role in vacuole biogenesis, cytokinesis, and hyphal branching.
TGF‐β receptor‐mediated signalling through Smad2, Smad3 and Smad4

Smad family members are newly identified essential intracellular signalling components of the transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) superfamily. Smad2 and Smad3 are structurally highly similar and mediate TGF‐β signals. Smad4 is distantly related to Smads 2 and 3, and forms a heteromeric complex with Smad2 after TGF‐β or activin stimulation. Here we show that Smad2 and Smad3 interacted with the kinase‐deficient TGF‐β type I receptor (TβR)‐I after it was phosphorylated by TβR‐II kinase. TGF‐β1 induced phosphorylation of Smad2 and Smad3 in Mv1Lu mink lung epithelial cells. Smad4 was found to be constitutively phosphorylated in Mv1Lu cells, the phosphorylation level remaining unchanged upon TGF‐β1 stimulation. Similar results were obtained using HSC4 cells, which are also growth‐inhibited by TGF‐β. Smads 2 and 3 interacted with Smad4 after TβR activation in transfected COS cells. In addition, we observed TβR‐activation‐dependent interaction between Smad2 and Smad3. Smads 2, 3 and 4 accumulated in the nucleus upon TGF‐β1 treatment in Mv1Lu cells, and showed a synergistic effect in a transcriptional reporter assay using the TGF‐β‐inducible plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 promoter. Dominant‐negative Smad3 inhibited the transcriptional synergistic response by Smad2 and Smad4. These data suggest that TGF‐β induces heteromeric complexes of Smads 2, 3 and 4, and their concomitant translocation to the nucleus, which is required for efficient TGF‐β signal transduction.
Potentially optimal body size to adjust tube current for individualized radiation dose control in retrospective ECG-triggered 256-slice CT coronary angiography.

INTRODUCTION We aimed to determine a potentially optimal body size index for adjusting the tube current in retrospective ECG-triggered helical 256-slice CT coronary angiography (CTCA) for individualized radiation dose control. METHODS Consecutive patients (n=102) with suspected coronary artery disease underwent retrospective ECG-triggered CTCA with a 256-slice CT scanner. Body mass index (BMI), nipple level (NL) bust and six anthropometric body size indexes, including thoracic anteroposterior diameter at NL, chest circumference (CC) at NL, left main (LM) and right coronary artery (RCA) origin level, chest area (CAr) and chest attenuation (CAt) at RCA origin level were measured, and their correlation with image noise in the aorta was evaluated using linear regression. Pearson correlation analysis was performed respectively to determine the body size index that correlated best with the other body size indexes. An equation was derived to use the best correlated body size index for adjusting tube current. RESULTS Linear regression demonstrated that CCRCA had the best correlation with image noise. Pearson correlation analysis showed that CCNL, CCLM and CArRCA had the closest linear relationship with CCRCA. The equations connecting CCRCA and tube current for males and females were XmA = 662 × (0.055 × CCRCA - 28.594) / 302 and XmA = 662 × (0.049 × CCRCA - 21.584) / 302, respectively, for a fixed image noise value of 30 HU. CONCLUSIONS Tube current selection is different for males and females, particularly in patients with a small chest circumference. CCRCA is an ideal body index for appropriately adjusting tube current in CTCA for individualized radiation dose control.
A Preconditioner for the Steady-State Navier-Stokes Equations

We present a new method for solving the sparse linear system of equations arising from the discretization of the linearized steady-state Navier--Stokes equations (also known as the Oseen equations). The solver is an iterative method of Krylov subspace type for which we devise a preconditioner through a heuristic argument based on the fundamental solution tensor for the Oseen operator. The preconditioner may also be conceived through a weaker heuristic argument involving differential operators. Computations indicate that convergence for the preconditioned discrete Oseen problem is only mildly dependent on the viscosity (inverse Reynolds number) and, most importantly, that the number of iterations does not grow as the mesh size is reduced. Indeed, since the preconditioner is motivated through analysis of continuous operators, the number of iterations decreases for smaller mesh size which accords with better approximation of these operators.
Challenges of E-Learning Technologies in Nigerian University Education

The paper examines the challenges of e-learning technologies in Nigerian University education. Education is the foundation of innovation and development. The role of e-learning in teaching and learning process cannot be overemphasized. E-learning is one of the most efficient tools for advancing knowledge, skills and development in any nation. It is necessary for quality education in Nigerian tertiary institutions. This paper reviews the concepts, benefits and challenges facing e-learning education in Nigerian Universities. The paper recommends that government at all levels, non-governmental organizations and private sectors should assist to equip university e-learning centers with model equipment for effective delivery of lectures to students with e-learning technologies. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2015. v5n1p301
Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers in Nine Countries: Lessons for Developing Countries

This paper discusses the economic performance of Latin America in the last decade, paying special attention to growth and the financial sector. In particular, it shows that external factors, such as like U.S. interest rates and the business cycle, play a key role in capital inflows, investment, and growth. As a result, economic growth in the region tends to be fragile and exhibits a high degree of co-movement, i.e., high cross-country output correlation. This last feature exacerbates fragility, because there is little room for mutual insurance within Latin America in case a country suffers a bad shock, and finance during downturns has to come primarily from outside the region.
Statistical notes for clinical researchers: Chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test

152 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Statistical notes for clinical researchers: Chi-squared test and Fisher’s exact test Open lecture on statistics
Function of Stat2 protein in transcriptional activation by alpha interferon

Alpha interferon (IFN-alpha)-induced transcriptional activation requires the induction of a complex of DNA-binding proteins, including tyrosine-phosphorylated Stat1 and Stat2, and of p48, a protein which is not phosphorylated on tyrosine and which comes from a separate family of DNA-binding proteins. The isolation and characterization of U6A cells, which lack Stat2, have allowed the introduction of normal and mutant forms of Stat2 so that various functions of the Stat2 protein can be examined. As reported earlier, Stat1, which is the second target of tyrosine phosphorylation in IFN-alpha-treated cells, is not phosphorylated in the absence of Stat2. We show that all mutations that block Stat2 phosphorylation also block Stat1 phosphorylation. These include not only the mutations of Y-690 and SH2 domain residues that are involved in tyrosine phosphorylation but also short deletions at the amino terminus of the protein. Two mutants of Stat2 that are not phosphorylated on tyrosine can act as dominant negative proteins in suppressing wild-type Stat2 phosphorylation, most likely by competition at the receptor-kinase interaction site(s). We also show that the COOH-terminal 50 amino acids are required for transcriptional activation in response to IFN-alpha. Mutants lacking these amino acids can be phosphorylated, form IFN-stimulated gene factor 3, and translocate to the nucleus but cannot stimulate IFN-alpha-dependent transcription. Seven acidic residues are present in the deleted COOH-terminal residues, but 24 acidic residues still remain in the 100 carboxy-terminal amino acids after deletion. Thus, transcriptional activation is unlikely to depend on acidic amino acids alone.
Effects of Product Trial on Consumer Expectations, Demand, and Prices

Product quality is often unknown to consumers when they make their purchasing decisions. Demand is thus based on expectations rather than on complete information. This paper models the effects of private information acquired through product trial on consumer expectations, demand, and prices. These effects depend on the quality of the product relative to consumer prior expectations, consumer perceptions of quality, consumer expectation revision mechanisms, and the number of purchasers.
Cell Entry of Arginine-rich Peptides Is Independent of Endocytosis*S⃞

Arginine-rich peptides are a subclass of cell-penetrating peptides that are taken up by living cells and can be detected freely diffusing inside the cytoplasm and nucleoplasm. This phenomenon has been attributed to either an endocytic mode of uptake and a subsequent release from vesicles or to direct membrane penetration (transduction). To distinguish between both possibilities, we have blocked endocytic pathways suggested to be involved in uptake of cell-penetrating peptides. We have then monitored by confocal microscopy the uptake and distribution of the cell-penetrating transactivator of transcription (TAT) peptide into living mammalian cells over time. To prevent side effects of chemical inhibitors, we used genetically engineered cells as well as different temperature. We found that a knockdown of clathrin-mediated endocytosis and a knock-out of caveolin-mediated endocytosis did not affect the ability of TAT to enter cells. In addition, the TAT peptide showed the same intracellular distribution throughout the cytoplasm and nucleus as in control cells. Even incubation of cells at 4 °C did not abrogate TAT uptake nor change its intracellular distribution. We therefore conclude that this distribution results from TAT peptide that directly penetrated (transduced) the plasma membrane. The formation of nonselective pores is unlikely, because simultaneously added fluorophores were not taken up together with the TAT peptide. In summary, although the frequency and kinetics of TAT transduction varied between cell types, it was independent of endocytosis.