Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synaptic ultrastructure changes in trigeminocervical complex posttrigeminal nerve injury

Trigeminal nerves collecting sensory information from the orofacial area synapse on second‐order neurons in the dorsal horn of subnucleus caudalis and cervical C1/C2 spinal cord (Vc/C2, or trigeminocervical complex), which is critical for sensory information processing. Injury to the trigeminal nerves may cause maladaptive changes in synaptic connectivity that plays an important role in chronic pain development. Here we examined whether injury to the infraorbital nerve, a branch of the trigeminal nerves, led to synaptic ultrastructural changes when the injured animals have developed neuropathic pain states. Transmission electron microscopy was used to examine synaptic profiles in Vc/C2 at 3 weeks postinjury, corresponding to the time of peak behavioral hypersensitivity following chronic constriction injury to the infraorbital nerve (CCI‐ION). Using established criteria, synaptic profiles were classified as associated with excitatory (R‐), inhibitory (F‐), and primary afferent (C‐) terminals. Each type was counted within the superficial dorsal horn of the Vc/C2 and the means from each rat were compared between sham and injured animals; synaptic contact length was also measured. The overall analysis indicates that rats with orofacial pain states had increased numbers and decreased mean synaptic length of R‐profiles within the Vc/C2 superficial dorsal horn (lamina I) 3 weeks post‐CCI‐ION. Increases in the number of excitatory synapses in the superficial dorsal horn of Vc/C2 could lead to enhanced activation of nociceptive pathways, contributing to the development of orofacial pain states. J. Comp. Neurol. 524:309–322, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Perceptions of End-Users on the Requirements in Personal Firewall Software: An Exploratory Study

Information security is usually considered a technical discipline with much attention being focused on topics such as encryption, hacking, break-ins, and credit card theft. Security products such as anti-virus programs and personal firewall software are now available for end-users to install on their computers to protect against threats endemic to networked computers. The behavioral aspects related to maintaining enterprise security have received little attention from researchers and practitioners. Using Q-sort analysis, this study used students as end users in a graduate business
U.S. Firms on Foreign (tax) Holidays

We undertake the first large-sample analysis of foreign tax holiday participation by U.S. firms. Tax holidays are temporary reductions of tax granted by governments, usually contingent on the firm making new operational investments in the country. We predict and find that firms are more likely to participate in foreign tax holidays if they are highly capital-intensive and have highly profitable foreign operations, and less likely to participate in foreign tax holidays if they are capital constrained and if the firm is headed by a short-term focused CEO. While foreign tax holidays reduce taxes on foreign income, we also find that during our sample period they increase the amount of U.S. tax on foreign income. Finally, we predict and find that firms participating in foreign tax holidays increase the amount of foreign earnings that they deem to be permanently reinvested for financial reporting purposes.
Development of 25-$\mu{\rm m}$ -Pitch Microbumps for 3-D Chip Stacking

The development of ultrafine-pitch microbumps and the thermal compression bonding (TCB) process for advanced 3-D stacking technology are discussed in this paper. Microbumps, consisting of Cu pillars and thin Sn caps with a pitch of 25 μm, are fabricated on an Si chip by the electroplating method. Total thickness of the Cu pillar and the Sn cap is 10 μm. Electroless nickel and immersion gold pads with a total thickness of 4 μm are fabricated on an Si carrier. TCB of the Si chip and the Si carrier is conducted on an FC150 flip-chip bonder, and a good joining with higher than 10-MPa die shear strength is achieved. After bonding, the bond line thickness between the Si chip and the Si carrier is filled with the selected capillary underfill material. Void-free underfilling is achieved with underfill materials which have a fine filler size. Ninety percent of the bonded samples can pass the thermal cycling test (-40/+125°C) with 1000 cycles and the highly accelerated temperature/humidity stress test (130°C , 85% RH) for 96 h.
Understanding Contract Audits: An Experimental Approach

Contract audits aimed at reducing information asymmetry and transaction costs are frequently used in imperfect markets such as defense procurement. This contradicts predictions from standard economic theory. We conduct a laboratory experiment to investigate this paradox. Our laboratory setup allows us to investigate the conditions under which individuals decide to initiate a contract audit and to carefully assess its economic value. Our theoretical approach draws upon two distinct literatures. The theory of planned behaviour explains why organizations may engage in contract auditing even when markets are imperfect. Social preference theory explains why traders may adjust prices when a contract audit indicates that the original price yields an inequitable distribution of the surplus. Our results indeed show that audits lead to an increased share of the surplus for the buyer, but this increased welfare is completely offset by the audit costs. To further investigate motivations to initiate contract audits, we measure our subjects' attitudes towards contract auditing and their level of perceived behavioral control; and we manipulate subjective norms about having contract audits done. These treatments show that a positive attitude toward contract auditing, enhanced perceived behavioral control, and pressure to perform a contract audit all lead to more contract audits.
Joint Bandwidth and Power Allocation for LTE-Based Cognitive Radio Network Based on Buffer Occupancy

We investigate the problem of resource allocation in a cognitive long-term evolution (LTE) network, where the available bandwidth resources are shared among the primary (licensed) users (PUs) and secondary (unlicensed) users (SUs). Under such spectrum sharing conditions, the transmission of the SUs should have minimal impact on quality of service (QoS) and operating conditions of the PUs. To achieve this goal, we propose to assign the network resources based on the buffer sizes of the PUs and SUs in the uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) directions. To ensure that the QoS requirements of the PUs are satisfied, we enforce some upper bound on the size of their buffers considering two network usage scenarios. In the first scenario, PUs pay full price for accessing the spectrum and get full QoS protection; the SUs access the network for free and are served on a best-effort basis. In the second scenario, PUs pay less in exchange for sharing the bandwidth and get the reduced QoS guarantees; SUs pay some price for their access without any QoS guarantees. Performance of the algorithms proposed in the paper is evaluated using simulations in OPNET environment. The algorithms show superior performance when compared with other relevant techniques.
Caring for elder patients: Mutual vulnerabilities in professional ethics

Background: Neglect and abuse of elders in care institutions is a recurring issue in the media. Elders in care institutions are vulnerable due to their physical, cognitive, and verbal limitations. Such vulnerabilities may make them more susceptible to mistreatment by caregivers on whom they are heavily dependent. Objectives: The goal was to understand caregivers’ concerns about ensuring correct and proper treatment, as well as their experiences with neglect and abuse of older patients. This article examines resources and challenges of professional ethics within the care setting. Research design: A study was conducted to explore the quality of care provided to older patients in nursing homes, geriatrics institutions, and ambulant care in the northwest region of Switzerland. Participants and research context: A total of 23 semi-structured interviews were conducted with nursing staff of varying experience levels. Ethical considerations: Ethical approval was granted by the competent regional ethics commission, Ethikkomission Nordwest-und Zentralschweiz EKNZ [Ethics Commission Northwest and Central Switzerland] (2014-015). Findings: Three themes emerged from our data analysis: professional identity, professional context, and professional relationships. Our findings indicate mutual vulnerabilities within these three themes, characterizing the interactions between nursing staff and older patients. Study participants believe that incidences of error, neglect, and abuse are consequences of their own vulnerability since they are not able to meet the demands of an overstraining work situation. Discussion: Different aspects of this mutual vulnerability are described and critically discussed as challenges for professional ethics. Conclusion: Early education, continuous training as well as better management and response from the institution are necessary to maintain professionalism while handling mutual vulnerabilities.
Oxidative stress promotes benign prostatic hyperplasia

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is characterized by increased tissue mass in the transition zone of the prostate, which leads to obstruction of urine outflow and significant morbidity in the majority of older men. Plasma markers of oxidative stress are increased in men with BPH but it is unclear whether oxidative stress and/or oxidative DNA damage are causal in the pathogenesis of BPH.
Technology Conglomeration, Strategic Alliances, and Corporate Innovation

We examine whether and how the competitive pressure in technology race redraws firm boundaries. We develop a new measure, technological threats, to capture the closeness in the development of a firm’s patent portfolio to those of other firms in the economy. We show that firms facing greater technological threats are more likely to form alliances. Moreover, alliances lead to higher patent output, especially when alliance firms face greater technological threats. Our results are robust to endogeneity concerns. We further show that firms facing greater technological threats choose alliances over acquisitions, whereas firms with more related technologies choose acquisitions over alliances.
Electronic commerce Comm Trust using text mining based on Feedback System

Stature system is implemented to inspire better operation to deals in E-commerce. E-trade has been popular and flattering industry in which dealers and buyers operate exchange on the web. In e-commerce application, dealer’s stature is big problem for buyer due to all magnificent stature issue. To describe seller stature trusts in grading, reviews ratings are accumulated. In reviews feedback, buyer caste their thoughts more originally. So thoughts centered multi-dimensional is consume for keep trust in evaluation by exploration reviews feedback. In ecommerce applications, the Reputation based trust models are much admired.
Low-power register-exchange survivor memory architectures for Viterbi decoders

Register exchange (RE) structures are commonly applied to survivor memory design for Viterbi decoders aiming at high-speed, low-latency requirements. The authors explore low-power RE survivor memory architectures based on the trace-forward concept. When trace-forward units (TFUs) are used to derive decoded outputs instead of pointing to merged states in trace-back applications, we have the freedom of selecting the length of TFUs for obtaining different segmented RE (SRE) structures. Using the inherent properties in the TFU and properly setting the initial values of registers in SRE structures, a significant saving in power dissipation and a reduced number of RE stages can then be achieved. Experimental results exhibit that about 54% savings in power can be obtained using our development compared to conventional RE structures.
Does carbon accounting have an impact on decision-making in building design?

ABSTRACT Carbon accounting allows for an estimation of the embodied carbon amount associated with the construction stage of project development. However, in Australia such practice is not mandatory. This research investigates if carbon accounting can affect decisions in building design. Semi-structured interviews of project managers were conducted in Melbourne, Australia. While respondents showed good understanding of energy efficiency and life-cycle costing, they appeared to have misconceptions about carbon accounting. The results of this study reveal more energy efficient building may also be more embodied carbon consuming to construct. Interviewees recognized a need for carbon accounting and suggested this would improve the scientific credibility of decision-making in building designs. However, unless required by the government regulations, carbon accounting may not attract the attention that may help drive better decisions in building designs.
Multi‐gene phylogenetic analyses of New Zealand coralline algae: Corallinapetra Novaezelandiae gen. et sp. nov. and recognition of the Hapalidiales ord. nov.

Coralline red algae from the New Zealand region were investigated in a study focused on documenting regional diversity. We present a multi‐gene analysis using sequence data obtained for four genes (nSSU, psaA, psbA, rbcL) from 68 samples. The study revealed cryptic diversity at both genus and species levels, confirming and providing further evidence of problems with current taxonomic concepts in the Corallinophycidae. In addition, a new genus Corallinapetra novaezelandiae gen. et sp. nov. is erected for material from northern New Zealand. Corallinapetra is excluded from all currently recognized families and orders within the Corallinophycidae and thus represents a previously unrecognized lineage within this subclass. We discuss rank in the Corallinophycidae and propose the order Hapalidiales.
Regulatory T Cells Restrain CD4+ T Cells from Causing Unregulated Immune Activation and Hypersensitivity to Lipopolysaccharide Challenge

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for maintenance of peripheral tolerance, and defects in Treg function have been linked to several autoimmune diseases. We previously reported that depletion of Tregs resulted in mortality to an otherwise nonlethal dose of LPS or Escherichia coli challenge. In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which Treg depletion leads to enhanced susceptibility to LPS. Using different murine lymphocyte gene knockout models, we show that the enhanced sensitivity to LPS following Treg depletion is mediated by T cells. SCID or RAG1-deficient mice, which lack T and B cells, do not show enhanced susceptibility to LPS. However, reconstitution of SCID mice with wild-type CD4+ T cells restored Treg depletion-induced sensitivity to LPS. This CD4+ T cell–mediated hypersensitivity to LPS challenge in the absence of Tregs was also observed upon reconstitution of SCID mice with CD4+ T cells from CD25 knockout mice (which lack functional Tregs). Additionally, depletion of Tregs leads to increased CD4+ T cell proliferation and proinflammatory cytokine production in response to LPS challenge. Some CD4+ T cells express TLR4, and pretreatment of CD4+ T cells with LPS dramatically enhanced their ability to induce inflammatory cytokine production by macrophages. Collectively, our results indicate that in the absence of functional Tregs, CD4+ T cells are pathologic and contribute to exaggerated immune activation that is detrimental for survival in LPS-induced acute inflammation. Our data also provide evidence for direct activation of CD4+ T cells by LPS through TLR4.
Preclinical Studies of TW-37, a New Nonpeptidic Small-Molecule Inhibitor of Bcl-2, in Diffuse Large Cell Lymphoma Xenograft Model Reveal Drug Action on Both Bcl-2 and Mcl-1

Purpose: Overexpression of Bcl-2 protein has been observed in more than 80% of B-cell lymphomas, including diffuse large cell lymphoma (DLCL), the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. We have previously employed the natural product (−)-gossypol to test its therapeutic potential as a small-molecule inhibitor of Bcl-2 for the treatment of B-cell lymphomas. Experimental Design: Recently, we have used a structure-based strategy to design a new class of potent small-molecule inhibitor acting on Bcl-2. One such lead compound is the benzenesulfonyl derivative TW-37, which was designed to target the BH3-binding groove in Bcl-2 where proapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins, such as Bak, Bax, Bid, and Bim bind. Results: In our fluorescence polarization–based binding assays using recombinant Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, and Mcl-1 proteins, TW-37 binds to Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, and Mcl-1 with Ki values of 290, 1,110 and 260 nmol/L, respectively. Hence, TW-37 is a potent inhibitor of Bcl-2 and has >3-fold selectivity over Bcl-XL. In vitro, TW-37 showed significant antiproliferative effect in a de novo chemoresistant WSU-DLCL2 lymphoma cell line and primary cells obtained from a lymphoma patient with no effect on normal peripheral blood lymphocytes. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments showed that TW-37 disrupted heterodimer formation between Bax or truncated-Bid and antiapoptotic proteins in the order Mcl-1 > Bcl-2 >> Bcl-XL. As expected, TW-37 caused apoptotic death. Pre-exposure of lymphoma cells to TW-37 significantly enhanced the killing effect of cyclophosphamide-doxorubicin-vincristine-prednisone (CHOP) regimen. The maximum tolerated dose of TW-37 in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice was 40 mg/kg for three i.v. injections when given alone and 20 mg/kg, ×3 when given in combination with CHOP. Using WSU-DLCL2-SCID mouse xenograft model, the addition of TW-37 to CHOP resulted in more complete tumor inhibition compared with either CHOP or TW-37 alone. Conclusions: We conclude that the administration of TW-37, as a potent Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 inhibitor, to standard chemotherapy may prove an effective strategy in the treatment of B-cell lymphoma.
Tilburg University Explicit and Latent Authority in Hierarchical Organizations

We consider the problem of control of access to a firm’s productive asset, embedding the decision makers into a structure of formal authority relationships. Within such a structure, decision makers act as principal to some decision makers, while they act as agent to other decision makers. We study under which conditions decision makers exercise their own authority and accept their superiors’ authority. We distinguish two types of behavior. First, we investigate a non-cooperative equilibrium concept describing explicit exercise of authority. Second, we consider the possibility of subordinates to submit themselves to authority even though such authority is not enforced explicitly. JEL codes: C71, C79, D23, L23
Profits and Capital Structure

In the static trade-off theory, when profits increase, the firm should issue more debt and reduce equity to shield the profits from taxation or agency abuse. When a corporate leverage ratio is explained by firm profits, it is well-known that a negative regression coefficient is usually found. The literature (e.g., Myers (1993), Fama and French (2002), and Welch (2007)) considers this negative relationship to be a particularly serious rejection of the static trade-off theory.In this paper, we show that the literature has misinterpreted the evidence as a result of the wide-spread use of familiar, but inappropriate, empirical methods. We make four main points.1. We show that highly profitable firms do actually tend to issue debt and repurchase equity. The least profitable firms tend to reduce debt and issue equity. These facts are empirically very robust.2. Firm size plays an important mediating role in this relationship that gets hidden when leverage ratios are used. Large firms tend to be more active in the public debt markets, while small firms tend to be relatively more active in the equity markets.3. The type of empirical work that is appropriate depends on the model to be tested. We present a simple static trade-off agency-based model of capital structure. According to the model, the appropriate testing structure is a pair of regressions: one explaining debt, and the other explaining equity. When we estimate this model, we find the model's predictions perform rather well. Profits are not properly exogenous according to the model. We discuss how to deal with the exogeneity problem within the context of the model.4. In the model, issuing decisions depend on market conditions ('market timing'). Empirically, bad market conditions have a particularly strong impact on small and low-profit firms. Larger and more profitable firms are less strongly affected by market conditions.Contrary to what is usually believed, the empirical evidence on profits and capital structure seems easy to interpret from the perspective of the static trade-off theory.
CYTOTOXICITY AND GENOTOXICITY OF HEAVY METAL AND CYANIDE-CONTAMINATED WATERS IN SOME REGIONS FOR PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING OF ORE IN BULGARIA

IVANOVA, E. , T. STAYKOVA and I. VELCHEVA, 2008. Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of heavy metal and cyanide-contaminated waters in some regions for production and processing of ore in Bulgaria. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 14: 262-268 This study generalizes the data of investigations on cytotoxic and genotoxic effect of heavy metal- and cyanide-contaminated waters in 2001, 2003 and 2005. The water samples were collected from different water sources in the region of “Assarel-Medet” Copper Refinery Works. The contents of copper, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and cyanides (mg.dm -3 ) were determined using the method of automatic photometry. The Allium cepa and Pisum sativum plant systems were used for testing of the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of heavy metals and cyanides. A lower mitotic index and a higher frequency of chromosome aberrations were established in all test samples than in the control ones. Chromosome fragments, anaphase and telophase bridges, micronuclei, lagging chromosomes and C-mitotic effect in cells were observed. It was concluded that the pollution found in the regions for production and processing of ore has cytotoxic and genotoxic effect on cells and it could be a potential threat to water ecosystems and human health.
On the Causal Relationship between Stock Markets Valuation and Foreign Direct Investment: A Conceptual Case of India

ABSTRACT International business research has predominantly focused on how foreign direct investment relates to the asset-side of non-financial firm’s balance sheet, the finance-specific factors have been ignored to a great extent while studying the foreign direct investment decision. But since these factors are not merely a by-product of a firm’s competitive strength or weakness, they deserve attention when investment patterns are to be interpreted. Financial specific strategies are important to all firms but are particularly important to MNEs in emerging capital markets where the assumption that MNEs have no problems raising capital to engage in international investments where the statement doesn’t hold true. The major objective of this paper is to provide a review of the literature regarding the financial aspects of foreign direct investment. This review allows us to distinguish between two streams of studies. The first stream deals with the stock markets valuation effect on firms’ international investment decision while the other addresses the stock market reactions to foreign direct investment announcements. The latter is important to form a complete picture about the relationship between stock markets and foreign direct investment. Using a qualitative analytical method with an exploratory nature, and building on the case of India which has recently joined the top ten developing and transition economies as a source of foreign direct investment, this paper intends to suggest a conceptual framework where a causal relationship between stock market valuation and foreign direct investment announcements can be drawn. Keywords: outward foreign direct investment, finance-specific factors, stock market valuation