Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Weaving webs of innovation

Purpose – This research aims to utilize a social network analysis approach to examine the effect of organizational position within a network of strategic partnerships on innovation as measured by perceptions of industry analysts. Specifically, the purpose of the paper is to examine how network characteristics such as degree centrality (being centrally located in a network), between centrality (being positioned as an intermediary), and closeness centrality (having a short average distance to all other firms in the network) affect the innovation ranking of the focal firm.Design/methodology/approach – Data for 563 firms are generated from three distinct data sources (SDC Platinum: Alliances and Joint Ventures, COMPUSTAT, and Fortune's America's Most Admired Companies) and analyzed via social network analysis and linear regression.Findings – The network characteristics of degree centrality and between centrality positively relate to industry perceptions or innovativeness whereas closeness centrality had no si.
Effect of the beta‐sheet‐breaker peptide LPFFD on oriented network of amyloid β25‐35 fibrils

Amyloid fibrils are self‐associating filamentous structures deposited in extracellular tissue in various neurodegenerative and protein misfolding disorders. It has been shown that beta‐sheet‐breaker (BSB) peptides may interfere with amyloid fibril assembly. Although BSB peptides are prospective therapeutic agents in amyloidosis, there is ambiguity about the mechanisms and generality of their action. In the present work we analyzed the effect of the BSB peptide LPFFD on the growth kinetics, morphologic, and mechanical properties of amyloid β25‐35 (Aβ25‐35) fibrils assembled in an oriented array on mica surface. Aβ25‐35 is thought to represent the biologically active, toxic fragment of the full‐length Aβ peptide. Growth kinetics and morphologic features were analyzed using in situ atomic force microscopy in the presence of various concentrations of LPFFD. We found that the addition of LPFFD only slightly altered the assembly kinetics of Aβ25‐35 fibrils. Already formed fibrils did not disassemble in the presence of high concentrations of LPFFD. The mechanical stability of the fibrils was explored with force spectroscopy methods. The nanomechanical behavior of Aβ25‐35 fibrils is characterized by the appearance of force staircases which correspond to the force‐driven unzipping and dissociation of several protofilaments. In the presence of LPFFD single‐plateau force traces dominated. The effects of LPFFD on Aβ25‐35 fibril assembly and stability suggest that inter‐protofilament interactions were slightly weakened. Complete disassembly of fibrils, however, was not observed. Thus, under the conditions explored here, LPFFD may not be considered as a BSB peptide with generalized beta‐sheet breaking properties. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Risk-Neutral Pricing Approach for Evaluating BOT Highway Projects with Government Minimum Revenue Guarantee Options

AbstractBuild-operate-transfer (BOT) is a public-private partnership (PPP) project delivery system for the financing, development, and operations of highway projects around the world. Uncertainty about future traffic demands is one of the most important risk factors in the operations phase of a BOT project. There is a considerable amount of evidence indicating that the improper consideration of this uncertainty contributes to the financial failure of BOT projects. The inherent limitation of conventional economic analysis methods contributes to this uncertainty; most notably the net present value (NPV) approach that is typically used in the economic valuation of BOT projects. In addition, the NPV approach is insufficient to determine the correct market value of minimum revenue guarantee (MRG) options. The government offers MRG options to the concessionaire as a revenue risk-sharing strategy in BOT projects. The authors apply the real options theory from finance/decision science to explicitly price MRG opti.
Decisions to Outsource Information Systems Functions: Testing a Strategy‐Theoretic Discrepancy Model

In recent years, the decision to outsource information systems (IS) functions has become a viable strategic alternative in managing the increasingly complex IS functions. In this study, the IS outsourcing phenomenon is conceptualized as a strategic decision in the organization. Drawing on resource-based theories, resource dependence theories, and other theories of strategic management, a discrepancy model of this decision is developed. Relationships between a number of strategy-theoretic factors and the IS outsourcing decision are hypothesized. These factors include IS resource performance discrepancies manifested in the form of gaps in information quality, IS support quality, IS cost effectiveness and financial performance, as well as the strategic orientation of the firm. Results of the study indicate that, while cost consideration and the firm's financial performance are not associated with the IS outsourcing decision, difficulties in providing good information outputs and IS support services are associated with the decision. Overall, the findings suggest that the current trend toward outsourcing represents a continuing evolution of the IS function as it attempts to fulfill its traditional mission of providing high quality information resource to the firm. When the performance of the delivered resource begins to slip in the current environment of rising expectation and technological complexity, outsourcing may become a strategic response of necessity. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of the results for practicing managers and suggestions for future research.
REfine: A gamified platform for participatory requirements engineering

The active involvement of stakeholders in Requirements Engineering (RE) is crucial, for the system under design should fulfill their expectations. In software products, which evolve under the control of Software Product Organizations (SPOs), stakeholders' involvement is limited to SPO represen- tatives and key clients. Thus, key stakeholders are excluded, including current and prospective users. Two emerging trends can help to shift towards a more participatory RE: crowdsourc- ing eases the access to a large number of stakeholders, and gamification provides means to keep them motivated through feedback loops (that reward the useful participants). In this paper, we build on this potential and propose REfine, a gamified online platform for requirements elicitation and refinement by involving a crowd of stakeholders: users, developers, analysts, etc. We report encouraging results from a case study that show how REfine has led to useful requirements, stakeholders' engagement, and valuable interactions.
Renewable Energy Policies and Cross-border Investment: Evidence from Mergers and Acquisitions in Solar and Wind Energy

The study assesses the role of feed-in tariffs (FITs) and renewable energy certificates (RECs) in creating incentives for cross-border investments and for investments in particular technological portfolios via M&A. The analysis explores the dataset on M&As in alternative energy sources worldwide over 2005-2011. The results suggests that FITs encourage more diversified M&A than RECs. With respect to foreign investment, the study finds a linear relationship between FITs and cross-border M&As in the wind energy sector, but an inverted U-shaped relationship in the solar energy sector. One possible explanation for the latter may lie in reduced policy credibility due to the public finance implications of ‘generous’ FITs. Another possible explanation for this finding concerns the use of high solar FITs by countries whose natural conditions provide little comparative advantage in solar energy, suggesting that low profitability and limited potential of solar energy in those countries might have deterred the entry of foreign investors.
Simulation of Induction Machinery for Power System Studies

A simple, fast, and accurate algorithm for determining induction-machine transient behavior is presented. The differential equations for the full-order model of induction machines are simplified and solved using linear system techniques. Examples show that the algorithm is accurate for large disturbances and requires as little as 29% of the CPU time required by the full-order model. The algorithm may offer computational advantages in some studies of large-scale power systems where the detailed induction machine models can not be used due to the complexity of the overall system and where the overall CPU time may be costly. >
Towards a Value-Oriented Approach to Business Process Modelling

To date, typical process modeling approaches put a strong emphasis on behavioral aspects of business operations. However, they often neglect value-related information. Yet, such information is of key importance to strategic decision-making, for instance in the context of process re-engineering. In this paper we propose a value-oriented approach to business process modeling that facilitates managerial decision-making in the context of process re-design based on concepts and metrics from financial and operations management
Immunoproteasome responds to injury in the retina and brain

It is well known that immunoproteasome generates peptides for MHC Class I occupancy and recognition by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). The present study focused on evidence for alternative roles for immunoproteasome. Retina and brain were analyzed for expression of immunoproteasome subunits using immunohistochemistry and western blotting under normal conditions and after injury/stress induced by CTL attack on glia (brain) or neurons (retina). Normal retina expressed substantial levels of immunoproteasome in glia, neurons, and retinal pigment epithelium. The basal level of immunoproteasome in retina was two‐fold higher than in brain; CTL‐induced retinal injury further up‐regulated immunoproteasome expression. Immunoproteasome up‐regulation was also observed in injured brain and corresponded with expression in Purkinje cells, microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. These results suggest that the normal environment of the retina is sufficiently challenging to require on‐going expression of immunoproteasome. Further, immunoproteasome up‐regulation with retinal and brain injury implies a role in neuronal protection and/or repair of damage.
Benzyl 3-dehydroxy-1,2,5-oxadiazolo[3′,4′:2,3]oleanolate

The title compound, C37H50N2O3, is a benzyl ester derivative of oleanolic acid, a pentacyclic triterpene, with a five-membered oxadiazole ring fused to the ring A. The triterpene A and C rings adopt slightly distorted half-chair conformations, whereas the remaining three six-membered rings are in chair forms.
Catestatin (Chromogranin A352–372) and Novel Effects on Mobilization of Fat from Adipose Tissue through Regulation of Adrenergic and Leptin Signaling*

Background: Mice lacking the neurosecretory protein Chromogranin A are obese, presumably because of resistance to catecholamines and leptin. Results: Catestatin (CST) reduces adiposity, an effect likely mediated by restoring leptin sensitivity and modulating adrenergic signaling. Conclusion: CST promotes lipolysis by blocking α-AR signaling and stimulating fatty acid oxidation. Significance: We propose CST as a candidate antiobesity agent. Chromogranin A knock-out (Chga-KO) mice display increased adiposity despite high levels of circulating catecholamines and leptin. Consistent with diet-induced obese mice, desensitization of leptin receptors caused by hyperleptinemia is believed to contribute to the obese phenotype of these KO mice. In contrast, obesity in ob/ob mice is caused by leptin deficiency. To characterize the metabolic phenotype, Chga-KO mice were treated with the CHGA-derived peptide catestatin (CST) that is deficient in these mice. CST treatment reduced fat depot size and increased lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation. In liver, CST enhanced oxidation of fatty acids as well as their assimilation into lipids, effects that are attributable to the up-regulation of genes promoting fatty acid oxidation (Cpt1α, Pparα, Acox, and Ucp2) and incorporation into lipids (Gpat and CD36). CST did not affect basal or isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP production in adipocytes but inhibited phospholipase C activation by the α-adrenergic receptor (AR) agonist phenylephrine, suggesting inhibition of α-AR signaling by CST. Indeed, CST mimicked the lipolytic effect of the α-AR blocker phentolamine on adipocytes. Moreover, CST reversed the hyperleptinemia of Chga-KO mice and improved leptin signaling as determined by phosphorylation of AMPK and Stat3. CST also improved peripheral leptin sensitivity in diet-induced obese mice. In ob/ob mice, CST enhanced leptin-induced signaling in adipose tissue. In conclusion, our results implicate CST in a novel pathway that promotes lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation by blocking α-AR signaling as well as by enhancing leptin receptor signaling.
Motion, Flash, and Flicker: A Unified Spatiotemporal Model of Perceived Edge Sharpening

Blurred edges appear sharper in motion than when they are stationary. We proposed a model of this motion sharpening that invokes a local, nonlinear contrast transducer function (Hammett et al, 1998 Vision Research 38 2099–2108). Response saturation in the transducer compresses or ‘clips’ the input spatial waveform, rendering the edges as sharper. To explain the increasing distortion of drifting edges at higher speeds, the degree of nonlinearity must increase with speed or temporal frequency. A dynamic contrast gain control before the transducer can account for both the speed dependence and approximate contrast invariance of motION sharpening (Hammett et al, 2003 Vision Research in press). We show here that this model also predicts perceived sharpening of briefly flashed and flickering edges, and we show that the model can account fairly well for experimental data from all three modes of presentation (motion, flash, and flicker). At moderate durations and lower temporal frequencies the gain control attenuates the input signal, thus protecting it from later compression by the transducer. The gain control is somewhat sluggish, and so it suffers both a slow onset, and loss of power at high temporal frequencies. Consequently, brief presentations and high temporal frequencies of drift and flicker are less protected from distortion, and show greater perceptual sharpening.
Nutrition and Economic Development in the Eighteenth-Century Habsburg Monarchy: An Anthropometric History. By John Komlos. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1989. Pp. xvii, 325. $45.00

context of Republican ideology and discourse rather than in any changes in the nature of production. Among the many strengths of this work is the depth of the research. Guild, parlementary, and police records are some of the most difficult series to work with—suits jumped from court to court and the parties' claims shifted in ways that are almost inexplicable to the twentieth-century reader. Even when one has a complete paper trail (a rarity), the bottom line is elusive. Sonenscher has navigated brilliantly. Working in at least 30 departmental and municipal archives scattered across the country, he has pieced together a compelling picture of eighteenth-century work life that forcefully revises our understanding of artisanal production. His appendix lists several hundred guild-related conflicts that surfaced in the courts from 1650 to the Revolution. Two areas do call for greater analysis. First, were there exceptions to his model that obtained for specific trades or regions, or were trade boundaries equally porous and livelihoods equally tenuous for any worker in the Old Regime? Most notably missing are the many women who were involved in corporate life, whether under their own names or through their families. How successfully did they fare, especially given the ways in which Necker's reinstitution of the guilds limited widows' roles? Second, Sonenscher's conclusions about the nature of nineteenth-century work life are very suggestive. He leaves the reader wishing for a fuller explanation of how the loss of the courts and Old Regime legal discourse shaped later working-class militancy. Those criticisms aside, this is an extremely original, compelling exploration of the eighteenth-century workplace and the legal context that shaped production in France.
Estimating Central Bank Preferences Under Commitment and Discretion

This paper explains US macroeconomic outcomes with an empirical new-Keynesian model in which monetary policy minimizes the central bank's loss function. The presence of expectations in the model forms a well-known distinction between two modes of optimization, termed commitment and discretion. I estimate the model separately under each policy using maximum likelihood over the Volcker-Greenspan-Bernanke period. Comparisons of fit reveal that the data favor the specification with discretionary policy. Estimates of the loss function weights point to an excessive concern for interest rate smoothing in the commitment model but a more balanced concern relative to inflation and output stability in the discretionary model.
Maritime situation monitoring and awareness using learning mechanisms

This paper addresses maritime situation awareness by using cognitively inspired algorithms to learn behavioral patterns at a variety of conceptual, spatial, and temporal levels. The algorithms form the basis for a system that takes real-time tracking information and uses continuous on-the-fly learning that enables concurrent recognition of patterns of current motion states of single vessels in local vicinity. Learned patterns include routine behaviors as well as illegal, unsafe, threatening, and anomalous behaviors. Continuous learning enables the models to adapt well to evolving situations while maintaining high levels of performance. The learning combines two components: an unsupervised clustering algorithm, and a supervised mapping and labeling algorithm. Operator input can guide system learning. Event-level features of our learning system using simulated and recorded data are described
Environmental taxation for good and for bad: the efficiency and legitimacy of Sweden's carbon tax

The apparent unpopularity of the Swedish carbon tax on fuels for passenger cars is examined in relation to alternative climate policy measures to decrease carbon emissions from private transport. Using original survey data, it is found that the carbon tax may not be as unpopular as is typically conjectured. Differently put, its (un)popularity is partly determined by how it is framed in today's debate on how society should combat climate change. It is also found that since the total social cost of combating climate change may actually increase as a result of replacing the carbon tax with alternatives, e.g. subsidised green fuels and expanded public transportation, there is a rationale for informing the public about the costs of those policy alternatives. If it is desirable to implement environmental taxes or to increase existing ones, they should perhaps be framed differently than they are today. One suggestion is to present the taxes in relation to the alternatives, where the means to finance them are given along with comparisons of both their likely effects on emissions and their private and social costs.
Diversification of epithelial adherens junctions with independent reductive changes in cadherin form: identification of potential molecular synapomorphies among bilaterians

Summary The adherens junction (AJ) is the most universal junction found in bilaterian epithelia and may represent one of the earliest types of cell–cell junctions. The adhesion molecules responsible for forming AJs are the classic cadherins (referred to simply as cadherins), whose extracellular domain organization displays marked variety among species examined so far. In this study, we attempted to reconstruct the evolution of cadherin by analyzing new data from several arthropods (two insects, one noninsect hexapod, three crustaceans, and one chelicerate) and previously published sequences for Drosophila melanogaster and other animals. The results of comparative analyses using the BLAST tool and immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the extracellular domain organizations of a decapod, an isopod, a spider, and a starfish cadherin, which are present at AJs in the embryonic epithelia are homologous. Independent reductive changes from the ancestral state were evident in the epithelia of hexapods+branchiopod, vertebrates+urochordates, and a cephalochordate. The form of cadherins in hexapods is more closely related to that of a branchiopod than to that of malacostracan crustaceans, and one of those of vertebrates is more closely related to that of urochordates than to that of a cephalochordate. Although the sampling of taxa is limited at this stage of research, we hypothesize that the reductive events in cadherin structure related to AJ formation in the epithelia may possess information about bilaterian relationships as molecular synapomorphies.
Case Study

The potential for using a cash balance pension plan as a restructuring tool is one reason it is gaining favor throughout corporate America. Another reason is that it can give employees a better understanding and appreciation of their retirement benefits. Both reasons are important at a time when companies are changing rapidly and sometimes downsizing and when employees are less likely to stay in one place long enough to anticipate reaping the rewards of a defined bene-fit plan. Cash balance plans combine some of the best features of defined contribution (DC) and defined benefit (DB) plans. For employers, they provide more flexibility than traditional DB plans and help companies achieve their strategic objectives. For employees, they better meet the needs of a changing workforce by delivering portable, easily understood benefits. Since 1985, more than 200 companies have replaced their DB pension plans with a cash bal-ance design. One of the newest and most enthu-siastic proponents is AT&T, which, with the help of consulting firm ASA, Inc., designed a cash bal-. ance plan to help meet its restructuring goals.
CAD/CAM fabrication accuracy of long- vs. short-span implant-supported FDPs.

OBJECTIVE To compare the precision of fit of long-span vs. short-span implant-supported screw-retained fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) made from computer-aided-design/computer-aided-manufactured (CAD/CAM) titanium and veneered with ceramic. The null hypothesis was that there is no difference in the vertical microgap between long-span and short-span FDPs. MATERIALS AND METHODS CAD/CAM titanium frameworks for an implant-supported maxillary FDP on implants with a flat platform were fabricated on one single master cast. Group A consisted of six 10-unit FDPs connected to six implants (FDI positions 15, 13, 11, 21, 23, 25) and group B of six 5-unit FDPs (three implants, FDI positions 21, 23, 25). The CAD/CAM system from Biodenta Swiss AG (Berneck, Switzerland) was used for digitizing (laser scanner) the master cast and anatomical CAD of each framework separately. The frameworks were milled (CAM) from a titanium grade V monobloc and veneered with porcelain. Median vertical distance between implant and FDP platforms from the non-tightened implants (one-screw test on implant 25) was calculated from mesial, buccal, and distal scanning electron microscope measurements. RESULTS All measurements showed values <40 μm. Total median vertical microgaps were 23 μm (range 2-38 μm) for group A and 7 μm (4-24 μm) for group B. The difference between the groups was statistically significant at implant 21 (P = 0.002; 97.5% CI -27.3 to -4.9) and insignificant at implant 23 (P = 0.093; -3.9 to 1.0). CONCLUSIONS CAD/CAM fabrication including laboratory scanning and porcelain firing was highly precise and reproducible for all long- and short-span FDPs. While all FDPs showed clinically acceptable values, the short-span FDPs were statistically more precise at the 5-unit span distance.