Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
UPREGULATED ENDOTHELIN SYSTEM IN DIABETIC VASCULAR DYSFUNCTION AND EARLY RETINOPATHY IS REVERSED BY CPU0213 AND TOTAL TRITERPENE ACIDS FROM FRUCTUS CORNI

1 The aims of the present study were to examine whether: (i) upregulation of the endothelin (ET) pathway is involved in impairment of vascular relaxation and early retinopathy in diabetic rats; and (ii) vascular and retinal abnormalities respond to the total triterpene acid (TTA) isolated from Fructus Corni compared with responses to the novel endothelin receptor antagonist CPU0213 and aminoguanidine (AMG), a special antagonist for advanced glycation end‐products (AGE) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). 2 Male Sprague‐Dawley rats were randomized into five groups, namely a normal control and four diabetic groups, which included an untreated diabetic group and groups treated with AMG (100 mg/kg, i.g.), CPU0213 (30 mg/kg, s.c.) or TTA (50 mg/kg, i.g.). Diabetes was induced by single injection of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg, i.p.) on the 1st day. The mRNA expression of prepro‐endothelin‐1 (ppET‐1), endothelin‐converting enzyme (ECE) and iNOS in the thoracic aorta and mRNA for ETA receptors and iNOS in the retina were detected by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. Vasorelaxation to acetylcholine (ACh) and functional assessment of nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability was determined in the thoracic aorta. 3 We observed upregulated mRNA expression of iNOS, ppET‐1 and ECE in the thoracic aorta and upregulated mRNA for the ETA receptor and iNOS in the retina in the untreated diabetic group. Vasodilatation mediated by ACh and NO bioavailability were markedly reduced in the thoracic aorta compared with the normal control group. These abnormalities were essentially reversed by TTA, CPU0213 or AMG, with the exception with that AMG did not modify vasodilatation to ACh. 4 These data suggest that upregulation of gene transcription of the ET system mediates depressed vasorelaxation, NO bioavailability and changes in iNOS and ETA receptors that reflect early retinopathy in diabetic rats. Total triterpene acid, in terms of pharmacological properties resembling the endothelin receptor antagonist CPU0213, is effective in normalizing expression of the ET system and iNOS in early diabetic retinopathy and vasculaopathy.
Quantum cascade lasers with large optical waveguides

Quantum cascade lasers with large optical cavities that exhibit low waveguide losses, high saturation intensities, and low beam divergence, emitting between lambdaap4.3 and 5.2mum were studied. Peak-pulsed powers up to 14 W at 15 K and 5 W at 280 K at lambdaap5.2 mum are demonstrated. A full-width at half-maximum of only 30deg was measured for the transverse far-field pattern of the device operating at lambdaap4.3 mum, a significant reduction compared to conventional waveguides
Evolving insights to understanding mycorrhizas.

Almost all land plant species form a symbiosis with mycorrhizal fungi. These soil fungi provide nutrients and other services to plants in return for plant carbohydrates. The recent application of microbial metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metabolomics to plants and their immediate surroundings confirms the key role of mycorrhizal fungi, rhizosphere bacteria and fungi, and suggests a world of hitherto undiscovered interactions (van der Heijden et al., this issue, pp. 1406–1423). This novel knowledge is leading to a paradigm-shifting view: plants cannot be considered as isolated individuals any more, but as metaorganisms, or holobionts (Hacquard & Schadt, this issue, pp. 1424– 1430) encompassing an active microbial community re-programming host physiology (see Pozo et al., this issue, pp. 1431–1436). This bears tremendous implications for plant ecophysiology and evolution, plant breeding, crop management and sustainable ecosystem management. Mycorrhizal associations are centerpieces in this wide cortege of plant-associated soil biota. To exploit these evolving insights, critical gaps need to be filled in our current understanding of mycorrhizal interactions. This special issue of New Phytologist addresses fundamental gaps and contains 30 new contributions on mycorrhizal science, covering topics from genomes to ecosystems. These contributions result from the 33 New Phytologist Symposium Networks of power and influence: ecology and evolution of symbioses between plants and mycorrhizal fungi (Z€ urich, 14–16 May 2014, http://www.newphytologist.org/symposiums/view/4; see also Bender et al., 2014). A series of key questions addressed in this issue explore some of the most cutting-edge approaches, and include: (1) How is the balance of mutualism maintained between plants and fungi? (2) What is the role of mycorrhizal fungi in the soil ecosystem? (3) What controls fungal community composition, and how is diversity maintained? While many of these questions originated in the earliest days of mycorrhizal science (Koide & Mosse, 2004), the development of new tools and approaches, from genomics to mathematical models to isotopes, is allowing them to be addressed in greater detail, clarity and depth than ever before.
An Anomaly Behavior Analysis Methodology for the Internet of Things: Design, Analysis, and Evaluation

Advances in mobile and pervasive computing, social network technologies and the exponential growth in Internet applications and services will lead to the development of the Internet of Things (IoT). The IoT services will be a key enabling technology to the development of smart infrastructures that will revolutionize the way we do business, manage critical services, and how we secure, protect, and entertain ourselves. Large-scale IoT applications, such as critical infrastructures (e.g., smart grid, smart transportation, smart buildings, etc.) are distributed systems, characterized by interdependence, cooperation, competition, and adaptation. The integration of IoT premises with sensors, actuators, and control devices allows smart infrastructures to achieve reliable and efficient operations, and to significantly reduce operational costs. However, with the use of IoT, we are experiencing grand challenges to secure and protect such advanced information services due to the significant increase in the attack surface. The interconnections between a growing number of devices expose the vulnerability of IoT applications to attackers. Even devices which are intended to operate in isolation are sometimes connected to the Internet due to careless configuration or to satisfy special needs (e.g., they need to be remotely managed). The security challenge consists of identifying accurately IoT devices, promptly detect vulnerabilities and exploitations of IoT devices, and stop or mitigate the impact of cyberattacks. An Intrusion Detection System (IDS) is in charge of monitoring the behavior of protected systems and is looking for malicious activities or policy violations in order to produce reports to a management station or even perform proactive countermeasures against the detected threat. Anomaly behavior detection is a technique that aims at creating models for the normal behavior of the network and detects any significant deviation from normal operations. With the ability to detect new and novel attacks, the anomaly detection is a promising IDS technique that is actively pursued by researchers. Since each IoT application has its own specification, it is hard to develop a single IDS which works properly for all IoT layers. A better approach is to design customized intrusion detection
The moderating effect of information technologycapability on the relationship between business continuity management factors and organizational performance

Despite the enormous acknowledgement of the importance of Business Continuity Management (BCM) in sustaining organization survival, very limited studies have focused on the effects of BCM on organizational performance. Hence, the purpose of this study is to provide the empirical evidences that support the relationships that exist between BCM Factors and Organizational Performance with the moderating effects of Information Technology Capability (IT Capability) in organizations from various sectors in Malaysia. Based on the existing literature, BCM Factors are operationalized by Management Support, External Requirement, Organization Preparedness, and Embeddedness of Continuity Practices. A combination of selfadministered and mail survey was deployed involving 147 ISO 27001 and ISO 22301 certified organizations representing both public and private sectors. These organizations were selected as they are deemed to possess a considerably higher sense of commitment towards embracing BCM best practices to enhance their business resilience. At the end of the data collection phase, the study managed to obtain 77 usable responses constituting an effective response rate of 55 percent. The findings indicate that BCM Factors namely External Requirement and Embeddedness of Continuity Practices are significantly related to Overall Organizational Performance and Non-Financial Performance. However, only External Requirement is found significantly related to Financial Performance. The results also reveal that fully supported relationships are found between IT Capability and all Organizational Performance dimensions. In addition, the findings show that IT Capability moderates the relationship between BCM Factors and Organizational Performance. These results provide valuable insights to both practitioners and academia for further understanding the effects of BCM Factors and IT Capability on Organizational Performance. Finally, the research limitations are discussed and suggestions on extended area of research are recommended for future researchers.
Systemic Banking Crises Database: An Update

We update the widely used banking crises database by Laeven and Valencia (2008, 2010) with new information on recent and ongoing crises, including updated information on policy responses and outcomes (i.e. fiscal costs, output losses, and increases in public debt). We also update our dating of sovereign debt and currency crises. The database includes all systemic banking, currency, and sovereign debt crises during the period 1970-2011. The data show some striking differences in policy responses between advanced and emerging economies as well as many similarities between past and ongoing crises.
Corporate Governance in the Middle East and North Africa: An Overview

The need for efficient securities markets complying with corporate governance international principles emerged recently in the region. The paper overviewed the governance models of the corporate sector and the securities market of eleven countries in the region out of eighteen. It is evident that MENA markets in the recent decade undergone number of reforms and restructuring on legislative and infrastructure fronts. However, the key issue is the gap between legislative framework and enforcement. The paper recommends that traditions and cultures should be allowed implicitly to choose their acquaintance with the number reforms measures that yield to better corporate governance practices. Shocking the system with new wave of ideas might create resistance to reforms and deterioration. Also, the paper recommends banks should play their proper role as main stakeholders as they are far developed compared to the securities markets in the region.
Construction d'un joueur artificiel pour Tetris

Nous etudions la conception d'un joueur artificiel pour le jeu de Tetris. Apres une revue des principaux travaux, nous soulignons le fait que comparer differentes performances doit etre fait avec le plus grand soin, car les scores ont une grande variance, et de subtils details d'implementation ont un effet significatif sur les resultats. Nous considerons ensuite la methode d'entropie croisee pour optimiser la fonction d'evaluation d'un joueur artificiel, comme suggere par Szita et al. (2006). Dans ce contexte, nous discutons de l'influence du parametre bruit, et nous effectuons des experiences avec plusieurs jeux de fonctions de base, comme celles introduites par Bertsekas et al. (1996), par Dellacherie (Fahey, 2003) et des fonctions originales. Cette approche aboutit a un programme de Tetris dont les performances depassent celles des autres programmes connus. Sur une version simplifiee de Tetris, consideree par la plupart des travaux de recherche, il realise 35 000 000 ± 20 % de lignes en moyenne par partie.
Pareto-Improving Intergenerational Transfers

In the presence of endogenous growth intergenerational transfer from the young to the old reduce per capita income growth and harm future generations. On the other hand, competitive equilibria are inefficient if externalities sustain long-run growth. This paper shows that if individuals retire in the last period of their life, the inefficiency of the market economy can be removed by an investment subsidy without making the current or future generations worse off only if coupled with intergenerational transfers from the young to the old.
The Coevolution of New Organizational Forms in the Fashion Industry: a Historical and Comparative Study of France, Italy, and the United States

In many industries, the contemporary context of acute environmental dislocation shows the limits of traditional organizational recipes. In direct response to environmental challenges, companies are experimenting with new organizational solutions. While flexibility, or the capacity to redefine organizational form to follow changing purposes, is undeniably a common trend, these experiments otherwise differ greatly. Diversity is such, in fact, that it is difficult to clearly identify and define a unique organizational paradigm for the future. To explore the connection between environmental dislocation and organizational transformations, we adopt a historical and comparative perspective. Our empirical base of evidence is the luxury fashion industry in three countries, France, Italy, and the United States. For many years, this industry was defined by stable environmental conditions, and a craft model of organization remained dominant. We show that, over a more recent period, increasing environmental turbulence has brought about a redefinition of the rules of the game. A common response has been for organizations to move towards greater flexibility or modularity and to experiment with network forms. However, we also show that the paths or trajectories leading to organizational flexibility have varied significantly across countries, reflecting historical legacies and institutional constraints. We identify in fact three different network forms in that industry, which represent national ideal types-the "umbrella holding" company in France, the "flexible embedded network" in Italy, and the "virtual organization" in the United States. We argue that the process of change in the luxury fashion industry has been one of coevolution, where environmental transformation and organizational change have fed upon each other through time. Pioneer firms in the luxury fashion industry originally devised organizational solutions within the bounds set by nationally defined constraints and opportunities. Becoming institutionalized, these early solutions in turn shaped the environment for individual organizations and organizational populations, creating new sets of opportunities and constraints. In a path-dependent manner, different models of organization and national competitiveness thus emerged. In conclusion, we are brought to question the likelihood of full and stable convergence towards a unique organizational form or paradigm. There appears to be, in each national context, a process of construction of new organizational solutions that starts from local foundations. Embedded as they are in powerful historical and institutional legacies, organizational differences are there to stay, we believe, beyond the period of transition and acute environmental dislocation.
International Oil and Gas Accounting - Accounting for Activities from the Extraction Process of Mineral Resources Under Us Gaap vis-à-vis IFRS: Theory and Implementation Practice

This study systematically points out where accounting problems will arise and how US GAAP and IFRS deal with these problems. It subsequently examines the differences in oil and gas accounting under US GAAP and IFRS in order to determine the impact on the financial statements. Current literature lacks a discussion of this subject in any detail. For the items discussed, the differences were found to be of low to medium impact to the financial accounts. This study examines the practice of implementation of the standards in order to form a hypothesis on the level of prudency in both sets of the accounting standards. Testing the hypothesis is done by way of a sample consisting of entities reporting under both US GAAP and IFRS. For a small sample of firms evidence was found that the set of accounting standards specific to oil and gas accounting does not significantly impact the statements in the sense of shareholders’ equity and net income. Outcomes of this study can be used in determining whether the potential differences affecting shareholders’ equity are bridgeable with respect to the intended IFRS implementation of the SEC in 2014.
Extension of zero-voltage-switching range in dual active bridge converter by switched auxiliary inductance

This paper proposes a novel Dual Active Bridge (DAB) converter, which has an auxiliary inductor and a bi-directional switch connected in parallel to a transformer in order to achieve zero voltage switching (ZVS) over a wide load range and a wide battery voltage variation. In the proposed converter, the equivalent magnetizing inductance is changed by switching the auxiliary inductance depending on the output power. In order to achieve ZVS at light load, the equivalent magnetizing current is increased by connecting the auxiliary inductance in parallel. At heavy load, the equivalent magnetizing current is reduced without connecting the auxiliary inductance because ZVS is achieved without any increment of the equivalent magnetizing current. In addition, the auxiliary inductance is switched without the occurrence of DC-offset of the auxiliary-inductor current. In the experimental results, the ZVS range is extended by 50% at most. In addition, the high efficiency in the wide load is achieved by the switched auxiliary inductance.
Magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance sialography of parotid glands in primary Sjogren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE To look for structural parotid gland changes on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and MR sialography of primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) patients and healthy control subjects and to compare these methods with each other. METHODS MR imaging and MR sialography of both parotid glands were performed on 26 patients and 7 healthy controls. Bilateral surface coils were used to obtain high spatial resolution. RESULTS Twenty-two of the 26 patients had abnormalities on MR imaging. Twenty-one had a nodular or dendritic parenchymal pattern, 5 had cavities, and 6 had duct dilatations. On MR sialography, 25 of the 26 patients had abnormalities of the ducts, and 16 of them also had cavities. One patient and all 7 controls had normal results with both methods. The structural appearance of the parotid glands on MR images had marginal linear association with the duct system changes but no correlation with the cavitary changes seen on MR sialography. Furthermore, duct system abnormalities did not correlate with cavitary changes. Both parenchymal and sialographic abnormalities were associated with the presence of Ro/SSA antibodies but not with age of the patient, disease duration, salivary flow rate, or the presence of hypergammaglobulinemia or extraglandular manifestations. CONCLUSION MR imaging and MR sialography are noninvasive methods that provide definitive information of morphologic changes in parotid glands and can be used as diagnostic indicators of primary SS. Because these methods give information on different aspects of glandular pathology, both should be performed when evaluating parotid glands of SS patients. MR sialography is more sensitive, but conventional MR imaging gives complementary information on the progressive pathologic changes of glandular parenchyma.
The Influence on the Performance of Supply Chain Management on Small and Medium Business Manufacturing Production Processes in Mexico

Aims: This study investigates the influence of Supply Chain Management on production processes in order to analyze the performance of manufacturing SMEs. Study Design: This quantitative research with the support of EQS 6.1 software and structural equation-based statistical treatment, Place and Duration of Study: The study was performed in manufacturing companies in the state of Aguascalientes, Mexico, between March and April 2012. Methodology: The sample was taken from 120 companies which employ between 10 and 250 employees, and for which we designed and applied a survey of company managers in this important sector. The simple random sample was based on the official records held by the Sistema de Informacion Empresarial Mexicano (SIEM or the Mexican Business Information System). The instrument consists of 3 blocks which measure the management of the supply chain, production processes and business performance within these companies. Results: We performed exploratory and confirmatory analysisin order to analyze the factor loading of each variable, in order to confirm that there supply chain management has a positive influence on both the company’s production processes and yield. It also
Hybrid Approach for Location Based Customized POI Travel Recommendation System

The creation of world of internet lead to many advancements in the technical as well as non-technical fields. Many thriving industries gained enormous advantages through the development of internet. Tourism is one among the flourishing industries of this era. Earlier the approach to visit a place is far beyond what is available today. Ranging from pamphlet to maps were made use to visit a place. Routing of places was done using maps and travel guides. Unlike before, the tourism industry has grown to great heights and handles the tours and travel without any manual intercession. The places are endorsed to users automatically using the recommendation system. Existing recommendation systems suffer from a problem of sparsity. Sparsity problem deals with inadequate data related to a user or any travel region. The proposed approach concentrate on eliminating this snag in the existing approach and generating a travel recommendation structure which focus on customized suggestions for users. The tags as well as geotags of images uploaded by the users on social sites like Flickr is made use in order to recommend the points of interest (POI) to the users. A hybrid approach with use of tags, geotags and the owner (author) of the image is proposed in this paper. User based collaborative filtering is used to create suggestions for the users. The benefits of the proposed approach is manifested by experimental analysis on a large cluster of data.
'CHINESENESS' AS A COMPETITIVE DISADVANTAGE Singapore Chinese business strategies after failing in China

The focus of this paper is on the strategies applied by Singapore-Chinese businesses upon failing in their China business ventures. It has been argued that both the increase of Singapore ventures into China and the failures are due to either cultural issues (misinterpretation of ‘shared ethnicity’) or economic factors (differences in economic practices). Singapore businessmen apply inclusive strategies combining Western management styles with Chinese ways of doing business in order to reduce the risk involved with investments across national borders into China. Though largely successful, this strategy entails its own risks. Based on 10 case studies, this paper discusses the ways in which Singapore Chinese entrepreneurs respond upon failing in China and the strategies they develop to re-find their comfort zone for transnational business ventures. 1