Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dopamine D2 receptor stimulation promotes the proliferation of neural progenitor cells in adult mouse hippocampus

We initially examined the effects of apomorphine in vitro using mouse embryonic and adult neural progenitor cells. The effects of apomorphine treatment led to dose-dependent increases in the number of embryonic and adult neural progenitor cells, and dopamine D2 receptor antagonist treatment significantly reduced the increases induced by apomorphine. Next, we investigated the effects of apomorphine in vivo in the adult mouse hippocampus. The effects of single-dose apomorphine administration led to an increase of approximately 30% in the number of bromodeoxyuridine-positive cells in the dentate gyrus. Moreover, the chronic apomorphine administration induced an increase in the number of bromodeoxyuridine-positive cells by about 30%. Thus, we suggest that the stimulation of dopamine D2 receptors increases the proliferation of neural progenitor cells both in vivo and in vitro.
Assessing Mission and Resources for Social Change: An Organizational Identity Perspective on Social Venture Capitalists‘ Decision Criteria

Social venture capitalists (SVCs) have emerged to provide a new source of funding for social entrepreneurs. Building on organizational identity theory, we examine how the dual identity of social ventures grounded within the social and entrepreneurship sectors prompts SVCs to value the resources and goals of both sectors. We use policy capturing to study the decision rules of 44 SVCs, finding that criteria of both sectors influenced SVC assessments, and entrepreneurial sector criteria were relied on most strongly in these assessments. Furthermore, not all SVCs evaluate social ventures similarly; their social investment focus influences their emphasis on social and entrepreneurial sector criteria.
Development of a DNA Microarray for Detection and Identification of Fungal Pathogens Involved in Invasive Mycoses

ABSTRACT Invasive fungal infections have emerged as a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Conventional identification of pathogenic fungi in clinical microbiology laboratories is time-consuming and, therefore, often imperfect for the early initiation of an adequate antifungal therapy. We developed a diagnostic microarray for the rapid and simultaneous identification of the 12 most common pathogenic Candida and Aspergillus species. Oligonucleotide probes were designed by exploiting the sequence variations of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the rRNA gene cassette to identify Candida albicans, Candida dubliniensis, Candida krusei, Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, Candida guilliermondii, Candida lusitaniae, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus terreus. By using universal fungal primers (ITS1 and ITS4) directed toward conserved regions of the 18S and 28S rRNA genes, respectively, the fungal ITS target regions could be simultaneously amplified and fluorescently labeled. To establish the system, 12 precharacterized fungal strains were analyzed; and the method was validated by using 21 clinical isolates as blinded samples. As the microarray was able to detect and clearly identify the fungal pathogens within 4 h after DNA extraction, this system offers an interesting potential for clinical microbiology laboratories.
Intra-Market Price Discovery in an Emerging Stock Market: Vector Fractionally-Integrated Error Correction Model and Toda-Yamamoto Level VAR Approaches

The study investigates the price discovery process by whichmarkets attempt to find equilibrium prices among a system ofdisaggregate daily spot share price indices relating to the MalaysianStock Exchange using a VAR. Specifically: (i) a vector fractionallycointegratederror-correction model is proposed and estimated toinvestigate the short-run dynamics accounting for the long-runinformation via a fractionally-integrated error-correction term; and(ii) the Toda-Yamamoto (1995) [k + d(max)]th-order VAR procedureto specify a ‘level’ VAR containing integrated and cointegratedprocesses of arbitrary orders is adopted to uncover the long-rundriving forces behind stock market linkages. The results areinterpreted in the context of the price discovery process amongspot stock prices. Our findings indicate consistently that the pricediscovery process was focused on the palm oil market in Malaysia inthe sense that this market played, relatively, the leading role (both inthe short- and long-term) being the most exogenous of all. Inparticular, we demonstrate that previous research, by using ordinarydifference VARs either by intent or lack of support of cointegrationin the standard sense, ignored an important component of linkagesdisplayed over the long run.Keywords: Intra-Market Price Discovery; Granger Causality;Mean-Reversion; Fractional Cointegration.JEL classification: G15, C52
Design of fully-integrated digitally-controlled CMOS voltage amplifier

This paper presents a fully integrated digitally controlled CMOS voltage amplifier. Operating at 3.3 V, this three-stage amplifier was designed and fabricated in an Austriamicrosystems (AMS) 0.35 µm process technology. The amplifier does not require any external discrete components to function and its gain value can be configured by providing digital signals to its control pins. The amplifier performs AC-coupling on the input signals to ensure suitable biasing for proper operation. The good stability of the circuit has been verified. Results obtained from simulations and experiments show that the circuit has a minimum bandwidth of 17.2 MHz. The circuit has been proven to execute well for the gain settings of ×1, ×10, ×100 and ×1000 with acceptable losses of 0, −2, −5, −12 dB respectively.
Distinct Functional Sites for Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 and Stromal Cell-Derived Factor 1α on CXCR4 Transmembrane Helical Domains

ABSTRACT The entry of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) into the cell is initiated by the interaction of the viral surface envelope protein with two cell surface components of the target cell, CD4 and a chemokine coreceptor, usually CXCR4 or CCR5. The natural ligand of CXCR4 is stromal cell-derived factor 1α (SDF-1α). Whereas the overlap between HIV-1 and SDF-1α functional sites on the extracellular domains of CXCR4 has been well documented, it has yet to be determined whether there are sites in the transmembrane (TM) helices of CXCR4 important for HIV-1 and/or SDF-1α functions, and if such sites do exist, whether they are overlapping or distinctive for the separate functions of CXCR4. For this study, by employing alanine-scanning mutagenesis, 125I-SDF-1α competition binding, Ca2+ mobilization, and cell-cell fusion assays, we found that the mutation of many CXCR4 TM residues, including Tyr45, His79, Asp97, Pro163, Trp252, Tyr255, Asp262, Glu288, His294, and Asn298, could selectively decrease HIV-1-mediated cell fusion but not the binding activity of SDF-1α. Phe87 and Phe292, which were involved in SDF-1α binding, did not play a significant role in the coreceptor activity of CXCR4, further demonstrating the disconnection between physiological and pathological activities of CXCR4 TM domains. Our data also show that four mutations of the second extracellular loop, D182A, D187A, F189A, and P191A, could reduce HIV-1 entry without impairing either ligand binding or signaling. Taken together, our first detailed characterization of the different functional roles of CXCR4 TM domains may suggest a mechanistic basis for the discovery of new selective anti-HIV agents.
Neurocognitive functioning in patients recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder

Hellvin T, Sundet K, Simonsen C, Aminoff SR, Lagerberg TV, Andreassen OA, Melle I. Neurocognitive functioning in patients recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disord 2012: 14: 227–238. © 2012 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S.
Mass Spectrometric Analysis, Automated Identification and Complete Annotation of O-Linked Glycopeptides

Complex mixtures containing O-linked glycopeptides bearing SA1–0GalGalNAc structures, or single GalNAc units were subjected to collision-induced dissociation (CID) and electron transfer dissociation (ETD) analysis on a linear ion trap-Orbitrap mass spectrometer and the resulting data was analyzed using the Protein Prospector software. An overview of the structural information provided by the different fragmentation techniques, as well as their limitations, is presented. We illustrate the importance of the complementary information in the mass spectrometry survey scans as well as the different tandem mass spectrometry techniques. We also present some unique features offered by Protein Prospector that are advantageous in glycopeptide analysis: (i) considering a modification that will produce a neutral loss, without “labeling” the original modification site; (ii) merging CID and ETD search results; (iii) permitting the comparison of different modification site-assignments. Although these data were obtained from secreted glycopeptides, the observations and conclusions are also valid for the intracellular regulatory O-GlcNAc modification.
Spike Models in Contingent Valuation

Spike models allow for a nonzero probability of zero willingness to pay in referendum-style contingent valuation experiments. They include many of the often used models as special cases and allow various analyses that are not possible in standard applications. In this paper, the economic rationale for the spike models and their estimation techniques are discussed, and empirical illustrations are provided. One study suggests that mean willingness to pay is zero, and both studies strongly suggest that median WTP is zero. These results have some bearing on the continuing debate of the incentive properties of hypothetical surveys and the construction of scenarios in contingent valuation experiments. Copyright 1997, Oxford University Press.
Public Opinion Polls and Election Forecasting

Until recently, public opinion polls conducted before an election were the main tool for explaining voter reactions to the candidates and their campaigns as well as estimating the outcome. Generally, polls conducted closer to Election Day produced better estimates than those conducted earlier, but recent analyses explain volatility in the preelection polls as well as indicate how to produce earlier, more accurate estimates. Now, and for the last few presidential election cycles, forecasters and statistical modelers produce estimates of election outcomes with a focus on factors such as how far in advance the estimates are produced and with what level of accuracy. While more polling is conducted at the state level, data aggregators in particular are estimating the outcome in each state and translating that into estimates of electoral votes as well as shares of the popular vote at the national level. With advances in statistical tools and new methodologies, the prominence of preelection polls in their estimation role has slightly diminished, although poll results from the trialheat question that asks about candidate preference remain a primary ingredient in statistical models that have fared well in recent electoral sequences. The tendency of news coverage to focus more intently on who is ahead and behind as well as to explain the candidates’ trajectories across the campaign has reduced the use of polls to provide empirical analyses of the electorate’s responses to the candidates and the eff ectiveness of their campaigns (Patterson 2005).
Determinants of Social Participation—With Friends and Others Who Are Not Family Members—for Youths With Cerebral Palsy

Background Social participation provides youths with opportunities to develop their self-concept, friendships, and meaning in life. Youths with cerebral palsy (CP) have been reported to participate more in home-based leisure activities and to have fewer social experiences with friends and others than youths without disabilities. Objective The objective of this study was to identify youth, family, and service determinants of the participation of youths with CP in leisure activities with friends and others who are not family members. Design The study design was a cross-sectional analysis. Methods The participants were 209 youths who were 13 to 21 years old (52% male), had CP, and were classified in Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I to V as well as their parents. The participants were recruited from 7 children's hospitals in 6 different states. Youths completed the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment in structured interviews. Parents completed the Coping Inventory, Pediatric Outcomes Data Collection Instrument, Family Environment Scale, Measure of Processes of Care, and demographic and service questionnaires. Researchers determined GMFCS levels. A sequential multiple regression analysis was used to determine the youth, family, and service variables that predicted participation with friends and with others who were not family members. Results Sports and physical function, communication or speech problems, educational program, and the extent to which the desired community recreational activities were obtained explained 45.8% of the variance in the number of activities engaged in with friends. A higher level of parental education explained 6.3% of the variance in the number of activities engaged in with others who were not family members. Limitations The youths' activity preferences and intensity of participation were not examined. Conclusions Youth and service characteristics were determinants of participation with friends but not others who were not family members. The findings have implications for the role of physical therapists in promoting sports and physical and communication abilities and enhancing community opportunities to optimize the social participation of youths with CP.
Inflammation-induced desmoglein-2 ectodomain shedding compromises the mucosal barrier

Proinflammatory cytokines promote desmoglein-2 (Dsg2) ectodomain shedding in intestinal epithelial cells. Epithelial exposure to Dsg2 ectodomains compromises intercellular adhesion while also promoting proliferation. These findings identify mechanisms by which mucosal inflammation–induced cleavage of Dsg2 influences intestinal epithelial homeostasis.
Are Hedge Funds Systemically Important?

Like derivatives, hedge funds are often blamed for causing or at least contributing to economic and financial disruptions, regardless of whether any factual evidence supports that conclusion. The entire financial system was affected in Fall 2008, which then raised the general question of whether hedge funds are a source of systemic risk, and more specifically, whether they engaged in predatory trading that caused or exacerbated the market crash. For example, fear of “bear raids,” presumably by large and aggressive players including hedge funds, led to a ban on short selling for over 1,000 financial stocks during that period. Hedge funds might cause systemic risk intentionally, to make profits while inflicting losses on the system, such as in a bear raid. Or, their impact could be unintentional, if hedge funds experienced forced liquidations of leveraged positions to meet customer redemptions.
Information Communication Technologies: Usages and Preferences of Generation Y Students and Meeting Professionals

Researchers have been investigating the meeting and convention industry for many years. Recently, attention has been given to the attitudes and perceptions of stakeholders who represent the different generations. Generations’ views on information communication technology, in particular, are now of interest to academics and industry practitioners. The present study considers the preferences and usages of information communication technologies by Generation Y students and meeting professionals. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Findings confirm similarities and differences between the groups.
Genotypic and Phenotypic Heterogeneity among Mycobacterium tuberculosis Isolates from Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients

ABSTRACT Although the heterogeneity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis populations and the existence of mixed infections are now generally accepted, systematic studies on their relative importance are rare. In the present study, 10 individual colonies of each M. tuberculosis isolate (primary isolate) from 97 tuberculosis patients in a primarily human immunodeficiency virus-negative population were screened for heterogeneity and detectable mixed infections by spoligotyping, IS6110-based restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, and mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable number of tandem repeat typing. The MICs of antituberculosis drugs for colonies with divergent fingerprints were determined. Infections with different bacterial subpopulations were detected in the samples from eight patients (8.2%), and the frequency of detectable mixed infections in the study population was estimated to be 2.1%. Genotypic variations were found to be independent of the drug susceptibilities, and the various molecular markers evolved independently in most cases. The predominant strains and the primary isolates always had concordant drug susceptibility and MIC testing results. These findings have implications on the interpretation of molecular epidemiology results for patient follow-up and in transmission studies.
Improved select space multi-objective particle swarm optimization

In this paper, an improved select space multi-objective particle swarm optimization was proposed based on the study on particle swarm optimization algorithm for solving multi-objective optimization. The method applied an improved quick sort method to construct the non-dominated solution set. The upper limit of the non-dominated solution select space was set. At the same time, the optimal solution set was conserved by the use of the external set. The crowding degree operator was used to guide the uniform distribution of the particles. The external set was updated by the use of the concept of Pareto dominance. The crossover operator and mutation operator were introduced in order to increase the diversity of particle swarm. The simulation results verified the validity of the method.
Peak-to-average power reduction using partial transmit sequences: a suboptimal approach based on dual layered phase sequencing

A high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) is a major shortcoming in multicarrier systems, as it causes nonlinearity in the transmitter, degrading the performance of the system significantly. Partial transmit sequences (PTS) is one of the best methods in reducing PAPR, in which the information-bearing subcarriers are divided into M disjoint subblocks, each controlled by a phase rotation factor which brings PAPR down. Though PAPR reduction by PTS is more effective with more subblocks, there is a corresponding exponential increase in complexity. In this paper, a novel implementation of PTS is presented, in which a dual-layered approach is employed to reduce the complexity.
The Moderating Impact of Informal Institutional Distance and Formal Institutional Risk on SME Entry Mode Choice

Considerable research has explored international mode choices. However, results regarding the direct influence of the host country institutional context on entry mode choice remain rather inconclusive with positive, negative, and mixed empirical findings. This study examines informal institutional distance and formal institutional risk as moderators on the relationship between frequently examined decision-making criteria and the entry mode decision of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We demonstrate that the influence of international experience, proprietary know-how, and strategic importance on SME mode choice is contingent on the institutional context of the host country. Hypotheses are tested on a sample of 227 German SMEs. Our empirical results support our theoretical predictions, which forge a link between institutional and SME entry mode literature.
Forecasting Output Growth Rates and Median Output Growth Rates: A Hierarchical Bayesian Approach

This paper describes procedures for forecasting countries' output growth rates and medians of a set of output growth rates using Hierarchical Bayesian (HB) models. The purpose of this paper is to show how the gamma-shrinkage forecast of Zellner and Hong (1989) emerges from a hierarchical Bayesian model and to describe how the Gibbs sampler can be used to fit this model to yield possibly improved output growth rate and median output growth rate forecasts. The procedures described in this paper offer two primary methodological contributions to previous work on this topic: (1) the weights associated with widely-used shrinkage forecasts are determined endogenously, and (2) the posterior predictive density of the future median output growth rate is obtained numerically from which optimal point and interval forecasts are calculated. Using IMF data, we find that the HB median output growth rate forecasts outperform forecasts obtained from variety of benchmark models. Copyright © 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An Empirically Based Model for Latitudinal Gradient in Vole Population Dynamics

Vole dynamics in northern Europe exhibit a well‐defined geographical gradient, with oscillatory populations being confined to high latitudes. It has been proposed that oscillations in northern vole populations are driven by their interaction with specialist predators (weasels), while the more southern rodent populations are relatively stable because of regulation by generalist predators. We tested this generalist/specialist predation hypothesis by constructing an empirically based model for vole population dynamics, estimating its parameters, and makng predictions about the quantitative pattern of the latitudinal shift in vole dynamics. Our results indicated that the model accurately predicted the latitudinal shift in the amplitude and periodicity of population fluctuations. Moreover, the model predicted that vole dynamics should shift from stable to chaotic as latitude is increased, a result in agreement with nonlinear time‐series analysis of the data. The striking success of the model at predicting the shifts in amplitude and stability along the geographical gradient in northern Europe provides strong support for the key role of specialist and generalist predators in vole population dynamics.
CWFP: Novel Collective Writeback and Fill Policy for Last-Level DRAM Cache

Stacked DRAM used as the last-level caches (LLCs) in multicore systems delivers performance enhancement due to its capacity benefit. While the performance of LLC depends heavily upon its block replacement policy, the conventional replacement policy needs redesigning to exploit the best of DRAM cache and avoid its drawbacks. The existing DRAM cache insertion policy blindly forwards victim lines replaced from L3 to the off-chip memory, regardless of the potential for increased hits by placing a fraction of them in the DRAM cache. Nevertheless, a naïve design that steers all dirty victims to the DRAM cache introduces excessive writeback traffic, which aggravates capacity misses and DRAM interference. To leverage insertions in terms of writeback or fill requests, we propose a collective writeback and fill policy that adapts to the distinct access patterns of heterogeneous workloads based on runtime misses and writeback efficiency. The synthesis result shows that the new policy has only a small hardware overhead. According to the experimental results on the gem5 simulator, the new policy increases harmonic instruction per cycle throughput by 18%, 11.6%, and 11.7%, respectively, compared with the Always Writeback (AW)-Always Fill policy, Never Writeback Adaptive DRAM Placement policy, and AW Adaptive DRAM Placement policy on 64-MB alloy cache, while the improvement is 19.3%, 13.7%, and 14.5% on 64-MB MissMap cache.