Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sex recognition in surface and cave dwelling male atlantic mollies Poecilia mexicana (Poeciliidae, Teleostei)

Animals colonizing lightless subterranean habitats can no longer rely on visual signals to find mating partners. In the present study, we investigated the ability of males to recognize females in two surface and a cave dwelling population of a livebearing fish, Poecilia mexicana . In surface populations males discriminated between sexes with visual plus non-visual cues available and with visual stimuli only. In the cave form the ability to discriminate with solely visual stimuli is lacking. In all three populations, males did not recognize females in darkness (infrared observations), suggesting that sex recognition via far-field communication is lacking in surface and cave dwelling P.mexicana . Different preferences in large and small males to stay near a female or a male stimulus fish probably reflect differences concerning a trade-off between sexual and aggressive behaviour.
Cigarette smoking is associated with a small increase in the incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a meta-analysis of 24 observational studies

Abstract Previous studies have evaluated the association between cigarette smoking and incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) with inconclusive results. Our main objective was to evaluate this relationship using a meta-analysis of observational studies. A literature search was undertaken through October 2011 looking for pertinent studies. Seven prospective cohort and 17 case–control studies were included in this meta-analysis. Outcomes were calculated using the random-effects model and are reported as odds ratio (OR). Meta-regression was used to evaluate the dose–response of intensity and duration of smoking in NHL incidence. Our study found an OR of 1.40 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14–1.73; p = 0.001) in current female smokers seen only in case–control studies. No increased odds of NHL was seen in men. There was no association between smoking and the most common NHL subtypes, with the exception of a statistical trend toward a higher incidence of T-cell lymphoma. In conclusion, there appears to be an increase in the odds of NHL in current female smokers.
Defining, Measuring, and Managing Business Reference Value

It is common for business-to-business firms to use references from client firms when trying to influence prospects to become new customers. In this study, the authors define the concept of business reference value (BRV) as the ability of a client's reference to influence prospects to purchase and the degree to which it does so. They develop a three-step method to compute BRV for a given client using a retrospective reported measure of reference value. Next, they use data from a financial services and a telecommunications firm to identify and empirically test the drivers of BRV. These drivers fall into four categories: (1) length of client relationship, (2) client firm size, (3) reference media format, and (4) reference congruency. Next, the authors empirically show that clients that have the highest BRV are not the same as the clients that have the highest customer lifetime value. They also show that an average client that is high on BRV has significantly different characteristics from the average client that is low on BRV. Finally, they derive implications for managing BRV.
PRICING OF CYBER INSURANCE CONTRACTS IN A NETWORK MODEL

Abstract We develop a novel approach for pricing cyber insurance contracts. The considered cyber threats, such as viruses and worms, diffuse in a structured data network. The spread of the cyber infection is modeled by an interacting Markov chain. Conditional on the underlying infection, the occurrence and size of claims are described by a marked point process. We introduce and analyze a new polynomial approximation of claims together with a mean-field approach that allows to compute aggregate expected losses and prices of cyber insurance. Numerical case studies demonstrate the impact of the network topology and indicate that higher order approximations are indispensable for the analysis of non-linear claims.
Using design to drive organizational performance and innovation in the corporate workplace: implications for interprofessional environments

Abstract Learning and working are increasingly inseparable social processes characterized by a mix of routine and non-routine activities, which are meant to sustain an optimal balance of creative risk taking, idea exploration and development of professional mastery. Learning and working are embedded in broader social institutions such as universities, academic medical centers, professional organizations and business firms. The future of learning and working is witnessing a blurring of these institutional boundaries, and consequently, a spanning of disciplines and professions that have traditionally assimilated and oriented people around knowledge domains. Learning and working practices are increasingly less defined by bureaucratic controls and are, instead, more collaborative, fluid and interdisciplinary. One of the most tangible manifestations of this shift is in the spaces and places where learning and working activities happen and where people interact and organize. This article explores these learning and working paradigm shifts by discussing recent developments in the corporate workplace and exploring how such changes inform the future of interprofessional education.
Interleukin-3 Binding to the Murine βIL-3 and Human βc Receptors Involves Functional Epitopes Formed by Domains 1 and 4 of Different Protein Chains*

Interleukin-3 (IL-3) is a cytokine produced by activated T-cells and mast cells that is active on a broad range of hematopoietic cells and in the nervous system and appears to be important in several chronic inflammatory diseases. In this study, alanine substitutions were used to investigate the role of residues of the human β-common (hβc) receptor and the murine IL-3-specific (βIL-3) receptor in IL-3 binding. We show that the domain 1 residues, Tyr15 and Phe79, of the hβc receptor are important for high affinity IL-3 binding and receptor activation as shown previously for the related cytokines, interleukin-5 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, which also signal through this receptor subunit. From the x-ray structure of hβc, it is clear that the domain 1 residues cooperate with domain 4 residues to form a novel ligand-binding interface involving the two protein chains of the intertwined homodimer receptor. We demonstrate by ultracentrifugation that the βIL-3 receptor is also a homodimer. Its high sequence homology with hβc suggests that their structures are homologous, and we identified an analogous binding interface in βIL-3 for direct IL-3 binding to the high affinity binding site in hβc. Tyr21 (A–B loop), Phe85, and Asn87 (E–F loop) of domain 1; Ile320 of the interdomain loop; and Tyr348 (B′–C′ loop) and Tyr401 (F′–G′ loop) of domain 4 were shown to have critical individual roles and Arg84 and Tyr317 major secondary roles in direct murine IL-3 binding to the βIL-3receptor. Most surprising, none of the key residues for direct IL-3 binding were critical for high affinity binding in the presence of the murine IL-3 α receptor, indicating a fundamentally different mechanism of high affinity binding to that used by hβc.
Comparison of series and combined series-shunt compensation on East-West Interconnectors of Bangladesh Power System

Utilization of the existing transmission line capacity to its fullest is most important due to the continuous growth of the demand and rising cost of new transmission infrastructures. Due to the problems associated with voltage drop and stability limits, a transmission line can not be loaded up to its thermal limit. The potential benefits of installing Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) devices on the system for enhancing power transmission capacity and stability are well known. Two main members of FACTS family like thyristor controlled series capacitor (TCSC) and static var compensator (SVC) have been widely studied and reported in technical literature and have been shown as effective as well as time saving alternative to building new transmission lines for enhancing power transmission capacity and stability. This paper compares the application of series and series-shunt compensation by means of TCSC and SVC to show enhancement of power transmission capacity and stability of East-West Interconnected System (EWIS) of Bangladesh Power System (BPS). Two SVCs are connected in parallel with two buses in the western region of the interconnectors and two TCSCs are connected in series with the interconnectors. Bifurcation, steady state, and transient analyses are performed to compare positive effect of series and series-shunt compensation on transmission capacity and stability in BPS network.
Factors Influencing Dividend Policy Decisions in Banking Sector: An Indian Evidence

The present study re-examines the applicability of Lintner’s (1956) and Britain (1966) path breaking analyses of dividend policy. The banks listed on National Stock Exchange, and declaring dividend consistently from the last eleven years constitute the sample for the present study. Here, we have carried out a cross-sectional analysis for the years 1996 to 2006. The results are found in-line to the Lintner model as well as Britain cash flow model. The findings offer evidence that stable dividend policy is followed by commercial banks in India. The results indicate that the major determinants of current dividend are lagged dividend and the current earnings. The above evidence is almost similar to those in developed markets like the U.S. The study is also found giving support to argument of ‘information content of dividend’ in the context of dividend proceeds. Hence, dividend policy can be used as signaling device by the management of the banks.
The combined conceptual life-cycle model of information quality: part 1, an investigative framework

Systems information quality (IQ) investigative frameworks, thus far, lack a widely accepted model with which researchers can conceptualise the context of their study, and identify the important IQ characteristics to be examined and empirically tested. The result is a widely varied body of literature lacking a coherent and consistent approach to identifying and measuring systems IQ. Presented is the combined conceptual life cycle (CC/LC) model of IQ, a framework which enables researchers to develop a more accurate research lens through which to examine user/information interaction and perceptions of IQ. Importantly, the CC/LC is the first framework of its kind which can be used to address user IQ perceptions from either an information production and/or information retrieval perspective.
Effect of sucrose and safflower oil preloads on short term appetite and food intake of young men

The effects of carbohydrate and fat on satiety have been examined primarily through meal composition studies. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of pure sucrose and safflower oil, isovolumetric beverage preloads, on appetite (measured every 15 minutes by visual analogue scales) and food intake 60 minutes later. Young men consumed 0, 418, 836 and 1254 kJ of sucrose in the first two experiments and these same doses of safflower oil in the third. Finally, the largest doses of sucrose and safflower oil were compared. Sucrose, but not safflower oil, suppressed average appetite compared with control. In experiment 2, food intake was reduced (p<0.05) by 518 kJ after the 418 and 836 kJ preloads and by 1129 kJ after the 1254 kJ sucrose preload. Only the 1254 kJ dose of safflower oil significantly suppressed food intake by 480 kJ in the third experiment. When the 1254 kJ doses were compared directly, sucrose suppressed food intake by 653 kJ compared with control where as safflower oil did not. It is concluded that, in the short-term, sucrose produces a dose dependent reduction in appetite and food intake that is greater than that produced by safflower oil.
Postoperative Critical Care of the Adult Cardiac Surgical Patient. Part I: Routine Postoperative Care

Objectives:Cardiac surgery, including coronary artery bypass, cardiac valve, and aortic procedures, is among the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States. Successful outcomes after cardiac surgery depend on optimum postoperative critical care. The cardiac intensivist must have a comprehensive understanding of cardiopulmonary physiology and the sequelae of cardiopulmonary bypass. In this concise review, targeted at intensivists and surgeons, we discuss the routine management of the postoperative cardiac surgical patient. Data Source and Synthesis:Narrative review of relevant English-language peer-reviewed medical literature. Conclusions:Critical care of the cardiac surgical patient is a complex and dynamic endeavor. Adequate fluid resuscitation, appropriate inotropic support, attention to rewarming, and ventilator management are key components. Patient safety is enhanced by experienced personnel, a structured handover between the operating room and ICU teams, and appropriate transfusion strategies.
Kinetics of the interaction of chymotrypsin with eglin c.

The kinetics of binding of recombinant eglin c to bovine pancreatic chymotrypsin was studied by conventional and stopped-flow techniques. With nanomolar enzyme and inhibitor concentrations, the inhibition was fast and pseudo-irreversible (k(assoc.) = 4 x 10(6) m-1.s-1 at 7.4 and 25 degrees C). Reaction of the enzyme-inhibitor complex with alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor, an irreversible chymotrypsin ligand, resulted in a slow release of free eglin c, which was monitored by electrophoresis (k(dissoc.) approximately 1.6 x 10(-6) s-1, t1/2 approximately 5 days). The proflavin displacement method and a stopped-flow apparatus were used to monitor the association of chymotrypsin with eglin c under a wide range of inhibitor concentration and under pseudo-first-order conditions. At pH 7.4 and 25 degrees C or 5 degrees C, or at pH 5.0 and 25 degrees C, the pseudo-first-order rate constant of proflavin displacement increased linearly with eglin c up to the highest concentration tested, suggesting a one-step bimolecular association reaction: E + I in equilibrium with EI. However, kassoc. is much lower than the rate constant for a bimolecular reaction and its activation energy (66 kJ.mol-1 at pH 7.4 and 78 kJ.mol-1 at pH 5.0) is far too high for a diffusion-controlled step. The enzyme-inhibitor association may therefore occur via a loose pre-equilibrium complex EI* (Ki* much greater than 5 x 10(-4) M) that rapidly isomerizes (k2 much greater than 2 x 10(3) s-1) into an extremely stable final complex (Ki approximately 4 x 10(-13) M). Unlike other proteinase-inhibitor systems, the chymotrypsin-eglin association is virtually pH-independent.
Image of All Hotel Scales on Travel Blogs: Its Impact on Customer Loyalty

Hotel image has been found to be highly correlated with customer selection of hotels. The consumer's online reviews greatly impact hotel image and, in turn, customer choice of hotels. In addition, the consumers become increasingly demanding and discriminating given the superfluous development of hotels in the past decades. It becomes unprecedentedly important to monitor and assess online customer reviews so as to identify what image generates customers' positive attitudes and behaviors toward hotels. This study utilized online customer reviews to examine the image of hotels of all scales and delineate the attributes that mostly decide the customer choice of hotels and loyalty behaviors. Content analysis of textual reviews and regression analyses of customer online ratings revealed that hotel room condition, location, and staff are the most important attributes in generating the customer revisit intention and the referrals of the hotels.
Human Subjects Research by Business Students: Beyond the Red Tape

Business communication faculty often assign projects that require students to interview, survey, or observe human subjects. Depending on the nature of the project and the policies at the faculty member's university, such projects may require prior approval by the university's Institutional Review Board (IRB). Therefore, business communication faculty will benefit from an understanding of three areas related to IRB review of class projects involving human subjects research: (1) whether their institution requires such class projects to be reviewed by the university's IRB and, if so, what form the review takes; (2) how they can adapt classroom activities, materials, and assignments so that human subjects research by students complies with IRB policies; and (3) how they can relate IRB policies to issues that students may face in their future professional lives.
Structuration de contenus audio-visuel pour le résumé automatique. (Audio-visual content structuring for automatic summarization)

Ces dernieres annees, avec l’apparition des sites tels que Youtube, Dailymotion ou encore Blip TV, le nombre de videos disponibles sur Internet aconsiderablement augmente. Le volume des collections et leur absence de structure limite l’acces par le contenu a ces donnees. Le resume automatique est un moyen de produire des syntheses qui extraient l’essentiel des contenus et les presentent de facon aussi concise que possible. Dans ce travail, nous nous interessons aux methodes de resume video par extraction, basees sur l’analyse du canal audio. Nous traitons les differents verrous scientifiques lies a cet objectif : l’extraction des contenus, la structuration des documents, la definition et l’estimation des fonctions d’interets et des algorithmes de composition des resumes. Sur chacun de ces aspects, nous faisons des propositions concretes qui sont evaluees. Sur l’extraction des contenus, nous presentons une methode rapide de detection de termes. La principale originalite de cette methode est qu’elle repose sur la construction d’un detecteur en fonction des termes cherches. Nous montrons que cette strategie d’auto-organisation du detecteur ameliore la robustesse du systeme, qui depasse sensiblement celle de l’approche classique basee sur la transcription automatique de la parole.Nous presentons ensuite une methode de filtrage qui repose sur les modeles a mixtures de Gaussiennes et l’analyse factorielle telle qu’elle a ete utilisee recemment en identification du locuteur. L’originalite de notre contribution tient a l’utilisation des decompositions par analyse factorielle pour l’estimation supervisee de filtres operants dans le domaine cepstral.Nous abordons ensuite les questions de structuration de collections de videos. Nous montrons que l’utilisation de differents niveaux de representation et de differentes sources d’informations permet de caracteriser le style editorial d’une video en se basant principalement sur l’analyse de la source audio, alors que la plupart des travaux precedents suggeraient que l’essentiel de l’information relative au genre etait contenue dans l’image. Une autre contribution concerne l’identification du type de discours ; nous proposons des modeles bas niveaux pour la detection de la parole spontanee qui ameliorent sensiblement l’etat de l’art sur ce type d’approches.Le troisieme axe de ce travail concerne le resume lui-meme. Dans le cadre du resume automatique video, nous essayons, dans un premier temps, de definir ce qu’est une vue synthetique. S’agit-il de ce qui le caracterise globalement ou de ce qu’un utilisateur en retiendra (par exemple un moment emouvant, drole.) ? Cette question est discutee et nous faisons des propositions concretes pour la definition de fonctions d’interets correspondants a 3 differents criteres : la saillance, l’expressivite et la significativite. Nous proposons ensuite un algorithme de recherche du resume d’interet maximal qui derive de celui introduit dans des travaux precedents, base sur la programmation lineaire en nombres entiers.
Coordination of Bidding Strategies in Energy and Spinning Reserve Markets

As the competition at generation side becomes more and more furious under deregulated environment,a new method,which can optimize the bidding strategies of generation company in day-ahead energy and spinning reserve according to its rivals' history data,is presented in this paper.Firstly,history data is analyzed to establish its probability distribution,and then Monte Carlo simulation is used to simulate the rivals' bidding strategies.On that basis,the bidding strategies are optimized using annealing genetic algorithm.Finally an example is given to show the feasibility of the method.
The relationship between physical activity and leg health in the broiler chicken

1. The relationship between the physical activity and leg health of broiler chickens was assessed on a semi-commercial scale. 2. Three batches of birds (2128 per batch) were raised under two lighting regimes during the photoperiod; either a step-wise change of light intensity alternating between an illuminance of 200 and 10 lx or a constant illuminance of 10 lx. The activity of focal individuals (24 per batch) was observed at 2, 4 and 6 weeks of age, and leg health assessed weekly, based on gait score, the prevalence of burns on the hock and foot pad, and angulation and rotation of the leg at the intertarsal joint. Cortical bone density and thickness and area moments of inertia of the mid-physis tibiotarsus were measured post mortem at 6 weeks of age. 3. The step-wise change in light intensity did not affect overall performance, activity or leg health. 4. An individual bird's activity did not affect its gait score, the prevalence of hock burn or foot pad burn, cortical density or thickness or shape of the tibiotarsus. Sex of the bird was the only factor to affect significantly the area moment of inertia in the horizontal and vertical planes of the tibiotarsus, with females showing a lower moment of inertia for both. No variable had a significant effect on cortical density or thickness. Mean cortical density was low across all birds and may indicate that, when allowed to move freely as much or as little as they choose, broiler chickens do not exercise enough or do not perform the higher impact activities required to affect bone quality. 5. These findings imply that the activity of broiler chickens raised on a semi-commercial scale is unaffected by step-wise changes in light intensity and that other husbandry measures are needed to raise activity and hence improve leg health.
Health Information National Trends Survey 2005 (HINTS 2005)

The information we collect in this study is in accordance with the clearance requirements of the paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. We may not conduct or sponsor, and you are not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid control number from the Office of Management and Budget in the Federal Government. We estimate that it will take you between 25 and 30 minutes to answer our questions in this interview. This includes the time it takes to hear the instructions, gather the necessary facts, and complete the interview. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to: NIH, Project Clearance Branch, 6705 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7974, Bethesda, MD 20892-7974, ATTN: PRA (0925­ 0538)