Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
HERP, a New Primary Target of Notch Regulated by Ligand Binding

ABSTRACT Notch signaling dictates cell fate and critically influences cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis in metazoans. Ligand binding initiates the signal through regulated intramembrane proteolysis of a transmembrane Notch receptor which releases the signal-transducing Notch intracellular domain (NICD). The HES/E(spl) gene family is a primary target of Notch and thus far the only known Notch effector. A newly isolated HERP family, a HES-related basic helix-loop-helix protein family, has been proposed as a potential target of Notch, based on its induction following NICD overexpression. However, NICD is physiologically maintained at an extremely low level that typically escapes detection, and therefore, nonregulated overexpression of NICD—as in transient transfection—has the potential of generating cellular responses of little physiological relevance. Indeed, a constitutively active NICD indiscriminately up-regulates expression of both HERP1 and HERP2 mRNAs. However, physiological Notch stimulation through ligand binding results in the selective induction of HERP2 but not HERP1 mRNA and causes only marginal up-regulation of HES1 mRNA. Importantly, HERP2 is an immediate target gene of Notch signaling since HERP2 mRNA expression is induced even in the absence of de novo protein synthesis. HERP2 mRNA induction is accompanied by specific expression of HERP2 protein in the nucleus. Furthermore, using RBP-Jk-deficient cells, we show that an RBP-Jk protein, a transcription factor that directly activates HES/E(spl) transcription, also is essential for HERP2 mRNA expression and that expression of exogenous RBP-Jk is sufficient to rescue HERP2 mRNA expression. These data establish that HERP2 is a novel primary target gene of Notch that, together with HES, may effect diverse biological activities of Notch.
Applying Diffusion of Innovation in Online Purchase Intention through Social Network: A Focus Group Study of Facebook in Thailand

Although there are several studies on factors affecting online purchase intention in social media website using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), little research exists with respect to the study using different theories. This research is one of the studies that using an alternative theory, Diffusion of Innovation Model. This paper reports the findings of recent focus group research among working adult (ages 25 to 34), which examined the factors that influence their online purchase decision through online social network, particularly Facebook. The findings are presented and discussed in order to refine the preliminary research model that was developed from an extensive review of literature. Methods: Two focus groups involving 15 participants were recruited in Trang, Thailand. Researchers analyzed and coded the data according to research model and hypotheses. Results: Focus group respondents ranked in order of importance relative advantage, trust, perceived risk, compatibility as the factors that encouraged or discouraged them from purchasing product through Facebook. The findings of factors and their attributes from this study are in line with the findings in the literature with slight variation. Conclusions: This research makes a contribution to the development of a theoretical understanding of online purchase intention through social network.
Engaging Adults With Chronic Disease in Online Depressive Symptom Self-Management

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate participant engagement and effects of an Internet-based, self-directed program for depressive symptoms piloted among adults with a chronic disease. Eligible participants (N = 47) were randomly assigned to either the “Think Clearly About Depression” online depression self-management program or the control group. The Patient Health Questionnaire–8 and Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy Scales were administered at baseline and at Weeks 4 and 8 after initiating the intervention. Number Needed to Treat analysis indicated that one in every three treatment group participants found clinically significant reductions in depressive symptoms by Week 8. Paired-sample t tests showed that depressive symptoms and self-efficacy in management of depressive symptoms improved over time for those in the treatment group and not for those in the control group. Participants’ engagement and satisfaction with the online program were favorable.
Differential Shape Statistical Analysis

A novel statistical approach that involves differential shape is proposed to analyze contour segments. First, a moment-based algorithm to represent the differential contour segment in an efficient way is introduced. Then, a curvature mean-shift method is adopted to search for the salient features. An optimized function is also developed to segment a contour into parts based on its structural properties. Compared with some other methods used in CSS (Curvature Scale Space) and shock graphs, our method is more powerful for shape contour analysis, especially for the incomplete or occluded contours. Experiments show that our method can track salient parts in real-time and give a judgment of the basic shape properties such as symmetry.
Blood Eosinophils: A Biomarker of Response to Extrafine Beclomethasone/Formoterol in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

To the Editor: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous condition (1). The identification of COPD phenotypes may allow stratified treatment approaches that modulate discrete disease mechanisms. Peripheral blood eosinophilia is both a common and repeatable finding in COPD (2). In addition, the presence of a blood/sputum eosinophilia is associated with a significant proportion of COPD exacerbations (3, 4) and a favorable response to systemic steroids (5). However, the role of blood eosinophils in stratifying treatment response to inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting β-agonist combinations is poorly understood. The FORWARD (Foster 48-Week Trial to Reduce Exacerbations in COPD) study was a randomized, double-blind, parallel group trial that compared 48 weeks of treatment with extrafine beclomethasone dipropionate plus formoterol fumarate (BDP/FF), 100/6 μg pressurized metered-dose inhaler, two inhalations twice a day, versus FF 12 μg pressurized metered-dose inhaler, one inhalation twice a day, in patients with severe COPD with a history of exacerbations (clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov [NCT 00929851]). The results of the study have been reported (6) and showed a significant reduction in exacerbation rate (28%) and improvement in lung function with BDP/FF compared with FF treatment. Here we evaluate the hypothesis that these treatment differences differ according to the baseline blood eosinophil count by performing a post hoc analysis on the FORWARD study data. Methods The median (quartile 1; quartile 3) baseline blood eosinophil count was 181.6 (110.4; 279.8), and the distribution of counts is shown in Figure E1 in the online supplement. The patients (n = 1,184) were stratified into quartile groups on the basis of the baseline eosinophil count. The clinical characteristics of the study population across the quartiles of baseline blood eosinophils are reported in Table E1. The following endpoints were analyzed: COPD exacerbation rate over the course of 48 weeks, using a negative binomial model for adjusted exacerbation rates, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and Cox proportional hazard model for time to first exacerbation event; change from baseline in predose morning FEV1 at 48 weeks, using a linear mixed model for repeated measurements; and change from baseline in St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire total score at 48 weeks, using an analysis of covariance model. Further details of the models are provided in the online supplement. Additional analyses using percentage eosinophil count thresholds and considering absolute counts as a continuous variable were also performed. A predictive model (see online supplement for details) for future COPD exacerbation rate was estimated, accounting for a variety of baseline factors that may influence exacerbations (7). The effect of baseline blood eosinophil count on adverse events, and in particular pneumonia, was also evaluated.
A high-performance micro-GRIN-chip spot-size converter formed with focused ion beam

A high-performance spot-size converter composed of a micrograded-index slab chip with a hemi-cylindrical endface for conversion between single-mode fibers (SMFs) and fine-core waveguides has been fabricated using the focused ion beam etching technique. The microchip has the index difference as much as 1.8 in the index-gradient direction and the input hemi-cylindrical endface of curvature radius as small as 6.3 /spl mu/m. The measured full width at the 1/e/sup 2/ maximum of the resulting focused spot intensity distribution is 1.8/spl times/2.5 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ when the input end is excited by an SMF of 10.8-/spl mu/m-spot diameter at the wavelength of 1.55 /spl mu/m.
Studies on Potential of Finger Millet (Eleusine Coracana Gaertn. L.) Amylases for Industrial Applications

Amylases are of great significance especially in the food, brewing and detergent industry. An attempt has been made to study the characteristics of amylases produced during germination of finger millet (Eleusine coracana Gaertn. L.). Of the 25 genotypes studied RAU8 showed the maximum activity at pH 5 and temperature 60oC. This is the first report of optimum amylase activity at 60Â°C in finger millet. The best activity was observed in seeds geminated for 96 hours. The enzyme extract showed maximal activity till 90 minutes and 82.24% activity was retained even after 120 minutes. The thermostable character of the enzyme and retention of activity of the unprotected enzyme for 2 hours makes it suitable for industrial purposes. Further characterization of the different forms of the amylases may help in isolation of the most robust form which could then be cloned and expressed in microbes to enable large scale production for industrial purposes.
Identifying the Elasticity of Substitution with Biased Technical Change

The capital-labor substitution elasticity and technical biases in production are critical parameters. The received wisdom claims their joint identification is infeasible. We challenge that interpretation. Putting the new approach of "normalized" production functions at the heart of a Monte Carlo analysis we identify the conditions under which identification is feasible and robust. The key result is that jointly modeling the production function and first-order conditions is superior to single-equation approaches especially when merged with "normalization. " Our results will have fundamental implications for production-function estimation under non-neutral technical change, for understanding the empirical relevance of normalization and variability underlying past empirical studies. (JEL E22, O33, O41)
Long-term efficacy and safety of canagliflozin monotherapy in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with diet and exercise: findings from the 52-week CANTATA-M study

Abstract Objective: Canagliflozin is a sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor developed for treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The long-term efficacy and safety of canagliflozin monotherapy were evaluated over 52 weeks in patients with T2DM inadequately controlled with diet and exercise. Research design and methods: This randomized, double-blind, Phase 3 study included a placebo-controlled, 26-week core period (canagliflozin 100 or 300 mg vs placebo) and an active-controlled, 26-week extension (blinded switch of placebo-treated patients to sitagliptin 100 mg [placebo/sitagliptin]). Clinical trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01081834. Main outcome measures: Efficacy endpoints assessed at 52 weeks included changes in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and systolic blood pressure (BP); and percentage changes in body weight and fasting plasma lipids. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded throughout the study. Efficacy data are reported for canagliflozin 100 and 300 mg (placebo/sitagliptin group was used to maintain the double-blind and to serve as a control group for safety purposes; not as an efficacy comparator); safety data are reported for canagliflozin 100 and 300 mg and placebo/sitagliptin. Results: Efficacy analyses included 451 patients who were randomized and dosed, entered the extension, and did not receive rescue therapy during the core period. Safety analyses included 584 patients who were randomized and dosed. At Week 52, canagliflozin 100 and 300 mg provided dose-related decreases from baseline in HbA1c of −0.81% and −1.11%. Canagliflozin 100 and 300 mg decreased FPG (−1.5 and −2.2 mmol/L [−27.4 and −39.1 mg/dL]), body weight (−3.3% and −4.4%), and systolic BP (−1.4 and −3.9 mmHg); decreased triglycerides and increased HDL-C and LDL-C were also seen. Over 52 weeks, overall AE rates were 67.2%, 66.0%, and 64.1% with canagliflozin 100 and 300 mg and placebo/sitagliptin; rates of serious AEs and AE-related discontinuations were low across groups. Compared with placebo/sitagliptin, canagliflozin was associated with higher rates of genital mycotic infections and AEs related to osmotic diuresis; these led to few discontinuations. Rates of volume depletion AEs and documented hypoglycemia were low across groups. Conclusions: Canagliflozin monotherapy provided sustained improvement in glycemic control and body weight reduction, and was generally well tolerated in patients with T2DM over 52 weeks.
Figure-ground modulation in awake primate thalamus

Significance Perceptually, the visual cortical areas are considered to reconstruct objects from the diverse components of early distributed processing by grouping image elements and segregating them from the background as a figure. An assumption here is that raw, essentially unchanged information from the visual thalamus provides the basic pattern essential for the operation of these higher-level abstractions. However, here we demonstrate strong enhancement of neuronal firing to the figure component of a figure-ground stimulus in recordings from the visual thalamus of behaving primates. This suggests the signature of a higher-order percept is introduced into the thalamus in a reentrant manner via the corticofugal feedback connections and causes our visual input to confirm what we think we are seeing. Figure-ground discrimination refers to the perception of an object, the figure, against a nondescript background. Neural mechanisms of figure-ground detection have been associated with feedback interactions between higher centers and primary visual cortex and have been held to index the effect of global analysis on local feature encoding. Here, in recordings from visual thalamus of alert primates, we demonstrate a robust enhancement of neuronal firing when the figure, as opposed to the ground, component of a motion-defined figure-ground stimulus is located over the receptive field. In this paradigm, visual stimulation of the receptive field and its near environs is identical across both conditions, suggesting the response enhancement reflects higher integrative mechanisms. It thus appears that cortical activity generating the higher-order percept of the figure is simultaneously reentered into the lowest level that is anatomically possible (the thalamus), so that the signature of the evolving representation of the figure is imprinted on the input driving it in an iterative process.
THE IDENTIFICATION OF TARGET MARKETS

This paper demonstrates the use of computer-based multivariate techniques in analysing survey data and segmenting markets. Such techniques are increasingly used to deal with the vast amounts of data currently being collected by market researchers. Three techniques are illustrated and compared in detail-regression analysis, AID, and cluster analysis. These methods have wide application in marketing. A simple data set is used to illustrate their principles and comparative advantages.
Intertemporal Price Competition

Alternating price competition between firms selling differentiated products to nonhomogeneous consumers can yield two different types of equilibria. One, which we call "disciplined," arises when products are close substitutes. Another, which we call "spontaneous," emerges when products are more differentiated. In disciplined equilibria, an implicit threat to cut price further, in response to an initial price cut, supports quite collusive outcomes, which become less collusive as product differentiation increases. In spontaneous equilibria, no such threat is needed. Consumers in the smaller market tend to pay a higher price, as do consumers served by the more efficient firm. Copyright 1990 by The Econometric Society.
Real-time Classification of Internet Application Traffic using a Hierarchical Multi-class SVM

In this paper, we propose a hierarchical application traffic classification system as an alternative means to overcome the limitations of the port number and payload based methodologies, which are traditionally considered traffic classification methods. The proposed system is a new classification model that hierarchically combines a binary classifier SVM and Support Vector Data Descriptions (SVDDs). The proposed system selects an optimal attribute subset from the bi-directional traffic flows generated by our traffic analysis system (KU-MON) that enables real-time collection and analysis of campus traffic. The system is composed of three layers: The first layer is a binary classifier SVM that performs rapid classification between P2P and non-P2P traffic. The second layer classifies P2P traffic into file-sharing, messenger and TV, based on three SVDDs. The third layer performs specialized classification of all individual application traffic types. Since the proposed system enables both coarse- and fine-grained classification, it can guarantee efficient resource management, such as a stable network environment, seamless bandwidth guarantee and appropriate QoS. Moreover, even when a new application emerges, it can be easily adapted for incremental updating and scaling. Only additional training for the new part of the application traffic is needed instead of retraining the entire system. The performance of the proposed system is validated via experiments which confirm that its recall and precision measures are satisfactory.
Between Centralism and Localism: On the Development of Local Self-Government in Postsocialist Europe

During real-socialism in Central and Eastern Europe the scope for local government discretion was marginal. Local government had a very low degree of legitimacy, and this is something that poses a big problem when it comes to developing local self-government under postsocialism. It seems as if most citizens are prepared to pin their hopes on new central leaders, while they are still very hesitant with regard to local self-governance. Various expressions of localism appeared during the first three to four years of postsocialist development. However, today it seems as if the tide has turned in favour of more centralist hopes and policies. This development is discussed in the light of some of the arguments commonly raised in favour of centralism and localism, respectively, highlighting the complex relationships between the two concepts and their current manifestations. In the concluding section some ideas are put forward concerning the issue how to bridge the gap between centralism and localism, and there is also a reminder that some of the current developments of local government in Eastern and Central Europe are similar to those in Western Europe. This makes a strong argument in favour of intensified transnational contacts between academics, practitioners, and ordinary citizens with an interest in developing local self-government.
Global value chains in the electronics industry: characteristics, crisis, and upgrading opportunities for firms from developing countries

In this paper, we apply global value chain (GVC) analysis to study recent trends in the global electronic hardware industry and their implications for upgrading opportunities for firms from developing countries. We identify three key firm level actors – lead firms, contract manufacturers, and platform leaders. Company, cluster, and country case studies are presented to illustrate how supplier capabilities in various places have developed in the context of electronics GVCs. The findings identify some of the persistent limits to upgrading experienced by even the most successful firms in the developing world. Four models used by developing country firms to overcome these limitations are presented: emerging multinationals, contract manufacturer spinoffs, platform brands and emerging factory-less start-ups. Each of these new models has been enabled, to a greater or lesser degree, by the rise of new markets and new kinds of consumers in developing countries.
Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activity during maintenance and manipulation of information in working memory in patients with schizophrenia.

CONTEXT It remains unclear whether altered regional brain physiological activity in patients with schizophrenia during working memory tasks relates to maintenance-related processes, manipulation-related (ie, executive) processes, or both. OBJECTIVE To examine regional functional activations of the brain during maintenance- and manipulation-related working memory processing in patients with schizophrenia and in healthy comparison subjects. DESIGN Functional images of the brain were acquired in 11 schizophrenic patients and 12 healthy control subjects (matched for age, sex, handedness, and parental education) during 2 spatial working memory paradigms, one contrasting maintenance-only processing with maintenance and manipulation processing and the other contrasting parametrically varying maintenance demands. RESULTS Patients and controls showed activation of a large, spatially distributed network of cortical and subcortical regions during spatial working memory processing. When task demands required explicit manipulation of information held in memory, controls recruited right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (Brodmann areas 45 and 46) to a significantly greater extent than patients. A similar effect was observed for the larger memory set sizes of the memory set size task. No other brain regions showed activation differences between groups for either task. These differences persisted when comparing activation maps for memory set sizes in which the 2 groups were equivalent in behavioral accuracy and when comparing subgroups of patients and controls matched for behavioral accuracy on either task. CONCLUSIONS Physiological disturbances in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex contribute differentially to patients' difficulties with maintaining spatial information across a brief delay, as well as with manipulating the maintained representation. These differences persisted when comparing conditions in which the 2 groups were equivalent in behavioral accuracy.
Demonstration of PocketThumb: a wearable dual-sided touch interface for cursor-based control of smart-eyewear

We demonstrate PocketThumb, a wearable touch interface for smart-eyewear that is embedded into the fabrics of the front trouser pocket. The interface is reachable from outside and inside of the pocket to allow for a combined dual-sided touch input. The user can control an absolute cursor with their thumb sliding along the fabric from the inside, while at the same time tapping or swiping with fingers from the outside to perform joint gestures. This allows for resting the hand in a comfortable and quickly accessible position, while performing interaction with a high expressiveness that is feasible in mobile scenarios.