Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Firm performance and CEO reputation costs : new evidence from Venezuelan banks Urbi

When searching for outside directors, the performance of the candidate as a manager of other firms plays an important role. The 1994-1995 Venezuelan banking crisis, in which the performance of banks was affected by a systemic crisis, provides an ideal setting to analyze this hypothesis. On a comprehensive sample of Venezuelan banks, we find that the number of CEOs’ outside directorships was negatively affected by the banks’ performance, measured by its default risk during the systemic crisis. We find that the negative impact of the banks’ performance on the CEOs’ reputation is stronger than previously found. We also find that the size of the bank has a positive effect on the CEO reputation, which partially offsets the negative reputation-effect of the bank risk.
Temporal Recommender System in online Tourism Website

Plenty of recommendation methods are put forward to alleviate the information overload problem, but no unique method can satisfy all the e-commerce web sites. One significant reason lies in the different features of data sets, for instance the sparsity of the customer-object relations which would lead to cold start problem. In this study, we obtain a data set from an online tourism website, where the purchasing behaviors are too scarce to support recommender systems well. However, there are abundant of browsing histories which are very related to customers’ purchasing behaviors. We then propose a new temporal recommendation method based on the temporal browsing histories. Compared with some benchmark methods, such as collaborative filtering method, popularitybased method, and content-based method, our new method can provide very accurate and novel recommendations. It can also update the recommendation lists in real time with little computational cost. In addition, we infer that customers usually have clear targets when they enter this web site.
Fast Face Detection Assisted with Skin Color Detection

The key to e-commerce is confirming the identity of trading parties to ensure the non-repudiation of the communicating parties. The typical technologies include the digital signature-based identification technology and the biometric identification technology to identify individuals on the basis of different biological features (e.g., face, retina). Face recognition has been a popular technology, and the recognition efficiency is subject to the pre-stage face detection. Hence, it is important to achieve rapid detection of faces in images. This study proposed a fast face detection system targeting at dynamic images. The implementation method is composed of two parts: 1) conduct the pre-detection in the consecutive images using the feature detection cascade classifier proposed by P. Viola and Rainer Lienhart, and analyze the skin color of the detected face block; 2) conduct skin color detection by using the parameters obtained from skin color analysis, and then conduct rapid feature comparison using a classifier of lower complexity to reduce the environmental impact at the time of skin color detection. In addition, there is no need to use the classifier of high complexity after the lowering of dimension. This experiment conducted the performance analysis using an open face sample--George Institute of Technology Face Database. The experimental results indicated that the proposed method using a low performance classifier, along with skin color analysis, can make a relatively fast and accurate face detection system.
SARSNTdb database: Factors affecting SARS-CoV-2 sequence conservation

SARSNTdb offers a curated, nucleotide-centric database for users of varying levels of SARS-CoV-2 knowledge. Its user-friendly interface enables querying coding regions and coordinate intervals to find out the various functional and selective constraints that act upon the corresponding nucleotides and amino acids. Users can easily obtain information about viral genes and proteins, functional domains, repeats, secondary structure formation, intragenomic interactions, and mutation prevalence. Currently, many databases are focused on the phylogeny and amino acid substitutions, mainly in the spike protein. We took a novel, more nucleotide-focused approach as RNA does more than just code for proteins and many insights can be gleaned from its study. For example, RNA-targeted drug therapies for SARS-CoV-2 are currently being developed and it is essential to understand the features only visible at that level. This database enables the user to identify regions that are more prone to forming secondary structures that drugs can target. SARSNTdb also provides illustrative mutation data from a subset of ~25,000 patient samples with a reliable read coverage across the whole genome (from different locations and time points in the pandemic. Finally, the database allows for comparing SARS-CoV-2 and SARS-CoV domains and sequences. SARSNTdb can serve the research community by being a curated repository for information that gives a jump start to analyze a mutation’s effect far beyond just determining synonymous/non-synonymous substitutions in protein sequences.
Implementation of Cutting-Edge Internet Technology to the Improvement of Revenue Generation Using Cyber-Security

The need for the most accurate and flexible system of revenue collection from internal sources has become a matter of extreme urgency and importance in e-governance. This need underscores the eagerness on the part of the Government to look for a new principle and policy of revenue collection or to become aggressive and innovative in the mode of collecting revenue from existing sources using the present system. The Boards of some Governments in Africa, even up to the moment are facing a lot of setbacks in performing their tasks due to the manual system of revenue collection from the public. This can be improved through an effective collection of revenue using the most accurate and flexible system. Tax is usually collected in the form of specific sales tax, general sales tax, corporate income tax, individual income tax, property tax and inheritance tax. Problems such as high cost of collection, fraud, underpayment, leakage in revenue, poor access to information, poor tracking of defaulters is at the increase. As a result of this, there is need to computerize the revenue collection system. Computerized systems have proven to introduce massive efficiencies and quick collection of revenue from the public. This research work demonstrates how to design and implement an automated system of revenue collection and how to maintain a secured database for collected tax information. This research delves into the study of how machine learning algorithms and Software-defined Networks improve the security of such automated systems.
SO 6 C : Compressed Trajectories in Air Traffic Management

Air traffic management (ATM) is facing a tremendous increase in the amount of available flight data. Parallel to the decreasing time and cost necessary to produce ATM data, computational requirements for storage and analysis of the bulk of data are steeply increasing. Compression is a key technology to deal with this challenge often referred to as big data science. In this paper, we propose a new technique for compressing 4D-trajectories of the Demand Data Repository provided by EUROCONTROL. While standard compression algorithms compress such a trajectory file as a large chunk of consecutive text, we propose to look at different streams in the trajectory files. We design encoding techniques for each stream separately. In our evaluation the whole traffic over Europe is compressed from more than 50 GB down to 1.42 GB, yielding a compression ratio of approx. 35:1, a reduction of more than 80 percent compared to the best standard compression technique. In addition, our new compression technique is almost 10 times faster than the best competitor. Therefore, we are convinced that efficient, yet fast, compression of 4D-trajectories is possible on modern hardware and should be exploited. Keywords-4D-trajectories, storage, compression
Multi-objective Optimization based on a Multi-criteria Estimation of Distribution

Considering the state-of-the-art meta-heuristics for multi-objective optimization (MOO), such as NSGA-II, NSGA-III, SPEA2 and SMS-EMOA, only one preference criterion at a time is considered to properly rank candidate solutions along the search process. Here, some of the preference criteria adopted by those state-of-the-art algorithms, including non-dominance level and contribution to the hypervolume, are taken together as inputs to a multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) strategy, more specifically the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), responsible for sorting all candidate solutions. The TOPSIS algorithm allows the use of multiple preference based approaches, rather than focusing on a particular one like in most hybrid algorithms composed of MOO and MCDM techniques. Here, each preference is treated as a criterion with a relative relevance to the decision maker (DM). New candidate solutions are then generated using a distribution model, in our case a Gaussian mixture model, derived from the sorted list of candidate solutions produced by TOPSIS. Essentially, a roulette wheel is used to choose a pair of the current candidate solutions according to the relative quality, suitably determined by TOPSIS, and after that a new pair of candidate solutions is generated as Gaussian perturbations centered at the corresponding parent solutions. The standard deviation of the Gaussian functions is defined in terms of the parents distance in the decision space. We also adopt refreshing operators, aiming at reaching potentially promising regions of the search space not yet mapped by the distribution model. Though other choices could have been made, we decided to follow the structural conception of the NSGA-II algorithm, also adopted in the NSGA-III algorithm, as basis for our proposal, denoted by MOMCEDA (Multi-Objective Multi-Criteria Estimation of Distribution Algorithm). Therefore, the distinctive aspects, when compared to NSGA-II and NSGA-III, are the way the current population of candidate solutions is ranked and the strategy adopted to generate new individuals. The results on ZDT benchmarks show that our method is clearly superior to NSGA-II and NSGA-III, and is competitive with other wellestablished meta-heuristics for multi-objective optimization from the literature, considering convergence to the Pareto front, hypervolume and IGD as performance metrics.
Oral mucositis and periodontal disease in patients with primary or acquired immunodeficiencies

The infection and inflammation in the oral cavity are commonly related to the skewed interaction between host immunity and inhabiting microorganisms. Both primary and acquired immunodeficiency conditions are frequently associated with oral symptoms. In this thesis two oral manifestations, chronic periodontitis and oral mucositis, were investigated in patients with severe congenital neutropenia and in patients with malignant diseases respectively. In Paper I, a genotype-phenotype correlation between ELANE mutations and chronic periodontal disease was described in a group of patients with severe congenital neutropenia. Patients that harbor mutations in the gene ELANE, encoding neutrophil elastase, presented with poorer periodontal health as compared to those with HAX1 mutations or unknown mutations. The periodontal pockets of the patients with ELANE mutations displayed a skewed microflora and elevated levels of proinflammatory
Planning and Design Methods for WDM Networks Robust against Traffic Changes

Many researches have been investigated on planning or designing WDM networks assuming that the future traffic demand is known beforehand. Practically, it is difficult to predict the future traffic demand accurately since there are various types of data traffic with different traffic characteristics. In this paper, we propose a scheme to design a WDM network that will accommodate as much traffic as possible against a variety of traffic patterns, that is, robust WDM network. The straightforward way to meet this objective is to design a network to maximize the volume of traffic accommodated in the future. To achieve this simply, we divide the WDM network design problem into two subproblems, the OXC–deployment problemand thefiber–deployment problem. In both problems, we propose schemes to maximize the volume of traffic demand that can be accommodated in the future by taking into account the maximum flow value of each node–pair. We handle those problems by incrementally extending network resources based on the ADD algorithm. By deploying network resources until they reach a condition that a robust WDM network needs to fulfill, we can design a robust WDM network. We compare our proposed scheme with the existing method using various traffic matrices. The results show that the WDM network designed by our method can accommodate more traffic demand than the one, designed by the existing method with the same cost.
Miniaturized Cross-Lines Rectangular Ring-Shaped Flexible Multiband Antenna

─ A compact, flexible antenna for wireless applications, i.e., WLAN/WiMAX/Wi-Fi, UMTS2100, C-Band, and DSRC is presented. The quad-band antenna is designed and analyzed in terms of efficiency, gain, radiation pattern, return loss, and VSWR. The optimized design consists of a CPW fed rectangular ring patch with the semi-circular ground. The cross-lines and the semicircular ground is investigated to ascertain the multiband effect. A concept of inset feed mechanism is also interpolated to enhance impedance matching. The framed antenna is examined under the bent condition as well. The reported work is an apt candidate for the proposed applications because of its high efficiency of 95% with a peak gain of 3.22 dBi along with VSWR less than 2. With stable radiation pattern and bandwidth, there is a justified concurrence between simulated and measured results. Index Terms ─ Compact, CPW, cross-lines, flexible, inset feed, multi-band, rectangular ring.
Trend Analysis of Temperature, Precipitation, and Relative Humidity Changes in Iran

1M.Sc. of Hydrology and Water Resource Engineering Department of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran. 2 * Corresponding Author, professor, faculty member of Hydrology and Water Resource Engineering Department of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran (aliakh@scu.ac.ir). 3Associate professor, faculty member of Hydrology and Water Resource Engineering Department of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran. 4Associate professor, faculty member of Hydrology and Water Resource Engineering Department of Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran.
ANALYSIS OF VIRAL PROTEIN U VARIANT AT AMINO ACID POSITION 61 AMONG THE HETEROSEXUALLY TRANSMITTED HIV-1 PATIENTS OF MANIPUR -

Background: Mutation at amino acid position 61 of vpu influences the stability, release and toxicity of the HIV-1. Previously, we have reported that the seryl residue 61 of HIV-1 was mostly conserved among the HIV-1 infected Intravenous Drug Users (IDUs) of Manipur. In this study, we further analyzed the site mutagenesis at seryl residue 61 among the heterosexually transmitted HIV-1 infected individuals of Manipur. Methodology: Heterosexually transmitted HIV-1 infected blood samples from forty eight individuals have been studied by viral amplification and sequencing at vpu gene of HIV-1. Translated amino acid sequences were aligned with reference strain of HIV1 for analysis of amino acid variation at position number 61. Phylogenetic tree were also interfered among the studied sample. Results: The results revealed that 91.67% of heterosexually transmitted HIV-1 infected individuals were harboring virus with conserved seryl residue 61 which has viral-enhancement function while only 8.33% harbored mutated virus. Phylogenetic tree of the vpu sequences among the heterosexually transmitted HIV-1 infected individuals of Manipur displayed multiple clusters. Conclusions: Among the heterosexually transmitted HIV-1 infected individuals of Manipur, vpu is highly conserved at amino acid position 61 with serine (wild-type) which predicts virus to be more virulent. The analysis also indicated that the heterosexually transmitted virus was possibly introduced from multiple sources. The understanding developed on HIV-1 pathogenicity will provide vital information for the policy makers and clinicians for sentinel surveillance of this pandemic and may help the vaccine/ drug developers to design effective anti-HIV-1 therapeutic agents to fight back the deadly AIDS pandemic.
Targeting nucleic acids for pancreatic cancer: disease modeling and therapy

Pancreatic cancer is responsible for nearly 40,000 deaths in the U.S. annually, with a dismal 5-year survival rate below 7%. The poor therapeutic outcomes reflect a paucity of new approaches targeting the genomic underpinnings of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC, the vast majority of pancreatic cancers) as well as our inability to overcome the desmoplastic stromal barrier characteristic of PDAC. RNA interference through siRNA holds promise in targeting key mutations driving PDAC, such as oncogenic KRAS; however, a nucleic acid delivery vehicle that homes to PDAC and breaches the stroma does not yet exist. Noting that the novel cyclic peptide iRGD mediates tumor targeting and penetration through interactions with αvβ3/5 integrins and neuropilin-1, we hypothesized that " tandem " peptides combining a cell-penetrating peptide and iRGD can complex with siRNA to form tumor-penetrating nanocomplexes (TPNs) effective in delivering siRNA to PDAC. Such a nanoscale carrier could provide a practical means of bridging our understanding of PDAC as a genetic disease to the clinic. Furthermore, the modular aspect of these self-assembled particles permits them to accommodate alternate cargoes or targeting domains, and we have proposed that tandem peptide complexes could be extended to applications outside of RNA interference, particularly for the delivery of components for CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing. This delivery system could be applied to generate improved animal models of pancreatic cancer. In this work, we first designed, characterized, and optimized iRGD-based TPNs for RNAi in pancreatic cancer cells in vitro, showing robust knockdown of single and multiple targets. In order to stabilize these nanoparticles for systemic administration, we then devised and compared diverse, non-covalent materials for formulating TPNs with polyethylene glycol (PEG). The best material in this capacity, a peptide-PEG conjugate, reduced accumulation of TPNs in off-target organs and improved circulation kinetics, while preserving functional knockdown capacity. Incorporating this approach with the iRGD tandem peptides, we studied the translational potential of PEGylated iRGD TPNs to deliver siRNA to various models of pancreatic cancer and have begun therapeutic testing with siRNA targeting KRAS. Finally, we have adapted the tandem peptide platform to mediate delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 components. Particle configurations to deliver guide RNA alone, guide RNA with a DNA template for homology-directed repair, and guide RNA with Cas9 protein have all shown efficacy in gene editing in vitro, important steps toward creating sporadic mutations to model PDAC. Thus, we have established a versatile approach to the delivery of nucleic acids for studying …
Understanding the burden of injuries in Nepal: A systematic review of published studies

Abstract Background: The population of Nepal are vulnerable to injuries from natural disasters as well as those occurring in the home, at work and on the roads. Aim: To collate and synthesise the published literature reporting injuries to people of any age resident in Nepal. Method: We searched five electronic databases using an inclusive search strategy. Potentially eligible citations were screened by title and abstract and full texts of studies obtained. Data were extracted by two researchers. Synthesis was reported narratively by injury type and study design. Results: We identified 186 publications reporting 176 unique studies. Most studies used designs likely to underestimate the true burden of disease, including 144 case series and 36 cross-sectional studies. No trials were identified. The largest number of publications were related to poisoning and self-harm with only 22 focussing on road traffic injuries. There was minimal exploration of inequalities in injury occurrence other than descriptive reporting by age and gender. Conclusions: There is limited research using study designs at low risk of bias on injuries occurring to residents of Nepal, even on areas of concern such as road traffic injuries. The findings indicate a lack of robust epidemiological evidence to inform strategic approaches to injury prevention and suggest a need for capacity strengthening for injury prevention research.
Rational design of caspase-responsive smart molecular probe for positron emission tomography imaging of drug-induced apoptosis

Purpose: Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of apoptosis is very important for early evaluation of tumor therapeutic efficacy. A stimuli-responsive probe based on the peptide sequence Asp-Glu-Val-Asp (DEVD), [18F]DEVD-Cys(StBu)-PPG(CBT)-AmBF3 ([18F]1), for PET imaging of tumor apoptosis was designed and prepared. This study aimed to develop a novel smart probe using a convenient radiosynthesis method and to fully examine the sensitivity and specificity of the probe response to the tumor treatment. Methods: The radiolabelling precursor DEVD-Cys(StBu)-PPG(CBT)-AmBF3 (1) was synthesized through multistep reactions. The reduction together with caspase-controlled macrocyclization and self-assembly of 1 was characterized and validated in vitro. After [18F]fluorination in the buffer (pH= 2.5), the radiolabelling yield (RLY), radiochemical purity (RCP) and stability of the probe [18F]1 in PBS and mouse serum were investigated by radio-HPLC. The sensitivity and specificity of [18F]1 for detecting the drug-induced apoptosis was fully evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The effect of cold precursor 1 on the cell uptake and tumor imaging of [18F]1 was also assessed. The level of activated caspase-3 in Hela cells and tumors with or without apoptosis induction was analyzed and compared by western blotting and histological staining. Results: The whole radiosynthesis process of [18F]1 was around 25 min with RLY of 50%, RCP of over 99% and specific activity of 1.45 ± 0.4 Ci/µmol. The probe was very stable in both PBS and mouse serum within 4 h. It can be activated by caspase-3 and then undergo an intermolecular cyclization to form nanosized particles. The retained [18F]1 in DOX-treated HeLa cells was 2.2 folds of that in untreated cells. Within 1 h microPET imaging of the untreated Hela-bearing mice, the injection of [18F]1 resulted in the increase of the uptake ratio of tumor to muscle (T/M) only from 1.74 to 2.18, while in the DOX-treated Hela-bearing mice T/M increased from 1.88 to 10.52 and the co-injection of [18F]1 and 1 even led to the increase of T/M from 3.08 to 14.81. Conclusions: A caspase-responsive smart PET probe [18F]1 was designed and prepared in a kit-like manner. Co-injection of [18F]1 and 1 generated remarkably enhanced tumor uptake and signal-to-noise ratio in the tumor-bearing mice with drug-induced apoptosis, which correlated well with the expression level of activated caspase-3. This early readout of treatment response ensured that the probe [18F]1 could serve as a promising PET imaging probe for timely and noninvasive evaluation of tumor therapy.
Fatigue and Exercise

Fatigue is a debilitating symptom of many chronic illnesses. Because of pain, discomfort, and chronic fatigue, people with chronic illnesses often decrease their activity levels. There is often a vicious cycle that can prevent a person from participating in a regular exercise program. A person will avoid exercise because of pain, discomfort, or fatigue. However, a review of research by this author has shown that mild to moderate exercise, for as little as 10 to 15 minutes a day, can improve a person’s activity level and reduce fatigue and some pain.