Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Balanced partitioning of grids and related graphs: a theoretical study of data distribution in parallel finite element model simulations

This thesis considers the k-BALANCED PARTITIONING problem, which is defined as follows. Find the minimum number of edges in a graph that, when cut, partition the vertices into k (almost) equally sized sets. Amongst others, the problem derives its importance from the need to distribute data within a parallelcomputing architecture. In this setting we are particularly interested in 2D finite element model (FEM) simulations. We therefore model the input as a regular quadrilateral tiling of the plane. More precisely, we focus on solid grid graphs. These are finite connected subgraphs of the infinite 2D grid without holes. However we also consider other graph classes. In particular, trees often give surprising conclusions to the problem on grid graphs. For the special case when k = 2 (the BISECTION problem) we show that an optimal solution can be found in O(n) time for solid grid graphs. However the resulting runtime is unsatisfactory for practical purposes. Therefore we also show that near-optimal solutions can be found in O(n) time. This is achieved by analysing the cut shapes in solid grid graphs. We prove that simple shapes corresponding to straight lines and right-angled corners suffice in order to find near-optimal cuts. We are able to further harness these structural insights for the general case when k takes arbitrary values. This results in a fast bicriteria approximation algorithm which runs in O(n log k) time. The number of edges it cuts is at most O(log k) times the optimum and the sets are at most a factor of 2 from equalsized. For practical purposes however, the latter deviation is unattractive. In particular in parallel-computing it means a slowdown by a factor of 2. Therefore we also consider algorithms that compute sets that are arbitrarily close to equal-sized. For trees we provide a PTAS. Furthermore, we provide a bicriteria approximation algorithm for general graphs. Here the number of edges cut is at most O(log n) times the optimum. This result is obtained by harnessing results on hierarchical decompositions of graphs into trees, together with our PTAS.
Refolding strategies for ketosteroid isomerase following insoluble expression in Escherichia coli

Dilution and column‐based protein refolding techniques are compared for refolding Δ5‐3‐ketosteroid isomerase (KSI) with a C‐terminus his6‐tag. Column refolding was performed by removing the denaturant while the protein was adsorbed in an immobilized metal affinity chromatography column. Both dilution refolding and a single‐step column‐based refolding strategy were optimized to maximize the recovery of KSI enzyme activity, and achieved refolding yields of 87% and 70% respectively. It was found that the column‐based refolding yield was reduced at higher adsorbed protein concentrations. An elution gradient with increasing imidazole concentration was used to selectively elute the biologically active KSI protein following column refolding, with high molecular weight KSI aggregates retained in the column. An iterative column‐refolding process was then developed to denature and refold protein retained in the column, which significantly increased the refolding yield at high‐adsorbed protein concentrations. Repetition of the column refolding operation increased the refolding yield from 50% to 75% for protein adsorbed at a concentration of 2.9 mg/mL of adsorbent. Although for the KSI protein column‐based refolding did not improve the overall refolding yield compared to dilution refolding, it may still be advantageous due to the ease of integration with purification operations, increased control over the refolding conditions, and the ability to segregate refolded protein from inactive aggregates during elution. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cytochrome P450 3A Activity and Expression in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of liver disease in the Western world given its association to obesity, type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia. Medications are widely used in NAFLD to manage comorbid conditions, and there is significant interest in developing new drug therapies to treat the disease. Despite this, little is known about the effects of NAFLD on drug metabolism. We examined the activity and expression of the major drug metabolizing enzyme subfamily, cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) in subjects with NAFLD, and in mouse and cellular models. CYP3A activity was determined in healthy volunteers and subjects with biopsy-proven NAFLD by oral midazolam phenotyping and measurement of plasma 4 β -hydroxycholesterol, an endogenous metabolic biomarker. CYP3A4 transcriptional activity, metabolic activity and expression were also assessed in a mouse and cellular model of NAFLD. Subjects with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) had 2.4-fold higher plasma midazolam levels compared to controls. Plasma 4 β -hydroxycholesterol was 51% and 37% lower than controls in subjects with simple steatosis and NASH, respectively. Fibrosis was associated with 57% lower plasma 4 β -hydroxycholesterol levels than controls. Furthermore, hepatic CYP3A4 mRNA expression in NASH was 69% lower than control livers. CYP3A4 gene luciferase activity in the livers of NAFLD mice was 38% lower than that of controls. Lipid-loaded Huh7 cells had a 38% reduction in CYP3A4 activity and 80% lower CYP3A4 mRNA expression compared to control. CYP3A activity is reduced in human NAFLD in addition to mouse and in vitro cell models of the disease.
Heterogeneity, Endogeneity, Measurement Error and Identification of the Union Wage Impact

We study union wage effects when membership is non-coercive and employers reserve the right of union recognition. Using the BHPS during 1995-2009 we find evidence of membership differentials for the lower male and middle female observed skill groups. The coverage differential at the bottom of the observed male skill distribution suggests free riding. While union members are negatively selected, there is evidence of positive selection at the bottom of the observed skill distribution. Using the unified measurement error and endogeneity bias expression, we obtain a discernible pattern between uncorrected, endogeneity corrected and fixed effects estimates of the union wage effect.
Enhanced Modeling of First-Order Plant Equations of Motion for Aeroelastic and Aeroservoelastic Applications

A methodology is described for generating first-order plant equations of motion for aeroelastic and aeroservoelastic applications. The description begins with the process of generating data files representing specialized mode-shapes, such as rigid-body and control surface modes, using both PATRAN and NASTRAN analysis. NASTRAN executes the 146 solution sequence using numerous Direct Matrix Abstraction Program (DMAP) calls to import the mode-shape files and to perform the aeroelastic response analysis. The aeroelastic response analysis calculates and extracts structural frequencies, generalized masses, frequency-dependent generalized aerodynamic force (GAF) coefficients, sensor deflections and load coefficients data as text-formatted data files. The data files are then re-sequenced and re-formatted using a custom written FORTRAN program. The text-formatted data files are stored and coefficients for s-plane equations are fitted to the frequency-dependent GAF coefficients using two Interactions of Structures, Aerodynamics and Controls (ISAC) programs. With tabular files from stored data created by ISAC, MATLAB generates the first-order aeroservoelastic plant equations of motion. These equations include control-surface actuator, turbulence, sensor and load modeling. Altitude varying root-locus plot and PSD plot results for a model of the F-18 aircraft are presented to demonstrate the capability.
Efficacy of Postoperative Patient-controlled and Continuous Infusion Epidural Analgesia versus Intravenous Patient-controlled Analgesia with Opioids: A Meta-analysis

The authors performed a meta-analysis and found that epidural analgesia overall provided superior postoperative analgesia compared with intravenous patient-controlled analgesia. For all types of surgery and pain assessments, all forms of epidural analgesia (both continuous epidural infusion and patient-controlled epidural analgesia) provided significantly superior postoperative analgesia compared with intravenous patient-controlled analgesia, with the exception of hydrophilic opioid–only epidural regimens. Continuous epidural infusion provided statistically significantly superior analgesia versus patient-controlled epidural analgesia for overall pain, pain at rest, and pain with activity; however, patients receiving continuous epidural infusion had a significantly higher incidence of nausea–vomiting and motor block but lower incidence of pruritus. In summary, almost without exception, epidural analgesia, regardless of analgesic agent, epidural regimen, and type and time of pain assessment, provided superior postoperative analgesia compared to intravenous patient-controlled analgesia.
Efficiency analysis of small franchise enterprises through a DEA metafrontier model

Spain has over 1000 franchises with more than 65,700 establishments in a wide range of economic sectors and a global turnover of over €19,000 million (2011). These figures confirm the importance of franchises in the Spanish economy. Consequently, an understanding of the economic and technical efficiency of franchises can help managers to optimise resources and take correct decisions. Traditional efficiency models require that the units being assessed operate with the same technology. As franchises reach many different sectors (travel agencies, catering companies, fashion firms, etc.) their relative efficiency is analysed using a non-concave metafrontier approach, which is based on data envelopment analysis. This methodology enables a comparison between different groups and takes into account any heterogeneity between the franchise firms of several sectors.
Excitability changes of somatic and viscero‐somatic nociceptive reflexes in the decerebrate‐spinal rabbit: role of NMDA receptors.

1. Wind‐up (frequency‐dependent potentiation of the responses of spinal neurones to stimulation of unmyelinated afferents) and other N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor‐mediated phenomena have been proposed as key mechanisms underlying persistent pain states. In this study we have compared wind‐up in visceral and somatic nociceptive pathways to examine the possible contribution of these mechanisms to visceral pain and hyperalgesia. 2. Experiments were performed on thirteen decerebrate spinalized rabbits. A somato‐somatic (SS) reflex (evoked by stimulating skin and muscle afferents from the L2 spinal nerve) and a viscero‐somatic (VS) reflex (evoked by stimulating visceral afferents in the splanchnic nerve) were recorded from the L1 spinal nerve. The reflexes consisted of an early (A fibre) and a late (C fibre) component. 3. Conditioning trains of sixteen high intensity electrical stimuli at 1 Hz were applied to the somatic or visceral nerve. These conditioning stimuli did not produce wind‐up in the early component of either reflex but evoked powerful wind‐up in the late SS reflex (mean percentage of baseline +/‐ S.E.M., 191 +/‐ 30%). In contrast wind‐up was weak or absent in the late VS reflex (mean percentage of baseline +/‐ S.E.M., 21 +/‐ 6%). Conditioning of somatic afferents facilitated both the early and late SS reflex but strongly depressed the early and late VS reflex. Conditioning of visceral afferents had little effect on the early SS reflex, but depressed the early VS reflex and the late components of both reflexes. 4. Intravenous administration (1‐10 mg kg‐1) of the NMDA receptor antagonist ketamine dose‐dependently inhibited the strong wind‐up in the late SS reflex and the weak wind‐up in the late VS reflex, but also dose‐dependently inhibited the early and late components of both baseline reflexes. 5. We conclude that neural mechanisms other than wind‐up may underlie the development of visceral pain and hyperalgesia. The present results emphasize the important differences in the processing of somatic and visceral nociceptive input by spinal nociceptive systems and confirm the involvement of NMDA receptors in the spinal processing of nociceptive information.
AZD1775 induces toxicity through double-stranded DNA breaks independently of chemotherapeutic agents in p53-mutated colorectal cancer cells

ABSTRACT AZD1775 is a small molecule WEE1 inhibitor used in combination with DNA-damaging agents to cause premature mitosis and cell death in p53-mutated cancer cells. Here we sought to determine the mechanism of action of AZD1775 in combination with chemotherapeutic agents in light of recent findings that AZD1775 can cause double-stranded DNA (DS-DNA) breaks. AZD1775 significantly improved the cytotoxicity of 5-FU in a p53-mutated colorectal cancer cell line (HT29 cells), decreasing the IC50 from 9.3 μM to 3.5 μM. Flow cytometry showed a significant increase in the mitotic marker pHH3 (3.4% vs. 56.2%) and DS-DNA break marker γH2AX (5.1% vs. 50.7%) for combination therapy compared with 5-FU alone. Combination therapy also increased the amount of caspase-3 dependent apoptosis compared with 5-FU alone (4% vs. 13%). The addition of exogenous nucleosides to combination therapy significantly rescued the increased DS-DNA breaks and caspase-3 dependent apoptosis almost to the levels of 5-FU monotherapy. In conclusion, AZD1775 enhances 5-FU cytotoxicity through increased DS-DNA breaks, not premature mitosis, in p53-mutated colorectal cancer cells. This finding is important for designers of future clinical trials when considering the optimal timing and duration of AZD1775 treatment.
The President and the Board of Directors

Corporate boards of directors are becoming increasingly active in the determination of the corporation9s overall business direction, including policies with regard to its ethical and other behavior. This case, though thoroughly disguised, describes an actual corporate situation involving the president and his handling of the "questionable" practices and performance of a vice president. The case provides an opportunity for readers to analyze the situation and generate alternative courses of action.
The Rise and Impact of Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants on Their Own and Cross-Occupation Incomes

"There has been a dramatic increase in the authority granted to nurse practitioners (NP) and physician assistants (PA). This "expanded" authority has changed who can provide health-care services and has weakened the control physicians have traditionally held over the provision of medical services. These changes in regulation have varied by occupation, state, and year and provide variation that can be exploited to empirically measure the individual and collective impacts of changes in NP authority and PA authority on practitioner incomes. It is found that changes in NP and PA regulatory authority do impact the labor markets of all three practitioner categories. NPs having greater practice authority brings physician incomes down, has differential impacts on PA incomes, and improves their own earnings, other factors held constant. PAs having increased authority has a downward effect on NP earnings, a positive impact on physician income, and little impact on their own incomes. " ("JEL" I18, J18, J44, H75) Copyright (c) 2009 Western Economic Association International.
Nanomolar Competitive Inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Streptomyces coelicolor Type II Dehydroquinase

Isomeric nitrophenyl and heterocyclic analogues of the known inhibitor (1S,3R,4R)‐1,3,4‐trihydroxy‐5‐cyclohexene‐1‐carboxylic acid have been synthesized and tested as inhibitors of M. tuberculosis and S. coelicolor type II dehydroquinase, the third enzyme of the shikimic acid pathway. The target compounds were synthesized by a combination of Suzuki and Sonogashira cross‐coupling and copper(I)‐catalyzed 2,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reactions from a common vinyl triflate intermediate. These studies showed that a para‐nitrophenyl derivative is almost 20‐fold more potent as a competitive inhibitor against the S. coelicolor enzyme than that of M. tuberculosis. The opposite results were obtained with the meta isomer. Five of the bicyclic analogues reported herein proved to be potent competitive inhibitors of S. coelicolor dehydroquinase, with inhibition constants in the low nanomolar range (4–30 nM). These derivatives are also competitive inhibitors of the M. tuberculosis enzyme, but with lower affinities. The most potent inhibitor against the S. coelicolor enzyme, a 6‐benzothiophenyl derivative, has a Ki value of 4 nM—over 2000‐fold more potent than the best previously known inhibitor, (1R,4R,5R)‐1,5‐dihydroxy‐4‐(2‐nitrophenyl)cyclohex‐2‐en‐1‐carboxylic acid (8 μM), making it the most potent known inhibitor against any dehydroquinase. The binding modes of the analogues in the active site of the S. coelicolor enzyme (GOLD 3.0.1), suggest a key π‐stacking interaction between the aromatic rings and Tyr 28, a residue that has been identified as essential for enzyme activity.
Worker Learning and Compensating Differentials

The authors hypothesize that in industries with relatively high levels of job-related injury risk, workers with longer job tenure will more clearly appreciate the degree of job risk than will newly hired workers, and will thus be more willing to accept lower wages in return for higher workers' compensation benefits. This hypothesis is confirmed by an analysis of quit behavior using 1981–83 data from the Michigan Panel Study of Income Dynamics and 1981–85 data from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.
Towards a dynamic national system of innovation in Malaysia : Enhancing the management of R&D in public research institutions and universities

Summary This article examines the issue of utilization of research findings from public funded research institutions (PRIs) and universities in Malaysia from the perspective of knowledge flows. Such a perspective is adapted from the literature on innovation and knowledge systems. This representation of innovation in terms of knowledge flows helps us to focus on the managerial dimensions involved in the organization of activities such as research and development (R&D). The paper reveals that there is a dismal rate of adoption of research findings generated from PRIs and universities in Malaysia. It is argued that this poor performance is a consequence of weak research management practices. A framework on the key elements of sound research management is described. The article concludes with a discussion on managerial and policy issues arising from these deficiencies and some suggestions for addressing them.
Modeling of Saharan dust outbreaks over the Mediterranean by RegCM3: case studies

Abstract. The regional climate model RegCM3 coupled with a radiatively active aerosol model with online feedback is used to investigate direct and semi-direct radiative aerosol effects over the Sahara and Europe in a test case of July 2003. The aerosol model includes dust particles in addition to sulfates, hydrophobic and hydrophilic black carbon and organic carbon. The role of the aerosol online feedback on the radiation budget and the direct radiative forcing (short-wave and long-wave) by dust particles are investigated by intercomparing results from three experiments: REF, including all interactive aerosol components, Exp1, not accounting for the aerosol radiative feedback, and Exp2 not accounting for desert dust particles. The comparison of results in the REF experiment with satellite observations, sun/sky radiometer measurements, and lidar profiles at selected Central Mediterranean sites reveals that the spatio-temporal evolution of the aerosol optical depth is reasonably well reproduced by the model during the entire month of July. Results for the dust outbreaks of 17 and 24 July, averaged over the simulation domain, show that the daily-mean SW direct radiative forcing by all particles is −24 Wm−2 and −3.4 Wm−2 on 17 July and −25 Wm−2 and −3.5 Wm−2 on 24 July at the surface and top of the atmosphere, respectively. This is partially offset by the LW direct radiative forcing, which is 7.6 Wm−2 and 1.9 Wm−2 on 17 July and 8.4 Wm−2 and 1.9 Wm−2 on 24 July at the surface and top of the atmosphere, respectively. Hence, the daily-mean SW forcing is offset by the LW forcing of ~30% at the surface and of ~50% at the ToA. It is also shown that atmospheric dynamics and hence dust production and advection processes are dependent on the simulation assumptions and may significantly change within few tens of kilometers. The comparison of REF and Exp1 shows that the aerosol online feedback on the radiation budget decreases the domain-average daily-mean value of the 2 m-temperature, aerosol column burden (CB), and short-wave (SW) atmospheric forcing by −0.52 °C, 14%, and 0.9%, respectively on 17 July and by −0.39 °C, 12% and 12%, respectively on 24 July. The comparison of REF and Exp2 reveals that on 17 July, radiatively-active dust particles decrease the daily-mean 2 m-temperature averaged over the whole simulation domain by 0.4% even if are responsible for 99.8% and 97% of the daily-mean aerosol column burden and SW atmospheric forcing, respectively.
Where the dirty surplus accounting flows are

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to locate the specific items from the financial statements that are responsible for the dirty surplus accounting flows and how important they are in its explanation. Design/methodology/approach - It is generally accepted that some country accounting rules allow some operations that can generate dirty surplus in the annual statements. Working on this basis, it is necessary to consider information at the same time across firms and across time, using panel data econometric techniques. A static panel data estimated by generalized least squares can be used to correct correlations between firms and account numbers or a dynamic panel data estimated by GMM-SYS with instrumental variables to avoid endogeneity. Findings - Results show that in a static panel data model, the income statement items have a lower explicative power of balance sheet items variations, having higher explicative power a dynamic one (AR(1)). Results show that, specifically, financial assets, debts and book value capture the dirty accounting flows. Research limitations/ implications - Working in differences reduces the explicative power of the income statement and working in levels could be inconsistent if it is impossible to contrast, first, stationary in data due to their shortage. It is suggested that future works increase the frequency of the observed data, and contrast the cointegration as a way to check the accounting relationships. Practical implications - It is important to evaluate whether the income statement can (or cannot) explain the financial position of a firm. Also it is important to know where dirty surplus accounting flows are located can be useful for firms' valuation. Originality/value - The econometric technique proposed in the paper deals with the main limitation in accounting research: information is bigger in cross-section (number of firms) than in time series (economic periods).
Multilayer holographic antenna with beam scanning in two dimensions at W-band

This work proposes a multiple-beam W-band antenna with beam scanning function in two dimensions. The concept is based on the principle of holographic antennas. In addition to the frequency scanning behavior of leaky-wave antenna types a mechanical rotation of the hologram is used to scan the beam in a second dimension. A planar Yagi-Uda array on Alumina is used as feeding structure to create the TE0 surface wave which feeds the hologram. The radiated beam has a maximum gain of 16.5 dBi with a beam steering of 44° in one dimension and 20° in the second dimension with a used relative bandwidth of 12 %. The proof of concept is verified by directivity measurements.