Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Calmodulin Regulates Nucleotide Hydrolysis Activity of Tissue Transglutaminase

The interaction of calmodulin with purified guinea pig liver transglutaminase was studied. The nucleotide (ATP and GTP) hydrolysis activity of this tissue transglutaminase was transiently increased and then gradually decreased depending on calmodulin concentration. The peak activation was obtained in the presence of a stoichiometric amount of calmodulin. The effect of calmodulin on the classical transglutaminase activity was minimal. Fluorescence spectroscopy demonstrated that the enzyme produced a significant blue shift in the emission peak of dansylated calmodulin. Interestingly, Ca2+ was not required for the interaction between the two proteins. The results described here give an additional regulatory role to calmodulin
Cost Overrun and Cause in Korean Social Overhead Capital Projects: Roads, Rails, Airports, and Ports

Changes during the life cycle of a project promote cost overrun due to cost increases, time schedule delays, and benefit shortfalls. Specifically, cost overruns are usually due to inefficient budget usage by the national government for social overhead capital (SOC) investments. This paper aims to establish the cost overrun relating to transport policy in an institutional context, discuss the general causes and identify possibilities for their reduction in Korean SOC project preparation and decision making. The establishment of cost overrun probability distributions for a number of reference classes requires access to credible data for a sufficient number of projects within the same reference classes for statistically meaningful conclusions to be drawn. Cost data were available for a total of 161 completed projects. The results indicated that 95 and 100% of road and rail projects, respectively, had a maximum cost overrun of 50%. The causes of cost overruns can be grouped into several major categories: Changes in the scope, delays during construction, unreasonable estimation and adjustment of project costs, and no practical use of the earned value management system.
Cloud task scheduling using nature inspired meta-heuristic algorithm

In this paper we investigate the application of Meta-Heuristic for cloud task scheduling on Hadoop. Hadoop is an open source implementation of MapReduce framework which extensively used for processing computational intensive jobs on huge amount of data over multi-node cluster. In order to achieve an efficient execution schedule, the scheduling algorithm requires to determining the order and the node on which tasks will be executed. A scheduling algorithm uses execution time, order of task arrival and location of data (i.e., assign task to the node which contains the required data) to determine the best execution schedule. We use Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to determine the tasks execution schedule and compare with tasks schedules obtained from other techniques like Genetic Algorithm (GA), Brute Force (BF) algorithm, First In First Out (FIFO) algorithm and Delay Scheduling Policy (DSP) algorithm. The results of this study prove the significance of PSO algorithm for cloud task scheduling over other algorithms.
Tax system reform in Latin America: Domestic and international causes

Throughout the past 20 years, Latin American countries have undertaken a battery of reforms to create simpler, more efficient tax systems with a greater emphasis on indirect taxes of broader bases, and more moderate marginal tax rates. This article aims to elucidate the amalgam of domestic and international forces that have fostered the reform of tax systems throughout Latin America. Domestic pressures stemmed from the debt crisis, the accompanying fiscal crisis of the state and the vital need to restore a measure of governance. International pressures emanated from the conditionality packages imposed by the International Monetary Fund, new intellectual winds in the field of economics, and economic globalization.
Targeted delivery systems for biological therapies of inflammatory diseases

Introduction: Inflammatory diseases, including autoimmune diseases and autoinflammatory diseases, are characterized by the imbalance of pro-inflammatory cytokines and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Targeted systems allow for specific delivery and sustained release of biological agents to inflamed tissues and macrophages, hence reducing their side effects. Areas covered: This review discusses various targeting strategies for biological therapies of inflammatory diseases, with a focus on modulating macrophage functional polarization from an M1 to M2 phenotype. Furthermore, recent advances in the development of targeted delivery systems for gene therapy against inflammatory diseases including liposomal therapeutics, polymeric nanoparticles and microspheres, and multi-compartmental delivery systems are summarized. Expert opinion: Molecular advances have uncovered various targets for biological therapies against inflammatory diseases. Despite substantial promise, the potential translation from the bench to the clinic is limited due to poor systemic stability of the delivery systems, low tissue distribution, and safety concerns. In order to develop clinically translatable targeted delivery systems, thorough evaluation of the efficacy and toxicity in relevant animal models and in different inflammatory diseases is needed. In addition, issues related to long-term storage stability, scale-up and manufacturing of the systems need to be addressed.
A multi-sector comparison of relational learning and information and communication technologies adoption

This paper analyses the nature of the impact of relational learning on the adoption of information and communication technologies (ICT) and vice versa. The authors investigate the implementation of ICT through a relational learning process by means of an empirical investigation of 203 small- and medium-sized enterprises in the Spanish telecommunication and the Spanish construction industries (107 firms from the telecommunications sector and 96 from the construction sector). In the analysis, it is proposed that the relational learning process can be structured into three phases (transfer, transformation, and harvesting of knowledge). Structural equation modelling reveals that, in order to implement these relational learning phases, companies need to provide and support ICT as prior steps and this is most significant for those in the telecommunications sector. These results have implications for managers when they come to formulating policies and making a choice as to the organisational capabilities to target in order to ensure the effective adoption of ICT.
What Do Chaplains Really Do? II. Interventions in the New York Chaplaincy Study

ABSTRACT The current study analyzes data from 30,995 chaplain visits with patients and families that were part of the New York Chaplaincy Study. The data were collected at 13 healthcare institutions in the Greater New York City area from 1994–1996. Seventeen chaplain interventions were recorded: nine that were religious or spiritual in nature, and eight that were more general or not specifically religious. Chaplains used religious/spiritual interventions, alone or in conjunction with general interventions, in the vast majority of their visits with patients and families. The types of interventions used varied by the patient's medical status to some degree, but the pattern of interventions used was similar across faith group and medical status. The results document the unique role of the chaplain as a member of the healthcare care team and suggest there is desire among a broad range of patients, including those who claim no religion, to receive the kind of care chaplains provide.
Semi-analytical Pricing of Currency Options in the Heston/CIR Jump-Diffusion Hybrid Model

Abstract We examine currency options in the jump-diffusion version of the Heston stochastic volatility model for the exchange rate. We assume, in addition, that the domestic and foreign stochastic interest rates are governed by the CIR dynamics. The instantaneous volatility is correlated with the dynamics of the exchange rate return, whereas the domestic and foreign short-term rates are assumed to be independent of the dynamics of the exchange rate and its volatility. The main result furnishes a semi-analytical formula for the price of the European currency call option in the hybrid foreign exchange/interest rates model.
Towards a Simple, Visual Representation of Fit in Service Organizations: The Contribution of the Service Template

Pursues the concept of fit, defined as congruence between the capabilities of an operation and the characteristics sought by the market it was set up to serve. Traces the design, development and testing of the Service Template for illustrating fit in service organizations. The technique compares the actual service experienced by a customer with his/her expectations of that service and it is able to incorporate both soft and hard aspects of a service package. Reviews literature on visual representation of fit in manufacturing and service operations and examines the suitability of existing devices. Uses a case example to illustrate the mechanics of the technique which was tested in 33 situations and is now offered as generically applicable. Identifies areas for future research.
Work‐family programs: factors affecting employee knowledge and accuracy

Purpose – This paper aims to analyze the factors contributing to employee professed knowledge of work‐family practices offered by employers and the accuracy of their knowledge.Designed/methodology/approach – Survey data from four studies (ns=276, 2,877, 2,810, and 310) were used to relate employee demographics to their professed knowledge regarding the availability from their employing organizations of work‐family practices. For a subset of one study (n=140) the accuracy of employee perceptions was compared to the practice availability as reported by HR counterparts.Findings – Women, employees with dependent care responsibilities and individuals with longer organizational tenure professed greater knowledge of practice availability. Employee attitudes were more related to employee perceptions than to the actual practices as reported by their HR manager. Employees who perceived their organization as family supportive were more likely to over‐report practices that their HR managers said did not exist, rather.
On Image Recognition using Hopfield Net and Ellipse Fitting

Summary This paper presents an image recognition scheme using Hopfield net and ellipse fitting procedure. The method is based on geometrical and visual analysis of the image features. The system is commenced with capturing image using a digital camera. On image enhancement, processing and analysis, images of elliptical shape are being approximated as ‘ellipse’ using principal component analysis. Hebbian learning has been employed for ellipse fitting and recognition has been established by means of Hopfield Neural Network. Experimental results demonstrate that our method is capable of recognizing elliptical image patterns efficiently.
Intra‐industry trade: an Australian panel study

Intra‐industry trade (IIT) is the simultaneous import and export of goods within the same industry. This paper updates previous work on Australian intra‐industry trade and explores the determinants of IIT. It is the first Australian study to pool time series and cross‐sectional data for this purpose. The empirical work also explores whether the determinants of IIT vary between different groups of trading partners; a distinction is made between Australia’s traditional trading partners and newly emerging trading partners in the Asia Pacific region. The paper finds that Australian IIT has been growing as a proportion of total trade over the past 15 years. The empirical evidence presented suggests that average and relative per capita incomes, distance and trade orientation are all important factors explaining trends of IIT for Australia.
On Measuring Economic Efficiency

This paper considers a system consisting of a production frontier and factor share equations to measure firm-specific technical efficiency and input-specific allocative efficiency simultaneously. In estimating the system as a whole, the joint distribution of all errors in the equations is used. This is more efficient than using the marginal distribution of a function of the errors as one does by estimating either the profit function of the production function alone. The workability of the method is illustrated by applying it to farm-level data from Philippines agriculture. Copyright 1990 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
UNDOCUMENTED VICTIMS: AN EXAMINATION OF CRIMES AGAINST UNDOCUMENTED MALE MIGRANT WORKERS

This study investigates the victimization of undocumented male migrant workers in a southern metropolitan area. Interview data from a sample of undocumented male workers indicate that these workers experience a high rate of victimization, yet they are unlikely to report the crimes or pursue criminal justice aid. Our findings suggest that their immigrant/undocumented status may make these workers particularly susceptible to victimization and limit reporting of victimization due to perceived deportation risk. The reluctance to involve law enforcement, however, may increase their suitability as targets, and ultimately serve to further increase their likelihood of victimization. The importance of recognizing the potential victimization of this population and policy implications for the criminal justice system are discussed.
El valor estratégico de los acuerdos de colaboración para la adquisición de conocimiento en innovación abierta: Un análisis del sector de las TIC en España

Openness in organizations to obtain new ideas or create alternative paths to market, enables the identification of new elements in innovation management. This article sets out how, as of the liberalization of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector in Spain, firms incorporate external agents and expertise. Through the analysis of patent data, this article identifies those elements related to the establishment of collaboration agreements in innovation.
A model of new product success and accelerated learning in collaborative new product teams

Summary This paper proposes a model of the relationship between accelerated team learning and new product success in a technology-intensive environment. The research integrates the organizational learning and new product development literature with in-depth personal interviews with twenty-six new product team members and three R&D vice presidents of three companies within the electronics and telecommunications industry to develop a conceptual model. Our research shows that the commonly held view of a positive, unconditional relationship between learning and new product success is not tenable and that other contingencies must be considered. Also, learning activities must be strategically selected and managed. However, before passing judgment on the extant research or the logic underlying a positive relationship, our model needs to undergo rigorous testing in replication studies to establish its validity.
TARDBP and FUS Mutations Associated with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Summary and Update

Mutations in the TAR DNA Binding Protein gene (TARDBP), encoding the protein TDP‐43, were identified in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Interestingly, TDP‐43 positive inclusion bodies were first discovered in ubiquitin‐positive, tau‐negative ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) inclusion bodies, and subsequently observed in the majority of neurodegenerative disorders. To date, 47 missense and one truncating mutations have been described in a large number of familial (FALS) and sporadic (SALS) patients. Fused in sarcoma (FUS) was found to be responsible for a previously identified ALS6 locus, being mutated in both FALS and SALS patients. TARDBP and FUS have a structural and functional similarity and most of mutations in both genes are also clustered in the C‐terminus of the proteins. The molecular mechanisms through which mutant TDP‐43 and FUS may cause motor neuron degeneration are not well understood. Both proteins play an important role in mRNA transport, axonal maintenance, and motor neuron development. Functional characterization of these mutations in in vitro and in vivo systems is helping to better understand how motor neuron degeneration occurs. This report summarizes the biological and clinical relevance of TARDBP and FUS mutations in ALS. All the data reviewed here have been submitted to a database based on the Leiden Open (source) Variation Database (LOVD) and is accessible online at www.lovd. nl/TARDBP, www.lovd. nl/FUS.
Does the “green box” of the European Union distort global markets?

The vast majority of domestic support to farmers in the European Union (EU) is notified in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) green box as decoupled payments. The EU considers this support to minimally distort production and/or trade. As demonstrated in the literature, this claim is questionable. This paper aims at analyzing this claim using a global, spatially differentiated, partial equilibrium simulation model with endogenous land supply functions. Comparing a complete elimination of the EU green box measures with a baseline scenario, the model results indicate only small distortionary effects in production and trade. Hence, EU support notified to the green box seems to be compatible with the general requirements of the green box. The finding seems to result from the assumption of unchanged EU border policies.
Sculpture as an Alternative Investment: An Analysis of Price Dynamics between Sculpture and Equity and Bond Markets

This article analyzes the dynamic relationship between the international sculpture market and the traditional financial investments during the 1985–2011 period. Three international sculpture price indexes are constructed using an ordinary least squares (OLS) hedonic pricing method as well as a quantile hedonic pricing method. Cointegration tests show that, price development in the sculpture market does not move together with either equity prices or government bond prices in the long run. Furthermore, cointegration is only detected when gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is considered. When the lower-end and upper-end sculpture market segments are looked at separately, the latter exhibits long-run interdependencies with the international painting market, while the former does not. Granger-causality tests reveal that sculpture prices, in general, are Granger-caused by GDP per capita. In the longrun, however, GDP per capita does not Granger-cause the upper-end segment. Moreover, the Granger-causality tests indicate that sculpture price developments neither follow nor are followed by equity price movements.
Learning from Multi-Modality Multi-Resolution Data: an Optimization Approach

Many complex real applications involve the collection of time series data with multiple modalities and of multiple resolutions. For example, in aluminum smelting processes, the recorded process variables typically reflect various aspects of these processes, such as pressure and temperature, and they are often obtained with different time resolutions, such as every 5 minutes and every day. How can we effectively leverage both the multi-modality property and the multi-resolution property of the data for the sake of more accurate prediction of key process indicators (e.g., the cell temperature of the aluminum smelting processes)? Different from existing techniques, which can only model the multi-modality property or the multi-resolution property, in this paper, for the first time, we propose to jointly model the two properties such that the prediction results are consistent across multiple modalities and multiple resolutions. To this end, we construct an optimization framework, which is based on a novel regularizer imposing such consistency. Then, we design an effective and efficient optimization algorithm based on randomized block coordinate descent. Its performance is evaluated on both synthetic and real data sets, outperforming state-of-the-art techniques.
The Purposes and Validity of Vocational Qualifications

UK policy makers continue to focus on increasing sk ills as a means to economic and social prosperity and social mobility. Qualificatio ns – the certificates and diplomas awarded following education, training or learning – stand as a proxy for skill and many policies aim to raise levels of qualifications held. Policy makers have focused much attention on vocational qualifications and his tory is replete with efforts to reform the vocational education and training (VET) system. Many studies have identified both strengths and weaknesses in the cur r nt system, most recently the Wolf Review (2011). This paper does not attempt to cove r ld ground, but to look at more basic questions: What are the purposes of vocationa l qualifications? Are they fit for those purposes? While the first question has been addressed in policy and scholarly circles, less attention has been paid to the second question. This paper draws on literature related to the validity of assessment, b ecause an award of a vocational qualification rests on a candidate’s successful per formance on particular types of assessment tasks. It examines conceptions of valid ity and their implications for the interpretation of assessment results. The review s how that judging the validity of vocational qualifications is much more complicated han the architects of National Vocational Qualifications envisioned. The purposes of vocational qualifications have expanded and also vary for different stakeholders. The paper argues that the extent to which vocational qualifications support valid infer ences for different purposes remains largely unexplored.
Analysis of gene expression in cancer cell lines identifies candidate markers for pancreatic tumorigenesis and metastasis

Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive type of malignancy and the prognosis for disease presenting typically at a late stage is extremely poor. A comprehensive understanding of its molecular genetics is required in order to develop new approaches to clinical management. To date, serial analysis of gene expression and more recently oligo/cDNA microarray technologies have been employed in order to identify genes involved in pancreatic neoplasia that can be developed as diagnostic markers and drug targets for this dismal disease. This study describes the expression profile obtained from 20 pancreatic cell lines using cDNA microarrays containing 9,932 human gene elements. Numerous genes were identified as being differentially expressed, some of which have been previously implicated in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (S100P, S100A4, prostate stem cell antigen, lipocalin 2, claudins 3 and 4, trefoil factors 1 and 2) as well as several novel genes. The differentially expressed genes identified are involved in a variety of cellular functions, including control of transcription, regulation of the cell cycle, proteolysis, cell adhesion and signaling. Validation of our array results was performed by exploring the SAGEmap database and by immunohistochemistry for a selection of 4 genes that have not previously been studied in pancreatic cancer: anterior gradient 2 homologue (Xenopus laevis), insulin‐like growth factor binding protein 3 and 4 and Forkhead box J1. Immunostaining was performed using pancreas‐specific tissue microarrays containing core biopsies from 305 clinical specimens. In addition, using statistical group comparison and hierarchical clustering, a selection of genes was identified that may be linked to the site of metastasis from which these cell lines were isolated. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.