Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regional Advantage: Culture and Competition in Silicon Valley and Route 128

Compares the organization of regional economies, focusing on Silicon Valley's thriving regional network-based system and Route 128's declining independent firm-based system. The history of California's Silicon Valley and Massachusetts' Route 128 as centers of innovation in the electronics indistry is traced since the 1970s to show how their network organization contributed to their ability to adapt to international competition. Both regions faced crises in the 1980s, when the minicomputers produced in Route 128 were replaced by personal computers, and Japanese competitors took over Silicon Valley's market for semiconductor memory. However, while corporations in the Route 128 region operated by internalization, using policies of secrecy and company loyalty to guard innovation, Silicon Valley fully utilized horizontal communication and open labor markets in addition to policies of fierce competition among firms. As a result, and despite mounting competition, Silicon Valley generated triple the number of new jobs between 1975 and 1990, and the market value of its firms increased $25 billion from 1986 to 1990 while Route 128 firms increased only $1 billion for the same time period. From analysis of these regions, it is clear that innovation should be a collective process, most successful when institutional and social boundaries dividing firms are broken down. A thriving regional economy depends not just on the initiative of individual entrepreneurs, but on an embedded network of social, technical, and commercial relationships between firms and external organizations. With increasingly fragmented markets, regional interdependencies rely on consistently renewed formal and informal relationships, as well as public funding for education, research, and training. Local industrial systems built on regional networks tend to be more flexible and technologically dynamic than do hierarchical, independent firm-based systems in which innovation is isolated within the boundaries of corporations. (CJC)
Characterization of a γ-Aminobutyric Acid Transport System of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841

ABSTRACT Spontaneous mutants of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae 3841 were isolated that grow faster than the wild type on γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as the sole carbon and nitrogen source. These strains (RU1736 and RU1816) have frameshift mutations (gtsR101 and gtsR102, respectively) in a GntR-type regulator (GtsR) that result in a high rate of constitutive GABA transport. Tn5 mutagenesis and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR showed that GstR regulates expression of a large operon (pRL100242 to pRL100252) on the Sym plasmid that is required for GABA uptake. An ABC transport system, GtsABCD (for GABA transport system) (pRL100248-51), of the spermidine/putrescine family is part of this operon. GtsA is a periplasmic binding protein, GtsB and GtsC are integral membrane proteins, and GtsD is an ATP-binding subunit. Expression of gtsABCD from a lacZ promoter confirmed that it alone is responsible for high rates of GABA transport, enabling rapid growth of strain 3841 on GABA. Gts transports open-chain compounds with four or five carbon atoms with carboxyl and amino groups at, or close to, opposite termini. However, aromatic compounds with similar spacing between carboxyl and amino groups are excellent inhibitors of GABA uptake so they may also be transported. In addition to the ABC transporter, the operon contains two putative mono-oxygenases, a putative hydrolase, a putative aldehyde dehydrogenase, and a succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase. This suggests the operon may be involved in the transport and breakdown of a more complex precursor to GABA. Gts is not expressed in pea bacteroids, and gtsB mutants are unaltered in their symbiotic phenotype, suggesting that Bra is the only GABA transport system available for amino acid cycling.
Molecular insight into the nanoconfined calcite–solution interface

Significance Calcium carbonate mineralization occurring in confined spaces and nanopores is central to many natural processes occurring at or near the Earth’s surface. We study the effect of divalent ion concentration, in an attempt to provide a general conceptual picture of Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (DLVO) and non-DLVO forces considering calcite’s nonclassical Stern layer. From the careful measurement of the hydration forces in aqueous solutions, we propose a model for the nanoconfined calcite–solution interface. Colloidal probe AFM resolves subnanometer film thickness transitions of the nanoconfined aqueous solution induced by the squeezing out of water and hydrated calcium ions by applying an external work. The fundamental knowledge derived from this work provides guidance to understand the physicochemical phenomena occurring at nanoconfined mineral interfaces. Little is known about the influence of nanoconfinement on calcium carbonate mineralization. Here, colloidal probe atomic force microscopy is used to confine the calcite–solution interface with a silica microsphere and to measure Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (DLVO) and non-DLVO forces as a function of the calcium concentration, also after charge reversal of both surfaces occurs. Through the statistical analysis of the oscillatory component of a strong hydration force, the subnanometer interfacial structure of the confined atomically flat calcite is resolved in aqueous solution. By applying a mechanical work, both water and hydrated counterions are squeezed out from the nanoconfined solution, leaving the calcite surface more negatively charged than the analogous unconfined surfaces. Layer size and applied work allow a distinction between the hydration states of the counterions in the Stern layer; we propose counterions to be inner- and outer-sphere calcium ions, with a population of inner-sphere calcium ions larger than on unconfined calcite surfaces. It is also shown that the composition of the nanoconfined solution can be tuned by varying calcium concentration. This is a fundamental study of DLVO and hydration forces, and of their connection, on atomically flat calcite. More broadly, our work scrutinizes the greatly unexplored relation between surface science and confined mineralization, with implications for diverse areas of inquiry, such as nanoconfined biomineralization, CO2 sequestration in porous aquifers, and pressure solution and crystallization in confined hydrosystems.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Prevalence, Clinical, Endoscopic and Histopathological Findings in 1,128 Consecutive Patients Referred for Endoscopy due to Dyspeptic and Reflux Symptoms

Background and Aims: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) reportedly has increased in prevalence while Helicobacter pylori infection and peptic ulcer disease have been on the decrease. The aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence of GERD as well as the clinical, endoscopic and histologic variables that associate with GERD in patients referred for endoscopy. Patients and Methods: The study population was drawn from 1,562 consecutive patients referred for endoscopy. The exclusion criteria were previous H. pylori eradication, gastric surgery, anemia and weight loss. Thus 1,128 patients were enrolled in the present study. Results: Of the 1,128 patients, 199 (18%) were referred for endoscopy due to heartburn and/or regurgitation. GERD, defined as chronic (>6 months) heartburn and/or regurgitation with or without erosive esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, esophageal ulcer or stricture, was detected in 248 (22%) patients. Of the 248 GERD patients, 81 (33%) had endoscopy-negative GERD, but of those aged <50 years (n = 67), 57 (85%) were endoscopy-negative. The overall incidence of GERD was 307 per 100,000 population/year and that of endoscopy-positive GERD 207/100,000/year. The positive and negative predictive values of heartburn and regurgitation for endoscopy-positive GERD were 0.37 (95% CI 0.31–0.44) and 0.90 (95% CI 0.88–0.92), respectively. Independent risk factors for GERD were male sex (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3–2.7), previous medication for upper gastrointestinal symptoms (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.7–4.1), the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs; OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.3–3.0), histologic esophagitis (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.5–3.2) and incomplete intestinal metaplasia at the gastroesophageal junction (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.0–3.1). Chronic gastritis was protective against GERD (OR 0.7, 95% CI 0.5–0.9). No association was observed between GERD and H. pylori infection. The risk of patients aged <50 years (n = 407) of having major lesion (Barrett’s esophagus, esophageal stricture, peptic ulcer, esophageal/gastric carcinoma) was significantly lower than that of patients aged >50 years (n = 721; OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3–0.9, p = 0.01). Conclusions: The correlation between reflux symptoms and endoscopy-positive GERD is poor and most GERD patients aged <50 years have endoscopy-negative GERD. The use of NSAIDs is a risk factor for GERD, whereas chronic gastritis, but not H. pylori infection, may protect against GERD. Incomplete intestinal metaplasia at the gastroesophageal junction is associated with GERD.
Book Review: Habits of the Heart: Individualism and Commitment in American Life

"a critical correlation of the Christian tradition and contemporary philosophy and science in its concern for the formation of society" (42). From their own preferred vantage points, both would be right and each would respect the perspective of the other. It is coincidental, but also illustrative, that both books are coauthored, for practical theology is intended to be a collaborative task. It is, moreover, a reputable, demanding, and ultimately decisive task. These two books not only survey the field at the present time; they also shape the field on its conceptual and practical planes. They do not overlap so much as complement. If both are to be read (and that is highly recommended), Poling-Miller would serve well as initial entry which charts the topography, while McCann-Strain ground the procedures to be used in exploring this resurgent field and realizing its potential for theology, church, and world.
The influence of cerebral lateralisation on the behaviour of the domestic dog (Canis familiaris).

Cerebral lateralisation was once thought to be unique to human beings, but has since been demonstrated in a number of non-human species. Lateralisation refers to the specialisation of each of the brain’s hemispheres for the mediation of particular functions. Motor function is lateralised in many species, which is manifested by the preferential use of one limb over the other. It has been shown that increased usage of one hand or limb is associated with increased activity in the contralateral hemisphere. Limb usage can be compared with other variables in order to determine whether particular factors are associated with the left or right hemisphere of the brain. The domestic dog (Canis familiaris) has featured in laterality research. The goal of the research reported in this thesis was to explore the ways in which brain lateralisation may influence dogs’ abilities to perform particular roles. The first study investigated the relationships between the paw preferred by greyhounds on a task requiring them to obtain food rewards, and the behaviour exhibited on the greyhound racetrack. The findings from the study suggested that greyhounds exhibit preferences for the direction in which they exit the starting boxes at the beginning of each race and for the position in which they ultimately run on the racetrack. The results also suggest that increased usage of the left paw is associated with a greater frequency of running in the ‘rail’ position on the racetrack. A second study investigated the relationships that exist between paw preference and various temperament traits in the dog. Two questionnaires were administered to dog
A proposed biosynthetic pathway of picrosides linked through the detection of biochemical intermediates in the endangered medicinal herb Picrorhiza kurroa.

INTRODUCTION Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth is an important medicinal herb used in the preparation of several herbal drug formulations due to the presence of picroside-I (P-I) and picroside-II (P-II) along with other iridoid-glucosides derivatives. OBJECTIVE The endangered status of P. kurroa coupled with lack of information on biosynthesis of P-I and P-II necessitate deciphering the biosynthetic pathway for picrosides. METHODS LC with electrospray ionisation (ESI) and quadrupole time of flight combined with MS/MS was used to detect intermediates and assemble the picrosides biosynthetic pathway in P. kurroa. RESULTS The presence of catalpol and aucubin, the major backbone structures of picrosides, along with intermediate metabolites boschnaloside, bartsioside and mussaenosidic acid, was confirmed in ESI negative mode with pseudomolecular ion peaks, that is, m/z 361, m/z 343, m/z 345, m/z 329 and m/z 375 ions and their fragmentation patterns. CONCLUSION The picrosides biosynthetic pathway is expected to provide a reliable platform towards understanding the molecular components (genes/enzymes) of P-I and P-II biosynthesis in P. kurroa for their eventual utilisation in various applications.
Iterative OPDD based signal probability calculation

This paper presents an improved method to accurately estimate signal probabilities using ordered partial decision diagrams (OPDDs) [Kodavarti 93] for partial representation of the functions at the circuit lines. OPDDs which are limited to a certain maximum number of nodes are built iteratively with different variable orderings to efficiently explore different regions of the function. Signal probability bounds (upper and lower) are computed from the OPDDs. From each OPDD, information is extracted to tighten the signal probability bound and guide the variable ordering for the next OPDD. By restricting the size of each OPDD to a small number of nodes, they can be constructed and processed quickly to obtain a fast and accurate estimate of signal probabilities. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach compared with existing methods
An informetric analysis of the corruption literature based on Africa between 1990 and 2001 : research article

This paper explores corruption literature as reflected in four online databases in the 12-year period from 1990 to 2001. Descriptive informetrics has been used for the analysis of the publications. The results of the study indicate that there was a remarkable increase in the number of articles from just nine in 1990 to 78 in 1999, followed by a decline in both 2000 and 2001. Although there seems to be a relationship between the number of articles and the level of corruption, the 0.370 correlation value is not significant to warrant a definite conclusion. EBSCO and its databases produced 90.3% while ISI yielded only 9.7%. Magazines yielded 74.1% of the records, and journals 25.9%. The researchers concentrated more on political corruption as opposed to administrative corruption. It was also observed that single authorship of publications on corruption stood at 76.4% for journals and 56.7% for magazines, while co-authored articles constituted 15.5% of journal articles and 8.5% of the magazine articles. Whereas Lotka's Law of Author Productivity applied as far as its theoretical observation is concerned, it does not apply statistically. The applicability of Bradford's Law of Scattering was confirmed.
Memantine Attenuates Delayed Vasospasm after Experimental Subarachnoid Hemorrhage via Modulating Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase

Delayed cerebral vasospasm is an important pathological feature of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The cause of vasospasm is multifactorial. Impairs nitric oxide availability and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) dysfunction has been reported to underlie vasospasm. Memantine, a low-affinity uncompetitive N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) blocker has been proven to reduce early brain injury after SAH. This study investigated the effect of memantine on attenuation of vasospasm and restoring eNOS functionality. Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 350–450 g were randomly divided into three weight-matched groups, sham surgery, SAH + vehicle, and SAH + memantine groups. The effects of memantine on SAH were evaluated by assessing the severity of vasospasm and the expression of eNOS. Memantine effectively ameliorated cerebral vasospasm by restoring eNOS functionality. Memantine can prevent vasospasm in experimental SAH. Treatment strategies may help combat SAH-induced vasospasm in the future.
Genetic effect of an A/G polymorphism in the HSP70 gene on thermotolerance in chicken.

Studying thermotolerance is important for the prevention of thermostress in chickens. This study aimed to analyze the effect of mutations in the heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) gene on chicken thermotolerance. The C. -69A>G SNP in the 5'-flanking region of the HSP70 gene was genotyped in Lingshan and White Recessive Rock (WRR) chickens. Association of this SNP with thermotolerance traits revealed it to be significantly associated with CD4+/CD8+, and potentially associated with heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in WRR chickens exposed to thermoneutral temperature (15°C). Online prediction detected a putative myeloid zinc finger protein 1 binding factor in the C. -69A>G mutation. Under acute thermostress, mRNA levels of HSP70 in individuals with different C. -69A>G genotypes varied in the heart, leg muscle, and liver tissues. The HSP70 protein was expressed at higher levels in individuals with the GG genotype than in those with the AA genotype. In heart and liver, protein expression of HSP70 in individuals with the GG genotype was significantly higher than in those with the AA genotype. In leg muscle, protein expression was higher in birds with the GG genotype than in those with the AA and AG genotypes. Luciferase activity of the GG genotype was significantly higher than that of the AA genotype, suggesting that the C. -69A>G SNP regulates HSP70 gene expression. These results indicate that the C. -69A>G SNP in the 5'-flanking region of the HSP70 gene might affect chicken thermotolerance and that the GG genotype might be advantageous for the prevention of thermostress.
Negative Advertising: The Malicious Strain of Comparative Advertising

Abstract Conventional wisdom suggests that advertisers should approach the use of negative advertising with a great deal of caution. Perhaps because of its success in the political arena, negative advertising has recently been featured more prominently in the marketing of goods and services. Such a tactic is risky given that so little research on the subject is currently available. Prior to using negative advertising (if this genre of advertising should be used at all) in the marketing of non-political goods and services, a better understanding of the factors influencing its effectiveness must be achieved. This paper examines the literature, models, and theory applicable to the study of negative advertising. Thirteen research propositions are suggested.
Antenna Diversity Techniques for a Single Carrier System with Frequency Domain Equalization – An Overview

In this work we investigate the possibilities of combining diversity techniques with a Single Carrier System with Frequency Domain Equalization (SC/FDE), as future transmission concepts will also be judged by their possibilities to be combined with multiple antennas. Concepts of multiple antennas allow either a significant performance gain through diversity or significant higher capacity based on spacial multiplexing. In this contribution we will point out the excellent possibilities of SC/FDE to be combined with diversity techniques, as the process of the equalization itself can be combined with receive diversity as well as with space time block (STBC) decoding. This combination gives a reduced signal processing complexity as well as the expected enormous performance gain. Especially the concept of STBC allows an advantageous combination with SC/FDE as both are based on a blockwise processing that can be formulated advantageously in the frequency domain. Our simulation results are based on the parameters of the IEEE 802.11a standard.
Emotional and pain-related factors in neuropsychological assessment following mild traumatic brain injury.

A critical issue in the field of clinical neuropsychology is the idea that emotional or pain-related factors may compromise the validity of neuropsychological assessment. In this study, 53 individuals suffering from mild traumatic brain injury related to motor vehicle accident injury completed commonly used measures of emotional and pain-related functioning. A battery of commonly used neuropsychological tests, assessing attention, learning and memory, language, visuospatial and visuomotor functions, speeded processing, fine-motor skill, and symptom validity, was administered concurrently. Findings revealed a significant and negative correlation between anxiety and impaired delayed verbal memory, suggesting that as anxiety increased, delayed verbal memory decreased. The results otherwise provided little support for the idea that emotional or pain-related factors are detrimental to neuropsychological test performance following mild traumatic brain injury. Language: en
Effects of Changes in Egg Size and Larval Food Supply on the Development of Two Species of Seastars

3 Introduction . 4 Methods . 15 Pisaster ochraceus . 15 Asterias forbesi . 20 Results . 25 Pisaster ochraceus . 25 Asterias forbesi . 27 Discussion . 35 Effects of maternal investment and food supply on pre-metamorphic development . 35 Effects of maternal investment and food supply on juvenile quality . 39 Acknowledgments . 47 References . 49 Figures . 58 Tables . 86
An Active Lattice Model in a Bayesian Framework

A Markov Random Field is used as a structural model of a deformable rectangular lattice. When used as a template prior in a Bayesian framework this model is powerful for making inferences about lattice structures in images. The model assigns maximum probability to the perfect regular lattice by penalizing deviations in alignment and lattice node distance. The Markov random field represents prior knowledge about the lattice structure, and through an observation model that incorporates the visual appearance of the nodes, we can simulate realizations from the posterior distribution. A maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimate, found by simulated annealing, is used as the reconstructed lattice. The model was developed as a central part of an algorithm for automatic analysis of genetic experiments, positioned in a lattice structure by a robot. The algorithm has been successfully applied to many images, and it seems to be a fast, accurate, and robust solution to the problem. Several possible extensions of the model are described.
Why does Venus lack a magnetic field

Venus and Earth have similar radii and estimated bulk compositions, and both have an iron core that is at least partially liquid. However, despite these similarities, Venus lacks an appreciable dipolar magnetic field. Here I examine the hypothesis that this absence is due to Venus9s also lacking plate tectonics for the past 0.5 b.y. The generation of a global magnetic field requires core convection, which in turn requires extraction of heat from the core into the overlying mantle. Plate tectonics cools Earth9s mantle; on the basis of elastic thickness estimates and convection models, it is argued here that the mantle temperature on Venus is currently increasing. This heating will reduce the heat flux out of the core to zero over ∼1 b.y. , halting core convection and magnetic field generation. If plate tectonics was operating on Venus prior to ca. 0.5 Ga, a magnetic field may also have existed. On Earth, the geodynamo may be a consequence of plate tectonics; this connection between near-surface processes and core magnetism may also be relevant to the generation of magnetic fields on Mars, Mercury, and Ganymede.