Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Contribution of the Peroxisomal acox Gene to the Dynamic Balance of Daumone Production in Caenorhabditis elegans*

Dauer pheromones or daumones, which are signaling molecules that interrupt development and reproduction (dauer larvae) during unfavorable growth conditions, are essential for cellular homeostasis in Caenorhabditis elegans. According to earlier studies, dauer larva formation in strain N2 is enhanced by a temperature increase, suggesting the involvement of a temperature-dependent component in dauer pheromone biosynthesis or sensing. Several naturally occurring daumone analogs (e.g. daumones 1–3) have been identified, and these molecules are predicted to be synthesized in different physiological settings in this nematode. To elucidate the molecular regulatory system that may influence the dynamic balance of specific daumone production in response to sudden temperature changes, we characterized the peroxisomal acox gene encoding acyl-CoA oxidase, which is predicted to catalyze the first reaction during biosynthesis of the fatty acid component of daumones. Using acox-1(ok2257) mutants and a new, robust analytical method, we quantified the three most abundant daumones in worm bodies and showed that acox likely contributes to the dynamic production of various quantities of three different daumones in response to temperature increase, changes that are critical in C. elegans for coping with the natural environmental changes it faces.
A Bayesian Approach To The Semi-Analytic Model Of Galaxy Formation

We believe that a wide range of physical processes conspire to shape the observed galaxy population but we remain unsure of their detailed interactions. The semi-analytic model (SAM) of galaxy formation uses multi-dimensional parameterizations of the physical processes of galaxy formation and provides a tool to constrain these underlying physical interactions. Because of the high dimensionality, the parametric problem of galaxy formation may be profitably tackled with a Bayesian-inference based approach, which allows one to constrain theory with data in a statistically rigorous way. In this paper, we develop a generalized SAM using the framework of Bayesian inference. We show that, with a parallel implementation of an advanced Markov-Chain Monte-Carlo algorithm, it is now possible to rigorously sample the posterior distribution of the high-dimensional parameter space of typical SAMs. As an example, we characterize galaxy formation in the cur
Price Competition and Market Structure: The Impact of Cartel Policy on Concentration in the UK

This paper examines the impact of firms' conduct on market structure. It studies the evolution of concentration in UK manufacturing following the abolition of cartels using a theoretical framework based on Sutton's theory of market structure and a panel data set of four-digit industries over 1958-1977. The econometric results suggest that the intensity of price competition has a positive impact on concentration in exogenous sunk cost industries as well as in advertising-intensive and R & D-intensive industries. The concentration-market size relationship, while negative in exogenous sunk cost industries, breaks down in industries with high advertising or R & D intensity.
Investigating Changes in Willingness to Pay for Managed-Lane Systems

This paper investigates the hypothesis that willingness to pay for managed lanes (MLs) changes through time in the aftermath of the opening and operation of a facility. Using a quasi-panel of stated preference surveys, the authors found that the estimates of the value of travel time reliability were almost as high as the value of travel time savings in regular travel situations and were almost twice as high in urgent situations 2 years after the opening and operation of MLs. These results indicate that the presentation of reliability information affects the valuation of travel time savings estimated from stated preference surveys.
Segmenting Mainland Chinese tourists to Taiwan by destination familiarity: a factor-cluster approach.

This research examines the effectiveness of destination familiarity as a segmentation variable. Based on the traditional destination-choice model, which suggests that customers might eliminate unfavorable destinations in the early stages of information search process, this research proposes that familiar customers should possess more favorable destination images and higher visiting intentions than unfamiliar customers. As the results confirm the positive effects of destination familiarity on destination image and travel intention, the effectiveness of destination familiarity as a segmentation variable is also verified. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Award Restructuring: Possibilities and Portents

The major focus of contemporary industrial relations is award restructuring. This restructuring, with its potential to facilitate a better skilled, more flexible and more efficient workforce is integrally related to the National Wage determining process and the ACTU-ALP Accord. It is also a key to international competitiveness and the wellbeing of the manufacturing sector. In recent years the wage determination process has attempted to reduce those normative forces which industrial tribunals have institutionalized — in particular comparative wage justice and real wage maintenance. This attempt has created a number of tensions: control versus flexibility; cost of living versus productivity; centralism versus decentralism; paid rates versus minimum rates; supplementary payments versus over award payments; equity versus efficiency. The system's capacity to resolve these tensions without merely returning to established wage settlement practices will determine the efficacy of the restructuring exercise. It will also shape the contours of industrial relations for the next decade.
Effects of growth factors on proliferation and differentiation in human lens epithelial cells in early subculture.

PURPOSE A successful method to subculture human lens epithelial (HLE) cells that retain their intrinsic characteristics is of great importance. This study examines the effects of four different growth factors on proliferation and differentiation in HLE cells in early subcultures. METHODS Specimens of HLE cells were obtained from infants. First- or second-passage cells were cultured in the presence of 10(-2) to 10(2) ng/ml acidic and basic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF, bFGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), or insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Cell proliferation was determined from cell number, and fiber differentiation was assessed from the time of appearance, the number of lentoids formed, and the expression of gamma-crystallin. RESULTS Cell proliferation was increased by EGF, bFGF, and IGF-I at concentrations greater than 10(-1) ng/ml; the most effective concentration was 10 ng/ml. The effect of aFGF on proliferation appeared only at a concentration of 10(2) ng/ml. EGF, bFGF, or IGF-I at 10 ng/ml affected the time of appearance and the number of lentoids formed within 5 to 7 days. In contrast, lentoids were observed after 42 days without the addition of growth factors. Lentoid formation was accompanied by the expression of gamma-crystallin. CONCLUSIONS EGF, aFGF, bFGF, and IGF-I stimulated cell proliferation and fiber differentiation in early subcultures.
A situation-aware user interface to assess users' ability to construct strong passwords: A conceptual architecture

Text-based passwords are still one of the main techniques to authenticate the users. Although a variety of measures (e.g. awareness activities, password-strength checkers, password-composition policies, etc.) are taken to prevent users from selecting weak passwords, the problem remains. A main factor that leads to weak passwords is the lack of awareness on what constitutes a strong password. Organizations should assess the users' ability to construct a strong password through the assessment of their password's strength, and taking into consideration the users' practices that are typically applied when selecting a password. In this way, organizations can be aware of the situation, that is, if their users follow good or bad password construction practices. Depending on the practice utilized, the organization's security level can be affected. Bad password construction practices can lead to weak passwords which can increase the risk of unauthorized access. Therefore, organizations should target for good practices to be utilized by their users in an effort to decrease the possibility of unauthorized access. A typical way to assess a password's strength is by trying to crack it using password cracking tools. An assessor, e.g. system administrator, requires a fair amount of knowledge on how password cracking tools operate and need to be configured. Also, it is essential to be aware of the bad practices that users typically utilize. Such knowledge is not always present. Furthermore, these tools and their respective graphical user interface, have not been designed with the objective of assessing the users' awareness level against bad password construction practices. This paper proposes a conceptual architecture to assist in designing a situation-aware user interface to assess users' ability to construct a password that is not easily crackable. An initial mock prototype has been developed to realize the proposed architecture and identify the main features of the user interface.
The Escitalopram versus Electric Current Therapy for Treating Depression Clinical Study (ELECT-TDCS): rationale and study design of a non-inferiority, triple-arm, placebo-controlled clinical trial

ABSTRACT CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common psychiatric condition, mostly treated with antidepressant drugs, which are limited due to refractoriness and adverse effects. We describe the study rationale and design of ELECT-TDCS (Escitalopram versus Electric Current Therapy for Treating Depression Clinical Study), which is investigating a non-pharmacological treatment known as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). DESIGN AND SETTING: Phase-III, randomized, non-inferiority, triple-arm, placebo-controlled study, ongoing in São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: ELECT-TDCS compares the efficacy of active tDCS/placebo pill, sham tDCS/escitalopram 20 mg/day and sham tDCS/placebo pill, for ten weeks, randomizing 240 patients in a 3:3:2 ratio, respectively. Our primary aim is to show that tDCS is not inferior to escitalopram with a non-inferiority margin of at least 50% of the escitalopram effect, in relation to placebo. As secondary aims, we investigate several biomarkers such as genetic polymorphisms, neurotrophin serum markers, motor cortical excitability, heart rate variability and neuroimaging. RESULTS: Proving that tDCS is similarly effective to antidepressants would have a tremendous impact on clinical psychiatry, since tDCS is virtually devoid of adverse effects. Its ease of use, portability and low price are further compelling characteristics for its use in primary and secondary healthcare. Multimodal investigation of biomarkers will also contribute towards understanding the antidepressant mechanisms of action of tDCS. CONCLUSION: Our results have the potential to introduce a novel technique to the therapeutic arsenal of treatments for depression.
Specific genomic aberrations in primary colorectal cancer are associated 1 with liver metastases 2 3 Running

59 60 Introduction 61 Accurate staging of colorectal cancer (CRC) with clinicopathological 62 parameters is important for predicting prognosis and guiding treatment but 63 provides no information about organ site of metastases. Patterns of genomic 64 aberrations in primary colorectal tumors may reveal a chromosomal signature 65 for organ specific metastases. 66 67 Methods 68 Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization (aCGH) was employed to asses 69 DNA copy number changes in primary colorectal tumors of three distinctive 70 patient groups. This included formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue of 71
Mining AndroZoo: A Retrospect

This paper presents a retrospect of an Android app collection named AndroZoo and some research works conducted on top of the collection. AndroZoo is a growing collection of Android apps from various markets including the official Google Play. At the moment, over five million Android apps have been collected. Based on AndroZoo, we have explored several directions that mine Android apps for resolving various challenges. In this work, we summarize those resolved mining challenges in three research dimensions, including code analysis, app evolution analysis, malware analysis, and present in each dimension several case studies that experimentally demonstrate the usefulness of AndroZoo.
Colour calibration and analysis of digital rock photographs

In this diploma thesis, we have described the development of an application for colour correction and analysis of field and laboratory photographs in geology. The current methods used by geologists to determine the colour and colour coverage are expensive, time-consuming, and/or subjective. In this work, we present a method which will make such tasks simpler and more objective. First, we briefly overview the field of colour theory, focusing on the Munsell colour system, which has been used by geologists for decades as the standard for determining colour, and on colour spaces which we have used for colour correction and analysis, particularly CIE Lab, CIE XYZ, and sRGB. We present the colour calibration target Macbeth ColorChecker, and its newer model, the X-Rite ColorChecker Passport, which is more appropriate for terrain work. We describe an approach to detecting the ColorChecker colour target, using the ASIFT algorithm, and then we describe four algorithms for automatic colour correction of photographs using the ColorChecker colour target. Lastly, we present test results for the colour correction algorithms, and results of an experiment in which we have compared colour analysis performed using our application, with colour analysis performed by students of geology, who have used a comparative colour chart, the Munsell Rock-color Chart. In conclusion we have listed a few ideas and guidelines on how the application could be developed further in the future, and in which fields, besides geology, it might find its usefulness.
Endoscope-assisted surgery for acoustic neuromas (vestibular schwannomas): early experience using the rigid Hopkins telescope.

OBJECTIVE Endoscopes have been increasingly used during neurosurgical procedures. Previously, they have been shown to offer better visualization than the microscope in selected situations and frequently have allowed less invasive surgery. This study was undertaken to determine whether endoscopy is safe and effective during suboccipital surgery for vestibular schwannomas. METHODS Ten patients with vestibular schwannomas underwent suboccipital transmeatal craniotomies for tumor excision. Endoscopy with a rigid glass lens endoscope (Hopkins telescope) was used during tumor removal to examine posterior fossa neurovascular structures and after tumor excision to inspect the internal auditory canal. RESULTS Complete tumor excision was achieved in nine patients. Endoscopy allowed improved identification of tumor and adjacent neurovascular relationships in all cases without the need for significant retraction of the cerebellum or brain stem. In addition, residual tumor at the fundus of the internal auditory canal (n = 2) and exposed petrous air cells (n = 3) not seen with the microscope were identified endoscopically. Operative time was not significantly increased by incorporating the endoscope. CONCLUSION Posterior fossa endoscopy can be performed safely during surgery for tumor removal. Endoscope-assisted surgery for vestibular schwannomas may offer some advantages over standard microsurgery in selected cases. The advantages may include improved visualization, more complete tumor removal, and a lowered risk of cerebrospinal fluid leakage.
Efficient computation of co-transcriptional RNA-ligand interaction dynamics

Riboswitches form an abundant class of cis-regulatory RNA elements that mediate gene expression by binding a small metabolite. For synthetic biology applications, they are becoming cheap and accessible systems for selectively triggering transcription or translation of downstream genes. Many riboswitches are kinetically controlled, hence knowledge of their co-transcriptional mechanisms is essential. We present here an efficient implementation for analyzing co-transcriptional RNA-ligand interaction dynamics. This approach allows for the first time to model concentration-dependent metabolite binding/unbinding kinetics. We exemplify this novel approach by means of the recently studied I-A 2’-deoxyguanosine (2’dG)-sensing riboswitch from Mesoplasma florum.
Issues in Setting up JIT Supply

Case‐based research of the early days in the establishment of a Just‐in‐Time supply contract is examined. Schedule variability was shown to be more apparent than real, although it had previously been identified as causing high stock levels and poor availability of material. Improved responsiveness by the supplier, and faster provision of accurate demand data by the customer, were shown to be key issues.
The impact of indoor solid fuel use on the stunting of Indian children

About half of Indian children under the age of three years are stunted. We use data from the 2005-2006 National Family Health Survey in India to assess the link between being exposed to household air pollution from burning solid fuels and child stunting. We tackle the endogeneity issue between child stunting and household fuel choice with the help of an instrumental variables approach. Moreover, we study the potential heterogeneous impacts of household air pollution and other driving factors on stunting in a quantile regression setting. We find strong evidence that exposure to solid fuel smoke increases the probability of being stunted and severely stunted among Indian children, as well as reduces the height-for-age measure for those children. Our results also indicate that the impact is stronger in the central part of the height-for-age distribution, and not so much in the extremes. Given that this is where the vastest number of children are situated, our results point also to the large scale of the required policy intervention. Incentivizing a diminished exposure to household air pollution is expected to be no small undertaking that targets only some pockets of the population, but rather a pan-Indian project.
Making Causal Counterfactuals More Singular, and More Appropriate for Use in Law

Unlike any other monograph on legal liability, Michael S. Moore’s book Causation and Responsibility contains a well-informed and in-depth discussion of the metaphysics of causation. Moore does not share the widespread view that legal scholars should not enter into metaphysical debates about causation.1 He shows respect for the subtleties of philosophical debates on causal relata, identity conditions for events, the ontological distinctions between events, states of affairs, facts and tropes, and the counterfactual analysis of event causation, and he considers all these issues relevant to law. Part V of the book deals with the metaphysics of causal relata. In the final analysis, Moore opts for fine-grained states of affairs as the “true” relata of the causal relation, while he concedes that legal liability should rather turn on coarse-grained Davidsonian events. In Part VI, Moore discusses the major philosophical theories of causation, including Humean regularity theories, nomic theories, probabilistic theories and various singularist and primitivist theories. Most attention is paid to David Lewis’ influential counterfactual theory. Moore argues that the counterfactual theory founders for several reasons (Ch. 17). He argues, however, that counterfactual dependency is rightly regarded as a “desert determiner” both for moral responsibility and for legal liability, although it is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for causation (Ch. 18). 2 In cases of omissions, for example, the negligent person is often held responsible, both morally and legally, although omissions resist an event-causal analysis. Moore himself favours a singularist account while being non-committal about which
The art of declining politely: Obama's prudent presidency and the waning of American power

Predictions of ‘American decline’ have come and gone before, apparently in cycles, leading some to regard it as a cultural trope stemming from domestic insecurities rather than a serious prospect. There is reason to believe, however, that this time is different. Fundamental erosion of the United States’ decades-long primacy may finally be at hand, and wise analysis should resist the temptations of contrarianism or denial. Critics of ‘declinism’ have offered important caveats with which we should qualify any overly simplistic or deterministic portrait of America's trajectory from hegemon to lesser status. This article gives such qualifications due weight while nevertheless seeking to steer our gaze back towards the core truth at the heart of the declinist thesis. That is: unless something very significant changes to jolt the course of events onto a different track, the relative power of the United States—measured in terms of its advantage over others in economic and military capacity—will be shrinking significantly over the decades to come. Happily, the nation's current president seems to have a disposition well fitted to leading the nation into the opening stages of an era of relative decline. President Obama has made headlines in recent months for his boldness in orchestrating the killing of Osama bin Laden. A fuller survey of his foreign policy, however, reveals that its most signal feature has been prudence and circumspection regarding American power and its exercise. Major divergence between the ends pursued and the capacities available for their pursuit is one of the cardinal sins giving rise to strategic failure. It is thus fortunate for the United States that it should have a president who, even if he may not be inclined to cast it in such words himself, seems disposed not to ‘rage against the dying of the light’ of American primacy, but to practice the admirable art of declining politely.
Measuring Competition and Stability: Recent Evidence for European Banking

This paper uses a variety of structural and non-structural measures (including the Lerner index, Rosse-Panzar H-statistic and Profits-Persistence parameters) to gauge competitive conditions in 11 European banking systems over 1997 to 2008. As in Carbo et al (2009) we find that competition measures tend to provide inconsistent results and the measures are statistically unrelated. We also find that our banking sector risk measures (Z-score, loan-loss provisions, variation in ROE and ROA) are unrelated to the various competition measures. This raises doubts about the generality of the findings of previous empirical studies that investigate competition-stability and competition fragility issues.