Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Renegotiation-Proof Contracting, Disclosure, and Incentives for Efficient Investment

Disclosure by firms would seem to reduce investment inefficiency by reducing informational asymmetry. However, the impact of disclosure is endogenous and depends on incentives within the firm. Given optimal renegotiation-proof contracts, disclosing only accepted contracts does not solve the Myers-Majluf problem. What solves the problem is having either full transparency of all compensation negotiations or, more reasonably, additional forward-looking announcements. The model is robust to renegotiation in equilibrium, the order of moves, and moral hazard. The analysis illuminates disclosure regulation: forward-looking disclosure is beneficial when the manager's contract is optimal and induces truth-telling.
Should we continue to isolate patients with vancomycin‐resistant enterococci in hospitals?

During outbreaks, VRE is assumed to spread between patients mainly via the hands of health care workers or in the hospital environment. Widely recommended strategies for minimising the risk of VRE transmission include screening to identify colonised patients, and subsequent contact precautions to minimise crosstransmission. Many hospitals use contact precautions for patients colonised or infected with VRE on current and each subsequent hospital admission, assuming VRE colonisation is lifelong. These recommendations for contact precautions are based on observational studies conducted primarily during outbreaks, inductive reasoning based on the known transmission potential, and expert opinion. However, dissent has been expressed against the routine use of contact precautions, particularly in hospitals where VRE is endemic.2
Improving the Performance of the Link Parser

The paper describes an approach to extend the coverage of a Link Grammar based parser on the constructions that are not being handled currently by the grammar. There are about thirty types of constructions which we have identified till now. In order to make Link Grammar handle these constructions, we introduce a preprocessor and a postprocessor. The idea is to handle such constructions via some analysis and transformations in a preprocessing phase before the sentence is given to the Link Parser and then by adding the missing links in the postprocessing phase. The main part of the paper discusses the constructions not handled by the parser and introduces rule based preprocessor and postprocessor. This simple and flexible approach is able to increase the coverage of the parser significantly and allows even a relatively naive user to improve the performance of the parser without disturbing the core grammar.
WordNet-based lexical simplification of a document

We explore algorithms for the automatic generation of a limited-size lexicon from a document, such that the lexicon covers as much as possible of the semantic space of the original document, as specifically as possible. We evaluate six related algorithms that automatically derive limited-size vocabularies from Wikipedia articles, focusing on nouns and verbs. The proposed algorithms combine Personalized Page Rank (Agirre and Soroa, 2009) and principles of information maximization, beginning with a user-supplied document and constructing a customized small vocabulary using WordNet. The bestperforming algorithm relies on word-sense disambiguation with sentence-level context information at the earliest stage of analysis, indicating that this computationally costly task is nonetheless valuable.
Effect of BN size on AC breakdown performances of PTFE/BN composites

To satisfy the rapid development of energy requirements, power transmission with higher voltage must be adopted. The large improvement in transmission voltage needs more excellent power equipment and better materials to meet its insulation requirement. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) nozzle used in high voltage circuit breaker faces the issue of breakdown and arc ablation, and thus superior performance nozzles are urgently needed. Previous work has proved that boron nitride (BN) is excellent filler, which can greatly improve the arc ablation performance of nozzles. Moreover, the effect of BN size on arc ablation characteristics has been studied. However, the influence of BN size on breakdown performance is still unknown. In this paper, PTFE filled with BN of different size are prepared to study the effect of BN size on AC breakdown performances of PTFE/BN composites. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to characterize the dispersion condition of BN sheets in PTFE matrix. SEM results show that BN sheets are uniformly dispersed in PTFE matrix. AC breakdown results show that the breakdown strength of PTFE/BN composites increases with the increasing BN size. And the value of breakdown strength of PTFE/BN composites filled with 3 um BN is 63.24 kV/mm, which has been enhanced by 103% compared with that of unfilled PTFE (31.17 kV/mm). Thermally stimulated current (TSC) results show that the trap parameters have been greatly changed after BN is introduced into PTFE matrix. Based on the above experimental results, the relationship between breakdown strength and trap parameters is discussed. The improvement of breakdown performance is considered to be closely related to the change of trap depth and trap density, which can influence the charge transport properties in materials.
Disruption of epithelial cell-matrix interactions induces apoptosis

Cell-matrix interactions have major effects upon phenotypic features such as gene regulation, cytoskeletal structure, differentiation, and aspects of cell growth control. Programmed cell death (apoptosis) is crucial for maintaining appropriate cell number and tissue organization. It was therefore of interest to determine whether cell- matrix interactions affect apoptosis. The present report demonstrates that apoptosis was induced by disruption of the interactions between normal epithelial cells and extracellular matrix. We have termed this phenomenon "anoikis. " Overexpression of bcl-2 protected cells against anoikis. Cellular sensitivity to anoikis was apparently regulated: (a) anoikis did not occur in normal fibroblasts; (b) it was abrogated in epithelial cells by transformation with v-Ha-ras, v-src, or treatment with phorbol ester; (c) sensitivity to anoikis was conferred upon HT1080 cells or v-Ha-ras-transformed MDCK cells by reverse- transformation with adenovirus E1a; (d) anoikis in MDCK cells was alleviated by the motility factor, scatter factor. The results suggest that the circumvention of anoikis accompanies the acquisition of anchorage independence or cell motility.
A Case of Spontaneous Gallbladder Perforation

Gallbladder perforation is an almost exclusive complication of cholecystitis, which accompanies severe inflammation of the gallbladder with or without cholelithiasis. Whether it is of a calculous or acalculous origin, gallbladder perforation, as a complication of acute cholecystitis, has common symptoms, signs, laboratory data, radiological findings and treatment modalities. Even though many reports of gallbladder perforation have been published, there are few reports of gallbladder perforation without any clinical and radiological indications. We experienced a case of a 70-year-old woman with acute abdomen, which was found to be peritonitis caused by spontaneous gallbladder perforation that was devoid of clues suggesting this condition. Although rare and unusual, this case shows that this disorder should be considered in elderly patients presenting with peritonitis with an unknown etiology.
Argumentation Mining on the Web from Information Seeking Perspective

In this paper, we argue that an annotation scheme for argumentation mining is a function of the task requirements and the corpus properties. There is no one-size-fits-all argumentation theory to be applied to realistic data on the Web. In two annotation studies, we experiment with 80 German newspaper editorials from the Web and about one thousand English documents from forums, comments, and blogs. Our example topics are taken from the educational domain. To formalize the problem of annotating arguments, in the first case, we apply a Claim-Premise scheme, and in the second case, we modify Toulmin's scheme. We find that the choice of the argument components to be annotated strongly depends on the register, the length of the document, and inherently on the literary devices and structures used for expressing argumentation. We hope that these findings will facilitate the creation of reliably annotated argumentation corpora for a wide range of tasks and corpus types and will help to bridge the gap between argumentation theories and actual application needs.
IAPS : More than just inhibitors of apoptosis proteins

Inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) are a conserved family of proteins identified in species ranging from virus, yeasts, nematodes, fishes, flies and mammals. The common structural feature is the presence of at least one Baculovirus IAP Repeat (BIR) domain. Hence, IAPs are also known as BIR-containing proteins (BIRCs). Most of them display anti-apoptotic properties when overexpressed. In drosophila, IAPs are sufficient and necessary to promote cell survival through a direct regulation of apoptotic proteases called caspases. In mammals, BIRC4/XIAP, the most studied IAP member can directly inhibit the activity of caspase-3, 7 and 9. However, this activity is not conserved in other IAPs and physiological relevancies of such anti-caspase activities are still discussed. A detailed analysis of IAP-deficient mice or derived cells, deletion experiments performed in drosophila and zebrafish, or research of protein partners have revealed the importance of IAPs in adaptive response to cellular stress, in cell proliferation, differentiation, signaling, motility and in immune response. This review discusses recent data that help understanding of cellular functions of IAPs.
Pharmacological management of narcolepsy with and without cataplexy

ABSTRACT Introduction: Narcolepsy is an orphan neurological disease and presents with sleep-wake, motoric, neuropsychiatric and metabolic symptoms. Narcolepsy with cataplexy is most commonly caused by an immune-mediated process including genetic and environmental factors, resulting in the selective loss of hypocretin-producing neurons. Narcolepsy has a major impact on workableness and quality of life. Areas covered: This review provides an overview of the temporal available treatment options for narcolepsy (type 1 and 2) in adults, including authorization status by regulatory agencies. First- and second-line options are discussed as well as combination therapies. In addition, treatment options for frequent coexisting co-morbidities and different phenotypes of narcolepsy are presented. Finally, this review considers potential future management strategies. Non-pharmacological approaches are important in the management of narcolepsy but will not be covered in this review. Expert opinion: Concise evaluation of symptoms and type of narcolepsy, coexisting co-morbidities and patients´ distinct needs is mandatory in order to identify a suitable, individual pharmacological treatment. First-line options include Modafinil/Armodafinil (for excessive daytime sleepiness, EDS), Sodium Oxybate (for EDS and/with cataplexy), Pitolisant (for EDS and cataplexy) and Venlafaxine (for cataplexy (off-label) and co-morbid depression). New symptomatic and causal treatment most probably will be completed by hypocretin-replacement and immune-modifying strategies.
Impact of Feedback Delay on Closed-Loop Stability in Semiconductor Optical Amplifier Control Circuits

Semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) are attractive for integrated photonic signal processing, but because their response is so fast, delays in a controller feedback path can jeopardize performance and stability. Using state-space methods, we quantify the constraints imposed on feedback controllers by closed-loop delay. We first derive a complete nonlinear state-space control model of a SOA with an equivalent circuit containing parasitics and dynamic impedance; the analytical state-space model agrees well with a validated photonic-only control model. Using a linearized version of the model we demonstrate that time delay in the feedback path can destabilize the SOA through phase accumulation. We then apply linear system theory to calculate the best-case stable delay margin for a given controller norm, and find a potentially severe inverse relationship between delay margin and controller norm. Finally, guided by the delay-controller relationship we design a hybrid feedforward-feedback controller to illustrate that good transient and steady-state regulation is obtained by carefully balancing the feedforward and feedback components. Our state-space modeling and design methods are general and are easily adapted to the design and analysis of more complex photonic circuits.
Brucellosis Seropositivity in Animals and Humans in Ethiopia: A Meta-analysis

Background The objectives of this study were to assess the heterogeneities of estimates and to estimate the seroprevalence of brucellosis in animals and humans in Ethiopia. Methods/Principal findings Data from 70 studies covering 75879 animals and 2223 humans were extracted. Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Complement Fixation Test (CFT) in series were the most frequently used serological tests. A random effects model was used to calculate pooled prevalence estimates. The overall True Prevalence of brucellosis seropositivity in goats and sheep were estimated at 5.3% (95%CI = 3.5, 7.5) and 2.7% (95%CI = 1.8, 3.4), respectively, and 2.9% for each of camels and cattle. The prevalence was higher in post-pubertal than in pre-pubertal animals (OR = 3.1, 95% CI = 2.6, 3.7) and in the pastoral than in the mixed crop-livestock production system (OR = 2.8, 95%CI = 2.5, 3.2). The incidence rates of brucellosis in humans of pastoral and sedentary system origins were estimated at 160 and 28 per 100 000 person years, respectively. Conclusions The seroprevalence of brucellosis is higher in goats than in other species. Its occurrence is evocative of its importance in the country in general and in the pastoral system in particular. Public awareness creation could reduce the transmission of Brucella spp. from animals to humans and the potential of livestock vaccination as a means of control of brucellosis needs to be assessed.
Modeling of patient data transmission scheme over MPI based cluster

In devastating situations many people are affected and medical attention is required to multitude of persons at the same time. Several patients are transferred to hospitals through ambulances. Through MEDTOC system, the patient information can reach the hospitals before their arrival. Thus the doctors can advise the paramedics in the ambulance to stabilize the patients' conditions. The patient information may include ambulance number in which the patients are being carried, their identification and vital signs obtained from medical sensors inside the ambulances. In this paper, we discuss the simulation of MEDTOC over a MPI based Linux cluster and initial design of the central web portal.
Phase field method

Abstract In an ideal scenario, a phase field model is able to compute quantitative aspects of the evolution of microstructure without explicit intervention. The method is particularly appealing because it provides a visual impression of the development of structure, one which often matches observations. The essence of the technique is that phases and the interfaces between the phases are all incorporated into a grand functional for the free energy of a heterogeneous system, using an order parameter which can be translated into what is perceived as a phase or an interface in ordinary jargon. There are, however, assumptions which are inconsistent with practical experience and it is important to realise the limitations of the method. The purpose of this review is to introduce the essence of the method, and to describe, in the context of materials science, the advantages and pitfalls associated with the technique.
Association of Toll-like receptor 9 haplotypes with chronic periodontitis in Czech population.

AIM Toll-like receptors (TLRs) belong to the pattern recognition receptors family of signal molecules that recognize conserved microbial structures. The aim of this study was to analyse polymorphisms in the TLR genes and their association with chronic periodontitis (CP). MATERIAL AND METHODS Two polymorphisms (2408G/A, i.e. Arg753Gln and -16934A/T) in TLR-2 and three variants (-1486C/T, -1237C/T and+2848A/G) in the TLR-9 genes were studied in 222 patients with CP and 259 unrelated controls. All polymorphisms were detected using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methods. Subgingival bacterial colonization was investigated by the VariOr Dento test. RESULTS No significant differences were found in allele and genotype frequencies of all polymorphisms between patients and controls. Nevertheless, complex analysis revealed differences in TLR9 haplotype frequencies between both groups (p=0.001). Specifically, the haplotype T(-1486)/T(-1237)/A(2848) was significantly more frequent (9.6%versus 2.8%, p<0.000001) and the haplotype T(-1486)/T(-1237)/G (2848) of the TLR9 gene was less frequent (35.9%versus 43.3%, p=0.01) in patients than in controls. However, no significant relationships between periodontal pathogens, TLR polymorphisms and CP were found. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, although no significant role of the TLR2 gene in periodontitis was found, our results indicate that TLR9 haplotypes may be associated with susceptibility to CP.
Novel active CRLH transmission lines incorporating FETs for reconfigurable antennas

In this paper, the novel active composite right/left-handed transmission lines (CRLH-TLs) are presented incorporating FETs for the reconfigurable antennas. The demonstrated CRLH-TL with three FETs has four states with respect to the bias combination of the FETs. The measured characteristics of the developed active CRLH-TL indicate two states of the radiation and the reflection with the bias combination. In the case of the radiation state, the backward radiations are observed from the EM simulation in the left-handed (LH) region. The proposed active CRLH-TLs incorporating FETs provide the reconfigurable characteristics for the leaky wave antenna.
The effects of antigen on the migration of recirculating lymphocytes through single lymph nodes

The increased input of RL into LN starts within 3 h after antigenic stimulation and is due to an increase in the number of RL passing through a LN. It is not associated with an altered transit time through a LN of the majority of RL and it cannot occur in the absence of high endothelial PCV. The immediate decrease in the output of RL from an antigen-stimulated LN is due to a delay in the exit from that LN of RL which had entered the LN before antigen was given. The decrease in cell output from a LN after antigen administration affects blast cells produced within the LN as well as small lymphocytes and is not specific for RL. There are at least two distinct mechanisms controlling the migration of RL through an antigen-stimulated LN. The first controls the increased input of RL which occurs only through high endothelial PCV. The second controls the immediate decrease in cell output, which although it does not occur at the level of the high endothelial PCV, can only occur in organized lymphoid tissue. The increased input of RL into an antigen-stimulated LN and the decreased cell output from the LN can occur independently and are possibly controlled by different mechanisms.
Efficient path profiling

A path profile determines how many times each acyclic path in a routine executes. This type of profiling subsumes the more common basic block and edge profiling, which only approximate path frequencies. Path profiles have many potential uses in program performance tuning, profile-directed compilation, and software test coverage. This paper describes a new algorithm for path profiling. This simple, fast algorithm selects and places profile instrumentation to minimize run-time overhead. Instrumented programs run with overhead comparable to the best previous profiling techniques. On the SPEC95 benchmarks, path profiling overhead averaged 31%, as compared to 16% for efficient edge profiling. Path profiling also identifies longer paths than a previous technique, which predicted paths from edge profiles (average of 88, versus 34 instructions). Moreover, profiling shows that the SPEC95 train input datasets covered most of the paths executed in the ref datasets.
Adaptive Evolution of Pelvic Reduction in Sticklebacks by Recurrent Deletion of a Pitx1 Enhancer

Adaptive Girdle Loss in Sticklebacks How do molecular changes give rise to phenotypic adaptation exemplified by the repeated reduction in the pelvic girdle observed in separate populations of sticklebacks? Now Chan et al. (p. 302, published online 10 December) have identified the specific DNA changes that control this major skeletal adaptation. The key locus controlling pelvic phenotypes mapped to a noncoding regulatory region upstream of the Pituitary homeobox transcription factor 1 gene, which drives a tissue-specific pelvic enhancer. Multiple populations showed independent deletions in this region and enhancer function was inactivated. Reintroduction of the enhancer restored pelvic development in a pelvic-reduced stickleback. Loss of a tissue-specific enhancer explains multiple parallel losses of the pelvic girdle in stickleback populations. The molecular mechanisms underlying major phenotypic changes that have evolved repeatedly in nature are generally unknown. Pelvic loss in different natural populations of threespine stickleback fish has occurred through regulatory mutations deleting a tissue-specific enhancer of the Pituitary homeobox transcription factor 1 (Pitx1) gene. The high prevalence of deletion mutations at Pitx1 may be influenced by inherent structural features of the locus. Although Pitx1 null mutations are lethal in laboratory animals, Pitx1 regulatory mutations show molecular signatures of positive selection in pelvic-reduced populations. These studies illustrate how major expression and morphological changes can arise from single mutational leaps in natural populations, producing new adaptive alleles via recurrent regulatory alterations in a key developmental control gene.
Gender and Corruption

Abstract Using several independent data sets, we investigate the relationship between gender and corruption. We show using micro-data that women are less involved in bribery, and are less likely to condone bribe-taking. Cross-country data show that corruption is less severe where women hold a larger share of parliamentary seats and senior positions in the government bureaucracy, and comprise a larger share of the labor force.
Defining the methodological challenges and opportunities for an effective science of sociotechnical systems and safety

An important part of the application of sociotechnical systems theory (STS) is the development of methods, tools and techniques to assess human factors and ergonomics workplace requirements. We focus in this paper on describing and evaluating current STS methods for workplace safety, as well as outlining a set of six case studies covering the application of these methods to a range of safety contexts. We also describe an evaluation of the methods in terms of ratings of their ability to address a set of theoretical and practical questions (e.g. the degree to which methods capture static/dynamic aspects of tasks and interactions between system levels). The outcomes from the evaluation highlight a set of gaps relating to the coverage and applicability of current methods for STS and safety (e.g. coverage of external influences on system functioning; method usability). The final sections of the paper describe a set of future challenges, as well as some practical suggestions for tackling these. Practitioner Summary: We provide an up-to-date review of STS methods, a set of case studies illustrating their use and an evaluation of their strengths and weaknesses. The paper concludes with a ‘roadmap’ for future work.