Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interocular Evaluation of Axial Length and Retinal Thickness in People With Myopic Anisometropia

Purpose: To investigate the changes in axial length and retinal thickness and their relationships with myopia in highly myopic anisometropia. Methods: A total of 87 Chinese subjects (25.28±11.98 years, mean±SD) were divided into two groups: anisometropia (n=38) and nonanisometropia (n=49). All eyes were measured for axial length, refractive status, and macular thickness (optical coherence tomography). Ocular biometric results were compared between eyes of subgroups. Linear correlation between refractive error and other biometric results was performed. Results: In the anisometropic group, the inner ring macula and part of the outer ring macula (nasal and inferior quadrants) in the higher myopic eyes were significantly thinner than in the fellow eyes (P⩽0.007), but the foveal thickness (minimum and average) was similar (P≥0.050) between the two eyes. However, the minimum and average foveal thicknesses were found to be significantly thicker in the highly myopic eyes than those in the emmetropic to moderate myopic eyes (P⩽0.016) in the nonanisometropic group. Among the eyes ranging from emmetropia to high myopia, the refractive error was negatively correlated to the axial length of the eye (P<0.001) and the thinning of inner ring macula is consistent with the increase in both myopia and axial length. There was a negative correlation in refractive error and axial length but no correlation in parafoveal thickness between eyes of the same subjects (P<0.001) in the anisometropic group. Conclusions: In people with myopic anisometropia, the higher myopic eye has a longer axial length but a thinner parafoveal region than its fellow eye. The axial growth in the development of high myopia seems to be centrally regulated; however, the changes in parafoveal thickness are likely manipulated by local mechanisms within the eye.
EVIDENCE FOR DOBZHANSKY‐MULLER INCOMPATIBILITES CONTRIBUTING TO THE STERILITY OF HYBRIDS BETWEEN MIMULUS GUTTATUS AND M. NASUTUS

Abstract Both chromosomal rearrangements and negative interactions among loci (Dobzhansky‐Muller incompatibilities) have been advanced as the genetic mechanism underlying the sterility of interspecific hybrids. These alternatives invoke very different evolutionary histories during speciation and also predict different patterns of sterility in artificial hybrids. Chromosomal rearrangements require drift, inbreeding, or other special conditions for initial fixation and, because heterozygosity per se generates any problems with gamete formation, F1 hybrids will be most infertile. In contrast, Dobzhansky‐Muller incompatibilities may arise as byproducts of adaptive evolution and often affect the segregating F2 generation most severely. To distinguish the effects of these two mechanisms early in divergence, we investigated the quantitative genetics of hybrid sterility in a line cross between two members of the Mimulus guttatus species complex (M. guttatus and M. nasutus). Hybrids showed partial male and female sterility, and the patterns of infertility were not consistent with the action of chromosomal rearrangements alone. F2 and F1 hybrids exhibited equal decreases in pollen viability (> 40%) relative to the highly fertile parental lines. A large excess of completely pollen‐sterile F2 genotypes also pointed to the segregation of Dobzhansky‐Muller incompatibility factors affecting male fertility. Female fertility showed a pattern similarly consistent with epistatic interactions: F2 hybrids produced far fewer seeds per flower than F1 hybrids (88.0 ± 2.8 vs. 162.9 ± 8.5 SE, respectively) and either parental line, and many F2 genotypes were completely female sterile. Dobzhansky‐Muller interactions also resulted in the breakdown of several nonreproductive characters and appear to contribute to correlations between male and female fertility in the F2 generation. These results parallel and contrast with the genetics of postzygotic isolation in model animal systems and are a first step toward understanding the process of speciation in this well‐studied group of flowering plants.
Establishing linkages between emotional intelligence and transformational leadership

Jan-Jun 2014 | Vol 23 | Issue 1 1 one’s own and others’ emotions, to discriminate among them, and use the information to guide one’s thinking and actions. It has been brought that EI is the common element that influences the different ways in which people develop in their lives, jobs, and social skills; handle frustration; control their emotions; and get along with other people. It has been found that the difference between a simply brilliant person and a brilliant manager is due to a person’s EI.
Unlocking the €53 Billion Savings from Smart Meters in the EU - How Increasing the Adoption of Dynamic Tariffs Could Make or Break the EU’s Smart Grid Investment

We estimate the cost of installing smart meters in the EU to be [euro]51 billion, and that operational savings will be worth between [euro]26 and 41 billion, leaving a gap of [euro]10-25 billion between benefits and costs. Smart meters can fill this gap because they enable the provision of dynamic pricing, which reduces peak demand and lowers the need for building and running expensive peaking power plants. The present value of savings in peaking infrastructure could be as high as [euro]67 billion for the EU if policy-makers can overcome barriers to consumers adopting dynamic tariffs, but only [euro]14 billion otherwise. We outline a number of ways to increase the adoption of dynamic tariffs.
Gene Duplication in the Carotenoid Biosynthetic Pathway Preceded Evolution of the Grasses1

Despite ongoing research on carotenoid biosynthesis in model organisms, there is a paucity of information on pathway regulation operating in the grasses (Poaceae), which include plants of world-wide agronomic importance. As a result, efforts to either breed for or metabolically engineer improvements in carotenoid content or composition in cereal crops have led to unexpected results. In comparison to maize (Zea mays), rice (Oryza sativa) accumulates no endosperm carotenoids, despite having a functional pathway in chloroplasts. To better understand why these two related grasses differ in endosperm carotenoid content, we began to characterize genes encoding phytoene synthase (PSY), since this nuclear-encoded enzyme appeared to catalyze a rate-controlling step in the plastid-localized biosynthetic pathway. The enzyme had been previously associated with the maize Y1 locus thought to be the only functional gene controlling PSY accumulation, though function of the Y1 gene product had never been demonstrated. We show that both maize and rice possess and express products from duplicate PSY genes, PSY1 (Y1) and PSY2; PSY1 transcript accumulation correlates with carotenoid-containing endosperm. Using a heterologous bacterial system, we demonstrate enzyme function of PSY1 and PSY2 that are largely conserved in sequence except for N- and C-terminal domains. By database mining and use of ortholog-specific universal PCR primers, we found that the PSY duplication is prevalent in at least eight subfamilies of the Poaceae, suggesting that this duplication event preceded evolution of the Poaceae. These findings will impact study of grass phylogeny and breeding of enhanced carotenoid content in an entire taxonomic group of plant crops critical for global food security.
Length reduction of a short-slot directional coupler in a single-layer dielectric substrate waveguide by removing dielectric near the side walls of the coupler

A method for reducing the size of a short-slot directional coupler by changing the dielectric constant near the side walls in the coupled region is proposed. The coupled length can be reduced by 51 % for the hybrid and by 57 % for the cross coupler, respectively. The distance between the couplers is also shortened, and the total size of the Butler matrix is reduced by 48 %.
Expectations Formation and Risk in Three Financial Markets: Surveying What the Surveys Say

This paper attempts to provide a logical overview of the literature which exploits survey data to examine issues of expectations formation and risk aversion in financial markets. Our survey suggests that: short-term expectations are excessively volatile and exhibit bandwagon effects, while longer term expectations appear to be regressive and therefore stabilising; in bond and foreign exchange markets the standard result of forward rate biasedness is due in part to time-varying premia; recent research using disaggregate foreign exchange survey data demonstrates the importance of heterogeneous expectations. Copyright 2000 by Blackwell Publishers Ltd
Policy analytical capacity and evidence-based policy-making: Lessons from Canada

Abstract: Evidence-based policy-making represents a contemporary effort to reform or re-structure policy processes in order to prioritize evidentiary or data-based decision-making. Like earlier efforts in the “policy analysis movement,” its aim is to avoid or minimize policy failures caused by a mismatch between government expectations and actual, on-the-ground conditions through the provision of greater amounts of policy-relevant information. A significant factor affecting the ability of policy-makers to engage in evidence-based policy-making pertains to both governmental and non-governmental “policy analytical capacity. ” That is, governments require a reasonably high level of policy analytical capacity to perform the tasks associated with managing the policy process in order to implement evidence-based policy-making and avoid several of the most common sources of policy failures. Recent studies, however, suggest that, even in advanced countries such as Canada, the level of policy analytical capacity found in many governments and non-governmental actors is low, potentially contributing to both a failure of evidence-based policy-making as well as effectively dealing with many complex contemporary policy challenges. Sommaire: L'elaboration de politiques axee sur des elements probants represente un effort contemporain de reforme ou de structuration des processus de politiques dans le but de donner la prioritea la prise de decisions s'appuyant sur les preuves ou fondee sur les donnees. Comme pour les efforts anterieurs du « mouvement d'analyse de politiques », le but est d'eviter ou de minimiser les echecs de politiques causes par un decalage entre les attentes du gouvernement et les conditions reelles sur le terrain, grâce a la disposition de plus amples informations pertinentes aux politiques. Un facteur important touchant a l'aptitude des elaborateurs de politiques a s'engager dans une elaboration de politiques axee sur les elements probants est liea la « capacite d'analyse de politiques » aussi bien gouvernementale que non gouvernementale. C'est-a-dire que les gouvernements exigent un niveau raisonnablement eleve de capacite d'analyse de politiques en vue d'executer les tâches associees a la gestion du processus politique pour mettre en œuvre l'elaboration de politiques axee sur les elements probants et eviter ainsi plusieurs sources courantes d'echecs de politiques. Neanmoins, des etudes recentes laissent entendre que, meme dans les pays developpes comme le Canada, le niveau de capacite d'analyse de politiques observe dans de nombreux gouvernements et chez un grand nombre d'acteurs non gouvernementaux est faible ; cela pourrait eventuellement contribuer a la fois a un echec de l'elaboration de politiques axees sur les elements probants ainsi qu'a l'echec de regler efficacement de nombreux problemes contemporains complexes en matiere de politiques.
The discretionary use of performance information by different local government actors – analysing and comparing the predictive power of three factor sets

In recent years, empirical research on performance information use has gained momentum, but quantitative studies, which include different actor groups, are less widespread. Building on prior research within this field, our study offers insights into various antecedents for performance information use – including individual, performance-measurement-specific, and organizational context factors. By applying a quantitative survey of different actor groups at the local government level in Austria, we draw a picture of different user profiles for mayors with administrative authority, chief officials and chief financial officials. Hence, we are able to confirm findings from former studies with other national backgrounds and contribute to a better understanding regarding some new individual aspects influencing discretionary performance information use in a strategy formulation context. Points for practitioners It is important to gather insights on the factors driving performance information use, as the latter is a crucial indicator for whether the introduction of performance measurement is worth the effort. Moreover, the results show that the performance information use intensity of mayors, chief officials and chief financial officials is driven by different factors. The study not only contributes to a better understanding of performance measurement utilization in general, but also points to the existence of different user profiles, therefore offering implications for the development of performance management implementation strategies.
Rlm1 mediates positive autoregulatory transcriptional feedback that is essential for Slt2-dependent gene expression

ABSTRACT Activation of the yeast cell wall integrity (CWI) pathway induces an adaptive transcriptional programme that is largely dependent on the transcription factor Rlm1 and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) Slt2. Upon cell wall stress, the transcription factor Rlm1 is recruited to the promoters of RLM1 and SLT2, and exerts positive-feedback mechanisms on the expression of both genes. Activation of the MAPK Slt2 by cell wall stress is not impaired in strains with individual blockade of any of the two feedback pathways. Abrogation of the autoregulatory feedback mechanism on RLM1 severely affects the transcriptional response elicited by activation of the CWI pathway. In contrast, a positive trans-acting feedback mechanism exerted by Rlm1 on SLT2 also regulates CWI output responses but to a lesser extent. Therefore, a complete CWI transcriptional response requires not only phosphorylation of Rlm1 by Slt2 but also concurrent SLT2- and RLM1-mediated positive-feedback mechanisms; sustained patterns of gene expression are mainly achieved by positive autoregulatory circuits based on the transcriptional activation of Rlm1. Summary: Sustaining patterns of gene expression through the yeast CWI pathway are mainly achieved by positive Rlm1 autoregulatory circuits, which are essential for amplification of the transcriptional response.
Steam reduction of CO_2 on Pd/TiO_2 catalysts: a comparison between thermal and photocatalytic reactions

The aim of this work was to compare traditional catalysis, which drives chemical reactions by thermal energy, with a photocatalytic process that can induce chemical reactions by light activation. Taking apart the obvious economic advantage to operate under mild conditions, a closer view of the characteristic behaviours of the thermal and light activation can give new insights for the selection of the more appropriate process. The performances of Pd/TiO_2 catalysts in the steam reduction of CO_2 were analyzed in a photocatalytic and in a thermo-catalytic system. The comparison in the range 140 °C–600 °C showed, for this reaction, the superiority of the photocatalytic route, since at any temperature level, no relevant products or higher selectivities towards the formation of methane and CO were observed. The CH_4 photo-formation rate achieved a value of about 64 μmol g^−1 h^−1 at Pd loading equal to 1 wt%.
Income-Contingent Financing of Student Charges for Higher Education: Assessing the Australian Innovation

In Australia in 1989, for the first time in the world, a broadly-based income contingent loan policy for the payment of higher education charges was adopted, when the government introduced the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS). This can be seen to be a watershed in terms of the relationship between economic theory and education policy. Fourteen years later it is timely to revisit the arguments for its introduction and review Australia's experience with income contingent charging for higher education. That is the purpose of this article. It is argued that compared to all possible alternatives, income contingent loan arrangements are preferable for both economic and social reasons, so long as the administrative context allows efficient collection of the debt. These points are explained in detail. The political background to HECS is examined, and the paper considers the implications of the scheme for both revenue and the access of the poor to higher education. It is demonstrated that neither the introduction of the scheme in 1989 nor the radical modifications undertaken in 1997 have had any deleterious consequences for the participation of less advantaged students.
Revealing feelings: facets of emotional expressivity in self-reports, peer ratings, and behavior.

Drawing on an explicit model of emotion, we propose a multifaceted approach to emotional expressivity, defined as the behavioral (e.g., facial, postural) changes associated with emotion. Study 1 shows that self-reported expressivity has 3 facets (Impulse Strength, Negative Expressivity, Positive Expressivity). Study 2 shows that the same 3 facets emerge in peer ratings and that there are robust relations between self- and peer-rated expressivity. In Study 3, emotion-expressive behavior was videotaped and related to expressivity self-reports obtained several months earlier. As expected, Negative Expressivity predicted behavioral expressions of sadness (but not amusement), whereas Positive Expressivity predicted amusement (but not sadness). These relations remained even when subjective emotional experience and physiological response were controlled. These studies demonstrate the importance of a multifaceted approach to emotional expressivity and have implications for the understanding of personality and emotion.
Can switching fuels save water? A life cycle quantification of freshwater consumption for Texas coal- and natural gas-fired electricity

Thermal electricity generation is a major consumer of freshwater for cooling, fuel extraction and air emissions controls, but the life cycle water impacts of different fossil fuel cycles are not well understood. Much of the existing literature relies on decades-old estimates for water intensity, particularly regarding water consumed for fuel extraction. This work uses contemporary data from specific resource basins and power plants in Texas to evaluate water intensity at three major stages of coal and natural gas fuel cycles: fuel extraction, power plant cooling and power plant emissions controls. In particular, the water intensity of fuel extraction is quantified for Texas lignite, conventional natural gas and 11 unconventional natural gas basins in Texas, including major second-order impacts associated with multi-stage hydraulic fracturing. Despite the rise of this water-intensive natural gas extraction method, natural gas extraction appears to consume less freshwater than coal per unit of energy extracted in Texas because of the high water intensity of Texas lignite extraction. This work uses new resource basin and power plant level water intensity data to estimate the potential effects of coal to natural gas fuel switching in Texas’ power sector, a shift under consideration due to potential environmental benefits and very low natural gas prices. Replacing Texas’ coal-fired power plants with natural gas combined cycle plants (NGCCs) would reduce annual freshwater consumption in the state by an estimated 53 billion gallons per year, or 60% of Texas coal power’s water footprint, largely due to the higher efficiency of NGCCs.
Enabling Visual Analytics via Alert-driven Attack Graphs

Attack graphs (AG) are a popular area of research that display all the paths an attacker can exploit to penetrate a network. Existing techniques for AG generation rely heavily on expert input regarding vulnerabilities and network topology. In this work, we advocate the use of AGs that are built directly using the actions observed through intrusion alerts, without prior expert input. We have developed an unsupervised visual analytics system, called SAGE, to learn alert-driven attack graphs. We show how these AGs (i) enable forensic analysis of prior attacks, and (ii) enable proactive defense by providing relevant threat intelligence regarding attacker strategies. We believe that alert-driven AGs can play a key role in AI-enabled cyber threat intelligence as they open up new avenues for attacker strategy analysis whilst reducing analyst workload.
Role Theory and the Management of Service Encounters

In this article, the contribution of role theory to our understanding and management of service encounters is highlighted. In the first section of the article the focus on social exchange within role theory is identified and commonalities between relational approaches to marketing and a role theoretical perspective are outlined. Thereafter the article outlines the specific contribution of role theory to our understanding of service encounters. Role theory, it is argued, permits better management of the interactive features of service provider-client interface and a clearer focus on role performance and the interpersonal dimensions of service quality. Role analysis offers both focus on role consistency in service provision and a framework for dealing with the uncertainty and evolution in long term service relationships. In services marketing, role can be incorporated as a factor in successful service performance and form a central framework for good service encounter management.
The Determinants of Planned Retirement Age

This paper develops and estimates a model of planned retirement age that views the retirement decision as depending partially on individual tastes and opportunities--reflected in retirement plans--and partially on unforeseeable events such as the onset of health problems or the unexpected loss of a job. Empirical results for both elderly men and women, based on the 1969 wave of the Longitudinal Retirement History Study, are consistent with the model. In particular, current poor health and the expected receipt of Social Security and other pensions increase the likelihood of early retirement plans. (Author's abstract.)
Should NFL blackouts be banned?

In this paper, the authors examine the economic and policy implications of the National Football League (NFL) ‘blackout rule,’ a league rule that prohibits local television broadcast of games that are not sold out at least 72 hours prior to game time. The foundation for understanding and assessing the impact of the blackout rule is an analysis of attendance using data on games during the 1996–1997 National Football League season. Expanding on previous research, three separate components of attendance (season ticket sales, game day ticket sales, and game day noshows) are examined in detail. Accounting for the endogeneity of key variables, Tobit and Probit analyses are used to estimate and predict individual game attendance. These empirical estimates are then used as a vehicle to assess the implications of game day blackouts and the potential for public policy intervention. More specifically, the authors begin by estimating the impact of the blackout on game day attendance. Using these estimates, they assess the implications of imposing a local blackout for individual team revenues. The gain in on-site stadium revenue due to the blackout (e.g., through additional ticket and concession sales) are then viewed in the broader context of the societal loss due to the game not being broadcast in the local area. The empirical results suggest that the gain in team revenue is small in comparison to the loss of viewership rights. This suggests that public policy intervention may be possible that would result in a Pareto superior market outcome. The paper concludes by exploring possible intervention strategies.