Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An educated search for transiting habitable planets. Targetting M dwarfs with known transiting planets

Because the planets of a system form in a flattened disk, they are expected to share similar orbital inclinations at the end of their formation. The high-precision photometric monitoring of stars known to host a transiting planet could thus reveal the transits of one or more other planets. We investigate here the potential of this approach for the M dwarf GJ 1214 that hosts a transiting super-Earth. For this system, we infer the transit probabilities as a function of orbital periods. Using Monte-Carlo simulations we address both the cases for fully coplanar and for non-coplanar orbits, with three different choices of inclinations distribution for the non-coplanar case. GJ 1214 reveals to be a very promising target for the considered approach. Because of its small size, a ground-based photometric monitoring of this star could detect the transit of a habitable planet as small as the Earth, while a space-based monitoring could detect any transiting habitable planet down to the size of Mars. The mass measurement of such a small planet would be out of reach for current facilities, but we emphasize that a planet mass would not be needed to confirm the planetary nature of the transiting object. Furthermore, the radius measurement combined with theoretical arguments would help us to constrain the structure of the planet.
Microbial Communities in the Upper Respiratory Tract of Patients with Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Respiratory infections are well-known triggers of chronic respiratory diseases. Recently, culture-independent tools have indicated that lower airway microbiota may contribute to pathophysiologic processes associated with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the relationship between upper airway microbiota and chronic respiratory diseases remains unclear. This study was undertaken to define differences of microbiota in the oropharynx of asthma and COPD patients relative to those in healthy individuals. To account for the qualitative and quantitative diversity of the 16S rRNA gene in the oropharynx, the microbiomes of 18 asthma patients, 17 COPD patients, and 12 normal individuals were assessed using a high-throughput next-generation sequencing analysis. In the 259,572 total sequence reads, α and β diversity measurements and a generalized linear model revealed that the oropharynx microbiota are diverse, but no significant differences were observed between asthma and COPD patients. Pseudomonas spp. of Proteobacteria and Lactobacillus spp. of Firmicutes were highly abundant in asthma and COPD. By contrast, Streptococcus, Veillonella, Prevotella, and Neisseria of Bacteroidetes dominated in the healthy oropharynx. These findings are consistent with previous studies conducted in the lower airways and suggest that oropharyngeal airway microbiota are important for understanding the relationships between the various parts of the respiratory tract with regard to bacterial colonization and comprehensive assessment of asthma and COPD.
Composição Ótima Para A Dívida Pública: Uma Análise Macro-Estrutural

The development of the process for liberalization and integration of the domestic markets on relation to the international markets along the last decades and the increasing volatility of capital flows resulted in the necessity of a higher coordination between fiscal and monetary policies. After the adoption of inflation targeting model by the Brazilian government, on June 1999, several works were made aiming to estimate the best macroeconomic models to be followed by monetary authority. Those models were developed in order to discipline and foment the discussions about monetary policies by Central Bank. The scope of this paper is to develop a "small macro-structural model" for the Brazilian economy, whose objective is to determine the optimal composition for public debt according to the Efficient Frontier analysis (Markovitz Model). Thus, this paper aims at finding out the most adequate composition for public debt, considering that Central Bank follows a given rule for monetary policy. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to determine the optimal "structure" of debt related to each indicator composition, considering the reaction function of the Central Bank. However, this paper does not try to estimate the optimal monetary rule followed by the Central Bank.
Denial-of-service Attacks: per Byte to Send a Broadcast (rreq) Packet; to Receive a Broadcast (rreq) Packet; per Byte to Send a Point-to-point (rrep or Data) Packet; and Authenticated Routing for Ad Hoc Networks

Please find enclosed our article revised to address all reviewers' comments. Our dilemma is that while our original submission was 17 pages, our revision is limited to 12 pages, and the reviewers' comment mainly were concerned with omissions. Therefore, we have provided many more details in this cover letter than appear in our revision. The simplest concern for us to address was omitted related work. The revision contains all missing references. Other comments require us to respond in more detail. For readability, we have broken the reviewers' concerns into sections on denial-of-service attacks, energy consumption , comparisons to related work, and miscellaneous other comments. Reviewers' comments appear as italicized text. The paper does not consider several sorts of denial-of-service attacks that could be easily perpetrated, perhaps more easily than the sorts of attacks they do consider, and yet could have a devastating effect on the network. Some of these are identified in the detailed comments from reviewers. You don' t seem to consider denial-of-service attacks in which nodes generate many route requests, even in the section on erratic behavior. For example, a node could generate a bunch of different route requests to a bunch of different destinations, all of which are valid in terms of authenticity, but none of which are needed. Given the amount of transmission and processing required for route requests and replies, this is a simple and effective way to congest the network. We have carefully considered the comments and agree that some attacks mentioned by the reviewers apply to ARAN, but most others are no worse than attacks possible at other layers of the network. We have added a brief new discussion in the paper on DoS attacks, and we present a full discussion of these attacks and address the reviewers' concerns here. There are three general resources that an attacker can target within an ad hoc network: transmission bandwidth, processing cycles at receivers, and power from batteries at receivers. Powering the radio is typically two-to-three times as expensive as powering the CPU, as we detail in our section on energy. Because of this asymmetric cost, attacks that require victims to transmit or receive are more dangerous than attacks that require CPU operations. (In this discussion, we generally consider attacker nodes to have the same capabilities as benign nodes, except where noted.) DoS attacks are always possible against a universally-accessible radio channel. Our goal is to …
Civic Participation and Social Media: Are They Bowling Together?

This study examines whether there is a positive relationship between intensity of social media usage and college students’ civic and political participation. We theorize the use of informal communication channels available through social media will serve as a catalyst for extensive conversations, which reinvigorates civic life, and we expect that by participating in political discussions, users will augment their political engagement. Based on this idea, we proposed a mediation model through which civic engagement mediates the relationship between social media use and political participation. Analyses of data from an original survey of college students (N = 347) showed that use of social media was positively associated with civic and political participation, while civic participation was found as a significant mediator between social media use and political participation. Practical and theoretical implications of the research are discussed.
Candidate Biomarkers of Response to an Experimental Cancer Drug Identified through a Large-scale RNA Interference Genetic Screen

Purpose: A major impediment in the optimal selection of cancer patients for the most effective therapy is the lack of suitable biomarkers that foretell the response of a patient to a given drug. In the present study, we have used large-scale RNA interference–based genetic screens to find candidate biomarkers of resistance to a new acyl sulfonamide derivative, R3200. This compound inhibits the proliferation of tumor cells in vitro and in vivo, but its mechanism of action is unknown. Experimental Design: We used a large-scale RNA interference genetic screen to identify modulators of the efficacy of R3200. We searched for genes whose suppression in an in vitro cell system could cause resistance to the anticancer effects of R3200. Results: We report here that knockdown of either RBX1 or DDB1 causes resistance to the anticancer effects of R3200, raising the possibility that these two genes may have utility as biomarkers of response to this drug in a clinical setting. Interestingly, both RBX1 and DDB1 are part of an E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. Conclusions: We propose that suppression of the activity of a RBX1 and DDB1-containing E3 ligase complex leads to the stabilization of certain proteins, the increased abundance of which is in turn responsible for resistance to R3200. Moreover, our data suggest that RBX1 and DDB1 could potentially be developed into biomarkers of resistance to acyl sulfonamide–based cancer drugs. This will require clinical validation in a series of patients treated with R3200. (Clin Cancer Res 2009;15(18):5811–9)
The Value Capture Model: A Strategic Management Review

This paper provides the first review of recent work that uses cooperative game theory to deepen our understanding of persistent performance heterogeneity among firms. Since its initiation in 1996, this stream has grown considerably. The work it contains is notable on several dimensions, including its mathematical foundation, its aggregate cohesion, its interplay between theory and empirical work, the subtlety of its insights, and its potential for idea migration from strategy to other disciplines. Here, we: provide a careful discussion of the theory; review the key theoretical findings; highlight a number of insights that both challenge and clarify the conventional wisdom; spotlight the associated, recently emerging empirical work; and provide some thoughts on the challenges that lie ahead.
Mineralogical Diversity in Lake Pavin: Connections with Water Column Chemistry and Biomineralization Processes

As biominerals are good tracers of microbial interactions with the environment, they may provide signatures of microbial evolution and paleoenvironmental conditions. Since modern analogues of past environments help with defining proxies and biosignatures, we explored microbe mineral interactions in the water column of a maar lake, located in France: Lake Pavin. This lake is considered as a potential Precambrian ocean analogue, as it is ferruginous and meromictic, i.e., stratified with a superficial O 2-rich layer (mixolimnion) and a deeper permanently anoxic layer (monimolimnion). We combined bulk chemical analyses of dissolved and particulate matter in combination with electron microscopy analyses of the particulate matter at different depths along the water column. The mineralogy changed along with water chemistry, and most of the minerals were intimately associated with microorganisms. Evolution of the redox conditions with depth leads to the successive precipitation of silica and carbonates, Mn-bearing, Fe-bearing and S-containing phases, with a predominance of phosphates in the monimolimnion. This scheme parallels the currently-assessed changes of microbial diversity with depth. The present results corroborate previous studies that suggested a strong influence of microbial activity on mineralogical diversity through extracellular and intracellular biomineralization. This paper reports detailed data on mineralogical profiles of the water column and encourages extended investigation of these processes.
Cholesterol Assimilation by Lactobacillus Probiotic Bacteria: An In Vitro Investigation

Excess cholesterol is associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), an important cause of mortality worldwide. Current CVD therapeutic measures, lifestyle and dietary interventions, and pharmaceutical agents for regulating cholesterol levels are inadequate. Probiotic bacteria have demonstrated potential to lower cholesterol levels by different mechanisms, including bile salt hydrolase activity, production of compounds that inhibit enzymes such as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A, and cholesterol assimilation. This work investigates 11 Lactobacillus strains for cholesterol assimilation. Probiotic strains for investigation were selected from the literature: Lactobacillus reuteri NCIMB 11951, L. reuteri NCIMB 701359, L. reuteri NCIMB 702655, L. reuteri NCIMB 701089, L. reuteri NCIMB 702656, Lactobacillus fermentum NCIMB 5221, L. fermentum NCIMB 8829, L. fermentum NCIMB 2797, Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 53103 GG, Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 314, and Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 14917. Cholesterol assimilation was investigated in culture media and under simulated intestinal conditions. The best cholesterol assimilator was L. plantarum ATCC 14917 (15.18 ± 0.55 mg/1010 cfu) in MRS broth. L. reuteri NCIMB 701089 assimilated over 67% (2254.70 ± 63.33 mg/1010 cfu) of cholesterol, the most of all the strains, under intestinal conditions. This work demonstrates that probiotic bacteria can assimilate cholesterol under intestinal conditions, with L. reuteri NCIMB 701089 showing great potential as a CVD therapeutic.
Efficient Pathloss Model for determining Mobile Radio Link Design

The focus of this paper is on efficient pathloss model for determining mobile radio link design. A fixed 3G BTS transmitter was also used to generate the data. Log-normal shadowing model was used to analyse the data. The calculated data were compared using path loss exponent and standard deviation. They were found to be within the specified range for urban area cellular radio environment like Enugu urban. The result is a provision of a link design network with an adequate coverage and quality of service.
Robust Object Tracking in Infrared Video via Adaptive Weighted Patches

With the quick development of computer and electronic techniques, infrared sensor-based object tracking has become a hot research topic in recent years. However, infrared object tracking is still a challenging task due to low resolution, lack of representing information, and occlusion. In this work, we present an adaptive weighted patch-based infrared object tracking scheme. First, the candidate local region is divided into non-overlapping sub regions, and a set of belief weights is set on these patches. After this, a particle filtering-based infrared object tracking system is realized. In the last, the belief weight of each patch is evaluated based on the linear discriminative analysis (LDA) and particle sampling scheme. Experimental results on challenging infrared sequences show that the proposed algorithm can effectively locate the tracking object.
Graph Cuts and Active Contours for Texture Aware Image Segmentation

The problem of segmenting a foreground object out from its complex background is of great interest in image processing and computer vision. Many interactive segmentation algorithms such as graph cut have been successfully developed. In this paper, we present four technical components to improve graph cut based algorithms, which are combining both color and texture information for graph cut, including structure tensors in the graph cut model, incorporating active contours into the segmentation process, and using a ‘‘soft brush’’ tool to impose soft constraints to refine problematic boundaries. The integration of these components provides an interactive segmentation method that overcomes the difficulties of previous segmentation algorithms in handling images containing textures or low contrast boundaries and producing a smooth and accurate segmentation boundary
ERK1/ERK2 MAPK Signaling is Required to Increase Myelin Thickness Independent of Oligodendrocyte Differentiation and Initiation of Myelination

Wrapping of the myelin sheath around axons by oligodendrocytes is critical for the rapid conduction of electrical signals required for the normal functioning of the CNS. Myelination is a multistep process where oligodendrocytes progress through a well coordinated differentiation program regulated by multiple extracellular growth and differentiation signals. The intracellular transduction of the extracellular signals that regulate myelination is poorly understood. Here we demonstrate a critical role for two important signaling molecules, extracelluar signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/ERK2), downstream mediators of mitogen-activated protein kinases, in the control of CNS myelin thickness. We generated and analyzed two lines of mice lacking both ERK1/ERK2 function specifically in oligodendrocyte-lineage cells. In the absence of ERK1/ERK2 signaling NG2+ oligodendrocyte progenitor cells proliferated and differentiated on schedule. Mutant oligodendrocytes also ensheathed axons normally and made a few wraps of compact myelin. However, the subsequent increase in myelination that correlated myelin thickness in proportion to the axon caliber failed to occur. Furthermore, although the numbers of differentiated oligodendrocytes in the adult mutants were unchanged, they showed an inability to upregulate the transcription of major myelin genes that normally occurs during active myelination. Similarly, in vitro ERK1/ERK2-deficient oligodendrocytes differentiated normally but failed to form typical myelin-like membrane sheets. None of these effects were observed in single ERK1 or ERK2 mutants. These studies suggest that the predominant role of ERK1/ERK2 signaling in vivo is in promoting rapid myelin growth to increase its thickness, subsequent to oligodendrocyte differentiation and the initiation of myelination.
Excess postexercise oxygen consumption and recovery rate in trained and untrained subjects.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether aerobic fitness level would influence measurements of excess postexercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) and initial rate of recovery. Twelve trained [Tr; peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak) = 53.3 +/- 6.4 ml . kg-1 . min-1] and ten untrained (UT; VO2 peak = 37.4 +/- 3.2 ml . kg-1 . min-1) subjects completed two 30-min cycle ergometer tests on separate days in the morning, after a 12-h fast and an abstinence from vigorous activity of 24 h. Baseline metabolic rate was established during the last 10 min of a 30-min seated preexercise rest period. Exercise workloads were manipulated so that they elicited the same relative, 70% VO2 peak (W70%), or the same absolute, 1.5 l/min oxygen uptake (VO2) (W1.5), intensity for all subjects, respectively. Recovery VO2, heart rate (HR), and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were monitored in a seated position until baseline VO2 was reestablished. Under both exercise conditions, Tr had shorter EPOC duration (W70% = 40 +/- 15 min, W1.5 = 21 +/- 9 min) than UT (W70% = 50 +/- 14 min; W1.5 = 39 +/- 14 min), but EPOC magnitude (Tr: W70% = 3.2 +/- 1.0 liters O2, W1.5 = 1.5 +/- 0.6 liters O2; UT: W70% = 3.5 +/- 0.9 liters O2, W1.5 = 2.4 +/- 0.6 liters O2) was not different between groups. The similarity of Tr and UT EPOC accumulation in the W70% trial is attributed to the parallel decline in absolute VO2 during most of the initial recovery period. Tr subjects had faster relative decline during the fast-recovery phase, however, when a correction for their higher exercise VO2 was taken. Postexercise VO2 was lower for Tr group for nearly all of the W1.5 trial and particularly during the fast phase. Recovery HR kinetics were remarkably similar for both groups in W70%, but recovery was faster for Tr during W1.5. RER values were at or below baseline throughout much of the recovery period in both groups, with UT experiencing larger changes than Tr in both trials. These findings indicate that Tr individuals have faster regulation of postexercise metabolism when exercising at either the same relative or same absolute work rate.
Approximate versions of the alternating direction method of multipliers

We present three new approximate versions of the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM), all of which require only knowledge of subgradients of the subproblem objectives, rather than bounds on the distance to the exact subproblem solution. One version, which applies only to certain common special cases, is based on combining the operator-splitting analysis of the ADMM with a relative-error proximal point algorithm of Solodov and Svaiter. A byproduct of this analysis is a new, relative-error version of the Douglas-Rachford splitting algorithm for monotone operators. The other two approximate versions of the ADMM are more general and based on the Lagrangian splitting analysis of the ADMM: one uses a summable absolute error criterion, and the other uses a relative error criterion and an auxiliary iterate sequence. We experimentally compare our new algorithms to an essentially exact form of the ADMM and to an inexact form that can be easily derived from prior theory (but again applies only to certain common special cases). These experiments show that our methods can significantly reduce total computational effort when iterative methods are used to solve ADMM subproblems.
The Impact Of Ownership Structure On Corporate Debt Policy: Two Stage Least Square Simultaneous Model Approach For Post Crisis Period: Evidence From Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange

Ownership concentration as a governance mechanism has received considerable attention among academician, practitioners as well as policy makers because large-block shareholders are increasingly active in their demands that corporations adopt effective governance mechanisms to control managerial decisions, which include corporate debt policy. Earlier study on the agency model of the firm widely recognizes that the managerial ownership and external debt play an important role in mitigating agency conflicts and enhancing firm value. They also found that increase in the external monitors, for example the institutional investors, can actually play a useful role in limiting agency problems in the firm. This paper, using 100 Composite Index companies from Brusa Malaysia between 1998 to 2002 explores the impact of institutional holdings on managerial ownership and debt policy in an integrated framework by using a simultaneous equations estimation procedure (2SLS). The findings show that there is a significant impact of institutional ownership which serves effective control mechanism on managerial ownership and corporate debt policy as hypothesized. Findings of such evidence suggest that institutional holding thus have played an important role in managers' strategic management decision and reduce agency conflict. In addition, corporate debt policy too is governed by managerial ownership and exhibited a negative relation.