Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stability in Anarchic International Systems

Can stability emerge solely from the competition and self-interest of sovereign powers existing in a state of anarchy, or does stability depend on restraints from the complex nexus of interdependencies characterizing the contemporary world economy and its associated institutions? We suppose some infinitely divisible resource, that all nation-states are endowed with and maximize and that enables them to overcome adversaries in the event of conflict. We offer a noncooperative, extensive-form model of international conflict without exogenous mechanisms to enforce agreements in order to learn under what conditions balance of power and collective security ensure the sovereignty of all states in anarchic systems. We conclude that there exists at least one world—albeit an abstract one—in which anarchy yields stability.
THE SCIENTIFIC PRODUCTIVITY OF ACADEMIC INVENTORS: NEW EVIDENCE FROM ITALIAN DATA

We investigate the scientific productivity of Italian academic inventors, namely academic researchers designated as inventors on patent applications to the European Patent Office, 1978–1999. We use a novel longitudinal data set comprising 299 academic inventors, and we match them with an equal number of non-patenting researchers. We enquire whether a trade-off between publishing and patenting, or a trade-off between basic and applied research exists, on the basis of the number and quality of publications. We find no trace of such a trade-off, and find instead a strong and positive relationship between patenting and publishing, even in basic science. Our results suggest, however, that it is not patenting per se that boosts scientific productivity, but the advantage derived from solid links with industry, as the strongest correlation between publishing and patenting activity is found when patents are owned by business partners, rather than individual scientists or their universities.
The Postictal State: A Neglected Entity in the Management of Epilepsy

Some of the disability deriving from epilepsy derives from the postictal state (PS). The PS may be complicated by impaired cognition, headache, injuries, or secondary medical conditions. Postictal depression is common, postictal psychosis relatively rare, but both add to the morbidity of seizures. The mechanisms of the PS are poorly understood. Alteration of cerebral blood flow both results from and contributes to the PS. Many neurotransmitters or neuromodulators are involved in the physiology of the PS. Response to glutamate may partially desensitize after a seizure. Endogenous opiates and adenosine serve as natural antiepileptic medications in some circumstances. Nitric oxide has numerous effects on brain excitability, and may be particularly important in regulating postictal cerebral blood flow. Just as the pathophysiology of seizures is complicated, so is that of the PS multifactorial. As a practical issue, it would be very useful to have medications that reduce the morbidity of the PS.
BRAF V600E mutation is a predictive indicator of upfront chemotherapy for stage IV colorectal cancer

In stage IV colorectal cancer (CRC), initial resection of the primary tumor is considered to be an important strategy for improving disease outcome. However, there is no consensus on the timing as to when the surgical intervention of the primary tumor should occur. The present study hypothesizes that genetic profiles in CRC may indicate the appropriate treatment strategies for patients with stage IV CRC, and a cohort of 113 patients with stage IV CRC resected primary lesions at various periods were analyzed for the presence of mutations in the KRAS, exon 2, and BRAF genes, exon 15, and for the microsatellite instability status of the tumor. These data were additionally correlated with various clinicopathological features. Although BRAF-mutant was revealed to be an independent negative prognostic factor in stage IV CRC (HR, 8.42; 95% confidence interval, 2.72–26.02), BRAF-mutant samples exhibited better prognoses if they were treated with chemotherapy prior to tumor resection. Thus, the presence of BRAF mutations provides a compelling rationale for the establishment of intensive upfront chemotherapy to improve survival in stage IV CRC.
Empirical analysis of pig welfare levels and their impact on pig breeding efficiency—Based on 773 pig farmers’ survey data

Few studies of the pig production efficiency are from the perspective of animal welfare. Therefore, this study conducted a comprehensive evaluation of pig welfare levels based on survey data from 773 pig farmers from 23 counties in the Chinese provinces of Hunan, Zhejiang, Guangdong, Guizhou, and Shanxi. This study used the Delphi method, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)-Tobit regression model to analyze farmers’ pig production efficiency and its influencing factors. This paper found that most farmers’ pig production efficiency is low, and the DEA is invalid. Only 2.9% of pig farmers’ who breed pigs are at the optimal level in terms of welfare, and their production efficiency is relatively high. In contrast, 49.34% of the farmers are at the medium welfare level, and compared with the farmers at the optimal welfare level, these farmers’ pig production efficiency is low. Additionally, the farmers’ age, gender, and number of years of experience with pig breeding have a significant effect. Furthermore, the scale of pig breeding and feeding type, the agriculture facilities for the central treatment of waste in local areas, and the availability of local agricultural science and technology personnel have a considerable influence on pig production efficiency.
A Keratin Peptide Inhibits Mannose-Binding Lectin1

Complement plays a significant role in mediating endothelial injury following oxidative stress. We have previously demonstrated that the lectin complement pathway (LCP), which is initiated by deposition of the mannose-binding lectin (MBL), is largely responsible for activating complement on endothelial cells following periods of oxidative stress. Identifying functional inhibitors that block MBL binding will be useful in characterizing the role of the LCP in disease models. The human cytokeratin peptide SFGSGFGGGY has been identified as a molecular mimic of N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (GlcNAc), a known ligand of MBL. Thus, we hypothesized that this peptide would specifically bind to MBL and functionally inhibit the LCP on endothelial cells following oxidative stress. Using a BIAcore 3000 optical biosensor, competition experiments were performed to demonstrate that the peptide SFGSGFGGGY inhibits binding of purified recombinant human MBL to GlcNAc in a concentration-dependent manner. Solution affinity data generated by BIAcore indicate this peptide binds to MBL with an affinity (KD) of 5 × 10−5 mol/L. Pretreatment of human serum (30%) with the GlcNAc-mimicking peptide (10–50 μg/ml) significantly attenuated MBL and C3 deposition on human endothelial cells subjected to oxidative stress in a dose-dependent manner, as demonstrated by cell surface ELISA and confocal microscopy. Additionally, this decapeptide sequence attenuated complement-dependent VCAM-1 expression following oxidative stress. These data indicate that a short peptide sequence that mimics GlcNAc can specifically bind to MBL and functionally inhibit the proinflammatory action of the LCP on oxidatively stressed endothelial cells.
Improvement of Verticillium Wilt Resistance by Applying Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi to a Cotton Variety with High Symbiotic Efficiency under Field Conditions

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play an important role in nutrient cycling processes and plant stress resistance. To evaluate the effect of Rhizophagus irregularis CD1 on plant growth promotion (PGP) and Verticillium wilt disease, the symbiotic efficiency of AMF (SEA) was first investigated over a range of 3% to 94% in 17 cotton varieties. The high-SEA subgroup had significant PGP effects in a greenhouse. From these results, the highest-SEA variety of Lumian 1 was selected for a two-year field assay. Consistent with the performance from the greenhouse, the AMF-mediated PGP of Lumian 1 also produced significant results, including an increased plant height, stem diameter, number of petioles, and phosphorus content. Compared with the mock treatment, AMF colonization obviously inhibited the symptom development of Verticillium dahliae and more strongly elevated the expression of pathogenesis-related genes and lignin synthesis-related genes. These results suggest that AMF colonization could lead to the mycorrhiza-induced resistance (MIR) of Lumian 1 to V. dahliae. Interestingly, our results indicated that the AMF endosymbiont could directly inhibit the growth of phytopathogenic fungi including V. dahliae by releasing undefined volatiles. In summary, our results suggest that stronger effects of AMF application result from the high-SEA.
Mission Impossible in Higher Education

Authors’ Note: This case is an original work that has not been published elsewhere. The names and some managerial actions in this case have been altered to preserve the integrity and anonymity of the organization. This case is intended to be used as a basis for class discussion rather than to illustrate either effective or ineffective handling of a managerial situation. Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership Volume 11 Number 1 December 2008 57-65 © 2008 The University Council for Educational Administration 10.1177/1555458908317893 http://jel.sagepub. com hosted at http://online.sagepub. com Mark Edwards
Structual analysis of ball-on-sphere system using bond graph technique

This paper presents the novel structural analysis of ball-on-sphere system using bond graph technique. The structural analyses carried out are controllability and observability of the system. To achieve these analyses, the system was modelled using bond graph modelling technique. In the modelling procedures, the various subsystems, storage elements, junction structures, transformer elements with appropriate causality assignments and energy exchange that make up the ball-on-sphere system were identified and modelled. The structural controllability and observability properties of the system were carried out on the developed causal bond graph model of the system based on bond graph rules. From the structural analyses, it was established that the developed model was controllable and observable.
Transforming Growth Factor Beta Isoforms Production by Human Peritoneal Mesothelial Cells after Exposure to Hypoxia

PROBLEM: Although human mesothelial cells (HMC) line nearly the entire abdominal cavity, little is known about their role in adhesion formation. This study determines the effect of hypoxia and transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1 on the ability of HMC to produce TGF‐β1‐3, which have been implicated as mediators of the healing process. METHOD OF STUDY: HMC were cultured under normal and hypoxic conditions, and treated with and without TGF‐β1 for 24 hr. RNA from each group was subjected to multiplex reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction to quantitate TGF‐β1‐3 mRNA levels. RESULTS: Hypoxia resulted in 2‐ and 3.3‐fold increase, while TGF‐β1 treatment resulted in 1.4‐ and 1.2‐fold increase (normoxia) and 0‐ and 4.8‐fold increase (hypoxia) in TGF‐β1 and TGF‐β2 mRNA levels, respectively. There was no detectable TGF‐β3 mRNA in HMC before or after treatments. CONCLUSION: TGF‐β1 treatment under hypoxia further extenuates endogenous TGF‐β2 but blocks TGF‐β1 production, thereby decreasing the TGF‐β1/TGF‐β2 ratio, which may result in the reduction of scarring and fibrosis.
Detection of Legionella pneumophila in environmental water samples using a fluorescein conjugated monoclonal antibody

SUMMARY Sixty-three environmental water samples from various sources were examined for the presence of Legionella pneumophila with a commercially available direct fluorescent monoclonal antibody (GS), an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and culture. GS detected L. pneumophila in 94% and 100% of environmental water samples which were culture and IFAT positive for L. pneumophila, respectively. IFAT detected 69% of L. pneumophila culture positive samples. Cultures of L. pneumophila serogroups 1 to 12, 14 and non L. pneumophila bacteria which may be found in water, and bacteria containing non-specific binding proteins, were stained by GS and IFAT. GS identified all serogroups of L. pneumophila and did not cross react with any non-L. pneumophila bacteria. L. pneumophila in environmental samples was easy to detect against a clear dark background when stained with GS.
Expectations and Output-Inflation Tradeoffs in a Fixed-Exchange-Rate Economy

This paper develops and estimates a model of output-inflation tradeoffs (or reverse Phillips curves) for a fixed-exchange-rate economy. The main focus of the analysis is on the role of information and economic agents' expectations in the generation of aggregate economic fluctuations. The model embodies the hypothesis of rational expectations, as well as different versions of the natural-rate hypothesis. These hypotheses, central to the current macroeconomic literature, are formulated and tested. The model is estimated by the full- information-maximum-likelihood method on quarterly data for Italy covering the 1955-70 period.
Matrix composition of microwave stripline applicators for local thermotherapy

This article describes the design and evaluation of microwave stripline applicator for treatment of malignant tumors located under the surface of biological tissue. This tissue is in our simulations mimicked by homogeneous agar phantom with similar characteristics as the biological tissue. Further this paper presents results from measurement of impedance matching and simulations of SAR distribution on planar agar phantom by using two same applicators and SAR distribution in cylindrical agar phantom by using composition of four applicators of the same type.
Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (KIM-1), a Putative Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule Containing a Novel Immunoglobulin Domain, Is Up-regulated in Renal Cells after Injury*

We report the identification of rat and human cDNAs for a type 1 membrane protein that contains a novel six-cysteine immunoglobulin-like domain and a mucin domain; it is named kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1). Structurally, KIM-1 is a member of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily most reminiscent of mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule 1 (MAdCAM-1). Human KIM-1 exhibits homology to a monkey gene, hepatitis A virus cell receptor 1 (HAVcr-1), which was identified recently as a receptor for the hepatitis A virus. KIM-1 mRNA and protein are expressed at a low level in normal kidney but are increased dramatically in postischemic kidney.In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry revealed that KIM-1 is expressed in proliferating bromodeoxyuridine-positive and dedifferentiated vimentin-positive epithelial cells in regenerating proximal tubules. Structure and expression data suggest that KIM-1 is an epithelial cell adhesion molecule up-regulated in the cells, which are dedifferentiated and undergoing replication. KIM-1 may play an important role in the restoration of the morphological integrity and function to postischemic kidney.
Data-Driven Model Based Charging Profile Prediction for Energy Storage Systems

Energy storage systems (ESS) are penetrating into various sections of power system through different applications. ESS can be used either as a buffer for intermittent renewable energy sources or as a stand-alone distributed storage for load shifting. ESS use different types of storage devices such as lead-acid batteries, lithium ion batteries, flow batteries, and super-capacitors. Hybrid ESS consisting of few types of storage devices are also common in practice. Determining the load demand of such ESSs at various instances (charging profile) accurately is indispensable in most of the cases. Capacity loss is common phenomenon that occurs in all types of storage devices because of ageing. Capacity loss has to be accounted while determining the charging profile of storage devices for better accuracy. Data-driven modeling is an attractive approach for determining the load demand of ESS due to the availability of valuable data from smart grid technologies. In this paper, the application of different types of data-driven models to predict the current charging profile of the ESS based on previous charging profiles is examined. The proposed method can leverage on the existing data from smart grid and is a black box modeling approach. Keywords—energy storage systems; charging profile; capacity loss; data-driven modeling
The Underpricing and Excess Returns of Initial Public Offerings in Taiwan Based on the Noisy Trading: A Stochastic Frontier Model

Initial public offerings (IPOs) are typically offered at prices lower than the transaction price in the early aftermarket. With a stochastic frontier model, we measured the fair offer price of an IPO and then the deliberate IPO underpricing and the market misvaluation based on the estimated fair offer price. Our results show that IPOs are deliberately underpriced. The extent of noisy trading leading to significantly higher market transaction prices explains the excess IPO returns. We conclude that initial IPO returns result primarily from the noisy trading activities instead of the deliberate IPO underpricing. Copyright 2002 by Kluwer Academic Publishers
Estimating Irrigators' Ability to Pay for Reclamation Water

The reclamation program sets prices based on irrigators' ability to pay for water. In contrast to the traditional approach (the farm budget study), this research develops a model of irrigator profit and ability to pay. The shadow price (marginal revenue) of water is shown to measure ability to pay per acre-foot of water. The model can be estimated econometrically with commonly available, although deficient, data. Using data from thirteen water districts in California, annual, district-level shadow price functions are derived for 1981-91 and compared to ability-to-pay estimates from a farm budget study of the districts.
Environmental self-regulation and sustainable economic growth: The seamless web framework

A ‘seamless web’ framework of environmental regulation is emerging. The seamless web provides a comprehensive and holistic framework for facilitating the transition to ecologically sustainable development (ESD). This seamless web comprises numerous threads, that is regulators and regulatory mechanisms, which provide the framework in which society may attain effective protection from environmental degradation. Regulatory bodies include government and state regulators, NGOs, industry peers, investors and consumers. Regulatory mechanisms and incentives range through lower costs, increased market share and long term resource access and sanctions ranging through incarceration of directors, license withdrawal, fines, falling profits, loss of market share and falling investor confidence. We conclude that self-regulation is a useful mechanism to promote environmental protection, and that industry will increasingly face pressure to improve its environmental performance from many stakeholders. The seamless web framework recognizes the pivotal role of industry in environmental regulation, catering for a range of corporate cultures, and thereby stimulating innovation of appropriate technology. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Ongoing and participative evaluation: Purpose, design and role in the evaluation of a large-scale R&D programme

Using the particular case of a large-scale RD the programme architecture defines who are the legitimate actors and how they are organised and funded; by defining the stakeholders a joint enterprise evaluation was agreed by which the questions of ‘local’ evaluators were given as much precedence as those of the programme's sponsors; an understanding of the context of the R&D requires a knowledge of the domain. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.
Patent value indicators as proxy for commercial value of inventions

This paper presents a theoretical analysis of patent value as perceived by different stakeholders in the innovation lifecycle. Data is collected using semi-structured interviews with inventors, technology transfer personnel, patent attorneys, consultants and examiners. Views are presented for the most common patent value indicators. A value indicator framework is developed for different stages in the patenting procedure. The paper contributes to a better understanding of value determinants’ impact on the value of patent rights. Results indicate that different value indicators are perceived differently by various stakeholders. More robust indicators can be developed by combining market data and customer knowledge.
Lifespan extension in hypomorphic daf‐2 mutants of Caenorhabditis elegans is partially mediated by glutathione transferase CeGSTP2‐2

Electrophilic stress caused by lipid peroxidation products such as 4‐hydroxynonenal (4‐HNE) and/or related compounds may contribute to aging. The major mode of 4‐HNE metabolism involves glutathione conjugation catalyzed by specialized glutathione transferases. We have previously shown that glutathione transferase CeGSTP2‐2, the product of the Caenorhabditis elegans gst‐10 gene, has the ability to conjugate 4‐HNE, and that its overexpression extends lifespan of C. elegans. We now demonstrate that the expression level of CeGSTP2‐2 correlates highly with lifespan in a series of hypomorphic daf‐2 mutants of C. elegans. The overexpression of CeGSTP2‐2 in daf‐2 is abrogated in daf‐16; daf‐2 mutants, indicating that expression of the gst‐10 gene is modulated by insulin‐like growth factor signaling. To determine whether the relationship between CeGSTP2‐2 and lifespan is causal, we used RNAi to knock down CeGSTP2‐2. Treatment with gst‐10‐specific dsRNA decreased CeGSTP2‐2 protein in wild‐type N2 and in daf‐2 strains to an approximately equal level. The ability to conjugate 4‐HNE was similarly decreased by RNAi, suggesting that the increment of that activity in daf‐2 over N2 is due largely to the overexpression of CeGSTP2‐2. RNAi‐mediated knock‐down of CeGSTP2‐2 led to an increased susceptibility to 4‐HNE, paraquat, and heat shock, and to a shortening of lifespan by 13% in both N2 and daf‐2 strains. These results indicate that CeGSTP2‐2 significantly contributes to the maintenance of the soma, and that this function is augmented in daf‐2 mutants concordantly with other longevity assurance genes, probably via insulin‐like growth factor signaling.
Modeling embedded systems using a tailored view framework and architecture modeling constraints

Due to the increasing amount of computation in embedded devices, there is a need for software and systems architecture approaches specifically tailored for the needs of the domain. We present in this paper a view framework for the design of embedded systems that has evolved during various projects with industry customers. Our approach is complemented by architecture modeling constraints that can be used to automatically check the completeness and consistency of the created architecture models. In this article, we present our approach together with a preliminary experience report of the application of our approach in different domains.