Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Financial crises , natural selection and governance structure : Evidence from the thrift crisis

We exploit the natural experiment provided by the thrift crisis of the 1980s to examine the influence of governance structure on firm survival. Using a sample of 86 publicly-traded thrifts, we show that a firm’s probability of surviving this economic crisis was enhanced by internal governance arrangements that aligned the interests of managers and shareholders. Firms that survived the crisis had a greater proportion of independent directors on the board. In addition, our evidence challenges the notion that affiliated directors help firms adapt to a more competitive business environment. JEL classification: G34, G32, G33, G21
Sliding mode control for a class of linear mismatched uncertain systems

A method of sliding mode controller is presented to a class of linear mismatched uncertain systems based on integral sliding mode and rate reaching law. Firstly, the existence of equivalent controller is guaranteed. The unmatched is will not be amplified by the discontinuous control. In order to reduce chattering, a bipolar sigmoid function without high frequency switching is induced. The controller based on integral sliding mode and rate reaching law stability is ensured using the Lyapunov method. It has better performance in stationarity and robustness. An example is given to show the effectiveness of the developed approach.
Role of Obesity in Asthma Control, the Obesity-Asthma Phenotype

Asthma is a disease with distinct phenotypes that have implications for both prognosis and therapy. Epidemiologic studies have demonstrated an association between asthma and obesity. Further studies have shown that obese asthmatics have poor asthma control and more severe asthma. This obese-asthma group may represent a unique phenotype. The mechanisms behind poor asthma control in obese subjects remain unclear, but recent research has focused on adipokines and their effects on the airways as well as the role of oxidative stress. Both surgical and nonsurgical weight loss therapy have shown promising results with improvements in asthma control and decreased asthma severity. Comorbid conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease and obstructive sleep apnea may also have a role in poor asthma control in obese asthmatics. Further research is needed to define the mechanisms behind this phenotype which will guide the development of targeted therapies.
A general algorithm for robot formations using local sensing and minimal communication

We study the problem of achieving global behavior in a group of distributed robots using only local sensing and minimal communication, in the context of formations. The goal is to have N mobile robots establish and maintain some predetermined geometric shape. We report results from extensive simulation experiments, and 40+ experiments with four physical robots, showing the viability of our approach. The key idea is that each robot keeps a single friend at a desired angle /spl theta/, using some appropriate sensor. By panning the sensor by /spl theta/ degrees, the goal for all formations becomes simply to center the friend in the sensor's field of view. We also present a general analytical measure for evaluating formations and apply it to the position data from both simulation and physical robot experiments. We used two lasers to track the physical robots to obtain ground truth validation data.
Nonlinear Elliptic Equations with Right Hand Side Measures

, only the function \m! summability of u" is increasing . Other results concerning existence, uniqueness, regularity and generalizations can befound in the papers quoted in the references.2. Regularity resultsIn this section we present an improvement of the summability of the solution uof theDirichlet problem (1.6). Theorem 2.1. The solution uof (1.6) given by Theorem 1.1 is such that, for every >
G-SESAME: web tools for GO-term-based gene similarity analysis and knowledge discovery

We have developed a set of online tools for measuring the semantic similarities of Gene Ontology (GO) terms and the functional similarities of gene products, and for further discovering biomedical knowledge from the GO database. The tools have been used for about 6.9 million times by 417 institutions from 43 countries since October 2006. The online tools are available at: http://bioinformatics.clemson. edu/G-SESAME.
Angiotensin II–Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy and Hypertension Are Attenuated by Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Antisense

Background—Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a vasoconstrictor but also a growth factor. However, the Ang II type 1 receptor does not have a tyrosine kinase domain that mediates the cellular signals for mitosis. We have shown that Ang II acts via “trans”-activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) to induce activation of tyrosine kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). To examine whether EGFR is involved in the development of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), we inhibited EGFR with a specific antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to attenuate the Ang II–induced cardiovascular hypertrophic effects. Methods and Results—The antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to EGFR (EGFR-AS) was designed and tested on Ang II–induced ERK activation in cultured VSMCs. We also investigated the effects of EGFR-AS on LVH and blood pressure (BP) in Ang II–infused hypertensive rats. In VSMCs, EGFR-AS (2.5 &mgr;mol/L) reduced EGFR expression and inhibited the Ang II–induced phosphorylation of ERK. In rats, Ang II (150 ng/h for 14 days) increased BP compared with controls (184±6 mm Hg versus 122±3 mm Hg; n=7;P <0.01). Continuous intravenous infusion of EGFR-AS (2 mg/kg) decreased BP (169±8 mm Hg; n=8;P <0.05). Ang II infusion increased the left ventricular/body weight (LV/BW) ratio compared with control rats (2.75±0.08 versus 2.33±0.07;P <0.01). EGFR-AS, but not EGFR-sense, normalized the LV/BW in Ang II–infused rats (2.32±0.06;P <0.01) and attenuated Ang II–enhanced EGFR expression and ERK phosphorylation. Conclusion—Ang II requires EGFR to mediate ERK activation in VSMCs and the heart. EGFR plays a critical role in the LVH induced by Ang II.
A synthetic nucleoside probe that discerns a DNA adduct from unmodified DNA.

Selective pairing of engineering nucleosides in DNA duplexes provides a potential means to probe structurally modified DNA bases (i.e., DNA adducts) and address challenges associated with correlating adduct chemical structure with biological impact. The current study provides the first example of a thermodynamically stable DNA base pair that is comprised of a biologically relevant carcinogen−DNA adduct and a synthetic nucleoside probe. O6-Benzylguanine is a mutagenic DNA adduct; molecular modeling indicates that a novel diaminonaphthyl-derived nucleoside (dNap):O6-benzylguanine base pair may be stabilized by a combination of hydrogen-bonding and hydrophobic interactions. The nucleoside dNap was synthetically incorporated into oligonucleotides, and a series of duplexes were evaluated by thermal denaturation studies. The bulky DNA adduct O6-benzylguanine forms a highly stable and orthogonal base pair with dNap. Data indicate π-stacking potential, self-pairing capacity, isomeric selectivity, 1:1 duplex stoic.
JNK functions in the non‐canonical Wnt pathway to regulate convergent extension movements in vertebrates

Recent genetic studies in Drosophila identified a novel non‐canonical Wnt pathway, the planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway, that signals via JNK to control epithelial cell polarity in Drosophila. Most recently, a pathway regulating convergent extension movements during gastrulation in vertebrate embryos has been shown to be a vertebrate equivalent of the PCP pathway. However, it is not known whether the JNK pathway functions in this non‐canonical Wnt pathway to regulate convergent extension movements in vertebrates. In addition, it is not known whether JNK is in fact activated by Wnt stimulation. Here we show that Wnt5a is capable of activating JNK in cultured cells, and present evidence that the JNK pathway mediates the action of Wnt5a to regulate convergent extension movements in Xenopus. Our results thus demonstrate that the non‐canonical Wnt/JNK pathway is conserved in both vertebrate and invertebrate and define that JNK has an activity to regulate morphogenetic cell movements.
Anoxygenic photosynthesis modulated Proterozoic oxygen and sustained Earth's middle age

Molecular oxygen (O2) began to accumulate in the atmosphere and surface ocean ca. 2,400 million years ago (Ma), but the persistent oxygenation of water masses throughout the oceans developed much later, perhaps beginning as recently as 580–550 Ma. For much of the intervening interval, moderately oxic surface waters lay above an oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) that tended toward euxinia (anoxic and sulfidic). Here we illustrate how contributions to primary production by anoxygenic photoautotrophs (including physiologically versatile cyanobacteria) influenced biogeochemical cycling during Earth's middle age, helping to perpetuate our planet's intermediate redox state by tempering O2 production. Specifically, the ability to generate organic matter (OM) using sulfide as an electron donor enabled a positive biogeochemical feedback that sustained euxinia in the OMZ. On a geologic time scale, pyrite precipitation and burial governed a second feedback that moderated sulfide availability and water column oxygenation. Thus, we argue that the proportional contribution of anoxygenic photosynthesis to overall primary production would have influenced oceanic redox and the Proterozoic O2 budget. Later Neoproterozoic collapse of widespread euxinia and a concomitant return to ferruginous (anoxic and Fe2+ rich) subsurface waters set in motion Earth's transition from its prokaryote-dominated middle age, removing a physiological barrier to eukaryotic diversification (sulfide) and establishing, for the first time in Earth's history, complete dominance of oxygenic photosynthesis in the oceans. This paved the way for the further oxygenation of the oceans and atmosphere and, ultimately, the evolution of complex multicellular organisms.
Comparison of two small animal PET scanners: Pinhole collimation vs. electronic collimation

PET imaging of rodents is increasingly used in preclinical research, but its utility is limited by the spatial resolution and statistical quality of the images. In a new approach, a specially designed pinhole collimator enables high-resolution, simultaneous imaging of PET and SPECT tracers. Such a physical collimation technique strongly departs from traditional electronic collimation achieved via coincidence detection in PET. This work compares two small animal PET scanners, one with electronic collimation (Focus120) and one with physical collimation using clustered pinholes (VECTor). Data were compared from Jaszczak (hot-rod) and uniform phantoms and point source measurements. Mouse brain images from [18F]FDG PET were acquired on both systems, and compared with quantitative ex-vivo autoradiography as a gold standard. Using typical reconstruction settings, the pinhole system resolved the smallest rods (0.85 mm diameter) in the Jaszczak phantom while the coincidence system resolved 1.3 mm diameter rods. This was in agreement with the recovered contrast. The contrast-to-noise ratio was better for the pinhole system when imaging small rods (<;1.1 mm) for a wide range of activity levels, but this reversed for larger rods. Image uniformity on the coincidence system (<;3%) was superior to that on the pinhole system (10%), as was the peak sensitivity (4% compared to 0.4%). The high [18F]FDG uptake in the striatum of the mouse brain was fully resolved using the pinhole system with contrast to nearby regions equaling that from autoradiography; a lower contrast was found using the coincidence PET system. To conclude, in cases where small regions need to be resolved in scans with reasonably high activity or reasonably long scan times, a lower sensitivity clustered pinhole system with higher reconstructed spatial resolution (in this case the first generation VECTor with sub-optimal reconstruction software) can provide superior image quality in terms of contrast and the contrast-to-noise ratio as compared to a traditional system.
Intuitive Security Policy Configuration in Mobile Devices Using Context Profiling

Configuring access control policies in mobile devices can be quite tedious and unintuitive for users. Software designers attempt to address this problem by setting up default policy configurations. But such global defaults may not be sensible for all users. Modern smart phones are capable of sensing a variety of information about the surrounding environment like Bluetooth devices, WiFi access points, temperature, ambient light, sound and location coordinates. We conjecture that profiling this type of contextual information can be used to infer the familiarity and safety of a context and aid in access control decisions. We propose a context profiling framework and describe device locking as an example application where the locking timeout and unlocking method are dynamically decided based on the perceived safety of current context. We report on using datasets from a large scale smart phone data collection campaign to select parameters for the context profiling framework. We also describe a prototype implementation on a smart phone platform. More generally, we hope that our example design and implementation spurs further research on the notion of using context profiling towards automating security policy decisions and identify other applications.
The complementary role of music therapy in the detection of awareness in disorders of consciousness: An audit of concurrent SMART and MATADOC assessments

In the behavioural assessment of disorders of consciousness (DOC), best practice is for several different assessment tools to be used to encourage a variety of different responses indicative of awareness. Anecdotal evidence suggests a range of musical stimuli may be particularly effective in eliciting responses to guide the assessment process, although comparative data regarding behavioural domains is lacking. This study examined 42 concurrent records of patients assessed using the Sensory Modality Assessment and Rehabilitation Technique (SMART), and the Music Therapy Assessment Tool for Awareness in Disorders of Consciousness (MATADOC) to explore the relationship between diagnosis and behavioural characteristics of the cohort. Whilst the two tools produced a high level of agreement in diagnostic outcome (Spearman Rho .80), divergent diagnosis and weaker correlations between behavioural response items highlight contrasting sensitivities of the tools. Whilst MATADOC has higher sensitivity within auditory and visual domains relative to SMART, SMART has higher sensitivity in the motor domain. The significant contribution of musical response items in MATADOC, and the tactile response item in SMART, indicates both tools provide unique behavioural data predictive of awareness. Multidisciplinary assessment using SMART and MATADOC provides complementary data contributing to a fuller understanding of a patient's level of awareness.
The Outcomes of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection and Laser Assisted Hatching in Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization Are Affected by The Cause of Infertility

Background We sought to determine the association between factors that affected clini- cal pregnancy and live birth rates in patients who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) and received intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and/or laser assisted hatching (LAH), or neither. Materials and Methods In this retrospective cohort study, the records of women who underwent IVF with or without ICSI and/or LAH at the Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan between January 2007 and December 2010 were reviewed. We divided patients into four groups: 1. those that did not receive ICSI or LAH, 2. those that received ICSI only, 3. those that received LAH only and 4. those that received both ICSI and LAH. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine factors associated with clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate in each group. Results A total of 375 women were included in the analysis. Oocyte number (OR=1.07) affected the live birth rate in patients that did not receive either ICSI or LAH. Mater- nal age (OR=0.89) and embryo transfer (ET) number (OR=1.59) affected the rate in those that received ICSI only. Female infertility factors other than tubal affected the rate (OR=5.92) in patients that received both ICSI and LAH. No factors were found to affect the live birth rate in patients that received LAH only. Conclusion Oocyte number, maternal age and ET number and female infertility fac- tors other than tubal affected the live birth rate in patients that did not receive ICSI or LAH, those that received ICSI only, and those that received both ICSI and LAH, respectively. No factors affected the live birth rate in patients that received LAH only. These data might assist in advising patients on the appropriateness of ICSI and LAH after failed IVF.
The pH of Multi-Purpose Soft Contact Lens Solutions

Contact lens patient discomfort has been linked to the pH of lens care solutions differing from that of tears. To determine if this is a potential problem with multi-purpose soft contact lens solutions, we used a Fisher Scientific Accumet 950 pH/ion meter (accuracy ±0.05 pH units) to measure the pH of 3 multi-purpose solutions—Alcon's Opti-One, Allergan's Complete, and Bausch & Lomb's ReNu. The resulting pH values were compared to the threshold for ocular awareness, which is outside the zone of 6.6 to 7.8, and the pH value of tears of 7.45. Each solution was dispensed and measured daily over a 23- to 36-day period using 15-ml increments to simulate the amount used on a daily basis. The average pH of solutions tested were 7.18 ± 0.02 for ReNu, 6.97 ± 0.02 for Opti-One, and 7.55 ± 0.02 for Complete. The highest and lowest pH values of all three multi-purpose solutions were found to be within the zone of ocular comfort and remained within a narrow value range throughout the testing period. Therefore, pH-induced discomfort is unlikely to occur when using these solutions on a daily basis. Nonetheless, practitioners should select lens care products carefully to ensure that the prescribed regimen meets the patient's needs.
Cloud Business Intelligence for Virtual Organizations

The evolution of business processes and the globalization of virtual organizations, stimulates the need to have available at any time, in any place, tools to produce information for decision support in order to increase their competitive advantage. In this context, Cloud Business Intelligence emerges as a paradigm of almost vital importance providing business analytics to organizations, reducing costs and increasing profits. In the context of virtual organizations are examined three of the most popular open source platforms for Cloud Business Intelligence market and selected the one that best suits the needs of virtual organizations. This paper evaluated SpagoBI, JaspersoftBI, and PentahoBI Cloud Business Intelligence platforms analyzing the features that best fit the needs of virtual organizations.
Assembly PCR oligo maker: a tool for designing oligodeoxynucleotides for constructing long DNA molecules for RNA production

We describe a computer program, Assembly PCR Oligo Maker, created to automate the design of oligodeoxynucleotides for the PCR-based construction of long DNA molecules. This program is freely available at and has been specifically designed to aid in the construction of DNA molecules that are to be used for the production of RNA molecules by in vitro synthesis with T7 RNA polymerase. The input for Assembly PCR Oligo Maker is either the desired DNA sequence to be made or an RNA sequence. If RNA is the input, the program first determines the DNA sequence necessary to produce the desired RNA molecule. The program then determines the sequences of all the oligodeoxynucleotides necessary for a two-step assembly PCR-based synthesis of the desired DNA molecule. The oligodeoxynucleotide sequences outputted are designed to have a uniform melt temperature and are checked for regions of overlap outside of the desired priming regions necessary for the PCR reaction. The validity of the program was verified experimentally by synthesizing a 191-nt long DNA molecule using the DNA sequences suggested by the program.
Synaptic vesicle exocytosis and increased cytosolic calcium are both necessary but not sufficient for activity‐dependent bulk endocytosis

Activity‐dependent bulk endocytosis (ADBE) is the dominant synaptic vesicle (SV) endocytosis mode in central nerve terminals during intense neuronal activity. By definition this mode is triggered by neuronal activity; however, key questions regarding its mechanism of activation remain unaddressed. To determine the basic requirements for ADBE triggering in central nerve terminals, we decoupled SV fusion events from activity‐dependent calcium influx using either clostridial neurotoxins or buffering of intracellular calcium. ADBE was monitored both optically and morphologically by observing uptake of the fluid phase markers tetramethylrhodamine‐dextran and horse radish peroxidase respectively. Ablation of SV fusion with tetanus toxin resulted in the arrest of ADBE, but had no effect on other calcium‐dependent events such as activity‐dependent dynamin I dephosphorylation, indicating that SV exocytosis is necessary for triggering. Furthermore, the calcium chelator EGTA abolished ADBE while leaving SV exocytosis intact, demonstrating that ADBE is triggered by intracellular free calcium increases outside the active zone. Activity‐dependent dynamin I dephosphorylation was also arrested in EGTA‐treated neurons, consistent with its proposed role in triggering ADBE. Thus, SV fusion and increased cytoplasmic free calcium are both necessary but not sufficient individually to trigger ADBE.