Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Psychological Stress and Welfare in Fish

The ability to respond to stress is vital to the survival of any living organism, though sustained reactions can become detrimental to the health and welfare of animals. Stress responses of vertebrates are known through several studies in their physiological, behavioural and psychological components, under acute and chronic contexts. In fish, the physiological and behavioural aspects of stress are considerably well known phenomena and show striking similarities to those of other vertebrates. However, the psychological component is not well known. Some authors deny mental experiences to fish on the basis of their lack of neocortex. Nevertheless, recent studies have shown neuroendocrine, cognitive and emotional processes in fish that are not only equivalent to other vertebrates, but also allow inferring some forms of mental representation. The integration of psychological elements in fish stress physiology is insufficiently studied, but, as discussed in this article, there is already indirect evidence to admit that some form of stimuli appraisal can take place in fish. This fact has profound implications on the regulation of the stress response, as well as on fish welfare and its management
Ultimate ownership, investor protection and firm valuation: evidence for Asian countries non-financial firms

In this paper we investigate the causal relationship between ultimate shareholder's cash-flow rights and firm valuation performance for some Asian countries. More precisely, we test the incentive effect hypothesis. Using data for 1,740 publicly listed non-financial firms from eight Asian countries for 1996, we find that firm value increases with cash-flow rights of the ultimate shareholder. This result is consistent with previous empirical studies. Also, we show that common law environment offers better protection for minority shareholders. Moreover, the positive effect of ultimate shareholder cash-flow rights is stronger in civil law countries.
Contract Damages and Cooperative Investments

We study alternative breach remedies in the presence of specific investments that generate a direct benefit to the investor's trading partner (referred to as "cooperative investments."). We find that (i) expectation damages perform very poorly, inducing no cooperative investment; (ii) privately stipulated liquidated damages can achieve a better, albeit inefficient, outcome; and (iii) the reliance damages perform the best, achieving the efficient outcome if ex post renegotiation is possible. These rankings stand in contrast to those found in the existing literature, but they explain many observed contracting practices.
Super-resolution using a local matching designed for suppressing errors of reconstructed edges

A novel registration algorithm for multi-frame super-resolution (SR) is proposed. SR requires known LR pixels shifted by non-integer amounts of pixels. Such LR pixels can be acquired from non-target frames using registration. A method suitable for implementing registration in consumer products is the block-matching algorithm (BMA). However, when the BMA is used, in the case of processing a straight edge, it is shown that the arrangement tends to be irregular. It is also shown that the quality of reconstructed images becomes poor when the arrangement of the registered pixels is irregular. The proposed method is based on the BMA but is designed for improving the arrangement of the registered pixels. The experimental results show that (1) the pixels are registered near each position to be reconstructed, and (2) the quality of reconstructed images is improved. To make the proposed method practical for consumer products, the search is performed using a fast block-matching algorithm.
A System-of-Systems Perspective for Public Policy Decisions

Problems of increasing complexity are facing decision makers within government and industry, and the key characteristic of these problems is that they are of system-of-systems type. With multiple, heterogeneous, distributed systems involved (including policies and economies as well as technologies), effective analysis for decision-support quickly becomes unmanageable within the "stovepipe" context that still characterizes many organizations in the research and development community. There is not a process/field of study in place that can enable us to systematically solve these types of problems, exemplified by the Next Generation Transportation System. While indeed numerous tools are available to help, they cannot be used effectively because the people who build and understand the tools all speak different languages. Much confusion still remains about words and phrases for system-of-systems type problems, let alone the best modeling approaches for dealing with them. While pockets of organizational restructuring may address this challenge for particular projects, there is a lack of systematic thinking at the basic level about how to address the challenges. This paper recommends that intellectual, financial, and institutional resources be invested for the purpose of initiating and nurturing a field of study that will enable us to better address this important type of problem. The future of transportation serves as a motivating example of a multidomain, system-of-systems problem of critical importance to the nation and in need of effective decision-support. The analogy of creating better maps and "navigation aids" for decision makers will be employed, emphasizing that, when navigating a minefield, knowing where not to go is the key factor in successfully traversing the terrain (i.e., making wise decisions). Copyright 2004 by The Policy Studies Organization.
VALUATION OF NEW SPRING WHEAT VARIETIES: TRADEOFFS FOR GROWERS AND END-USERS (SUMMARY)

Variety release decisions involve a number of tradeoffs, usually between grower and end-user characteristics as well as significant uncertainties about agronomic, quality, and economic variables. In this study, methodologies were developed to value tradeoffs for grower and end-user characteristics for wheat. The models capture effects of variability in agronomic, quality, and economic variables. The models were applied for three experimental varieties which have since been released and for two hypothetical varieties. Results indicate two of the experimental varieties provide improvements in grower and end-use value over most of the incumbents. Comparison of a risk adjusted portfolio model consisting of characteristics of end-use and grower values with traditional stochastic dominance techniques (tested for level of significance) indicate similar results. However, the portfolio model incorporates aspects of correlation between grower and end-use values simultaneously.
The proliferative capacity of antigen-sensitive precursors of hemolytic plaque-forming cells.

The antigen-sensitive precursors of hemolytic plaque-forming cells (7, 8) can be transplanted into heavily-irradiated mice. In the presence of antigen, these cells proliferate and differentiate, giving rise to progeny which form clusters detectable by their capacity to produce foci of hemolysis in a layer of agar containing sheep erythrocytes. The enumeration of such foci provides an assay techniques for antigen-sensitive cells (9). When the same spleen cell suspensions were assayed for these cells both by this technique and by the method of limiting dilution, both techniques yielded similar values. This similarity indicates that the hemolytic focus assay does indeed detect antigen-sensitive cells. By combining assays for antigen-sensitive cells and for their hemolysinproducing progeny, we have obtained an estimate of 4 to 7 for the number of divisions which result from the stimulation of antigen-sensitive cells by sheep erythrocytes. By a technique of serial transplantation, the fraction, f, of the total number of injected antigen-sensitive cells which are detectable in the spleens of heavily-irradiated mice following the intravenous injection of spleen cells was determined to be 0.15. Using this value, f, along with the number of antigen-sensitive cells detected in a given number of spleen cells and the number of cells in normal mouse spleens, one may calculate that there are approximately 103 antigen-sensitive cells in intact spleens. This estimate agrees with a previous value obtained using a radiobiologic technique (4).
Molecular mechanisms of Nod factor diversity

The rhizobia–legume symbiosis is highly specific. Major host specificity determinants are the bacterial Nod factor signals that trigger the nodulation programme in a compatible host. Nod factors are lipo‐chitooligosaccharides (LCOs) varying in the oligosaccharide chain length, the nature of the fatty acids and substitutions on the oligosaccharide. The nod genotype of rhizobia, which forms the genetic basis for this structural variety, includes a set of nodulation genes encoding the enzymes that synthesize LCOs. Allelic and non‐allelic variation in these genes ensures the synthesis of different LCO structures by the different rhizobia. The nod genotypes co‐evolved with host plant divergence in contrast to the rhizobia, which followed a different evolution. Horizontal gene transfer probably played an important role during evolution of symbiosis. The nod genotypes are particularly well equipped for horizontal gene transfer because of their location on transmissible plasmids and/or on ‘symbiosis islands’, which are symbiotic regions associated with movable elements.
Accruals Quality, Stock Returns, and Macroeconomic Conditions

ABSTRACT: This study examines whether and how earnings quality, measured as accruals quality (AQ), affects the cost of equity capital. Using two-stage cross-sectional regression tests, we find that the AQ risk factor is significantly priced, after controlling for low-priced stocks. This result is robust in tests using individual stocks, various portfolio formations, and different beta estimations. Furthermore, we show that AQ and its pricing effect systematically vary with business cycles and macroeconomic variables. In particular, this pricing effect is prominent in total AQ and innate AQ but not in discretionary AQ. The risk premium associated with AQ exists only in economic expansion but not in recession periods. Poorer AQ firms are more vulnerable to macroeconomic shocks. The risk premium and the dispersion of AQ are also related to future economic activity. Overall, our results suggest that AQ contributes to the cost of equity capital and that its pricing effect is associated with fundamental risk.
Moderate HER 2 expression as a prognostic factor in hormone receptor positive breast cancer

Overexpression and/or amplification of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer and predicts response to anti-HER2 therapy in breast cancer. The prognostic relevance of moderate expression of HER2 is unclear. Data of 9872 patients with primary nonmetastatic breast cancer from the cancer registries of Magdeburg and Halle, Germany, were analyzed retrospectively. A total of 5907 patients with complete data sets including follow-up were eligible for analysis. HER2 status was determined as recommended by international guidelines. Of 5907 patients investigated, 5023 (68.4%) had HER2 0 and 1C expression and 884 (12.0%) had HER2 (2C)/ HER2K expression. Patients with hormone receptor positive (HRC) and HER2 (2C) tumors had a shorter median disease-free survival (DFS; P! 0.0001) and breast cancer specific survival (BCSS; PZ0.019) than HRC patients with HER2 (0/1C) tumors. Among patients with HRK breast cancer there was no significant difference between HER2 (2C) and HER2 (0/1C) tumors. In multivariate analysis after adjustment for other prognostic factors, HER2 (2C) status remained an unfavorable prognostic factor for DFS (hazard ratio (HR)Z1.217, 95% CIZ1.052–1.408; PZ0.008) but not for BCSS (HRZ1.045, 95% CIZ0.926–1.178; PZ0.474). The HER2 (2C) status is an unfavorable prognostic factor for survival of patients with HRC breast cancer. The impact of anti-HER2 therapy in this group of patients should be evaluated. Key Words
Management assessment methods in venture capital: An empirical analysis of human capital valuation

Many venture capitalists experience frustration when their investments achieve disappointing results owing to weaknesses in the human capital that were not detected during due diligence. This study examines the methods that venture capitalists use to assess the senior managers of new ventures prior to making an investment decision. 'Human capital valuation' is introduced as a term to describe the process of appraising the human capital (people) in a venture. An a priori conceptual model was tested that accounted for over 70% of the variance in the accuracy of human capital valuations. In addition, inductive analysis yielded several distinct typologies of venture capital approaches to the process of human capital valuation. Implications for researchers and practitioners are discussed.
Fair Value and the IASB/FASB Conceptual Framework Project: An Alternative View

This paper analyses various controversial issues arising from the current project of the IASB and FASB to develop a joint conceptual framework for financial reporting standards. It discusses their possible implications for measurement and, in particular, for the use of fair value as the preferred measurement basis. Two competing world views are identified as underlying the debate: a Fair Value View, implicit in the IASB's public pronouncements, and an Alternative View implicit in publicly expressed criticisms of the IASB's pronouncements. The Fair Value View assumes that markets are relatively perfect and complete and that, in such a setting, financial reports should meet the needs of passive investors and creditors by reporting fair values derived from current market prices. The Alternative View assumes that markets are relatively imperfect and incomplete and that, in such a market setting, financial reports should also meet the monitoring requirements of current shareholders (stewardship) by reporting past transactions and events using entity-specific measurements that reflect the opportunities actually available to the reporting entity. The different implications of the two views are illustrated by reference to specific issues in recent accounting standards. Finally, the theoretical support for the two views is discussed. It is concluded that, in a realistic market setting, the search for a universal measurement method may be fruitless and a more appropriate approach to the measurement problem might be to define a clear measurement objective and to select the measurement method that best meets that objective in the particular circumstances that exist in relation to each item in the accounts. An example of such an approach is deprival value, which is not, at present, under consideration by the IASB.
Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) B27 Allotype-Specific Binding and Candidate Arthritogenic Peptides Revealed through Heuristic Clustering of Data-independent Acquisition Mass Spectrometry (DIA-MS) Data*

Expression of HLA-B27 is strongly associated with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and other spondyloarthropathies. While this is true for the majority of HLA-B27 allotypes, HLA-B*27:06 and HLA-B*27:09 are not associated with AS. These two subtypes contain polymorphisms that are ideally positioned to influence the bound peptide repertoire. The existence of disease-inducing peptides (so-called arthritogenic peptides) has therefore been proposed that are exclusively presented by disease-associated HLA-B27 allotypes. However, we have recently demonstrated that this segregation of allotype-bound peptides is not the case and that many peptides that display sequence features predicted to favor binding to disease-associated subtypes are also capable of being presented naturally by protective alleles. To further probe more subtle quantitative changes in peptide presentation, we have used a combination of data-independent acquisition (DIA) and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mass spectrometry to quantify the abundance of 1646 HLA-B27 restricted peptides across the eight most frequent HLA-B27 allotypes (HLA-B*27:02-HLA-B*27:09). We utilized K means cluster analysis to group peptides with similar allelic binding preferences across the eight HLA-B27 allotypes, which enabled us to identify the most-stringent binding characteristics for each HLA-B27 allotype and further refined their existing consensus-binding motifs. Moreover, a thorough analysis of this quantitative dataset led to the identification of 26 peptides, which are presented in lower abundance by HLA-B*27:06 and HLA-B*27:09 compared with disease-associated HLA-B27 subtypes. Although these differences were observed to be very subtle, these 26 peptides might encompass the sought-after arthritogenic peptide(s).
Retinal Incorporation and Differentiation of Neural Precursors Derived from Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Retinal and macular degenerations are a major cause of blindness. Cell transplantation is a possible therapeutic approach for the replacement of degenerating retinal cells. Here, we studied the potential of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to survive, integrate, and differentiate into retinal cells after intraocular transplantation. Highly enriched cultures of neural precursors (NPs) expressing transcripts of key regulatory genes of retinal development were developed from the hESCs. After spontaneous differentiation in vitro, the NPs gave rise to progeny expressing markers of retinal progenitors and photoreceptor development, though this was uncommon and cells expressing markers of mature photoreceptors were not observed. After transplantation into rat eyes, the NPs survived for 16 weeks, migrated large distances, and integrated in the host retina. Teratoma tumors were not observed. Human cells expressing rhodopsin, blue cone opsin, and neural retina leucine zipper transcription factor were observed in subretinal grafts, but not within vitreal and inner retinal grafts. The results suggest that hESCs have the potential to differentiate into retinal cells and that the subretinal microenvironment supports their differentiation toward a photoreceptor fate. This may be the first step toward further developments that eventually may allow the use of hESCs for transplantation in retinal degenerations.
Analysis of Alcohol and Drugs in Oral Fluid From Truck Drivers in Norway

Objective: To examine alcohol and drug use among truck drivers compared to car or van drivers in Norway by analyzing samples of oral fluid. Methods: Drivers were selected for a voluntary and anonymous study using a stratified multistage cluster sampling procedure. Drivers of trucks were recruited at two control stations for heavy vehicles in southeastern Norway in collaboration with the Norwegian Roads Administration, and drivers of cars and vans were recruited in a roadside survey in collaboration with the mobile police service. Samples of oral fluid were taken by using the Statsure Saliva Sampler (Statsure Diagnostic Systems, Framingham, MA), and the drivers’ gender, age, and nationality were recorded. Samples of oral fluid were analyzed for alcohol or drugs, in total 28 psychoactive substances. Results: About 97 percent of the truck drivers and 94 percent of the car or van drivers agreed to participate in the study. Of the 882 studied truck drivers studied, 1.4 percent were female and 29.1 percent were Norwegian; of the 5305 car or van drivers, 27.6 percent were female and 90.9 percent were Norwegian. Alcohol or drugs were found in 1.9 and 6.6 percent of the samples from truck drivers and car/van drivers, respectively. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for the detection of a psychoactive substance in a sample from a truck driver compared to car or van driver was 0.29; the 95 percent confidence interval (95% CI) was 0.17 to 0.53. The adjusted OR for the detection of an illegal drug was 0.42 (95% CI: 0.18–0.82), the adjusted OR for the detection of a psychoactive medicinal drug was 0.29 (95% CI: 0.13–0.68), and the adjusted OR for the detection of alcohol was 0.13 (95% CI: 0.02–1.10). Conclusions: The proportion of oral fluid samples containing psychoactive substances was lower for truck drivers than for car or van drivers.
Delayed initiation of the pharyngeal swallow: normal variability in adult swallows.

PURPOSE The purpose of this investigation was to determine bolus head timing and location relations with the onset of hyoid movement at the initiation of the pharyngeal swallow and at the onset of swallow-related apnea. METHOD Bolus head timing and location and the timing of swallow-related apnea were recorded from frame-by-frame analyses of 5-ml single liquid swallows using dual-modality videofluoroscopy and nasal airflow recordings in 82 consecutive, healthy volunteers. The presence, depth, and response to airway entry were also recorded and related to the bolus head location and the onset of hyoid movement. RESULTS The majority of participants-80% on at least 1 trial-produced the onset of hyoid movement at pharyngeal swallow initiation after the bolus head passed the posterior angle of the mandible. There was a trend in older participants for later onset of hyoid movement and onset of apnea relative to bolus head arrival at the posterior angle of the mandible. CONCLUSION Although entry of the bolus head into the pharynx prior to hyoid movement may result in a threat to the laryngeal airway, these data demonstrate that a "delay" by itself cannot be assumed to indicate a disordered swallow without coexisting impairments of swallowing physiology.
Acoustic reciprocity of spatial coherence in ultrasound imaging

A conventional ultrasound image is formed by transmitting a focused wave into tissue, time-shifting the backscattered echoes received on an array transducer, and summing the resulting signals. The van Cittert-Zernike theorem predicts a particular similarity, or coherence, of these focused signals across the receiving array. Many groups have used an estimate of the coherence to augment or replace the B-mode image in an effort to suppress noise and stationary clutter echo signals, but this measurement requires access to individual receive channel data. Most clinical systems have efficient pipelines for producing focused and summed RF data without any direct way to individually address the receive channels. We describe a method for performing coherence measurements that is more accessible for a wide range of coherence-based imaging. The reciprocity of the transmit and receive apertures in the context of coherence is derived and equivalence of the coherence function is validated experimentally using a research scanner. The proposed method is implemented on a commercial ultrasound system and in vivo short-lag spatial coherence imaging is demonstrated using only summed RF data. The components beyond the acquisition hardware and beamformer necessary to produce a real-time ultrasound coherence imaging system are discussed.
Persepsi Politik Mahasiswa FIS Universitas Negeri Padang

The role of student politics looks dominant in every phase of political life which formatted in the political system. Students are seen as agents of change, noblesse oblige, the future generation, or as a prophetic minority. This article focuses on the study of the perceptions of student politics FIS UNP. The finding of this research showed that political perception is awakened from the high level of knowledge and critical attitude made it possible that they become reformer actors for the acceleration of the reform agenda. However, based on some indications, there is not impossible that they become destabilizing forces in political life. Kata kunci: Persepsi politik, peran politik mahasiswa, sistem politik.