Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Social Dialogue – The Specific Case of the European Union

This paper deals with social dialogue at interprofessional (or macro) and sectoral (or meso) level, outlining their specific problems in the European Union. The first part focuses on the macro level, differentiating between three stages of development, the (lack of) results, and problems of implementation. The second part concentrates on the sectoral level, analysing the earlier version as well as the consequences of institutional reform (among others, qualitative developments, output, problems of the social partners, questions of transposition and implementation). The final part draws some tentative conclusions.
SNPRanker: a tool for identification and scoring of SNPs associated to target genes

Summary The identification of genes and SNPs involved in human diseases remains a challenge. Many public resources, databases and applications, collect biological data and perform annotations, increasing the global biological knowledge. The need of SNPs prioritization is emerging with the development of new high-throughput genotyping technologies, which allow to develop customized disease-oriented chips. Therefore, given a list of genes related to a specific biological process or disease as input, a crucial issue is finding the most relevant SNPs to analyse. The selection of these SNPs may rely on the relevant a-priori knowledge of biomolecular features characterising all the annotated SNPs and genes of the provided list. The bioinformatics approach described here allows to retrieve a ranked list of significant SNPs from a set of input genes, such as candidate genes associated with a specific disease. The system enriches the genes set by including other genes, associated to the original ones by ontological similarity evaluation. The proposed method relies on the integration of data from public resources in a vertical perspective (from genomics to systems biology data), the evaluation of features from biomolecular knowledge, the computation of partial scores for SNPs and finally their ranking, relying on their global score. Our approach has been implemented into a web based tool called SNPRanker, which is accessible through at the URL http://www.itb. cnr.it/snpranker. An interesting application of the presented system is the prioritisation of SNPs related to genes involved in specific pathologies, in order to produce custom arrays.
Motion Planning Algorithms for a Rolling Sphere With Limited Contact Area

The paper deals with the motion planning problem for a rolling sphere with limited contact area. The system under consideration is represented by a hemispherical object that can roll without slipping or spinning on the plane. Under the constraints imposed on the size of the contact area, the construction of motion can be regarded as a problem of parallel parking in a finite number of movement steps. A motion strategy, realizing the movement steps by tracing generalized figure eights on the hemisphere, is introduced. Two different algorithms for this motion strategy, the circle-based and the generalized Viviani-curve-based ones, are proposed. The convergence of the algorithms is analyzed, and the computational feasibility of these algorithms is verified under simulation.
3D device simulation of 6T SRAM cell with voltage scaling in 90nm CMOS

In VLSI system the design of memory is very crucial if we look from area, power and performance perspective. According to the report of ITRS it is expected that memories will occupy up to 95% of the chip area in 2015. SRAM cell provides the highest challenge to device designers as it requires high integration. It is the most reliable memory and is widely used for critical operations in the chip design but at the same time it occupies a considerable space in the layout. SRAM, a 3D device exhibits altogether different characteristics when compared with discrete NMOS and PMOS transistors due to stress and proximity effects etc. In this research paper, we will simulate 6T SRAM cell as a single continuous 3-D structure rather than a set of 6 individual transistors and then predict its electrical behaviour using TCAD simulation tool. Using this 3-D model, impact of voltage scaling on the performance of SRAM is analyzed.
Computable general equilibrium models and their use for transport policy analysis

Changes in transport policy and investment in transport infrastructure have in general important implications for the government budget, and also important income distributional consequences. In countries like Denmark, due to high marginal rates of taxation, raising government revenue and re-distributing income is associated with substantial costs, both distortionary costs and administrative costs; it is therefore important in the context of evaluating transport projects to take these effects into account. Using the methods, which have traditionally been used for transport policy analysis, it is difficult to assess correctly these essentially general equilibrium effects. However, in recent years advances in the theory and practice of Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) modeling have considerably facilitated the quantification of general equilibrium effects. It is therefore pertinent and timely to consider whether in the context of transport policy analyses the importance of being able to evaluate general equilibrium effects can justify the added complication of using general equilibrium rather than partial equilibrium approaches. This report addresses this question. It presents a methodology for CGE based policy analysis, identifies the appropriate theoretical framework for the use of the methodology for transport policy analysis, and provides a concrete example of its use, assessing, based on stylized assumptions, the consequences of the introduction of road pricing. The example clearly illustrates that in evaluating changes in transport policy, it is not only the direct effect on the traffic and related effects on pollution, road congestion and accidents which are important, but also the effect on the tax base, mainly through the effect on the labour supply, and the income distributional effects. On this basis the report concludes that using CGE models for transport policy analysis is likely to be associated with considerable benefits, and thus should be further explored.
Economies of Scale and the Form of the Production Function: Some New Estimates

Some procedures used in a previous study to estimate production function parameters on the basis of individual establishment data for Norwegian mining and manufacturing from the Census of 1963 are repeated on corresponding data for 1974. Three main issues are considered: the order of magnitude of the output elasticities of labor and capital and the scale-elasticity in value-added production functions, the order of magnitude of the elasticity of substitution between labor and capital, and the role of materials in production. Taking the substantial structural changes in Norwegian mining and manufacturing during this period into account, as well as the differences in the data concerning the selection of units and the information basis of the variable measures, the results obtained for the two years are surprisingly close. The results suggest that labor-saving technical change has taken place. This conclusion is not very roboust, however, against differences between the two years concerning the magnitude and nature of measurement errors in the capital input variable due to differences in the information available about capital. The largest difference is found for the elasticity of substitution between labor and capital. Two basically different methods of estimation suggest that while the elasticity was slightly below one in 1963, it was substantially above one in 1974. All in all, however, the similarities in the results are more striking than the dissimilarities.
Tactile resolution: peripheral neural mechanisms underlying the human capacity to determine positions of objects contacting the fingerpad

We measured the ability of humans to discriminate the positions of spherical objects passively contacting the fingerpad. The discrimination threshold averaged 0.55 mm for a moderately curved sphere (radius 5.80 mm) and decreased to 0.38 mm for a more curved sphere (radius 1.92 mm); since the receptor density is about 1 per mm2, these values are substantially smaller than those predicted by the sampling theorem (referred to as hyperacuity). To elucidate the underlying neural mechanisms, responses to the same spheres and random sequences of stimuli were recorded from single Merkel afferents (SAIs) and Meissner afferents (RAs) in anesthetized monkeys. For multiple applications of identical stimuli, coefficients of variation of responses were around 3%. Profiles of responses across the SAI population were “hill-shaped. ” A change in position of the stimulus on the skin resulted in a matching shift of the profile, evident over the whole profile for the more curved sphere but ony at the skirts for the less curved sphere. The shift in response profiles, relative to the standard deviations, increased as the change in position increased, and was more reliable for the more curved sphere. Responses were measured over four time frames: 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0 sec. Although responses increased with an increase in integration time, so, too, did their standard deviations, so that signal-to-noise ratios or the resolution in the SAI population was bout the same at 0.2 sec as at 1.0 sec. Only half the RAs responded; responses were small, but signalled reliable information about the position of the stimulus.
Smart Oilfield Data Mining for Reservoir Analysis

In this study, we randomly generate several well properties and perform reservoir simulations via the Eclipse software in order to obtain the oil recovery factor. Several simulations lead to the formation of a dataset which will be analyzed via a well known data mining method, the Association Rules (ARULES). ARULES yields several rules that reveals how these parameters interact and contribute to either increase/decrease the oil recovery. Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) is also used in order to determine the rank of importance (by analysis of its weights) of these parameters, which is useful in detecting the highly reliable rules. The results from both methods were found to be consistent with one another.
Recombinant epidermal growth factor-like domain-1 from coagulation factor VII functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles for targeted glioma magnetic resonance imaging

The highly infiltrative and invasive nature of glioma cells often leads to blurred tumor margins, resulting in incomplete tumor resection and tumor recurrence. Accurate detection and precise delineation of glioma help in preoperative delineation, surgical planning and survival prediction. In this study, recombinant epidermal growth factor-like domain-1, derived from human coagulation factor VII, was conjugated to iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) for targeted glioma magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The synthesized EGF1-EGFP-IONPs exhibited excellent targeting ability toward tissue factor (TF)-positive U87MG cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro, and demonstrated persistent and efficient MR contrast enhancement up to 12 h for preclinical glioma models with high targeting specificity in vivo. They hold great potential for clinical translation and developing targeted theranostics against brain glioma.
Discussion—The Effect of Risk on Price Responses to Unexpected Earnings

Chambers, Freeman and Koch test to see whether earnings response coefficients (ERCs), or stock returns per unit of unexpected earnings, are increasing in total risk. They generate this prediction from a model in which the sensitivity of dividend expectations to earnings news increases in total risk. They document a strong positive relation between ERCs and total risk, after controlling for variation in systematic risk and persistence. They do not find the negative relation between ERCs and systematic risk that prior ERC research had predicted and documented.I examine in turn the two central questions that Chambers, Freeman and Koch pose: (a) Which kind of risk do ERCs reflect: systematic, idiosyncratic or both (total)? and (b) Is the relation between ERCs and risk positive, zero or negative? I argue that accounting researchers’ inability to find a relation between ERCs and systematic risk is no surprise, given that modern finance research cannot document a relation between systematic risk and stock returns. I point out recent empirical work suggesting that earnings news has both numerator and denominator effects. I argue that the many research design differences between the current paper and previous ERC papers make it difficult to evaluate how much measurement error or model misspecification contributes to the different findings. I review recent empirical and theoretical finance research on idiosyncratic risk to place the paper’s findings in a broader context. Finally, I suggest avenues for further research.
Polygon recognition in sketch-based interfaces with immediate and continuous feedback

Sketch-based drawing interfaces attempt to combine the ease of freehand drawing with the advantages of computer processing by analysing hand-drawn pen strokes in real time and replacing them with perfect geometric representations. This paper describes the development of a sketch-based interface for drawing polygons. An investigation into how people draw polygons revealed that it is possible to detect the corners of a polygon while it is being drawn by examining the time stamps of the sample points on the user's stroke. Results of a pilot user study suggest that this method is more pleasant and convenient to use than conventional polygon drawing tools and would be useful for composing drawings quickly. However, users still prefer the traditional method of clicking in the location of each corner for drawing accurately.
The asymmetrical force of persuasive knowledge across the positive–negative divide

In two experimental studies we explore to what extent the general effects of positive and negative framing also apply to positive and negative persuasion. Our results reveal that negative persuasion induces substantially higher levels of skepticism and awareness of being subjected to a persuasion attempt. Furthermore, we demonstrate that in positive persuasion, more claims lead to stronger persuasion, while in negative persuasion, the numerosity of claims carries no significant effect. We interpret this finding along the lines of a satiety-model of persuasion. Finally, using diluted, or low strength claims in a persuasion attempt, we reveal a significant interaction between dispositional reactance and dilution of claims on persuasion knowledge. The interaction states that diluted claims increase the awareness of being subjected to a persuasion attempt, but only for those with a high dispositional level of reactance.
HER 2 immunohistochemistry for breast cancer cell blocks can be used in the same way as that used for histological specimens

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) testing of samples from recurrent or metastatic breast cancer is recommended by the 2013 update of the American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists guidelines. Although cytological analysis can be applied to several types of metastatic lesions, the practical method for HER2 testing of cytological specimens is yet to be resolved. We conducted immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for HER2 in breast cancer cell blocks (CBs) and compared the results with those from the corresponding histological specimens. In cases of discrepancy between the two types of specimen, the bright‐field HER2 dual in situ hybridization (DISH) assay was performed.
Conformational Analysis of Glutathione in Aqueous Solution with Molecular Dynamics

Molecular dynamics simulations over 20 ns with the Gromacs all-atom force field, coupled with cluster analyses of the trajectories, have been applied to the sixteen charge states of glutathione (GSH) in order to examine the distribution conformations in aqueous solution as a function of pH. The simulations show that GSH is very flexible and does not adopt a strongly preferred conformation at any pH. Comparison with limited conformational data deduced from NMR analyses shows little agreement. Contrary to the NMR results which found essentially equal populations of the three rotameric forms, the simulations reveal lower populations for gauche rotameric forms of the Cys and Glu side chains. In most species, the lowest populations were found for the sterically hindered gauche−gauche orientation about the Cα−Cβ bond in both residues, except when electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ends, unshielded by intervening water, was found to dominate. In the majority of the enzyme-bound GSH structures ex.
Estrogen Protects Against Increased Blood Pressure in Postpubertal Female Growth Restricted Offspring

Placental insufficiency in the rat results in intrauterine growth restriction and development of hypertension in prepubertal male and female growth-restricted offspring. However, after puberty, only male growth-restricted offspring remain hypertensive, whereas female growth-restricted offspring stabilize their blood pressure to levels comparable to adult female controls. Because female rats reach their maximum levels of estrogen at puberty, we hypothesize that estrogen may be a factor involved in the stabilization of blood pressure in adult female growth-restricted offspring. At 10 weeks of age, female control and growth-restricted offspring underwent ovariectomy or sham surgery and insertion of a telemetry probe. Mean arterial pressure was similar at 16 weeks of age between control (123±4 mm Hg) and growth-restricted offspring (122±2 mm Hg); however, ovariectomy led to a significant increase in blood pressure in growth-restricted offspring (140±2 mm Hg; P<0.05 versus intact counterpart) with no significant effect in controls (124±1 mm Hg). Estrogen replacement by subcutaneous minipellet initiated at 14 weeks of age in a subset of ovariectomized control and growth-restricted offspring reversed the effect of ovariectomy on blood pressure in growth-restricted offspring at 16 weeks of age (111±3 mm Hg; P<0.05 versus ovariectomized counterpart); renin angiotensin system blockade also abolished ovariectomy-induced hypertension in female growth-restricted offspring (106±2 mm Hg; P<0.05 versus ovariectomized counterpart). Therefore, sex differences are observed in this model of fetal programmed hypertension, and results from this study suggest that estrogen contributes to normalization of blood pressure in adult female growth-restricted offspring.
ERYTHROCYTE ALDEHYDE DEHYDROGENASE = A POTENTIAL MARKER FOR ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE

The present study explored the utility of erythrocyte aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) as a peripheral marker in alcoholism. The ALDH levels in aocoholics, their first degree nonalcholic relative and controls were compared. ALDH was found to be significantly lower in alcoholics (3.38±1.70 mU p< 0.001) and their first degree relatives (4.04±1.55 mU p< 0.05) compared to controls (5.06±1 55mU). Low ALDH levels among alcoholics persisted despite abstinence. The levels did not correlate with indices of hepatic dysfunction or with severity of alcoholism. These findings indicate that low erythrocyte ALDH may be considered as a biochemical trait marker associated with alcoholics, and the alcohol abuse would further decrease enzyme activitiy. To evaluate this proposition, logitudinal studies involving high risk progeny of alcohol dependents is being planned.
VIMTEX: A Visualization Interface for Multivariate, Time‐Varying, Geological Data Exploration

Observing interactions among chemical species and microorganisms in the earth's sub‐surface is a common task in the field of geology. Bioremediation experiments constitute one such class of interactions which focus on getting rid of pollutants through processes such as carbon sequestration. The main goal of scientists’ observations is to analyze the dynamics of the chemical reactions and understand how they collectively affect the carbon content of the soil. In our work, we extract the high‐level goals of geologists and propose a visual analytics solution which helps scientists in deriving insights about multivariate, temporal behavior of these chemical species. Specifically, our key contributions are the following: i) characterization of the domain‐specific goals and their translation to exploratory data analysis tasks, ii) developing an analytical abstraction in the form of perceptually motivated screen‐space metrics for bridging the gap between the tasks and the visualization, and iii) realization of the tasks and metrics in the form of VIMTEX, which is a set of coordinated multiple views for letting scientists observe multivariate, temporal relationships in the data. We provide several examples and case studies along with expert feedback for demonstrating the efficacy of our solution.
A Dental Radiograph Registration Algorithm Using Phase-Based Image Matching for Human Identification

Dental records are often used to identify victims of massive disasters, where the conventional biometric features, e.g., face, fingerprint, iris, etc., are not available. Human identification using dental records is to match an unidentified individual's postmortem radiographs against a set of identified antemortem radiographs. This paper presents an efficient dental radiograph registration algorithm using phase-based image matching for human identification. The use of phase components in 2D (two-dimensional) discrete Fourier transforms of dental radiograph images makes possible to achieve highly robust image registration and recognition. Experimental evaluation using a small database of dental radiographs indicates that the proposed algorithm exhibits efficient recognition performance for low-quality images
The roles of membrane microdomains (rafts) in T cell activation

Detergent‐resistant membrane microdomains enriched in sphingolipids, cholesterol and glycosylphosphatidylinositol‐anchored proteins play essential roles in T cell receptor (TCR) signaling. These ‘membrane rafts’ accumulate several cytoplasmic lipid‐modified molecules, including Src‐family kinases, coreceptors CD4 and CD8 and transmembrane adapters LAT and PAG/Cbp, essential for either initiation or amplification of the signaling process, while most other abundant transmembrane proteins are excluded from these structures. TCRs in various T cell subpopulations may differ in their use of membrane rafts. Membrane rafts also seem to be involved in many other aspects of T cell biology, such as functioning of cytokine and chemokine receptors, adhesion molecules, antigen presentation, establishing cell polarity or interaction with important pathogens. Although the concept of membrane rafts explains several diverse biological phenomena, many basic issues, such as composition, size and heterogeneity, under native conditions, as well as the dynamics of their interactions with TCRs and other immunoreceptors, remain unclear, partially because of technical problems.