Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Studies on low-molecular-weight immunomodifiers produced by microorganisms: results of ten years' effort.

The screening for low-molecular-weight enzyme inhibitors produced by microorganisms was initiated in 1966, and by 1972 inhibitors of various proteases had been discovered. At that time the study of enzyme inhibitors was expanded to include the search for low-molecular-weight immunomodifiers that might restore the reduced immunity in patients with cancer. It was assumed that the screening for compounds binding to cell membranes or surfaces would result in the finding of immunomodifiers and that inhibitors of enzymes on cell membranes or surfaces should bind to cells. Investigation revealed that aminopeptidases, alkaline phosphatase, and esterase are located on cell membranes, and inhibitors of these enzymes, all of which have the ability to modify (mostly enhance) immune responses, were discovered. Studies on these products (e.g., bestatin, forphenicine , forphenicinol , ebelactones , esterastin , and arphamenine ) are reviewed in this paper.
Adaptive 2D visual servoïng using variable structure neural networks

We are interested in this paper in the 2D visual servoïng for a mobile robot using a Radial Basis Function (RBF) Neural Network (NN). In fact, the interaction matrix, expressing the relationship between the camera motion and the consequent changes on the visual features, contains some parameters to be estimated (depth) and requires a camera's calibration phase. Moreover, the model of the robot can contain uncertainties engendered by the sliding movement. An online identification, using the NN has been proposed to overcome these problems. The RBF NN is used to estimate the block formed by the interaction matrix and the model inverts of the robot. Actually, the variables number of the estimated function is important, which can cause a problem in the use of an excessive number of RBFs. As a remedy, we have proposed a new approach based on proving that a single point of the object is sufficient to solve the 2D visual servoïng mobile robot problem. In order to keep only the useful neurons, we have used a variable structure NN whose the number of neurons can increase or decrease during the visual servoïng.
Effect of concurrent cognitive tasks on gait features among children post-severe traumatic brain injury and typically-developed controls

Aim: To investigate and compare the influence of concurrent cognitive tasks on gait characteristics in children post-traumatic brain injury (TBI) and typically-developed (TD) controls. Methods: Fifteen children post-TBI (aged 9.5 ± 2.2 years) and 15 TD controls (aged 9.9 ± 1.3 years) were included in the study. The children were asked to walk under three conditions: (1) walking at a self-selected speed, (2) walking at a self-selected speed while memorizing and recalling a series of three random numbers and (3) walking at a self-selected speed while listening and identifying commonly experienced sounds. Gait parameters include walking speed, step time and length and step time and length variability as measured with the GAITRite® system. Results: Introduction of a concurrent task led to decreased walking speed and step length and increased step time and step length variability in both groups, but with a significantly prominent effect in children post-TBI. The results also showed that the effect of a concurrent cognitive task on walking depended on the complexity level of the task. Conclusion: When children were asked to perform an additional task while they were walking, this had a negative effect on their gait. One may deduce from these results that control of the rhythmic stepping mechanism at a self-selected walking speed in children is dependant to an extent on their ability to focus attention on their gait. In children post-TBI who usually have an attention deficit anyway, this ability is severely disturbed.
Pension Funding, Pension Asset Allocation, and Corporate Finance: Evidence from Individual Company Data

This paper examines the relationship between U.S. corporations' management of their pension plans and their management of the more familiar aspects of corporate financial structure. The chief conclusion, on the basis of data for 7,828 pension plans sponsored by 1,836 companies and their subsidiaries, is that corporations do not manage the pension plans which they sponsor as if these plans had nothing to do with the corporation. Different responses appear to characterize firms' behavior in different contexts, but the evidence persistently indicates clear relationships between decisions about pension assets and liabilities and decisions about the other assets and liabilities of the firm. At the same time, the pattern of these relation- ships is, more often than not, inconsistent with familiar hypotheses that have emerged thus far in the theoretical literature analyzing pension aspects of corporate finance. Hence the conclusion from the data is also that the connections between pension decisions and corporate financial decisions in the more conventional sense are, at least as yet, not well understood.
Simple low cost causal discovery using mutual information and domain knowledge

Bayesian networks (BNs) provide a means for representing, displaying, and making available in a usable form the knowledge of experts in a given Weld. In this paper, we look at the performance of an expert constructed BN compared with other machine learning (ML) techniques for predicting the outcome (win, lose, or draw) of matches played by Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. The period under study was 1995–1997 – the expert BN was constructed at the start of that period, based almost exclusively on subjective judgement. Our objective was to determine retrospectively the comparative accuracy of the expert BN compared to some alternative ML models that were built using data from the two-year period. The additional ML techniques considered were: MC4, a decision tree learner; Naive Bayesian learner; Data Driven Bayesian (a BN whose structure and node probability tables are learnt entirely from data); and a K-nearest neighbour learner. The results show that the expert BN is generally superior to the other techniques for this domain in predictive accuracy. The results are even more impressive for BNs given that, in a number of key respects, the study assumptions place them at a disadvantage. For example, we have assumed that the BN prediction is ‘incorrect’ if a BN predicts more than one outcome as equally most likely (whereas, in fact, such a prediction would prove valuable to somebody who could place an ‘each way’ bet on the outcome). Although the expert BN has now long been irrelevant (since it contains variables relating to key players who have retired or left the club) the results here tend to conWrm the excellent potential of BNs when they are built by a reliable domain expert. The ability to provide accurate predictions without requiring much learning data are an obvious bonus in any domain where data are scarce. Moreover, the BN was relatively simple for the expert to build and its structure could be used again in this and similar types of problems. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
AIS Electronic

Governments around the world are introducing the virtual channel of public service delivery system (UNDESA 2008). This channel allows for integrated public e-services that are available 24/7. However, citizens who do not have access to ICTs, who do not have the ability to use ICTs, and/or who do not accept to use government e-services cannot benefit from these advantages. Therefore, introducing e-services will create three types of divide: access, e-skills, and acceptance divides. This e-service divide will lead to an inferior quality public service translated in a low e-services’ Take-Up. In Lebanon for example, the government is heavily investing in public online services. However, only 26.28 per cent of the Lebanese population has Internet access, 11.45 per cent have PC at home, and only 30.53 per cent have a mobile telephone (OMSAR 2008). It means that e-government will lead to a system where only privileged segments of the population may have access to the government e-services. Therefore the e-government implementation will create a public online service divide constituted of three types of inequalities: (1) inequality in the access to e-services between citizens, (2) inequality in the ability to use e-services among those who have access, and (3) inequality in e-services acceptance among those who have the access and the ability to use ICTs and e-services. Reducing this e-services divide can enhance the value of services to the citizens and that can dramatically increase e-services Take-Up.
Process Standardization, Task Variability, and Internal Performance in IT and Business Services Outsourcing

The standardization of processes through the implementation of frameworks such as the CMMI or ISO 9000 has become an established practice among manufacturing and software firms. However, the mechanisms by which process standardization lead to performance improvement in highly variable tasks such as IT and business services are not well understood. In this study we analyze detailed performance data from a large service provider that has implemented a process improvement framework for services outsourcing. We evaluate the extent to which process standardization influences service delivery performance, and how the effect of standardization differs based on task variability and the length of experience with the new processes. The results indicate that for non-variable tasks, performance improves significantly in the immediate period after the implementation of the framework. Performance also improves at a faster rate over time after standardized processes are introduced. In contrast, for variable tasks there is an immediate decline in performance after process standardization occurs. However, performance on variable tasks after process standardization also increases at a faster rate over time than performance on non-variable tasks. Our results suggest that after an initial period of difficulty, the organization learns over time to apply the new processes to variable tasks more effectively.
Efficiency and Fairness in Revenue Sharing Contracts

If principals are allowed to choose between a revenue sharing, a bonus and a trust contract, a large majority of experimental subjects choose the revenue sharing contract. We find that this choice is the most efficient while at the same time being fair in the Paretian sense that on average agents are not worse off than in the other contracts. Furthermore, the distribution of earnings is only mildly skewed towards the principal. We conclude that under revenue sharing contracts concerns for fairness can go in hand with the use of monetary incentives.
Critical Review of Financial Sector Reforms and Financial Liberalization in Developing Countries [A Practical Discussion in Nigerian Context]

The main objective of this paper is to assess the impact of financial sector reforms/liberalizations on savings mobilization in Nigeria. Financial liberalization involves the elimination of credit controls, deregulation of interest rates, easing of entry into the financial services industry, development of capital markets, increased prudential regulation and supervision, and liberalization of international capital flows. Reforms are expected to increase competitive efficiency within the financial market in at least three ways. Firstly, the elimination of regulations and price distortions, which allows savings to be directed into highest-yielding [risk-adjusted] form of investment [improved allocative efficiency]. Secondly, increased competition reduces the cost of financial intermediation [higher operational efficiency]. Thirdly, the reform measures, generates and improved range of financial products and services adaptable to changing consumer need [dynamic efficiency]. Although financial reforms can increase the efficiency by channeling resources into productive use, its impact on the quantity of savings is theoretically ambiguous. Accordingly, this paper dwells on theoretical issues and critical review of financial sector reforms/financial liberalization in Nigeria. Attempt was also made to assess the impact of the reforms/liberalization. The paper analyzed the roles of the recent literature. Ten indicators that encompass all the qualities of a well developed financial sector reforms were selected to measure the impact of financial sector deregulation on the economy.
Trajectory control of DC servo using OS-ELM based controller

In this work implementation of On Line Sequential Extreme Learning Machine (OS-ELM) based trajectory control strategy of DC servo motor is investigated. Extreme Learning Machine (ELM) is a novel method for training of the forward neural networks with single hidden layer is extremely fast and accurate compared to gradient based learning methods. Further to minimize the effect of machine parameters variations, ELM is trained on line using sequential recursive least square method. Comparative study of artificial neural network based controller, ELM based controller, and OS-ELM based controller has been done for DC servo motor for non linear fan or impeller type of load.
Antagonism of Low Degrees of Atracurium-induced Neuromuscular Blockade: Dose–Effect Relationship for Neostigmine

Background:Low degrees of residual paralysis (i.e., a train-of-four [TOF] ratio > 0.4) are relatively frequent, difficult to detect, and still potentially harmful. Unfortunately, the appropriate dose of anticholinesterase for this situation has not been determined. This may be of clinical interest because a high dose of neostigmine given at a shallow level of neuromuscular block may produce neuromuscular weakness. The purpose of this study was to investigate the dose–effect relationship of neostigmine to antagonize residual paralysis corresponding to a TOF ratio of 0.4 and 0.6. Methods:Recovery after 10, 20, 30 &mgr;g/kg neostigmine or placebo given at either 0.4 or 0.6 TOF ratio was assessed by acceleromyography in 120 patients undergoing intravenous anesthesia. Time to a 0.9 and 1.0 TOF ratio was measured, and the probability of successful reversal within 10 min after the respective neostigmine doses was calculated. In addition, the dose of neostigmine needed to achieve the recovery targets in 5 or 10 min was also determined. Results:When given at a TOF ratio of either 0.4 or 0.6, time to 0.9 and 1.0 TOF ratio was significantly shorter with any dose of neostigmine than without. The probability of successful reversal after 20 &mgr;g/kg neostigmine was 100% when a TOF ratio of 0.9 was the target; for a TOF ratio of 1.0, the probability was 93% and 67%, dependent on whether the dose of neostigmine was given at TOF ratio of 0.6 or 0.4, respectively. With a dose of 30 &mgr;g/kg, a TOF ratio of 1.0 is expected to be reached within approximately 5 min. Low doses of neostigmine are required to reach a TOF ratio of 0.9 or to accept an interval of 10 min. Conclusion:Reduced doses (10–30 &mgr;g/kg) of neostigmine are effective in antagonizing shallow atracurium block. For successful reversal within 10 min, as little as 20 &mgr;g/kg neostigmine may be sufficient. These dose recommendations are specific for atracurium and an intravenous anesthetic background.
Inverse correlation between P53 and Bcl-2 expression in breast carcinoma of Malaysian patients

The tumour suppressor gene p53 and the proto-oncogene Bcl-2 encode respectively, for a nuclear phosphoprotein and for a mitochondrial membrane protein involved in multiple cellular functions. Both proteins are linked to programmed cell death pathways and provide prognostic information on breast carcinoma. Our aim is to study the expression of p53 and Bcl-2 oncoproteins in breast carcinoma and correlate with patients’ age, tumour size, disease stage and histological grade. Fifty nine cases of breast carcinomas from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC) were studied with the immunohistochemical method. Our results
Corporate governance in Kuwait : the role of merchant families

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Using Functional Theory to Promote Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Testing

This article reports two studies testing the use of the functional theory of attitudes and arousal of guilt in motivating college students to get tested for genital herpes and chlamydia. Value-expressive appeals to get tested for the benevolent purpose of protecting sexual partners could be effective if that goal is desired by message targets who are sexually active and unaware of their sexually transmitted disease status. The appeals’ effectiveness is increased by the arousal of guilt in response to the recognition that failing to get tested is a violation of that value. A model detailing the mediating processes is found to be consistent with the data across two studies. Study 1 found that value-expressive messages tying the importance of getting tested for herpes to the goal of protecting the health of sexual partners is related to increased intentions toward getting tested; being healthy oneself is additional motivation for chlamydia in Study 2.
High frequency electromagnetic fields (GSM signals) affect gene expression levels in tumor suppressor p53‐deficient embryonic stem cells

Effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) simulating exposure to the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) signals were studied using pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cells in vitro. Wild‐type ES cells and ES cells deficient for the tumor suppressor p53 were exposed to pulse modulated EMF at 1.71 GHz, lower end of the uplink band of GSM 1800, under standardized and controlled conditions, and transcripts of regulatory genes were analyzed during in vitro differentiation. Two dominant GSM modulation schemes (GSM‐217 and GSM‐Talk), which generate temporal changes between GSM‐Basic (active during talking phases) and GSM‐DTX (active during listening phases thus simulating a typical conversation), were applied to the cells at and below the basic safety limits for local exposures as defined for the general public by the International Commission on Nonionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). GSM‐217 EMF induced a significant upregulation of mRNA levels of the heat shock protein, hsp70 of p53‐deficient ES cells differentiating in vitro, paralleled by a low and transient increase of c‐jun, c‐myc, and p21 levels in p53‐deficient, but not in wild‐type cells. No responses were observed in either cell type after EMF exposure to GSM‐Talk applied at similar slot‐averaged specific absorption rates (SAR), but at lower time‐averaged SAR values. Cardiac differentiation and cell cycle characteristics were not affected in embryonic stem and embryonic carcinoma cells after exposure to GSM‐217 EMF signals. Our data indicate that the genetic background determines cellular responses to GSM modulated EMF. Bioelectromagnetics 25:296–307, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The nucleotide sequence of a full length cDNA encoding rat pituitary pyruvate kinase.

Pyruvate kinase (PK), a cytosolic enzyme, catalyzes the conversion of phosphoenolpyruvate' to pyruvate with the generation of ATP. We have isolated a full length cDNA clone from a Xgtll cDNA library constructed from rat pituitary GH3 cells by using a 475 bp Pstl fragment from a human PK cDNA (1). The sequence is 2310 bp long and contains a long open reading frame of 1593 bp with an initiation codon at nucleotide position 90 and a termination codon at 1683. The open reading frame encodes a protein of 531 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 57,978. It consists of a 84-bp 5'-untranslated and 296-bp 3'-untranslated region. The sequence is highly homologous to the rat liver pyruvate kinase subtype Mj (2), having a 991 sequence similarity at the amino acid level.
A cognitive signals reconstruction algorithm based on compressed sensing

Compressed Sensing (CS) theory has been widely used in radar signal processing field, and the reconstruction algorithm is the key to whether the original signal can be reconstructed from limited observations. However, the existing reconstruction algorithms either don't consider and remove the noise in signal reconstruction, or need the iterative estimation of noise variance during the signal reconstruction processing, which will lead the poor anti-noise performance or large computation load. In this paper, a cognitive signals reconstruction algorithm based on compressed sensing is proposed. In the method, the noise variance can be estimated by subspace decomposition method, and then the estimated noise variance is used as priori information in reconstruction algorithms to improve the reconstruction accuracy or reduce the computation load. As a result, the reconstruction algorithm performance can be improved effectively. Some simulation results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
The association of remotely sensed outdoor fine particulate matter with cancer incidence of respiratory system in the USA

ABSTRACT This study aimed to assess the association between exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and respiratory system cancer incidence in the US population (n = 295,404,580) using a satellite-derived estimate of PM2.5 concentrations. Linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine whether PM2.5 was related to the odds of respiratory system cancer (RSC) incidence based on gender and race. Positive linear regressions were found between PM2.5 concentrations and the age-adjusted RSC incidence rates for all groups (Males, Females, Whites, and Blacks) except for Asians and American Indians. The linear relationships between PM2.5 and RSC incidence rate per 1 μg/m3 PM2.5 increase for Males, Females, Whites, Blacks, and all categories combined had slopes of, respectively, 7.02 (R2 = 0.36), 2.14 (R2 = 0.14), 3.92 (R2 = 0.23), 5.02 (R2 = 0.21), and 4.15 (R2 = 0.28). Similarly, the logistic regression odds ratios per 10 μg/m3 increase of PM2.5 were greater than one for all categories except for Asians and American Indians, indicating that PM2.5 is related to the odds of RSC incidence. The age-adjusted odds ratio for males (OR = 2.16, 95% CI = 1.56–3.01) was higher than that for females (OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.09–2.06), and it was higher for Blacks (OR = 2.12, 95% CI = 1.43–3.14) than for Whites (OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.23–2.42). The odds ratios for all categories were attenuated with the inclusion of the smoking covariate, reflecting the effect of smoking on RSC incidence besides PM2.5.
Portfolio Management Using Statistical Process Control Chart

Portfolio management deals with decision making on ‘when’ and ‘how’ to revise an existing portfolio. In this paper, we show that a classical statistical process control (SPC) chart for normal data, a wellestablished tool in quality engineering, can effectively be used for signaling times for revising a portfolio. Noting that the day-to-day performance of a portfolio may be auto-correlated, we use the exponentially weighted moving average center-line chart to develop an automatic portfolio management procedure. The portfolio management procedure is extensively tested on historical data of equities traded in the Korea Exchange (KRX), the American Stock Exchange (AMEX), and t he New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In comparison with the performances of the KOSPI, XAX, and NYA indices during the same time periods, results from these experiments show that SPC chart-based portfolio revision presents itself a convenient and reliable method for optimally managing portfolios. 1) Keyword: portfolio revision, statistical process control chart, KRX, AMEX, NYSE