Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genealogies and weak purifying selection.

The assumption that selection alters the genealogical tree of a sample of alleles from a population relative to the neutral expectation underlies several "tests of neutrality. " Two recent papers have studied the effect of purifying selection; their suggestive but incomplete results indicate that, in the single site case, the shape of a gene genealogy for a locus may differ only from the neutral expectation. We verify this finding for weak selection using the "ancestral selection graph. " We consider a wider range of models, including both a four-allele single-site model and an infinite-sites model. Our results confirm the previous claim for the symmetric-mutation single site model. We emphasize, however, that a neutral-seeming genealogy is consistent with detectable effects of selection on the distribution of allele frequences within the sample. With selection operating, the information about a sample cannot be reduced to the genealogy. As a result, a distinction needs to be made between the selected sites themselves, for which the genealogy offers insufficient information, and linked neutral variation. This distinction seems to have been overlooked in previous papers, yet it has significant implications for the interpretation of data on DNA sequence variation. In particular, it predicts that under purifying selection, the frequency spectrum of neutral mutations will not reflect the skew toward rare polymorphisms at replacement sites even if there is no recombination between them. We caution, however, that the effect of weak selection on the genealogy is specific to the model; a (more realistic) model of multiple linked sites could lead to a more distorted genealogy than is observed for a single site.
Effect of the Issuance of Convertible Bonds on the Company’s Agency Costs

The separation of ownership rights and management rights on shares of a Joint-stock company leads to agency conflicts between shareholders and managers. With the separation of ownership and management of financing funds making the interests of shareholders contradict the interests of its creditors, the company’s agency costs come into being as a result. Through an empirical research on agency costs of 79 non-financial listed companies who issued convertible bonds during the year 2002-2013 in China, whether the issuance of the convertible bond is beneficial to reduce agency cost of listed companies is examined. The empirical results show that the issuance of convertible bonds contributes to the reduction of agency costs, which supports the assumption concluded from the theoretical researches conducted by foreign researchers that convertible bonds can reduce agency costs in some extent.
The Korean Crisis: What Did We Know and When Did We Know it? What Stress Tests of the Corporate Sector Reveal

The objective of this paper is to provide a retrospective assessment of our ability to have predicted the impact of the 1997 crisis on the Korean corporate sector. We perform some simple stress tests on the aggregate balance sheets and income statements of the corporate sector to determine what could have been foreseen before the onset of the crisis. Our results show that data available in mid-1997 clearly showed that the corporate sector was very sensitive to various shocks, particularly interest rate shocks. Had stress tests been performed at the time, they would have revealed that the corporate sector was highly vulnerable to adverse economic developments. Our findings suggest that close surveillance of corporate sector balance sheets can play a useful role in understanding potential financial vulnerabilities.
A new case of high‐molecular‐weight kininogen inherited deficiency

A preoperative hemostasis study discovered a prolonged activated partial thrombo‐plastin time in a 23‐year‐old Portuguese Caucasian woman without personal or past family history of hemorrhage or thrombosis. This was corrected by pooled plasma that excluded circulating anticoagulant. Activated partial thromboplastin time was prolonged whatever the activator, particularly ellagic acid, and was not corrected by prolonged kaolin incubation. Levels of factors VIII and XII were normal; factor XI and prekallikrein levels were either moderately low or normal according to activators and defective reagents used. High‐molecular‐weight kininogen (HMWK) level assessed by coagulation and immunological method was virtually nil. Fibrinolysis activity was normal before and after veinous occlusion. The programmed operation was performed without any particular preparation and no complication arose. Family investigation found heterozygous HMWK deficiency in the proposita's father and three of her siblings.
Implicit Theories and Engagement in Math Among Chinese Adolescent Students: A Moderated Mediation Model of Intrinsic Value and Academic Self-Efficacy

Recent studies have established associations between students’ implicit theories and their academic engagement. However, there is still limited understanding of the potential mechanisms of this relation, and whether it works for students in the context of mathematics as well as in other subjects. The current study aimed to fill this gap by conducting a two-wave survey examining a moderated mediation model concerning the psychological mechanisms that account for the association between students’ implicit theories and mathematics engagement. Applying the theoretical framework of implicit theory, we hypothesized that intrinsic value would be a possible mediating variable between students’ implicit theories and academic engagement, and that students’ academic self-efficacy would moderate the link between implicit theory and intrinsic value. A sample of 710 Chinese adolescent students self-reported their implicit theory, intrinsic value, and academic self-efficacy at Time 1, and engagement in math at Time 2, 12 months apart. After controlling for age and gender, the results revealed positive associations between students’ implicit theories and their engagement in math, and intrinsic value partially mediated the relation between implicit theories and engagement in math. Moreover, students’ academic self-efficacy moderated the link between implicit theory and intrinsic value. These findings contribute to the understanding of the impact of implicit theory on students’ mathematics engagement. Limitations and implications for instructional practices are discussed.
Agency Cost of Government Ownership: A Study of Voluntary Audit Committee Formation in China

In this paper, we investigate the agency costs of government ownership and their impact on corporate governance and firm value. China is used as a laboratory because of the prevalent state shareholdings in exchange-listed firms. In this context, we specifically consider the trade-offs involved in the voluntary formation of an audit committee when the controlling shareholder is the state. The decision to improve corporate governance (in this case, introduce an audit committee) is shown to be value relevant and a function of existing agency relationships and non-trivial implementation costs. Our findings are robust to the level of pyramid groups, the ownership-control wedge, and financial leverage. The research adds to the debate regarding the effect of government shareholdings on corporate culture and performance - a topic that has taken on renewed importance in recent times.
Epstein–Barr virus latent membrane protein‐1 triggers AP‐1 activity via the c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase cascade

The Epstein–Barr virus latent membrane protein‐1 (LMP‐1) is an integral membrane protein which transforms fibroblasts and is essential for EBV‐mediated B‐cell immortalization. LMP‐1 has been shown to trigger cellular NF‐κB activity which, however, cannot fully explain the oncogenic potential of LMP‐1. Here we show that LMP‐1 induces the activity of the AP‐1 transcription factor, a dimer of Jun/Jun or Jun/Fos proteins. LMP‐1 effects on AP‐1 are mediated through activation of the c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) cascade, but not the extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (Erk) pathway. Consequently, LMP‐1 triggers the activity of the c‐Jun N‐terminal transactivation domain which is known to be activated upon JNK‐mediated phosphorylation. Deletion analysis indicates that the 55 C‐terminal amino acids of the LMP‐1 molecule, but not its TRAF interaction domain, are essential for AP‐1 activation. JNK‐mediated transcriptional activation of AP‐1 is the direct output of LMP‐1‐triggered signaling, as shown by an inducible LMP‐1 mutant. Using a tetracycline‐regulated LMP‐1 allele, we demonstrate that JNK is also an effector of non‐cytotoxic LMP‐1 signaling in B cells, the physiological target cells of EBV. In summary, our data reveal a novel effector of LMP‐1, the SEK/JNK/c‐Jun/AP‐1 pathway, which contributes to our understanding of the immortalizing and transforming potential of LMP‐1.
The Appreciative System, Learning, and Its Impact on Information Systems Design

Many researchers and practitioners recognize that there is a link between the failures of information system (IS) provision and flawed Information Requirements Definition (IRD). Misinformation arises from defective communication between clients and analysts and lead to situations where the actual requirements of clients are not identified and properly represented in the subsequent information system. Recent research suggests that this could be the result of inquiry methods that do not subscribe to known learning theories and instead focus on contextual factors affecting client learning. In this paper, we explore the underpinning ideas of client-driven requirements definition and attempt to find a way of “navigating” the gap between what the client wants and what the technical expert can provide. The approach described stimulates client learning, which we suggest is a fundamental component of a successful outcome. We propose a method of requirements analysis that has shown its value in helping to overcome the communication gap between client and developer while creating a collaborative learning environment. The lessons learnt from this research may provide an interface for other technology driven development methods.
Automatic facial expression recognition system using Neural Networks

In this paper, an automatic facial expression recognition system is presented. When a face image is input, two inner canthi are detected as the reference points for searching the expression features extracted from the contour and displacement of eyebrows, eyes, and mouth. Our feature extraction method can reduce the partial influence of shadows and noises. Finally, the expression features are used as the input to an Elman neural network of classifiers. The results on the JAFFE facial database show an average recognition accuracy of 84.7% in seven expressions by automatic canthi detection and 92.2% by manual canthi detection.
Distributed node-to-node consensus of multi-agent systems with Lur'e node dynamics

Distributed node-to-node consensus for a class of multi-agent systems with Lur'e node dynamics and fixed directed topology is investigated in this paper. The multi-agent systems in the present framework consist of two levels, i.e., the leader's level and the follower's level, where the control goal is to find some linear coupling laws such that each follower can asymptotically track its corresponding leader. By using S-procedure and appropriately constructing a Lyapunov function, it is theoretical shown that distributed node-to-node consensus in the closed-loop multi-agent systems with the suitably designed coupling laws can be achieved if the carefully selected followers can directly sense their corresponding leaders.
Globalisation and Labour Markets

In this thesis how labour markets are a ected by globalisation is examined. The thesis takes the form of three chapters. The rst chapter looks at the state of trade unions in Europe and how they have been a ected by globalisation; the second chapter is theoretical in nature and shows how the increasing size of trade blocs and lower transport costs can help to explain the decline in trade union density; and the third chapter looks at how the ability of rms to locate production in more than one country can a ect wages and unemployment. The rst chapter describes trends related to trade unions in Europe, before examining how globalisation can a ect trade unions and how trade unions may respond. Since the 1980s there has been a general decline in trade union density and strike activity. At the same time there has been an increase in globalisation. Although common explanations have been put forward for the decline of trade union density across European countries, no cointegration has been found between trends in trade union density. Despite declines in trade union density, unions have continued to be successful in gaining wage premia for their members. The increase in globalisation has been associated with an increase in the elasticity of demand for labour. This a ects the employment/wage trade o faced by trade unions. There is also some evidence that multinationals can use their cross-border bargaining power to reduce wages. Unions have reacted to globalisation by cooperating internationally, but any progress towards cross border collective bargaining has been at best slow. A simple model is presented in the chapter in order to anticipate the issues discussed in chapters two and three. The model suggests that unions will be more likely to cooperate internationally if they are substitutes in production and if the reservation wage is low. The second chapter looks at how multinational enterprises (MNEs) can a ect wages and unemployment. While the increase in international rm mobility has been well documented, its e ects on macroeconomic aggregates and in the labour market are still controversial. MNEs bene t from an international outside option during wage bargaining, leading to a decrease in average wages. How-
3D Corresponding Control Points Estimation using Mean Shift Iteration

Mean shift algorithm is widely used in 2D images. In this paper a novel 3D corresponding control points estimation using mean shift algorithm is proposed. This algorithm is not a simple extension from 2D to 3D, but computes the probability density function in each slice of the search region and connects them into a whole density function smoothed by Gaussian function. And then we calculate and compare Bhattacharyya coefficients to determine a new location of the trace point. A cylinder instead of ellipsoid is utilized as the search region to improve tracking accuracy. Also three revising methods different from the direct round-off way are proposed to modify the floating trace point. Experiment demonstrates the feasibility of this 3D mean shift algorithm and the effectiveness of the three revising methods. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.11591/telkomnika.v10i5. 1286
Benefit Segmentation: A Decision-oriented Research Tool

According to this article, most techniques of market segmentation rely only on DESCRIPTIVE factors pertaining to purchasers and are not efficient predictors of future buyer behavior. The author proposes an approach whereby market segments are delineated first on the basis of factors with a CAUSAL relationship to future purchase behavior. The belief underlying this segmentation strategy is that the benefits which people are seeking in consuming a given product are the basic reasons for the existence of true market segments.
Motor-Enriched Encoding Can Improve Children’s Early Letter Recognition

It is not known how effective specific types of motor-enriched activities are at improving academic learning and early reading skills in children. The aim of this study was to investigate whether fine or gross motor enrichment during a single session of recognizing letters “b”/“d” can improve within-session performance or delayed retention the following day in comparison to letter recognition practice without movement. Furthermore, the aim was to investigate children’s motivation to perform the specific tasks. We used a randomized controlled intervention study-design to investigate the effect of 10-min motor-enriched “b”/“d” letter training on children’s ability to recognize the letters “b” and “d” (n = 127, mean age = 7.61 ± SD = 0.44 years) acutely, and in a delayed retention test. Three groups were included: a fine motor-enriched group (FME), a gross motor-enriched group (GME), that received 10 min of “b” and “d” training with enriched gestures (fine or gross motor movements, respectively), and a control group (CON), which received non motor-enriched “b”/“d” training. The children’s ability to recognize “b” and “d” were tested before (T0), immediately after (T1), and one day after the intervention (T2) using a “b”/“d” Recognition Test. Based on a generalized linear mixed model a significant group-time interaction was found for accuracy in the “b”/“d” Recognition Test. Specifically, FME improved their ability to recognize “b”/“d” at post intervention (T0→T1, p = 0.008) and one-day retention test (T0→T2, p < 0.001) more than CON. There was no significant difference in change between GME and CON. For reaction time there were no significant global interaction effects observed. However, planned post hoc comparisons revealed a significant difference between GME and CON immediately after the intervention (T0→T1, p = 0.03). The children’s motivation-score was higher for FME and GME compared to CON (FME-CON: p = 0.01; GME-CON: p = 0.01). The study demonstrated that fine motor-enriched training improved children’s letter recognition more than non motor activities. Both types of motor training were accompanied by higher intrinsic motivation for the children compared to the non motor training group. The study suggests a new method for motor-enriched letter learning and future research should investigate the underlying mechanisms.
Synthesis of a New Phenyl Chlormethine-Quinazoline Derivative, a Potential Anti-Cancer Agent, Induced Apoptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Through Mediating Sirt1/Caspase 3 Signaling Pathway

Quinazoline derivatives display multiple pharmacological activities and target various biological receptors. Based on the skeleton of quinazoline core, we designed and synthesized three new quinazoline-phenyl chlormethine conjugates (I–III) bearing a Schiff base (C = N) linker, and investigated their anti-tumor effects on HepG2-xenografted tumor and human cancer cell line HepG2. Among these compounds, compound II showed better inhibitory effect against HepG2 cells. In the present study, TUNEL staining, western blot, molecular docking, and siRNA were used to investigate the inhibitory mechanism of compound II towards hepatoma. Compound II inhibited HepG2-xenografted tumor growth in nude mice. Moreover, Compound II not only up-regulated Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and active-caspase 3 level, but also down-regulated Sirt1 expression and its activity, as well as PGC-1α expression. Furthermore, compound II also significantly suppressed the promotion of HepG2 cell proliferation, as evidenced by MTT assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. Of note, the cytotoxicity of Compound II on HepG2 cells mainly via regulating Sirt1/caspase 3 signaling pathway, consisting with the results in vivo. Intriguingly, z-DEVD-FMK, a caspase 3 inhibitor, almost abolished the inhibitory effects of compound II. Of note, knockdown of caspase 3 by siRNA significantly reversed the inhibitory effect of compound II on HepG2. Interestingly, compound II directly bonded to Sirt1, indicating that Sirt1 might be a promising therapeutic target of compound II. In summary, our findings reveal that compound II, a new synthetical phenyl chlormethine-quinazoline derivative, contributes to the apoptosis of HepG2 cells both in vivo and in vitro through mediating Sirt1/caspase 3 singling pathway. These findings demonstrate that compound II may be a new potent agent against hepatocellular carcinoma.
Matrix metalloproteinases as biomarkers in premalignant and malignant tumors of the human skin

Cutaneous cancer is the most common human malignant disease and over 50% of all neoplasms arise in the skin. Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma comprise the three most common types of skin cancer. Lifelong immunosuppression in organ transplant recipients increases the risk of skin cancer, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality in these patients. Tumour progression is a complex, multi-stage process by which a normal cell undergoes genetic changes that give the cell the ability to spread and colonize distant sites in the body. Excessive degradation of matrix components occurs during tumour growth and progression. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are associated with many types and stages of cancer in numerous studies. They are essential for extracellular matrix degradation, basement membrane penetration, and many signalling functions, such as induction or inhibition of apoptosis, angiogenesis, innate immunity, tumour growth and metastasis. This study aimed to investigate the roles of MMPs in various benign and malignant skin tumours in vivo and to shed light to the pathobiology of these lesions.
Integration of Problem-based Learning and Innovative Technology Into a Self-Care Course

Objective. To assess the integration of problem-based learning and technology into a self-care course. Design. Problem-based learning (PBL) activities were developed and implemented in place of lectures in a self-care course. Students used technology, such as computer-generated virtual patients and iPads, during the PBL sessions. Assessments. Students’ scores on post-case quizzes were higher than on pre-case quizzes used to assess baseline knowledge. Student satisfaction with problem-based learning and the use of technology in the course remained consistent throughout the semester. Conclusion. Integrating problem-based learning and technology into a self-care course enabled students to become active learners.
The Business Case for Engineering Skills-based Volunteerism in K-12 Edu- cation

Skills-based volunteerism programs can provide technical employees effective and meaningful opportunities to utilize, develop, and transfer their skills while contributing to their companies’ community engagement objectives in K-12 education. While many companies encourage their employees to engage in education-related volunteerism, these efforts are often one-off events related to student outreach or recruiting, rather than opportunities for employees to utilize their skills to not only give back to community, but also develop professionally and personally. This study focuses on assessing the impact of a pilot skills-based volunteerism program on the skills and mindsets of professional engineers, who translate their science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills in open-ended engineering design challenges that they subsequently teach to elementary students and their families in underserved, community-based out-of-school programs. This study suggests that community partners, engineers, and the sponsoring company each benefit from this skills-based volunteerism program: community partners directly gain access to working engineers and high-quality, real-world STEM content; engineers develop their communication, creativity, and leadership and mentoring skills, while also broadening their cultural awareness of and engagement with underserved communities; and sponsoring companies indirectly benefit from their engineers’ increased skills, networks, and engagement.
Global Logistics Partnership Negotiation

Uses negotiation concepts as a basis to investigate issues concerning the development of logistics partnerships for international and global operations. Presents a negotiation model as an investigative structure to illustrate the global issues that logistics managers face in creating partnership arrangements. The model includes environmental constraints, objectives for negotiation, negotiation strategy, and the outcome of the negotiation. Develops several hypotheses that suggest potential conceptual relationships between the elements of the model and, from these relationships, introduces managerial implications for consideration of strategy development and implementation.