Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recent Efforts for the Development of Antitubercular Drug Containing Diazine Ring

There has been considerable interest in the development of new molecule with antibacterial activities particularly against tuberclosis because mycobacterium species have developed resistant against currently used drugs, their toxic effect and long duration of therapy. The diazine (pyridazine, pyrimidine and piperazine) derivatives possess an important class of compound for new drugs research and development. Therefore, many researchers have synthesized these compounds as target structures and evaluated their antitubercular activity. These observations have been guiding for the development of new molecules that possess potent antitubercular activity with minimum side effects or effective against MDR, XDR mycobacterium strains, and also in patient co-infected with HIV/AIDS.
Market power and bank interest rate adjustments

Evidence is presented on the long and short run relationship between the money market interest rate and loan and deposit interest rates charged by individual Spanish banks between 1988 and 2003. The results indicate that such relationships have been determined by a mixture of adjustment costs and market power of banks, which creates interest rate rigidity and asymmetries in the speed at which increases and decreases in the money market interest rate are translated into banking interest rates. We also find that the price adjustment speed first decreases and later increases with market concentration, which is consistent with predictions from models that assume quantity adjustment costs.
Development of a Low Cost ECG Data Acquisition Module

The paper describes the development of a low cost and simple amplifier circuit for ECG acquisition from a single lead. The acquisition circuit uses clip-type flat metal plate limb electrodes to sense the heart signals and a basic amplifier circuit is designed using JFET OP-AMP IC LF-353 with the required gain to suitably amplify the signal. The amplified data fed into a computer using USB-6009 is then denoised, processed and displayed using LabVIEW software. The developed ECG acquisition module is evaluated by visual comparison of simultaneously recorded data acquired by the module with and by the MP-150 amplifier system from BIOPAC Systems Inc. Tests have been performed in the laboratory on several volunteers in the age group of 28-60 and the results were quiet satisfactory.
Regulation of Biomedical Research

price for preconditioned calves. One survey indicated that 34 to 45% of the feeder calves arriving in southwestern feedlots have to be castrated upon arrival at the feedlot. A sale barn is not going to be motivated to hire better livestock handlers unless they received a premium price in their barn. Feeding grain at the sale barn can reduce death losses. The problem is that somebody has to be willing to pay for the more expensive feed. Trucking losses could be reduced by paying drivers bonuses for low death and injury losses. This works well for hog truck drivers. In another survey (Grandin 1981), producers who sold their cattle to the slaughter plant on a live weight basis had almost twice as many bruises compared to producers who sold their cattle on a carcass basis. The producer gets bruises deducted from his check when cattle are sold on a carcass basis. Observations also indicated that when the feedlot and the slaughter plant are owned by the same people, the handling of the livestock is better. The losses cannot be passed on in this situation.
Genetic Characterization of Jaguars (Panthera onca) in Captivity in Zoological Parks of Colombia

The construction of the pedigree of captive jaguars ( Panthera onca ) in zoological parks of Colombia was done using the analysis of the Regional Studbook for Jaguars and DNA analysis of 9 microsatellites of 20 Jaguars (n=20). The assignments for paternities and maternities were done with for the program CERVUS and the relationship between ani- mals were established with the KINSHIP program. The analysis of the Studbook was done with SPARKS and PM2000 software generating the following values: genetic diver- sity for the population (GD=0.7832), potential genetic diversity (GD=0.9113), genic value (GV=0.7846), mean coefficient of inbreeding (F=0.0179), and the Mean KINSHIP (MK) for each individual. The averages of the observed and expected heterozygosity were 0.687 and 0.684 respectively. Nevertheless, a wild jaguar sample of 156 individuals obtained in Colombia substantially showed a higher degree of gene diversity (H = 0.87) than the Colombian captive jaguar population. Thus, the captive jaguar population retained 78 % of the gene diversity of the Colombian wild jaguar population. With this study the pedigree of the captive population of jaguars was built in order to develop an ex situ conserva- tion plan for the species in the Colombian zoological parks.
Influential factors in the competitiveness of mature tourism destinations Os fatores que influenciam a competitividade dos destinos turísticos maduros

With a few exceptions, the traditional models that aim at identifying the factors that influence the competitiveness of tourism destinations are very difficult to operationalise because they need a large number of indicators to inform the concepts. This paper presents a different approach that postulates that researchers should try to identify the specific factors that impact competitiveness of tourism destinations according to the stage of the destinations’ life cycle. With the aim of identifying these specific factors, an extensive literature review was undertaken, focusing in particular on the papers that explicitly recognised that the destinations under analysis in the studies were in the mature stage of their lifecycle. From the literature review, we concluded that the specific factors able to negatively influence the performance of mature tourism destinations can be grouped into four areas. The first area concerns the deterioration of the destinations’ infrastructure; the second is related to the destinations’ management, namely the lack of a shared strategic vision among stakeholders; the third area is associated with the loss of economic vitality in the destinations; finally, the fourth area includes the impact of tourism development over the years on the territory, specifically social, environmental and cultural impacts. The results obtained from the empirical study allow us to conclude that the lack of environmental problems, not being overdeveloped in terms of construction and having maintained authenticity are all perceived by tourists as more important for the competitiveness of tourism destinations than factors normally considered more relevant, such as prices and the quality of accommodations.
Earnings Disparities and Income Inequality in CEE Countries: An Analysis of Development and Relationships

The potential in survey data for the study of simultaneous changes in earnings disparities, inequality of household income, and the connections between them has thus far been underexploited. This paper presents various data on four Central and East European (CEE) countries and, for the sake of comparison, partially on Austria and Germany. First, it compares the changes in both distributions over time since the communist period as reported in various sources and asks: how much did disparities and inequalities increase during the transition? Second, it presents the attempts that have been made so far to analyse the connections between the two distributions and asks: how should the association between personal and household earnings be analysed and what do we know about its development? Third, it presents the changing links between earned and disposable income in CEE countries using LIS data for history and EU-SILC data for the present time, asking how strong was and currently is the association and how the countries differ in packaging family income? Various sources confirm that earnings disparities and income inequalities rose more or less in all four CEE countries after 1989. This is apparent in the individual countries in various phases of their transition. In contrast, no increase occurred from 2004 to 2007, according to the EU-SILC surveys.
Dynamics of Convective Heat and Mass Transfer in Permeable Parts of Seismofocal Zones of the Kamchatka Region and Conjugated Volcanic Arcs

This chapter considers the dynamics of convective heating of mantle and crustal rocks in the seismic focal zone of Kamchatka region and associated volcanic arcs, which are characterized by the predominance of compressive stresses and the compaction of the heterophase medium. Features of heating, determining the dynamics of metasomatic transformations and convective melting, are studied on the basis of nonisothermal hydrodynamic model of heating of lithospheric rocks above the magmatic chambers.
The Role of Optimism in Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Developing Foreign Language Fluency

A previous quantitative and qualitative study carried out by the author demonstrated that many of the personality traits that facilitate cultural adaptation or adjustment (the ability to function at a high level in cross-cultural environments) also facilitate gaining fluency in foreign languages (Keeley, 2014; Keeley, 2013; Keeley, 2012). The study employed Kozai Group’s Global Competencies Inventory (GCI), a validated instrument for expatriate selection focusing on the psychological factors demonstrated to facilitate functioning in cross-cultural environments. Optimism is one of the GCI competencies that demonstrated a strong relationship with the development of oral fluency in foreign languages. The objective of this paper is to explore optimism in detail and how it facilitates cross-cultural adjustment and foreign language fluency. The Role of Optimism in Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Developing Foreign Language Fluency
NON-LINEAR TOOLS AND METHODOLOGICAL CONCERNS MEASURING HUMAN MOVEMENT VARIABILITY: AN OVERVIEW

In recent years, several works have explored variability using different approaches, trying to describe the variations in motor movement. Traditionally, movement variability was regarded as a system error due to noise of neuromuscular mechanisms, but alternative theories suggest that motor variability seems to reflect a functional behaviour improving motor control and enhancing learning. Controversial results have been reported about variability characteristics and its role in motor control and learning, and several works suggest that the main difficulty lies in how to measure this variability. In this work, we have outlined the most used non-linear tools to assess human variability, their applications, advantages and disadvantages. We have also suggested different methods about how to achieve a multidimensional approximation to motor variability. Finally, we have called attention to some methodological issues frequently reported as important aspects to take into account when measuring human movement variability.
A dead-beat adaptive hysteresis current control

The paper proposes a new digital algorithm for the implementation of the fixed frequency, adaptive hysteresis current control for voltage source inverters. The key features of the new algorithm are the minimization of the analog external circuitry, the capability to automatically compensate for the inverter dead-time effects without appreciable delay and a tight synchronization of the inverter voltage pulses with an external clock. The synchronization is actually inherent in the implemented algorithm and does not require additional control loops; the stability problems affecting all the solutions proposed so far are therefore avoided and a steady switching frequency is achieved. Even though the complexity of the algorithm is compatible with many conventional microcontrollers' performance level, the implementation with a commercial DSP is considered in order to achieve ultrasonic operating frequency and to test the effectiveness of the solution in more demanding conditions.
The Molecular and Developmental Basis of the Evolution of the Vertebrate Auditory System

We review the molecular basis of the auditory system development and evolution. The auditory pe- riphery evolved by building on the capacity of vestibular hair cells to respond to higher frequency mechanical stimulation. Evolution altered accessory structures to transform vestibular to auditory receptors. Auditory neurons are derived from vestibular neurons, possibly through the expression of the zinc finger protein GATA3. The bHLH gene Neurogenin1 is expressed in the area of the develop- ing vestibular nuclei whereas the bHLH gene Atoh1 is expressed in the developing auditory nuclei. Atoh1 null mice show an almost complete loss of cochlear nuclei. Overall, the ear, sensory neurons and brainstem auditory nuclei show molecular conservation embedded in an organ-specific molecular context. This results in the modification of the developmental pathways governed by these conserved molecules. These data are consistent with the emerging insight that morphological evolution is pri- marily driven by the modification of gene expression regulation. The word "homology" is classically used to characterize evolutionarily re- lated organs, regardless of variation in form and function exhibited in different species. During evolution, novel functions can be acquired by morphologically transforming ancestral structures or by developing new structures, seemingly from scratch through novel molecular developmental programs. A clear definition of what new organs are will ultimately dependent on our ability to dissect, at the mo- lecular level, the developmental pathways that give rise to these structures in order to uncover whether preexisting molecular modules were combined or whether those molecular modules evolved de novo to generate a seemingly new structure. Given the modular nature of most developmental programs and the dependency of transcription factor signaling on the context within which they are expressed, sepa- rating those two basic issues of evolutionary biology will remain contentious for the near future. This is nowhere more obvious than in the formation of major ger- minal layers during embryonic development—ectoderm, endoderm, and meso- derm—for which recent molecular evidence suggests that cellular specification akin to mesoderm formation occurs in coelenterates, species that have traditionally been claimed to lack formation of mesoderm (Spring et al., 2002). Thus, molecular and cellular specification events can predate the morphological appearance of nov- elties, making it difficult to establish exactly when a novelty first appears in evolu- tion. Ultimately, then, the distinction between novelties in a true sense as opposed to apparent novelties that rely on transformed ancestral genes and developmental
Quasi-normal-modes description of transmission properties for photonic bandgap structures

We use the "quasi-normal-modes" (QNM) approach for discussing the transmission properties of double-side opened optical cavities: in particular, this approach is specified for one-dimensional (1D) "photonic bandgap" (PBG) structures. Moreover, we conjecture that the density of the modes is a dynamical variable that has the flexibility of varying with respect to the boundary conditions as well as the initial conditions; in fact, the electromagnetic (e.m.) field generated by two monochromatic counterpropagating pump waves leads to interference effects inside a quarter-wave symmetric 1D-PBG structure. Finally, here, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, a large number of theoretical assumptions on QNM metrics for an open cavity, never discussed in literature, are proved, and a simple and direct method to calculate the QNM norm for a 1D-PBG structure is reported. (c) 2009 Optical Society of America
Utility-Directed Resource Allocation in Virtual Desktop Clouds

User communities are rapidly transitioning their “traditional desktops” that have dedicated hardware and software installations into “virtual desktop clouds” (VDCs) that are accessible via thin-clients. To allocate and manage VDC resources for Internet-scale desktop delivery, existing work focuses mainly on managing server-side resources based on utility functions of CPU and memory loads, and do not consider network health and thin-client user experience. Resource allocations without combined utility-directed information of system loads, network health and thin-client user experience in VDC platforms inevitably results in costly guesswork and overprovisioning of resources. In this thesis, an analytical model i.e., “Utility-Directed Resource Allocation Model (U-RAM)” is presented to solve the combined utility-directed resource allocation problem within VDCs. The solution uses an iterative algorithm that leverages utility functions of system, network and human components obtained using a novel virtual desktop performance benchmarking toolkit i.e., “VDBench”. The combined utility functions are used to direct decision schemes based on Kuhn-Tucker optimality conditions for creating user desktop pools and determining optimal resource allocation size/location. U-RAM is evaluated in a VDC testbed featuring: (a) popular user applications (Spreadsheet Calculator, Internet Browser, Media Player, Interactive Visualization), and (b) TCP/UDP based thin-client protocols (RDP, RGS, PCoIP) under
Output regulation of multiproduct firms : an application of the quadratic profit function

The paper employs the symmetric normalised quadratic (SNQ) profit function presented by Kohli (1993) to estimate for interaction effects between restricted and unrestricted outputs in firm production. Based on data for individual firms, the profit function is employed for revealing the spillover effects between regulated and unregulated outputs, the elasticities of intensity, and firms‘ willingness to pay for additional production quota in a quota regulated industry. The result indicates that external effects prevail, which means that in the case of quota shortage firms will substitute towards increased harvesting of unregulated outputs, this action however increases the production costs for the average firm. JEL classification: D23, Q21, Q22
Satisfaction with sex life among middle-aged adults

In the current study we examined the sex life satisfaction among middle-aged adults. The aims of this research were twofold. The first objective was to examine whether there were differences in the satisfaction with sex life according to certain background characteristics. The second objective was to study the relationships between sex satisfaction and other relational constructs. Participants numbered 193 with a mean age of 51.64. Scores from the SWSLS have favourable psychometric properties among which Cronbach’s alpha was 0.83. As expected no gender differences regarding the satisfaction with sex life were found. Characteristics indicative of the quality of a relationship (Eros, commitment, sexual desire, and romantic loneliness) were related to the level of sexual satisfaction. Measures of well-being (satisfaction, life satisfaction, and self-esteem) were also related to sex life satisfaction. Suggestions concerning the use of the SWSLS for research and clinical purposes are offered.
Integrated semantic and event-based reasoning for emergency response applications

Emergency response applications require the processing of large amounts of data in order to provide an accurate and concise view of the situation at hand. In this context, the adoption of semantic technologies is essential as it allows focusing on the definition of a formal model and intelligent data processing and reasoning. This paper presents a novel approach to emergency response applications, such as performed by the fire department, integrating a semantic reasoning engine into an event-based system supporting the use of a formal domain definition. A semantic model is used to automatically generate Java objects which are consumed by the rest of the application. Object manipulations automatically update the underlying model. Additionally inference on the model performed by the reasoning engine is dynamically synchronized with the other architectural components triggering events based on predefined conditions. Validation is executed on a fire fighting 10 A. Hristoskova, W. Boffé, T. Tourwé and F. De Turck scenario where the state of a fire fighter is constantly monitored based on new device and sensor measurements such as body temperature, heart rate, location. While the reasoning engine keeps track of the fire fighter’s context, the eventbased engine issues alerts to the rest of the team in case his state deteriorates.
THE IMPACT OF WORLD CRUDE OIL PRICES ON THE VIETNAMESE STOCK MARKET

This paper reports the impact of world crude oil prices on the Vietnamese stock market from March 2006 to June 2015 using the autoregressive-distributed lag (ARDL) model. Results indicate a positive short-term impact, but a negative long-run impact. Furthermore, results indicate that the economic crisis affected the relationship between the crude oil prices and the Vietnamese stock market index only in the short-run.
An assessment of the early stages of a sustainable business model in the Canadian fast food industry

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe a Canadian corporation's implementation and application of a sustainable business operation and model. It is based upon a case study of an International Canadian coffee and donut chain: Tim Hortons.Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected through: extensive publications of corporate documents, observations of actual operations at retail sites and social media sites.Findings – The paper finds that Tim Hortons has clearly made progress toward greater sustainability. However, its program often lacks specificity, particularly in terms of greenhouse gas emissions. Within a visibly and highly polluting industry Tim Hortons sustainability program is a step in the right direction but there are areas in need of improvement.Research limitations/implications – The findings of this study paradoxically suggest that it is difficult for a company in the fast food industry to truly become sustainable given certain characteristics of the industry (disposal food a.
A Correlated Noise Model for the Signiflcance Analysis of Gene Expression Data

Motivation: The Student t-test, applied to two-tissue comparisons based on Affymetrix chip data, often results in the non-operational conundrum of “all genes have significantly different regulation”, whenever the number of samples is large. The intraclass correlation (icc) model presented here is a new statistical model for the analysis of gene expression data that addresses this problematic. The icc model includes correlated, tissue-dependent noise terms, which are essential in avoiding the global overestimation of statistical significance that otherwise compromises the process of gene selection. Results: The icc model can be used with a standard t-test by a simple, sample-size-dependent rescaling of the t statistic, or, for applications requiring more sensitivity, with a more elaborate, biased-variance statistic t∗ which we define, in conjunction with a semi-parametric resampling scheme to establish a reference distribution. Application of the icc model to the problem of selecting genes involved in specification and differentiation of neuronal and glial cells, on the basis of expression profiling of fetal brain tissues, indicates that at false-discovery rate Fd = 25%, detection sensitivity for biological marker genes induced in the germinative regions examined is of order S ∼ 40%. Contact: joachim.theilhaber@aventis.com