Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Large predators and their prey in a southern African savanna: a predator's size determines its prey size range

Summary 1A long-term (13-year) data set, based on > 4000 kills, was used to test whether a sympatric group of large predators adheres to the theoretical predictions that (1) mean prey body size and (2) prey diversity increase as functions of predator body size. 2All kills observed by safari guides are documented routinely in Mala Mala Private Game Reserve, South Africa. We analysed these records for lion (Panthera leo, Linnaeus), leopard (Panthera pardus, Linnaeus), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus, Schreber) and African wild dog (Lycaon pictus, Temminck). Males and females of the sexually dimorphic felid species were treated as functionally distinct predator types. Prey types were classified by species, sex and age class. 3Prey profiles were compared among predator types in terms of richness and evenness to consider how both the range of prey types used and the dominance of particular prey types within each range may be influenced by predator size. No significant size-dependent relationships were found, so factors separate from or additional to body size must explain variation in prey diversity across sympatric predators. 4A statistically strong relationship was found between mean prey mass and predator mass (r2 = 0·86, P= 0·002), although pairwise comparisons showed that most predators killed similar prey despite wide differences in predator size. Also, minimum prey mass was independent of predator mass while maximum prey mass was strongly dependent on predator mass (r2 = 0·71, P= 0·017). The ecological significance is that larger predators do not specialize on larger prey, but exploit a wider range of prey sizes.
The Role of Cloud Computing in Global Supply Chain

This chapter reviews the role of cloud computing in global supply chain, thus describing the theoretical and practical concepts of cloud computing and supply chain management (SCM); the significance of cloud computing in global supply chain; the overview of electronic supply chain management (e-SCM); and the organizational information processing theory within global supply chain. The utilization of cloud computing is necessary for modern organizations that seek to serve suppliers and customers, increase business performance, strengthen competitiveness, and achieve continuous success in global business. Therefore, it is essential for modern organizations to examine their cloud computing applications, develop a strategic plan to regularly check their practical advancements, and immediately respond to the cloud computing needs of customers in global supply chain. Applying cloud computing in global supply chain will extremely improve organizational performance and reach business goals in the digital age.
Mutual Fund Incubation and the Role

A mutual fund family incubates a fund when it creates a privately subsidized fund not available to the general investing public. It destroys unsuccessful incubator funds. The few successful funds will report higher incubation returns than the market return in advertisements intended to attract money from individual investors. This practice is currently allowed by the SEC. The evidence is that incubation returns are not a good predictor of subsequent fund performance and likely serve to mislead unsuspecting investors.
Color-based detection robust to varying illumination spectrum

In color-based detection methods, varying illumination often causes problems, since an object may be perceived to have different colors under different lighting conditions. In the field of color constancy this is usually handled by estimating the illumination spectrum and accounting for its effect on the perceived color. In this paper a method for designing a robust classifier is presented, i.e., instead of estimating and adapting to different lighting conditions, the classifier is made wider to detect a colored object for a given range of lighting conditions. This strategy also naturally handles the case where different parts of an object are illuminated by different light sources at the same time. Only one set of training data per light source has to be collected, and then the detector can handle any combination of the light sources for a large range of illumination intensities.
Online Relationship Quality: Testing an Integrative and Comprehensive Model in the Banking Industry

ABSTRACT This article examines online relationship quality as a multidimensional, integrative construct comprising trust, commitment, and satisfaction. Important antecedents of the construct identified in traditional relationship marketing and e-commerce literature (classified respectively under “relationship characteristics” and “website characteristics”) are also investigated. A Web-based questionnaire is administered to 476 online banking users who are members of a large consumer panel. Findings demonstrate that website characteristics (in order of importance: ease of use, website design, information quality, and security/privacy) are especially important for fostering online relationship quality in the banking sector. The moderating effect of gender and age are also examined while highlighting telling differences (greater impact of perceived relationship benefits for men and Generation Y, communication for women, ease of use for women and security/privacy for Baby Boomer).
Self-Rated Physical Loads of Work Tasks Among Firefighters

Objectives. The present study sought to identify firefighters’ rated physical demands for the most frequently occurring work tasks and to determine if the ratings differed between full-time and part-time firefighters to help create a basis for the development of physical employment tests for firefighters. Methods. An extensive questionnaire was completed by 125 and 68 firefighters in 2000 and 2010, respectively. The data were analysed with the Mann-Whitney U test and binominal test and ranked on the basis of the responses in each category. Results. Significant differences were seen between the full- and part-time firefighters. The work tasks rated as the most physically strenuous in terms of aerobic fitness, muscle strength, work posture and body control by most respondents were smoke diving upstairs (carrying a hose), victim rescue in different ways, carrying a stretcher over terrain and pulling a hose. Conclusions. Physically strenuous work tasks should be included in the end-point performance variables used to select physical performance tests for firefighters. The part-time firefighters with no experience in several of the work tasks suggests that work-related exercises are important if both groups of firefighters are expected to do similar work.
Who needs the office of the future

: The office seems to be the last outpost of resistance to automation, if one can judge by the small amount of money companies are now spending on it. Yet more than a trillion dollars will go for salaries and support of white-collar workers in 1982. Booz, Allen & Hamilton Inc., the management and technology consulting firm, studied so-called knowledge workers to determine how they spend their work day and whether the enhancements of the office of the future could make them more productive. Harvey Poppel discusses the results and points out that many of the frustrating, unproductive activities that the study revealed could be reduced by the appropriate mix of new office systems.
HOPX Is an Epigenetically Inactivated Tumor Suppressor and Overexpression of HOPX Induce Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest in Breast Cancer

Background Evidence has been shown that abnormal DNA methylation plays a vital role in the progression of breast cancer via silencing of gene expression. The results of bisulfite sequencing showed that the methylation status of HOPX in breast cancer tissues was higher than that in normal breast cancer tissues, but little known about the biological functions of HOPX in breast cancer. Methods A total of 13 paired breast cancer and adjacent noncancerous tissues were subjected to bisulfite sequencing. Meanwhile, the methylation levels of cg218995965 and cg24862548 in breast cancer cells were detected by methylation-specific PCR (MSP). Flow cytometry, wound healing and transwell invasion assays were used to detect the apoptosis, migration and invasion in breast cancer cells. In addition, the expressions of HOPX, p21, cyclin D1 and CDK4 in cells were detected with Western blot assay. Results Bisulfite sequencing indicated that the CpG sites (cg218995965 and cg24862548) in the HOPX promoter region showed significantly higher methylation in breast cancer tissues. In addition, methylation-specific PCR revealed that HOPX was significantly hypermethylated in breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-468 and MCF-7. Furthermore, overexpression of HOPX significantly inhibited the proliferation of MDA-MB-468 and MCF-7 cells via inducing the apoptosis. Moreover, upregulation of HOPX markedly inhibited the migration and invasion abilities of MDA-MB-468 cells. Meanwhile, overexpression of HOPX obviously induced cell cycle arrest in MDA-MB-468 cells via upregulation of p21, and downregulation of cyclin D1 and CDK4. Additionally, overexpression of HOPX suppressed tumor growth of breast cancer in vivo. Conclusion Our data showed that HOPX, a tumor suppressor, is epigenetically silenced in breast cancer. Overexpression of HOPX could suppress the progression of breast cancer, and thus indicating that it might serve as a potential target for the treatment of patients with breast cancer.
Pictorial essay: Salivary gland imaging

Abstract Salivary glands are the first organs of digestion secreting their digestive juices into the oral cavity. Parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands are the major paired salivary glands in the decreasing order of their size. In addition, multiple small minor salivary glands are noted randomly distributed in the upper aerodigestive tract, including paranasal sinuses and parapharyngeal spaces. The imaging is directed to the major salivary glands. Commonly used imaging methods include plain radiography and conventional sialography. Recently, high-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) is being increasingly used for targeted salivary gland imaging. However, the advent of cross-sectional imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have revolutionized the imaging of salivary glands. This article illustrates the role of imaging in evaluating the variegated disease pattern of the major salivary glands.
Epidemics And Pandemics Their Impacts On Human History

epidemics and pandemics their impacts on human history is available in our book collection an online access to it is set as public so you can get it instantly. Our books collection saves in multiple locations, allowing you to get the most less latency time to download any of our books like this one. Merely said, the epidemics and pandemics their impacts on human history is universally compatible with any devices to read.
Ultrasound characterization of breast masses

A lump in the breast is a cause of great concern. High frequency, high-resolution USG helps in its evaluation. This is exemplified in women with dense breast tissue where USG is useful in detecting small breast cancers that are not seen on mammography. Several studies in the past have addressed the issue of differentiating benign from malignant lesions in the breast. The American College of Radiology has also brought out a BIRADS-US classification system for categorizing focal breast lesions.
What is shared, what is different? Core relational themes and expressive displays of eight positive emotions

Understanding positive emotions' shared and differentiating features can yield valuable insight into the structure of positive emotion space and identify emotion states, or aspects of emotion states, that are most relevant for particular psychological processes and outcomes. We report two studies that examined core relational themes (Study 1) and expressive displays (Study 2) for eight positive emotion constructs—amusement, awe, contentment, gratitude, interest, joy, love, and pride. Across studies, all eight emotions shared one quality: high positive valence. Distinctive core relational theme and expressive display patterns were found for four emotions—amusement, awe, interest, and pride. Gratitude was associated with a distinct core relational theme but not an expressive display. Joy and love were each associated with a distinct expressive display but their core relational themes also characterised pride and gratitude, respectively. Contentment was associated with a distinct expressive display but not a core relational theme. The implications of this work for the study of positive emotion are discussed.
Genetic Variations and Haplotypes of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A Locus in a Korean Population

Glucuronidation catalyzed by UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) is one of the most important mechanisms for host defense against xenobiotics and endobiotics. Although genetic polymorphisms of several UGT1A isoforms have been reported separately, the haplotypes in all functional exons have not been identified, and little information is available regarding single nucleotide polymorphisms in Koreans. We analyzed genetic polymorphisms in all functional exons of the UGT1A locus by direct sequencing of genomic DNA from 50 healthy Korean subjects, and their haplotypes were inferred from genotype data using an expectation-maximization algorithm. We identified 67 polymorphisms, including three novel single nucleotide polymorphisms, 233C>T in UGT1A1 (T78M), 292C>T in 1A4 (Q98Stop), and 701T>C in 1A7 (I234T). Two amino acid substitutions, 1A4 Q98Stop and 1A7 I234T, were each associated with a decrease of enzymatic activity, whereas UGT1A1 T78M had no significant influence on catalytic function. The frequencies of the known variants in Koreans differed significantly from those reported in other ethnic groups. Haplotype analysis was performed within the polymorphisms in each UGT1A isoform as well as across the isoforms. Based on strong linkage disequilibrium within UGT1A7, between 1A5 and 1A4, and within 1A3, the complex was divided into three blocks, Block 7, Block 5/4, and Block 3. The haplotypes for each block were subsequently determined, revealing a profile that differed from those of other ethnic groups. These results suggest that genetic polymorphisms of the UGT1A locus differ between Koreans and other ethnic populations. Such differences should be considered in pharmacogenetic studies.
Sex and crime: heterotrimeric G proteins in fungal mating and pathogenesis.

Heterotrimeric G proteins act as signal transducers that couple cell-surface receptors to cytoplasmic effector proteins. In fungi, G proteins play essential roles during sexual and pathogenic development. They are part of the pheromone signaling cascade in both ascomycetes and basidiomycetes, which is crucial for the recognition and fusion of cells of opposite mating type. In addition, G proteins affect a number of developmental and morphogenetic processes which determine the virulence of plant and human fungal pathogens. Cloning and targeted disruption of genes encoding alpha subunits of G proteins allowed the attribution of specific functions to these signal transducing molecules. Several lines of evidence indicate that many of the known fungal G proteins influence the intracellular level of cAMP by either stimulating or inhibiting adenylyl cyclase.
$H^infty$Control With Initial Conditions

We consider the problem of Hinfin (uniformly optimal) control with non-zero initial conditions. Quantitative results are derived for examining whether the performance of an Hinfin controller is robust against uncertainty in the initial conditions of both the plant and controller. State-space approach for the construction of the controllers that achieve a certain Hinfin performance bound when the magnitude of the initial condition is known to lie within some maximum singular value bound is also presented
Clock Gene Expression Levels and Relationship With Clinical and Pathological Features in Colorectal Cancer Patients

The clock gene machinery controls cellular metabolism, proliferation, and key functions, such as DNA damage recognition and repair. Dysfunction of the circadian clock is involved in tumorigenesis, and altered expression of some clock genes has been found in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression levels of core clock genes in colorectal cancer (CRC). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to examine ARNTL1, CLOCK, PER1, PER2, PER3, CRY1, CRY2, Timeless (TIM), TIPIN, and CSNK1Ε expression levels in the tumor tissue and matched apparently healthy mucosa of CRC patients. In the tumor tissue of CRC patients, compared to their matched healthy mucosa, expression levels of ARNTL1 (p = .002), PER1 (p = .002), PER2 (p = .011), PER3 (p = .003), and CRY2 (p = .012) were lower, whereas the expression level of TIM (p = .044) was higher. No significant difference was observed in the expression levels of CLOCK (p = .778), CRY1 (p = .600), CSNK1Ε (p = .903), and TIPIN (p = .136). As to the clinical and pathological features, a significant association was found between low CRY1 expression levels in tumor mucosa and age (p = .026), and female sex (p = .005), whereas high CRY1 expression levels in tumor mucosa were associated with cancer location in the distal colon (p = .015). Moreover, high TIM mRNA levels in the tumor mucosa were prevalent whenever proximal lymph nodes were involved (p = .013) and associated with TNM stages III–IV (p = .005) and microsatellite instability (p = .015). Significantly poorer survival rates were evidenced for CRC patients with lower expression in the tumor tissue of PER1 (p = .010), PER3 (p = .010), and CSNKIE (p = .024). In conclusion, abnormal expression levels of core clock genes in CRC tissue may be related to the process of tumorigenesis and exert an influence on host/tumor interactions. (Author correspondence: g.mazzoccoli@tin.it)
Identifying and Resolving Inter-creditor and Debtor-Creditor Equity Issues in Sovereign Debt Restructuring

• In response to the deficiencies of the current approach, several policy measures to enhance the equity and efficiency of sovereign debt restructuring procedures should be considered. These include: tighter regulation of sovereign credit default swap (SCDS) contracts; the provision of a greater role for debt reprofiling and bondholder aggregation; the development of common rules and norms for valuing public and private concessions in sovereign debt restructurings; and the establishment of greater creditor rights for implicit creditors. NO. 53 JANUARY 2015
The SSU rDNA Coding Region of a Filose Amoeba Contains a Group I Intron Lacking the Universally Conserved G at the 3′-Terminus1

Abstract We sequenced small subunit ribosomal DNA (rDNA) PCR-fragments of sizes 2.3 kb and 2.9 kb isolated from a culture of the red alga, Porphyra spiralis var. spiralis. Phylogenetic analysis of the 2.3-kb fragment showed that it encoded the sequence of a contaminant filose amoeba. The Nuclearia-like amoeba (named strain N-Por) was identified with scanning electron microscopy. Its rDNA sequence was positioned with strong bootstrap support within a diverse protist assemblage that includes filose amoebae, chlorarachniophytes, cercomonads, and Plasmodiophora brassicae. The rDNA of N-Por contained a group I intron at the conserved 943 position that remarkably, had a U at the 3′-terminus rather than the universally conserved G.
Pengaruh Risiko Likuiditas Terhadap Profitabilitas Pada Perbankan Syariah Dan Konvensional Di Indonesia

This research aims to test the influence of liquidity risk to profitability in the Sharia and Conventional Banking empirically, and also to compare the existence of liquidity risk and profitability in the Sharia and Conventional Banking. Financing to Deposit Ratio (FDR), Liquid Asset to Deposit (LAD), and Liquid asset to Total Asset (LTA) as the proxy of liquidity risk. Profitability was proxied by Return on Asset (ROA). The results show that in Sharia Banking, FDR and LTA influence profitability positively and significanly, while the LAD influence negatively to the profitability. In the Conventional Banking, LTA variable effects negative and significant to the profitability and for the FDR and LAD have not significant effect on profitability. The research also finds that variables of FDR and LTA in Conventional and Sharia banking have significant differences, while LAD and ROA in Conventional and Sharia Banking have not significant differences.
The Number of Ezrin-Expressing Lymphocytes Correlating with Tumor Cell Apoptosis and Prognosis of Human Gastric Carcinoma

Background: Ezrin is a linker protein between actin filaments and cell adhesion molecules, which plays an important role in cancer progression. There are only a few studies available that have investigated ezrin expression in different types of tumors. However, the prognostic importance of ezrin and its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics are yet to be delineated in gastric carcinoma. Methods: Specimens from 124 gastric carcinoma patients of T2 and T3 diseases treated in a defined period with curative operation were evaluated for ezrin, CD8 and cleaved caspase-3 expression by immunohistochemical methods. Results: Ezrin expression was detected in both cancer cells and interstitial cells (ISCs) infiltrated into the tumor. According to our criterion, 37 patients (29.8%) were positive for ezrin expression and 87 (70.2%) were negative. A significant correlation between ezrin expression and any of the clinicopathological characteristics could not be found. In Spearman-rank correlation test, a significant correlation was found between the number of ezrin-stained ISCs and apoptotic index (AI) of cancer cells. Also the AI of cancer cells was significantly higher in ezrin-positive group when compared with ezrin-negative group. Patients with ezrin-expressing tumors had a significantly better disease-free survival, and in multivariable analysis ezrin expression status remained significant as an independent prognostic factor. Conclusion: Taken together, our results suggest that ezrin expression may play a vital role in tumor apoptosis and that it can be a useful tool for therapeutic intervention.
Integrating the Use of Online Social Networking Sites in the Communication Strategy of a Company

Abstract The usage of online social networking sites has never been stronger for the individuals and for the companies. This paper is underlining the importance of using the online social networking (OSN) sites in the communication strategy of one’s company; it presents the concept and the evolution of this marketing tool. It points out the advantages and disadvantages of using such a platform in a marketing campaign. We are underlining the strengths and weaknesses of this tool, as well as the main tactics and actions that the company must use in order to achieve the desired / maximum result when using such a communication platform in its strategy. At the same time we are presenting several results of a quantitative marketing research about how the OSN sites influence the consumers and the buying behaviour.