Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of pre‐ and postnatal polychlorinated biphenyl exposure on metabolic rate and thyroid hormones of white‐footed mice

Energy budgets have proven to be a valuable tool for predicting life history from physiological data in terrestrial vertebrates, yet these concepts have not been applied to the physiological effects of contaminants. Contaminants might affect energy budgets by imposing an additional metabolic cost or by reducing the overall amount of energy taken in; either process will reduce the energy available for production (i.e., growth or reproduction). This study examined whole animal energetic effects of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure in white‐footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus). Exposure to PCBs is known to reduce concentrations of plasma thyroid hormones, and thyroid hormones exert strong control over the rate of energy metabolism in mammals. Peromyscus leucopus that were proven breeders were fed PCBs in their food at 0, 10, and 25 ppm. Through lactation, offspring were exposed to PCB from conception and were maintained on the maternal diet to adulthood. No effects were seen on energy metabolism (O2 consumption, measured in adulthood) or on growth, but there were large dose‐dependent decreases in thyroid hormone concentrations, particularly T4. The apparent disparity in our data between unchanged metabolic rates and 50% reductions in T4 concentrations can be rationalized by noting that free T3 (the fraction not bound to plasma protein) in treated mice was not significantly different from controls and that metabolism is most strongly influenced by free T3. Overall, this study did not demonstrate any energetic consequences of PCB exposure in P. leucopus at dietary concentrations up to 25 ppm.
Electrothermal effects in InP DHBT integrated current mirrors

A method based on measurement and simulation of current mirrors is proposed to investigate electro-thermal effects in InP-DHBT integrated circuits. Various current mirror configurations are realized and measured to study the impact of transistor sizes and spacing on thermal effects. A electro-thermal model is proposed. It is based on the UCSD HBT model equations and includes an external thermal node for connection of a thermal coupling network. Simulations results agree well with the measurements ones.
New percutaneous approaches for chronic total occlusion of coronary arteries

Successful recanalization and percutaneous revascularization of coronary arteries with chronic total occlusion (CTO) is one of the ‘last frontiers’ in coronary interventions. Conquering this obstacle will enable complete percutaneous revascularization in an increasing number of patients. The introduction within the last few years of enhanced guidewires combined with increasing operator experience and creative procedural techniques, such as the retrograde approach and the re-entry subintimal tracking technique (STAR), have significantly reduced the number of CTOs that should now be considered unapproachable. In addition, novel devices have been developed over recent years that may increase the success rate, as well as the safety, of the procedure. The Safe-Cross radiofrequency combines optical coherence reflectometry that warns the operator when the wire tip moves to within 1 mm of the outer vessel wall, combined with radiofrequency energy pulses to facilitate the passage. The CROSSER catheter mechanically vibrates against the face of the CTO at 20 kHz at a stroke depth of approximately 20 µm, creating a channel through the CTO. The most novel approach is the biologic one, in which proteolytic enzymes that digest the CTO cap to facilitate mechanical passage. The success rates for otherwise refractory CTOs will continue to improve with the development and validation of new imaging modalities and active energy source catheters.
Award Number: W81XWH-10-1-0404 TITLE: Receptive Vocabulary Knowledge in Low-Functioning Autism as Assessed by Eye Movements, Pupillary Dilation, and Event-Related Potentials

Recent years have seen the advent and proliferation of the use of implicit techniques to study learning and cognition. One such application is the use of event-related potentials (ERPs) to assess receptive vocabulary knowledge. Other implicit assessment techniques that may be well-suited to other testing situations or to use with varied participant groups have not been used as widely to study receptive vocabulary knowledge. We sought to develop additional implicit techniques to study receptive vocabulary knowledge that could augment the knowledge gained from the use of the ERP technique. Specifically, we used a simple forced-choice paradigm to assess receptive vocabulary knowledge in normal adult participants using eye movement monitoring (EM) and pupillometry. In the same group of participants, we also used an N400 semantic incongruity ERP paradigm to assess their knowledge of two groups of words: those expected to be known to the participants (high-frequency, familiar words) and those expected to be unknown (low-frequency, unfamiliar words). All three measures showed reliable differences between the known and unknown words. EM and pupillometry thus may provide insight into receptive vocabulary knowledge similar to that from ERPs. The development of additional implicit assessment techniques may increase the feasibility of receptive vocabulary testing across a wider range of participant groups and testing situations, and may make the conduct of such testing more accessible to a wider range of researchers, clinicians, and educators.
Vascular Development and Vessel Remodelling Association between TAFI antigen and Ala 147 Thr polymorphism of the TAFI gene and the angina pectoris incidence The PRIME Study

Pierre E. Morange1, Irène Juhan-Vague1, Pierre Y. Scarabin2, Marie C. Alessi1, Gérald Luc3, Dominique Arveiler4, Jean Ferrieres5, Philippe Amouyel6, Alun Evans7, Pierre Ducimetiere2 on behalf of the PRIME Study group 1Department of Hematology, Hôpital de la Timone, INSERM 99–36 Marseilles, France 2INSERM U258,Villejuif, France 3Department of Atherosclerosis, INSERM UR545, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France 4The Strasbourg MONICA Project, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Strasbourg, France 5The Toulouse MONICA Project, INSERM U588, Department of Epidemiology, Paul Sabatier-Toulouse Purpan University, Toulouse, France 6The Lille MONICA Project, INSERM U508, Institut Pasteur de Lille, France 7The Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Queen’s University of Belfast, Northern Ireland
Image tampering detection using local phase based operator

Image tampering detection is important due to many incidences of tampered images misuse. In this paper, we propose a hybrid approach for image tampering detection using range filter and texture descriptor. First we highlights important details of the image using range filtering. The range filter highlights the edges, contours and important details of the objects in an image. Further we apply texture descriptor based on local phase of the image in frequency domain is applied to extract crucial features of the image. This texture descriptor has high descriptive ability that provides sufficient image internal statistical information for detecting image forgery. The CASIA v1.0 database is used for performance estimation of our hybrid approach. For classification between tampered and original images Spectral Regression Discriminant Analysis and Support Vector Machine are used as a classifier. Our method outperforms some of the state of the art methods.
Multipath Robust Azimuthal Direction of Arrival Estimation in Dual-Band 2.45–5.2 GHz Networks

This paper presents a technique capable to ameliorating the impairment caused by radio channel multipath, in the estimation of the wireless communications direction of arrival (DoA). This feature is enabled by a space division multiple access approach supported by a DoA technique based on the combination of the estimates achieved at both 2.45 and 5.2 GHz. The DoA estimation relies on a comparison between the real-time received signal strength indicator and the predicted signal level distribution, which can be estimated and stored without the need of lengthy offline measurement. The experimental setup adopted for the technique validation involves an active interferer, by which arbitrary multipath levels can be implemented. An equivalent reflection coefficient signal-to-interference ratio is defined as the ratio of the unperturbed signal and the induced coherent isofrequency interferer signal, compatible with the two-ray model of the multipath impairment. The proposed technique exploits a dual-band frequency planning, and because of the combined use of the data at the two frequencies, a mean error of 2.6° is observed within a domain ranging from 0.5 to 4 m, for the entire 360° angle in the reference anechoic scenario. The 90th percentile of the cumulative error distribution is 5.4°. In the presence of a strong coherent interferer, compatible with a total reflection from the walls, the mean error is 4.9°, while the 90th percentile of the cumulative error distribution is 10.5°. In the presence of the strongest coherent interferer signal available, which is more severe than the worst case of total reflection, the mean error is 7.1°, while the 90th percentile of the cumulative error distribution is 15.1°.
The Loss of Glypican-3 Induces Alterations in Wnt Signaling*

Loss-of-function mutations of the GPC3 gene are the cause of the human Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome. Based on the overgrowth phenotype of the Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome patients and the key role played by the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling system in regulating embryonic growth, it was speculated that GPC3 regulates IGF signaling. In order to test the validity of this hypothesis, we mated GPC3 knockout mice with insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) nullizygous mice. We found that GPC3 regulates organism growth independent of IRS-1, suggesting that GPC3 does not modulate IGF signaling. Instead, we found that GPC3 knockout mice exhibit alterations in the Wnt signaling pathway, which is also associated with the regulation of cell proliferation. In particular, the loss of GPC3 led to the inhibition of the non-canonical Wnt/JNK signaling pathway, while concomitantly causing the activation of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling. These in vivo findings were confirmed in vitro upon the ectopic overexpression of GPC3 in mesothelioma cells. In these cells, the GPC3-induced increase in JNK activity was associated with an enhanced response to Wnt5a. Most interestingly, the heparan sulfate chains of GPC3 were not required for its stimulatory activity on Wnt5a signaling and for the formation of GPC3-Wnt5a complexes. We propose that at least in some cell types GPC3 serves as a selective regulator of Wnt signaling, by potentiating non-canonical Wnt signaling, while inhibiting the canonical Wnt signaling pathway.
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Gelatinase B or Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9)

The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) form an enzyme family of which gelatinase B (MMP-9) represents the largest and most complex member. We focus here on the biochemical properties, regulation, and functions of gelatinase B. The tight regulation of gelatinase B activity is highly complex and is established at five different levels. The transcription of the gelatinase B-gene depends on various cis-elements in its gene promotor and is induced or repressed by a large variety of soluble factors, including cytokines, growth factors, and hormones and by cellular contacts acting through specific signaling pathways. The specific regulation of its secretion occurs in cells storing gelatinase B in granules. After secretion, progelatinase B must be activated through an activation network. The enzyme activity is further regulated by inhibition and by other mechanisms, such as fine-tuning and stabilization by glycosylation. The ability of gelatinase B to degrade components of the extracellular matrix and to regulate the activity of a number of soluble proteins confers an important role in various physiological and pathological processes. These include reproduction, growth, development, inflammation, and vascular and proliferative diseases.
Re-Ranking Approach of Spoken Term Detection Using Conditional Random Fields-Based Triphone Detection

This study proposes a two-pass spoken term detection (STD) method. The first pass uses a phoneme-based dynamic time warping (DTW)-based STD, and the second pass recomputes detection scores produced by the first pass using conditional random fields (CRF)-based triphone detectors. In the second-pass, we treat STD as a sequence labeling problem. We use CRF-based triphone detection models based on features generated from multiple types of phoneme-based transcriptions. The models train recognition error patterns such as phoneme-to-phoneme confusions in the CRF framework. Consequently, the models can detect a triphone comprising a query term with a detection probability. In the experimental evaluation of two types of test collections, the CRF-based approach worked well in the re-ranking process for the DTW-based detections. CRF-based re-ranking showed 2.1% and 2.0% absolute improvements in F-measure for each of the two test collections. key words: conditional random fields, phoneme-to-phoneme confusion learning, re-ranking, spoken term detection, triphone detection
Multigrid methods for nonlinear second order partial differential operators

This thesis is concerned with the efficient numerical solution of nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) of elliptic and parabolic type. Such PDEs arise frequently in models used to describe many physical phenomena, from the diffusion of a toxin in soil to the flow of viscous fluids. The main focus of this research is to better understand the implementation and performance of nonlinear multigrid methods for the solution of elliptic and parabolic PDEs, following their discretisation. For the most part finite element discretisations are considered, but other techniques are also discussed. Following discretisation of a PDE the two most frequently used nonlinear multigrid methods are Newton-Multigrid and the Full Approximation Scheme (FAS). These are both very efficient algorithms, and have the advantage that when they are applied to practical problems, their execution times scale linearly with the size of the problem being solved. Even though this has yet to be proved in theory for most problems, these methods have been widely adopted in practice in order to solve highly complex nonlinear (systems of) PDEs. Many research groups use either Newton-MG or FAS without much consideration as to which should be preferred, since both algorithms perform satisfactorily. In this thesis we address the question as to which method is likely to be more computationally efficient in practice. As part of this investigation the implementation of the algorithms is considered in a framework which allows the direct comparison of the computational effort of the two iterations. As well as this, the convergence properties of the methods are considered, applied to a variety of model problems. Extensive results are presented in the comparison, which are explained by available theory whenever possible. The strength and range of results presented allows us to confidently conclude that for a practical problem, discretised using a finite element discretisation, an improved efficiency and stability of a Newton-MG iteration, compared to an FAS iteration, is likely to be observed. The relative advantage of a Newton-MG method is likely to be larger the more complex the problem being solved becomes.
On size Ramsey number of paths, trees, and circuits. I

In this paper we shall demonstrate that random graphs satisfy some interesting Ramsey type properties. This paper deals with finite, simple and undirected graphs only. If G and H are graphs, write G → H to mean that if the edges of G are coloured by two colours, then G contains a monochromatic copy of H.
Opportunities for eco-efficiency at Summerpride Foods Ltd.: a pineapple processing factory

1 CONTENTS.111 LIST OF TABLES.V1 LIST OF FIGURES.V11 LIST OF APPENDICES.V111 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.1X ACRONYMS.X CHAPTER 1: OPPORTUNITOES FOR ECO-EFFICIENCY AT SUMMERPRIDE FOODS Ltd – A PINEAPPLE PROCESSING FACTORY.1 1.
Competitive advantage effects on firm performance: A Case study of startups in Thailand

This research had the primary objective to study the causal factors of technological capability and interorganizational collaboration that affect competitive advantage of startups in Thailand. This research was a mixed methods research that encompassed both qualitative and quantitative tools through the use of in-depth interviews and questionnaires. The sample employed in this research consisted of entrepreneurs and executives of startups in Thailand that were selected using a stratified random sampling method. A path analysis was used to analyse the obtained data in order to validate the research findings. From the obtained results, it became evident that the causal factors of technological capability and interorganizational collaboration had a direct positive effect on the competitive advantage of startups, and competitive advantage had a direct positive effect on the performance of startups in Thailand. Furthermore, it was apparent that technological capability and interorganizational collaboration had a direct effect on the performance of startups in Thailand, whereby all of the foregoing effects were statistically
GaN MESFET growth on vicinal sapphire by MOVPE

In conclusion, a high mobility and high carrier concentration GaN MESFET was presented in this study. We can get the higher mobility 416 cm2/v-s and higher carrier concentration 4x1017 cm-3 in the channel of the sample grown on 1 -off sapphire. We can observe the thin film quality of samples grown on 1 -off sapphire was better than samples grown on 0 -off sapphire.
Small, medium and micro-enterprises’ distress and factual evaluation of rescue feasibility

Background: Entrepreneurs often face distress in their businesses; as one way to address it, they can file for business rescue. The Companies Act 71 of 2008 requires the appointed business rescue practitioner (BRP) to place before the court facts proving ‘reasonable prospect’. This often seems determined mainly by the subjective opinion of practitioners, who rely on their experience and knowledge in rescue and business management. This appears to be in direct contrast to the requirements for factual evidence set out by several court judgements. There are many questions surrounding the determination of reasonable prospect, as there seems to be no benchmark for entrepreneurs and BRPs to work towards or a prescribed process to be followed.Aim: This article investigates different methods of factually determining reasonable prospect and guiding the decision-making process during the pre-filing and initial stages of the rescue of small, medium and micro-enterprises (SMMEs). Setting: The study was conducted using South African case law and financial models relevant to SMMEs in South Africa.Methods: Qualitative analysis of existing financial models and case law to better understand how BRPs determine initial reasonable prospect when working with SMMEs.Results: The research report methods of determining financial distress and decline within the relevant case law.Conclusion: Reasonable prospect relies heavily on experience and opinion. Factually proving reasonable prospect remains problematic because of information asymmetry and the lack of data integrity. Affected parties (including entrepreneurs) could benefit from the insights obtained in this study. Identifying methods that could assist with the factual determination of reasonable prospect could contribute to entrepreneurial education, as well as address the current conflict that surrounds the subject.
Status of Safety Climate in Chemical Industry-Karnataka

The Bhopal gas tragedy in 1984 was the major turning point in India; this made organizations to adopt various safety policies and procedures. Organizations also found out that implementation of healthy working conditions create a positive impact on the society and also encourages employees to work efficiently. A questionnaire-based survey was considered as it is one of the most frequently used and widely accepted methods for measuring safety climate. A questionnaire was developed consisting of 20 safety climate components with 81 questions and was administered to four chemical industrial sectors in Karnataka, India. This was distributed among 370 employees, and only 340 responses were found to be valid. Exploratory Factor Analysis was carried out on the surveyed data to reduce the number of components. The Principal Axis Factor was used to extract the predominant components; three predominant components were identified and the Partial Least Squares regression was used to determine the relationship that these three components shared with safety climate.
ZBJ: Building a Global Outsourcing Platform for Knowledge Workers (A)

HBS Professor Feng Zhu, Professor Weiru Chen (China Europe International Business School), and Research Associate Shirley Sun prepared this case with the assistance of with the assistance of Ciwu Lin. It was reviewed and approved before publication by a company designate. Funding for the development of this case was provided by Harvard Business School and not by the company. HBS cases are developed solely as the basis for class discussion. Cases are not intended to serve as endorsements, sources of primary data, or illustrations of effective or ineffective management.
When the Start Matters: Investor Sentiment and Hedge Fund Inceptions

We examine whether investor sentiment affects hedge fund companies’ decision to start new funds. We find significantly more fund inceptions in hot markets than in cold markets. Moreover, funds opened in hot markets exhibit poor subsequent performance, shorter survival, and higher operational risk. Further evidence indicates that more rookie managers open funds in hot market, and they “contribute” more to the subsequent underperformance relative to seasoned managers. Investor clientele appears to vary with market conditions, and we find a dumb-money effect for hot-market incepted funds. Overall, inceptions due to high investor sentiment are not in the best interest of investors.
The impact of accounting information on decision making process

In other words, accounting is concerned with providing information, which will help decision makers to make decisions. To enhance creditability and utility of the information, the decision making process, established concepts, principles, standard and legal requirements are strictly followed in order to translate physical facts into money values and ensures that all types of report are integrated and prepared on consistent basis.