Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Liberalisation of the Insurance Industry:Lessons from the US experience

While no aspect of the reform process in India has gone smoothly since its inception in 1991, no individual initiative has stirred the proverbial hornets' nest as much as the proposal to liberalise the country's insurance industry. However, the political debate that followed the submission of the report by the Malhotra Com- mittee has presumably come to an end with the ratification of the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) Bill both by the central Cabinet and the standing committee on finance. The new Parliament is expected to ratify the Bill by the end of the calendar year. Hence, it is time to initiate a new debate about the future of the insurance industry in India, one shorn of political rhetoric and jingoism. In order to facilitate such a debate, the paper examines the experience of the US insurance industry during 1970s and 1980s. It traces the evolution of the life insurance companies in the US from firms underwriting plain vanilla insurance contracts to those selling sophisticated investment contracts bundled with insurance products. In this context, it brings into focus the importance of portfolio management in the insurance business, and the nature and impact of portfolio related regulations on the asset quality of the insurance companies. The paper also highlights the experi- ence of the US insurance companies with respect to the other important determinant of profitability, namely, cost management. In the process, it provides a rationale for the increased automatisation of insurance companies, and the increased emphasis on agent-independent marketing strategies for their products. Further, while acknowledging the need for regulations, the paper draws our attention to the fact that regulations can be influenced by political agendas. If politicised, regulations have potential to adversely affect the pricing of risks, especially in the non-life industry, and hence the viability of the insurance companies. Finally, the paper uses the backdrop of US experience to provide some pointers for Indian policymakers.
The computer assisted environment for space mission planning and evaluation

With the characteristics of technology-density, system-complexity, and high cost and risk, to organize and run a space mission is extremely complex system engineering. The commanders must pre-planning and do some coordination arrangements detailedly and repeatedly, but still the space mission often is completed with high cost and risks. In order to solve these problems, the author does some research on the automated commanding tool, which is based on computer simulation and can be used to assist the commanders. The software in this paper includes three components: programming module, demonstration module and evaluation module, which support the automatic and semi-automatic option, situation judgment, program development and resource allocation. All the three components share the data and information which stored in database. Supported by the software commanders can enhance the efficiency and accuracy in drawing up a mission plan, and reduce the costs and risks. In this paper the contents of the space mission planning are analyzed firstly, and then the software's design and implementation under a distributed environment are described in detail, from three aspects as the system components, logical structure and operation process, and finally a prototype system is built as a preliminary verification of the software functions.
Environmental Quality and Long Run Tourism Development a Cyclical Perspective for Small Island Tourist Economies

As tourism is becoming one of the most important sectors of the world economy, the number of small islands trying to develop a competitive tourist activity is increasing and this strategy appears as growth enhancing. In most cases, it is built on the environmental quality of the destination but also on lodging infrastructures and related services that tourists deserve in order to enjoy a good experience. This paper explores the inter-temporal trade-off between tourist investments and environmental quality preservation needed to ensure population revenues in the long run. It highlights possible cyclical evolution of environmental quality, tourist infrastructures, investments and tourist frequentation.
Uncovering the Tumor Antigen Landscape: What to Know about the Discovery Process

According to the latest available data, cancer is the second leading cause of death, highlighting the need for novel cancer therapeutic approaches. In this context, immunotherapy is emerging as a reliable first-line treatment for many cancers, particularly metastatic melanoma. Indeed, cancer immunotherapy has attracted great interest following the recent clinical approval of antibodies targeting immune checkpoint molecules, such as PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4, that release the brakes of the immune system, thus reviving a field otherwise poorly explored. Cancer immunotherapy mainly relies on the generation and stimulation of cytotoxic CD8 T lymphocytes (CTLs) within the tumor microenvironment (TME), priming T cells and establishing efficient and durable anti-tumor immunity. Therefore, there is a clear need to define and identify immunogenic T cell epitopes to use in therapeutic cancer vaccines. Naturally presented antigens in the human leucocyte antigen-1 (HLA-I) complex on the tumor surface are the main protagonists in evocating a specific anti-tumor CD8+ T cell response. However, the methodologies for their identification have been a major bottleneck for their reliable characterization. Consequently, the field of antigen discovery has yet to improve. The current review is intended to define what are today known as tumor antigens, with a main focus on CTL antigenic peptides. We also review the techniques developed and employed to date for antigen discovery, exploring both the direct elution of HLA-I peptides and the in silico prediction of epitopes. Finally, the last part of the review analyses the future challenges and direction of the antigen discovery field.
Cocaine induces the expression of MEF2C transcription factor in rat striatum through activation of SIK1 and phosphorylation of the histone deacetylase HDAC5

Distinct forms of MEF2 transcription factor act as positive or negative regulators of dendritic spine formation, with MEF2C playing a key regulator role in synapse plasticity. We report here that acute cocaine treatment of rats induced the expression of MEF2C in the striatum through a recently discovered transduction pathway. Repeated injections were found to induce MEF2C to a lesser extent. The mechanism by which MEF2C was induced involves the subsequent activation of the salt‐inducible kinase SIK1 and the phosphorylation of HDAC5, a member of the class IIa of HDACs. Cocaine activated SIK1 by phosphorylation on Thr‐182 residue, which was accompanied by the nuclear import of the kinase. In the nuclear compartment, SIK1 then phosphorylated HDAC5 causing the shuttling of its phospho‐form from the nucleus to the cytoplasm of striatal cells. Activation of SIK1 by cocaine was further validated by the phosphorylation of TORC1/3, which was followed by the shuttling of TORC proteins from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Activation of MEF2C was assessed by measuring the expression of the MEF2C gene itself, since the gene is known to be under the control of its own product. Since MEF2C plays a key role in memory/learning processes, activation of this pathway by cocaine is probably involved in plasticity mechanisms whereby the drug establishes its long‐term effects such as drug dependence. Synapse, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Planning for leisure, sport, tourism and the arts: goals and rationales

On the basis of a review of some 82 sets of official, professional and academic English-language guidelines, this paper1 evaluates eight rationales, goals and associated planning approaches for planning for leisure, sport, tourism and the arts: (1) meeting standards; (2) providing opportunity; (3) managing (natural/heritage) resources; (4) meeting demand; (5) satisfying stakeholder groups; (6) meeting needs; (7) meeting participation targets; and (8) providing (net) benefits. A number of the approaches are found to suffer from limitations that are generally overlooked by the guidelines reviewed. While guidelines are often strong in providing advice on data collection, they are invariably weak in regard to data analysis and the relationships between goal setting, data analysis and policy formation. A single solution to the difficulties identified is not offered, but it is concluded that a yet to be developed demand/participation/benefits-based approach to planning would offer a way forward.
Visual Assessment of Perfusion-Diffusion Mismatch Is Inadequate to Select Patients for Thrombolysis

Background: For MR perfusion-diffusion mismatch to be clinically useful as a means of selecting patients for thrombolysis, it needs to occur in real time at the MRI console. Visual mismatch assessment has been used clinically and in trials but has not been systematically validated. We compared the accuracy of visually rating console-generated images with offline volumetric measurements using data from the Echoplanar Imaging Thrombolytic Evaluation Trial (EPITHET). Methods: Perfusion time-to-peak (TTP) and diffusion-weighted images (DWI) (as generated by commercial MRI console software) and Tmax perfusion maps (which required offline calculation) were visually rated. Perfusion-diffusion mismatch, defined as a ratio of perfusion:diffusion lesion volume of >1.2, was independently scored by 1 expert and 2 inexperienced raters blinded to calculated volumes and clinical information. Visual mismatch was compared with region-of-interest-based volumetric calculation, which was used as the gold standard. Results: Volumetric calculation demonstrated perfusion-diffusion mismatch in 85/99 patients. Visual TTP-DWI mismatch was correctly classified by the experienced rater in 82% of the cases (sensitivity: 0.86; specificity: 0.54) compared to 73% for the inexperienced raters (sensitivity: 0.75; specificity: 0.57). The interrater reliability for TTP-DWI mismatch was moderate (ĸ = 0.50). Visual Tmax-DWI mismatch performed better (agreement – 93 and 87%, sensitivity – 95 and 88%, specificity – 77 and 82% for the experienced and inexperienced raters, respectively). Conclusions: The assessment of visual TTP-DWI mismatch at the MRI console is insufficiently reliable for use in clinical trials. Differences in perfusion analysis technique and visual inaccuracies combine to make visual TTP-DWI mismatch substantially different to volumetric Tmax-DWI mismatch. Automated software that applies perfusion thresholds may improve the reproducibility of real-time mismatch assessment.
Defining A "Brand": Beyond The Literature With Experts' Interpretations

There are many definitions of the "brand", yet a comprehensive theory of the brand construct is still missing. This paper is a step towards developing a theory for the brand construct. Through analysis of the literature and focused interviews with 20 leading edge brand consultants, we propose a concept of the brand as a multidimensional construct, matching a firm's functional and emotional values with the performance and psychosocial needs of consumers.
Cytogenetic Studies in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: A Survey of Secondary Chromosomal Abnormalities

A series of 105 patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) has been cytogenetically investigated at the Department of Hematology of the Saint‐Louis Hospital (Paris) between 1977 and 1990. Sixty‐two patients were examined at diagnosis, 32 in relapse, and 11 both at diagnosis and in relapse. The typical t( 15; 17)(q22;q 12) or variants of this translocation were observed in all but four patients. The t(15;17) was the only change in 47 cases at diagnosis and in 21 examined in relapse. The most frequent secondary change was trisomy 8 (17% at diagnosis). More or less complex chromosomal abnormalities in addition to t(15;17) were present in six patients at diagnosis, and in 17 patients in relapse. Rearrangements of 2q35‐q37 and del(11p) were observed only in relapse and may thus be nonrandom secondary changes. Cytogenetic studies performed on 19 patients treated with all‐trans retinoic acid did not indicate that this treatment induces chromosomal abnormalities.
How are prices set? An exploratory investigation in the Greek services sector

Purpose – The purpose of the present study is to explore the pricing methods that service companies adopt in order to set their prices, along with the service, organizational and environmental characteristics that influence these methods.Design/methodology/approach – To achieve the research objectives, data were collected through personal interviews in 170 companies operating in six different services sectors in Greece.Findings – The study concluded that the two most popular pricing methods are the traditional “cost‐plus” method and “pricing according to the market's average prices”, while all the other methods (including customer‐based methods) are adopted by a small number of companies in the sample. Similarly, “service cost” along with “competitors' prices” were found to be the two most important characteristics that are taken into consideration when setting prices.Research limitations/implications – Despite the importance attached to cost and competitive issues when setting prices, pricing decisions n.
Architecture for adders in digital filters operating in mixed power modes

The push for mobility in all areas of information technology brings the need to develop systems that perform their functions even if they have limited access to power sources (batteries, solar panels, etc.). The same systems however are expected to improve their performance significantly when the power requirements are no longer a problem. This paper proposes an adder architecture for use in digital filters that operates in environments with different power requirements, based parallel prefix adders.
GRAPHS WITH EQUAL DOMINATION AND INDEPENDENT DOMINATION NUMBER

A set S of vertices of a graph G is an independent dominating set of G if S is an independent set and every vertex not in S is adjacent to a vertex in S. The independent domination number of G, denoted by i(G), is the minimum cardinality of an independent dominating set of G. In this paper, some new classes of graphs with equal domination and independent domination numbers are presented and exact values of their domination and independent domination numbers are determined.
Insider Threat Study: Computer System Sabotage in Critical Infrastructure Sectors

Abstract : Efforts to estimate how often companies face attacks from within are difficult to make. It has been suggested that insider attacks are under-reported to law enforcement and prosecutors. Reasons for such under-reporting include an insufficient level of damage to warrant prosecution, a lack of evidence or insufficient information to prosecute, and concerns about negative publicity. Moreover, statistics vary regarding the prevalence of cases perpetrated by insiders compared to those perpetrated by individuals external to the target organizations. The E-Crime Watch Survey(Trademark), carried out by the United States Secret Service (Secret Service), the CERT(Copyright R) Program of Carnegie Mellon University's Software Engineering Institute (CERT), and CSO Magazine in spring 2004, elicited responses from 500 security and law enforcement executives on issues related to electronic crimes. Among the 70 percent of respondents who were able to identify whether outsiders or insiders were responsible for an e-crime or intrusion committed in 2003, 71% reported that one or more attacks were known or suspected to have come from outsiders compared to 29% from insiders. Respondents identified current or former employees and contractors as the second greatest cyber security threat, preceded only by hackers.
The KH-Domain Protein αCP Has a Direct Role in mRNA Stabilization Independent of Its Cognate Binding Site

ABSTRACT Previous studies suggest that high-level stability of a subset of mammalian mRNAs is linked to a C-rich motif in the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR). High-level expression of human α-globin mRNA (hα-globin mRNA) in erythroid cells has been specifically attributed to formation of an RNA-protein complex comprised of a 3′UTR C-rich motif and an associated 39-kDa poly(C) binding protein, αCP. Documentation of this RNA-protein α-complex has been limited to in vitro binding studies, and its impact has been monitored by alterations in steady-state mRNA. Here we demonstrate that αCP is stably bound to hα-globin mRNA in vivo, that α-complex assembly on the hα-globin mRNA is restricted to the 3′UTR C-rich motif, and that α-complex assembly extends the physical half-life of hα-globin mRNA selectively in erythroid cells. Significantly, these studies also reveal that an artificially tethered αCP has the same mRNA-stabilizing activity as the native α-complex. These data demonstrate a unique contribution of the α-complex to hα-globin mRNA stability and support a model in which the sole function of the C-rich motif is to selectively tether αCP to a subset of mRNAs. Once bound, αCP appears to be fully sufficient to trigger downstream events in the stabilization pathway.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of routine pneumococcal vaccination in the UK: a comparison of the PHiD-CV vaccine and the PCV-13 vaccine using a Markov model

Objectives In 2010, the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-13) replaced the 7-valent vaccine (introduced in 2006) for vaccination against invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPDs), pneumonia and acute otitis media (AOM) in the UK. Using recent evidence on the impact of PCVs and epidemiological changes in the UK, we performed a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) to compare the pneumococcal non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae protein D conjugate vaccine (PHiD-CV) with PCV-13 in the ongoing national vaccination programme. Design CEA was based on a published Markov model. The base-case scenario accounted only for direct medical costs. Work days lost were considered in alternative scenarios. Setting Calculations were based on serotype and disease-specific vaccine efficacies, serotype distributions and UK incidence rates and medical costs. Population Health benefits and costs related to IPD, pneumonia and AOM were accumulated over the lifetime of a UK birth cohort. Interventions Vaccination of infants at 2, 4 and 12 months with PHiD-CV or PCV-13, assuming complete coverage and adherence. Outcome measures The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was computed by dividing the difference in costs between the programmes by the difference in quality-adjusted life-years (QALY). Results Under our model assumptions, both vaccines had a similar impact on IPD and pneumonia, but PHiD-CV generated a greater reduction in AOM cases (161 918), AOM-related general practitioner consultations (31 070) and tympanostomy tube placements (2399). At price parity, PHiD-CV vaccination was dominant over PCV-13, saving 734 QALYs as well as £3.68 million to the National Health Service (NHS). At the lower list price of PHiD-CV, the cost-savings would increase to £45.77 million. Conclusions This model projected that PHiD-CV would provide both incremental health benefits and cost-savings compared with PCV-13 at price parity. Using PHiD-CV could result in substantial budget savings to the NHS. These savings could be used to implement other life-saving interventions.
THE RISKS OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS IN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Intangible assets that take place in financial statements is an argument, which have been gone on for a long time, in an academical platform, market environment and business environment. Intangible assets can be growing items during the merging and acquisition, it can ,as well as, sometimes be created by firms oneself. They are open to speculation by different ways because of
Panic Disorder Among Patients With Chronic Fatigue

Among 200 adults with a chief complaint of chronic fatigue evaluated in an internal medicine practice, currently active panic disorder was diagnosed in 26 patients (13%), a frequency tenfold greater than that in the general population. Panic disorder preceded or was coincidental with the onset of chronic fatigue in 21 of these patients. In comparison with the rest of the study cohort, significantly more patients with panic disorder had a history of severe depression, including persistent thoughts of death or suicide. Moreover, more patients with panic disorder showed a lifetime tendency to have physical symptoms that remained unexplained after medical evaluation. Our findings suggest that treatable panic disorder is an important contributor not only to major depression and somatization, but also to the etiology and clinical presentation of chronic fatigue in patients in an outpatient practice.
Donation After Circulatory Death: Burying the Dead Donor Rule

Despite continuing controversies regarding the vital status of both brain-dead donors and individuals who undergo donation after circulatory death (DCD), respecting the dead donor rule (DDR) remains the standard moral framework for organ procurement. The DDR increases organ supply without jeopardizing trust in transplantation systems, reassuring society that donors will not experience harm during organ procurement. While the assumption that individuals cannot be harmed once they are dead is reasonable in the case of brain-dead protocols, we argue that the DDR is not an acceptable strategy to protect donors from harm in DCD protocols. We propose a threefold alternative to justify organ procurement practices: (1) ensuring that donors are sufficiently protected from harm; (2) ensuring that they are respected through informed consent; and (3) ensuring that society is fully informed of the inherently debatable nature of any criterion to declare death.
An Environment for Protecting the Privacy of E-Shoppers

Privacy, an everyday topic with weekly media coverage of loss of personal records, faces its bigger risk during the uncontrolled, involuntary or inadvertent disclosure and collection of personal and sensitive information. Preserving one's privacy while e-shopping, especially when personalisation is involved, is a big challenge. Current initiatives only oer customers opt-out options. This research proposes a `privacy-preserved' shopping environment (PPSE) which empowers customers to disclose information safely by facilitating a personalised e- shopping experience that protects their privacy. Evaluation delivered positive results which suggest that such a product would indeed have a market in a world where customers are increasingly concerned about their privacy.
Characteristics of prebiotic food products containing inulin

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify food products being developed with the addition of the prebiotic inulin (a soluble, fermentable dietary fibre that stimulates the growth of beneficial bacteria in the colon), in order to determine how its addition modifies their probiotic, physicochemical and sensory characteristics.Design/methodology/approach – The paper's approach is a systematic review of the Web of Science, Medline/Pubmed and Scielo‐Br electronic databases, from 2001 to 2011. Of the 256 abstracts initially retrieved, those reporting development of products containing inulin were included, while those regarding literature review, clinical investigations, inulin extraction and effects on the human body were excluded. Full papers of all the 28 studies identified as relevant to the aims of the review were then obtained.Findings – Inulin quantities added to products varied from 1 to 32 per cent. Products containing inulin had improved microorganism counts and received either equal or bette.