bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
eTOXlab, an open source modeling framework for implementing predictive models in production environments
Authors: Carrió Pau , López Oriol , Sanz Ferran , Pastor Manuel 
Published: March 2015

Abstract

Background
Computational models based in Quantitative-Structure Activity Relationship (QSAR) methodologies are widely used tools for predicting the biological properties of new compounds. In many instances, such models are used as a routine in the industry (e.g. food, cosmetic or pharmaceutical industry) for the early assessment of the biological properties of new compounds. However, most of the tools currently available for developing QSAR models are not well suited for supporting the whole QSAR model life cycle in production environments.

Results
We have developed eTOXlab; an open source modeling framework designed to be used at the core of a self-contained virtual machine that can be easily deployed in production environments, providing predictions as web services. eTOXlab consists on a collection of object-oriented Python modules with methods mapping common tasks of standard modeling workflows. This framework allows building and validating QSAR models as well as predicting the properties of new compounds using either a command line interface or a graphic user interface (GUI). Simple models can be easily generated by setting a few parameters, while more complex models can be implemented by overriding pieces of the original source code. eTOXlab benefits from the object-oriented capabilities of Python for providing high flexibility: any model implemented using eTOXlab inherits the features implemented in the parent model, like common tools and services or the automatic exposure of the models as prediction web services. The particular eTOXlab architecture as a self-contained, portable prediction engine allows building models with confidential information within corporate facilities, which can be safely exported and used for prediction without disclosing the structures of the training series.

Conclusions
The software presented here provides full support to the specific needs of users that want to develop, use and maintain predictive models in corporate environments. The technologies used by eTOXlab (web services, VM, object-oriented programming) provide an elegant solution to common practical issues; the system can be installed easily in heterogeneous environments and integrates well with other software. Moreover, the system provides a simple and safe solution for building models with confidential structures that can be shared without disclosing sensitive information.
IGF2BP1 Harbors Prognostic Significance by Gene Gain and Diverse Expression in Neuroblastoma
Authors: Bell Jessica L. , Turlapati Raseswari , Liu Tao , Schulte Johannes H. , Hüttelmaier Stefan 
Published: March 2015

Purpose Chromosomal 17q21-ter gain in neuroblastoma is both a common and prognostically significant event. The insulin-like growth factor-2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) gene is located near the proximal edge of this region. Here, its prognostic value is evaluated in neuroblastoma. Methods The mRNA expression of IGF2BP family members was first evaluated by microarray data sets. In addition, in a separate cohort of 69 tumors, IGF2BP1 gene copy number, mRNA, and protein abundance were determined and compared with clinical parameters. Results In two independent microarray data sets, 77% to 100% of tumors had substantial IGF2BP1 mRNA levels measured. High IGF2BP1 transcript abundance was significantly associated with stage 4 tumors (P < .001) and decreased patient survival (P < .001). IGF2BP1 was also associated with MYCN gene amplification and MYCN mRNA abundance. In the 69 neuroblastoma samples, IGF2BP1 DNA copy number (increased in 84% of tumors), mRNA, and protein abundance were significantly higher in stage 4 compared with stage 1 tumors. Importantly, IGF2BP1 protein levels were associated with lower overall patient survival (P = .012) and positively correlated with MYCN mRNA, even when excluding MYCN-amplified tumors. Moreover, IGF2BP1 clearly affected MYCN expression and neuroblastoma cell survival in vitro. Conclusion In neuroblastoma, IGF2BP1 was expressed in the majority of neuroblastoma specimens analyzed and was associated with lower overall patient survival and MYCN abundance. These data demonstrate that IGF2BP1 is a potential oncogene and an independent negative prognostic factor in neuroblastoma.
Creating artificial motivation for forming client flows in tourism regions Actual issues of professional training in tourism and service in Russia and abroad
Authors: Агамирова Екатерина , Agamirova Ekaterina , Агамирова Елизавета , Agamirova Elizaveta 
Published: March 2015

The article summarizes the experience of technology to create artificial motivations for the formation of client flows in the context of solving problems: 1) the development of areas with a weak tourism and recreational potential; 2) extending the life cycle of tourist products; 3) management of client flows. In this paper the concept of artificial motivation is examined in three aspects: from the point of view of psychology, economics and marketing. In particular, the marketing aspects of the concept of artificial motivation are considered in the context of the region&#180;s attractiveness as a tourist destination. As the main purposes of marketing highlighted are formation, maintenance or alteration of customer behavior in relation to a particular locality, region or country as a whole. Territory in which distribution occurs is treated as a set of opportunities for implementation of the different needs of tourists. If the tourist-recreational opportunities (resources) of the territory are limited, great importance is placed on artificial creation of motives for travelling.
The article focuses on the description of the main approaches to the creation of artificial motivation at different stages of the life cycle of tourist products; examined are the key factors for creating an artificial incentive to intensify visits to tourist areas; highlighted are the psychological mechanisms of motivation formation, as well as major stimulants, such as: fashion, prestige, imitation authoritative personalities, creating a legend. The study highlights two main ways of solving the problem of formation of artificial motivations: first, due to the existence of unconscious needs and / or the lack of motive on the part of potential consumers of travel services; the second is related to the perceived needs and
motivation of the consumer directed at another tourist attraction. The study describes in detail different possibilities of creating artificial motivations at different stages of the life cycle of the tourist product. The article cites numerous examples of artificial motivation in tourism.
Snowpack-atmosphere gas exchanges of carbon dioxide, ozone, and nitrogen oxides at a hardwood forest site in northern Michigan
Authors: Seok Brian , Helmig Detlev , Liptzin Daniel , Williams Mark W. , Vogel Christoph S. 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
Snowpack-atmosphere gas exchanges of CO2, O3, and NOx (NO + NO2) were investigated at the University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS), a mid-latitude, low elevation hardwood forest site, during the 2007–2008 winter season. An automated trace gas sampling system was used to determine trace gas concentrations in the snowpack at multiple depths continuously throughout the snow-covered period from two adjacent plots. One natural plot and one with the soil covered by a Tedlar sheet were setup for investigating whether the primary source of measured trace gases was biogenic (i.e., from the soil) or non-biogenic (i.e., from the snowpack). The results were compared with the “White on Green” study conducted at the Niwot Ridge (NWT) Long Term Ecological Research site in Colorado. The average winter CO2 flux ± s.e. from the soil at UMBS was 0.54 ± 0.037 µmol m-2 s-1 using the gradient diffusion method and 0.71 ± 0.012 µmol m-2 s-1 using the eddy covariance method, and in a similar range as found for NWT. Observed snowpack-O3 exchange was also similar to NWT. However, nitrogen oxides (NOx) fluxes from snow at UMBS were 10 times smaller than those at NWT, and fluxes were bi-directional with the direction of the flux dependent on NOx concentrations in ambient air. The compensation point for the change in the direction of NOx flux was estimated to be 0.92 nmol mol-1. NOx in snow also showed diurnal dependency on incident radiation. These NOx dynamics in the snow at UMBS were notably different compared to NWT, and primarily determined by snow-atmosphere interactions rather than by soil NOx emissions.
Uniform bounds of minimizers of non-smooth constrained functionals on maps spaces
Authors: Ceccon Jurandir , Montenegro Marcos 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
We consider the functional Φ(u) = ∫Ω |∇u|2
d
x - ∫Ω
G(u)d
x
constrained to the set EF
=
{u ∈ W
0
1,2(Ω,ℝ
k
) : ∫Ω
F(u)d
x = 1},
where Ω is a bounded open subset of
ℝ
n
and F,G : ℝ
k
→ ℝ are continuous functions satisfying certain homogeneity conditions. We investigate the L
∞ regularity of minimizers of
Φ in EF
. Moreover, we establish uniform L
∞ bounds for such
minimizers as well as concentration results on Ω̅. In the latter case, we prove that, up to
dilations and translations, minimizers behave in a certain sense
like a special type of vector bubble. The central difficulty in this
study is the fact that the minimizers of Φ do not have an
Euler–Lagrange equation associated.
The Impact of Immigration on Native Wages and Employment
Authors: Edo Anthony 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
This paper investigates the immigration impact on native outcomes using microlevel data for France. I find that immigration does not affect the wages of competing natives, but induces adverse employment effects. This finding is consistent with a wage structure that is rigid in France. The quality of the data allows to dig more deeply into the interpretation of the immigration impact. First, I show that immigrants displace native workers because they are more willing to work at lower wages due to lower outside options. Second, I find that natives on short-term contracts, who are less subject to wage rigidities, do experience wage losses due to immigration.
Racial Discrimination in the Labor Market for Recent College Graduates: Evidence from a Field Experiment
Authors: Nunley John M. , Pugh Adam , Romero Nicholas , Seals R. Alan 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
We present experimental evidence from a correspondence test of racial discrimination in the labor market for recent college graduates. We find strong evidence of differential treatment by race: black applicants receive approximately 14% fewer interview requests than their otherwise identical white counterparts. The racial gap in employment opportunities is larger when comparisons are made between job seekers with credentials that proxy for expected productivity and/or match quality. Moreover, the racial discrimination detected is driven by greater discrimination in jobs that require customer interaction. Various tests for the type of discrimination tend to support taste-based discrimination, but we are unable to rule out risk aversion on the part of employers as a possible explanation.
A Reliable Residual Based A Posteriori Error Estimator for a Quadratic Finite Element Method for the Elliptic Obstacle Problem
Authors: Gudi Thirupathi , Porwal Kamana 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
A residual based a posteriori error estimator is derived for
a quadratic finite element method (FEM) for the elliptic obstacle
problem. The error estimator involves various residuals consisting
of the data of the problem, discrete solution and a Lagrange
multiplier related to the obstacle constraint. The choice of the
discrete Lagrange multiplier yields an error estimator that is
comparable with the error estimator in the case of linear FEM.
Further, an a priori error estimate is derived to show that
the discrete Lagrange multiplier converges at the same rate as
that of the discrete solution of the obstacle problem. The
numerical experiments of adaptive FEM show optimal order
convergence. This demonstrates that the quadratic FEM for obstacle
problem exhibits optimal performance.
On deformations of ℚ-Fano threefolds II
Authors: Sano Taro 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
We investigate some coboundary map associated to a 3-fold terminal singularity which is important in the study of
deformations of singular 3-folds.
We prove that this map vanishes only for quotient singularities and
an

A

1
,
2

/
4

{A_{1,2}/4}

-singularity, that is, a terminal singularity analytically isomorphic to
a

ℤ
4

{\mathbb{Z}_{4}}

-quotient of the singularity

(

x
2

+

y
2

+

z
3

+

u
2

=
0

)

{(x^{2}+y^{2}+z^{3}+u^{2}=0)}

.
As an application, we prove that a

ℚ

{\mathbb{Q}}

-Fano 3-fold with terminal singularities can be deformed to one
with only quotient singularities and

A

1
,
2

/
4

{A_{1,2}/4}

-singularities.
We also treat the

ℚ

{\mathbb{Q}}

-smoothability problem on

ℚ

{\mathbb{Q}}

-Calabi–Yau 3-folds.
Properties of 0.96(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-(0.04-x)BaTiO3-xLiNbO3 Lead-Free Piezoceramics Near Morphotropic Phase Boundary
Authors: Zhang Ya-Ting , Yang Ying , Wang Yi-Ping , Chen Jing 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
The structure, dielectric and piezoelectric properties of 0.96(Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-(0.04-x)BaTiO3-xLiNbO3 (x = 0, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04) ceramics were investigated by a conventional solid-state reaction method. All compositions show a single perovskite structure without any second phases. It was ascertained that the morphotropic phase boundary (MPB) of ferroelectric rhombohedral and relaxor tetragonal lies in the range of 0.02 ≤ x ≤ 0.04 at room temperature. As a result, the MPB compositions show improved properties; the saturated polarization, remnant polarization and coercive field are 43.7 μC/cm2, 38.7 μC/cm2 and 48.7 kV/cm for x = 0.02 and 43 μC/cm2, 37.9 μC/cm2 and 47 kV/cm for x = 0.03, respectively. The maximum of piezoelectric constant d
33 (124pC/N) was obtained for the ceramic with x = 0.03, which was located at the MPB region. Our results do not only supplement for BNT-based lead-free piezoelectric ceramics but also provide a way to develop new high-performance Pb-free piezoceramics.
Finite-Element Simulations of a Thermoelectric Generator and Their Experimental Validation
Authors: Geppert B. , Groeneveld D. , Loboda V. , Korotkov A. , Feldhoff A. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractA versatile finite-element simulation tool was developed to predict the electric power output, the distributions of the electric and entropy potentials (i.e., the absolute temperature) and the local flux densities of electric charge and thermal energy (i.e., heat) for a thermoelectric generator. The input parameters are the thermogenerator architecture (i.e., geometries of different components and number of legs) and material properties such as specific electric conductivity, Seebeck coefficient and thermal conductivity. The finite-element simulation tool was validated by modeling a commercially available thermoelectric generator, which was based on semiconducting n- and p-type Bi2–xSbxTe3with ceramic cover plates, and comparing the modeled voltage–current characteristics and power characteristics with experimental values for different temperature conditions. The geometric parameters could easily be determined from photomicrography and cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy observations. The electric conductivity and Seebeck coefficient were measured, as functions of temperature, from the integer module as leg-averaged values. The thermal conductivity was taken from literature data, which required estimating the compositions of components using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy in the scanning electron microscope and their crystal structures using X-ray diffraction. Good agreement was found between the simulated and measured voltage–current and power–current characteristics. The finite-element simulation tool is versatile because it uses a script-based approach, which allows easy parameter changes and allows it to be adapted to thermogenerators consisting of different geometries and materials, including novel materials.
Rodent models of complement activation-related pseudoallergy: Inducers, symptoms, inhibitors and reaction mechanisms
Authors: Dézsi László , Rosivall László , Hamar Péter , Szebeni János , Szénási Gábor 
Published: March 2015

AbstractComplement activation-related pseudoallergy (CARPA) is a hypersensitivity reaction to intravenous administration of nanoparticle-containing medicines (nanomedicines). This review focuses on CARPA in rodent models: rats, mice, guinea pigs and rabbits. Information on all aspects of hypersensitivity reactions caused by known complement activators (zymosan, cobra venom factor) and different nanomedicines (liposomes, other drug carrier nanocarriers) in these species has been compiled and analyzed, trying to highlight the similarities and differences. What is most common in all species’ reactions to i.v. complement activators, liposomes and other nanoparticles is a dose-dependent hemodynamic and cardiopulmonary disturbance manifested in acute, reversible rise or fall of blood pressure and respiratory distress that can lead to shock. Other symptoms include heart rate changes, leukopenia followed by leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, hemoconcentration due to fluid extravasation (rise of hematocrit) and rise of plasma thromboxane B2. The results of a recent rat study are detailed, which show that rats are 2–3 orders of magnitude less sensitive to liposome-induced CARPA than pigs or hypersensitive humans. It is concluded that CARPA can be studied in rodent models, but they do not necessarily mimic the human reactions in terms of symptom spectrum and sensitivity.
The transporter associated with antigen processing: a key player in adaptive immunity
Authors: Eggensperger Sabine , Tampé Robert 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe adaptive immune system co-evolved with sophisticated pathways of antigen processing for efficient clearance of viral infections and malignant transformation. Antigenic peptides are primarily generated by proteasomal degradation and translocated into the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP). In the ER, peptides are loaded onto major histocompatibility complex I (MHC I) molecules orchestrated by a multisubunit peptide-loading complex (PLC). Peptide-MHC I complexes are targeted to the cell surface for antigen presentation to cytotoxic T cells, which eventually leads to the elimination of virally infected or malignantly transformed cells. Here, we review MHC I mediated antigen processing with a primary focus on the function and structural organization of the heterodimeric ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter TAP1/2. We discuss recent data on the molecular transport mechanism of the antigen translocation complex with respect to structural and biochemical information of other ABC exporters. We further summarize how TAP provides a scaffold for the assembly of the macromolecular PLC, thereby coupling peptide translocation with MHC I loading. TAP inhibition by distinct viral evasins highlights the important role of TAP in adaptive immunity.
Intercultural pragmatics at work: (Self-)perceptions of intercultural behavior of Chinese and English speakers and interpreters in healthcare interactions
Authors: Hlavac Jim , Xu Zhichang , Yong David Xiong 
Published: March 2015

AbstractInterpreters are expected to have an advanced command of not only the vocabulary and grammar of their working languages, but also the pragmatic norms that speakers of their working languages employ in communicative interactions. The aim of this paper is to explore the perceptions and practices of interpreters in relation to intercultural pragmatics at work in healthcare interactions. The paper employs two theoretical frameworks: the first is based on interpretations of behavior according to speakers' discourse-pragmatic features as representative of “high” or “low” context cultures (cf. Hall 1976); the second applies Celce-Murcia's (2007) more refined notion of “communicative competence.” The data sample of this paper focuses on cultural-pragmatic features of two linguistic and cultural groups – 25 Chinese speakers and 24 English speakers – and contrasts their selected responses to five features of Chinese-English interpreted healthcare interactions. Responses from 33 Chinese-English interpreters are matched against those from speakers of the two groups to examine the degree of congruence that interpreters have with the self-reported (para-)linguistic behavior of the two groups of speakers, for whom they interpret. This study shows that the self-reported (para-)linguistic behavior of both groups is determined by their adoption of a particular approach (doctor- vs. patient-centered approach) and other micro-level features (perceived time constraints, different notions of “small talk”) that limit elaborate pragmatic enactments. Over-arching cultural-pragmatic models based on “high” (or “low”) context communication, or “vertical” (vs. “horizontal”) hierarchical perceptions of role and status appear to have limited application to the data. Instead, local features specific to the healthcare situation co-determine both English and Chinese speakers' responses to questions about their use of pragmatics. Findings indicate that interpreters attend to each group's enactment of pragmatic features and, as expert language users, are able to recognize features and components of interactions and their functions to a greater degree than the Chinese and English speakers.
Building and Improving Tactical Agents in Real Time through a Haptic-Based Interface
Authors: Stein Gary , Gonzalez Avelino J. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThis article describes and evaluates an approach to create and/or improve tactical agents through direct human interaction in real time through a force-feedback haptic device. This concept takes advantage of a force-feedback joystick to enhance motor skill and decision-making transfer from the human to the agent in real time. Haptic devices have been shown to have high bandwidth and sensitivity. Experiments are described for this new approach, named Instructional Learning. It is used both as a way to build agents from scratch as well as to improve and/or correct agents built through other means. The approach is evaluated through experiments that involve three applications of increasing complexity – chasing a fleer (Chaser), shepherding a flock of sheep into a pen (Sheep), and driving a virtual automobile (Car) through a simulated road network. The results indicate that in some instances, instructional learning can successfully create agents under some circumstances. However, instructional learning failed to build and/or improve agents in other instances. The Instructional Learning approach, the experiments, and their results are described and extensively discussed.