Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal serum HIV RNA quantification: correlation to viral phenotype at seroconversion and clinical outcome

Objective:To investigate the longitudinal changes in serum HIV RNA, and to clarify whether the viral load early in infection has a predictive value for the clinical outcome; also, to correlate viral phenotype at seroconversion and changes in CD4 cell counts with viral burden. Design:Twenty seroconverters with HIV isolates available at seroconversion had HIV RNA quantified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at seroconversion and thereafter every 6 months. Mean follow-up time was 65 months. Patients were classified according to viral phenotype at seroconversion, time to AIDS progression, serum viral load within the first year (less or more than 1.5×104 copies/ml). Results:High viral load at seroconversion was followed by a significant decline within the first months (P<0.0005). Decline to <1.5×104 copies/ml was correlated with slower progression to AIDS (P<0.05). A correlation between the rate of CD4 decline and the median viral load during the ensuing viral load plateau phase was also shown (P<0.05). Subsequent to this phase the viral burden increased. Rapid progressors had higher viral load than slow- or non-progressors; this was particularly pronounced late in infection. Harbouring syncytium-inducing (SI) virus at seroconversion was associated with faster progression to AIDS than non-SI (NSI; P<0.005). The increased in vitro replication rate of SI over NSI was not translated into significantly higher serum HIV RNA. Conclusion:Serum HIV RNA is high around the time of seroconversion. A significant decline within the first months hereafter is followed by a plateau phase, which in turn is followed by an increase in HIV RNA. HIV RNA early in infection has a predictive value for the clinical outcome. The increased virulence of SI over NSI virus did not translate into significantly higher HIV RNA values.
Costs of Reducing Global Carbon Emissions

Projecting the costs of reducing carbon emissions is extremely important, and exceedingly difficult. Such projections are an integral component of cost-benefit analyses of alternative policies in response to climate change. This paper first discusses the key dimensions of any projection of the cost of reducing carbon emissions. Then it discusses the projections that have been made, including long-, medium- and short-range time horizons. Finally, the conclusion summarizes what we know and don't know about the costs of controlling carbon emissions and recommends an agenda for future research.
Influence of riverine input on the growth of Glycymeris glycymeris in the Bay of Brest, North-West France

A crossdated, replicated, chronology of 114 years (1901–2014) was developed from internal growth increments in the shells of Glycymeris glycymeris samples collected monthly from the Bay of Brest, France. Bivalve sampling was undertaken between 2014 and 2015 using a dredge. In total 401 live specimens and 243 articulated paired valves from dead specimens were collected, of which 38 individuals were used to build the chronology. Chronology strength, assessed as the Expressed Population Signal, was above 0.7 throughout, falling below the generally accepted threshold of 0.85 before 1975 because of reduced sample depth. Significant positive correlations were identified between the shell growth and the annual averages of rainfall (1975–2008; r = 0.34) and inflow from the river Elorn (1989–2009; r = 0.60). A significant negative correlation was identified between shell growth and the annual average salinity (1998–2014; r = -0.62). Analysis of the monthly averages indicates that these correlations are associated with the winter months (November–February) preceding the G. glycymeris growth season suggesting that winter conditions predispose the benthic environment for later shell growth. Concentration of suspended particulate matter within the river in February is also positively correlated with shell growth, leading to the conclusion that food availability is also important to the growth of G. glycymeris in the Bay of Brest. With the addition of principle components analysis, we were able to determine that inflow from the River Elorn, nitrite levels and salinity were the fundamental drivers of G. glycymeris growth and that these environmental parameters were all linked.
Rethinking the Rule of Law after Communism

Editors' Introduction Part 1 Constitutionalism Transitional Constitutionalism: Simple and Fancy Theories, Wojciech Sadurski Democracy by Judiciary, Kim Lane Scheppele Rethinking Judicial Review: Shaping the Toleration of Difference? Cindy Skach Foxes Hedgehogs and Learning: Notes on the Past and Future Dilemmas of Postcommunist Constitutionalism, Venelin I. Ganev Democratic Norm Building and Constitutional Discourse Formation: Experience from the Constitutional Review Chamber of Estonia, Vello Partai Part II Dealing with the Past Dealing with the Past after Communism: Between Restitutive and Retributive Justice, Adam Czarnota Transitional Justice in the German Democratic Republic, Clause Offe and Ulrike Poppe Models of Transition- Old Theories and Recent Developments, Hubert Rottleuthner and Matthias Mahlmann Restitutive Justice, Rule of Law, and Constitutional Dilemmas, Grazyna Skapska How Far Does Transitional Justice Stretch? Judicial review for Dealing with the Past in Democratic Transition, Renata Uitz Part III Rule of Law Rethinking the Rule of Law after Communism, Martin Krygier Transitional Rule of Law, Ruti Teitel Constitutional Symbolism and Political (Dis)continuity: Legal Rationality and its Integrative Function in Post-Communist Transformations, Ji i P iba Corruption, Anti-Corruption Sentiments and the Rule of Law, Ivan Krastev Central Europe's Second Constitutional Transition: The Prospects of EU Membership, Neil Walker
Oscillatory Motion of Permanent Magnets Above a Conducting Slab

This paper provides the 3-D time-dependent analytical solution of the electromagnetic fields and forces emerging if a coil or a permanent magnet moves with a sinusoidal velocity profile relative to a conducting slab of finite thickness. The results can be readily used in application scenarios related to electromagnetic damping, eddy current braking, energy harvesting, or nondestructive testing in order to efficiently analyze diffusion and advection processes in case of harmonic motion. This paper is performed for rectangular and circular coils as well as for cuboidal and cylindrical permanent magnets. The back reaction of the conductor and therewith associated inductive effects are considered. The solutions of the governing equations and the integral expressions for the time-dependent drag and lift force are provided. The analytical results are verified by a comparison with numerical simulations obtained by the finite-element method. The relative difference between the analytically and numerically evaluated force profiles was <;0.1%. Exemplary calculations show that the waveforms of both force components strongly depend on the level of constant nominal velocity $v_{0}$ , the magnitude of the velocity oscillation amplitude $v_{1}$ , and the underlying oscillation frequency $f_{v}$ .
Extracting the interfacial free energy and anisotropy from a smooth fluctuating dividing surface

Interfaces between different materials and phases play a crucial role in many physical and chemical phenomena. When performing simulations of matter at the atomic scale, however, it is often not trivial to characterize these interfaces, particularly when they are rough or diffuse. Here we discuss a generalization of a construction, due to Willard and Chandler, that allows one to obtain a smooth dividing surface that follows the irregular, ever changing shape of these fluctuating interfaces. We show how this construction can be used to study the surface that separates a solid material from its melt and how analyses of the Fourier modes for the capillary fluctuations of this instantaneous dividing surface can be performed. This particular analysis is useful as one can compute the specific free energy excess of the interface, and its dependence on orientation relative to the bulk phases, from the average amplitude of the Fourier modes. We therefore discuss the efficiency of this approach, both in terms of system size and statistical sampling.
Exploring the Implementation of Ethics in U.K. Accounting Programs

Accounting education researchers, as well as practitioners, have identified the need for ethics in the accounting curriculum. This paper explores efforts of U.K. higher education institutions to integrate ethics into the accounting curriculum. Specifically, our survey of U.K. educational institutions suggests that ethics is widely included in the accounting curriculum and is predominantly taught in upper‐division courses, especially in financial accounting and auditing. Our survey results also indicate that a substantial minority of U.K. universities see recent accounting scandals as a driving force behind the inclusion of ethics in the curriculum. Finally, our survey results suggest that, while most U.K. universities include ethics in the accounting curriculum, different factors influence curriculum design across university types.
Pattern duplication by retinoic acid treatment in the regenerating limbs of Korean salamander larvae, Hynobius leechii, correlates well with the extent of dedifferentiation

In the regenerating limbs of Korean salamanders, Hynobius leechii, retinoic acid (RA) induces duplication of skeletal structures in the proximodistal (PD) axis and often in the transverse axes. In the present study, the stage‐dependent effects of RA for the duplication of limb skeletal structures at two amputation levels, the distal stylopodium and the distal zeugopodium, were studied using larval limbs of Korean salamanders. The results showed that the mean level of proximalization (MLP) by RA treatment increased during the stages of dedifferentiation and early bud formation while the MLP declined thereafter in both amputation levels. The decline of the MLP at the later stages of regeneration was due to the high frequency of hypomorphic regeneration or blocked regeneration. When the effects of RA treatment at two amputation levels were compared, the overall trends were similar but the actual timing was delayed for 2–4 days in the proximal level of amputation. Furthermore, the peak level of proximalization was achieved earlier and the peak level remained longer in the distal stylopodial level of amputation compared to the distal zeugopodial level of amputation. Since the histological observations revealed that the dediferentiation period was also extended up to 2–4 days in the proximal level of amputation, the acid phosphatase activity during the course of regeneration was measured to look for a quantitative relationship between the enzyme activity and the states of dedifferentiation. The results show that the level and the duration of acid phosphatase activity in the upper arm regenerates are both higher and longer than those in the lower arm regenerates. Furthermore, RA treatment caused an increase in acid phosphatase activity. Thus our results suggest that the state of dedifferentiation might be closely linked to the extent of proximalization of regenerating limbs by RA treatment. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An inspector calls: farm accommodation providers' attitudes to quality assurance schemes in the county of Devon

Estimates suggest that 10 000 farms in the UK offer bed and breakfast (B and B) serviced accommodation. A thorough review of the existing literature indicates over 50% of Devon and Cornwall's farmhouse B and B sector operate without participating in any form of quality assurance inspection scheme. This research executes a stratified postal survey to gain a comprehensive understanding of Devon's farmhouse B and B product, with particular interest in extracting providers' attitudes towards quality assurance inspection schemes. The very representative results suggest a divergence of attitudes towards the notion of quality inspections for all farmhouse B and B providers. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Hydrostatic pressure activates ATP‐sensitive K+ channels in lung epithelium by ATP release through pannexin and connexin hemichannels

Lungs of air‐breathing vertebrates are constantly exposed to mechanical forces and therefore are suitable for investigation of mechanotransduction processes in nonexcitable cells and tissues. Freshly dissected Xenopus laevis lungs were used for transepithelial short‐circuit current (ISC) recordings and were exposed to increased hydrostatic pressure (HP; 5 cm fluid column, modified Ussing chamber). ISC values obtained under HP (I5cm) were normalized to values before HP (I0cm) application (I5cm/I0cm). Under control conditions, HP decreased ISC (I5cm/I0cm=0.84; n=68; P<0.0001). This effect was reversible and repeatable ≥30 times. Preincubation with ATP‐sensitive K+ channel (KATP) inhibitors (HMR1098 and glibenclamide) prevented the decrease in ISC (I5cm/I0cm: HMR1098=1.19, P<0.0001; glibenclamide=1.11, P<0.0001). Similar effects were observed with hemichannel inhibitors (I5cm/I0cm: meclofenamic acid=1.09, P<0.0001; probenecid=1.0, P<0.0001). The HP effect was accompanied by release of ATP (P<0.05), determined by luciferin‐luciferase luminescence in perfusion solution from the luminal side of an Ussing chamber. ATP release was abrogated by both meclofenamic acid and probenecid. RT‐PCR experiments revealed the expression of pannexin and connexin hemichannels and KATP subunit transcripts in X. laevis lung. These data show an activation of KATP in pulmonary epithelial cells in response to HP that is induced by ATP release through mechanosensitive pannexin and connexin hemichannels. These findings represent a novel mechanism of mechanotransduction in nonexcitable cells. —Richter, K. , Kiefer, K. P., Grzesik, B. A. , Clauss, W. G. , Fronius, M. Hydrostatic pressure activates ATP‐sensitive K+ channels in lung epithelium by ATP release through pannexin and connexin hemichannels. FASEB J. 28, 45–55 (2014). www.fasebj. org
A Comparison of Formal and Informal Dispute Resolution in Medical Malpractice

In this study we examine the experience of a single large hospital with an informal pre-litigation complaint process that resolves some cases outside of the legal system. The empirical results are generally consistent with an information structure where patients are poorly informed about the quality of medical care and the hospital does not know whether particular patients are litigious or not. The complaint process seems to resolve many complaints in a less costly manner than filing lawsuits. Almost half of all complaints are resolved before a lawsuit is filed. The large majority of these are dropped, and they are cases that would likely have been dropped even if they had been initiated as lawsuits. Very few cases are settled with a cash payment to patients before a lawsuit is filed, suggesting that patients must file lawsuits in order to convince the hospital that they are litigious enough to justify a settlement. Cases initiated through the complaint process are not resolved (dropped, settled, tried to a verdict) significantly differently from cases initiated as lawsuits, controlling for observable case characteristics. When settlements of lawsuits occur, the amounts paid do not vary depending on how the case originated, but settlements of complaints are much higher for cases settled after a lawsuit is filed. We conclude that the complaint process is a cost-effective front-end for the litigation process that provides information to patients regarding the quality of their medical care and, hence, the likelihood of negligence.
A symbiotic perspective on distributed algorithms and social insects

Biological distributed algorithms are decentralized computer algorithms that solve problems related to real biological systems and provide insight into the behavior of actual biological species. The biological systems we consider are social insect colonies, and the problems we study include foraging for food (exploring the colony's surroundings), house hunting (reaching consensus on a new home for the colony), and task allocation (allocating workers to tasks in the colony). The goal is to combine the approaches used in understanding complex distributed and biological systems in order to develop (1) more formal and mathematical insights about the behavior of social insect colonies, and (2) new techniques to design simpler and more robust distributed algorithms. Our results introduce theoretical computer scientists to new metrics, new ways to think about models and lower bounds, and new types of robustness properties of algorithms. Moreover, we provide biologists with new tools and techniques to gain insight and generate hypotheses about real ant colony behavior.
Exploring the Sources of Earnings Transmission in Spain

This paper explores the mechanisms behind the intergenerational earnings mobility in Spain by means of three exercises: calculating the transition matrix, decomposing the sources of earnings elasticity and estimating quantile regressions. By calculating the transition matrices we find a strong degree of persistence in educational attainment and especially in occupation. By decomposing the sources of earnings elasticity, we find that the correlation between children’s and their fathers’ occupations is the most important component. Finally, quantile regressions estimates show that the influence of the father’s earnings is greater when we move to the lower tail of the offspring’s earnings distribution, especially for daughters.
Restoring Europe's Prosperity: Macroeconomic Papers from the Centre for European Policy Studies

Restoring Europe's Prosperity is the first annual produced by the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), an independent research institution which focuses on the major medium- and long-term issues facing the European community and Western Europe both internally and internationally. The most important economic problems of past years have concerned unemployment, economic growth, fiscal deficits, and the value of the US dollar. It is clear that past and present economic policies have not effectively addressed these problems. This CEPS annual selects the best work of the Centre's Macroeconomic Policy Group; a rotating group of distinguished economists who are studying macroeconomic conditions and trends, the implications of the economic policies being pursued, and possible alternative policies.
Analyst Responsiveness and the Post-Earnings-Announcement Drift

This study examines the responsiveness of analyst forecasts to current earnings announcements. The results show considerable cross-sectional variation in analyst responsiveness and suggest that this variation is related to the costs and benefits associated with prompt forecast revisions. More importantly, this study finds that with responsive forecast revisions, more of the market reaction takes place in the event window and less in the drift window, suggesting that analyst responsiveness mitigates the post-earnings-announcement drift and facilitates market efficiency.
Sex Crimes on Trial: The Use of Sexual Evidence in Scottish Courts

Victims of rape can be subjected to an intense scrutiny of their sexual history and sexual character once the case is brought to court. In 1985, legislation was passed in Scotland to control the amount of such evidence and the way it is used in court. This book looks back over the last eight years and assesses the impact the legislation has had on the conduct of rape trials in Scotland. It combines socio-legal analysis with empirical evidence and argues that the Scottish experience has much to show other systems.
Entrepreneurial marketing in small businesses: A conceptual exploration

This article proposes further development of the concept of entrepreneurial marketing towards the concept of entrepreneurial marketing orientation. Drawing on the earlier research and scales in the entrepreneurial orientation, market orientation, innovation orientation and customer orientation literatures, the article proposes a conceptual model for entrepreneurial marketing that identifies the components of such a model, together with specific indications of the overlap between scales in the different areas. This model implicitly suggests that marketing in SMEs is intertwined with other activities and behaviours in the small business enterprise, and argues that in order to understand marketing in SMEs it is essential to understand its context, specifically in relation to customer engagement, innovation and entrepreneurial approaches to marketing.
Serotonin and Dopamine Gene Variation and Theory of Mind Decoding Accuracy in Major Depression: A Preliminary Investigation

Theory of mind–the ability to decode and reason about others’ mental states–is a universal human skill and forms the basis of social cognition. Theory of mind accuracy is impaired in clinical conditions evidencing social impairment, including major depressive disorder. The current study is a preliminary investigation of the association of polymorphisms of the serotonin transporter (SLC6A4), dopamine transporter (DAT1), dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4), and catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) genes with theory of mind decoding in a sample of adults with major depression. Ninety-six young adults (38 depressed, 58 non-depressed) completed the ‘Reading the Mind in the Eyes task’ and a non-mentalistic control task. Genetic associations were only found for the depressed group. Specifically, superior accuracy in decoding mental states of a positive valence was seen in those homozygous for the long allele of the serotonin transporter gene, 9-allele carriers of DAT1, and long-allele carriers of DRD4. In contrast, superior accuracy in decoding mental states of a negative valence was seen in short-allele carriers of the serotonin transporter gene and 10/10 homozygotes of DAT1. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for integrating social cognitive and neurobiological models of etiology in major depression.
Expectations and Interest Rates: A Cross-sectional Test of the Error-learning Hypothesis

Whenever an experimental scientist achieves a substantial empirical breakthrough, his colleagues' first impulse is to try the experiment for themselves. Scientists are skeptical men who know that errors of observation and questionable experimental technique are facts of life. If a law verified by one observer is truly valid, it should operate for anyone. Successful and independent repetition of a critical experiment increases our confidence in its supposed results. By reducing the probability that a reported observation is due either to chance or to experimental error, replication can add significantly to the stock of scientific knowledge. It is in this spirit that one must view the widespread attempts to verify with new data the Meiselman (1962) hypothesis that interest-rate expectations are subject to error learning. Meiselman tried to show that the implicit forward rates that can be calculated from empirical term structures really are anticipated future interest rates. To accomplish this, he postulated an error-learning mechanism that described how expected rates would change systematically with the receipt of new information. Since the implicit rates of the empirical (Durand) yield curves changed over time in a manner consistent with his theory (that is, they behaved as he had hypothesized that expected rates should), Meiselman interpreted his results as confirming the expectations theory. As the first study to provide firm empirical support for the expectations theory, this work was greeted with both awe and skepticism. While several authors objected to Meiselman's interpretation of his