Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Sodium Citrate on Salt Sensitivity and Kidney Injury in Chronic Renal Failure

Metabolic acidosis, which is observed in salt-sensitive hypertension, is also associated with kidney injury. Alkali therapy in chronic renal failure (CRF) may ameliorate the progression of kidney disease; however, few studies have examined the effects of alkali therapy on salt sensitivity and kidney injury in CRF. We randomly administered standard diet (SD), sodium chloride with 20% casein diet (NACL), or sodium citrate with 20% casein diet (NACT) to Sprague-Dawley rats after a CRF or a sham operation. Four weeks after 5/6 nephrectomy, serum bicarbonate levels were higher in the NACT-treated group. On the pressure-natriuresis curve, NACT-treated CRF rats were more salt-resistant than NACL-treated CRF rats. Additionally, the NACT-treated CRF group showed less tubulointerstitial damage than the NACL-treated CRF group. The expression and immunoreactivity of NHE3 in the kidney in the NACT-treated CRF group were lower than those in the NACL-treated CRF group. We observed that dietary NACT as alkali therapy in CRF might improve the altered salt-sensitivity and ameliorate the progression of kidney injury compared to the NACL diet, which may be related to reduced renal NHE3 expression. Graphical Abstract
Rejection by Implicature

On one view of dialogue, the conversational record is part of the COMMON GROUND of the conversants. As conversants make assertions, the content of these assertions are added to the common ground, with the effect of limiting the context set (Stalnaker, 1978; Gazdar, 1979). According to Stalnaker, an assertion is assumed to be ACCEPTED, with a concomitant limitation of shared context, unless it is REJECTED by another conversant, and if an assertion is REJECTED the context remains as it was. Although Stalnaker says nothing about how acceptance and rejection are indicated and recognized in dialogue, other work has shown that the inference of acceptance can be licensed in the absence of rejection (Whittaker and Stenton, 1988; Walker and Whittaker, 1990), but that conversants often explicitly indicate acceptance, as B does in 1:
Assimilation of surface observations in a transient marine ice sheetmodel using an ensemble Kalman filter

Abstract. Marine based sectors of the Antarctic Ice Sheet are increasingly contributing to sea level rise. The basal conditions exert an important control on the ice dynamics and can be propitious to instabilities in the grounding line position. Because the force balance is non-inertial, most ice flow models are now equipped with time-independent inverse methods to constrain the basal conditions from observed surface velocities. However, transient simulations starting form this initial state usually suffer from inconsistencies and are not able to reproduce observed trends. Here, using a synthetic flow line experiment, we assess the performance of an ensemble Kalman filter for the assimilation of transient observations of surface elevation and velocities in a marine ice sheet model. The model solves the shallow shelf equation for the force balance and the continuity equation for ice thickness evolution. The position of the grounding line is determined by the floatation criterion. The filter analysis estimates both the state of the model, represented by the surface elevation, and the basal conditions, with the simultaneous inversion of the basal friction and topography. The idealized experiment reproduces a marine ice sheet that is in the early stage of an unstable retreat. Using observation frequencies and uncertainties consistent with current observing systems, we find that the filter allows to accurately recover both the basal friction and topography after few assimilation cycles with relatively small ensemble sizes. In addition it is found that assimilating the surface observations has a positive impact to constrain the evolution of the grounding line during the assimilation window. Using the initialised state to perform century-scale forecast simulations, we show that grounding line retreat rates are in agreement with the reference, however remaining uncertainties in the basal conditions may lead to significant delays in the initiation of the unstable retreat. These results are encouraging for the application to real glacial systems.
Illiquidity Premia in Asset Returns: An Empirical Analysis of Hedge Funds, Mutual Funds, and U.S. Equity Portfolios

We establish a link between illiquidity and positive autocorrelation in asset returns among a sample of hedge funds, mutual funds, and various equity portfolios. For hedge funds, this link can be confirmed by comparing the return autocorrelations of funds with shorter vs. longer redemption-notice periods. We also document significant positive return-autocorrelation in portfolios of securities that are generally considered less liquid, e.g., small-cap stocks, corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities, and emerging-market investments. Using a sample of 2,927 hedge funds, 15,654 mutual funds, and 100 size- and book-to-market-sorted portfolios of US common stocks, we construct autocorrelation-sorted long/short portfolios and conclude that illiquidity premia are generally positive and significant, ranging from 2.74% to 9.91% per year among the various hedge funds and fixed-income mutual funds. We do not find evidence for this premium among equity and asset-allocation mutual funds, or among the 100 US equity portfolios. The time variation in our aggregated illiquidity premium shows that while 1998 was a difficult year for most funds with large illiquidity exposure, the following four years yielded significantly higher illiquidity premia that led to greater competition in credit markets, contributing to much lower illiquidity premia in the years leading up to the Financial Crisis of 2007–2008.
A Comparative Study of the Financial Performance of the three Banking Modes in Egypt: Islamic, Conventional and Mixed Banks

The purpose of this study is to examine and compare the financial performance of the three banking modes in Egypt: Islamic, conventional and mixed banks during the period 2003-2010. 13 banks are included in the study (i.e. 2 Islamic banks, 8 conventional banks, and 3 mixed banks). Multiple regression models are used to study the influence of both the internal bank-specific characteristics and the external macroeconomic environment on the performance of the three types of banks in Egypt. Return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE) are employed to measure the performance of the three types of banks in Egypt. Moreover, a set of internal and external factors are considered as independent variables including; liquidity, capital adequacy, asset quality, operation efficiency, bank's size, GDP growth rate (GDP GR), and inflation rate. The findings reveal that operation efficiency has a significant negative impact on the three types of banks in Egypt, while bank's size and inflation rate have a significant influence merely on the performance of conventional banks. In addition, capital adequacy and asset quality have a positive significant influence on the performance of mixed banks. Furthermore, the comparison between financial performances of the three types of banks indicates that there is a significant difference between both ROA and ROE of Islamic banks and conventional banks, and the performance of conventional banks is better than the performance of Islamic banks in Egypt. On the other hand, there is no significant difference between the performance of Islamic banks and mixed banks, while there is a significant difference between ROA of conventional banks and mixed banks and no significant difference between ROE of conventional and mixed banks. The study also identifies the most significant indicators that contribute to assessing the performance of the three banking modes in Egypt.
A generalised framework for script identification

Automatic identification of a script in a given document image facilitates many important applications such as automatic archiving of multilingual documents, searching online archives of document images and for the selection of script specific OCR in a multilingual environment. In this paper, we model script identification as a texture classification problem and examine a global approach inspired by human visual perception. A generalised, hierarchical framework is proposed for script identification. A set of energy and intensity space features for this task is also presented. The framework serves to establish the utility of a global approach to the classification of scripts. The framework has been tested on two datasets: 10 Indian and 13 world scripts. The obtained accuracy of identification across the two datasets is above 94%. The results demonstrate that the framework can be used to develop solutions for script identification from document images across a large set of script classes.
Increased brain uptake of targeted nanoparticles by adding an acid-cleavable linkage between transferrin and the nanoparticle core

Significance Treatment for many neurological diseases is hindered by the inability of therapeutic agents to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Here, we show a method for increasing the ability of high-avidity, transferrin (Tf)-containing nanoparticles to enter the brain through transcytosis. Tf was attached to nanoparticles through an acid-cleavable linkage that facilities release of nanoparticles from Tf that are bound to Tf receptors (TfR) during transcytosis, promoting entry of the nanoparticles into the brain. This method is an improvement over previous high-affinity, TfR-targeted therapeutics that were restricted by BBB endothelium and mostly excluded from entering the brain. Increased brain accumulation of nanoparticles via this methodology should allow for greater delivery of encapsulated therapeutic agents at lower systemic doses. Most therapeutic agents are excluded from entering the central nervous system by the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Receptor mediated transcytosis (RMT) is a common mechanism used by proteins, including transferrin (Tf), to traverse the BBB. Here, we prepared Tf-containing, 80-nm gold nanoparticles with an acid-cleavable linkage between the Tf and the nanoparticle core to facilitate nanoparticle RMT across the BBB. These nanoparticles are designed to bind to Tf receptors (TfRs) with high avidity on the blood side of the BBB, but separate from their multidentate Tf–TfR interactions upon acidification during the transcytosis process to allow release of the nanoparticle into the brain. These targeted nanoparticles show increased ability to cross an in vitro model of the BBB and, most important, enter the brain parenchyma of mice in greater amounts in vivo after systemic administration compared with similar high-avidity nanoparticles containing noncleavable Tf. In addition, we investigated this design with nanoparticles containing high-affinity antibodies (Abs) to TfR. With the Abs, the addition of the acid-cleavable linkage provided no improvement to in vivo brain uptake for Ab-containing nanoparticles, and overall brain uptake was decreased for all Ab-containing nanoparticles compared with Tf-containing ones. These results are consistent with recent reports of high-affinity anti-TfR Abs trafficking to the lysosome within BBB endothelium. In contrast, high-avidity, Tf-containing nanoparticles with the acid-cleavable linkage avoid major endothelium retention by shedding surface Tf during their transcytosis.
Globalization and Poverty Rate in Nigeria : An Empirical Analysis

This study investigated the relationship between globalization and Poverty rate in Nigeria. The study employed the two basic channels theory to explain the relationship that exists between globalization and poverty rate within the Nigeria context. The study adopted a co-integration and error correction modeling techniques on an annual time series data within the periods of 1981 – 2009.A unique co-integration between poverty rate and the explanatory variables in the study is found. In order to determine the short-run dynamics around the equilibrium relationship, we estimated an error correction model (ECM). The empirical findings in this study shows that an increase in openness by (1) one unit will bring about a decline in poverty rate by 0.46209 percent in the current period showing a negative relationship. However, openness has a positive and significant impact on poverty in Nigeria during the period under study. Domestic investment (INV) was statistically significant and has a positive impact on poverty reduction, the current value of FDI responded negatively in terms of relationship and insignificantly to poverty in Nigeria, whereas, the first lagged FDI was statistically significant and also negatively related to poverty. This however shows delayed response. The results of the study suggest the need for Government to encourage globalization, by embarking on trade liberalization policies in order to accelerate and sustain industrial growth and in turn reduce poverty also bearing in mind the growth and development of home industries which is also paramount to development, government should make sure that the globalization process is implemented in a gradual pace. As rapid globalization could be disadvantageous to industrial growth and this can in effect or breed more poverty.
An Investigation of the Feasibility and Cultural Appropriateness of Stated Preference Methods to Generate EQ-5D-5L Values in the United Arab Emirates

No EQ-5D-5L value sets are currently available in the Middle East to inform decision making in the region's health care systems. This study tests the feasibility of eliciting EQ-5D-5L values from a general public sample in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) using the EuroQol Group's standardised valuation protocol. Computer-assisted personal interviews were conducted with 200 adult Emiratis in December 2013. Respondents completed 10 time trade-off tasks and seven discrete choice experiment tasks, followed by debriefing questions about their experience of completing the valuation tasks. The face validity of the data appears to be reasonably high. The majority of respondents stated that their religious beliefs influenced their responses to the valuation tasks. The authors conclude that it is feasible to generate meaningful health state values in the UAE, though some adaptation of the methods may be required to improve their acceptability among Emiratis (and other predominantly Muslim populations). A revised version of this paper has been published in Value in Health Regional Issues and can be downloaded from - http://www.sciencedirect. com/science/article/pii/S2212109915000527 Please cite as - Papadimitropoulos, M. , Elbarazi, I. , Blair, I. , Katsaiti, M.S., Shah, K. and Devlin, N. , 2015. An Investigation of the Feasibility and Cultural Appropriateness of Stated Preference Methods to Generate EQ-5D-5L Values in the United Arab Emirates. Value in Health Regional Issues, 7, pp.34-41.
What Does the Anatomical Organization of the Entorhinal Cortex Tell Us?

The entorhinal cortex is commonly perceived as a major input and output structure of the hippocampal formation, entertaining the role of the nodal point of cortico-hippocampal circuits. Superficial layers receive convergent cortical information, which is relayed to structures in the hippocampus, and hippocampal output reaches deep layers of entorhinal cortex, that project back to the cortex. The finding of the grid cells in all layers and reports on interactions between deep and superficial layers indicate that this rather simplistic perception may be at fault. Therefore, an integrative approach on the entorhinal cortex, that takes into account recent additions to our knowledge database on entorhinal connectivity, is timely. We argue that layers in entorhinal cortex show different functional characteristics most likely not on the basis of strikingly different inputs or outputs, but much more likely on the basis of differences in intrinsic organization, combined with very specific sets of inputs. Here, we aim to summarize recent anatomical data supporting the notion that the traditional description of the entorhinal cortex as a layered input-output structure for the hippocampal formation does not give the deserved credit to what this structure might be contributing to the overall functions of cortico-hippocampal networks.
Effective attention-based neural architectures for sentence compression with bidirectional long short-term memory

We propose a novel model that apply an extension of the Long Short-Term Memory neural network for sentence compression task. In our model, only the most relevant context of each word is concentrated to avoid the redundant information. Our model is based on two new models that have been successfully used recently in neural machine translation. The first is Bidirectional model that can be trained using all the available input information in the past and future. The second is Attention model that focus not only the whole sentence information but also the particular context of each word in this sentence. Experimental results show that our model significantly outperforms all the recently state-of-the-art method, the Bidirectional and the Attention model on the Google sentence compression dataset.
An Evolutionary Algorithm with Multi-Local Search for the Resource-Constrained Project Scheduling Problem

This paper introduces a hybrid evolutionary algorithm for the resource-constrained project scheduling problem (RCPSP). Given an RCPSP instance, the algorithm identifies the problem structure and selects a suitable decoding scheme. Then a multi-pass biased sampling method followed up by a multi-local search is used to generate a diverse and good quality initial population. The population then evolves through modified order-based recombination and mutation operators to perform exploration for promising solutions within the entire region. Mutation is performed only if the current population has converged or the produced offspring by recombination operator is too similar to one of his parents. Finally the algorithm performs an intensified local search on the best solution found in the evolutionary stage. Computational experiments using standard instances indicate that the proposed algorithm works well in both computational time and solution quality.
Toxicity of Insecticides on Various Life Stages of Two Tortricid Pests of Cranberries and on a Non-Target Predator

Laboratory and extended laboratory bioassays were conducted to determine the residual toxicities of various insecticides against two key pests of cranberries, Sparganothis sulfureana and Choristoneura parallela (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and their non-target effects on the predatory Orius insidiosus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae). The effects of nine insecticides with different modes of action on S. sulfureana and Ch. parallela eggs, larvae, and adults were tested in the laboratory, while the efficacy of a post-bloom application on larval mortality and mass of these pests and on adult O. insidiosus was evaluated in extended laboratory experiments. The organophosphate chlorpyrifos and the spinosyn spinetoram provided long-lasting (seven-day) control against all stages of both pests. The growth regulator methoxyfenozide and the diamides chlorantraniliprole and cyantraniliprole had strong (1–7 days) larvicidal, particularly on young larvae, and growth inhibitory activity, but only the diamides were adulticidal. Among neonicotinoids, acetamiprid had stronger ovicidal and adulticidal activity than thiamethoxam, showing within-insecticide class differences in toxicities; however, both were weak on larvae. Lethality of novaluron and indoxacarb was inconsistent, varying depending on species and stage. Chlorpyrifos was most toxic to O. insidiosus. These results show species- and stage-specific toxicities, and greater compatibility with biological control, of the newer reduced-risk classes of insecticides than older chemistries.
Observational Evaluation of Teachers: Measuring More Than We Bargained for?

Our secondary analysis of Measures of Effective Teaching data contributes to growing evidence that observation ratings, used as part of comprehensive teacher evaluation systems across the nation, may measure factors outside of a teacher’s performance or control. Specifically, men and teachers in classrooms with high concentrations of Black, Hispanic, male, and low-performing students receive significantly lower observation ratings. By using various methodological approaches and a subsample of teachers randomly assigned to classrooms, we demonstrate that these differences are unlikely due to actual differences in teacher quality. These results suggest that policymakers consider the unintended consequences of using observational ratings to evaluate teachers and consider ways to adjust ratings to ensure they are fair.
The relationship between existential attitudes and professional quality of life among nursing students

This study examined the relationship between existential attitudes and professional quality of life among a sample of South African nursing students (N = 150; mean age = 21.19, SD = 2.77; female = 90%). The student nurses completed the Life Attitudes Profile-Revised (LAP-R) and the Professional Quality of Life Scale (PROQoL). The data were analysed using the Pearson product-moment correlation and multiple regression analysis. Existential attitudes significantly predicted scores on the PROQoL. The findings suggest that existential attitudes are an essential personal resource that could serve as a potential buffer against compassion fatigue and burnout while enhancing compassion satisfaction.
An Analysis of Adult Educators’ Experiences with Professional Development Activities

This study was designed to explore Adult Basic Education (ABE), Adult Secondary Education (ASE), and English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers’ experiences with professional development. The study sought to determine whether adult learning principles were evident in the facilitation of professional development activities. The study instrument was administered online to members of the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE), with a total of n=348 respondents to the survey. The survey consisted of demographic questions, questions related to professional development experiences, and an open response question. The majority of respondents were teachers/instructors (n=232, 66.7%), held a master’s degree (n=187, 54.4%), and did not have adult education certification/licensure (n=205, 59.1%). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was utilized to identify adult learning principles that were perceived by ABE, ASE, and ESL teachers who attended professional development. Seven factors emerged to explain 67.11% of the total variance among 32 items on the instrument. The first factor in the exploratory factor analysis indicated that during professional development, ABE, ASE, and ESL teachers learned new skills and strategies for working with adult learners that were applicable to their classroom instruction. The other factors had fewer items and were less defined. To describe how the learning environment impacted ABE, ASE, and ESL teachers’ professional development experiences, a one-way between-groups analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted. Results indicated no statistically significant difference among the groups. To compare perceptions of facilitator skills and abilities that impacted ABE, ASE, and ESL teachers’ professional development experiences, a one-way between-groups analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used. Data analysis indicated differences existed between ASE and ESL groups on two items.