Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mixed Methods for Two-Phase Darcy-Stokes Mixtures of Partially Melted Materials with Regions of Zero Porosity

The Earth's mantle (or, e.g., a glacier) involves a deformable solid matrix phase within which a second phase, a fluid, may form due to melting processes. The system is modeled as a dual-continuum mixture, with at each point of space the solid matrix being governed by a Stokes flow and the fluid melt, if it exists, being governed by Darcy's law. This system is mathematically degenerate when the porosity (volume fraction of fluid) vanishes. Assuming the porosity is given, we develop a mixed variational framework for the mechanics of the system by carefully scaling the Darcy variables by powers of the porosity. We prove that the variational problem is well-posed, even when there are regions of one and two phases. We then develop an accurate mixed finite element method for solving this Darcy--Stokes system and prove a convergence result. Numerical results are presented that illustrate and verify the convergence of the method.
Histological Analysis of the Structural Composition of Ankle Ligaments

Background: Various ankle ligaments have different structural composition. The aim of this study was to analyze the morphological structure of ankle ligaments to further understand their function in ankle stability. Methods: One hundred forty ligaments from 10 fresh-frozen cadaver ankle joints were dissected: the calcaneofibular, anterior, and posterior talofibular ligaments; the inferior extensor retinaculum, the talocalcaneal oblique ligament, the canalis tarsi ligament; the deltoid ligament; and the anterior tibiofibular ligament. Hematoxylin-eosin and Elastica van Gieson stains were used for determination of tissue morphology. Results: Three different morphological compositions were identified: dense, mixed, and interlaced compositions. Densely packed ligaments, characterized by parallel bundles of collagen, were primarily seen in the lateral region, the canalis tarsi, and the anterior tibiofibular ligaments. Ligaments with mixed tight and loose parallel bundles of collagenous connective tissue were mainly found in the inferior extensor retinaculum and talocalcaneal oblique ligament. Densely packed and fiber-rich interlacing collagen was primarily seen in the areas of ligament insertion into bone of the deltoid ligament. Conclusions: Ligaments of the lateral region, the canalis tarsi, and the anterior tibiofibular ligaments have tightly packed, parallel collagen bundles and thus can resist high tensile forces. The mixed tight and loose, parallel oriented collagenous connective tissue of the inferior extensor retinaculum and the talocalcaneal oblique ligament support the dynamic positioning of the foot on the ground. The interlacing collagen bundles seen at the insertion of the deltoid ligament suggest that these insertion areas are susceptible to tension in a multitude of directions. Clinical Relevance: The morphology and mechanical properties of ankle ligaments may provide an understanding of their response to the loads to which they are subjected.
[Physical activity of adult residents of Katowice and selected determinants of their occupational status and socio-economic characteristics].

BACKGROUND The issue of physical activity (PA) is often addressed in the literature, but its socio-economic determinants are fully recognized. To date no studies of the adult population of Katowice have been carried out. Research in this area is of great importance in the context of the documented influence of PA on health and extension of retirement age in Poland. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the relationship between PA and socio-economic status of adult residents of Katowice. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study carried out in 2010 comprised 2053 people (987 women and 1066 men) aged 30-65 years. To evaluate PA in the study group the diagnostic survey method and a research tool in the form of an abridged version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), with specification expanded by the authors, were used. In the statistical analysis logistic regression was employed. RESULTS The likelihood of meeting the standards of health-enhancing PA was higher in men than in women and it decreased with age and education level of the respondents. The highest proportion of those meeting the recommendation of health-enhancing PA was observed among blue-collar workers, operators, teachers, police and soldiers. The lowest probability of meeting the recommendations of the American College of Sports Medicine was found among economists and lawyers, office workers, the unemployed, managers, and engineers, pensioners and health care professionals. CONCLUSIONS The study demonstrates the correlation between PA and socio-economic status of the respondents. The analysis of the results indicates the necessity to promote PA programs mainly among women, the elderly, the unemployed, pensioners and representatives of professions, such as economists, lawyers, managers, engineers, and health professionals.
The activity of cGMP-dependent protein kinase Iα is not directly regulated by oxidation-induced disulfide formation at cysteine 43

The type I cGMP-dependent protein kinases (PKGs) are key regulators of smooth muscle tone, cardiac hypertrophy, and other physiological processes. The two isoforms PKGIα and PKGIβ are thought to have unique functions because of their tissue-specific expression, different cGMP affinities, and isoform-specific protein-protein interactions. Recently, a non-canonical pathway of PKGIα activation has been proposed, in which PKGIα is activated in a cGMP-independent fashion via oxidation of Cys43, resulting in disulfide formation within the PKGIα N-terminal dimerization domain. A “redox-dead” knock-in mouse containing a C43S mutation exhibits phenotypes consistent with decreased PKGIα signaling, but the detailed mechanism of oxidation-induced PKGIα activation is unknown. Therefore, we examined oxidation-induced activation of PKGIα, and in contrast to previous findings, we observed that disulfide formation at Cys43 does not directly activate PKGIα in vitro or in intact cells. In transfected cells, phosphorylation of Ras homolog gene family member A (RhoA) and vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein was increased in response to 8-CPT-cGMP treatment, but not when disulfide formation in PKGIα was induced by H2O2. Using purified enzymes, we found that the Cys43 oxidation had no effect on basal kinase activity or Km and Vmax values; however, PKGIα containing the C43S mutation was less responsive to cGMP-induced activation. This reduction in cGMP affinity may in part explain the PKGIα loss-of-function phenotype of the C43S knock-in mouse. In conclusion, disulfide formation at Cys43 does not directly activate PKGIα, and the C43S-mutant PKGIα has a higher Ka for cGMP. Our results highlight that mutant enzymes should be carefully biochemically characterized before making in vivo inferences.
Contingent Valuation in Food Policy Analysis: A Case Study of a Pesticide-Residue Risk Reduction

Abstract This study demonstrates how contingent valuation techniques can be used in a cost-benefit analysis of a food safety policy issue. The analysis focuses on banning a specific postharvest pesticide used in fresh grapefruit packinghouses. Benefits of the ban are measured using consumers' aggregated willingness to pay (WTP) for safer grapefruit. A national contingent valuation survey used the payment card method to obtain WTP data. Costs of the ban stem predominantly from increased postharvest losses and were estimated using a model of the market for Florida grapefruit. Results indicate that benefits of the ban outweigh costs.
The mitotic peptidyl‐prolyl isomerase, Pin1, interacts with Cdc25 and Plx1

The cis/trans peptidyl‐prolyl isomerase, Pin1, is a regulator of mitosis that is well conserved from yeast to man. Here we demonstrate that depletion of Pin1‐binding proteins from Xenopus egg extracts results in hyperphosphorylation and inactivation of the key mitotic regulator, Cdc2/cyclin B. We show biochemically that this phenotype is a consequence of Pin1 interaction with critical upstream regulators of Cdc2/cyclin B, including the Cdc2‐directed phosphatase, Cdc25, and its known regulator, Plx1. Although Pin1 could interact with Plx1 during interphase and mitosis, only the phosphorylated, mitotically active form of Cdc25 was able to bind Pin1, an event we have recapitulated using in vitro phosphorylated Cdc25. Taken together, these data suggest that Pin1 may modulate cell cycle control through interaction with Cdc25 and its activator, Plx1.
Cu—Zn SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE INHIBITS LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE RELEASE AND PROTECTS AGAINST CELL DEATH IN MURINE FIBROBLASTS PRETREATED WITH ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION

The effects of adding Cu—Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu—Zn SOD) to culture medium of the murine fibroblast cell line, L‐929, pretreated with UV‐B (312nm, 480mJ/cm2) have been investigated. Cell injury was monitored by the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) into the medium, and cell death by the trypan blue exclusion test. UV‐B radiation induced cell death by apoptosis, as demonstrated by DNA fragmentation. Over the range 0.1–0. 3μm Cu—Zn SOD, a significant dose‐dependent protection against cell death was obtained of the UV‐B exposed cells. Cell death correlated with the amount of LDH released into the medium, and Cu—Zn SOD treatment inhibited this. Heat‐denatured Cu—Zn SOD did not affect either cell viability or the release of LDH from the cells. Endogenous Cu—Zn SOD activity, monitored by chemiluminescence, decreased by 20% in UV‐B‐irradiated cells; the addition of 0. 3μm exogenous Cu—Zn SOD to the medium did not affect intracellular Cu—Zn SOD activity. These results establish that Cu—Zn SOD added to extracellular medium can protect cells against injury caused by UV‐B exposure.
Compliance with IFRS 3- and IAS 36-required disclosures across 17 European countries: company- and country-level determinants

In this study, we analyse compliance for a large sample of European companies mandatorily applying International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Focusing on disclosures required by IFRS 3 Business Combinations and International Accounting Standard 36 Impairment of Assets, we find substantial non-compliance. Compliance levels are determined jointly by company- and country-level variables, indicating that accounting traditions and other country-specific factors continue to play a role despite the use of common reporting standards under IFRS. At the company level, we identify the importance of goodwill positions, prior experience with IFRS, type of auditor, the existence of audit committees, the issuance of equity shares or bonds in the reporting period or in the subsequent period, ownership structure and the financial services industry as influential factors. At the country level, the strength of the enforcement system and the size of the national stock market are associated with compliance. Both factors not only directly influence compliance but also moderate and mediate some company-level factors. Finally, national culture in the form of the strength of national traditions (‘conservation’) also influences compliance, in combination with company-level factors.
Information Diffusion among Agents: Implications for Humanitarian Operations

The basis for this article is an information‐processing view of the UN's cluster approach. We use agent‐based modeling and simulations to show that clusters, if properly utilized, encourage better information flow and thus facilitate effective response to disasters. The article intends to turn the attention of the humanitarian community to the importance of sharing information and the role of cluster leads in facilitating humanitarian aid. Our results indicate that if cluster leads act as information hubs, information reaches its target faster, enabling a prompt humanitarian response. In addition, we show that information quality is critical for effective resource utilization—if cluster leads filter information, it moves faster. We also found evidence that the willingness to exchange information plays a larger role in transmitting information than that of an information hub, particularly during later stages of response operations.
Dancing with Gorillas: How Small Companies Can Partner Effectively with MNCs

A number of small enterprises are affected—often in dramatic ways—by the increasing presence of MNCs in their home markets. Small enterprise often find themselves facing a very difficult set of choices as they consider whether and how they should engage with the MNCs. This article critically evaluates the strategies smaller enterprises are adopting in a globalizing world. The most effective strategy for globalization is through partnerships with local MNC subsidiaries—in their own backyard—which can then be leveraged to generate opportunities on a global scale. This analysis particularly emphasizes the need for small enterprises to use to their advantage the points of difference (i.e., asymmetry) between them and the MNCs with whom they partner.
Regional Development Agencies in Portugal: Recent Development and Future Challenges

This article considers the result of a recently completed programme to create Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) within Portugal. The first part of the article examines the forces leading to the creation of RDAs in Portugal and the particularities of the process employed. The second part turns to consider the considerable challenges that these fledgling RDAs now face if they are to develop a strategic role promoting regional economic development within Portugal.
Tracking UK freelance workforce trends 1992-2014

Using data from the UK Labour Force Survey, the paper describes the major trends in freelance workforce numbers during the past 20 years. Operationalising a definition of freelancing in terms of Labour Force Survey categories, the data indicate both a substantial absolute increase in freelancer numbers and growth as a proportion of all workforce jobs. Possible explanations for the increase are discussed, paying particular attention to the demand for freelancers. Although a number of studies suggest a shift towards the adoption of flexible labour strategies, the evidence base on the forces underlying the expansion of freelance working is limited and fragmented. Research questions seeking to explore the trends in greater detail are identified.
Robustness as an image of sustainability: applied conceptualisations and their contribution to sustainable development

Sustainability is a catch-all term in need of more tangible, yet qualitatively measureable operationalisations. This paper discusses the relevance of robustness as an image of sustainability. We argue that robustness has conceptual advantages against sustainability because it is embedded in system thinking and gives direction to operationalisations of sustainable development more than sustainability ever can. We consider conceptualisations of robustness in three TransForum projects which were set up to develop the concept of robustness in agricultural innovation. In these projects, robustness is conceptualised from an engineering perspective in relation to system efficiency and control. We suggest a frame of reference based on two organising principles, and suggest that other conceptualisations of robustness should be taken into account when operationalising sustainable development through robustness.
Understanding House Price Volatility: Measuring and Explaining the Supply Side of Metropolitan Area Housing Markets

The speed with which its house prices respond to real economic shocks is critical to the functioning of an economic market. This speed is determined relative to the magnitudes of house price changes on the off-equilibrium path, as the market adjusts. When such changes are caused by an unexpected shift in housing demand, which is a substantial component of the variation in house prices, the magnitudes are determined by the elasticity of housing supply. I examine local housing-supply dynamics in each of 47 U.S. metropolitan-area housing markets using a unique market-level panel dataset. The data are analyzed with a conditional vector-autoregression, which characterizes the dynamic responses of housing price and stock to an increase in housing demand caused by a shift in employment. These response time-paths are used to create measures of short-, medium-, and long-run supply elasticities. Both the time-paths and the implied elasticities vary widely. I use several area characteristics to explain the variation in the supply elasticity measures across metropolitan areas. The results suggest that an area's population, land area, historical growth rate, region, January temperature, age of housing stock and incentive to regulate housing are all important determinants of a market's house-price response.
Vibrio cholerae hybrid sex factor that contains ampicillin transposon Tn1

The ampicillin resistance transposon Tn1 was translocated from the R plasmid RP4 to the Vibrio cholerae conjugative plasmid, P. The hybrid sex factor P::Tn1 was highly transmissible and expressed the biological activities of the P factor. In addition, P::Tn1 facilitated transfer of RP4 to V. cholerae recipients. Physical studies of P::Tn1 indicated that the Tn1 transposon was added to the otherwise unaltered P plasmid.
The need of community health centers for international medical graduates.

OBJECTIVES This study sought to determine whether community health centers need international medical graduates to fill staff positions. METHODS The authors surveyed 100 community health center administrators to learn about their perceptions of international medical graduates. RESULTS Nationally, about one quarter of community health centers depend on international medical graduates to fill physician vacancies; most of these centers foresee unfilled positions in the event of a cutback. CONCLUSIONS Policies calling for a national reduction in the supply of international medical graduates need to be balanced by an understanding of these individuals' role in reducing local physician shortages.
Use of immunoglobulin A-antiendomysial antibody to screen for celiac disease in North American children with type 1 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE Our objective was to determine if a serological marker, the immunoglobulin A antiendomysial antibody (IgA-EMA), can be used to screen for celiac disease in North American children with type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Subjects included 236 diabetes clinic patients and 56 gastrointestinal clinic patients who underwent intestinal biopsy for suspected malabsorption. Total IgA and IgA-EMA assays were performed. Diabetic patients who were positive for IgA-EMA were asked to undergo biopsy. RESULTS Of 236 diabetic patients tested, none were IgA deficient and 19 were positive for IgA-EMA (8%). Of 17 patients biopsied, 12 had celiac disease and 3 were symptomatic. The estimated prevalence of celiac disease was 5.1%, consistent with data from European diabetic clinics. Of the 56 gastrointestinal clinic patients, the 3 who were IgA-EMA positive had biopsies diagnostic of celiac disease. Three were found to be IgA deficient, one of whom had celiac disease. Of the 50 IgA-sufficient and IgA-EMA-negative patients, 1 had celiac disease and 49 did not. The IgA-EMA test had a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 91% for IgA-sufficient biopsied patients. CONCLUSIONS IgA-EMA is an appropriate tool for demonstrating an increased prevalence of celiac disease in a North American pediatric diabetic population. Positive testing should be confirmed by intestinal biopsy, and false-positive results require serial follow-up. Symptomatic children require biopsy regardless of their IgA-EMA status.
Factors affecting money laundering: lesson for developing countries

Purpose – The primary objective of this paper is to examine the factors that underpin the pervasiveness of money laundering. An empirical method was used to study the relationship between technology (information and communication technology infrastructure), quality of human capital, efficiency of the legal framework, ethical behavior of firms (corporate governance) and capacity for innovation on the pervasiveness of money laundering in developed and developing countries. Based on the empirical findings, key strategies and policies to reduce the pervasiveness of money laundering were examined in this paper.Design/methodology/approach – The sample period for this study was 2004‐2005 entailing 88 developed and developing countries. The ordinary least square method was used in this paper to examine the impact of the above‐mentioned factors on the pervasiveness of money laundering.Findings – The empirical analysis showed that efficient legal framework with good corporate governance lower the pervasiveness of m.
Third‐generation balanced scorecard: evolution of an effective strategic control tool

The balanced scorecard is a performance management framework that became popular during the early 1990s. This paper describes changes to the definition of the framework that have occurred since then, recognising within these changes three distinct generations of balanced scorecard design. The paper relates these developments to literature concerning strategic management within organisations, observing that the changes made have improved the utility of the balanced scorecard as a strategic management tool. The paper concludes that the changes illustrate the importance of ideas of information symmetry in the understanding of strategic control processes within organisations. Suggestions of topics for further research are also made.
The Use of Multivariate EMD and CCA for Denoising Muscle Artifacts From Few-Channel EEG Recordings

Electroencephalography (EEG) recordings are often contaminated by muscle artifacts. In the literature, a number of methods have been proposed to deal with this problem. Yet most denoising muscle artifact methods are designed for either single-channel EEG or hospital-based, high-density multichannel recordings, not the few-channel scenario seen in most ambulatory EEG instruments. In this paper, we propose utilizing interchannel dependence information seen in the few-channel situation by combining multivariate empirical mode decomposition and canonical correlation analysis (MEMD-CCA). The proposed method, called MEMD-CCA, first utilizes MEMD to jointly decompose the few-channel EEG recordings into multivariate intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). Then, CCA is applied to further decompose the reorganized multivariate IMFs into the underlying sources. Reconstructing the data using only artifact-free sources leads to artifact-attenuated EEG. We evaluated the performance of the proposed method through simulated, semisimulated, and real data. The results demonstrate that the proposed method is a promising tool for muscle artifact removal in the few-channel setting.
Dynamic Interactions Among the Stock Market, Federal Funds Rate, Inflation, and Economic Activity

This paper examines the dynamic interactions among the equity market, economic activity, inflation, and monetary policy under three monetary policy regimes using bivariate and multivariate vector autoregressive cointegrating specifications. The bivariate results for the real stock returns-inflation pair weakly support a negative correlation in the 1970s and 1980s. While the bivariate findings suggest a weak, negative relationship between real returns and the federal funds in the 1970s and 1980s, the multivariate findings strongly support short-term linkages in the 1970s. There appears to be no consistent dynamic relationship between monetary policy and stock prices in that the relationship differs across monetary regimes.