Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Technical Advance: Introducing a novel metric, directionality time, to quantify human neutrophil chemotaxis as a function of matrix composition and stiffness

A direct consequence of cellular movement and navigation, migration incorporates elements of speed, direction, and persistence of motion. Current techniques to parameterize the trajectory of a chemotaxing cell most commonly pair migration speed with some measure of persistence by calculating MSD, RMS speed, TAD, and/or CI. We address inherent limitations in TAD and CI for comparative analysis by introducing two new analytical tools to quantify persistence: directionality index and directionality time. With the use of these tools, we show that the mechanical properties of the underlying substrate contribute significantly to the regulation of human neutrophil chemotaxis toward fMLP on Fgn‐, Col‐, and Fn‐coated gels of varying elasticity. The β1‐integrin ligand Col demonstrated mechanosensitive speed. In contrast, β2‐integrin ligand Fgn supported mechanosensitive persistence. Fn, recognized by β1 and β2 integrins, mechanoregulated speed and persistence. Blocking β2 integrins of cells migrating on Fn identified an underlying β2‐integrin‐directed modulation of persistence. These data demonstrate that individual components of the neutrophil chemotactic response show integrin dependence and are finely tunable with different ligand, mechanotactic, and chemotactic cues, underscoring the need for sensitive analytical methods.
Acupuncture in the Treatment of Fibromyalgia in Tertiary Care – a Case Series

Aims Fibromyalgia is a common cause of chronic widespread pain. The benefit of medication is often limited by its side effects, and the improvements obtained with exercise and education are inconsistent. Many patients seek acupuncture treatment, which is reported to be helpful in some cases. This study aimed to explore the acceptability and benefits of acupuncture offered in the setting of a tertiary referral clinic. Methods An open, uncontrolled observational study was conducted among patients who met the usual fibromyalgia criteria and who had a pain score of at least 30 on a 100mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Patients were allowed to continue other treatments but not to introduce new ones. Acupuncture was given using a Western approach according to a protocol developed by consensus. Patients were offered eight treatments in eight weeks. Outcome measures included VAS of pain intensity and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (range 0 – 100), and were taken before and after treatment, and at 14, 20 and 34 weeks from enrolment. Results Twenty four eligible patients were enrolled in a 12 month period. Baseline mean pain VAS score for these 24 patients was 74 (SD 18) and mean Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire score 78 (SD 12.4). Only 14 patients completed the course of treatment within about 10 weeks. Compliance was poor in the remaining patients because of difficulty attending clinic, and in two cases because of exacerbation of pain. Completion of outcome measures was variable and therefore the analysis of data is limited. Five patients scored at least 20% reduction in Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire score which is a clinically relevant improvement. Two of these scored at least 50% reduction. Conclusion Acupuncture appears to offer symptomatic improvement to some patients with fibromyalgia in a tertiary clinic who have failed to respond to other treatments. In view of its safety, further acupuncture research is justified in this population.
Adult attachment style and interpersonal distance

We tested for an association between adults' attachment style and their regulation of interpersonal physical distance. In Study 1, the stop-distance paradigm was used to derive measures reflecting tolerance of and reactiveness to spatial-intrusion. As predicted, university students who were classified as avoidantly attached (by a 3-category attachment style measure) were less tolerant of close interpersonal physical proximity than were securely attached individuals. Further, they were more reactive to spatial-intrusion by a male (but not a female) adult. In Study 2, we measured the distance that participants chose to sit from an interviewer. Participants' ratings on a 4-category measure were used to classify them into an attachment style and to derive measures of positive self model and positive other model. Results revealed that fearfully avoidant adults were distinguished by their choice of far interpersonal distances. Across subjects, the measure of positive self model made a unique contribution to choice of interpersonal distance, but the measure of positive other model did not. In summary, the data provide evidence of an association between adults' comfort with interpersonal emotional closeness (attachment style) and their comfort with and regulation of interpersonal physical closeness.
Does corporate governance matter for stock returns? Estimating a four-factor asset pricing model including a governance index

This paper investigates whether including a corporate governance factor in the Fama and French three-factor model helps explain stock returns. By constructing a broad corporate governance index (CGI) for Brazilian public firms, this paper documents that governance does explain average returns on stocks. Most importantly, the governance factor seems to be more powerful than firm size and book-to-market ratio. We also provide evidence that expected stock returns are negatively related to firm-level corporate governance. An investment strategy that bought low-CGI firms and sold high-CGI firms would have earned abnormal returns of around 10% per year during the sample period.
ANTECEDENTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF HOUSEHOLD FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT IN BRAZILIAN LOWER-MIDDLE-CLASS

Mediante dos estudios exploratorios complementarios –uno cualitativo y otro cuantitativo–, la presente investigacion tiene como objetivo entender los medios por los cuales las familias de clase media-baja brasilena administran sus finanzas domesticas. El estudio propone un marco integrado que reune varios fragmentos teoricos previamente no relacionados. Basandonos en una encuesta realizada con una muestra de 165 consumidoras de clase media baja, de una empresa minorista en Sao Paulo, exploramos y examinamos, mediante un estudio cuantitativo, que antecedentes, tales como caracteristicas personales, afectan el proceso de administracion financiera, asi como tambien sus consecuencias, ya sea negativamente como incumplimientos de pago, ya sea positivamente como ahorros. La calibracion y analisis del modelo derivaron de una serie de analisis de regresion. Los resultados revelaron el papel mediador que la administracion financiera cumple en la relacion entre las caracteristicas personales y el impago y los ahorros. En comparacion con estudios previos sobre consumidores de paises mas ricos, llegamos a conclusiones peculiares con respecto a los consumidores de la clase media-baja brasilena: insuficiente atencion al control, poca o ninguna importancia otorgada a la planificacion a corto o largo plazo, ausencia generalizada de superavit presupuestario, e influencia de eventos criticos en los eventos de impago.
A Reexamination of the Strategic Bequest Motive

This paper investigates the strength of the empirical evidence of the strategic bequest hypothesis proposed by Bernheim. Shleifer, and Summers (1985). At issue is whether bequests are primarily motivated by a desire to influnce the behavior of potential beneficiaries. Alternatively, bequests may be motivated by altruism or risk aversion in the presence of incomplete annuity and health insurnace markets (e.g., Tomes 1981; Hurd 1989).
Value Relevance of Book Value and Earnings: A Comparison between Islamic and Conventional Banks in Malaysia

This study aimed at investigating the value relevance of book value and earnings of Malaysian Islamic and conventional banks. A market valuation approach was utilised for that purpose. The result of pool sample shows that book value and earnings of Malaysian banks are value relevant. It was also observed that book value and earnings of Islamic and conventional banks are value relevant when they are separated. However, it was found that the explanatory power towards market value provided by Islamic bank is far behind their conventional counterparts. The results implicate that book value and earnings of Islamic banks provide less information content towards market value despite their relevance. This suggests further investigation in future studies. Finally, the study contributes to the existing literature in the area of the value relevance of financial information in Malaysia.
MEASURING SOCIAL CAPITAL IN CAPE TOWN: PROVIDING A MORE NUANCED PERSPECTIVE OF TRUST AND NETWORKS

This paper provides a critique of the dominant approach to the study of social capital in political science. Social capital is widely studied in terms of only two variables: general interpersonal trust and formal associational activism. This paper argues that social capital is a multidimensional concept. The measurement of social capital therefore requires a wider range of variables, especially ones that tap into neighbourliness and kin-based networks of association. Trust, especially, is a situational concept, and needs to be analysed in a more nuanced manner. In the South African city of Cape Town, the level of general interpersonal trust is low, but trust and networks between neighbours are relatively strong. Factor and reliability analyses are used to examine the validity, reliability and independence of different measures of social capital. The application of a multi-dimensional concept of social capital to exploratory data from Cape Town shows that ‘bonding’ forms of social capital appear more widespread than ‘bridging’ forms. This important nuance would not be evident if the standard two-variable approach to social capital was used.
Disentangling the effects of genetic, prenatal and parenting influences on children’s cortisol variability

Abstract Developmental plasticity models hypothesize the role of genetic and prenatal environmental influences on the development of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and highlight that genes and the prenatal environment may moderate early postnatal environmental influences on HPA functioning. This article examines the interplay of genetic, prenatal and parenting influences across the first 4.5 years of life on a novel index of children’s cortisol variability. Repeated measures data were obtained from 134 adoption-linked families, adopted children and both their adoptive parents and birth mothers, who participated in a longitudinal, prospective US domestic adoption study. Genetic and prenatal influences moderated associations between inconsistency in overreactive parenting from child age 9 months to 4.5 years and children’s cortisol variability at 4.5 years differently for mothers and fathers. Among children whose birth mothers had high morning cortisol, adoptive fathers’ inconsistent overreactive parenting predicted higher cortisol variability, whereas among children with low birth mother morning cortisol adoptive fathers’ inconsistent overreactive parenting predicted lower cortisol variability. Among children who experienced high levels of prenatal risk, adoptive mothers’ inconsistent overreactive parenting predicted lower cortisol variability and adoptive fathers’ inconsistent overreactive parenting predicted higher cortisol variability, whereas among children who experienced low levels of prenatal risk there were no associations between inconsistent overreactive parenting and children’s cortisol variability. Findings supported developmental plasticity models and uncovered novel developmental, gene × environment and prenatal × environment influences on children’s cortisol functioning.
Learning by Southern Peace NGOs

Abstract Literature and policies on learning by NGOs focus on internal processes in Northern organisations. This article examines the learning processes of Southern NGOs by studying peacebuilding organisations in several African and Asian countries. These organisations learn mostly in an interactive way, emphasising exchange with other practitioners and beneficiaries. However, these learning strategies are limited by competition and distrust among SNGOs and by the imposition of policy by donors. SNGOs feel constrained particularly in doing research and documenting local knowledge, activities for which they lack the time and skills, but which potentially could strengthen their role in international debates and policymaking.
TOWARDS AN EVOLUTIONARY THEORY OF SMALL FIRM GROWTH

The ultimately unsuccessful predictive modelling literature has advanced our understanding of small firm growth processes no further than the descriptive and inflexible stage models approach achieved during the 1970s and 1980s. Consequently, this paper suggests an alternative theoretical starting point. Drawing upon the, predominantly aggregate level, contributions of evolutionary and institutional economists it is the intention of this paper to suggest more appropriate foundations for future firm level empirical analyses. With reference to four detailed case studies a preliminary model of small firm growth is posited and potential areas for future ethnographic and survey based research are signalled.
Outpatient views on direct access to physical therapy in Indiana.

The purpose of this study was to determine the opinions of outpatients receiving physical therapy in Indiana about physical therapy evaluation and treatment without referral (direct access). Subjects were 361 individuals being treated at one of 25 privately owned clinics. Each subject completed a 15-item questionnaire. Results showed that 82.8% of the respondents supported direct access to physical therapy. A majority indicated they would seek physical therapy services without referral if they were available. Physical therapists were cited as frequently as all other health care professionals combined as the practitioners providing the most thorough evaluation. Physical therapists were cited far more often than other health care professionals combined as the practitioners providing the best information about the control of symptoms. Subjects who had received more treatments than others were significantly more likely to support direct access (p less than .05). Conclusions were that individuals who have received physical therapy at private outpatient physical therapy clinics in Indiana are supportive of direct access to physical therapy services.
What have we learnt about joint working between health and social care?

Joint working between local authorities and the National Health Service (NHS) has been an integral part of health and social care policy in the United Kingdom for many years. Using evidence from two literature reviews this paper argues that there is little indication that joint working delivers the outcomes envisaged in policy. While recent reforms may be beginning to influence improvements, they are undermined by constant reform and professional scepticism.
Biogeographic variation in genetic variability, apomixis expression and ploidy of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) across its native and introduced range.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) is becoming an important model plant system for investigations into ecology, reproductive biology and pharmacology. This study investigates biogeographic variation for population genetic structure and reproduction in its ancestral (European) and introduced (North America) ranges. METHODS Over 2000 individuals from 43 localities were analysed for ploidy, microsatellite variation (19 loci) and reproduction (flow cytometric seed screen). Most individuals were tetraploid (93%), while lower frequencies of hexaploid (6%), diploid (<1%) and triploid (<1%) individuals were also identified. KEY RESULTS A flow cytometric analysis of 24 single seeds per individual, and five individuals per population demonstrated opposite patterns between ploidy types, with tetraploids producing more apomictic (73%) than sexual (24%) seed, while hexaploids produced more sexual (73%) than apomictic (23%) seed. As hexaploids are derived from tetraploids, these data imply that gene dosage, in addition to the effects of hybridization, influences the switch from apomictic to sexual reproduction. No significant differences in seed production were found between Europe and North America. An analysis of population structure based upon microsatellite profiling demonstrated three major genetic clusters in Europe, whose distribution was reflective of Pleistocene glaciation (e.g. refugia) and post-glacial recolonization of Europe. CONCLUSIONS The presence of pure and mixed populations representing all three genetic clusters in North America demonstrates that H. perforatum was introduced multiple times onto the continent, followed by gene flow between the different gene pools. Taken together, the data presented here suggest that plasticity in reproduction has no influence on the invasive potential of H. perforatum.
Debt (a real hurdle in the economic growth of Pakistan): A time series analysis

This study aims to highlight the problems created by the debt (external debt) to economic growth of Pakistan. Time series data from the FY1981 to FY 2008 is used. The analysis includes five variables. Growth rate of GDP per capita is taken as a dependent variable while external debt to GDP ratio, investment to GDP ratio, population growth rate and trade openness are independent variables. The ADF- Unit Root Test is applied to check the stationarity of data. The co-integration estimation is applied, which shows the long run relationship between external debt and growth rate of GDP per capita. Furthermore, the Granger Causality Vector Error Correction (GCVEC) method has proved uni-directional relationship between external debt and growth rate of GDP per capita. There is no doubt that other macroeconomic variables also affecting the economic growth but the long term relationship of debt and economic growth has proved that the main economic indicator behind the low economic growth is debt. Key words: Debt, economic growth, Pakistan.
Does the monetary policy committee still care about inflation? Some evidence from a small macroeconomic model

This article derives an optimal Taylor rule for the UK economy using a simple estimated model based on data prior to the financial crisis of 2008. Optimal policy rules are calculated using simulation of the model over a long time period coupled with a search for optimal Taylor rule parameters using the Newton-Raphson loss minimization algorithm. The weights in the pre-crisis loss function are then inferred from the Taylor rule parameters estimated from the period corresponding to Bank of England independence, i.e. 1997–2008. These estimates are consistent with a low weight on inflation relative to output stabilization even before the crisis. The model is therefore consistent with the hypothesis that there has been no change in Bank of England preferences and that the Bank has responded to the crisis in a way which would have been predicted on the basis of its pre-crisis behaviour.
Cover Crop Effects on Light, Nitrogen, and Weeds in Organic Reduced Tillage

Reducing tillage in organic crop production by using cover crops for weed suppression offers environmental benefits, however, there are many management challenges. The objective of this research was to determine the effects of cover crop type on biomass production, soil nitrate levels, light transmittance to the soil surface, and weed populations in mechanically terminated cover crops of barley, hairy vetch, and a barley–vetch mixture grown for mulch in western Washington. Cover crop biomass production ranged from 5.2 to 14.8 Mg ha−1, with barley producing equal or greater biomass than the hairy vetch and barley–vetch mixture. Post-termination light penetration through mulch was not influenced by cover crop, although vetch stands blocked more light than stands of barley or the barley–vetch mixture. Soil nitrate-N beneath barley mulch averaged 3 mg kg−1 over the season compared with 5 to 32 mg kg−1 for the mixture and 11 to 31 mg kg−1 for the vetch. Average weed densities among cover crops ranged from 0 to 115 plants m−2 at 4 weeks after cover crop termination. Weed population was lowest where cover crop biomass was greatest.
Pinning Two Nonlinearly Coupled Complex Networks with an Asymmetrical Coupling Matrix

This paper addresses the hybrid synchronization problem in two nonlinearly coupled complex networks with asymmetrical coupling matrices under pinning control schemes. The hybrid synchronization of two complex networks is the outer antisynchronization between the driving network and the response network while the inner complete synchronization in the driving network and the response network. We will show that only a small number of pinning feedback controllers acting on some nodes are effective for synchronization control of the mentioned dynamical networks. Based on Lyapunov Stability Theory, some simple criteria for hybrid synchronization are derived for such dynamical networks by pinning control strategy. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of our theoretical results.
Financialisation and the slowdown of accumulation

Over the past decades, the financial investment of non-financial businesses has been rising, and the accumulation of capital goods has been declining. The first part of the paper offers a novel theory to explain this phenomenon. Financialisation, the shareholder revolution and the development of a market for corporate control have shifted power to shareholders and thus changed management priorities, leading to a reduction in the desired growth rate. In the second part, the link between accumulation and financialisation is tested econometrically by means of a time series analysis of aggregate business investment for the USA, the UK, France and Germany. Extensive tests of robustness are performed. For the first three countries, evidence supporting the negative effect of financialisation on accumulation is found. Copyright 2004, Oxford University Press.
STIM1 Controls Endothelial Barrier Function Independently of Orai1 and Ca2+ Entry

The calcium sensor STIM1 disrupts the endothelial barrier by coupling the thrombin receptor to the actin cytoskeleton. Breaking the Endothelial Barrier Thrombin is an endogenous ligand that induces vasoconstriction and can also disrupt the barrier formed by blood vessel endothelial cells, which leads to increased vascular permeability and leakage of plasma into the tissue. Using the thrombin-induced decrease in transendothelial resistance in two types of cultured endothelial cells as a model of barrier disruption, Shinde et al. found that the calcium-responsive protein STIM1 coupled the thrombin receptor to activation of the guanosine triphosphatase RhoA and rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton, which contribute to loss of cell-cell contact. Surprisingly, this role did not involve various cation channels that are targets of STIM1. How STIM1 couples the thrombin receptor to RhoA remains an open question. Endothelial barrier function is critical for tissue fluid homeostasis, and its disruption contributes to various pathologies, including inflammation and sepsis. Thrombin is an endogenous agonist that impairs endothelial barrier function. We showed that the thrombin-induced decrease in transendothelial electric resistance of cultured human endothelial cells required the endoplasmic reticulum–localized, calcium-sensing protein stromal interacting molecule 1 (STIM1), but was independent of Ca2+ entry across the plasma membrane and the Ca2+ release–activated Ca2+ channel protein Orai1, which is the target of STIM1 in the store-operated calcium entry pathway. We found that STIM1 coupled the thrombin receptor to activation of the guanosine triphosphatase RhoA, stimulation of myosin light chain phosphorylation, formation of actin stress fibers, and loss of cell-cell adhesion. Thus, STIM1 functions in pathways that are dependent on and independent of Ca2+ entry.