Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Existing and training induced differences in aerobic fitness: their relationship to physiological response patterns during different types of stress.

Aerobic fitness has been associated with various desirable psychological and physiological characteristics. Recently, attenuation of physiological reactivity during stressful situations was added to this list, although comparison of the stress responses of sportsmen and sedentary subjects has yielded equivocal results. The present study examined cardiovascular patterns rather than single variables, and tried to clarify these matters. Tasks were used that were known to increase blood pressure through different combinations of changes in cardiac output and vascular resistance. Autonomic nervous system dynamics underlying these response patterns were studied using preejection period as an index of beta-adrenergic activity, and respiratory sinus arrhythmia as an index of vagal activity. Pre-existing differences in aerobic fitness in a sample of sedentary subjects were related to their responses during the stressful tasks and the recovery periods afterwards. This approach prevented confounding of the relationship between fitness and stress-reactivity with the psychological effects of regular exercise. Furthermore, it excluded the bias in psychological makeup that is introduced when subjects spontaneously engaged in sports are compared to non-exercising persons. To rule out a third (hereditary? ) factor underlying both stress-reactivity and fitness, physiological responses before and after a seven-week training program were compared to those of subjects in a waiting list control group. Substantial individual differences in aerobic fitness were found in spite of the fact that all subjects reported low levels of habitual activity. During two active coping tasks, diastolic blood pressure reactivity and vagal withdrawal were negatively related to these pre-existing differences in fitness. No such relation was seen during a cold pressor test or during recovery from the tasks. Neither beta-adrenergic cardiac reactivity nor heart rate responses were related to fitness, but the absolute heart rate during the tasks was lower in the more fit subjects. Seven weeks of training were not effective in changing either reactivity or recovery of any of the variables. The discrepancy between cross-sectional and longitudinal results in the present study suggests that training of longer duration is necessary to induce the psychological or physiological changes underlying reduced reactivity. The latter may include changes in cardiac vagal/sympathetic balance or in adrenoceptor sensitivity. Alternatively, both psychological and physiological determinants of stress-reactivity may be related to aerobic fitness at a dispositional level.
Dynamics at the treeline: differential responses of Picea mariana and Larix laricina to climate change in eastern subarctic Québec

Treelines are known to be temperature-sensitive ecotones, and therefore could rapidly expand their range limits in response to climate warming. Observations of lack of range expansion, however, indicate that ecological constraints partly control the treeline ecotones. The main objectives of this study were to evaluate Picea mariana and Larix laricina recruitment and growth at and above the altitudinal treeline of Kangiqsualujjuaq (Nunavik), where warmer temperatures since the 1990s have already triggered shrub expansion. We mapped, harvested, dated and measured tree individuals along two altitudinal gradients from the forested stands below the treeline to hilltops. Since the 1990s, a pulse of L. laricina seedling establishment has occurred at and above the treeline. Dendrochronological analysis revealed that L. laricina underwent a rapid vertical growth and radial growth that accelerated from the 1990s. No recruitment was observed for P. mariana in response to the regional warming, suggesting a regeneration failure of this species. Our results indicated that the L. laricina colonization below and above the treeline in recent decades in response to the regional warming should modify the landscape physiognomy of the study area in the near future.
FDTD analysis of resonant transmission in an electrically small circular aperture with a ridge

In this paper, we have examined the convergence of the transmitted power of an electrically small aperture to the transmission cross section 3lambda2/4pi of it for a case of a circular aperture with a ridge. This property can be applied for any electrically small aperture regardless of size or shape even though only one example of the circular aperture is shown. Although not shown here, the comparison of the field distributions on the aperture with and without the ridge shows that the aperture fields for the original circular aperture is mainly reactive, while those are radiating for the ridged aperture.
Serum proteins prevent aggregation of Fe2O3 and ZnO nanoparticles

Abstract Aggregation of metal oxide nanoparticles in aqueous media complicates interpretation of in vitro studies of nanoparticle–cell interactions. We used dynamic light scattering to investigate the aggregation dynamics of iron oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles. Our results show that iron oxide particles aggregate more readily than zinc oxide particles. Pretreatment with serum stabilises iron oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles against aggregation. Serum-treated iron oxide is stable only in pure water, while zinc oxide is stable in water or cell culture media. These findings, combined with zeta potential measurements and quantification of proteins adsorbed on particle surface, suggest that serum stabilisation of iron oxide particles occurs primarily through protein adsorption and resulting net surface charge. Zinc oxide stabilisation, however, also involves steric hindrance of particle aggregation. Fluid shear at levels used in flow experiments breaks up iron oxide particle aggregates. These results enhance our understanding of nanoparticle aggregation and its consequences for research on the biological effects of nanomaterials.
IMPACTS OF DIVERSIFICATION AND CORPORATE ENTREPRENEURSHIP STRATEGY MAKING ON GROWTH AND PROFITABILITY: A NORMATIVE MODEL

Diversification strategy is an important driver of organizational conduct and performance. Despite its recognized linkage to other strategy-making elements, such as corporate entrepreneurship, research has devoted minimal attention to explicitly investigating relationships among diversification, corporate entrepreneurship and performance elements. This study contributes to a better understanding of diversification strategy driven corporate entrepreneurship and performance by testing a normative model on a sample of 449 Slovenian firms. The findings demonstrate that single business and vertical diversification make some difference in organizational growth and profitability in terms of their direct effects, but not indirectly with the mediation of corporate entrepreneurship strategy-making elements, which can be independently of diversification important for performance improvement.
Comparison of postoperative visual quality after SMILE and LASEK for high myopia: A 1-year outcome

Purpose To compare the 1-year outcome of visual quality after laser-assisted subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) and femtosecond laser-assisted small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) for high myopia correction. Materials and methods This prospective, comparative study included 24 eyes of 24 patients in the LASEK group, with a mean spherical equivalent (SE) of -7.59 ± 1.32 diopters, and 26 eyes of 26 patients in the SMILE group, with a mean SE of -7.91 ± 1.08 diopters. Visual acuity, corneal topography, contrast sensitivity (CS), and wavefront aberrations were recorded preoperatively and compared with postoperative measurements. Objective scatter index (OSI) and modulation transfer function (MTF) cut-off frequency were measured 1 year postoperatively. Results One year postoperatively, the two groups demonstrated no significant difference in the CS at all spatial frequencies. The increments of higher-order aberrations (HOAs) (HOA = 0.583 ± 0.210 μm), including spherical aberration (SA) (SA = 0.546 ± 0.249 μm), were higher (P < 0.05) in the LASEK group than those in the SMILE group (HOA = 0.451 ± 0.143 μm; SA = 0.450 ± 0.340 μm) after surgery. There were no significant differences in the increments of coma and trefoil aberrations between the two groups. The OSI and MTF cut-off frequency exhibited no significant differences between the two groups postoperatively. No vision-threatening complications were noted at any stage in either group. Conclusions Both LASEK and SMILE are safe and effective surgical options for the correction of high myopia. SMILE has a lower HOAs and SA induction rate 1 year postoperatively.
Increased Levels of Intracellular Calcium Are Not Required for the Formation of Attaching and Effacing Lesions by Enteropathogenic and Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT Elevated concentrations of intracellular calcium ([Ca]i) have been implicated as an important signalling event during attaching and effacing (A/E) lesion formation by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC). The highly localized nature of the cytoskeletal and cell surface alterations occurring during A/E lesion formation suggests that there should be equally localized EPEC-induced signalling events. To analyze further the calcium responses to infection of HEp-2 cells by EPEC, we employed calcium-imaging fluorescence microscopy, which allows both temporal and spatial measurements of [Ca]i in live cells. Using this imaging technique, not only were we unable to detect any significant elevation in [Ca]i at sites of A/E EPEC adhesion, but, with several different classical EPEC and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) strains and three different infection procedures, each of which resulted in extensive A/E bacterial adhesion, we were unable to detect any significant alterations in [Ca]i in infected cells compared to uninfected cells. In addition, chelation of intracellular free calcium with bis-(aminophenoxy)-ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA) did not, as previously reported, prevent A/E lesion formation. We conclude that increased [Ca]iare not required for A/E lesion formation by EPEC and EHEC.
Nationwide survey of human Listeria monocytogenes infection in Japan

Listeriosis, caused by Listeria monocytogenes, is a significant public-health concern as a result of its clinical severity and high mortality. Large foodborne outbreaks of listeriosis have occurred during the last two decades in Europe and the United States, but to date there have been no food-mediated epidemics of the disease and very little information is available on the number of cases of listeriosis in Japan. We performed a nationwide surveillance study of listeriosis. The data were collected between 1980 and 2002, and 95 case reports were identified from 1996 to 2002. We divided 13·6 (cases per year between 1996 and 2002) by the ratio of the number of beds in hospitals that replied to the questionnaire, to that of all the hospitals in Japan and estimated that there is an average of 83 cases of listeriosis per year and an incidence of 0·65 cases per million of the population in Japan.
The Total Factor Productivity Debate: Determinants of Economic Growth in East Asia

This survey article examines the recent studies of technological change or total factor productivity (TFP) as a source of growth in East Asian economies. The major objective of the paper is to show that in the end the importance of technological change in economic growth depends largely on how TFP is defined and measured. The conclusions drawn by Alwyn Young and Paul Krugman are based too much upon the assumption that all technological change is TFP. Section II reviews the conceptual and empirical literature on this subject since the 1950s. Section III surveys the TFP studies of East Asian economies, with particular reference to the recent claims that TFP is generally insignificant. Section IV discusses the prospects for East Asian economic growth and dispels the pessimism of such authors as Young and Krugman.
RISK FACTORS IN THE RAPIDLY RISING INCIDENCE OF DIVORCE IN KOREA

For just over a decade between 1990 and 2003, the crude divorce rate tripled from 1.1 to 3.5 in Korea. Using the combined data from two nationally representative surveys of women conducted in 1997 and 2002, this study examines the risk factors of divorce and attempts to provide insights into the rising divorce rate in Korea. The findings show that the period effects on the probability of divorce remain unexplained after taking into account several risk factors. This may suggest societal-level transformations in normative regimes regarding divorce, which seem to have accelerated after the economic recession in the late 1990s. Independent of period effects, women's employment in white-collar occupations and declining fertility increase the risk of divorce, whereas women's unpaid work in the family business and college education lower the risk of divorce. Divorce rates are highest in the middle stage of marital duration in Korea.
On collective non-gaussian dependence patterns in high frequency financial data

The analysis of observed conditional distributions of both lagged and simultaneous intraday price increments of a basket of stocks reveals phenomena of dependence - induced volatility smile and kurtosis reduction. A model based on multivariate t-Student distribution shows that the observed effects are caused by colelctive non-gaussian dependence properties of financial time series.
Tax-Rate Differentials and Sector Specific Foreign Direct Investment: Empirical Evidence from the EU

This paper analyzes the tax responsiveness of bilateral foreign direct investment flows in the EU. Differentiating between investments in the three main economic sectors and using effective tax rates to measure tax incentives, we show that the tax sensitivity of foreign direct investment depends crucially on the sector the transaction takes place in. While investment in the primary sector is driven by other than tax incentives, investment in the secondary and the tertiary sector is deterred by high tax rates. The response in the tertiary sector is substantially higher than that in the secondary sector.
Demand and Pricing in Electricity Markets: Evidence from San Diego During California&Apos;S Energy Crisis

We study the electricity consumption of San Diego-area households following a series of price changes and related events during California's energy crisis in 2000-01. The analysis uses a five-year panel of disaggregate billing and weather data for a random sample of 70,000 households. In contrast to prior work, these data allow us to proceed without behavioral assumptions regarding a consumer's knowledge of energy prices. We find that after a rapid price increase in summer 2000, consumption fell substantially over about 60 days, averaging 12% per household; consumption then rebounded to within 3% of pre-crisis levels after a price cap was imposed. Under the price cap public appeals for energy conservation and a remunerative voluntary conservation program had significant, but transitory, effects. Further, a large share of households reduced electricity consumption substantially (over 10%) but saved small monetary amounts ($10 or less). Overall, the results indicate consumers may be far more responsive to pecuniary and non-pecuniary incentives for altering their energy use than is commonly believed.
The Cardiff Depression Study: a sib-pair study of dysfunctional attitudes in depressed probands and healthy control subjects

Background. Current cognitive theories propose that depression develops as a result of the interaction between dysfunctional cognitive schemata and environmental stressors. There is also consistent evidence of a substantial genetic contribution to depression. This study examines the familiality and stability of dysfunctional attitudes and attempts to distinguish whether they reflect trait vulnerability to depression or the state of being depressed. Method. The 24-item Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS-24) was completed by 108 depressed probands and their nearest-aged siblings and 105 healthy control probands and their nearest-age siblings, at the time of a semi-structured clinical interview and 10–12 months later. Subjects also completed self-report measures of depressed mood on both occasions. Results. Measures of clinical depression were significantly correlated with DAS scores. At retest, DAS scores remained elevated despite improvement in mood, giving support for earlier findings, that dysfunctional attitudes remain active following recovery. The dependency subscale (DAS-D) of the DAS showed modest familiality, although there were no significant differences for DAS-D scores between the two groups of siblings. In a multiple regression analysis, current mood-state was the overwhelming predictor of DAS scores. However for DAS-D, gender as well as current mood influenced scores on this subscale. Conclusion. Although there was modest evidence for temporal stability and familiality for some DAS-24 subscale scores, dysfunctional attitudes were predominantly influenced by current low mood, and therefore reflect the state of being depressed rather than a familial vulnerability trait underpinning depression.
Flex or Break? Extensions in XBRL Disclosures to the SEC

SYNOPSIS: The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has adopted the eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) in a multi-year program to enhance the functionality of the Commission's EDGAR database. Filers tag their financial statements with elements from a taxonomy that defines the reporting concepts so that the XBRL files can be understood by information consumers. The U.S. GAAP taxonomy was designed to represent common reporting practices and support the disclosure requirements of U.S. GAAP. If taxonomy elements for each disclosure concept are not present, the filer creates an extension element. Extensions, when used appropriately, provide decision-relevant information. When used inappropriately, particularly when a semantically equivalent element already exists in the foundation taxonomy, extensions add no information content. This research analyzes extensions made in a subset of XBRL filings made to the SEC between April 2009 and June 2010. Forty percent of these extensions were unnecessary, a.
Racial difference in body core temperature between Pima Indian and Caucasian men.

A low body temperature is associated with a low metabolic rate for a given body size and body composition. These two traits might have been assets in the history of a population subjected to cycles of feast and famine, but became part of an obesity-prone syndrome in our westernized society characterized by plenty of food and a sedentary lifestyle. We tested whether Pima Indians have lower body temperatures than Caucasians, a trait which might partly explain the high prevalence of obesity in this population. Twenty-five Pima Indian (28 +/- 6 yrs, 87.8 +/- 22.8 kg, 29 +/- 9% body fat) and 25 Caucasian (30 +/- 5 yrs, 80.7 +/- 18.4 kg, 22 +/- 11% body fat) men had body core temperatures measured by telemetry for 24 h while in a respiratory chamber. Mean daily body core temperature was 36.93 +/- 0.12 and 36.90 +/- 0.22 degrees C in Pima Indians and Caucasians, respectively. Since body core temperature during sleep (SLBCT) correlated with percentage body fat, a subset of 10 Pima Indians and 10 Caucasians were pair-matched for body weight and percentage body fat. In this group, SLBCT was lower in Pima Indians than in Caucasians (36.45 +/- 0.10 vs 36.65 +/- 0.27 degrees C; P < 0.01) and, ethnic group accounted for 20% of the variance in SLBCT (P < 0.01). Surprisingly, the lower SLBCT was not associated with a low metabolic rate and therefore does not seem to play a role in the etiology of obesity in Pima Indians. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Fas, Fas Ligand, and vitamin D Receptor FokI gene polymorphisms in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus in the Aegean region of Turkey.

OBJECTIVE Several gene polymorphisms have been reported to be associated with the risk of developing type 1 diabetes. Among them, the human leukocyte antigen locus is the strongest genetic determinant. To identify additional genetic markers, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between the Fas, Fas ligand (FasL), and vitamin D receptor (VDR) FokI gene polymorphisms and the susceptibility to type 1 diabetes in the Aegean region of Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eighty-five patients with type 1 diabetes and 80 healthy controls were included in this study. The Fas -670A/G, FasL -843C/T, and VDR FokI gene polymorphisms were evaluated using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. RESULTS The evaluation of the Fas genotype and the gene allele frequency did not show statistically significant differences between the patient and control group. Distribution of the FasL genotype differed significantly between patients and controls. The distribution of the VDR FokI genotype and allele frequencies differed significantly between the patients and controls. Individuals with type 1 diabetes presented less commonly with the FokI f allele. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the FasL -843C/T and VDR FokI gene polymorphisms are associated with type 1 diabetes in the Agean region of Turkey; however, the Fas -670A/G gene polymorphism is not.
Playful Collaboration (or Not): Using a Game to Grasp the Social Dynamics of Open Innovation in Innovation and Business Education

This article explores how playing games can be used to teach intangible social interaction across boundaries, in particular within open collaborative innovation. We present an exploratory case study of how students learned from playing a board game in a graduate course of the international and interdisciplinary Innovation and Business master's program in Denmark. We identify several important themes related to the process of learning through playing and the social dynamics of open collaborative innovation, while we also highlight possible caveats of “playing” and practicing open innovation. Our findings imply several opportunities and challenges within education and beyond.
The Stability of Coalitions when Countries are Heterogeneous

I analyze the stability of coalitions in a global emissions game when countries are heterogeneous with respect to both costs and benefits of emissions. I consider the case where countries can generate either high or low benefits from individual emissions and either have high or low costs from global emissions. My analysis shows that large coalitions may be stable if heterogeneity in costs is large and only two countries with high costs join the coalition. A numerical example indicates that only in this case do the benefit types of coalition members also affect the size of the coalition.
Association between migraine, anxiety and depression

Logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between self-reported medical diagnosis of migraine, self-reported depressive symptomology (RDS) and self-reported anxious symptomology (RAS) in the National Health Interview Survey (n = 30 852). Semipartial squared correlations evaluated the population-level variability between RDS, RAS and migraine impairment. Migraine prevalence was 15.2% (overall), 20.5% (women) and 9.4% (men). Migraine risk was higher in participants with RAS [odds ratio (OR) 2.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.09, 2.52), with RDS (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.93, 2.58), who smoked (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.09, 1.30), or who consulted a mental health provider (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.27, 1.65). Although migraine risk was increased in both women (OR 1.93) and men (OR 2.42) with RAS (P < 0.001), men with RAS had a higher migraine risk than did women with RAS (P < 0.001). Only 7% of the variability in migraine impairment (population level) was predicted by variability in RDS and/or RAS.