Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The body economic : why austerity kills : recessions, budget battles, and the politics of life and death

Politicians have talked endlessly about the seismic economic and social impacts of the recent financial crisis, but many continue to ignore its disastrous effects on human health--and have even exacerbated them, by adopting harsh austerity measures and cutting key social programs at a time when constituents need them most. The result, as pioneering public health experts David Stuckler and Sanjay Basu reveal in this provocative book, is that many countries have turned their recessions into veritable epidemics, ruining or extinguishing thousands of lives in a misguided attempt to balance budgets and shore up financial markets. Yet sound alternative policies could instead help improve economies and protect public health at the same time. In The Body Economic, Stuckler and Basu mine data from around the globe and throughout history to show how government policy becomes a matter of life and death during financial crises. In a series of historical case studies stretching from 1930s America, to Russia and Indonesia in the 1990s, to present-day Greece, Britain, Spain, and the U.S., Stuckler and Basu reveal that governmental mismanagement of financial strife has resulted in a grim array of human tragedies, from suicides to HIV infections. Yet people can and do stay healthy, and even get healthier, during downturns. During the Great Depression, U.S. deaths actually plummeted, and today Iceland, Norway, and Japan are happier and healthier than ever, proof that public wellbeing need not be sacrificed for fiscal health. Full of shocking and counterintuitive revelations and bold policy recommendations, The Body Economic offers an alternative to austerity--one that will prevent widespread suffering, both now and in the future.
New relative multifractal dimension measures

This paper introduces a new class of fractal dimension measure which we call relative multifractal measures. The relative multifractal measures developed are formed through a melding of the Renyi dimension spectrum, which is based on the Renyi generalized entropy, and relative entropy as given with the Kullback-Leibler distance. This new class of multifractal measure is then used to find the relative multifractal complexity differences between two signals, an image and its lossy approximation. It is proposed that relative multifractal measures can be used as the basis for a new form of signal and image quality measure based on signal complexity.
Trustworthiness in mHealth information services: An assessment of a hierarchical model with mediating and moderating effects using partial least squares (PLS)

The aim of this research is to advance both the theoretical conceptualization and the empirical validation of trustworthiness in mHealth (mobile health) information services research. Conceptually, it extends this line of research by reframing trustworthiness as a hierarchical, reflective construct, incorporating ability, benevolence, integrity, and predictability. Empirically, it confirms that partial least squares path modeling can be used to estimate the parameters of a hierarchical, reflective model with moderating and mediating effects in a nomological network. The model shows that trustworthiness is a second‐order, reflective construct that has a significant direct and indirect impact on continuance intentions in the context of mHealth information services. It also confirms that consumer trust plays the key, mediating role between trustworthiness and continuance intentions, while trustworthiness does not have any moderating influence in the relationship between consumer trust and continuance intentions. Overall, the authors conclude by discussing conceptual contributions, methodological implications, limitations, and future research directions of the study. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Opposite Effects of Mn2+ and Zn2+ on PsaR-Mediated Expression of the Virulence Genes pcpA, prtA, and psaBCA of Streptococcus pneumoniae

ABSTRACT Homeostasis of Zn2+ and Mn2+ is important for the physiology and virulence of the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae. Here, transcriptome analysis was used to determine the response of S. pneumoniae D39 to a high concentration of Zn2+. Interestingly, virulence genes encoding the choline binding protein PcpA, the extracellular serine protease PrtA, and the Mn2+ uptake system PsaBC(A) were strongly upregulated in the presence of Zn2+. Using random mutagenesis, a previously described Mn2+-responsive transcriptional repressor, PsaR, was found to mediate the observed Zn2+-dependent derepression. In addition, PsaR is also responsible for the Mn2+-dependent repression of these genes. Subsequently, we investigated how these opposite effects are mediated by the same regulator. In vitro binding of purified PsaR to the prtA, pcpA, and psaB promoters was stimulated by Mn2+, whereas Zn2+ destroyed the interaction of PsaR with its target promoters. Mutational analysis of the pcpA promoter demonstrated the presence of a PsaR operator that mediates the transcriptional effects. In conclusion, PsaR is responsible for the counteracting effects of Mn2+ and Zn2+ on the expression of several virulence genes in S. pneumoniae, suggesting that the ratio of these metal ions exerts an important influence on pneumococcal pathogenesis.
Which cities produce more excellent papers than can be expected? A new mapping approach, using Google Maps, based on statistical significance testing

The methods presented in this paper allow for a statistical analysis revealing centers of excellence around the world using programs that are freely available. Based on Web of Science data (a fee‐based database), field‐specific excellence can be identified in cities where highly cited papers were published more frequently than can be expected. Compared to the mapping approaches published hitherto, our approach is more analytically oriented by allowing the assessment of an observed number of excellent papers for a city against the expected number. Top performers in output are cities in which authors are located who publish a statistically significant higher number of highly cited papers than can be expected for these cities. As sample data for physics, chemistry, and psychology show, these cities do not necessarily have a high output of highly cited papers.
Structure, regulation, and pathophysiology of tight junctions in the gastrointestinal tract.

The tight junction, or zonula occludens, forms an intercellular barrier between epithelial cells within the gastrointestinal tract and liver and, by limiting the movement of water and solutes through the intercellular space, maintains the physicochemical separation of tissue compartments. The paracellular barrier properties of junctions are regulated and quite different among epithelia. The junction also forms an intramembrane barrier between the apical and basolateral membrane domains, contributing to segregation of biochemically distinct components of these plasma membrane surfaces. Here we briefly review three rapidly developing areas of medically relevant basic knowledge about the tight junction. First, we describe the presently incomplete knowledge of the molecular structure of the tight junction as a framework for understanding its functional properties. Second, we consider experimental evidence defining how the barrier properties of junctions are physiologically regulated and, third, how barrier properties are specifically altered in, and contribute to, pathologic processes affecting epithelia. ImagesFIG. 2
TakoTsubo Cardiomyopathy A Short Review

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), otherwise cardiomyopathy,apical ballooning syndrome or broken heart syndrome is a reversible cardiomyopathy, predominantly occurs in post-menopausal women and commonly due to emotional or physical stress. Typically, patients present with chest pain and ST elevation or T wave inversion on their electrocardiogram mimicking acute coronary syndrome, but with normal or non-flow limiting coronary artery disease. Acute dyspnoea, hypotension and even cardiogenic shock may be the presenting feature of this condition. The wall motion abnormalities typically involve akinesia of the apex of the left ventricle with hyperkinesia of the base of the heart. Atypical forms of TCM have also recently been described. An urgent left ventriculogram or echocardiogram is the key investigation to identify this syndrome. Characteristically, there is only a limited release of cardiac enzymes disproportionate to the extent of regional wall motion abnormality. Transient right ventricular dysfunction may occur and is associated with more complications, longer hospitalisation and worse left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Recently, cardiac MRI has been increasingly used to diagnose this condition and to differentiate from acute coronary syndrome in those who have abnormal coronary arteries. Treatment is often supportive, however beta-blocker and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocking agent are being used in routine clinical practice. The syndrome is usually spontaneously reversible and cardiovascular function returns to normal after a few weeks. This review article will elaborate on the pathophysiology, clinical features including the variant forms, latest diagnostic tools, management and prognosis of this condition.
The Saturated Society: Governing Risk and Lifestyles in Consumer Culture

Introduction Lifestyle and the Social Bond The Good Order of Nature: Progress and Criticism in Adam Smith's Sociology of Modernity Autonomy: the Contracting individual Intimacy: the Romantic Self The New Consumer Society and Its Critics The Welfare State in the Consumer Society From Pastoral to Epistolary Power Inner-Directed or Other-Directed? Agency and Citizenship in Mass Society Re-Inventing the Social Contract
The MemSQL Query Optimizer: A modern optimizer for real-time analytics in a distributed database

Real-time analytics on massive datasets has become a very common need in many enterprises. These applications require not only rapid data ingest, but also quick answers to analytical queries operating on the latest data. MemSQL is a distributed SQL database designed to exploit memory-optimized, scale-out architecture to enable real-time transactional and analytical workloads which are fast, highly concurrent, and extremely scalable. Many analytical queries in MemSQL's customer workloads are complex queries involving joins, aggregations, sub-queries, etc. over star and snowflake schemas, often ad-hoc or produced interactively by business intelligence tools. These queries often require latencies of seconds or less, and therefore require the optimizer to not only produce a high quality distributed execution plan, but also produce it fast enough so that optimization time does not become a bottleneck. In this paper, we describe the architecture of the MemSQL Query Optimizer and the design choices and innovations which enable it quickly produce highly efficient execution plans for complex distributed queries. We discuss how query rewrite decisions oblivious of distribution cost can lead to poor distributed execution plans, and argue that to choose high-quality plans in a distributed database, the optimizer needs to be distribution-aware in choosing join plans, applying query rewrites, and costing plans. We discuss methods to make join enumeration faster and more effective, such as a rewrite-based approach to exploit bushy joins in queries involving multiple star schemas without sacrificing optimization time. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the MemSQL optimizer over queries from the TPC-H benchmark and a real customer workload.
Should Monetary Policy Respond to Money Growth? New Results for the Euro Area

In recent years, the relevance of money growth indicators for the conduct of monetary policy has been questioned in the mainstream academic literature. It is widely argued that monetary policy should directly relate short-term interest rates to inflation and the output gap. The present paper investigates whether the performance of this type of interest rate rule can be significantly improved by adding a policy response to money growth. In contrast to most previous studies, our analysis explicitly takes into account the fact that real-time data on both actual and potential output, and hence the output gap, may be subject to substantial measurement errors. Broadly speaking, we find that the greater the degree of output gap uncertainty, the greater the benefits of incorporatThe views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as those of the Deutsche Bundesbank. We thank Heinz Herrmann, Petra Gerlach-Kristen, two anonymous referees, the participants at the annual congress of the German Economic Association 2008 in Graz as well as of workshops and seminars at the Deutsche Bundesbank, the Oesterreichische Nationalbank, the Schweizer Nationalbank, the universities of Bay
Ferroquine, an Ingenious Antimalarial Drug –Thoughts on the Mechanism of Action

Ferroquine (FQ or SR97193) is a novel antimalarial drug candidate, currently in development at Sanofi-Aventis. In contrast to conventional drugs, FQ is the first organometallic drug: a ferrocenyl group covalently flanked by a 4-aminoquinoline and a basic alkylamine. FQ is able to overcome the CQ resistance problem, an important limit to the control of Plasmodium falciparum, the principal causative agent of malaria. After fifteen years of effort, it is now possible to propose a multifactorial mechanism of action of FQ by its capacity to target lipids, to inhibit the formation of hemozoin and to generate reactive oxygen species.
It's All About Networking! Empirical Investigation of Social Capital Formation on Social Network Sites

As Social Network Sites (SNS) permeate our daily routines, the question whether participation results in value for SNS users becomes particularly acute. This study adopts a 'participation-source-outcome' perspective to explore how distinct uses of SNS generate various types of social capital benefits. Building on existing research, extensive qualitative findings and an empirical study with 253 Facebook users, we uncover the process of social capital formation on SNS. We find that even though active communication is an important prerequisite, it is the diversified network structure and the increased social connectedness that are responsible for the attainment of the four benefits of social capital on SNS: emotional support, networking value, horizon broadening and offline participation. Moreover, we propose and validate scales to measure social capital benefits in the novel context of SNS.
Numerical Simulations of Interacting Gas-Rich Barred Galaxies

Using an N-body + SPH code, we have performed numerical simulations to investigate the dynamical effects of an interaction between an initially barred galaxy and a small spherical companion. In the models described here the small companion passes through the disc of the larger galaxy perpendicularly to its plane. The impact positions and times are varied with respect to the evolutionary phase of the bar and disc. The interactions produce expanding ring structures, offset bars, spokes and other asymmetries in the stars and gas. They also affect the strength and pattern speed of the bar.
HRM and the pursuit of a service culture: Managerial encounters with competing discourses

Purpose – Aims to draw attention to how managers actively re‐construct inherent contradictions characterising the employment relationship that in the service sector, are rooted in drives for increased efficiency and customer‐oriented behaviours.Design/methodology/approach – Presents a case study of the human resource implications of changes taking place within a contract catering firm seeking to attain “world class” service delivery.Findings – Finds that managers' accounts of “the reality” of change were constructed upon three overlapping and competing discourses – labelled “enagagement”, “enterprise” and “compliance”. Originality/value – Highlights the active role of discourse in the management of HRM and organisational change.
Molecular characterization and genetic diversity of Jatropha curcas L. in Costa Rica

We estimated the genetic diversity of 50 Jatropha curcas samples from the Costa Rican germplasm bank using 18 EST-SSR, one G-SSR and nrDNA-ITS markers. We also evaluated the phylogenetic relationships among samples using nuclear ribosomal ITS markers. Non-toxicity was evaluated using G-SSRs and SCARs markers. A Neighbor-Joining (NJ) tree and a Maximum Likelihood (ML) tree were constructed using SSR markers and ITS sequences, respectively. Heterozygosity was moderate (He = 0.346), but considerable compared to worldwide values for J. curcas. The PIC (PIC = 0.274) and inbreeding coefficient (f = − 0.102) were both low. Clustering was not related to the geographical origin of accessions. International accessions clustered independently of collection sites, suggesting a lack of genetic structure, probably due to the wide distribution of this crop and ample gene flow. Molecular markers identified only one non-toxic accession (JCCR-24) from Mexico. This work is part of a countrywide effort to characterize the genetic diversity of the Jatropha curcas germplasm bank in Costa Rica.
On the welfare economics of climate change

The three constituent chapters of this thesis tackle independent, self-contained research questions, all concerning welfare economics in general and its application to climate change policy in particular. Climate change is a policy problem for which the costs and benefits are distributed unequally across space and time, as well as one involving a high degree of uncertainty. Therefore, cost-benefit analysis of climate policy ought to be based on a welfare function that is sufficiently sophisticated to incorporate the three dimensions of aggregation: time, risk and space. Chapter 1 is an axiomatic treatment of a stylised model in which all three dimensions appear. The main result is a functional representation of the social welfare function for policy assessment in such situations. Chapter 2 is a numerical mitigation policy analysis. I modify William Nordhaus' RICE-2010 model by replacing his social welfare function with one that allows for different degrees of inequality aversion along the regional and inter-temporal dimension. I find that, holding the inter-temporal coefficient of inequality aversion fixed, performing the optimisation with a greater degree of regional inequality reduces the optimal carbon tax relative to treating the world as a single aggregate consumer. In Chapter 3 I analyse climate policy from the point of view of intergenerational transfers. I propose a system of transfers that allows future generations to compensate the current one for its mitigation effort and demonstrate the effects in an OLG model. When the marginal benefit to a - possibly distant - future generation is greater than the cost of compensating the current generation for its abatement effort, a Pareto improvement is possible by a combination of mitigation policy and transfer payments. I show that under very general assumptions the business-as-usual outcome is Pareto dominated by such policies and derive the conditions for the set of climate policies that are not dominated thus.
Measuring Income Mobility using Pseudo-Panel Data

To reconcile the need of providing a more dynamic perspective of the evolution of income distribution with the lack of panel data, several techniques have been offered to construct pseudo-panel data from repeated cross-sectional surveys. Using actual panel data from the Philippines, this study evaluates the performance of four pseudo-panel techniques in measuring a wide array of income mobility indicators. Preliminary results suggest that methods with more flexible income model specifications perform better than those with highly parameterized models. More importantly, these flexible pseudo-panel procedures produced estimates of poverty dynamics and movement-based indices which are quite close to the estimates computed from the actual panel data. Nevertheless, further improvements are warranted to be able to develop a more satisfactory estimation procedure for indices measuring temporal dependence and the inequality-reducing effect of income mobility.
Antero-Posterior EEG Spectral Power Gradient as a Correlate of Extraversion and Behavioral Inhibition

Several studies have shown that individual-specific patterns of cortical spectral power distribution are relatively stable across time and experimental conditions. The antero-posterior EEG spectral power gradient (APSPG) emerged as the most prominent feature associated with important personality characteristics. In this study this phenomenon is further investigated in relation to its stability and association with different personality traits. It has been shown that APSPG is generally more pronounced during resting baseline than during inter-trial interval and post-stimulus period. Its association with personality variables is similar for different frequency bands and is mostly preserved during different experimental conditions. Relatively higher oscillatory activity in frontal than in posterior cortical sites is more frequently observed in subjects with higher behavioral inhibition (BIS) and lower Sociability. Source localization analysis showed that both high BIS/low Sociability and high APSPG are associated with higher oscillatory activity in medial cortices associated with emotion processing (mostly the cingulate gyrus). This association could be tentatively explained by higher vigilance and emotional tension in introverted and behaviorally inhibited subjects.
Impact of organizational sociotechnical system on managerial retention

Purpose – The industrial organizations all over the world are operating in a highly competitive and challenging business environment. Achieving customer satisfaction on a continual basis keeping in view of the increasing expectations of the customers has been the key to the growth of business and operations. Customer satisfaction and business development can only be achieved by retaining the competent and capable managers at different hierarchical levels of the organizations. But with the growing career opportunities and better employment prospects available, turnover of managerial personnel has become an increasingly important industrial problem worth studying in the recent years. The purpose of this paper is to examine the industry‐wide problem of managerial turnover.Design/methodology/approach – The paper describes a study which is diagnostic in nature and which follows a causal design approach to empirically examine if the impacts of both the organizational social and technical subsystem elements on m.
Cold molecular gas in cooling flow clusters of galaxies

The results of a CO line survey in central cluster galaxies with cooling flows are presented. Cold molecular gas is detected with the IRAM 30 m telescope, through CO(1–0) and CO(2–1) emission lines in 6–10 among 32 galaxies. The corresponding gas masses are between $3\times10^{8}$ and $4\times10^{10}$ $M_\odot$. These results are in agreement with recent CO detections by [CITE]. A strong correlation between the CO emission and the H α luminosity is also confirmed. Cold gas exists in the center of cooling flow clusters and these detections may be interpreted as evidence of the long searched for very cold residual of the hot cooling gas.