Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Who Participates in Running Events? Socio-Demographic Characteristics, Psychosocial Factors and Barriers as Correlates of Non-Participation—A Pilot Study in Belgium

In Western countries, the popularity of running events has increased exponentially during the last three decades. However, little is known about the profile of non-participants. This knowledge is crucial to tailor promotional actions towards people who are currently not participating. Therefore, this study aimed: (1) to examine which socio-ecological factors are related to participation in running events, (2) to give an overview of the barriers towards participation, and (3) to examine differences in barriers depending on gender, age and educational level. Flemish adults (n = 308) completed an online questionnaire about their socio-demographic and psychosocial characteristics, physical activity levels, participation in running events and barriers towards participation. Results showed that motivation, family social support, knowledge about running events and physical activity levels were associated with participation in running events. Among non-participants, the main barriers were bad physical condition, lack of time and lack of interest. In participants, lack of time, distance to the event and financial barriers were most prevalent. With some exceptions, barriers were relatively similar across socio-demographic subgroups. This study confirmed a democratization among participants of running events and provided evidence about which barriers should be tackled to increase participation among population subgroups that are currently underrepresented in such events.
The Promise and Perils of Populism: Global Perspectives

From the protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square to the Tea Party in the United States to the campaign to elect indigenous leader Evo Morales in Bolivia, modern populist movements command international attention and compel political and social change. When citizens demand "power to the people," they evoke corrupt politicians, imperialists, or oligarchies that have appropriated power from its legitimate owners. These stereotypical narratives belie the vague and often contradictory definitions of the concept of "the people" and the many motives of those who use populism as a political tool. In The Promise and Perils of Populism, Carlos de la Torre assembles a group of international scholars to explore the ambiguous meanings and profound implications of grassroots movements across the globe. These trenchant essays explore how fragile political institutions allow populists to achieve power, while strong institutions confine them to the margins of political systems. Their comparative case studies illuminate how Latin American, African, and Thai populists have sought to empower marginalized groups of people, while similar groups in Australia, Europe, and the United States often exclude people whom they consider to possess different cultural values. While analyzing insurrections in Latin America, advocacy groups in the United States, Europe, and Australia, and populist parties in Asia and Africa, the contributors also pose questions and agendas for further research. This volume on contemporary populism from a comparative perspective could not be more timely, and scholars from a variety of disciplines will find it an invaluable contribution to the literature.
Quality signaling through ex-ante voluntary information disclosure in entrepreneurial networks: evidence from franchising

This paper examines antecedents of ex-ante voluntary information disclosures for standardized contracts in entrepreneurial networks. Entrepreneurs (e.g., franchisors) may make such disclosures to prospective business partners in order to signal profitability of partnering, attract financial and managerial resources, and develop their entrepreneurial networks. In practice, only a fraction of franchisors make financial performance representations (FPRs), an ex-ante voluntary information disclosure to prospective franchisees. We address gaps in the signaling, voluntary information disclosure, franchising, entrepreneurship, and small- and medium-enterprise (SME) literatures. We draw on signaling theory to develop a theoretical framework and investigate factors that influence a franchisor’s disclosure decision. We evaluate hypotheses from our theoretical framework through econometric analyses of multi-sector panel data for the US franchising industry. We estimate a logit model and use lagged independent variables to address our dichotomous independent variable and potential endogeneity, respectively. Our results support the view that firms signal their quality through FPRs to attract potential business partners and expand their entrepreneurial networks. Beyond the extant literature, we find that rigorous partner qualification is another driver of voluntary information disclosure in franchising. Our findings also provide empirical support for the complementary role played by multiple quality signaling mechanisms used by franchisors and yield public policy implications for franchising.
Determinants of Credit-Less Recoveries

This paper aims to shed light on the characteristics and particularly the determinants of credit-less recoveries. After building a dataset and documenting some stylised facts of credit-less recoveries in emerging market economies, this paper uses panel probit models to analyse key determinants of credit-less recoveries. Our main findings are the following. First, our frequency analysis confirms earlier findings that credit-less recoveries are not at all rare events. Moreover, our analysis shows that the frequency of credit-less recoveries doubles after a banking or currency crisis. Second, results from estimated panel probit models suggest that credit-less recoveries are typically preceded by large declines in economic activity and financial stress, in particular if private sector indebtedness is high and the country is reliant on foreign capital inflows. Finally, we find that the predicted probability of a credit-less recovery in central and eastern European EU Member States during the coming years varies across countries, but is relatively high in the Baltic States. JEL Classification: C23, C25, E32, E51, G01
Assessment of Sedative Effects of Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa and Passiflora alata Extracts in Mice, Measured by Telemetry

Several Passiflora species have been used widely as a folk medicine due to their sedative and anxiolytic activities. In Brazil, a number of native plants of the genus Passiflora exist, but only Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa (PE) and Passiflora alata (PA) are of commercial value. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the sedative effects of aqueous extracts obtained from the pericarp as well as from the leaves of PE and PA in mice using radiotelemetry. Aqueous extracts from PE and PA were tested for effects on locomotion over 180 min in 300 mg/kg, 600 mg/kg and 1200 mg/kg, in male C57BL/6J mice after oral administration. For validation of the telemetry system, caffeine (negative control) and midazolam (positive control) were used. All tested extracts decreased locomotor activity in a dose‐dependent manner in comparison to the control group. The two lower concentrations of each extract showed the highest decrease in locomotion after 24 min, while 1200 mg/kg had a significant sedative effect already after 18 min. Interestingly, aqueous extracts of PA were more active in comparison to aqueous extracts of PE and the pericarp extracts of both plants showed more pronounced effects on locomotor activity if compared to leaf extracts. In conclusion, the present study represents an innovative, objective approach to measure sedative effects of plant extracts with minimized handling‐related stress and remote data collection. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Haemophilia A: Mutation Type Determines Risk of Inhibitor Formation

Summary The formation of factor VIII antibodies is a major problem for replacement therapy of haemophilia A patients. Antibodies occur in 5-30% of patients with severe haemophilia A. The reason for antibody formation is still unknown. In this study we correlate for the first time different factor VIII gene mutations, stop- and missense mutations, large and small deletions and intrachromosomal intron 22 recombinations to antibody formation. A total of 364 patients with known inhibitor status of our institute, of the database, and of 3 studies representing intron-22-inversion data are included. The results show that the risk for developing factor VIII antibodies is strongly related to stop mutations, large deletions and intrachromosomal recombinations. A probable explanation could be the complete lack of endogenous circulating factor VIII protein in these cases. Other factors that might be important for the pathogenesis of inhibitor formation, e. g. the antenatal period, as well as possible therapeutic effects, are discussed.
Choosing to Lead: Understanding Congressional Foreign Policy Entrepreneurs

Preface vii 1. Beyond the White House: Bringing Congress into the Foreign Policy Picture 1 2. From Problem to Policy: A Theory of Congressional Foreign Policy Entrepreneurship 24 3. Surveying the Landscape: Congressional Foreign Policy Entrepreneurs since World War II 52 4. The Rising Tide: Entrepreneurship in the Cold War Consensus Period, 1946-1967 77 5. Players in the Game: Entrepreneurship in the Cold War Dissensus Period, 1968-1989 115 6. Contending with the Thaw: Entrepreneurship in the Post-Cold War Period, 1990-2000 154 7. After 9/11: Entrepreneurs into the 21st Century 205 8. Part of the Landscape: Conclusions on the Entrepreneur Effect 221 Notes 247 Bibliography 255 Index 287
Do changes in distance-to-default anticipate changes in the credit rating?

Distance-to-default (DtD) from the Merton model has been used in the credit risk literature, most successfully as an input into reduced form models for forecasting default. In this paper, we suggest that the change in the DtD is informative for predicting change in the credit rating. This is directly useful for situations where forecasts of credit rating changes are required. More generally, it contributes to our knowledge about reduced form models of credit risk.
Expansion of gammadelta T-cells in Behçet's disease: role of disease activity and microbial flora in oral ulcers.

Gammadelta T-cells participate in the immune response to infections and in autoimmunity by recognizing bacteria-derived and autologous antigens. The goal of this study was to evaluate the involvement of gammadelta T-cells in Behçet's disease (BD). Gammadelta T-cells in the peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of Israeli patients with definite BD (n = 23), normal controls (n = 16), and patients with familial Mediterrranean fever (FMF; n = 20) were evaluated by means of flow cytometry. The responses of patient and control gammadelta T-cells to medium conditioned by microorganisms cultured from an oral ulcer of a patient with active BD were compared. The proportions of CD3(+) and CD8(+) cells in the PBMCs were not significantly different between groups. In contrast, gammadelta-T-cells accounted for 7.01% +/- 4.42% of the PBMCs in BD compared with 3.56% +/- 3.45% in FMF (P < .005) and 3.7% +/- 3.15% in normal individuals (P < .009). Their numbers were significantly higher during active disease than in remission (9.45% +/- 5.08% versus 2.27% +/- 3.3%; P < .009). The number of T-cell-receptor gammadelta(+) and Vdelta2(+) cells of BD patients, but not of controls, increased after 96 hours of culture in medium containing supernatant of microorganisms cultured from an oral ulcer in a patient with BD relative to their proportions in control medium: 58.2% vs 13.9% (P < .05) and 28% vs 9% (P < .04), respectively, of the cultured T-cells (n = 4). gammadelta T-cells are expanded in BD PBMCs during active disease. An exaggerated proliferative response to products released by microorganisms present in oral ulcers may play a role in this phenomenon.
Cyclic interconnection in 1-D vehicle formation control

In this paper, we study a formation control scheme for a 1D string of vehicles. Each member tracks the movement of its immediate predecessor but also the first vehicle tracks the position of the last member of the string. We discuss conditions for the stability of the full interconnected system and show that if a constant inter-vehicle spacing policy is used, the interconnection becomes unstable after the string size surpasses a critical value. Moreover, we show that if constant time headway is used in the spacing policy, stability can be recovered for any string size. String stability is also achieved as a consequence.
Mobile-Based Applications and Functionalities for Self-Management of People Living with HIV

BACKGROUND Due to the chronicity of HIV/AIDS and the increased number of people living with HIV (PLWH), these people need the innovative and practical approaches to take advantage of high-quality healthcare services. The objectives of this scoping review were to identify the mobile-based applications and functionalities for self-management of people living with HIV. METHODS We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Science direct, Web of Science and Embase databases for literature published from 2010 to 2017. Screening, data abstraction, and methodological quality assessment were done in duplicate. RESULTS Our search identified 10 common mobile-based applications and 8 functionalities of these applications for self-management of people living with HIV. According to the findings, "text-messaging" and "reminder" applications were more addressed in reviewed articles. Moreover, the results indicated that "medication adherence" was the common functionality of mobile-based applications for PLWH. CONCLUSION Inclusive evidence supports the use of text messaging as a mobile-based functionality to improve medication adherence and motivational messaging. Future mobile-based applications in the healthcare industry should address additional practices such as online chatting, social conversations, physical activity intervention, and supply chain management.
Small Cell Carcinoma of the Prostate: An Immunohistochemical Study

Small cell carcinoma of the prostate (SCPC) is morphologically similar to small cell carcinoma of the lung (SCLC) and maybe misinterpreted as Gleason pattern 5b prostate adenocarcinoma (HGPC). Recognition of SCPC is important because of its different clinical behavior. This study aims to characterize the immunophenotype of histologically classic SCPC using a comprehensive panel of markers, to better understand its histogenesis, aid in its classification, and evaluate potential therapeutic targets. Using the World Health Organization morphologic criteria for SCLC, 18 SCPC cases were identified; and studied for the following tumor marker groups: prostate specific/related, neuroendocrine, sex steroid hormone receptors, and prognostic/treatment target-related. Ten cases of UPC were used as controls. PSA was positive in 17% of SCPC and neuroendocrine markers were expressed in HGPC. PSA, TTF-1 and CD56 were the most helpful markers in differentiating between SCPC and HGPC (P<0.01), whereas bombesin/GRP, c-kit, bcl-2, and EGFR expression was more frequent in SCPC. SCPC is best diagnosed by following the World Health Organization diagnostic criteria for SCLC. Immunohistochemical markers can help separate SCPC from HGPC and may be useful in histologically borderline cases. Potential therapeutic targets are identified immunohistochemically in SCPC (Bombesin/GRP, c-kit, bcl-2, and EGFR).
Relating cocaine blood concentrations to toxicity--an autopsy study of 99 cases.

UNLABELLED We conducted a retrospective study of 48 men with cocaine-related deaths (CTOX), and a control group of 51 male cocaine users who died of lethal trauma (TRAU). Regression analysis and multiple t-tests were used to assess the relationship between cocaine and benzoylecgonire concentrations as well as autopsy measurements. FINDINGS Mean age was similar (35.9 vs 34.8 years, p = .549). Cocaine blood concentrations were not significantly different (1.12 vs .487 mg/L, p = .10), but mean BE concentrations were higher in CTOX (1.54 vs .946 mg/L, p = .018). CTOX decedents had a lower Body Mass Index (BMI) (24.6 vs 30.6, p = < .0001), larger hearts (426 vs 369, p = .009), and heavier lungs, livers, and spleens (1275 g vs 1007 g, p = .009, 1896 g vs 1628 g, p = .008, 193 g vs 146 g, p = .001). CONCLUSIONS (1) Blood cocaine concentrations in cocaine-related deaths are indistinguishable from postmortem concentrations in recreational users, but BE is higher in cocaine-related deaths. (2) Increased lung, liver and spleen weights are consistent with cocaine induced heart failure, but (3) Decreased BMI and increased heart weights in CTOX must be a consequence of long term cocaine use. Cardiac alterations may explain why equal blood cocaine concentrations may be lethal in some cases and innocuous in others, (4) Isolated measurements of postmortem cocaine and BE blood concentrations cannot be used to assess, or predict toxicity.
Atmospheric pressure plasma jet treatment evokes transient oxidative stress in HaCaT keratinocytes and influences cell physiology

Modern non‐thermal atmospheric pressure plasma sources enable controllable interaction with biological systems. Their future applications – e.g. wound management – are based on their unique mixture of reactive components sparking both stimulatory as well as inhibitory processes. To gain detailed understanding of plasma–cell interaction and with respect to risk awareness, key mechanisms need to be identified. This study focuses on the impact of an argon non‐thermal atmospheric pressure plasma jet (kINPen 09) on human HaCaT keratinocytes. With increasing duration, cell viability decreased. In accordance, cells accumulated in G2/M phase within the following 24 h. DNA single‐strand breaks were detected immediately after treatment and receded in the aftermath, returning to control levels after 24 h. No directly plasma‐related DNA double‐strand breaks were detected over the same time. Concurrently, DNA synthesis decreased. Coincident with treatment time, an increase in intracellular 2′,7′‐dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA) conversion increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. The radical scavenging activity of culture medium crucially influenced these effects. Thus, ROS changed DNA integrity, and the effectiveness of cellular defence mechanisms characterises the interaction of non‐thermal plasma and eukaryotic cells. Effects were time‐dependent, indicating an active response of the eukaryotic cells. Hence, a stimulation of eukaryotic cells using short‐term non‐thermal plasma treatment seems possible, eg in the context of chronic wound care. Long‐term plasma treatments stopped in cell proliferation and apoptosis, which might be relevant in controlling neoplastic conditions.
The Misidentified Identifiability Problem of Bayesian Knowledge Tracing

In this paper, we investigate two purported problems with Bayesian Knowledge Tracing (BKT), a popular statistical model of student learning: identiﬁability and semantic model degeneracy . In 2007, Beck and Chang stated that BKT is susceptible to an identiﬁability problem —various models with diﬀerent parameters can give rise to the same predictions about student performance. We show that the problem they pointed out was not an identiﬁability problem, and using an existing result from the identiﬁability of hidden Markov models, we show that under mild conditions on the parameters, BKT is actually identiﬁable. In the second part of the paper, we discuss a problem that has been conﬂated with identiﬁabil-ity, but which actually does arise when ﬁtting BKT models, semantic model degeneracy —the model parameters that best ﬁt the data are inconsistent with the conceptual assumptions underlying BKT. We give some intuition for why semantic model degeneracy may arise by showing that BKT models ﬁt to data generated from alternative models of student learning can have semantically degenerate parameters. Finally, we discuss the potential implications of these insights.
Regulatory independence and political interference: Evidence from EU mixed-ownership utilities' debt and investment

This paper examines the investment and financial decisions of a sample of 92 EU regulated utilities, taking into account key institutional features of EU public utilities, such as: a) regulation by agencies with various degrees of independence; b) partial ownership of the state in the regulated firm; and c) the government's political orientation, which may ultimately influence the regulatory climate to be either more pro-firm or more pro-consumers. Our results show that regulatory independence matters for both investment and financial decisions. Investment increases under an Independent Regulatory Agency (IRA), while ownership has no effect. Leverage also increases when the IRA is in place, especially so if the regulated firm is privately controlled. Finally political orientation does matter, as firm investment increases under more conservative (pro-firm) governments, but this effect appears to revert when the IRA is in place
Fragment-specific fixation of trimalleolar fractures utilizing the posterolateral approach: A preliminary experience

Introduction: Ankle fractures involving posterior malleolus are disabling injuries if not managed properly. Clinical and functional outcome of ankle fractures involving posterior tibial plafond is significantly worse. Although the surgical approach and techniques to reduce and fix this fracture are well described in the literature, there still seems to be divided consensus among orthopedic surgeons regarding the same. Methods: In this case series of eight patients with trimalleolar fractures, a posterolateral approach was used for fixation of posterior malleolus in all the cases. A preoperative computed tomography scan formed an integral part of management of such injuries. The Olerud and Molendar scoring system was employed at 12 months of follow-up to assess the functional outcome. Weight-bearing X-rays were taken to assess for any ankle arthritis. Results: The average age of patients was 48.8 years. The most common mode of sustaining injury was twisting of the ankle joint (n = 5). The average time to union and full weight-bearing was 12.8 weeks (range 10–16 weeks). An excellent functional outcome in four patients and a good outcome in the rest of the four patients were obtained at the end of 12 months of follow-up. No significant ankle arthritis or complications were encountered. Conclusion: Appropriate preoperative imaging evaluation is an integral part of planning for these complex injuries. The posterolateral approach provides good exposure for appropriate visualization. Stable fixation of posterior malleolus in trimalleolar fractures plays a vital role in obtaining a positive clinical and functional outcome.
6. Imperial Japan And Its POWs: The Dilemma Of Humaneness And National Identity

Modern warfare could well be summed up in two phrases: annihilation and humanitarian concern. This chapter focuses on the actual behaviour and attitude to prisoners of wars (POWs) held by Japan, rather than on its images. It is based on a systematic analysis of the treatment of POWs in six major wars fought by Imperial Japan from 1894 to 1945. With these data at hand, this chapter aims to uncover the determinants of the Japanese treatment of POWs, the motives for the above transformation, and their implications for national identity and attitude to self and others. The quality of a belligerent's treatment of POWs it holds is a cardinal issue in assessing its compliance with international conventions and enforcing their terms. Throughout their classical, medieval and pre-modern history, the Japanese scarcely fought a major war outside their archipelago or against an external foe. Keywords: national identity; pre-modern history; prisoners of wars (POWs)