Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interkingdom metabolic transformations captured by microbial imaging mass spectrometry

In polymicrobial infections, microbes can interact with both the host immune system and one another through direct contact or the secretion of metabolites, affecting disease progression and treatment options. The thick mucus in the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis is highly susceptible to polymicrobial infections by opportunistic pathogens, including the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. Unravelling the hidden molecular interactions within such polymicrobial communities and their metabolic exchange processes will require effective enabling technologies applied to model systems. In the present study, MALDI-TOF and MALDI-FT-ICR imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-IMS) combined with MS/MS networking were used to provide insight into the interkingdom interaction between P. aeruginosa and A. fumigatus at the molecular level. The combination of these technologies enabled the visualization and identification of metabolites secreted by these microorganisms grown on agar. A complex molecular interplay was revealed involving suppression, increased production, and biotransformation of a range of metabolites. Of particular interest is the observation that P. aeruginosa phenazine metabolites were converted by A. fumigatus into other chemical entities with alternative properties, including enhanced toxicities and the ability to induce fungal siderophores. This work highlights the capabilities of MALDI-IMS and MS/MS network analysis to study interkingdom interactions and provides insight into the complex nature of polymicrobial metabolic exchange and biotransformations.
Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents

Social anxiety is a common psychological disorder that often emerges during adolescence and is associated with significant impairment. Efforts to prevent social anxiety disorder require sound assessment measures for identifying anxious youth, especially those from minority backgrounds. We examined the factorial invariance and latent mean differences of the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (SAS-A) across gender and age groups in Hispanic American adolescents (N = 1,191; 56% girls; 15-18 years) using multigroup confirmatory factor analyses. Results indicated that the factorial configuration of the correlated three-factor model of the SAS-A was invariant across gender and age. Analyses of latent mean differences revealed that boys exhibited higher structured means than girls on the Social Avoidance and Distress–General (SAD-General) subscale. On all SAS-A subscales, Fear of Negative Evaluation, Social Avoidance and Distress-New, and SAD-General, estimates of the structured means decreased with adolescent age. Implications for further research and clinical practice are discussed.
How Changes in Social Security Affect Retirement Trends

For married men, we find the conventional view of retirement trends -- that the long term trend to early retirement has been reversed -- is partially contradicted by recent data. Specifically, descriptive data collected from both the Census and the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) suggest that for those in their fifties, over the periods 1992 to 1998 and 1998 to 2004, the trend to early retirement reasserted itself and labor force participation fell. In contrast, for those in their sixties, there was an increase in work. Similarly, for those 65 and over, the amount of work increased. Simulations with a structural retirement model suggest that the recent acceleration of the trend to early retirement for those in their fifties is not the result of the change in Social Security rules. According to our model, changes in Social Security rules are expected to reduce the number of those in their early sixties who are working. This suggests that forces other than changing Social Security rules account for the observed increase in work by those in their early sixties, and that the effects of these forces are stronger than those suggested by the trends in descriptive data. Lastly, the analysis suggests that changing Social Security rules do help to explain the increase in work by those age 65 and older. The effects of these rule changes encourage workers to remain in their long term jobs for a longer time, encourage some to return from retirement to full time work, and encourage more partial retirement. Nevertheless, the changes in retirement induced by Social Security changes have been modest. Due to Social Security changes, the number of 65 year old married men at work increases by about two percentage points at ages 65 and 66, with slightly smaller changes at 67 to 69. Given the low basic labor force participation at 65 and 66, with 20 to 25 percent at full time work, and another 17 percent at part time work, the percentage increases in work due to Social Security changes are three or four times higher.
Production, Hedging, and Speculative Decisions with Options and Futures Markets

This paper analyzes production, hedging, and speculative decisions when both futures and options can be used in an expected utility model of price and basis uncertainty. When futures and option prices are unbiased, optimal hedging requires only futures (options are redundant). Options are used together with futures as speculative tools when market prices are perceived as biased. Straddles are used to speculate on beliefs about price volatility and to hedge the futures position used to speculate on beliefs about the expected value of the futures price. Mean-variance analysis in general is not consistent with expected utility when options are allowed.
Histopathological studies of the heart in three lines of broiler chickens

Abstract The aim of this study was to analyse the morphological lesion pattern of the heart of broiler chickens (Cobb 500, Hubbard F15 and Ross 308) during fattening with no clinical signs of disease and to determine the most susceptible period for the occurrence of morphological lesions. The most frequently diagnosed lesions in each genetic line were degeneration of the fibres with vacuolation, congestion of cardiac muscle, oedema and vacuolisation of the Purkinje cells. The highest numbers of morphological lesions were observed on d 38, 31 and 10 of life. The lesions were most numerous in the septum, followed by the left and right ventricles. Ischaemic cardiomyocytes were also most numerous on d 38 of life and in the left ventricle. Overload of cardiac muscle, prolonged hypoxia and increasing body weight on d 38 are the likely reasons for the largest number of lesions and ischaemic fibres, which may lead to heart failure.
Variations in the pulmonary venous ostium in the left atrium and its clinical importance.

INTRODUCTION During early embryonic development, absorption of pulmonary venous network by the left primitive atrial chamber results in opening of four pulmonary veins which drain independently into its chamber. The extent of absorption and hence, the number of pulmonary veins which open into the left atrium, may vary. As only few studies have been done, which have shown such variations, the present study was done to evaluate the possible variations in the pulmonary veins which opened into the left atrium. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty formalin fixed adult cadaveric hearts were studied for variations in the opening of the pulmonary veins into left atrium. RESULTS Our results showed that 68% of the hearts which were studied, showed usual pattern of 2 pulmonary veins on either side, while remaining 32 % hearts showed variations in the number of pulmonary veins which opened. Twelve percent of the hearts showed 2 left and 3 right pulmonary veins, 14% of hearts showed 2 left and 1 right veins, 4% hearts showed 1 left and 2 right veins and 2% hearts showed 1 left and 4 right pulmonary veins opening into the left atrium. CONCLUSION Knowledge on such variations gains significance in isolation for radiofrequency ablation as a treatment for atrial fibrillation.
Stock Market Linkages: Evidence From The US, China And India During The Subprime Crisis

Abstract The Subprime crisis spillovered the returns and volatility from the US stock market to the other integrated economies. The present study attempts to analyze the stock market linkages between the US, India and China, especially during the US subprime Crisis. The technique of Tri-Variate Vector Autoregression and the Spillover Index has been employed so as to analyze the relations during the time period 2007 to 2009. To estimate the time varying risk parameters, the technique of Threshold Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedastic [TGARCH (1,1)] model has been used. A uni-directional causality has been observed from the US market to the Indian and Chinese market, whereas another unidirectional causality has also been spotted running from the Chinese market to the Indian market in the context of stock market returns during the crisis period. A unidirectional volatility spillover from the US to the Indian market and from the Indian to the Chinese market has been found to be significant. As per the volatility Spillover Index, the cross market impact on the volatility reduces over a time period 2007-2009, due to the increased impact of the past volatility and the presence of 'leverage effect'. The falling returns added to the volatility in the respective markets. The efficient tests of causality inspired by Hill (2007) reported an indirect impact of the US market volatility on the Chinese market via Indian. The portfolio managers should discount this information well ahead of time to maintain the portfolio values by taking positions in futures and options market.
Intellectual capital management: pathways to wealth creation

Purpose – The management of intellectual capital (IC) within organizations depends on appropriate organizational structures and characteristics. This paper seeks to argue that certain structural, cultural, and climate characteristics will lead to more effective IC management.Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews the theoretical and empirical IC literature, as well as the literatures regarding organic environments, trust, participative decision making, and creative renewal processes, to develop a model relating to the antecedent conditions necessary for the management of IC.Findings – The model developed will assist researchers in the identification and exploration of variables linked to the effective management of IC within organizations.Practical implications – It is concluded that managers of organizations need to create organic structures, build trust with employees, encourage creative renewal, and develop participative decision‐making processes.Originality/value – By integrating several fiel.
Cardiovascular Risk Factors and 10-Year Risk for Coronary Heart Disease in Thai Adults

We evaluate cardiovascular risk factors (CVD) and 10year risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) in Thai adults living in Bangkoknoi district. Total number of 194 subjects (51 M, 143 F) aged 35-59 years were enrolled into this study. Information on the martial status, education, occupation, living condition, physical activities, smoking, consumption and drinking habits as well as history of diseases were obtained through a questionnaire. Anthropometric and biochemical assessment were done at the beginning of the study. We estimated 10-yr risk of CHD by using Framingham Risk Score, and the proportions for three levels of 10-year risk were presented, the risk functions by gender, age group in account of level of blood pressure, serum lipids, diabetes and smoking status. There were significant differences between men and women for serum HDL-C, TG, BMI, %BF and WHR (p<.05). Women had higher mean age, TC, LDL-C, HDLC, BMI, %BF and also higher prevalence of DM and hypertension whereas higher prevalence of smoking, drinking and physical inactivity found in men. The proportion of the participants with a 10-year risk for CVD of 10-20% and >20% increased with advancing age and was higher among men than women in our study. The prevalence and combination of CVD risk factors increased after the age of 46. These findings may provide useful information for public health planner to estimate CVD prevention cost and to monitor Thai adult population for preventing risk factors that could lead to CVD in the future.
New methodology for modelling MOL TDDB coping with variability

We report a novel time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) lifetime model which accounts for the impact of various sources of variability. We prove that the standard Weibull and Lognormal distributions normally used for FEOL and BEOL TDDB lifetime predictions respectively are not adequate for MOL TDDB analysis. Due to the many sources of variability, only a combination of different variability separation techniques — even including a convolution of a Weibull and Lognormal distribution as a last resort for some cases — can reconcile the intrinsic breakdown mechanism with the extra variability. This approach is shown to correctly fit and predict the reliability of integrated low-k spacer dielectrics.
A disclosure index to measure the extent of corporate governance reporting by UAE listed corporations

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent of corporate governance reporting by United Arab Emirates (UAE) listed corporations. Design/methodology/approach - The paper reports on the study of annual reports of 95 UAE listed corporations representing the major economic sectors (banking, insurance, industrial and service) in the country while crafting a corporate governance reporting index that not only advocates the voluntary publication of corporate governance information but also stresses its underlying ethos of public accountability and transparency. Findings - Overall, the extent of governance disclosure is found to be similar across the major economic sectors in the UAE. The lowest disclosures are associated with information about external auditing and non-audit services. The highest disclosures are those dealing with management structure and transparency, which are also found to be significantly different across the sectors in the UAE. Research limitations/implications - The study examines the corporations' annual reports, as this is the only vehicle in which corporate governance information is disclosed. Future research is recommended to include other disclosure channels such as press releases, corporations' websites, and online reporting. Practical implications - The findings of this study can assist UAE regulators in formulating corporate governance disclosure requirements. The findings also provide the international business community insights concerning the extent of corporate governance reporting in the UAE. Originality/value - The crafted corporate governance reporting index not only adds a quantitative dimension advocating the voluntary publication of governance information but also considers the socio-political context in the UAE.
A Tourist Attraction’s Members: Their Motivations, Relations and Roles

Abstract Active participating consumers are present as members at tourist attractions. This explorative case study aims to deepen the understanding of the consumer’s perspective of active membership by focusing on member motivations, relations, and roles at a tourist attraction. A marketing approach is applied that originated in the mutual relational benefits of memberships. Findings indicate that individual multiple member motivations and relations are reflected as different membership roles. Active committed members fill in the roles of supporters and advocates promoting the attraction as well as co‐producers performing volunteer work in the interface between visitors, fellow members and paid staff. Active members are present as one vital element in the tourist attraction system. It is of importance to academics and managers in the competitive tourism industry to understand not only what motivates consumers to become active members/volunteers but also what keeps them volunteering.
Antitakeover Measures, Golden Parachutes, and Target Firm Shareholder Welfare

Adopting antitakeover measures can enable the shareholders of a target firm to increase their share of any synergy gains expected to result from combining their firm with a bidder. Adopting such measures enhances the bargaining power of the target's manager, who will be a tougher bargainer than the nonmanagerial shareholders will, owing to his expected loss of his job following the target's acquisition. If the manager's expected loss of utility is very large, target firm shareholders may maximize their takeover-related gain by both adopting antitakeover measures and awarding the manager a golden parachute of the optimal size.
Elasticity of tendon structures of the lower limbs in sprinters.

The present study aims to investigate the elasticity of tendon structures of the lower limbs in sprinters and its relation with sprint performance. Subjects were 10 male sprinters and 14 controls whose anthropometric variables and isometric maximum strength were similar. The elongation (L) of the tendon and aponeurosis of vastus lateralis (VL) and medial gastrocnemius muscles (MG) during isometric knee extension and planter flexion, respectively, were determined using a real-time ultrasonic apparatus in vivo, while the subjects developed a gradually increasing torque from zero (relax) to maximal effort (MVC) within 5 s. While sprinters compared with controls showed significantly greater L above 500 N (about 50% of MVC) and higher dL/dF for VL at less than 20% of MVC during knee extension, there were no significant differences between the two groups in L and dL/dF for MG at every 10% of MVC during plantar flexion. Moreover, the average value of dL/dF above 50% of MVC, proposed as the compliance of tendon structures, did not significantly differ between sprinters and controls in either VL or MG. In a regression analysis within sprinters, the compliance of VL was negatively correlated to 100-m sprint time, r=-0.757 (P < 0.05), but that of MG was not, r=0.228 (P > 0.05). Thus the present results indicate that the elasticity of tendon structures of VL and MG at high force production levels, which might be assumed to associate with the storage and subsequent release of energy during exercises involving the stretch-shortening cycle, are similar in both sprinters and controls. For sprinters, however, the tendon structures of VL are more compliant than that for controls at low force production levels, and its elasticity at high force production levels may influence sprint performance.
The concept of sustainability: Origins, extensions, and usefulness for policy

Abstract The concept of sustainability and its corollary, sustainable development, have become part of the political rhetoric of the 1980s, in part due to the recent publication of the Brundtland Commission report. Our Common Future. Governments, groups, and individuals use these concepts to justify their proposed (and sometimes conflicting) actions; a number of definitions have been offered. This paper examines the concept of sustainability and its application in a variety of contexts including single biological resources (such as a fishery), multiresource ecosystems, and in more complex social‐economic‐physical settings. A series of questions are raised concerning the concept: intergenerational implications of patterns of resource use, equity concerns, time horizons, and non‐negotiable alternatives, among others. Examples from the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia are used to illustrate these issues. In spite of divergent views on what sustainability means, the discussion leads to certain findings tha.
Elasticity and equation of state of orthoenstatite, MgSiO3

Abstract Published measurements of the compression and elasticity of MgSiO3 orthoenstatite have been reanalyzed and the estimates that they yield of the room pressure bulk modulus and its pressure derivative are now shown to be consistent with one another. New single-crystal compression data is also consistent with the revised EoS parameters. Combining the results of four different experiments (two compression, one Brillouin measurement, and one in situ high-pressure ultrasonic measurement) yields best estimates of KT0 = 105.8(5) GPa and K'0 = 8.5(3) for a third-order Birch-Murnaghan EoS.
A Guide to Volatility and Variance Swaps

Trading in derivatives has caused investors, and especially market makers, to be concerned with the volatility of asset returns along with their direction. Uncertain and time-varying volatility imparts risk to an otherwise hedged position, and volatility risk is not easy to manage with ordinary instruments. Volatility swaps are a new class of derivative, for which an asset's volatility itself is the underlying. This article describes how volatility swaps work, and derives pricing and hedging equations for them. Interestingly, the natural derivative instrument in this family would be based on variance, rather than volatility, since a variance swap can be replicated (pretty well) by a static portfolio of ordinary European calls and puts on the price of the underlying asset. The authors also show how to set up a volatility hedge when the available traded options exhibit a smile or skew pattern.
Union certification in Ontario: its effect on the value of the firm

Event study methodology is used to determine the effect of union certification in Ontario on the expected profitability of firms. Raid and nonraid applications and the method of certification are examined. Contrary to expectations, the authors find no strong negative response to certification applications in most cases. In general, the more contentious the certification process, the greater the negative abnormal returns. This is not only true within Ontario but also when the the authors' results are compared to those of the United States. Coauthors are Robert Hanrahan, Joseph Kushner, and Isidore Masse.
Dl‐alpha‐tocopherol, a potent inhibitor of phorbol ester induced shape change of erythro‐ and megakaryoblastic leukemia cells

Synthetic vitamin E, dl‐α‐tocopherol, added to a human erythroleukemia HEL and a megakaryoblastic leukemia, Meg‐01, cell culture produced potent dose‐dependent inhibition of phorbol ester‐induced adhesion and of the morphologic changes accompanying it. The inhibition was reversible by withdrawal of supplemental vitamin E from the medium. dl‐α‐Tocopherol also inhibited protein kinase C activity both at baseline and after phorbol ester stimulation. Arachidonic acid stimulated protein kinase C activity of erythroleukemia cells and promoted their adhesion, an effect that was also inhibited by dl‐α‐tocopherol. Introduction of a protein kinase C‐neutralizing antibody or a protein kinase C‐inhibitor substrate into permeabilized HEL cells inhibited phorbol ester‐induced adhesion and shape change. dl‐α‐Tocopherol also affected the cellular distribution of protein kinase C, shifting the major portion of the enzyme to the cytosol fraction and reducing phorbol ester‐induced membrane association of the enzyme. Thus, protein kinase C appears to mediate shape change and adhesion, both of which are strongly inhibited by dl‐α‐tocopherol. J. Cell. Physiol. 172:351–360, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.