Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Drugs Designed To Inhibit Human p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Activation Treat Toxoplasma gondii and Encephalitozoon cuniculi Infection

ABSTRACT We recently showed that the pyridinylimidazoles SB203580 and SB202190, drugs designed to block human p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, also inhibited replication of the medically important intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii in cultured human fibroblasts through a direct effect on the parasite. We now show that additional pyridinylimidazole and imidazopyrimidine p38 MAPK inhibitors inhibit intracellular T. gondii replication in vitro and protect mice against fatal T. gondii infection. Mice surviving infection following treatment with p38 MAPK inhibitors were resistant to subsequent T. gondii challenge, demonstrating induction of protective immunity. Thus, drugs originally developed to block human p38 MAPK activation are useful for treating T. gondii infection without inducing significant immunosuppression. MAPK inhibitors combined with either of the approved anti-Toxoplasma drugs sulfadiazine and pyrimethamine resulted in improved survival among mice challenged with a fatal T. gondii inoculum. A MAPK inhibitor also treated mice infected with the Microsporidium parasite Encephalitozoon cuniculi, suggesting that MAPK inhibitors represent a novel class of agents that may have a broad spectrum of antiparasitic activity. Preliminary studies implicate a T. gondii MAPK homologue as the target of drug action, suggesting possibilities for more-selective agents.
Longitudinal assessment of bone density and structure in childhood survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia without cranial radiation.

PURPOSE Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are at risk for impaired bone accrual. This peripheral quantitative computed tomography study assessed changes in bone mineral density (BMD) and structure after completion of ALL treatment. METHODS Fifty ALL participants, ages 5-22 yr, were enrolled within 2 yr (median 0.8 yr) after completing ALL therapy. Tibia peripheral quantitative computed tomography scans were performed at enrollment and 12 months later. Age-, sex-, and race-specific Z-scores for trabecular BMD (TrabBMD), cortical BMD (CortBMD), and cortical area (CortArea) were generated based on more than 650 reference participants. Multivariable linear regression models examined determinants of changes in Z-scores. RESULTS At enrollment, mean TrabBMD (-1.03±1.34) and CortBMD (-0.84±1.05) Z-scores were low (both P<0.001) compared with reference participants. TrabBMD and CortBMD Z-scores increased to -0.58±1.41 and -0.51±0.91 over 1 yr, respectively (both P<0.001). Changes in cortical outcomes varied according to the interval since completion of therapy. Among those enrolled less than 6 months after therapy, CortArea Z-scores increased and CortBMD Z-scores decreased (both P<0.01). Among those enrolled 6 months or more after therapy, CortArea Z-scores did not change and CortBMD Z-scores increased (P<0.01). Changes in CortArea and CortBMD Z-scores were inversely associated (r=-0.32, P<0.001). Cumulative glucocorticoid exposure, leukemia risk status, and antimetabolite chemotherapy were not associated with outcomes. CONCLUSION TrabBMD was low after completion of ALL therapy and improved significantly. Early increases in cortical dimensions were associated with declines in CortBMD; however, participants further from ALL therapy demonstrated stable cortical dimensions and increases in CortBMD, potentially reflecting the time necessary to mineralize newly formed bone.
Inflation and Economic Growth

ESPITE the large volume of recent Th literature on economic growth, little has been done to integrate monetary factors in the explanation of the growth process. Most of the growth models are "real" models, in the sense that they manage to ignore the monetary structure of the economy and focus only on real variables. The construction of these kinds of non-monetary models is completely justified if one is able to show that the monetary structure has no effect on the real variables of the system, that money is neutral. The neutrality of the monetary sector is a problem that has been widely discussed in the monetary theory literature. In terms of the standard macroeconomic model, if prices are flexible and if wealth is not an argument in the saving function, a once-and-for-all change in the quantity of money will not affect the real variables of the system. Since a great deal of the growth literature, such as that of Solow (1956) and Swan (1956), assumes that saving is not affected by wealth and, particularly, that the community saves a constant proportion of income, it would seem that ignoring the monetary sector is a proper way of simplifying things. The explanation of the growth process could then be decomposed into two subsets of problems: (1) the determination of the real variables, including the rate of growth of the economy, and (2) the determination of the monetary variables. This paper shows, however, that neglecting the existence of alternative assets to real capital in the neo-classical model of growth, with saving being a constant proportion of income, is not a proper way of simplifying the analysis. The mere existence of outside money, independent of the rate at which the money stock grows or declines through time, will prevent the economy from attaining the Solow-Swan steady state capital stock. The capital stock for which a monetary economy reaches its steady state is always smaller than the one indicated by the Solow-Swan model. It therefore follows that the golden-rule saving ratio is not any more the one that maximizes long run consumption. For long run consumption to be maximized the saving ratio has to be greater than the share of profits in national income. On the other hand, the recent work on economic growth in a monetary economy, by Tobin (1965) and by Johnson (1966), centers on the steady state features of the economy; there is no rigorous discussion of how the economy reaches this steady state, nor of what the conditions are under which this steady state, if attained, will be maintained. Also, since attention is focused on steady state solutions, there is nowhere an analysis of how changing market conditions affect *A first draft of this paper was presented in April, 1966, as a prospectus for the author's Ph.D. dissertation at the University of Chicago. For their helpful comments and suggestions, grateful acknowledgment is given to Hirofumi Uzawa, Arnold Harberger, Robert Solow, and Arthur Treadway. The author also takes sole responsibility for any remaining errors.
Market valuation models of the effect of advertising and promotional spending: A review and meta-analysis

A narrative review is presented, within the organizing framework of a meta-analysis, of econometric models reported in the business literature that estimate the effect of advertising and promotional spending on the market value of the firm. Results from published market valuation models are aggregated, and various model specifications are appraised. In brief the meta-analysis finds support for a positive relationship between levels of advertising and promotional spending and the market value of the firm. That is, marketing activities (represented here by observed advertising and promotions spending) are generally expected to deliver future cashflows and produce increases in shareholder wealth. The review seeks to enhance understanding among the community of marketing scholars of the properties of market valuation models published in the literature and serves as a springboard for ongoing investigation of a crucial question for marketing theory and practice.
Myths and Facts About the Alleged Over-Pricing of U.S. Real Estate. Evidence from Multi-Factor Asset Pricing Models of REIT Returns

This paper uses a multi-factor pricing model with time-varying risk exposures and premia to examine whether the 2003-2006 period has been characterized, as often claimed by a number of commentators and policymakers, by a substantial missprcing of publicly traded real estate assets (REITs). The estimation approach relies on Bayesian methods to model the latent process followed by risk exposures and idiosynchratic volatility. Our application to monthly, 1979-2009 U.S. data for stock, bond, and REIT returns shows that both market and real consumption growth risks are priced throughout the sample by the cross-section of asset returns. There is weak evidence at best of structural misspricing of REIT valuations during the 2003-2006 sample. Key words: REIT returns, Bayesian estimation, Structural instability, Stochastic volatility, Linear factor models. JEL codes: G11, C53.
MACULAR HOLE IN PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY WITH FIBROVASCULAR PROLIFERATION

Purpose: To report clinical characteristics and treatment results of macular hole (MH) with diabetic fibrovascular proliferation. Methods: Twenty-three eyes of 23 consecutive patients having surgery for diabetic fibrovascular proliferation and MH were reviewed. Macular hole closure and final visual acuity were examined in relation to clinical characteristics. Results: Traction and combined retinal detachment was seen in 17 cases and 6 cases, respectively. Four cases had internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling. Macular hole was closed in 19 cases (82.6%) after surgery. Thickened fibrovascular proliferation with vitreomacular adhesion at or close to the MH edge was found in most cases. Of the 5 cases of shallow macular detachment, 2 cases without ILM peeling had persistent hole; 3 cases with ILM peeling had MH closure. Of the other 18 cases, only 2 of the 17 cases without ILM peeling had persistent hole (P = 0.64). Multiple regression analysis revealed preoperation visual acuity and degree of macular elevation were associated with postoperation visual acuity. Conclusions: Unique vitreomacular features exist in diabetic fibrovascular proliferation and MH. Internal limiting membrane peeling does not seem to significantly affect MH closure in cases with moderate or high macular detachment. Final vision may be associated with preoperative visual acuity and degree of macular elevation.
Confronting Objections to Performance Pay: The Impact of Individual and Gain-Sharing Incentives on Job Satisfaction

The increasing use of incentive pay schemes in recent years has raised concerns about their potential detrimental effect on intrinsic job satisfaction (JS), job security and employee morale. This study explores the impact of pay incentives on the overall JS of workers in the United Kingdom and their satisfaction with various facets of jobs. Using data from eight waves (1998–2005) of the British Household Panel Survey (BHPS) and a uniquely designed well-being dataset (EPICURUS), a significant positive impact on JS is only found for those receiving fixed-period bonuses. These conclusions are robust to unobserved heterogeneity, and are shown to depend on a number of job-quality characteristics that have not been controlled for in previous studies.
Role of fentanyl in supratentorial tumor: can it change the requirement of propofol?

REFERENCES 1. Arasho B, Sandu N, Spiriev T, et al. Management of the trigeminocardiac reflex: facts and own experience. Neurol India. 2009;57:375–380. 2. Chowdhury T, West M. Intraoperative asystole in a patient undergoing craniotomy under monitored anesthesia care: is it TCR? J Neurosurg Anesthesiol. 2013;25:92–93. 3. Schaller B, Cornelius JF, Prabhakar H, et al. Trigemino-Cardiac Reflex Examination Group (TCREG). The trigemino-cardiac reflex: an update of the current knowledge. J Neurosurg Anesthesiol. 2009;21:187–195. 4. Haldar R, Gyanesh P, Bettaswamy G. Isolated bradycardia due to skull pin fixation: an unusual occurrence. J Neurosurg Anesthesiol. 2012. DOI:10.1097/ANA.0b013e31827d1cac. 5. Hanamoto H, Niwa H, Sugimura M, et al. Autonomic and cardiovascular effects of pentobarbital anesthesia during trigeminal stimulation in cats. Int J Oral Sci. 2012;4: 24–29.
Theories of Wage Rigidity

This paper considers two sets of theories attempting to explain wage rigidities and unemployment: implicit contract theory and the efficiency wage theory. The basic thesis of the paper is that the former set of theories do not provide a convincing explanation of the kind of wage rigidity which is associated with cyclical unemployment,while the latter theories do. Several of the more recent versions of implicit contract theory are considered: implicit contracts with asymmetric information may give rise to over employment rather than underemployment, and the forms of contracts to be expected, were asymmetric information considerations paramount, are not observed.Other versions of the asymmetric information implicit contract model, explicitly long term in nature, may give rise to full employment. One version of implicit contract theory which does give rise to lay-offs arises when search is costly and cannot be monitored. But even this extension does not explain certain important features of observed patterns of unemployment. In contrast, the efficiency wage models not only provide an explanation of the existence of unemployment equilibrium in competitive economies, but they also provide part of the explanation of the observed patterns of unemployment. They also explain why different firms may pay similar workers different wages, why wages may be sticky, why firms maynot loose much if they fail to adjust their wages, and why, when they adjust their wages optimally, they adjust them slowly.The policy implications of the efficiency wage model are markedly different from those of models in which wages are absolutely rigid aswell as from those in which unemployment arises from asymmetric information.
A mathematical model of plants as ecosystem engineers

Understanding the structure and dynamics of plant communities in water-limited systems often calls for the identification of ecosystem engineers—key species that modify the landscape, redistribute resources and facilitate the growth of other species. Shrubs are excellent examples; they self-organize to form patterns of mesic patches which provide habitats for herbaceous species. In this paper we present a mathematical model for studying ecosystem engineering by woody plant species in drylands. The model captures various feedbacks between biomass and water including water uptake by plants’ roots and increased water infiltration at vegetation patches. Both the uptake and the infiltration feedbacks act as mechanisms for vegetation pattern formation, but have opposite effects on the water resource; the former depletes the soil-water content under a vegetation patch, whereas the latter acts to increase it. Varying the relative strength of the two feedbacks we find a trade-off between the engineering capacity of a plant species and its resilience to disturbances. We further identify two basic soil-water distributions associated with engineering at the single patch level, hump-shaped and ring-shaped, and discuss the niches they form for herbaceous species. Finally, we study how pattern transitions at the landscape level feedback to the single patch level by affecting engineering strength. r 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Overview of the optical broadband access evolution: a joint article by operators in the IST network of excellence e-Photon/One

This article presents an operators' view of the evolution towards broadband optical access networks. First, we describe a possible evolution of the optical access solution for point-to-point and point-to-multipoint architectures. Subsequently, currently available optical access solutions are evaluated and compared. Finally, we consider regulatory issues inside and outside Europe, and conclude by offering a recommendation with respect to regulation
Macro Factors and the Affine Term Structure of Interest Rates

This paper formulates an affine term structure model of bond yields from a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model, with observable macro state variables as the term structure factors. Model implications for the joint macro-term structure dynamics are consistent with the empirical patterns from the VAR estimation. Model calibration and simulation exercises also provide clear macroeconomic interpretations of the latent term structure factors as found in the finance literature: most of the "slope" factor movement can be explained by exogenous monetary policy shocks, and the "level" factor movement is closely related to the technology shocks.
Engineering of Online Optimizing Control - A Case Study: Reactive SMB Chromatography

Abstract This contribution discusses the application of the idea of online optimizing control to a complex process from chemical engineering. The idea of online optimizing control is to minimize an economic objective over a finite moving horizon during plant operation based upon a rigorous nonlinear dynamic model. Plant limitations and product specifications are included in the optimization as constraints. The process discussed here is the so-called Hashimoto SMB process that combines reaction and continuous chromatographic separation in one plant. The degrees of freedom (flow rates and the switching time) are used to minimize the solvent consumption and to keep the product purity and product recovery above the specified values. The emphasis of this paper is on the modifications of the formulation of the optimization problem in order to cope with plant/model mismatch.
Mycobacteria exploit three genetically distinct DNA double‐strand break repair pathways

Bacterial pathogens rely on their DNA repair pathways to resist genomic damage inflicted by the host. DNA double‐strand breaks (DSBs) are especially threatening to bacterial viability. DSB repair by homologous recombination (HR) requires nucleases that resect DSB ends and a strand exchange protein that facilitates homology search. RecBCD and RecA perform these functions in Escherichia coli and constitute the major pathway of error‐free DSB repair. Mycobacteria, including the human pathogen M. tuberculosis, elaborate an additional error‐prone pathway of DSB repair via non‐homologous end‐joining (NHEJ) catalysed by Ku and DNA ligase D (LigD). Little is known about the relative contributions of HR and NHEJ to mycobacterial chromosome repair, the factors that dictate pathway choice, or the existence of additional DSB repair pathways. Here we demonstrate that Mycobacterium smegmatis has three DSB repair pathway options: HR, NHEJ and a novel mechanism of single‐strand annealing (SSA). Inactivation of NHEJ or SSA is compensated by elevated HR. We find that mycobacterial RecBCD does not participate in HR or confer resistance to ionizing radiation (IR), but is required for the RecA‐independent SSA pathway. In contrast, the mycobacterial helicase–nuclease AdnAB participates in the RecA‐dependent HR pathway, and is a major determinant of resistance to IR and oxidative DNA damage. These findings reveal distinctive features of mycobacterial DSB repair, most notably the dedication of the RecBCD and AdnAB helicase–nuclease machines to distinct repair pathways.
An Exploratory Study of Time Stress and Its Causes among Government Employees

This article elucidates the temporal dimension of time stress among employees in public organizations. Employees working at five agencies in Indiana were surveyed. Job characteristics and personal variables such as overtime, repetitiveness, gender, family obligation, and age group were found to be insignificant as time stressors. However, political factors such as level of government, goal awareness, political sensitivity, and time allotted for meetings were significant independent variables affecting time stress. To enhance performance in the public sector, especially when a merit pay system is not fully instituted, more attention needs to be paid to the time dimension.
Consistent care matters: exploring the potential of social work practices

Following the publication of the Care Matters Green Paper, the Social Care Practices Working Group was established by the DfES and tasked with taking forward the commitment in Care Matters to explore the feasibility of piloting social work practices. Care Matters proposed the creation of Social Work Practices (SWPs) that would benefit both looked-after children and social workers if the latter were organised along the lines of professional partnerships, mirroring similar arrangements for legal and medical partnerships. There are a number of different forms that SWPs could take, but the preferred model is that of the professional partnership: a group of six to ten partners, the majority of whom would be social workers. The partnership would contract with the local authority to provide field social work for looked after children, and would commission services that its own staff could not provide. It would own its assets and pay the partners and any staff that it might employ.
Investment and the behavioral theory of the firm: evidence from shipbuilding

Investment in production assets is a strategic decision that results from organizational search and risk taking. The behavioral theory of the firm predicts that performance below the aspiration level and slack resources initiate organizational search. Risk theory predicts that performance below the aspiration level increases risk tolerance. This paper integrates these theories to form a theory of problem- and slack-driven strategic change and applies it to the growth of production assets. The predictions are tested by analyzing the growth of production assets in the Japanese shipbuilding industry, yielding clear evidence that high performance causes low asset growth, but no effect of slack. Copyright 2003, Oxford University Press.
Some remarks on the central limit theorem for stationary Markov processes

The central limit theorem for additive functionals of stationary ergodic Markov processes is investigated via the method of martingale approximations. We give a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of martingale approximations for discrete and continuous time Markov processes in terms of the resolvent representation.This criterion is applied to certain classes of processes. Firstly we discuss processes with normal generator. Examples in this class are given by convolution semigroups on compact, commutative hypergroups and certain convolution semigroups on compact groups and compact homogeneous spaces. Furthermore we consider processes with transition operators which admit invariant orthogonal splittings of the space of square-integrable functions. For such processes several sufficient conditions for the existence of martingale approximations are improved. As examples we consider exact endomorphisms of compact Abelian groups, random walks on compact homogeneous spaces and compact group extensions.In dieser Arbeit wird der zentralen Grenzwertsatz fur stationare ergodische Markoffsche Prozesse mittels der Methode der Martingal Approximationen untersucht. Wir leiten eine notwendige und hinreichende Bedingung fur die Existenz von Martingal Approximationen fur Markoffsche Prozesse in diskreter und stetiger Zeit uber die Resolventendarstellung her.Dieses Kriterium wenden wir auf verschiedene Klassen von Prozessen an. Zunachst untersuchen wir Prozesse mit normalem Erzeuger. Beispiele in dieser Klasse sind Faltungshalbgruppen auf kompakten kommutativen Hypergruppen und einige Faltungshalbgruppen auf kompakten Gruppen und kompakten homogenen Raumen. Weiterhin betrachten wir Prozesse mit Ubergangsoperatoren, die invariante orthogonale Zerlegungen des Raumes der quadratintegrierbaren Funktionen besitzen. Fur solche Prozesse verbessern wir mehrere hinreichende Bedingungen fur die Existenz von Martingal Approximationen. Als Beispiele betrachten wir exakte Endomorphismen kompakter Abelscher Gruppen, Irrfahrten auf kompakten Gruppen und kompakte Gruppenerweiterungen.