Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC ASPECTS OF DIHYDROBIOPTERIN DEFICIENCY

ABSTRACT. The first Scandinavian hyperphenyialaninaemic patient with a cofactor deficiency is described. By neonatal screening the Guthrie test showed a serum phenylalanine of 302 μmol/I (5 mg/dl), which at age 6 weeks had fallen to high normal values. At age 5 months the serum phenylalanine was around 2000 μmol/l and the child presented with severe neurological symptoms. The diagnosis of defect dihydrobiopterin biosynthesis was made by high performance liquid chromatography of the urine. Loading tests followed by daily treatment of the missing cofactor was able to keep the serum phenylalanine in the normal level. Because of persisting, yet diminishing neurological symptoms neurotransmitter treatment was started. Breast feeding as the cause of the low neonatal levels of serum phenylalanine and the late start of clinical symptoms is proposed and the importance of screening all hyperphenylalaninaemic newborns for defect biopterin metabolism is stressed.
Multivariate phenotypic selection on a complex sexual signal

Animal signals are complex, comprising multiple components that receivers may use to inform their decisions. Components may carry information of differing value to receivers, and selection on one component could modulate or reverse selection on another, necessitating a multivariate approach to estimating selection gradients. However, surprisingly few empirical studies have estimated the strength of phenotypic selection on complex signals with appropriate design and adequate power to detect nonlinear selection. We used phonotaxis assays to measure sexual selection on the advertisement signal of Cope's gray tree frog, Hyla chrysoscelis. Female preferences were assessed for five signal components using single‐ and two‐stimulus behavioral assays. Linear, quadratic, and correlational selection gradients were estimated from the single‐stimulus data. Significant directional selection is acting on call duration, call rate, pulse rate, and relative amplitude; stabilizing selection is acting on call duration and call rate. Under the two‐stimulus paradigm, conclusions were qualitatively different, revealing nonlinear selection on all components except call duration. For individual subjects, the outcomes of single‐ and two‐stimulus trials were frequently discordant, suggesting that the choice of testing paradigm may affect conclusions drawn from experiments.
A Study of the Infant Nasal Microbiome Development over the First Year of Life and in Relation to Their Primary Adult Caregivers Using cpn60 Universal Target (UT) as a Phylogenetic Marker

Whereas the infant gut microbiome is the subject of intense study, relatively little is known regarding the nares microbiome in newborns and during early life. This study aimed to survey the typical composition and diversity of human anterior nare microflora for developing infants over time, and to explore how these correlate to their primary caregivers. Single nare swabs were collected at five time points over a one-year period for each subject from infant-caregiver pairs. Our study comprised of 50 infants (recruited at 2 weeks, post delivery) and their 50 primary caregivers. Applying the chaperonin-60 (cpn60) universal target (UT) amplicon as our molecular barcoding marker to census survey the microbial communities, we longitudinally surveyed infant nares microbiota at 5 time points over the course of the first year of life. The inter- and intra-subject diversity was catalogued and compared, both longitudinally and relative to their adult primary caregivers. Although within-subject variability over time and inter-subject variability were both observed, the assessment detected only one or two predominant genera for individual infant samples, belonging mainly to phyla Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria. Consistent with previously observed microbial population dynamics in other body sites, the diversity of nares microflora increased over the first year of life and infants showed differential operational taxonomic units (OTUs) relative to their matched primary caregiver. The collected evidence also support that both temporal and seasonal changes occur with respect to carriage of potentially pathogenic bacteria (PPBs), which may influence host predisposition to infection. This pilot study surveying paired infant/caregiver nare microbiomes provides novel longitudinal diversity information that is pertinent to better understanding nare microbiome development in infants.
Examining the reactive proactive questionnaire in adults in forensic and non‐forensic settings: A variable‐ and person‐based approach

The Reactive Proactive Questionnaire (RPQ) was originally developed to assess reactive and proactive aggressive behavior in children. Nevertheless, some studies have used the RPQ in adults. This study examines the reliability of the RPQ within an adult sample by investigating whether reactive and proactive aggression can be distinguished at a variable- and person-based level. Male adults from forensic samples (N = 237) and from the general population (N = 278) completed the RPQ questionnaire. Variable-based approaches, including factor analyses, were conducted to verify the two-factor model of the RPQ and to examine alternative factor solutions of the 23 items. Subsequently, a person-based approach, i.e., Latent Class Analysis (LCA), was executed to identify homogeneous classes of subjects with similar profiles of aggression in the observed data. The RPQ proved to have sufficient internal consistency. Multiple-factor models were examined, but the original two-factor model was statistically and theoretically considered as most solid and in line with previous research. The multi-level LCA identified three different classes of aggression severity (class 1 showed low aggressive behavior; class 2 subjects displayed modest aggression levels; and class 3 exhibited the highest level of aggressive behavior). In addition, class 1 and 2 showed more reactive than proactive aggression, whereas class 3 displayed comparable levels of reactive/proactive aggression. The RPQ appears to have clinical relevance for adult populations in the way that it can distinguish severity levels of aggression. Before the RPQ is implemented in adult populations, norm scores need to be developed. Aggr. Behav. 43:155-162, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy in the Hotel Industry: Evidence from the Balearic Islands

This paper attempts to identify some of the main factors affecting a hotel establishment's decision to adopt (or not), and to what extent, socially and environmentally responsible business practices. Salient among the results obtained is the fact that corporate social responsibility (CSR) is likely to be part of a hotel's product differentiation strategy; additionally, it is shown that productivity aspects such as scale economies, as well as the hotel's internal organization, also impact a hotel's CSR strategy. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mediator Preference of Two Different FAD-Dependent Glucose Dehydrogenases Employed in Disposable Enzyme Glucose Sensors

Most commercially available electrochemical enzyme sensor strips for the measurement of blood glucose use an artificial electron mediator to transfer electrons from the active side of the enzyme to the electrode. One mediator recently gaining attention for commercial sensor strips is hexaammineruthenium(III) chloride. In this study, we investigate and compare the preference of enzyme electrodes with two different FAD-dependent glucose dehydrogenases (FADGDHs) for the mediators hexaammineruthenium(III) chloride, potassium ferricyanide (the most common mediator in commercial sensor strips), and methoxy phenazine methosulfate (mPMS). One FADGDH is a monomeric fungal enzyme, and the other a hetero-trimeric bacterial enzyme. With the latter, which contains a heme-subunit facilitating the electron transfer, similar response currents are obtained with hexaammineruthenium(III), ferricyanide, and mPMS (6.8 µA, 7.5 µA, and 6.4 µA, respectively, for 10 mM glucose). With the fungal FADGDH, similar response currents are obtained with the negatively charged ferricyanide and the uncharged mPMS (5.9 µA and 6.7 µA, respectively, for 10 mM glucose), however, no response current is obtained with hexaammineruthenium(III), which has a strong positive charge. These results show that access of even very small mediators with strong charges to a buried active center can be almost completely blocked by the protein.
Psychological benefits for children and adolescents who have undergone transplantation of the heart from participation in the British Transplant Games

Abstract The British Transplant Games are held annually for children and adults who have received transplanted organs. The aim of our pilot study was to determine whether participation in such an event had an impact on psychological well-being. We asked 26 children participating in the Games to complete a specifically designed questionnaire before and after the event. The 13 questions covered areas such as state of mood, perceived physical health, fatigue, anxiety, and confidence. There were mean improvements over time on 10 of the 13 questions, and the change in overall score was significant (p = .036). For the majority of young people, participation in the Transplant Games was associated with a positive impact on psychological functioning in the short term. Further evaluation is now required to determine whether such benefits are maintained in the longer term.
Esophageal hyperalgesia in patients with ulcerative colitis: role of experimental stress

OBJECTIVES:Intestinal inflammation is associated with enteric nervous system alterations, at both inflamed and noninflamed sites. The perception of stimuli from the GI tract is enhanced during inflammatory conditions, but it is unknown whether visceral hypersensitivity is limited to the inflamed area or diffuse throughout the entire GI tract. Moreover, although stress can reactivate inflammatory processes in the gut, it is unknown if this can alter perception from the GI tract. Our aim was to determine if patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) have increased esophageal sensitivity to distention and whether this is modified by experimental stress.METHODS:Ten UC patients and 12 healthy volunteers (HVs) underwent gradual balloon distension of the esophagus to assess their visceral sensitivity. Perceptive and pain thresholds were evaluated in basal conditions and after induction of experimental stress (cold water pressure test) while blood pressure and heart rate were monitored.RESULTS:Patients with UC had perceptive thresholds to distension similar to HVs (14.8 ± 2.0 ml of air vs 14.5 ± 3.0 ml); in contrast, the volume increment needed to evoke pain was significantly lower in UC patients than in HVs (58.9% vs 149.9%, p < 0.05). Physical stress caused a similar decrease in perceptive thresholds in HVs (−29.1 ± 8.4%) and patients (−17.7 ± 9.1%), but pain thresholds were significantly decreased only in HVs (−28.3 ± 7.1% vs− 11.5 ± 12.3%). CONCLUSIONS:UC is characterized by increased esophageal sensitivity, indicating the existence of diffuse hyperalgesia during intestinal inflammatory processes. This increased sensitivity may account for the frequent upper GI symptoms these patients complain of when in clinical remission.
Complete Complementary Sequences of Different Length

The class of complete complementary sequences (of fixed length) have the ideal correlation properties and are good at increasing the channel usage efficiency but lacks in desirable sequence lengths. In spread spectrum communication systems, sequences having nice correlation properties are important in many ways such as in suppressing multi-user interference, for reliable initial synchronization and in separation of the multipath components. It would be even good if the sequences are easy to construct and have desirable lengths for the system under consideration. In this paper, M sets of sequences that constitute a complete complementary sequences with ith set containing N sequences of length Li each, i = 0, 1, ₀, M-1, is defined and a general method that constructs such a class of complete complementary sequences (of different lengths) is given. The proposed class of complete complementary sequences, constituted by sequence sets of different lengths, does not increase the data rates when short-length sequences are employed.
Pigeon Louse Fly, Pseudolynchia canariensis (Diptera: Hippoboscidae), Collected By Dry-Ice Trap

Abstract During a mosquito collection, a female of the pigeon louse fly, Pseudolynchia canariensis (Diptera: Hippoboscidae), was collected by a mosquito trap baited with dry ice in Ishigaki-jima, Yaeyama Islands, Japan. This is the 1st record of P. canariensis from Yaeyama Islands.
DEMAND SIDE CONSTRAINTS TO SME ACCESS TO EXTERNAL FINANCE: EVIDENCE FROM SURVEY OF MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are financially constrained due to de-mand side and supply side factors. Most studies emphasize on the supply side con -straints, paying less attention to the demand side constraints that arise from SME inherent characteristics. This paper aims at describing characteristics of SMEs and identifying attributes that hinder their access to external finance. To this end, sur-vey of 102 randomly selected firms from the Ethiopian manufacturing sector was conducted. We find that most SMEs are characterized by having a few or no colla-teralizeable fixed assets. Examination of owner’s willingness to admit a new par-tner as a means of expanding capital base revealed that most SME owners exhibit aversion towards selling ownership control. This shows that, contrary to conventi-onal view, aversion towards relinquishing ownership interest increases with size. In terms of financial transparency, we found that most small firms are not accusto-med to keeping books of accounts. In general, we found that firm characteristics and owner perceptions are partly responsible for SMEs limited access to external finance.
Doing business in China: is the importance of guanxi diminishing?

Purpose – Guanxi has been well documented as being an essential part of doing business in China. Yet, as China continues with market liberalisation, there are indications that its strategic importance is set to decline. From a joint venture perspective, this study seeks to examine the strategic importance of guanxi when doing business in China.Design/methodology/approach – First, the researchers reviewed articles on guanxi and established that although guanxi is still widely considered important, some experts are arguing that this importance is diminishing. Second, qualitative research was used to create a holistic picture of the importance attached to guanxi in UK‐Chinese joint ventures. This involved 25 semi‐structured interviews with those involved in establishing or managing such a joint venture.Findings – Although guanxi remains important when doing business in China, a number of factors indicate that this importance may begin to decline. These include China's market liberalisation, outward investmen.
Integration is required for productive infection of monocyte-derived macrophages by human immunodeficiency virus type 1

Certain human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) isolates are able to productively infect nondividing cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage. We have used a molecular genetic approach to construct two different HIV-1 integrase mutants that were studied in the context of an infectious, macrophage-tropic HIV-1 molecular clone. One mutant, HIV-1 delta D(35)E, containing a 37-residue deletion within the central, catalytic domain of integrase, was noninfectious in both peripheral blood mononuclear cells and monocyte-derived macrophages. The HIV-1 delta D(35)E mutant, however, exhibited defects in the assembly and/or release of progeny virions in transient transfection assays, as well as defects in entry and/or viral DNA synthesis during the early stages of monocyte-derived macrophage infection. The second mutant, HIV-1D116N/8, containing a single Asp-to-Asn substitution at the invariant Asp-116 residue of integrase, was also noninfectious in both peripheral blood mononuclear cells and monocyte-derived macrophages but, in contrast to HIV-1 delta D(35)E, was indistinguishable from wild-type virus in reverse transcriptase production. PCR analysis indicated that HIV-1D116N/8 entered monocyte-derived macrophages efficiently and reverse transcribed its RNA but was unable to complete its replication cycle because of a presumed block to integration. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that integration is an obligate step in productive HIV-1 infection of activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and primary human macrophage cultures.
Grid voltages sensorless control system of the PWM rectifier with active filtering function

The paper presents structure and experimental results of control system of the PWM rectifier with active filtering function. Proposed control system was designed for maximum filtering performance in steady state. This task is realized by predictive algorithms applied for both control as well as calculation of grid currents. Accuracy of these algorithms strongly depends on precise information about future samples of equivalent electromotive force of the grid, which is in general distorted and unbalanced. For this purpose, a novel estimator and predictor is proposed. The control of DC voltage is realized with application of variable gain PI controller. It ensures high dynamics in transient states and low gain for steady state oscillations of DC voltage. Proposed control system is AC voltages sensorless and has excellent active filtering performance, even at presence of grid voltage distortions. power quality, PWM rectifier, active filter, predictive control
Job Matching and On-the-Job Training

Conventional analysis predicts that workers pay part of their on-the-job training costs by accepting a lower starting wage and subsequently realize a return to this investment in the form of greater wage growth. Missing from the conventional treatment of on-the-job training is a discussion of the process by which heterogeneous workers are matched to jobs requiring varying amounts of training. This matching process constitutes a key feature of the on-the-job training model presented in this article and tested with a unique data set containing extensive information concerning on-the-job training, employer search, wages, and wage and productivity growth.
Are public–private partnerships (PPPs) the answer to Africa's infrastructure needs?

There is a large and growing infrastructure gap in Africa which has, inevitably, led to the exploration of alternative ways of financing infrastructural development. Public– private partnerships (PPPs) have been proposed as a possible major solution. Multilateral bodies within Africa, such as the African Union (AU), the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have all endorsed their use, prompted by financial and technical support from the World Bank, the OCED (2012), and by endorsement, albeit a cautious one, by the IMF (IMF, 2004). This paper explores the nature of PPPs, the extent of their use and their location by sector in Africa. It also examines the arguments advanced for the promotion of PPPs and looks critically at them. It concludes that great caution should be exercised in the use of PPPs.
Treatment issues in poststroke depression

Depression is perhaps the most frequent emotional disorder to occur after a stroke. These depressions may be either major or minor in type and usually remit within the first year after the stroke. In addition to emotional suffering, poststroke depression has been associated with inhibited physical recovery, impaired cognitive functioning, and increased mortality. Determining whether these consequences of stroke may be improved by treatment of depression constitutes both a major challenge and an enormous opportunity for new approaches to poststroke pharmacotherapy. Previous controlled and uncontrolled treatment trials have provided partial support for the hypothesis that mood, cognitive, physical, and survival consequences of poststroke depression may be improved by antidepressant therapy. Depression and Anxiety, Volume 8, Supplement 1:85–90, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc
Discriminatory practices in hiring: institutional and rational economic perspectives

A number of research studies have analysed the causes, conditions and consequences of discrimination. Most of these have focused on either gender or racial discrimination. Studies of discrimination on other grounds, including disability, have been relatively less common. This study attempts to theoretically and empirically explore the nature of discrimination against disabled job applicants from the rational economic, as well as institutional theory, perspectives. The rational economic perspective emphasizes individual self-interest, conscious decision-making, and economic optimization. Institutional theory focuses on organizational actions taken to gain legitimacy rather than for monetary or utility optimization. Legitimacy is important to secure stakeholders' trust and recognition, and translates into favourable outcomes, such as resource support, customer loyalty, and ease in attracting qualified personnel. We test these two theories, using data drawn from 227 New Zealand organizations, which collectively employ approximately 10 per cent of that country's workforce. The evidence suggests that both theories to some extent predict discrimination based on disability. Employer behaviour reflects both rational concerns for cost minimization and institutional concerns for perceived legitimacy in the eyes of key stakeholders. The strength of each concern appears to vary with each employer's circumstances.
Closing the Gender Gap: Act Now

Caroline Alcorso is an experienced Researcher and Expert on women’s issues, and a Social Policy Practitioner in women’s health, women in the workforce, and immigrant and refugee women, who has worked for state and national governments. Currently working for the New South Wales (NSW) government, she has published on immigrant workers in the hotel and information technology industries, non-English-speaking background women’s health, and a range of industrial and employment issues. She is also an expert on workforce development policy and practice. This article is written in a private capacity.
Migration remittances and agricultural productivity in China.

In our paper we have used the New Economics of Labor Migration framework to trace the complex linkages that exist among migration remittances and agricultural productivity [in China]. Constraints in the operation of on-farm labor and capital or insurance markets (or institutions) provide households with a motivation to migrate and distort on-farm operations when labor leaves. In our household sample the net impact of migration and remittances on maize production is negative. (EXCERPT)