Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Productivity costs among patients with rheumatoid arthritis: the influence of methods and sources to value loss of productivity

Objective: To assess productivity costs incurred by rheumatoid arthritis, comprising paid as well as household productivity costs, from a societal perspective, using different methods. Methods: A questionnaire on productivity, including items of the Health and Labour Questionnaire, was completed by 576 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (mean disease duration seven years). The friction cost (FC) method using the gross national wage per hour was applied to estimate paid productivity, and the market equivalent was used to value loss of household productivity. Sensitivity analyses to estimate paid productivity costs among patients of working age included the human capital (HC) method and an alternative source, namely the “added value”, to value loss of paid productivity. Results: In the total study population, mean (SD) annual costs from loss of paid productivity according to the FC method were estimated to be €278 (€1559) and mean annual household productivity costs were €2045 (€3882). When using the HC method, mean annual costs increased to an average of €4434 (€9957). When using the added value of production, average FC costs increased from €455 to €540 among patients of working age. Conclusions: Costs from loss of household productivity in rheumatoid arthritis were seven times higher than costs from loss of paid productivity, assessed by the FC method. The high paid productivity costs when using the HC method reflect the high work disability rate in rheumatoid arthritis. As the method of measuring and source of valuing productivity loss has an important influence on the costs, a consensus to standardise these issues is desirable.
Pathway-Based Evaluation in Early Onset Colorectal Cancer Suggests Focal Adhesion and Immunosuppression along with Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has one of the highest incidences among all cancers. The majority of CRCs are sporadic cancers that occur in individuals without family histories of CRC or inherited mutations. Unfortunately, whole-genome expression studies of sporadic CRCs are limited. A recent study used microarray techniques to identify a predictor gene set indicative of susceptibility to early-onset CRC. However, the molecular mechanisms of the predictor gene set were not fully investigated in the previous study. To understand the functional roles of the predictor gene set, in the present study we applied a subpathway-based statistical model to the microarray data from the previous study and identified mechanisms that are reasonably associated with the predictor gene set. Interestingly, significant subpathways belonging to 2 KEGG pathways (focal adhesion; natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity) were found to be involved in the early-onset CRC patients. We also showed that the 2 pathways were functionally involved in the predictor gene set using a text-mining technique. Entry of a single member of the predictor gene set triggered a focal adhesion pathway, which confers anti-apoptosis in the early-onset CRC patients. Furthermore, intensive inspection of the predictor gene set in terms of the 2 pathways suggested that some entries of the predictor gene set were implicated in immunosuppression along with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the early-onset CRC patients. In addition, we compared our subpathway-based statistical model with a gene set-based statistical model, MIT Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Our method showed better performance than GSEA in the sense that our method was more consistent with a well-known cancer-related pathway set. Thus, the biological suggestion generated by our subpathway-based approach seems quite reasonable and warrants a further experimental study on early-onset CRC in terms of dedifferentiation or differentiation, which is underscored in EMT and immunosuppression.
Sport psychology in emerging countries: An introduction

The International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology is actively seeking to expand understandings about the research practices and projects from countries lesser known among English-speaking scholars. Within this introduction, the authors explore the possible barriers encountered by non-English-speaking sport psychology scholars residing in countries where submissions are sparse to Anglophone journals. Afterward, the authors introduce five accepted publications from Jordan, Botswana, Tanzania, South Africa, and Brazil. These submissions are the journal's inaugural special section devoted to research and scholars from “emerging countries”.
Pertussis-like syndrome associated with adenovirus presenting with hyperleukocytosis: Case report

Adenovirus is an infectious viral agent that causes variety of clinical presentations such as respiratory disease, conjunctivitis, and gastroenteritis. Hepatitis, pancreatitis, myocarditis, encephalitis, and disseminated infection are primarily seen in immunocompromised patients. Rarely, adenovirus infection can present with pertussis-like syndrome. Described here is case of pertussis-like syndrome associated with adenovirus presenting with hyperleukocytosis.
Characterization of double-stranded RNA satellites associated with the Trichomonas vaginalis virus

Three small and distinct satellite double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) denoted s1, s1', and s2 were recently described for a Trichomonas vaginalis isolate harboring a dsRNA virus. Since characterization of these satellite dsRNAs might provide insight into the virus replication cycle and virus-host interactions, full-length cDNAs to s1 and s1' dsRNAs were synthesized and sequenced. s1 dsRNA has 688 bp, and s1' dsRNA has 616 bp. A 228-bp open reading frame that begins at nucleotide 37 was detected on a putative sense strand of s1. All satellite RNAs were found associated with RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDRP) activity that banded on CsCl gradients. Within carrier trichomonads, satellite RNAs synthesized single-stranded replicative intermediates. An in vitro assay was established to assess replication of satellite RNAs. Transcripts generated from s1 cDNA, for example, served as a template for the viral RDRP. These templates had a polarity similar to that of the replicative intermediate found in the satellite-harboring parasites. Importantly, the recognition of s1 RNA was shown to be specific, since unrelated RNAs did not serve as templates for RDRP under the same experimental conditions. The data indicate that the cDNA of s1 has a specific and essential sequence needed for recognition by the viral RDRP and for subsequent RNA synthesis. Both s1 and s1' have conserved domains, albeit of unproven function, but which may be required for replication.
Comparison of the Hepatoprotective Effects of Four Endemic Cirsium Species Extracts from Taiwan on CCl4-Induced Acute Liver Damage in C57BL/6 Mice

Species of Cirsium (Asteraceae family) have been used in folk hepatoprotective medicine in Taiwan. We collected four Cirsium species—including the aerial part of Cirsium arisanense (CAH), the aerial part of Cirsium kawakamii (CKH), the flower part of Cirsium japonicum DC. var. australe (CJF), and Cirsii Herba (CH)—and then made extractions from them with 70% methanol. We compared the antioxidant contents and activities of these four Cirsium species extracts by a spectrophotometric method and high-performance liquid chromatography–photodiode array detector (HPLC-DAD). We further evaluated the hepatoprotective effects of these extracts on CCl4-induced acute liver damage in C57BL/6 mice. The present study found CAH possesses the highest antioxidant activity among the four Cirsium species, and these antioxidant activities are closely related to phenylpropanoid glycoside (PPG) contents. The extracts decreased serum ALT and AST levels elevated by injection with 0.2% CCl4. However, only CJF and CH decreased hepatic necrosis. Silibinin decreased serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels and hepatic necrosis caused by CCl4. CJF and CH restored the activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes and decreased hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. CJF further restored the expression of hepatic antioxidant enzymes including Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD), Mn-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) proteins. HPLC chromatogram indicated that CKH, CJF, and CH contained silibinin diastereomers (α and β). Only CJF contained diosmetin. Hence, the hepatoprotective mechanism of CJF against CCl4-induced acute liver damage might be involved in restoring the activities and protein expression of the hepatic antioxidant defense system and inhibiting hepatic inflammation, and these hepatoprotective effects are related to the contents of silibinin diastereomers and diosmetin.
The regulation of NADPH oxidase and its association with cell proliferation in human lens epithelial cells.

PURPOSE NADPH oxidase (NOX)-generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) are essential for growth factor-stimulated cell proliferation. In this study, the regulatory role of p22phox, a membrane subunit of NOX, in NOX activity and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) mitogenic signaling were examined. METHODS Human lens epithelial B3 (HLE B3) cell lines with p22phox overexpressed (p22-OE) and p22phox knockdown (p22-KD) were used as models. Cells stimulated with PDGF were compared with nonstimulated control cells. The relative NOX activity and intracellular ROS generation were detected by lucigenin-based assay and DCFH fluorescence, respectively. Cell proliferation was measured by BrdU and fluorescent nucleic acid staining assays. p22phox, P-JNK, P-ERK1/2, P-Akt, P-p38, p47phox, and P-PDGF receptor in cell lysates were detected by Western blot analysis with the respective specific antibodies. RESULTS p22-OE showed higher NOX activity, PDGF-stimulated ROS generation, cell proliferation, and activation of signaling cascades of ERK1/2, JNK, and Akt over the control (vector alone). In contrast, p22-KD displayed opposite results. In addition, PDGF stimulated p47phox and Rac1 translocations and induced binding between p22phox and the cytosolic subunits of p47phox, p67phox, and p40phox. Overexpression of p22phox increased p22phox-p47phox binding, enhanced, and prolonged the phosphorylation of PDGF receptor at Tyr857 with a corresponding inhibition of the activity of the oxidation-sensitive low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase (LMW-PTP). However, p22phox knockdown weakened p22phox-p47phox binding and largely diminished the activation of PDGF receptor with no inhibition of LMW-PTP. CONCLUSIONS PDGF mitogenic action in HLE B3 cells depends on p22phox to regulate NOX activity, which affects PDGF receptor function for cell proliferation.
Tough Private Lenders Competing Against Soft State Banks

In many economies, small and medium-sized firms have no direct access to the financial markets but depend on bank loans. In the market for bank loans, competition is often distorted by state banks enjoying lower funding costs than private banks due to a state guarantee on their liabilities. In this paper, we argue that if the state bank’s guarantee is tied to an obligation to renegotiate loans of firms in financial distress, i.e., the state bank is a ’soft’ lender, a private bank can induce firms to separate by self-selection through committing itself to a policy of tough liquidation. This reduces information asymmetries in the market and allows the private bank to lend to high-quality firms at favorable rates. As the result, the borrower pool of the bank improves and it obtains profits in equilibrium. JEL Classifications: G33, G21
Virtual Students' Perceptions of e-Learning in Iran.

With the emergence of the Internet, e-learning has increasingly become the promising solution that continues to grow day after day. Considering students’ perception toward e-learning is important in successful development of e-learning in higher education, since attitude of user towards application of information technology is one of the most effective factors. This paper examines perception of virtual students’ attitudes towards e-learning in Iran. A descriptive–correlation survey approach was used in this study. Students (n = 110) filled in a web-based closed questions questionnaire. Reliability and validity of instrument were determined by investigating the attitudes of e-learning specialists in Tehran University and application of Cronbach’s Alpha (α=0.88.) Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data using SPSS Win13. Questionnaires received were analyzed, putting the students' perceptions in relation to gender, age, knowledge of computers and attitudes to advantages and disadvantages of e-learning. Results showed that students have positive perception to elearning. Liner regression analysis indicated that 68% of variation in virtual students' perceptions of e-learning was determined by the four variables of: Students’ assessment about competency of e-learning, access to internet, computer and internet usage and assessment of current higher education system’s shortcomings.
Convergent Net Weighting Schemes in Hypergraph-based Optimization ∗

Approaches for solving the timing-driven placement problem have traditionally been either net-based or path-based; see, e.g., [7] for an overview. Net weighting methods, which fall in the latter category, have been a popular tool in analytical placers [16, 8, 9] for handling timing-driven placement. They enjoy a number of advantages, including very low computational complexity, high flexibility, and ease of implementation – weighting algorithms can be implemented within the framework of an existing placement tool by a simple modification of the objective function. However, net weighting methods suffer the disadvantage that they are largely ad-hoc; to date there has been very little theoretical justification for their use [10]. As a result, a number of very different weighting schemes have been proposed, of which some have been shown to be effective in reducing delay. Our goal is to distill the essential properties of a robust and effective net weighting method.
COMPUTATIONAL METAPHOR IDENTIFICATION : A METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING CONCEPTUAL METAPHORS IN WRITTEN TEXT

While much research has pursued the development of computational models of metaphorical and analogical reasoning in controlled contexts, less work has been conducted on model capturing less structured, everyday relational reasoning. This paper describes computational metaphor identification (CMI), which uses computational linguistic techniques to identify patterns in written text indicative of potential conceptual metaphors. The paper presents an overview of CMI, followed by sample results from two different corpora: middle school students' science writing and political blogs from during the 2008 US election. These results demonstrate CMI's capacity to identify linguistic patterns potentially indicative of deep conceptual metaphors that could subtly yet powerfully influence reasoning.
Depression in Later Life

Background Depression in later life is often thought to differ from that at other times of adulthood. The evidence for this is controversial but is important to any proposed organic model of depression in the elderly. Here, early- and late-onset depressions in later life are compared. Method Fifty-seven depressed patients with a mean age of 74 were studied, 21 with an early onset (aged 59 or less) and 36 with a late onset. All were suffering from major depression according to DSM–III–R. The measures at entry included severity and symptoms, cognitive function, antecedent life events, physical health and vascular risk factors and/or vascular disease. We also recorded any family history of mood disorders, as well as the course of illness. Results The anxiety item scores of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale were significantly higher in those with an early onset, but otherwise symptoms differed little. Heritability was greater in the early-onset group. There was a striking association of vascular disease and/or risk with late-onset patients. Conclusions Vascular disease is associated with late-onset depression. This is consistent with the hypothesis that depression in later life is a more ‘biological’ disorder.
Bringing risk prevention into the bedroom : sex motives and risky behaviors in men who have sex with men

ii TABLE OF CONTENTS iv LIST OF TABLES vi LIST OF FIGURES vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS viii DEDICATION ix INTRODUCTION 1 Trends in HIV Disease in Men who Have Sex with Men 4 Cognitive Models of HIV Prevention 6 Motivation and Sex 7 Seeking intimacy and sexual risk taking. 11 Pleasure seeking and sexual risk taking. 12 Having sex to cope with a negative mood and sexual risk taking. 15 Self-affirmation and sexual risk taking. 16 Partner approval and sexual risk taking. 17 Event-Level Recording and Sex Motives 18 The Current Study 19 METHOD 29 Procedures 29 Participants 31 Telephone Interview Measures 32 Daily Recording Measures 34 RESULTS 39 Adherence to Protocol 39 Descriptive Data and Preliminary Analyses 39 Descriptive data and preliminary analyses of the sexual episodes 39 Descriptive data and preliminary analyses for covariate in study 41 Descriptive data and preliminary analyses for variables of interest in study 41 Multilevel Logistic Regression Analyses 44 Primary analyses. 50 Research question 1: Do sexual motives predict condom use for anal intercourse during sexual encounters for single MSM? 51 Research question 2: Are there differing associations between sex motives and condom use as a function of partner type? 54 Research question 3: Are there differing relationships between sex motives and condom use as a function of HIV serostatus? 58
Uniqueness and regularity of scaling proﬁles for Smoluchowski’s coagulation equation

We consider Smoluchowski’s equation with a homogeneous kernel of the form a ( x, y ) = x α y β + y β x α with − 1 < α ≤ β ≤ 1 and λ := α + β ∈ [0 , 1). We ﬁrst show that self-similar solutions of this equation are inﬁnitely diﬀerentiable and prove sharp results on the behavior of self-similar proﬁles at y = 0 in the case α < 0. We also give some partial uniqueness results for self-similar proﬁles: in the case α = 0 we prove that two proﬁles with the same mass and moment of order λ are necessarily equal, while in the case α < 0 we prove that two proﬁles with the same moments of order α and β , and which are asymptotic at y = 0, are equal. Our methods include a new representation of the coagulation operator, and estimates of its regularity using derivatives of fractional order.
Automatic acoustic siren detection in traffic noise by part-based models

State-of-the-art classifiers like hidden Markov models (HMMs) in combination with mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs) are flexible in time but rigid in the spectral dimension. In contrast, part-based models (PBMs) originally proposed in computer vision consist of parts in a fully deformable configuration. The present contribution proposes to employ PBMs in the spectro-temporal domain for detection of emergency siren sounds in traffic noise,standard generative training resulting in a classifier that is robust to shifts in frequency induced, e.g., by Doppler-shift effects. Two improvements over standard machine learning techniques for PBM estimation are proposed: (i) Spectro-temporal part (“appearance”) extraction is initialized by interest point detection instead of random initialization and (ii) a discriminative training approach in addition to standard generative training is implemented. Evaluation with self-recorded police sirens and traffic noise gathered on-line demonstrates that PBMs are successful in acoustic siren detection. One hand-labeled and two machine learned PBMs are compared to standard HMMs employing mel-spectrograms and MFCCs in clean and multi condition (multiple SNR) training settings. Results show that in clean condition training, hand-labeled PBMs and HMMs outperform machine-learned PBMs already for test data with moderate additive noise. In multi condition training, the machine learned PBMs outperform HMMs on most SNRs, achieving high accuracies and being nearly optimal up to 5 dB SNR. Thus, our simulation results show that PBMs are a promising approach for acoustic event detection (AED).
The Open University ’ s repository of research publications and other research outputs Non-compliance , board structures and the performance of financial firms during crisis : UK Evidence Conference Item

Copyright and Moral Rights for the articles on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. For more information on Open Research Online's data policy on reuse of materials please consult the policies page. Abstract This paper examines the effectiveness of internal corporate governance mechanisms for improving the performance of financial firms in the UK. The research is first of its kind to look into the relationship between corporate governance and performance of financial firms in the UK before and during the financial crisis. Using Generalised Methods of Moments (GMM) estimates that control for dynamic endogeneity, this study shows that firm performance as measured by Total Shareholder Returns (TSR) and Return on Equity (ROE) is negatively associated with the level of non-compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code. The study also finds that having higher number of internal controls is most effective monitoring mechanism and is positively associated with firm performance. However, board independence represented by the number of non-executive directs (NEDs) is the least effective monitoring mechanism and is negatively associated with the performance of firms. The study also shows that directors' share ownership is an effective incentive mechanism for aligning their interests with shareholders as it is positively associated with firm performance. However, the findings suggest that remuneration is negatively associated with performance. Finally, the study provides evidence which indicates that board size impact the performance of firms differently in different time periods. As proposed by agency theory the study provides evidence that shows the positive impact of effective monitoring and incentive alignment for performance. It also provides support for the resource dependence view that directors are a critical resource during difficult economic times.
On Rayleigh Optical Depth Calculations

Abstract Many different techniques are used for the calculation of Rayleigh optical depth in the atmosphere. In some cases differences among these techniques can be important, especially in the UV region of the spectrum and under clean atmospheric conditions. The authors recommend that the calculation of Rayleigh optical depth be approached by going back to the first principles of Rayleigh scattering theory rather than the variety of curve-fitting techniques currently in use. A survey of the literature was conducted in order to determine the latest values of the physical constants necessary and to review the methods available for the calculation of Rayleigh optical depth. The recommended approach requires the accurate calculation of the refractive index of air based on the latest published measurements. Calculations estimating Rayleigh optical depth should be done as accurately as possible because the inaccuracies that arise can equal or even exceed other quantities being estimated, such as aerosol optica.