Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effects of National Cultural Traits on BOP Consumer Behavior

Scholars who aim to solve problems with poverty and a lack of resources often focus on bottom of pyramid (BOP) consumer groups. They propose that the traditional TOP (top of pyramid) business strategies are not suitable for BOP populations, and that it is crucial to determine and satisfy BOP consumption demands. The purpose of this study is to find out which factors influence BOP consumption, and to explore BOP integrated products. The concepts of “national cultural traits” and sustainable product design are also used. The findings will help enterprises learn how to make profits in BOP markets (addressing economic goals), while helping the poor get out of poverty (addressing social goals). Two different areas concerning BOP consumers are used to illustrate the results.
Energy dominance and the Hawking-Ellis vacuum conservation theorem

At a time when uninhibited speculation about negative tension -- and by implication negative mass density -- world branes has become commonplace, it seems worthwhile to call attention to the risk involved in sacrificing traditional energy positivity postulates such as are required for the classical vacuum stability theorem of Hawking and Ellis. As well as recapitulating the technical content of this reassuring (when applicable) theorem, the present article provides a new, rather more economical proof.
Distributed Function Computation Over a Rooted Directed Tree

This paper establishes the capacity region for a class of source coding function computation setups, where sources of information are available at the nodes of a tree and where a function of these sources must be computed at its root. The capacity region holds for any function as long as the sources' joint distribution satisfies a certain Markov criterion. This criterion is met, in particular, when the sources are independent. This result recovers the capacity regions of several function computation setups. These include the point-to-point communication setting with arbitrary sources, the noiseless multiple access network with conditionally independent sources, and the cascade network with Markovian sources.
In vitro antigen challenge of human antibody libraries for vaccine evaluation: the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope

Human antibody responses, or versions thereof, can be cloned as phage display libraries. In vaccine evaluation, the possibility therefore exists of challenging the human response in vitro, rather than in vivo, in order to assist in establishing the most promising vaccine leads. The characteristics of the antibodies retrieved directly indicate the strengths and weaknesses of the vaccine at the molecular level. We applied this approach to compare recombinant and native human immunodeficiency virus type 1 envelope preparations. We conclude that recombinant gp160, gp140, and, to a lesser extent, gp120 present epitopes around the CD4 binding site in a conformation different from that of the native multimer and contrary to expected vaccine requirements. Antibodies to the potently neutralizing b12 epitope were selected preferentially from an immune library by purified human immunodeficiency virus type 1 virions. This suggests that b12 is a major epitope on the virions, in contrast to recombinant envelope preparations, in which related, weakly neutralizing epitopes predominate. Although the majority of virions in the preparation used are expected to be noninfective, it appears that they predominantly express a native envelope configuration and would be able to elicit potent neutralizing antibodies.
Europeanization and the retreat of the state

Is the state on the retreat? We examine this question through an analysis of changing patterns of government involvement in infrastructure provision, which is generally considered to be one of the main functions of the modern state. Based on an analysis of the extent of privatization of infrastructure companies between 1970 and 2000 across 20 OECD countries, we find that there is indeed a general trend towards less public infrastructure provision visible in all of the countries and that the main factors associated with the extent of privatizations are EU membership and government ideology. Overall, the results of the study are consistent with the view that the trend of privatizing infrastructure companies was triggered by a change of the prominent economic discourse in the 1970s and that a rightist party ideology and EU membership fostered the adoption and implementation of these ideas in domestic settings.
Forming-limit prediction of perforated aluminium sheets with square holes

The forming-limit strains of perforated aluminium alloy (AA5052-O) sheets with square holes were theoretically and experimentally estimated for two types of hole arrangements: square and triangular patterns. The theoretical forming-limit curves were obtained by finite-element analyses on a unit module of the perforated sheets using two different approaches: the phenomenological theory and crystal plasticity theory. Hill’s quadratic anisotropic and von Mises yield functions were used for the phenomenological analysis, and the one-element-per-grain model was adopted for the crystal plasticity analysis. To determine the forming limits, two different types of plastic instability criteria were applied. The experimental forming-limit strains were also obtained through a Nakazima stretching test. The theoretical predictability of the forming-limit curves was assessed by comparing the theoretical and experimental results. The comparison demonstrated that (1) the plastic instability criterion based on the external force power predicted qualitatively the same forming-limit curves as the criterion based on the equivalent plastic strain of the ligament for both hole arrangement patterns and (2) although the shapes of the predicted forming-limit curves were in reasonable agreement with the experimental results, the level of the predicted limit strains was considerably higher than that of the experimental limit strains. Thus, it was found that neither of the plastic instability criteria previously proposed for perforated sheets is appropriate to characterise the formability of perforated aluminium sheets with square holes.
Young Children s Food Neophobia Characteristics and Sensory Behaviors Are Related to Their Food Intake 1 , 2

Background: Food neophobia in children has been associated with poor dietary variety and nutrient intakes. Underlying characteristics that may predispose a child to neophobia have not been widely studied. Objective:We investigated the associations between children s food neophobia, sensory sensitivity, and dietary intake in a diverse sample of typically developing preschoolers. Methods: Caregiver reports of children s food neophobia and sensory behaviors (SBs) as measured by the Food Neophobia Scale and the Sensory Profile, children s observed weight outcome [body mass index z score (BMIz)], and children s food intake as estimated from the Block Kids Food Screener were collected at baseline in the Colorado LEAP (Longitudinal Eating and Physical Activity Study) study of childhood obesity. Preschool-aged children (n= 249; 136 girls, 113 boys; aged 55.66 4.7mo; BMIz = 0.546 1.14) and caregivers [n = 180; 57 Hispanic, 119 non–Hispanic white (NHW), 4 unknown] participated. Data were analyzed by Pearson correlations and multivariate hierarchical linear regression analyses. Results: Lower scores for children s oral sensory characteristics (i.e., more atypical) were related to higher neophobia ratings (r = 20.53, P < 0.001), and neophobia was negatively associated with reported vegetable intake (r = 20.31, P = 0.001) and dietary variety (r = 20.22, P < 0.001). Hispanic caregivers reported more atypical child SB scores (46.2 6 8.8) than did NHW caregivers (50.5 6 7.6; P = 0.006); however, no differences were noted for neophobia and SB scores by parent income and education or child sex. Neophobia was negatively associated with vegetable intake and dietary variety (P < 0.001 for both). SBs were associated with children s energy intake from sugar-sweetened beverages in bivariate analyses (r = 20.18, P < 0.05); however, in regression models, only ethnicity was significantly associated with energy from sugar-sweetened beverages (P < 0.001). Hispanic ethnicity was positively associated with sugar-sweetened beverage consumption (P < 0.001). Conclusions:Children s neophobia and sensory sensitivity may be important in understanding underlying issues related to limited food acceptance in typically developing young children and for helping caregivers facilitate healthy dietary intake patterns for their children. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01937481. J Nutr 2015;145:2610–6.
A Case with Unexplained Bleeding from Multiple Sites: Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy

Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MBP) is an extreme form of child abuse where children were unnecessarily treated or investigated for medical conditions that were falsified by their caregivers. Here the authors report a 16-year-old female with the complaints of bleeding from multiple and unusual sites, including hemoptysis, hematuria, bloody tears, and bloody nipple discharge, all of which are only witnessed by her mother. Extensive investigation revealed no organic etiologies for bleeding. The diagnosis of MBP was put by a multidisciplinary team. The diagnosis of MBP must be kept in mind in conditions where there is no underlying organic pathology in a bleeding patient.
Genetically Encoded Voltage Indicators in Circulation Research

Membrane potentials display the cellular status of non-excitable cells and mediate communication between excitable cells via action potentials. The use of genetically encoded biosensors employing fluorescent proteins allows a non-invasive biocompatible way to read out the membrane potential in cardiac myocytes and other cells of the circulation system. Although the approaches to design such biosensors date back to the time when the first fluorescent-protein based Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) sensors were constructed, it took 15 years before reliable sensors became readily available. Here, we review different developments of genetically encoded membrane potential sensors. Furthermore, it is shown how such sensors can be used in pharmacological screening applications as well as in circulation related basic biomedical research. Potentials and limitations will be discussed and perspectives of possible future developments will be provided.
Feasibility study of active screen plasma nitriding of titanium alloy

Abstract A feasibility study of active screen plasma nitriding (ASPN) of Ti6Al4V titanium alloy was conducted using a CP-Ti cage as the active screen under various process conditions. The process variables included active screen setup parameters (two different potentials of 0%-bias and 100%-bias), treatment temperature (750 and 850°C), gas mixture (10/90, 25/75, 50/50 and 100/0 of N2/H2) and treatment time (10 h) under 1·5 mbar pressure. The samples were characterised by X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, microhardness and surface roughness tests. The experimental results have demonstrated that Ti–6Al–4V alloy can be treated by ASPN using a Ti screen. A Ti nitride compound layer consisting of TiN followed by Ti2N was formed on top of the surface and an Al rich layer was formed between the Ti nitride layer and the α-Ti case. The surface hardness of the samples nitrided at 750 and 850°C was 800 and 1400 HV respectively.
Models and computational strategies linking physiological response to molecular networks from large-scale data

An important area of research in systems biology involves the analysis and integration of genome-wide functional datasets. In this context, a major goal is the identification of a putative molecular network controlling physiological response from experimental data. With very fragmentary mechanistic information, this is a challenging task. A number of methods have been developed, each one with the potential to address an aspect of the problem. Here, we review some of the most widely used methodologies and report new results in support of the usefulness of modularization and other modelling techniques in identifying components of the molecular networks that are predictive of physiological response. We also discuss how system identification in biology could be approached, using a combination of methodologies that aim to reconstruct the relationship between molecular pathways and physiology at different levels of the organizational complexity of the molecular network.
Impact of a failure detection mechanism on the performance of consensus

The paper considers a consensus algorithm for an asynchronous system augmented with failure detectors, and analyzes the impact on its termination time of various implementations of failure detectors. The study shows that the design of fault-tolerant distributed algorithms in the asynchronous system model augmented with failure detectors is orthogonal to implementing the actual failure detectors. This nicely decouples logical issues (proof of correctness) from engineering issues (e.g., performance and timing constraints).
Deletion of the L-Lactate Dehydrogenase Gene ldh in Streptococcus pyogenes Leads to a Loss of SpeB Activity and a Hypovirulent Phenotype

Streptococcus pyogenes uses lactic acid fermentation for the generation of ATP. Here, we analyzed the impact of a deletion of the L-lactate dehydrogenase gene ldh on the virulence of S. pyogenes M49. While the ldh deletion does not cause a general growth deficiency in laboratory media, the growth in human blood and plasma is significantly hampered. The ldh deletion strain is furthermore less virulent in a Galleria mellonella infection model. We show that the ldh deletion leads to a decrease in the activity of the cysteine protease SpeB, an important secreted virulence factor of S. pyogenes. The reduced SpeB activity is caused by a hampered autocatalytic activation of the SpeB zymogen into the mature SpeB. The missing SpeB activity furthermore leads to increased plasmin activation and a reduced activation of the contact system on the surface of S. pyogenes. All these effects can be reversed when ldh is reintroduced into the mutant via a plasmid. The results demonstrate a previously unappreciated role for LDH in modulation of SpeB maturation.
Determinants of participation in colorectal cancer screening with faecal occult blood testing.

BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in men and women. Participation rates in faecal occult blood testing (FOBT) screening activities are, however, relatively low. In terms of lowering the colorectal cancer mortality, high participation rates are essential, and therefore it is important to understand the barriers to FOBT screening. METHODS We undertook a systematic search through PUBMED, Medline, EMBASE and PsycINFO in order to identify studies that provide information on socio-demographic determinants of participation in FOBT screening. RESULTS FOBT participation varied considerably across countries, but they have rarely been above 60%. The use of other health-care services was in most studies a strong determinant for participation in screening with FOBT. There was a tendency to higher participation among women than among men and among married as opposed to not married, but determinants varied across countries and test settings. There was no systematic variation in participation across age groups. CONCLUSION The participation pattern depends in part on local circumstances, which makes it difficult to point to a general strategy for increasing the uptake in FOBT screening. This stresses the need for monitoring of individual screening programmes and developing information strategies targeted to the local participation pattern.
Numerical Experiments on The Capacity of Quantum Channel with Entangled Input States

The capacity of quantum channel with product input states was formulated by the quantum coding theorem. However, whether entangled input states can enhance the quantum channel is still open. It turns out that this problem is reduced to aspecial case of the more general problem whether the capacity of product quantum channel exhibits additivity. In the present study, we apply one of the quantum Arimoto-Blahut type algorithms to the latter problem. The results suggest that the additivity of product quantum channel capacity always holds and that entangled input states cannot enhance the quantum channel capacity.
Fear and/or anxiety of children and parents associated with the dental environment.

AIM To assess levels of anxiety in children concerning different dental instruments and equipment and to relate them with parents' anxiety levels moments before the appointment. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fifty children from 4 to 12 years of age (average of 10±3.07) and their respective parents were evaluated. A facial scale was used to assess children's anxiety levels, while the Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) was used to assess parents. Friedman test was applied to check any differences in children's anxiety levels relative to the equipment/instruments, and this was complemented by the use of the Wilcoxon test for two-by-two comparison. In order to assess correlation between parents' and their children's anxiety levels, the study used Spearman correlation coefficient. RESULTS With regard to parents' anxiety levels, 4% resulted as null, 18% were low, 56% were moderate, and 22% were exacerbated; children's anxiety level results were: 52% light, 44% intermediate, and 4% intense. Anxiety levels related to instruments/equipment were, in descending order: carpule syringe > paediatric forceps > dental explorer > x-ray machine > rubber dam punch > high speed handpiece > rubber dam forceps > mouth mirror > clinical tweezers > dental chair. No correlation was found between parents' anxiety levels and those of their children (p=0.546). CONCLUSION The instruments/equipment used in the assessment generated different anxiety levels in the children. No correlation was found between parents' anxiety levels and those of their children.
Response of normal aorta to endovascular grafting: a serial histopathological study.

OBJECTIVE To examine the histological changes caused by the presence of the endovascular stented graft in the native aorta. DESIGN AND INTERVENTION Case series. Twenty Western crossbred adult male sheep underwent endovascular placement of an infrarenal aortic stented graft, using the Bard aortic aneurysm repair device catheter delivery system (Bard Vascular Systems, Dovermill, Mass). Six self-expanding wire hooks at the proximal anchor allow fixation to the aorta. After 1 month (n=6), 3 months (n=6), and 6 months (n=8), the animals underwent repeated angiography and intravascular ultrasonography to study the aorta and the graft. The aorta was explanted en bloc with the left renal artery, pressure perfused with a formalin gluteraldehyde solution, and then underwent histological examination with hematoxylin-eosin, trichrome, and elastic tissue staining. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Description of histological changes at various intervals after endovascular stented graft placement. RESULTS Significant histological findings include (1) complete incorporation of the grafts into the aortic wall, with a pseudointima of smooth muscle cells and collagen; (2) a foreign-body reaction around the graft; (3) an organized blood clot noted between the graft and the aortic wall, without evidence of recent blood flow through the perigraft space or the lumbar vessels; and (4) focal replacement by collagen of the inner one third to one half of the media at the proximal anchor sites. CONCLUSION There was good incorporation of the graft without evidence of pressure necrosis, bleeding around the graft, or flow in the occluded lumbar vessels.
Dazzle coloration and prey movement

Many traits in animals reduce the rate of attack from visually hunting predators, including camouflage, warning signals and mimicry. In addition, some animal markings may reduce the likelihood that an attack ends in successful capture. These might include dazzle markings, high-contrast patterns that make the estimation of speed and trajectory difficult. However, until now, no study has experimentally tested whether some markings may achieve such an effect. We developed a computer ‘game’ where human ‘predators’ have to capture computer-generated prey moving across a background. In two experiments, we find that although uniform camouflaged targets were among the hardest to capture, so were a range of high-contrast conspicuous patterns, such as bands and zigzags. Prey were also more difficult to capture against more heterogeneous than uniform backgrounds, and at faster speeds of movement. As such, we find the first experimental evidence that conspicuous patterns, similar to those found in a wide range of real animals, make the capture of moving prey more challenging. Various anti-predator markings may work prey during motion, and some animals may combine such dazzle patterns with other functions, such as camouflage, thermoregulation, sexual and warning signals.
The Prognostic Value of Previous Irradiation on Survival of Bladder Cancer Patients

Abstract Background: Radiation exposure is an established risk factor for bladder cancer, however consensus is lacking on the survival characteristics of bladder cancer patients with a history of radiation therapy (RT). Confounding patient comorbidities and baseline characteristics hinders prior attempts at developing such a consensus. Objective: To compare the survival characteristics of patients with suspected radiation-induced second primary cancer (RISPC) of the bladder to those with de novo bladder cancer, taking into account the patient comorbidities and baseline characteristics predictive of survival. Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients with muscle-invasive (≥T2a) or BCG-refractory stage Tis-T1 urothelial bladder cancer. Patients were excluded if prior RT exposure was used as treatment for bladder cancer or if cause of death was due to post-operative complications. A digit matching propensity score algorithm was used to match patients with prior radiation treatment to those without prior treatment. Cox regression analysis for time until death was performed following creation of the propensity score matched sample. Results: 29 patients with history of RT were matched with two controls each, resulting in a dataset of 87 observations in the event model. Results from the Cox model indicate a significantly increased hazard ratio for death at 2.22 (p = 0.047, 95% CI: 1.015–4.860) given a history of prior radiation therapy. Conclusions: In a small cohort, bladder cancer patients who underwent cystectomy had a significantly higher risk of death in the face of prior pelvic RT. This effect was found to be independent of surgical complications, numerous established patient characteristics and comorbidities traditionally predictive of survival.