Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
“You Don’t Want to Ask for the Help” The Imperative of Independence

Independence is highly valued in Western society. The emphasis on independence and consequent fear of dependence may, however, have a downside, potentially leading to social exclusion. Through photovoice methodology, we explored what older adults say about the importance of independence in their lives and how independence may relate to social exclusion. Data consisted of photographs, journals, interviews, and focus group transcripts from 30 participants residing in Manitoba, Canada, collected as part of a larger program of research on “age-friendly” communities. Findings highlighted the importance of resources and supports to help older adults remain independent and feel included and that fear of dependence and being perceived as “old” can lead to social exclusion. Policy initiatives designed to make communities more age-friendly are one way to enhance older adults’ independence and, ultimately, quality of life. It is equally important, however, that such initiatives go hand-in-hand with reimaging aging and old age.
The Composition of Nonprofit Audit Committees

Audit committee composition has attracted significant attention from legislators and regulators in recent years. Although most of the focus has been on corporate audit committees, recent legislative efforts underscore the importance of governance in the nonprofit sector. Using data from a survey of 118 chief financial officers of nonprofit organizations as well as financial data from the GuideStar database, we examine the composition of nonprofit audit committees and factors associated with their composition. The data show that many nonprofits have not adopted Sarbanes‐Oxley reforms, since we find that 36 percent of nonprofits have audit committees that are not completely independent. Organizations that are larger, receive government grants, and use a Big 4 auditor are more likely to have audit committees with solely independent directors. Surprisingly, universities and hospitals are less likely to have solely independent directors on the audit committee. Eighty‐eight percent of nonprofits have at least o.
An essential role for Stat3 in regulating IgG immune complex‐induced pulmonary inflammation

Growing evidence suggests that transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat) 3 may play an important regulatory role during inflammation. However, the function of Stat3 in acute lung injury (ALI) is largely unknown. In the current study, by using an adenoviral vector expressing a dominant‐negative Stat3 isoform (Ad‐Stat3‐EVA), we determined the role of Stat3 in IgG immune complex (IC)‐induced inflammatory responses and injury in the lung from C57BL/6J mice. We show that IgG IC‐induced DNA binding activity of Stat3 in the lung was significantly inhibited by Stat3‐EVA. We demonstrate that both lung vascular permeability (albumin leak) and lung myeloperoxidase accumulation in the Ad‐Stat‐EVA treated mice were substantially reduced when compared with values in mice receiving control virus (Ad‐GFP) during the injury. Furthermore, intratracheal administration of Ad‐Stat3‐EVA caused significant decreases in the contents of neutrophils, inflammatory cytokines (TNF‐α and IL‐6), chemokines [keratinocyte cell‐derived chemokine, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)‐1α, and MIP‐1β], and complement component C5a in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids. Using Stat3‐specific small interfering RNA, we show that knocking down Stat3 expression in alveolar macrophages (MH‐S cells) significantly reduced the production of proinflammatory mediators on IgG IC stimulation. These data suggest that Stat3 plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of IgG IC‐induced ALI by mediating the acute inflammatory responses in the lung and alveolar macrophages. —Tang, H. , Yan, C. , Cao, J., Sarma, J. V. , Haura, E. B. , Wu, M. , Gao, H. An essential role for Stat3 in regulating IgG immune complex‐induced pulmonary inflammation. FASEB J. 25, 4292–4300 (2011). www.fasebj. org
A few extreme events dominate global interannual variability in gross primary production

Understanding the impacts of climate extremes on the carbon cycle is important for quantifying the carbon-cycle climate feedback and highly relevant to climate change assessments. Climate extremes and fires can have severe regional effects, but a spatially explicit global impact assessment is still lacking. Here, we directly quantify spatiotemporal contiguous extreme anomalies in four global data sets of gross primary production (GPP) over the last 30 years. We find that positive and negative GPP extremes occurring on 7% of the spatiotemporal domain explain 78% of the global interannual variation in GPP and a significant fraction of variation in the net carbon flux. The largest thousand negative GPP extremes during 1982–2011 (4.3% of the data) account for a decrease in photosynthetic carbon uptake of about 3.5 Pg C yr−1, with most events being attributable to water scarcity. The results imply that it is essential to understand the nature and causes of extremes to understand current and future GPP variability.
Increasing returns to smart cities

Increased urbanization, global warming and sustainable growth belong to the major contemporary policy challenges. Today cities are home to more than 50% of the world population, the largest 600 urban centers generate about 60% of global GDP, and the agglomerated areas are responsible for 75% of world carbon emissions. The UN estimates that 70% of the world's growing population will live in cities by 2050. At the same time the world population is expected to increase from 7 billion people to 9 billion. Thus, the total number of people living in cities will be almost doubled within a period of less than 4 decades. This paper discusses two hypotheses on how this will affect climate change and economic growth.
Distinct Pathways Regulate Proapoptotic Nix and BNip3 in Cardiac Stress*

Up-regulation of myocardial Nix and BNip3 is associated with apoptosis in cardiac hypertrophy and ischemia, respectively. To identify mechanisms of gene regulation for these critical cardiac apoptosis effectors, the determinants of Nix and BNip3 promoter activation were elucidated by luciferase reporter gene expression in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. BNip3 transcription was increased by hypoxia but not by phenylephrine (10 μm), angiotensin II (100 nm), or isoproterenol (10 μm). In contrast, Nix transcription was increased by phenylephrine but not by isoproterenol, angiotensin II, or hypoxia. Since phenylephrine stimulates cardiomyocyte hypertrophy via protein kinase C (PKC), the effects of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA, 10 nm for 24 h) and adenoviral PKC expression were assessed. PMA and PKCα, but not PKCϵ or dominant negative PKCα, increased Nix transcription. Multiple Nix promoter GC boxes bound transcription factor Sp-1, and basal and PMA- or PKCα-stimulated Nix promoter activity was suppressed by mithramycin inhibition of Sp1-DNA interactions. In vivo determinants of Nix expression were evaluated in Nix promoter-luciferase (NixP) transgenic mice that underwent ischemia-reperfusion (1 h/24 h), transverse aortic coarctation (TAC), or cross-breeding with the Gq overexpression model of hypertrophy. Luciferase activity increased in Gαq-NixP hearts 3.2 ± 0.4-fold and in TAC hearts 2.8 ± 0.4-fold but did not increase with infarction-reperfusion. NixP activity was proportional to the extent of TAC hypertrophy and was inhibited by mithramycin. These studies revealed distinct mechanisms of transcriptional regulation for cardiac Nix and BNip3. BNip3 is hypoxia-inducible, whereas Nix expression was induced by Gαq-mediated hypertrophic stimuli. PKCα, a Gq effector, transduced Nix transcriptional induction via Sp1.
Cerebrovascular Disorders in Children With the Factor V Leiden Mutation

Since 1995, at least 128 children with a cerebrovascular disorder, cerebral palsy, or both and the factor V Leiden mutation have been reported. The majority of these strokes were in the first year of life, many of them in the perinatal period. Two thirds had an additional exogenous risk factor for thrombosis, and 42% had another recognized endogenous prothrombotic risk factor in combination with the mutation. We review the association of the factor V Leiden mutation and a cerebrovascular disorder in children younger than 16 years of age and describe the clinical features of 8 children with cerebral palsy and the Leiden mutation. This mutation should be considered in the evaluation of children with a stroke or its sequelae, including infants with perinatal stroke. (J Child Neurol 2001;16:735-744).
Evaluating Trade Classification Algorithms: Bulk Volume Classification versus the Tick Rule and the Lee-Ready Algorithm

We compare the accuracy of the bulk volume classification (BVC) to that of the tick rule (TR) and the Lee-Ready (LR) algorithm for a large sample of equities. TR and LR produce significantly better classifications than the BVC. This result applies to stocks of all sizes, including the most frequently traded. Iteratively optimizing the BVC improves its performance, but the conventional rules still outperform. TR and LR produce more accurate estimates of the volume-synchronized probability of informed trading. Order imbalances computed using TR and LR are comparable to those computed using the BVC in explaining returns, liquidity, and trading costs.
Localized Competition in the Knowledge Spillover Theory of Entrepreneurship

The knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship predicts that the relationship between new knowledge and entrepreneurial activity depends on the commercialization efficiency of incumbents. We extend the theory to contend that localized competition impedes entrepreneurial activity by reducing the incentive to exploit new knowledge, and we test this conjecture using spatial panel estimation. We find a positive relationship between new knowledge and entrepreneurial activity, which is negatively moderated by localized competition. We also find that greater agglomeration counteracts the moderating effect localized competition has on the relationship between new knowledge and entrepreneurial activity.
Early changes in clinical, functional, and laboratory biomarkers in workers at risk of indium lung disease.

RATIONALE Occupational exposure to indium compounds, including indium-tin oxide, can result in potentially fatal indium lung disease. However, the early effects of exposure on the lungs are not well understood. OBJECTIVES To determine the relationship between short-term occupational exposures to indium compounds and the development of early lung abnormalities. METHODS Among indium-tin oxide production and reclamation facility workers, we measured plasma indium, respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function, chest computed tomography, and serum biomarkers of lung disease. Relationships between plasma indium concentration and health outcome variables were evaluated using restricted cubic spline and linear regression models. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Eighty-seven (93%) of 94 indium-tin oxide facility workers (median tenure, 2 yr; median plasma indium, 1.0 μg/l) participated in the study. Spirometric abnormalities were not increased compared with the general population, and few subjects had radiographic evidence of alveolar proteinosis (n = 0), fibrosis (n = 2), or emphysema (n = 4). However, in internal comparisons, participants with plasma indium concentrations ≥ 1.0 μg/l had more dyspnea, lower mean FEV1 and FVC, and higher median serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 and surfactant protein-D levels. Spline regression demonstrated nonlinear exposure response, with significant differences occurring at plasma indium concentrations as low as 1.0 μg/l compared with the reference. Associations between health outcomes and the natural log of plasma indium concentration were evident in linear regression models. Associations were not explained by age, smoking status, facility tenure, or prior occupational exposures. CONCLUSIONS In indium-tin oxide facility workers with short-term, low-level exposure, plasma indium concentrations lower than previously reported were associated with lung symptoms, decreased spirometric parameters, and increased serum biomarkers of lung disease.
Treatment of active Crohn's disease with onercept (recombinant human soluble p55 tumour necrosis factor receptor): results of a randomized, open‐label, pilot study

Background : Monoclonal antibodies to the pro‐inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor‐α have shown efficacy in treating Crohn's disease, but can be immunogenic. Soluble tumour necrosis factor‐binding proteins are being studied as potential alternative anti‐tumour necrosis factor agents in Crohn's disease.
The disposition effect and investment performance in the futures market

This study examines whether the disposition effect (DE), i.e., the tendency of investors to ride losses and realize gains, exists in the Korean stock index futures market. Using a unique database, we find strong evidence for the DE and explain this in terms of investor characteristics. We also investigate the effect that the disposition bias has on investment performance. There are four main findings. First, individual investors are much more susceptible to the DE than institutional and foreign investors. Second, sophistication and trading experience tend to reduce the DE. Third, the DE is stronger in long positions than in short positions. Finally, there is a negative relationship between the DE and investment performance. This result is consistent with Odean (1998, Journal of Finance, 53, 1775–1798), but contrasts with Locke and Mann (2005, Journal of Financial Economics, 76, 401–444) who find no evidence of any contemporaneous measurable costs associated with the DE. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 29:496–522, 2009
İlköğretim Okulu Yöneticilerinin Örgütsel Bağlılık Düzeyi

This study investigates Turkish primary schools’ administrators’ organizational commitment level in terms of gender, branch, marital status, seniority, education level, school size and the school district. Data of the study are collected through ‘Organizational Commitment’ scale, developed by Balay (2000), which implemented by EARGED to 678 school administrators coming from 23 cities of Turkey. In the dimension of compliance, school administrators’ views significantly varied depending on their gender, school type and school size. The school administrators’ views also significantly varied in terms of identification and internalization dimensions based on marital status, school type, seniority, educational level, school size and the school district variables.
EXTENDING GREEN PRACTICES ACROSS THE SUPPLY CHAIN: THE IMPACT OF UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM INTEGRATION

Purpose – This research aims to extend the “collaborative paradigm” proposed by others in prior research beyond a supply chain's core operations. To date, this paradigm has generated relatively little empirical research on peripheral, non‐core areas such the natural environment. Antecedents (both plant‐level and supply chain characteristics) of green supply chain practices (GSCP) are examined. Among possible antecedents, prior research pointed to supply chain integration – both logistical (tactical level) and technological (strategic level) – as a potentially important determinant of green practices.Design/methodology/approach – Green practices are defined along the two dimensions of environmental collaboration and monitoring. The empirical analysis used data from 84 plants in North America surveyed in 2002. Validity and reliability of scales for new and existing constructs were assessed through factor analysis. Hierarchical linear regression was used to test the hypotheses for the antecedents of GSCP.Fin.
Capped equity swaps under the double‐jump stochastic volatility model with stochastic interest rates

This study proposes a double‐jump stochastic volatility model with stochastic interest rates to price capped equity swaps and other multi‐period derivative securities. Closed‐form solutions for capped equity swaps with a fixed or variable notional principle are derived. In addition, numerical examples are employed to analyze comparative statics properties, counterparty risks, and the dynamics of the forward smile. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 31:340–370, 2011
THE PROBABILITY THAT BENEFICIAL MUTATIONS ARE LOST IN POPULATIONS WITH PERIODIC BOTTLENECKS

Abstract Population bottlenecks affect the dynamics of evolution, increasing the probability that beneficial mutations will be lost. Recent protocols for the experimental study of evolution involve repeated bottlenecks—when fresh media are inoculated during serial transfer or when chemostat tubes are changed. Unlike population reductions caused by stochastic environmental factors, these bottlenecks occur at known, regular intervals and with a fixed dilution ratio. We derive the ultimate probability of extinction for a beneficial mutation in a periodically bottlenecked population, using both discrete and continuous approaches. We show that both approaches yield the same approximation for extinction probability. From this, we derive an approximate expression for an effective population size. Corresponding Editor: M. Morgan
Human muscle glycogen resynthesis after exercise: insulin-dependent and -independent phases.

To study the effects of glycogen depletion and insulin concentration on glycogen synthesis, gastrocnemius glycogen was measured with 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance at 4.7 T after exercise. Subjects performed single-leg toe raises to deplete gastrocnemius glycogen to 75, 50, or 25% of resting concentration (protocol I). Insulin dependence of glycogen synthesis was assessed after depletion to 25% with (protocol II) and without (protocol III) infusion of somatostatin to inhibit insulin secretion. After depletion to 75 and 50%, glycogen resynthesis rates were similar (2.4 +/- 0.7 and 2.8 +/- 0.6 mM/h, respectively). When glycogen was depleted to 25% (< 30 mM), the resynthesis rate was significantly higher (P < 0.02) at 33 +/- 7 mM/h, and it declined to 3.5 +/- 0.9 mM/h at > 35 mM glycogen. At < 35 mM glycogen, synthesis was not affected by low insulin (24 +/- 4 mM/h, protocol vs. 19 +/- 3 mM/h, protocol III), whereas at > 35 mM glycogen, synthesis ceased without insulin (-0.07 +/- 0.19 mM/h, protocol II). After depletion to 25% (protocol III), plasma lactate transiently increased (0.81 mM at rest, 1.82 mM 0 h after exercise, and 0.76 mM 2 h after exercise), whereas other plasma constituents did not significantly change. We conclude that after depletion to < 30 mM initial glycogen resynthesis is insulin independent and glycogen dependent, which suggests local control.
The January effect and monthly seasonality in the Hang Seng index: 1985-97

In this paper we employ a data set of logarithmic nondividend adjusted daily returns from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange Hang Seng Index, over a thirteen and a half year period to investigate the presence of the January effect, or other monthly seasonalities. Further, we partition our data set into two subsamples, which allows us to test for persistence of any monthly seasonality we uncover. However, our results are somewhat surprising, we can find no evidence of a January effect or any other monthly seasonality. Indeed, we note that for two of our data sets, the mean return for December is less than that for January. We conclude that these results are peculiar to the Hang Seng Index, as the overwhelming majority of previous studies of other Stock Indices, generally detect some form of monthly seasonality.
BARRIERS, SUPPORT, AND COLLABORATION: A COMPARISON OF SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURE TEACHERS' PERCEPTIONS REGARDING INTEGRATION OF SCIENCE INTO THE AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION CURRICULUM

This study is part of a larger investigation which focused on determining and comparing the perceptions of agriculture teachers and science teachers on integrating science into agricultural education programs. Science and agriculture teachers’ perceptions of barriers to integrating science, the support of stakeholders, and collaboration between science and agriculture teachers and programs were investigated. The majority of both science and agriculture teachers were in agreement that funding, equipment, and the science teachers’ lack of an agricultural background were barriers to integration. However, they differed in their level of agreement about curriculum and teachers’ philosophical differences as barriers. Both groups agreed their school has strong science and agriculture programs, that collaboration would benefit students, and that the two departments have something to offer each other. However, fewer than one-half of teachers in both groups reported they work in a collaborative effort with the other department.
Synergistic anticancer effects of arsenic trioxide with bortezomib in mantle cell lymphoma

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a subtype of B‐cell Non‐Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) and accounts for ∼6% of all lymphomas. MCL is highly refractory to most chemotherapy including newer antibody‐based therapeutic approaches, and high‐grade MCL has one of the worst survival rates among NHLs. Therefore, the development of new therapeutic strategies to overcome drug resistance of MCL is important. In this article, we tested the effects of arsenic trioxide (As2O3, ATO) in bortezomib‐resistant MCL. ATO is reported to induce complete remission in the patients with relapsed or refractory acute promyelocytic leukemia. Their effects in MCL, however, have not been explored. In this report, we show that ATO effectively inhibited the growth of MCL cells in vitro. ATO treatment also reduced cyclin D1 expression which is a genetic hallmark of MCL and NF‐kB expression which was reported to have a prosurvival role in some MCL cells. The induction of apoptosis in MCL was partially due to reduced levels of cyclin D1 and increased levels of apoptosis‐related molecules. The antiproliferative effects of bortezomib on MCL greatly increased when the cells were also treated with ATO, indicating ATO can sensitize MCL to bortezomib. Similar results were noted in bortezomib‐resistant cell lines. In conclusion, ATO may be an alternative drug for use in combined adjuvant therapies for MCL, and further clinical testing should be performed. Am. J. Hematol. , 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Spectrum of Commercial Sex Activity in Burkina Faso: Classification Model and Risk of Exposure to HIV

Objective: Before designing a sexually transmitted infection (STI)/HIV intervention study targeting female commercial sex workers in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, we conducted a socioanthropologic survey to analyze the prostitution network in the city in 1998. According to social characteristics, women were classified in six different categories, including four groups of nonprofessional sex workers. The aim of the current study is to assess HIV exposure across this classification model. Methods: A total of 447 women belonging to the six categories were enrolled in the study. After collection of social and behavioral data by means of a questionnaire, each woman received a physical examination and a blood sample was taken for HIV serologic testing. Results: The category of “seaters” was the most often infected, with an HIV prevalence of 57% (58 of 101 women). Nonprofessional “sellers” and “bar waitresses” were more often infected than professional “roamers,” with an HIV prevalence of 37% (24 of 65 women), 40% (27 of 67 women), and 29% (27 of 92 women), respectively, despite a much lower number of clients per week (average of 2.6 clients, 3.3 clients, and 18.6 clients, respectively). Finally, “students” and “cabarets” (women making and selling local beer in huts) were infected with an HIV prevalence of 15% (9 of 62 women and 9 of 60 women, respectively), which remains higher than the prevalence measured recently in the general female population in the city (6.4%). Conclusion: Our results highlight the high level of vulnerability of nonprofessional sex workers, who need to be considered in the design of any program targeting this population for STI/HIV control purposes.