Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
European Inflation-Indexed Government Debt Security Markets

The U.K. was the first industrialized country to issue index-linked government bonds. France has joined this group of issuers recently with two series indexed either to French inflation or to inflation in the euro area. This investigation of the efficiency of these markets tests the information content of inflation forecasts to develop trading strategies speculating on the movement of break-even inflation. The results indicate that the market for the French OATi offers the possibility of excess returns, a result that is fairly consistent regardless of market frictions introduced in the return calculation. These trading strategies are beneficial for practitioners tracking index-linked bond indexes in the particular markets.
Neurovascular complications of cocaine

Use of cocaine in the USA, has reached epidemic proportions since 1983, when “crack” was introduced, its higher potency compared with cocaine HCl has been associated with a tremendous increase in the incidence of strokes. This study reports our experience with 55 cases of neurovascular events (25 ischemic and 30 hemorrhagic) related to cocaine use in 54 patients. Only 15 patients had other risk factors for stroke. Twenty six patients smoked “crack”, 10 snorted cocaine and 12 injected it intravenously. Strokes occurred within 3 h of cocaine use in 15 patients with infarcts and 17 with hemorrhages. Ten infarcts occurred after an overnight binge. Of the hemorrhage group 9 were subarachnoid, 16 intracerebral (8 basal ganglia, 7 hemispheric and one brain stem) and 5 intraventricular. Computerized tomography (CT) showed an aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery, as well as one of the vein of Galen. Four aneurysms and 3 AVMs were identified on angiography. CT revealed 15 infarcts; it was normal in 7 patients with pure motor hemiparesis and in 3 with findings consistent with anterior spinal artery infarction. Several mechanisms may be responsible for the cerebrovascular complications. A sudden rise in systemic arterial pressure may cause hemorrhages, frequently in association with an underlying aneurysm or AVM. Vasospasm, arteritis, myocardial infarction with cardiac arrhythmias and increased platelet aggregation may provoke infarcts.
Efficacy of etoposide, cyclophosphamide, and total body irradiation in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for adult patients with hematological malignancies

Abstract: Introduction: A combination of fractionated total body irradiation (TBI) with etoposide (VP‐16) and cyclophosphamide (CY) as a preconditioning regimen (VP/CY/TBI) has been reported to be safe and effective for both adults and children undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo‐BMT). However, the reported doses of VP‐16 were different. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of a VP‐16 (at less than the usual dose)/CY/TBI regimen for adults with hematological malignancies who are required to receive allo‐BMT.
Explicit MPC motion cueing algorithm for real-time driving simulator

Although Model Predictive Control (MPC) technology can now be found in a wide variety of industrial process control applications, its application in the field of Motion Cueing Algorithm (MCA) is a relatively new issue. Its efficiency has been proven in the driving simulation thanks to the authors' original work (explicit algorithm) and to others (implicit algorithm). The key for applying successfully the MPC algorithm in the field of MCA is to find an appropriate algorithm's stability condition and an efficient in-line or off-line optimization algorithm. The stability condition proposed by this paper reduces significantly the number of partitioned regions for explicit algorithm and thus guarantees the real time tilt-linear optimal motion cues with complicated constraints. This condition can also be applied in the implicit algorithm. The first test in Renault's simulator, ULTIMATE, has shown that the fidelity of driving simulation is effectively improved. It will greatly enhance the MPC algorithm's application in the field of simulator motion cues.
Reversible increase of intraocular pressure in subclinical hypothyroid patients.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to analyse the relationship between the ocular parameters, namely intraocular pressure (IOP), and the early forms of subclinical hypothyroidism. DESIGN Fifty-three subjects (9 male and 44 female) aged from 18 to 45 years (mean 32 +/- 7 years) were selected for this study. Twenty-nine met the criteria of subclinical hypothyroidism and 24 euthyroid subjects, age- and sex-matched, were used as controls. METHODS All individuals underwent a complete ocular examination, including visual field examination and serial measurement of IOP by means of a Goldmann tonometer. A tonographic examination was also performed. RESULTS The hypothyroid patients showed a substantially higher pressure in both eyes compared with control subjects (right eye = 17.52 +/- 4.74 vs 13.42 +/- 1.95 mmHg, P < 0.0001; left eye = 17.55 +/- 3.99 vs 13.71 +/- 1.55 mmHg, P < 0.0001). Indeed, the tonometric pressure exceeded 18 mmHg in 11 out of the 29 (38%) patients in the right eye and in 8 out of 29 (27%) patients in the left eye. The outflow index was normal in all subjects except in two hypothyroid patients. After two months of L-thyroxine (L-T4) replacement therapy, only one patient continued to show tonometric values above 18 mmHg and the hypothyroid patients showed a significant reduction in mean IOP in both eyes compared with pre-treatment values (right eye = 14.96 +/- 1.32 mmHg, P < 0.0097; left eye = 15.03 +/- 1.38 mmHg, P < 0.0018). Treatment did not lead to any change in the outflow indices; however, the C value (outflow coefficient at the sclerocorneal corner) returned to normal in the two patients with increased pre-treatment tonographic values. CONCLUSIONS These findings indicate that the intraocular pressure is increased even in subclinical hypothyroid patients and that, at this early stage, the impairment is fully reversible with L-T4 therapy.
Encephalomyocarditis virus RNA: variations in polyadenylic acid content and biological activity

Encephalomyocarditis (EMC) viral RNA was isolated from purified virus grown in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. The viral RNA was found to contain polyadenylic acid [poly(A)] regions that were very heterogeneous in length. Chromatography of the EMC viral RNA on oligo(dT)-cellulose columns separated the RNA into three distinct fractions (peaks 1 to 3). Approximately 20% of the EMC viral RNA appeared as peak 1, 40% as peak 2, and 40% as peak 3. The RNA in each fraction appeared to be intact as shown by co-sedimentation with 35S unfractionated EMC viral RNA in SDS-sucrose density gradients. Approximately 95 to 100% of peaks 1 and 3, and 60 to 70% of peak 2, reappeared at the same elution position after rechromatography on oligo(dT)-cellulose. The RNA in peak 1 contained poly(A) with an average length of 16 nucleotides, peak 2 contained poly(A) with an average of 26 nucleotides, and peak 3 contained an average of 74 nucleotides in its poly(A) region. The distribution in the three fractions, as well as the average length of the poly(A) moieties, was relatively unaffected by changes in the cell suspension medium used during infection. Finally, each of the three viral RNA fractions was assayed for biological activity using an infectious RNA assay on L-cell monolayers. Infectivity of the viral RNA was found to increase with poly(A) length, with peak 3 viral RNA being approximately 10 times more infectious than peak 1 viral RNA.
Dynamic news effects in high frequency Euro exchange rate returns and volatility

Investigation of the dynamic, short-run response of exchange rate returns to the information surprise of macroeconomic announcements reveals that US macroeconomic news generates far more dramatic responses in exchange rate returns and returns volatility than news on the macroeconomic performance of other countries. Eurozone, German, French and Japanese news have very little impact. However, some UK announcements are important for the EURGBP rate. The reaction of exchange rate returns to news is very quick and occurs within the first five minutes of the release with very little reaction in the following fifteen minutes, thus enabling us to characterise such reactions as conditional mean return jumps. These jumps show that exchange rates are strongly linked to fundamentals in the five-minute intervals immediately following the data release. Interestingly, despite causing large responses in returns volatility, the large jumps in returns following interest rate decisions do not appear to be correlated with the informational innovation surrounding their announcement.
A new score system for predicting response to cardiac resynchronization therapy.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to establish a score system derived from clinical, echocardiographic and electrocardiographic indexes and evaluate its clinical value for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) patient selection. METHODS Ninety-three patients receiving CRT were enrolled. A patient selection score system was generated by the clinical, echocardiographic and electrocardiographic parameters achieving a significant level by univariate and multivariate Cox regression model. The positive response to CRT was a left ventricular end systolic volume decrease of ≥ 15% and not reaching primary clinical endpoint (death or re-hospitalization for heart failure) at the end of follow-up. RESULTS Thirty-nine patients were CRT non-responders (41.94%) and 54 were responders (58.06%). A 4-point score system was generated based on tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), longitudinal strain (LS), and complete left bundle branch block (CLBBB) combined with a wide QRS duration (QRSd). The sensitivity and specificity for prediction of a positive response to CRT at a score > 2 were 0.823 and 0.850, respectively (AUC: 0.92295% CI 0.691-0.916, p< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS A patient selection score system based on the integration of TAPSE, LS and CLBBB combined with a wide QRSd can help to predict positive response to CRT effectively and reliably.
Fatigue Crack Initiation and Propagation in Piles of Integral Abutment Bridges

Abstract: A new continuum damage modeling approach of “successive initiation” is used to determine the location of a thermomechanical fatigue crack initiation and the propagation path and rate in piles of integral abutment bridges. A global‐local modeling approach is introduced to determine the critical location in the pile where a crack is initiated using a 3‐dimensional nonlinear finite element model and to implement “successive initiation. ” A simulated case study is used to showcase the multistep procedure. The results indicate that for a pile subjected to the maximum stress, the first fatigue‐induced crack initiates in the tip of the flange at the element immediately below the abutment. Several other cracks at different locations form in the flange of the pile while the initial crack continues to propagate in the flange to the web. The crack propagation rate increases as more cracks initiate in the flange. The propagation rate decreases when the crack reaches the web. Based on the case study presented, a crack could initiate in the pile in as little as 6 years, but it may take about 20 years for it to reach the web; however, final failure of the pile may not take place for several decades. The method can also be used as a guide in bridge foundation inspection and in the determination of the remaining life of an existing bridge.
Encoding regulatory state boundaries in the pregastrular oral ectoderm of the sea urchin embryo

Significance Regulatory state boundary formation is a general process in early development, in which embryonic territory is divided up into spatial domains that express distinct sets of regulatory genes. We establish the mechanistic principles by which multiple orthogonal boundaries of this kind are progressively formed on the oral side of the sea urchin embryo, according to an encoded genomic program. These boundaries separate prospective endoderm from ectoderm domains, neurogenic from non-neurogenic domains, and ciliated band from oral ectoderm domains and produce an orthogonal grid of regulatory states. Boundary formation invariably depends on spatial transcriptional repression superimposed on more widespread domains of transcriptional activation. By gastrulation the ectodermal territories of the sea urchin embryo have developed an unexpectedly complex spatial pattern of sharply bounded regulatory states, organized orthogonally with respect to the animal/vegetal and oral/aboral axes of the embryo. Although much is known of the gene regulatory network (GRN) linkages that generate these regulatory states, the principles by which the boundaries between them are positioned and maintained have remained undiscovered. Here we determine the encoded genomic logic responsible for the boundaries of the oral aspect of the embryo that separate endoderm from ectoderm and ectoderm from neurogenic apical plate and that delineate the several further subdivisions into which the oral ectoderm per se is partitioned. Comprehensive regulatory state maps, including all spatially expressed oral ectoderm regulatory genes, were established. The circuitry at each boundary deploys specific repressors of regulatory states across the boundary, identified in this work, plus activation by broadly expressed positive regulators. These network linkages are integrated with previously established interactions on the oral/aboral axis to generate a GRN model encompassing the 2D organization of the regulatory state pattern in the pregastrular oral ectoderm of the embryo.
Overexpression of Arabidopsis Phytochelatin Synthase Paradoxically Leads to Hypersensitivity to Cadmium Stress1

Phytochelatin (PC) plays an important role in heavy metal detoxification in plants and other living organisms. Therefore, we overexpressed an Arabidopsis PC synthase (AtPCS1) in transgenic Arabidopsis with the goal of increasing PC synthesis, metal accumulation, and metal tolerance in these plants. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants were selected, designated pcs lines, and analyzed for tolerance to cadmium (Cd). Transgenic pcs lines showed 12- to 25-fold higher accumulation ofAtPCS1 mRNA, and production of PCs increased by 1.3- to 2.1-fold under 85 μm CdCl2 stress for 3 d when compared with wild-type plants. Cd tolerance was assessed by measuring root length of plants grown on agar medium containing 50 or 85 μm CdCl2. Pcs lines paradoxically showed hypersensitivity to Cd stress. This hypersensitivity was also observed for zinc (Zn) but not for copper (Cu). The overexpressed AtPCS1 protein itself was not responsible for Cd hypersensitivity as transgeniccad1-3 mutants overexpressing AtPCS1 to similar levels as those of pcs lines were not hypersensitive to Cd. Pcs lines were more sensitive to Cd than a PC-deficient Arabidopsis mutant,cad1-3, grown under low glutathione (GSH) levels. Cd hypersensitivity of pcs lines disappeared under increased GSH levels supplemented in the medium. Therefore, Cd hypersensitivity in pcs lines seems due to the toxicity of PCs as they existed at supraoptimal levels when compared with GSH levels.
Institutional innovations linking small-scale farmers to produce markets in South Africa.

The importance of linking small-scale farmers to lucrative markets to improve livelihoods and food security in developing countries is well established (Singla et al., 2011). Increased agricultural productivity by small-scale farmers contributes to household food security while marketed surplus sustains livelihoods and contributes to food security in both rural and urban areas. Market access, however, remains a major impediment for most small-scale farmers in developing countries (Chamberlin and Jayne, 2011). Promoting horticultural production and marketing is widely seen as an effective strategy for improving income and nutrition for smallholder farmers with relatively modest investments. The objective of this chapter is to analyze alternative institutional mechanisms that strengthen smallholder horticultural farmers' access to lucrative markets in South Africa.First, the chapter provides a rationale for intervention within South Africa's food security and development objectives. Against this background, the chapter discusses the socioeconomic, structural and historic challenges faced by small-scale farmers trying to access lucrative markets. Not unique to South Africa, the challenges include low volumes, poor quality, seasonality in supply, poor food safety and traceability, high transportation costs, limited value addition, lack of business culture, poor market information and limited track record. Evaluating solutions, the chapter classifies institutional innovations that improve market access for smallholder farmers into two distinct categories: push versus pull strategies. Focusing primarily on the farmer, push strategies (such as micro finance institutions, collective action, training and extension) primarily seek to address the challenges faced by smallholder farmers at farm-gate level while taking the market as given. By contrast, pull strategies (such as market information systems, contract farming, alternative food networks fresh produce markets and preferential procurement) focus on creating lucrative opportunities in the market. The chapter maps the market access challenges against the institutional innovation in the South African context.To illustrate the above, the chapter employs three case studies of institutional innovations — Abalimi Bezekhaya (Western Cape), Umbumbulu Agri-Hub (KwaZulu-Natal) and Westfalia Estate (Limpopo) — each offering alternative business models that link farmers to markets. Using two criteria, rural–urban linkages and uniqueness of mechanism, the cases were chosen to demonstrate different market access strategies that were recently implemented in South Africa. Successful mechanism to sustain smallholder's market access in South Africa requires a combination of both push and pull strategies. This chapter closes with a look at these three peripheral issues that are important to smallholder market access in South Africa.
Novel Function of Androgen Receptor-associated Protein 55/Hic-5 as a Negative Regulator of Smad3 Signaling*

Androgen receptor-associated protein 55 (ARA55/Hic-5) belongs to the LIM protein superfamily and is featured by three or four N-terminal LD motifs and four C-terminal zinc finger-like LIM domains. Both LD motifs and LIM domains can serve as protein-protein interaction interfaces. Recently, we found that enforced expression of ARA55 inhibits transforming growth factor-β-mediated up-regulation of Smad binding element-luciferase reporter activity in NRP-154 and NRP-152 rat prostate and LNCaP human prostate cell lines. Moreover, ARA55 also inhibits the induction of Smad-binding element 4-luciferase and 3TP-luciferase (a plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) promoter construct) reporters by constitutively active (CA)-Smad3 in these cell lines. Co-immunoprecipitation studies suggest an interaction between ARA55 and either CA-Smad3 or wild-type Smad3 in HEK293 cells that occurs through the MH2 domain of Smad3 and the C terminus of ARA55 with wild-type Smad3 having stronger affinity than CA-Smad3 to ARA55. Glutathione S-transferase pull-down assays demonstrate that this interaction can occur in a cell-free system. These results are consistent with the luciferase data showing that the C terminus of ARA55 is critical for suppression of Smad3 activity. Furthermore, using a mammalian two-hybrid system, we confirmed that ARA55 interacts with the MH2 domain of Smad3 and suppresses CA-Smad3-induced transcriptional responses. In conclusion, these results support that ARA55 selectively intercepts transforming growth factor-β signaling through an interaction of the LIM domain of ARA55 with the MH2 domain of Smad3.
Thumb and finger forces produced by motor units in the long flexor of the human thumb

The uncommonly good proprioceptive performance of the long flexor of the thumb, flexor pollicis longus (FPL), may add significantly to human manual dexterity. We investigated the forces produced by FPL single motor units during a weak static grip involving all digits by spike‐triggered averaging from single motor units, and by averaging from twitches produced by intramuscular stimulation. Nine adult subjects were studied. The forces produced at each digit were used to assess how forces produced in FPL are distributed to the fingers. Most FPL motor units produced very low forces on the thumb and were positively correlated with the muscle force at recruitment. Activity in FPL motor units commonly loaded the index finger (42/55 units), but less commonly the other fingers (P < 0.001). On average, these motor units produced small but significant loading forces on the index finger (∼5.3% of their force on the thumb) with the same time‐to‐peak force as the thumb (∼50 ms), but had no significant effect on other fingers. However, intramuscular stimulation within FPL did not produce significant forces in any finger. Coherence at 2–10 Hz between the thumb and index finger force was twice that for the other finger forces and the coherence to the non‐index fingers was not altered when the index finger did not participate in the grasp. These results indicate that, within the long‐term coordinated forces of all digits during grasping, FPL motor units generate forces highly focused on the thumb with minimal peripheral transfer to the fingers and that there is a small but inflexible neural coupling to the flexors of the index finger.
Work and non-work social support and intent to stay at work among Jordanian hospital nurses.

PURPOSE To examine (1) the level of intent to stay at work among Jordanian nurses; (2) the levels of at-work and non-work social support; and (3) the extent of variance in the level of intent to stay at work because of the demographic and social support variables. DESIGN A survey design was used to investigate the predictors of intent to stay at work among the population of Jordanian nurses in three public hospitals. Two hundred and seventy five participants submitted complete and usable questionnaires. The response rates were 50%, 55% and 70%, respectively. METHODS Data were collected using a questionnaire that included a scale for measuring social support, the McCain's Intent to Stay Scale and the demographic form. FINDINGS The results showed that support from supervisors, marital status, number of friends at work, number of children at home, gender, time commitment, support from co-workers and support from family accounted for 60% of the variation in the level of intent to stay. The results indicated that nurses who were females, had children at home, worked full time and perceived having more support from co-workers and supervisors tended to stay at work more than others. On the other hand, the results showed that marital status, number of friends at work and family support were associated negatively with intent to stay at work. CONCLUSION The findings of the study suggest the important role of workplace social support in enhancing the level of intent to stay at work.
Sternohyoid and diaphragm muscle form and function during postnatal development in the rat

• What is the central question of this study? Co‐ordinated activity of the thoracic pump and pharyngeal dilator muscles is critical for maintaining airway calibre and respiratory homeostasis. Whilst postnatal maturation of the diaphragm has been well characterized, surprisingly little is known about the developmental programme in the airway dilator muscles. • What is the main finding and its importance? Developmental increases in force‐generating capacity and fatigue in the sternohyoid and diaphragm muscles are attributed to a maturational shift in muscle myosin heavy chain phenotype. This maturation is accelerated in the sternohyoid muscle relative to the diaphragm and may have implications for the control of airway calibre in vivo.