Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Compartmentalization of innate immune responses in the central nervous system during cryptococcal meningitis/HIV coinfection

Objective:The role of innate immunity in the pathogenesis of cryptococcal meningitis is unclear. We hypothesized that natural killer (NK) cell and monocyte responses show central nervous system (CNS) compartment-specific profiles, and are altered by antifungal therapy and combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) during cryptococcal meningitis/HIV coinfection. Design:Substudy of a prospective cohort study of adults with cryptococcal meningitis/HIV coinfection in Durban, South Africa. Methods:We used multiparametric flow cytometry to study compartmentalization of subsets, CD69 (a marker of activation), CXCR3 and CX3CR1 expression, and cytokine secretion of NK cells and monocytes in freshly collected blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) at diagnosis (n = 23), completion of antifungal therapy induction (n = 19), and after a further 4 weeks of cART (n = 9). Results:Relative to blood, CSF was enriched with CD56bright (immunoregulatory) NK cells (P = 0.0004). At enrolment, CXCR3 expression was more frequent among blood CD56bright than either blood CD56dim (P <0.0001) or CSF CD56bright (P = 0.0002) NK cells. Antifungal therapy diminished blood (P <0.05), but not CSF CXCR3pos NK-cell proportions nor CX3CR1pos NK-cell proportions. CD56bright and CD56dim NK cells were more activated in CSF than blood (P <0.0001). Antifungal therapy induction reduced CD56dim NK-cell activation in CSF (P = 0.02). Activation of blood CD56bright and CD56dim NK cells was diminished following cART commencement (P <0.0001, P = 0.03). Immunoregulatory NK cells in CSF tended to secrete higher levels of CXCL10 (P = 0.06) and lower levels of tumor necrosis factor &agr; (P = 0.06) than blood immunoregulatory NK cells. CSF was enriched with nonclassical monocytes (P = 0.001), but antifungal therapy restored proportions of classical monocytes (P = 0.007). Conclusion:These results highlight CNS activation, trafficking, and function of NK cells and monocytes in cryptococcal meningitis/HIV and implicate immunoregulatory NK cells and proinflammatory monocytes as potential modulators of cryptococcal meningitis pathogenesis during HIV coinfection.
Cancer mortality trends in the EU and acceding countries up to 2015.

BACKGROUND Examination of trends in cancer mortality in Europe over the past 30 years has shown that, after long-term rises, age-standardised mortality from most common cancer sites has fallen in the EU since the late 1980s. This study aimed to examine trends in the age-specific and age-standardised cancer mortality rates and numbers of cancer deaths up to 2020 for all cancers and various specific sites for all 15 EU countries, the 10 acceding countries, Bulgaria and Romania (currently applicant countries, along with Turkey), and Iceland, Norway and Switzerland of the four EEA countries. PATIENTS AND METHODS Mortality rates were modelled as a function of age, calendar period and birth cohort. Birth cohort was calculated as age subtracted from calendar period. RESULTS As a consequence of the generally decreasing trends in the age-standardised rates, the best estimate is that there will be approximately 1.25 million cancer deaths in 2015, which is almost 130,000 (11%) more deaths than in 2000, but 155,000 (11%) fewer deaths than the 1.4 million projected in 2015 on the basis of demographic changes alone. The increases in the forecast numbers of cancer deaths in 2015 are proportionally larger in males than in females (13% and 10%, respectively) and proportionally larger in the acceding countries than in the current EU member countries (14% and 11%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Our forecasts are conservative best estimates of future cancer mortality. There is clearly scope for large improvements in survival, and hence reductions in cancer mortality, in some countries, through eliminating these differences using existing knowledge and treatment regimes.
Quality of Work Life and Its Impact on Job Performance: A Study of S.B.I & HDFC Banking Professionals

Quality of work life is a process of work organizations, which enables its members at all levels to actively participate in shaping the organization, environment, methods and outcomes. This value-based process is aimed towards meeting the twin goals of enhanced effectiveness of organization and improved quality of life at work for employee. The paper conducted study on work life quality of workforce in the banks of district Yamuna Nagar, Haryana where the aim was to find out the different factors which influences the job performance. The result of the study shows that there is high impact of quality of work life on the performance of the employees and out of the perceptual factors of quality of reward, management support, challenging work content and career & growth opportunity are the main factor which the employees think are the important factors of quality of work life which leads them to perform well.
Customer Value, Satisfaction and Behavioral Intentions: the Effects of Consumer Search Behavior

This study develops and tests an integrative model to examine the relationships among customer value, satisfaction and behavioral intentions based upon a typology of consumer search behaviors. The model was tested using surveyed data from 546 customers of car insurance in Melbourne, Australia. The findings demonstrate that each type of consumer (passive, rational-active, relational-dependent), performs differently on the relationships among customer value, satisfaction, and behavioral intentions. The identification of value, satisfaction, and behavioral intentions within each search behavior allows managers to deliver optimal value and satisfaction to their consumers. Keywords: customer value, satisfaction, behavior intensions, consumer behavior
Influence of site index on the relationship between forest net primary productivity and stand age

Previous studies show that forest net primary productivity (NPP) varies pronouncedly with stand age, and these variations play a crucial role in determining forest carbon sinks or sources at regional scales. Some forest carbon cycling models, eg. InTEC (The integrated terrestrial ecosystem C-budget model), calculates annual forest NPP in the long term according to normalized NPP-age relationships and the reference forest NPP at a given age. Therefore, the accurate NPP-age relationship is important for forest NPP estimation. In this study, NPP at various stand ages for twelve major forest stand types in Heilongjiang Province in northeast China is derived from yield tables with consideration of the total biomass increment and foliage and fine-root turnovers. Similar to previous studies, our results also show that forest NPP increases quickly at young ages, reaches the maximum value at middle age (10–40 years old), and then decreases to a relative stable level at old ages. However, we additionally found that forests under better site conditions have faster growth rates in young ages and steeper declines after reaching the maximum. Therefore, when the NPP-age curves for different site indices are normalized against the maximum value of each curve, there are significant differences among them. These differences have implications on the methodology for estimating the spatial distribution of forest carbon sources and sinks.
Gastrointestinal Transit Monitoring and Absorption of Controlled-Release Pellets of Diltiazem

The gastrointestinal (GI) transit and absorption of a multiparticulate controlled-release diltiazem formulation were investigated with reference to an innovator preparation. Transit of controlled-release pellets in GI tract was monitored using two marker drugs, namely paracetamol and sulfasalazine. Both formulations had little intersubject variation in gastric emptying and small intestine transit time. In both formulations, about 51% to 64% of the drug was absorbed while pellets were in the small intestine and the remaining amount while in the colon. The results found in this study were comparable to the other workers who used gamma scintigraphy or indirect method. Therefore, the method used in this study is a reliable alternative for studying GI transit of pellets.
Effect of Multi-Ingredient Supplement Containing Satiereal, Naringin, and Vitamin D on Body Composition, Mood, and Satiety in Overweight Adults

ABSTRACT The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of 28 days of a dietary supplement on body composition, mood, and satiety in overweight adults. Twenty healthy adults (25.5 ± 3.8 years; 87.3 ± 20.7 kg; 169.9 ± 10.6 cm; 29.9 ± 5.1 body mass index) participated in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation. Ten participants were provided with a dietary supplement containing 178 mg satiereal, 100 mg naringin, and 2,000 IU vitamin D3 daily (SUPP), and ten participants were provided a placebo (PL) for 28 days. Baseline (PRE) and post (POST) assessments included body mass, BMI, and waist circumference measures. In addition, participants provided self-reported food records and completed study questionnaires twice weekly. Questionnaires consisted of profile of mood states, visual analog scales, modified trait food-cravings questionnaire, and a modified state food-cravings questionnaire. No significant differences were noted between groups for total calorie or macronutrient intake (p = 0.65–0.92), body mass (p = 0.34), BMI (p = 0.24), or waist circumference measures (p = 0.56–0.94). In addition, no significant differences between groups were observed for mood states, subjective measures of food cravings, or feelings of anxiety, fullness, bloating, hunger, craving, and stress (p >.05). In conclusion, 28 days of a dietary supplement containing satiereal, naringin, and vitamin D3 did not have any detectable beneficial effects on body-weight management.
The Impact of the CEO's View of Risk on Turnover and the Value of Equity

The Impact of the CEO’s View of Risk on Turnover and the Value of Equity. (August 2010) Timothy Colin Campbell, B.B.A., James Madison University; M.S., Arizona State University Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Shane A. Johnson Recent theory predicts that two factors influencing the CEO’s view of risk, overconfidence and debt-like compensation, have implications for CEO forced turnover and firm equity value, respectively. We test each of these predictions using large samples of CEOs from S&P 1500 firms, with statistical methods such as Cox proportional semi-parametric hazard models and Ordinary Least Squares regressions. Section 2 tests the theoretical prediction that CEOs with excessively low or excessively high overconfidence face a higher likelihood of forced turnover. We find empirical support for this prediction: excessively overconfident (diffident) CEOs have forced turnover hazard rates approximately 67% (97%) higher than moderately overconfident CEOs. To the extent that boards terminate non-value-maximizing CEOs, the results are broadly consistent with the view that there is an interior optimum level of managerial overconfidence that maximizes firm value. Section 3 tests the theoretical prediction that debt or debt-like compensation can be used as a part of optimal executive compensation, leading to an increase in the value
Newborn piglets exposed to hypoxia after nicotine or saline pretreatment: Long-term effects on brain and heart

Objective. We wished to assess the effect of global hypoxia and the effect of nicotine pretreatment on the brain and heart of newborn pigs. Hypothesising that nicotine might give a better outcome because of its anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects. Methods. Twenty-two anaesthetised piglets were randomised to pretreatment with saline or nicotine (130 μg/kg/h) before 45 min global hypoxia. They were observed for 27 h. The brain and heart were assessed with histopathological methods. Serum for Troponin t (TnT) analyses was collected at baseline and at the end of the experiment. Results. There were no significant differences between the groups. At the end of hypoxia, BE was −14.8 ± 4.9 mmol/l and MABP was 25 ± 9 mmHg. Seven animals had autolysis of the cerebrum/cerebellum, their BE after hypoxia was −19 ± 1.8 mmol/l and MABP 23 ± 3 mmHg. The remaining 15 animals had a BE of −13 ± 4.7mmol/l (p = 0.0004) and a MABP of 26 ± 11 mmHg (ns). Eleven animals presented myocardial damage. A significant increase in TnT occurred in both groups. TnT increase and myocardial damage correlated (p = 0.001; r = 0.67). Animals with severe increase in TnT presented severe brain damage. Conclusions. Severe increase in serum TnT levels was linked to severe cerebral damage. Nicotine pretreatment had no impact on cerebral or cardiac histopathology.
GPGPU: general-purpose computation on graphics hardware

The graphics processor (GPU) on today's commodity video cards has evolved into an extremely powerful and flexible processor. Modern graphics architectures provide tremendous memory bandwidth and computational horsepower, with dozens of fully programmable shading units that support vector operations and IEEE floating point precision. High-level languages have emerged for graphics hardware, making this computational power accessible. GPGPU stands for "General-Purpose Computation on GPUs". GPGPU researchers have achieved over an order of magnitude speedup over modern CPUs on some non-graphics problems.This course provides detailed coverage of general-purpose computation on graphics hardware. We emphasize core computational building blocks, ranging from linear algebra to database queries, and review the tools, perils, and strategies in GPU programming. We present analysis of GPU performance characteristics, and use this analysis to provide insight into how to build efficient GPGPU algorithms. Finally we present a set of case studies on general-purpose applications of graphics hardware.
How Do Firms Use Cash Tax Savings: A Cross-Country Analysis

Cash tax avoidance activities can serves as a significant source of additional cash flows for firms; how managers utilize this additional cash source and the resulting consequences is an empirical question. To answer our research question, we examine the association between the spread between a country’s enacted statutory rate for the year and the cash effective tax rate, and two uses of cash – investment and dividend payout – for an international sample of firms. In the cross-section, we find the firms are more likely to invest cash tax savings rather than distribute them in the form of dividends and find that this results in inefficient over investment for firms. When partitioning on country-level governance, we find that firms located in weak-governance countries actually under invest and pay out larger amounts of tax savings in the form of dividends. Our results suggest that firms’ cash tax avoidance activities have a real effect on firm decisions, namely investment and payout policies, and this effect varies based on the country in which the firm operates.
DIABETOGENIC EFFECTS OF CHRONIC ORAL CADMIUM ADMINISTRATION TO NEONATAL RATS

1 Chronic exposure of neonatal rats to oral cadmium (Cd) (0.1 and 1.0 μg/g daily for 45 days) disturbed glucose homeostasis, as reflected by hyperglycaemia, reduced liver glycogen and enhanced gluconeogenic potential of hepatic tissue. 2 This Cd‐exposure regimen also increased hepatic cyclic adenosine 3′,5′‐monophosphate (cyclic AMP) which was accompanied by enhancement of basal, adrenaline and glucagon‐stimulated form(s) of adenylate cyclase. 3 In order to assess the responsiveness of pancreatic beta cells to glucose, islets isolated from control as well as Cd‐exposed animals were incubated in vitro and their rate of insulin secretion determined. In the presence of glucose 0.5 mg/ml, there was no significant difference in the rate of insulin release. However, at higher glucose concentrations (1.5 and 3.0 mg/ml), the islets from Cd‐exposed rats released significantly less insulin than those of control animals. 4 The results are discussed in relation to the possible mechanism of the diabetogenic effect of Cd.
From Companies to Markets - Global Developments in Corporate Governance

Good corporate governance is a basic element for healthy companies and a key to sustainable private sector development. Strong governance fundamentals contribute to better management and more effective boards, leading to enhanced operational efficiency, reduced risk, improved decision making, and increased valuations, among other business benefits. This publication represents a unique collaborative effort to assess the state of corporate governance around the world in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis. It draws on the expertise of the IFC Corporate Governance Private Sector Advisory Group and other practitioners in this important field, providing a fascinating and detailed accounting of the range of changes that have taken place in the past few years as the corporate governance agenda has been elevated. The report highlights notable improvements in board practices, control environment, shareholder protection, and transparency and disclosure. It also points to progress on more effective application, monitoring, and enforcement of corporate governance codes. Importantly, the publication identifies future directions where more work is needed, such as increased commitment at the national level to prioritize the corporate governance agenda. Specifically, Part A discusses developments from global or regional groups involved in corporate governance. Part B addresses developments in corporate governance practice, and Part C looks at developments in corporate governance codes and standards.
Improved interpretation of flow maps obtained by scanning laser Doppler flowmetry using a rat model of retinal artery occlusion.

PURPOSE To improve the interpretation of Heidelberg Retina Flowmeter (HRF; Heidelberg Engineering GmBH, Dosselheim, Germany) flow maps by examining the influence of specific vascular structures and focus depth in the presence and absence of retinal blood flow. METHODS HRF flow maps were recorded from the inferior retina of anesthetized Brown Norway rats over a wide range of focus levels, before and after laser occlusion of the retinal circulation. Analysis of the resultant flow maps showed that the sample window was positioned on a retinal artery, arteriole, or vein, or in a retinal capillary area, with or without a visible underlying choroidal vessel. The relationship between HRF-measured flow (arbitrary units) and focus depth was determined for each location. At the conclusion of each experiment, the effect of reduction of systemic blood pressure on the choroidal circulation and the level of background signal in the HRF flow map with no ocular blood flow were assessed. RESULTS The strongest flow signals came from the retinal arteries, veins, and arterioles and were reduced to choroidal background level after occlusion of the central retinal artery. Larger choroidal vessels also contributed strong flow signals. In contrast, the flow signal from the retinal capillary area was weak and unaffected by retinal artery occlusion. Changing the depth of focus significantly altered the contribution from the major retinal arteries, arterioles, and veins, but no significant depth effect was seen for retinal capillaries or choroidal vessels. The HRF flow signal remaining when systemic blood pressure was reduced to zero was not significantly different from the capillary sampling location when the eye was normally perfused. CONCLUSIONS In the pigmented rat eye, the HRF signal from retinal capillaries is not significantly different from the background noise unrelated to blood flow. Strong flow signals can be obtained from the retinal arteries, retinal arterioles, retinal veins, and choroidal vessels. Current HRF flow maps in the rat therefore reflect blood flow in the larger elements of the microvasculature rather than the capillary network.
PENGARUH PENERAPAN STANDAR AKUNTANSI PEMERINTAH, KOMPETENSI APARATUR DAN PERAN AUDIT INTERNAL TERHADAP KUALITAS INFORMASI LAPORAN KEUANGAN DENGAN SISTEM PENGENDALIAN INTERN SEBAGAI VARIABEL MODERATING (Studi Empiris pada SKPD di Pemprov NTB)

This study aims to obtain empirical evidence about the effect of applying government accounting standards, competence human resources, and the role of internal audits of the quality of financial reporting information to the internal control system as moderating variable. the population in this study were all civil servants (PNS) in the regional work units (SKPD) Pemprov NTB. Sampling was done by purposive sampling of employees in the process of financial administration, an employee who makes the financial statements and the workers who are the subject of examination APIP of the Inspectorate. Analysis of the data used in this research is regression with moderating variables. the results of this study indicate that the government penewrapan government accounting standards, competency of personnel the role of internal audit had no significant effect on the quality of financial reporting information with the internal control system as moderating variable DOI: 10.15408/akt.v9i1. 3583
Local and Cultural Aspects of Childhood Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: A Summary of Statements from the 12 Countries Worldwide (see Appendix)

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a heterogeneous bleeding disorder. The Intercontinental Childhood ITP Study Group (ICIS) analyzed demographic data and outcome in a prospective registry of over 2,000 children with ITP. In addition, participating centers from 12 different countries worldwide were asked to describe their local and cultural aspects of ITP management to provide a summary statement of the variable diagnostic and management approaches for childhood ITP. The statements of the 15 reports from 12 countries are summarized under eight main areas to reflect the variability in approach to ITP among different countries. The management of ITP in children differs dramatically worldwide in terms of observation only, medical treatment, bleeding symptoms, acceptable platelet counts, need for hospitalization or outpatient treatment, and medical care climate. The majority of experimental treatments, surveys, and guidelines are not evidence-based. Although there is a great need for cooperative studies to learn more about diagnosis, management, and prognosis in the heterogeneous disorder of ITP, local and cultural variations must be considered in international investigations.
Test-Bedding the Replacement of the Incurred Credit Loss Model with an Expected Credit Loss Model: The Case of Trade Receivables

We use a laboratory-controlled environment to provide experimental evidence on the potential intended and unintended consequences of the mandatory replacement of the Incurred Credit Loss Model (ICL) of IAS 39 by the Expected Credit Loss Model (ECL) of IFRS 9. We focus on the simplified version of the ECL model using the case of allowances for trade-receivable losses as the context. In particular, we induce incentives consistent with the existing backward-looking rule-based ICL model and the proposed forward-looking ECL model. We find that eliminating the minimum “probable” threshold condition combined with allowing managers to use forward-looking information significantly improve the adequacy of credit loss allowances and their recognition in a more timely manner. This leads to higher profits over the economic cycle compared to an environment characterized by the ICL model. However, compensation incentives lead to higher levels of earnings management and dampening profits relative to the baseline case that maximizes the profits over the economic cycle. Taken together, we interpret our findings to indicate that while the replacement of the ICL model with the ECL model has the potential to mitigate the severity of the adverse effects of the ICL model, it could entail unintended consequences for earnings management. With this new ECL model still in the pre-implementation stage, our results provide ex-ante evidence to policymakers on the advantages of the ECL model as well as about the unintended outcomes provided by its inherent incentives.