Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Corruption, transaction costs, and innovation in Africa

This paper examines the relationship between corruption, transaction costs as measured by asset specificity, and innovation in Africa. We hypothesize that in the context of developing countries in Africa, corruption is positively associated with innovation. In addition, we hypothesize that this relationship is mediated by physical asset specificity and human asset specificity. These hypotheses are tested by means of a multiple mediation model. The product of coefficients approach and bootstrapping techniques are used to estimate firm-level data from the 2013 World Bank Enterprise Survey and 2013 Innovation Follow-up Survey. The results from the estimations reveal that corruption is positively associated with innovation, and that physical asset specificity mediates this relationship. There is no evidence suggesting that human asset specificity mediates the relationship between corruption and innovation. We conclude that the positive relationship between corruption and innovation offers support to the hypothesis that corruption ‘greases-the-wheels’ of innovation in Africa. Furthermore, physical asset specificity increases the likelihood of innovation in a business environment characterized by a high degree of corruption.
The Theory of 2-Structures - A Framework for Decomposition and Transformation of Graphs

The theory of 2-structures provides a convenient framework for decomposition and transformation of mathematical systems where one or several different binary relationships hold between the objects of the system. In particular, it forms a useful framework for decomposition and transformation of graphs.The decomposition methods presented in this book correspond closely to the top-down design methods studied in computer science. The transformation methods considered here have a natural interpretation in the dynamic evolution of certain kinds of communication networks. From the mathematical point of view, the clan decomposition method presented here, also known as modular decomposition or substitution decomposition, is closely related to the decomposition by quotients in algebra. The transformation method presented here is based on labelled 2-structures over groups, the theory of which generalizes the well-studied theory of switching classes of graphs.This book is both a text and a monograph. As a monograph, the results concerning the decomposition and transformation of 2-structures are presented in a unified way. In addition, detailed notes on references are provided at the end of each chapter. These notes allow the reader to trace the origin of many notions and results, and to browse through the literature in order to extend the material presented in the book.To facilitate its use as a textbook, there are numerous examples and exercises which provide an opportunity for the reader to check his or her understanding of the discussed material. Furthermore, the text begins with preliminaries on partial orders, semigroups, groups and graphs to the extent needed for the book.
A New Social-Cognitive Developmental Perspective on Prejudice

We argue that prejudice should be investigated in the context of social-cognitive development and the interplay between morality and group identity. Our new perspective examines how children consider group identity (and group norms) along with their developing moral beliefs about fairness and justice. This is achieved by developing an integrated framework drawing on developmental and social psychological theories of prejudice. This synthesis results in a perspective that provides a more contextualized analysis of prejudice development than that previously offered by developmental theories. We describe research that supports our view that social norms, intergroup contact, and perceived outgroup threat affect the relative weight children place on moral and group-based criteria during the development of prejudice.
Use of Satellite Observations for Long-Term Exposure Assessment of Global Concentrations of Fine Particulate Matter

Background: More than a decade of satellite observations offers global information about the trend and magnitude of human exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Objective: In this study, we developed improved global exposure estimates of ambient PM2.5 mass and trend using PM2.5 concentrations inferred from multiple satellite instruments. Methods: We combined three satellite-derived PM2.5 sources to produce global PM2.5 estimates at about 10 km × 10 km from 1998 through 2012. For each source, we related total column retrievals of aerosol optical depth to near-ground PM2.5 using the GEOS–Chem chemical transport model to represent local aerosol optical properties and vertical profiles. We collected 210 global ground-based PM2.5 observations from the literature to evaluate our satellite-based estimates with values measured in areas other than North America and Europe. Results: We estimated that global population-weighted ambient PM2.5 concentrations increased 0.55 μg/m3/year (95% CI: 0.43, 0.67) (2.1%/year; 95% CI: 1.6, 2.6) from 1998 through 2012. Increasing PM2.5 in some developing regions drove this global change, despite decreasing PM2.5 in some developed regions. The estimated proportion of the population of East Asia living above the World Health Organization (WHO) Interim Target-1 of 35 μg/m3 increased from 51% in 1998–2000 to 70% in 2010–2012. In contrast, the North American proportion above the WHO Air Quality Guideline of 10 μg/m3 fell from 62% in 1998–2000 to 19% in 2010–2012. We found significant agreement between satellite-derived estimates and ground-based measurements outside North America and Europe (r = 0.81; n = 210; slope = 0.68). The low bias in satellite-derived estimates suggests that true global concentrations could be even greater. Conclusions: Satellite observations provide insight into global long-term changes in ambient PM2.5 concentrations. Satellite-derived estimates and ground-based PM2.5 observations from this study are available for public use. Citation: van Donkelaar A, Martin RV, Brauer M, Boys BL. 2015. Use of satellite observations for long-term exposure assessment of global concentrations of fine particulate matter. Environ Health Perspect 123:135–143; http://dx.doi. org/10.1289/ehp.1408646
Human Affection Exchange: XIII. Affectionate Communication Accelerates Neuroendocrine Stress Recovery

Contemporary theory in interpersonal communication and health psychology supports the prediction that engaging in affectionate behavior within established relationships has a direct effect on the alleviation of stress symptoms following exposure to an acute stressor. Participants in this study were exposed to a series of standard laboratory stressors and were subsequently assigned either to an experimental group or to 1 of 2 control groups. Those in the experimental group were instructed to write a letter to a loved one in which they expressed their feelings of affection for that person. Those in 1 control group thought about a loved one but did not engage in any communicative behavior, and those in the other control group simply sat quietly. All 3 conditions were compared with respect to their levels of salivary free cortisol, an adrenal steroid hormone that is instrumental in the body's neuroendocrine stress response. Results indicated that, compared to the control groups, those in the experimental group experienced accelerated cortisol recovery following exposure to the acute stressors.
Timely but above all useful diagnosis of celiac disease

I read with great interest the recent manuscript of Fuchs et al. [1]. They conclude that the number of long diagnostic delays in celiac disease has decreased over the past decades and that national guidelines together with increased awareness and active screening in at-risk groups of celiac disease are important in these circumstances. Although the actual value of a screening program appears obvious, not all authors declare themselves in favor of this strategy. Hoffenberg in 2005 [2] highlights the difficulty of getting a good compliance to the gluten-free diet (GFD) in totally asymptomatic young patients, especially in adolescents. He therefore recommended in screening programs, the execution of at least two consecutive antibody assays before endoscopic examination and performing careful follow-up for patients and families in order to improve the compliance to the GFD. In the same year, Collin emphasized that asymptomatic adult patients in the first year of diet show an improvement in the quality of life, although they do not maintain a strict adherence to dietary rules in the following years [3]. In the study of Mustalahti et al., the result of adherence to GFD was similar among a population of symptomatic adults and one of asymptomatic patients at diagnosis [4]. These data appear strongly in contrast with those of Fabiani et al. in 1996: in a population of 28 asymptomatic students (aged between 11 and 14 years), only 23 have returned to take part in follow-up and of these only 12 reported a strict adherence to the diet [5]. Wagner et al. in 2008, also referring to teenagers, focused attention on the need for psychological assistance programs and social improvement for all those starting GFD in adolescence in order to avoid both the abandonment of the diet and a decline in the quality of life [6]. The breaking with some “social obligations” typical of adolescents influences the compliance to GFD. Adolescence is a period of strong discussion of the conventions combined with a wider development of self-consciousness. Therefore, it is important that screening is instituted early, at an age when the GFD can be implemented in a controlled environment (home/school) and is more easily accepted. I totally agree with the authors about the need for more timely diagnosis of celiac disease, and also ensuring that patients are not abandoned after the diagnosis, but followed. The real goal should not be just a new diagnosis, but a useful diagnosis.
Defect generation statistics in thin gate oxides

We analyze data-retention experiments for flash memory arrays with thin tunnel oxide (t/sub ox/ = 5 nm). These samples show an additional conduction mechanism besides Fowler-Nordheim tunneling and stress-induced leakage current (SILC). The additional leakage contribution is analyzed with respect to the spatial distribution in the array and the shape of the current-voltage characteristics, and is interpreted as an anomalous SILC due to a two-trap leakage path. From the cycling dependence of the distribution tails related to one- and two-trap leakage, we provide evidence that the defect generation statistics is not Poissonian, but is instead correlated. Possible physical mechanisms responsible for correlated generation are also discussed.
Heavy vs Light Load Single-Joint Exercise Performance with Different Rest Intervals

Abstract The aim of the study was to compare the effect of three distinct rest period lengths between sets of upper body single-joint exercise with different load zones and volume designed for either endurance or hypertrophy (50% or 80% of 1-RM). Sixteen trained men (20.75 ± 2.54 years; 76.35 ± 5.03 kg; 176.75 ± 3.33 cm, 24.53 ± 1.47 kg/m2) performed a test and retest of 1-RM on non-consecutive days. Forty-eight hours after load testing, the participants were randomly assigned to six sessions consisting of four sets of the triceps pull-down, combining different intensities with distinct rest periods between sets. The shorter 1 minute rest promoted a significant reduction in the total repetition number compared to 3 minute rest for both workloads. There was a difference between 3 and 5 minute conditions for the 50% of 1-RM that did not occur for the 80% of 1-RM condition. Both intensities presented significant interaction values for the rest conditions vs. each set (50% p = 0.0001; 80% p = 0.0001). Additionally, significant values were found for the main effect of the performance of subsequent sets (50% p = 0.003; 80% p = 0.001) and rest conditions (50% p = 0.0001; 80% p = 0.0001). In conclusion, for heavier loads (80%) to fatigue, longer rest of 3 to 5 minutes seems to allow for better recovery between sets and thus, promotes a greater volume. However, when training with lighter loads (50%), the magnitude of the rest seems to directly affect the performance of subsequent sets, and also presents a correlation with total volume achieved for the upper body single-joint exercise scheme.
Coverage of the Stanford Prison Experiment in Introductory Social Psychology Textbooks

This study is concerned with the nature of the coverage in introductory social psychology textbooks of the Stanford prison experiment (SPE), given the many criticisms, especially recently, of the SPE. These criticisms concern both the study’s methodology and the situationist explanation of the outcome. Ten textbooks were analyzed for coverage of the SPE and its ensuing criticisms. Coverage of the SPE was found to be slightly less than that in introductory psychology textbooks, and the majority of the texts providing coverage either provided no or minimal coverage of the criticisms. Contributing factors to and possible explanations for such coverage are discussed. One explanation is applied to textbook coverage of the Kitty Genovese story and a critique exposing its inaccuracies.
Prediabetes Conversion to Normoglycemia Is Superior Adding a Low-Carbohydrate and Energy Deficit Formula Diet to Lifestyle Intervention—A 12-Month Subanalysis of the ACOORH Trial

Lifestyle interventions have been shown to reverse hyperglycemia to normoglycemia. However, these effects are not long-lasting and are accompanied with high dropout rates. As formula diets have been shown to be simple in usage and effective in improving glycemic control, we hypothesised that adding a low-carbohydrate and energy deficit formula diet to a low-intensity lifestyle intervention is superior in reversing prediabetes compared with lifestyle intervention alone. In this predefined subanalysis of an international, multicenter randomised controlled trial (Almased Concept against Overweight and Obesity and Related Health Risk (ACOORH) study (ID DRKS00006811)), 141 persons with prediabetes were randomised (1:2) into either a control group with lifestyle intervention only (CON, n = 45) or a lifestyle intervention group accompanied with a formula diet (INT, n = 96). Both groups were equipped with telemonitoring devices. INT received a low-carbohydrate formula diet substituting three meals/day (~1200 kcal/day) within the first week, two meals/day during week 2–4, and one meal/day during week 5–26 (1300–1500 kcal/day). Follow-up was performed after 52 weeks and 105 participants (75%, INT: n = 74; CON: n = 31) finished the 26-week intervention phase. Follow-up data after 52 weeks were available from 93 participants (66%, INT: n = 65; CON: n = 28). Compared with CON, significantly more INT participants converted to normoglycemia after 52 weeks (50% vs. 31%; p < 0.05). The risk reduction led to a number-needed-to-treat of 5.3 for INT. Lifestyle intervention with a low-carbohydrate formula diet reduces prediabetes prevalence stronger than lifestyle intervention alone and is effective for type 2 diabetes prevention.
Markedly elevated CA 19-9 in the pus and the serum of a patient with pyogenic liver abscess.

M, et al. Prevalence of coeliac disease indiabetic children and their first-degree relatives in West Algeria: screening with serological markers. Acta Paediatr 1996; 412(Suppl):58–60. 7. Ertekin V, Selimoglu MA, Kardas F, et al. Prevalence of celiac disease in Turkish children. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2005;39: 689–691. 8. Patresi R, Gandolfi L, Garcia SG, et al. Prevalence of coeliac disease: unexplained age-related variation in the same population. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2003;7:747–750. 9. Saukkonen T, Vaisanen S, Akerblom HK, et al. Coeliac disease in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes: a study of growth, glycaemic control, and experiences of families. Acta Paediatr. 2002;91:297–302. 10. Freeman HJ, Weinstein WM, Schitka TK, et al. Primary abdominal lymphoma. Presenting manifestations of celiac sprue or complicating dermatitis herpetiformis. Am J Med. 1977;63:585–594.
IS1634, a Novel Insertion Element Creating Long, Variable-Length Direct Repeats Which Is Specific for Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides Small-Colony Type

ABSTRACT A new insertion sequence, IS1634, has been identified in Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoidessmall-colony type (SC). IS1634 shows structural and functional similarities to IS1549 of Mycobacterium smegmatis and with it seems to form a new class or family of insertion sequences. IS1634 has a size of 1,872 bp, including two 13-bp terminal inverted repeats. It contains an open reading frame (ORF) encoding a product of 533 amino acids which shows similarity to the transposase of IS1549 and to a lesser extent to the transposases of IS elements of the IS4family. IS1634 is present at about 30 copies in the genome of all 22 different field strains of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC tested. Characteristic of IS1634 are the long and variable-length direct repeats at the sites of insertion which were found to reach up to about 500 bp. IS1634 is specific to M. mycoides subsp. mycoides SC and is not present in any of the other members of the M. mycoidescluster. Neither was it found in other closely relatedMycoplasma species of ruminants.
Renin–Angiotensin System Inhibition, Worsening Renal Function, and Outcome in Heart Failure Patients With Reduced and Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Meta-Analysis of Published Study Data

Background— Renin–angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors significantly improve outcome in heart failure (HF) patients with reduced ejection fraction (HFREF), irrespective of the occurrence of worsening renal function (WRF). However, in HF patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF), RAAS inhibitors have not been shown to improve outcome but are still frequently prescribed. Methods and Results— Random effect meta-analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between RAAS inhibitor therapy, WRF in both HF phenotypes, and mortality. Studies were selected based on literature search in MEDLNE and included randomized, placebo controlled trials of RAAS inhibitors in chronic HF. The primary outcome consisted of the interaction analysis for the association between RAAS inhibition–induced WRF, HF phenotype and outcome. A total of 8 studies (6 HFREF and 2 HFPEF, including 28 961 patients) were included in our analysis. WRF was more frequent in the RAAS inhibitor group, compared with the placebo group, in both HFREF and HFPEF. In HFREF, WRF induced by RAAS inhibitor therapy was associated with a less increased relative risk of mortality (relative risk, 1.19 (1.08–1.31); P<0.001), compared with WRF induced by placebo (relative risk, 1.48 (1.35–1.62); P<0.001; P for interaction 0.005). In contrast, WRF induced by RAAS inhibitor therapy was strongly associated with worse outcomes in HFPEF (relative risk, 1.78 (1.43–2.21); P<0.001), whereas placebo-induced WRF was not (relative risk, 1.25 (0.88–1.77); P=0.21; P for interaction 0.002). Conclusions— RAAS inhibitors induce renal dysfunction in both HFREF and HFPEF. However, in contrast to patients with HFREF where mortality increase with WRF is small, HFPEF patients with RAAS inhibitor–induced WRF have an increased mortality risk, without experiencing improved outcome with RAAS inhibition.
Operator dermal exposure and protection provided by personal protective equipment and working coveralls during mixing/loading, application and sprayer cleaning in vineyards

The efficiency of a working coverall combined with personal protective equipment to protect operators against dermal exposure to plant protection products under field conditions was studied. Operators wore a non-certified water-repellent finish polyester/cotton coverall plus a certified gown during the mixing/loading and the cleaning phases. Insecticide foliar application to a vineyard was selected as the exposure scenario. The overall dermal residue levels measured in this study were in the range of data recently collected in Europe. The water-repellent finish working coverall reduced body exposure by a factor of approximately 95%. Wearing a Category III Type 3 partial body gown during mixing/loading and cleaning of the application equipment led to a further protective effect of 98.7%. The combination of a water-repellent finish working coverall and partial body protection during specific tasks provided satisfactory levels of protection and can be considered as suitable protection for the conditions of use studied.
Refractory strictures despite steroid injection after esophageal endoscopic resection

Background: Although steroid injection prevents stricture after esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD), some patients require repeated sessions of endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD). We investigated the risk for refractory stricture despite the administration of steroid injections to prevent stricture in patients undergoing esophageal ESD. Refractory stricture was defined as the requirement for more than three sessions of EBD to resolve the stricture. In addition, the safety of steroid injections was assessed based on the rate of complications. Patients and methods: We analyzed data from 127 consecutive patients who underwent esophageal ESD and had mucosal defects with a circumferential extent greater than three-quarters of the esophagus. To prevent stricture, steroid injection was performed. EBD was performed whenever a patient had symptoms of dysphagia. Results: The percentage of patients with a tumor circumferential extent greater than 75 % was significantly higher in those with refractory stricture than in those without stricture (P = 0.001). Multivariate analysis adjusted for age, sex, history of radiation therapy, tumor location, and tumor diameter showed that a tumor circumferential extent greater than 75 % was an independent risk factor for refractory stricture (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 5.49 [95 %CI 1.91 – 15.84], P = 0.002). Major adverse events occurred in 3 patients (2.4 %): perforation during EBD in 2 patients and delayed perforation after EBD in 1 patient. The patient with delayed perforation underwent esophagectomy because of mediastinitis. Conclusions: A tumor circumferential extent greater than 75 % is an independent risk factor for refractory stricture despite steroid injections. The development of more extensive interventions is warranted to prevent refractory stricture.
Association of Anxiety-Related Traits with a Polymorphism in the Serotonin Transporter Gene Regulatory Region

Transporter-facilitated uptake of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT) has been implicated in anxiety in humans and animal models and is the site of action of widely used uptake-inhibiting antidepressant and antianxiety drugs. Human 5-HT transporter (5-HTT) gene transcription is modulated by a common polymorphism in its upstream regulatory region. The short variant of the polymorphism reduces the transcriptional efficiency of the 5-HTT gene promoter, resulting in decreased 5-HTT expression and 5-HT uptake in lymphoblasts. Association studies in two independent samples totaling 505 individuals revealed that the 5-HTT polymorphism accounts for 3 to 4 percent of total variation and 7 to 9 percent of inherited variance in anxiety-related personality traits in individuals as well as sibships.
Absolute stability criteria for Lur'e singular systems of neutral type

This paper concerns the problem of the absolute stability for Lur'e singular systems of neutral type. Based on integral inequality, some both discrete-delay-dependent and neutral-delay-dependent stability criteria are obtained and formulated in the form of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Neither model transformation nor bounding technique for cross terms is involved. Numerical examples are given to show the less conservatism of the proposed results.