Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DFT study of the cryptand and benzocryptand and their complexes with alkali metal cations: Li+, Na+, K+

In the present work, a theoretical study of the cryptand 4, 7, 13, 16, 21, 24‐hexaoxa‐1, 10‐ diazabicyclo [8,8,8] hexacosan (the named [222]) and the cryptand 5, 6‐benzo‐4, 7, 13, 16, 21, 24‐hexaoxa‐1, 10‐diazabicyclo [8, 8, 8] hexacosan (the nemed [222B]) had been done using density functional theory (DFT) with B3LYP/6‐31G* method in order to obtain the electronic and geometrical structure of the cryptands and their complexes with alkali metal ions: Li+, Na+, and K+. The nucleophilicity of cryptands had been investigated by the Fukui function. For complexes, the match between cation and cavity size, the status of interaction between alkali metal ions and donor atoms in the cryptands and the rigidity of the cryptands had been analyzed through the other calculated parameters. In addition, the enthalpies of complexation reaction and cation exchange reaction had been studied by the calculated thermodynamic data. The calculated results are in a good agreement with the experimental data for the complexes. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2008
Adaptive Self-Organization in Distributed Tree Topologies

Tree topologies are often deployed in large-scale distributed systems to structure a hierarchical communication. Building and maintaining overlay networks self-organized in tree topologies is challenging to achieve in dynamic environments. Performance trade-offs between resilience to failures and message overhead need to be considered. This paper introduces eight adaptation strategies that provide a higher abstraction, modularity and reconfigurability in the tree self-organization process. Performance can be further enhanced by dynamically changing strategies during system runtime. Experimental evaluation illustrates the performance trade-offs and properties of adaptation strategies.
Closing the Gates to Consciousness: Distractors Activate a Central Inhibition Process

The paradigm of distractor-induced blindness has previously been used to track the transition from unconscious to conscious visual processing. In a variation of this paradigm used in this study, participants (n = 13) had to detect an orientation change of tilted bars (target) embedded in a dynamic random pattern; the onset of the target was signaled by the presentation of a color cue. Occasional orientation changes preceding the cue served as distractors and severely impaired the target's detection. ERPs showed that a frontal negativity was cumulatively activated by the distractors, and early sensory components were not affected. In a control condition, the target was defined by a coherent motion of the bars. Orientation changes preceding the motion target did not affect its detection, and the frontal suppression process was not observed. However, we obtained a significant reduction of the sensory components. The data support the notion that distractors that share the target's features trigger a cumulative inhibition process preventing the conscious representation of the inhibited features. Explorative source modeling suggests that this process originates in the pFC. A top–down modulation of sensory processing could not be observed.
Relations of Motivational Beliefs and Self-Regulated Learning Outcomes for Iranian College Students

The present study examined the correlations of scores for motivational beliefs and self-regulated learning outcomes among 200 college students who responded to Motivational Strategies for Learning Questionnaire. Analysis showed a positive correlation between scores for motivational beliefs and self-regulated learning outcomes but a negative one for scores on test anxiety and self-regulated learning.
Corneal Infections after Cortisone Therapy *

CORTISONE and hydrocortisone are now widely used in the treatment of ocular inflammations, particularly in allergic conditions such as phlyctenular keratoconjunctivitis, vernal conjunctivitis, scleritis, uveitis, and some kinds of keratitis. In the treatment of diseases in the anterior segment of the eye, an inexpensive topical application in the form of a suspension or ointment may be used with benefit. Such applications seem to have few sideeffects, but Thygeson (1953) calls attention to the fact that cortisone is a double-edged weapon, since, though it may control the inflammation, it may also increase the susceptibility of the individual to micro-organisms. He encountered cases of fungus infection of the cornea after treatment with cortisone.
INDEX NUMBER THEORY AND MEASUREMENT ECONOMICS

The production approach 2 to the calculation of nominal GDP involves calculating the value of outputs produced by an industry and subtracting the value of intermediate inputs (or intermediate consumption to use the national accounting term) used in the industry. This difference in value is called the industry’s value added. Summing these industry estimates of value added leads to an estimate of national GDP. Producer Price Indexes are used to separately deflate both industry outputs and industry intermediate inputs. A Producer Price Index (PPI) is also used to deflate an industry’s nominal value added into value added at constant prices.
Approximate Profile Maximum Likelihood

We propose an efficient algorithm for approximate computation of the profile maximum likelihood (PML), a variant of maximum likelihood maximizing the probability of observing a sufficient statistic rather than the empirical sample. The PML has appealing theoretical properties, but is difficult to compute exactly. Inspired by observations gleaned from exactly solvable cases, we look for an approximate PML solution, which, intuitively, clumps comparably frequent symbols into one symbol. This amounts to lower-bounding a certain matrix permanent by summing over a subgroup of the symmetric group rather than the whole group during the computation. We extensively experiment with the approximate solution, and find the empirical performance of our approach is competitive and sometimes significantly better than state-of-the-art performance for various estimation problems.
Mechanics of bluff body drag reduction during transient near-wake reversals

A combination of passive and active methods is used to manipulate the symmetry of the turbulent wake of an Ahmed body. Dedicated experiments to study the wake reversals occurring between symmetry-breaking states are performed. We show how transient symmetric states explored during the reversals differ from static symmetry-breaking states in the flow organization they induce. In asymmetric states, a strong interaction and coupling between the recirculating flow from one side and the shear layer from opposite side triggers shear-layer instabilities and their amplification. The resulting large-scale flow engulfment in the recirculation region increases the recirculation intensity and thus increases base drag. By contrast, during the wake reversals the disorganization of the recirculating flow leads to a transient symmetric state with prevented shear-layer interaction and triggering mechanism with a concomitant drag reduction of ${\sim}8\,\%$ compared to symmetry-breaking states. Finally, recent experimental results for unbalanced wakes and methodologies addressing the control of wake asymmetries for drag reduction are discussed and interpreted based on the present findings. This leads us to provide new insights in control methods for wake asymmetries.
Genistein Improves Regulatory Interactions between G551D-Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator and the Epithelial Sodium Channel in Xenopus Oocytes*

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in addition to its well defined Cl−channel properties regulates other ion channels. CFTR inhibits epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) currents in many epithelial and non-epithelial cells, whereas the presence of ENaC increases CFTR functional expression. This interregulation is reproduced inXenopus oocytes where both the open probability and surface expression of wild type CFTR Cl− channels are increased when CFTR is co-expressed with αβγ-mouse ENaC (mENaC) and conversely when the activity of mENaC is inhibited after wild type CFTR activation. Using the Xenopus oocyte expression system, different functional regulatory interactions were observed between G551D-CFTR and αβγ-mENaC. The co-expression of G551D-CFTR and αβγ-mENaC resulted in a 5-fold increase in G551D-CFTR Cl− current compared with oocytes expressing G551D-CFTR alone. Oocytes co-injected with both G551D-CFTR and ENaC expressed an amiloride-sensitive whole cell current that was similar to that observed before and after G551D-CFTR activation with forskolin/isobutylmethylxanthine. Treatment with genistein both enhanced the functional expression of G551D-CFTR and improved regulatory interactions between G551D-CFTR and ENaC. These data suggest that genistein may be useful in patients with cystic fibrosis and the G551D-CFTR mutation.
Effect of aerobic and anaerobic environments on antistaphylococcal activities of five fluoroquinolones

A previously established in vitro pharmacodynamic system was used to evaluate the antistaphylococcal activities of five fluoroquinolones under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 was exposed to a 5-micrograms/ml concentration of each of the following fluoroquinolones: ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, temafloxacin, sparfloxacin, and clinafloxacin. Terminal elimination half-lives of 4, 6, 8, 8, and 13 h were simulated for the respective drugs. Each fluoroquinolone was bactericidal under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. However, the bactericidal activity of each fluoroquinolone was delayed by anaerobiosis. This difference in fluoroquinolone activity under aerobic and anaerobic conditions could not be attributed to any particular parameter or physiochemical property but was most likely caused by a combination of factors (e.g., variations in hydrophobicity, intracellular pH, antibiotic concentration, and structure-activity relationships). Fluoroquinolone uptake studies were also performed to investigate the possibility of active, energy-dependent transport mechanisms in S. aureus ATCC 29213. Uptake studies indicated that active efflux does occur in S. aureus ATCC 29213.
Computable General Equilibrium Micro-Simulation Analysis of the Impact of Trade Policies on Poverty in Zimbabwe

The paper uses a micro-simulation computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to study the impact on poverty of a complete removal of tariffs in Zimbabwe. The model incorporates 14006 households derived from the 1995 Poverty Assessment Study Survey. This paper’s novelty is that it is one among a small group of papers that incorporates individual households in the CGE model as opposed to having representative households. Using individual households allows for a comprehensive analysis of poverty. The complete removal of tariffs favours exporting sectors. Poverty falls in the economy while inequality hardly changes. The results differ between rural and urban areas.
Heterogeneity in allergy to mollusks: a clinical-immunological study in a population from the North of Spain.

Background: Allergy to mollusks has been the focus of fewer studies than allergy to crustaceans. Furthermore, allergy to mollusks is less well characterized. Objectives: To describe the clinical characteristics of mollusk-allergic patients, to identify the responsible allergens, and to assess crossreactivity. Methods: We performed a prospective multicenter study including 45 patients with mollusk allergy, which was diagnosed based on a suggestive clinical history and a positive skin test result with the agent involved. Fractions were identified using SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. The proteins responsible were subsequently identified using mass spectrometry. ELISA inhibition studies were performed with mollusks, dust mites, and crustaceans. Results: We found that 25 patients (55%) were allergic to cephalopods, 14 (31%) to bivalves, and 11 (24%) to gastropods. Limpet was the third most frequent cause of allergy (15% of cases). In 31 patients (69%), the manifestation was systemic; 10 (22%) exhibited oral allergy syndrome, and 7 (15%) experienced contact urticaria. Most major allergens were found between 27 kDa and 47 kDa. ELISA inhibition assays revealed a high degree of inhibition of cephalopods and bivalves from all the groups of mollusks, mites, and crustaceans. Mass spectrometry identified tropomyosin, actin, and myosin as the major allergens. Conclusions: Cephalopods, especially squid, are the mollusks that most frequently trigger allergic symptoms. The very frequent occurrence of allergy to limpets is striking, given their low consumption in our area. It is worth highlighting the heterogeneity observed, exemplified by the gastropods. Tropomyosin appears to be responsible for the high cross-reactivity found between mollusks, mites, and crustaceans. Three new mollusk allergens were also identified, namely, actin, enolase, and a putative C1q domain–containing protein.
Nose Ears Eyes Forehead Jaw or chin shape Face in general Hair Body shape Body size / muscularity Skin Hands Genitals Asymmetry of a body part Breasts Hips Body hair Stomach Feet

307 Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is an obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorder characterized by an intense preoccupation with an imagined or slight defect in appearance. BDD has posed a challenge to mental health professionals as a result of its complex clinical presentation, involving issues such as high overvalued ideation, comorbidity, suicidality, and severe impairment in daily functioning. This article reviews the appropriate psychological and psychopharmacological treatment approaches for BDD, and it offers clinical strategies to address the multiple array of symptoms. [Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention 3:307–322 (2003)]
Hematopoietic mobilization

Objective: To ascertain the mobilization from the bone marrow and the functional relevance of the increased number of circulating hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) induced by the anti-α-4 integrin antibody natalizumab in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: We evaluated CD45lowCD34+ HSPC frequency by flow cytometry in blood from 45 natalizumab-treated patients (12 of whom were prospectively followed during the first year of treatment as part of a pilot cohort and 16 prospectively followed for validation), 10 untreated patients with MS, and 24 healthy donors. In the natalizumab-treated group, we also assessed sorted HSPC cell cycle status, T- and B-lymphocyte subpopulation frequencies (n = 29), and HSPC differentiation potential (n = 10). Results: Natalizumab-induced circulating HSPC were predominantly quiescent, suggesting recent mobilization from the bone marrow, and were capable of differentiating ex vivo. Circulating HSPC numbers were significantly increased during natalizumab, but heterogeneously, allowing the stratification of mobilizer and nonmobilizer subgroups. Nonmobilizer status was associated with persistence of disease activity during treatment. The frequency of B cells and CD103+CD8+ regulatory T cells persistently increased, more significantly in mobilizer patients, who also showed a specific naive/memory B-cell profile. Conclusions: The data suggest that natalizumab-induced circulating HSPC increase is the result of true mobilization from the bone marrow and has clinical and immunologic relevance. HSPC mobilization, associated with clinical remission and increased proportion of circulating B and regulatory T cells, may contribute to the treatment's mode of action; thus, HSPC blood counts could represent an early biomarker of responsiveness to natalizumab.
Helicobacter pylori Infection in European Children with Gastro-duodenal Ulcers and Erosions

Background: To analyze risk factors associated with gastro-duodenal ulcers and erosions in children. Methods: Open, prospective, multicenter, case-control study carried out in 11 European countries in patients with gastric or duodenal ulcers/erosions and 2 age-matched controls each. Possible risk factors were recorded. Logistic regression models were performed with adjustment for centers and age groups. Results: Seven-hundred thirty-two patients (244 cases, 153 with erosions only and 91 with ulcers, and 488 controls) were recruited. Children receiving antimicrobials or acid suppressive drugs before endoscopy were excluded (202 cases/390 controls remained for risk factor analysis). Helicobacter pylori was detected more frequently in cases than controls but only in 32.0% versus 20.1% in controls (P = 0.001). Independent exposure factors for gastric ulcers were male gender (P = 0.001), chronic neurologic disease (P = 0.015), chronic renal disease (P < 0.001) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug consumption (P = 0.035). Exposure factors for duodenal ulcers were H. pylori infection (P < 0.001) and steroid consumption (P = 0.031). Chronic renal disease was the only independent factor associated with gastric erosions (P = 0.026), those associated with duodenal erosions being H. pylori infection (P = 0.023), active smoking (P = 0.006) and chronic arthritis (P = 0.008). No risk factor was identified in 97/202 (48.0%) cases. Conclusions: H. pylori remains a risk factor for duodenal, but not for gastric lesions in children in countries with low prevalence of infection. No risk factor could be identified in half of the children with gastro-duodenal ulcers/erosions.
ULTRALUMINOUS STAR-FORMING GALAXIES AND EXTREMELY LUMINOUS WARM MOLECULAR HYDROGEN EMISSION AT z = 2.16 IN THE PKS 1138−26 RADIO GALAXY PROTOCLUSTER

A deep Spitzer Infrared Spectrograph map of the PKS 1138−26 galaxy protocluster reveals ultraluminous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission from obscured star formation in three protocluster galaxies, including Hα-emitter (HAE) 229, HAE 131, and the central Spiderweb Galaxy. Star formation rates of ∼500–1100 M☉ yr−1 are estimated from the 7.7 μm PAH feature. At such prodigious formation rates, the galaxy stellar masses will double in 0.6–1.1 Gyr. We are viewing the peak epoch of star formation for these protocluster galaxies. However, it appears that extinction of Hα is much greater (up to a factor of 40) in the two ULIRG HAEs compared to the Spiderweb. This may be attributed to different spatial distributions of star formation–nuclear star formation in the HAEs versus extended star formation in accreting satellite galaxies in the Spiderweb. We find extremely luminous mid-IR rotational line emission from warm molecular hydrogen in the Spiderweb Galaxy, with L(H2 0–0 S(3)) = 1.4 × 1044 erg s−1 (3.7 × 1010 L☉), ∼20 times more luminous than any previously known H2 emission galaxy (MOHEG). Depending on the temperature, this corresponds to a very large mass of >9 × 106–2 × 109 M☉ of T > 300 K molecular gas, which may be heated by the PKS 1138−26 radio jet, acting to quench nuclear star formation. There is >8 times more warm H2 at these temperatures in the Spiderweb than what has been seen in low-redshift (z < 0.2) radio galaxies, indicating that the Spiderweb may have a larger reservoir of molecular gas than more evolved radio galaxies. This is the highest redshift galaxy yet in which warm molecular hydrogen has been directly detected.
Correlates of Females' Sexual Fantasies

The intent of the study was to obtain data on the incidence of female sexual fantasy and on the relationship of background, personality, and attitudinal factors to the quantity of sexual fantasies. The participants were 102 university women students between the ages of 19 and 45 yr. An original Female Sexual Fantasy Questionnaire, a short form of the Attitude Toward Women Scale, the 16 PF, and the background variables of age, sexual experience, marital status, and religion provided data for the analysis. Conclusions were that 99% of the women engaged in sexual fantasy at least occasionally and that age, sexual experience, anxiety, independence, and liberal attitudes toward women are all related to frequency of sexual fantasy.
Changing mortality risk associated with CD4 cell response to antiretroviral therapy in South Africa

Objective:To determine the relationship between mortality risk and the CD4 cell response to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Design:Observational community-based ART cohort in South Africa. Methods:CD4 cell counts were measured 4 monthly, and deaths were prospectively ascertained. Cumulative person-time accrued within a range of updated CD4 cell count strata (CD4 cell-strata) was calculated and used to derive CD4 cell-stratified mortality rates. Results:Patients (2423) (median baseline CD4 cell count of 105 cells/μl) were observed for up to 5 years of ART. One hundred and ninety-seven patients died during 3155 person-years of observation. In multivariate analysis, mortality rate ratios associated with 0–49, 50–99, 100–199, 200–299, 300–399, 400–499 and at least 500 cells/μl updated CD4 cell-strata were 11.6, 4.9, 2.6, 1.7, 1.5, 1.4 and 1.0, respectively. Analysis of CD4 cell count recovery permitted calculations of person-time accrued within these CD4 cell-strata. Despite rapid immune recovery, high mortality in the first year of ART was related to the large proportion of person-time accrued within CD4 cell-strata less than 200 cells/μl. Moreover, patients with baseline CD4 cell counts less than 100 cells/μl had much higher cumulative mortality estimates at 1 and 4 years (11.6 and 16.7%) compared with those of patients with baseline counts of at least 100 cells/μl (5.2 and 9.5%) largely because of greater cumulative person-time at CD4 cell counts less than 200 cells/μl. Conclusion:Updated CD4 cell counts are the variable most strongly associated with mortality risk during ART. High cumulative mortality risk is associated with person-time accrued at low CD4 cell counts. National HIV programmes in resource-limited settings should be designed to minimize the time patients spend with CD4 cell counts less than 200 cells/μl both before and during ART.
A competency-based model for the success of an entrepreneurial start-up

Many people envy entrepreneurs and want to emulate them as a road to wealth, fame, and freedom. A large number of works have argued about what makes a person act entrepreneurially, and various traits and characteristics of entrepreneurs have been enthusiastically discussed. This study focuses on one particular point: how to facilitate a person’s efforts to become a small firm entrepreneur through competency assessment and development. To this end, this study proposes an entrepreneur competency model and employs the rough set theory (RST) and the best attribute-value (BAV) to investigate whether there are diverse competencies between small firm entrepreneurs and large firm managers. The results of this study indicate that the small firm entrepreneur generally excels in “building a mechanism for talent development”, while a large firm manager is good at “knowing the different urgency of elements of a problem” or “making feasible solutions for actions”. Thus, if a large firm manager wants to emulate a small firm entrepreneur, the suggestion is to de-emphasize methodical thinking and paper work, and to undertake more human networking.