Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of beta-cell secretory capacity using glucagon-like peptide 1.

OBJECTIVE Beta-cell secretory capacity is often evaluated with a glucagon test or a meal test. However, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is the most insulinotropic hormone known, and the effect is preserved in type 2 diabetic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We first compared the effects of intravenous bolus injections of 2.5, 5, 15, and 25 nmol GLP-1 with glucagon (1 mg intravenous) and a standard meal (566 kcal) in 6 type 2 diabetic patients and 6 matched control subjects. Next, we studied another 6 patients and 6 control subjects and, in addition to the above procedure, performed a combined glucose plus GLP-1 stimulation, where plasma glucose was increased to 15 mmol/l before injection of 2.5 nmol GLP-1. Finally, we compared the insulin response to glucose plus GLP-1 stimulation with that observed during a hyperglycemic arginine clamp (30 mmol/l) in 8 patients and 8 control subjects. RESULTS Peak insulin and C-peptide concentrations were similar after the meal, after 2.5 nmol GLP-1, and after glucagon. Side effects were less with GLP-1 than with glucagon. Peak insulin and C-peptide concentrations were as follows (C-peptide concentrations are given in parentheses): for patients (n = 12): meal, 277 +/- 42 pmol/l (2,181 +/- 261 pmol/l); GLP-1 (2.5 nmol), 390 +/- 74 pmol/l (2,144 +/- 254 pmol/l); glucagon, 329 +/- 50 pmol/l (1,780 +/- 160 pmol/l); glucose plus GLP-1, 465 +/- 87 pmol/l (2,384 +/- 299 pmol/l); for control subjects (n = 12): meal, 543 +/- 89 pmol/l (2,873 +/- 210 pmol/l); GLP-1, 356 +/- 51 pmol/l (2,001 +/- 130 pmol/l); glucagon, 420 +/- 61 pmol/l (1,995 +/- 99 pmol/l); glucose plus GLP-1, 1,412 +/- 187 pmol/l (4,391 +/- 416 pmol/l). Peak insulin and C-peptide concentrations during the hyperglycemic arginine clamp and during glucose plus GLP-1 injection were as follows: for patients: 475 +/- 141 pmol/l (2,295 +/- 379 pmol/l) and 816 +/- 268 pmol/l (3,043 +/- 508 pmol/l), respectively; for control subjects: 1,403 +/- 308 pmol/l (4,053 +/- 533 pmol/l) and 2,384 +/- 452 pmol/l (6,047 +/- 652 pmol/l), respectively. CONCLUSIONS GLP-1 (2.5 nmol = 9 microg) elicits similar secretory responses to 1 mg glucagon (but has fewer side effects) and a standard meal. Additional elevation of plasma glucose to 15 mmol/l did not enhance the response further. The incremental response was similar to that elicited by arginine, but hyperglycemia had an additional effect on the response to arginine.
THE SIGNIFICANCE TO RISK ANALYSIS OF RISKS POSED BY HUMANS

Humans both operators and managers contribute significantly to functional risk. Thus, even when risk analyses that omit human factors are good predictors of equipment failure, they are likely to be poor predictors of accidents. Engineering risk analysts could benefit from learning about and applying human reliability assessment methods, and risk analyses could benefit from addressing the risks posed by management, including senior management.
Examining intellectual capital and competitive advantage relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of intellectual capital on competitive advantage in banking sector. Further, it also examines the role of innovation as a mediating variable and organisational learning as a moderating variable in intellectual capital and competitive advantage relationship. Design/methodology/approach – Data are collected from 144 branches of 21 public and seven private banks operating in Northern India (Jammu). Three executives (including one manager and two senior employees) from each branch are contacted purposively. Out of 576 questionnaires distributed, 339 questionnaires are returned with response rate of 62.08 per cent. Findings – The study finds that intellectual capital has direct and positive impact on the competitive advantage. It is also verified that innovation fully mediates the relationship between intellectual capital and competitive advantage. Further, the moderating effect of organisational learning on the relationship between intellectual .
Electrically Powered Wire Localization System for Mobile Robots

Among the technologies for mobile robot navigation, electrically powered wire-based navigation has the advantages of resisting environmental condition variance and readily sensing. In corresponding sensing systems, anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) sensors are desirable due to their excellent performances such as extreme sensitivity, wide linear range, low noise, and highly reliability. This paper proposes several positioning algorithms based on such sensing system, using signals from a single AMR sensor and from a pair of sensors. Dual-sensor algorithms can remove influence of the navigation current strength and the deflection angle between the induction magnetic field and the surface of the sensors. Algorithm parameters are evaluated offline from experimental data by least square method (LSM). A sensing system with four AMR sensors is developed and mounted on a car-like robot for testing. Static and dynamic positioning experiments are conducted to test accuracy of the sensing system. Experimental results verify the effectiveness of the sensing system and the positioning algorithms.
Patterns of performance in new firms : estimating the effects of absorptive capacity

New firms are crucial for economic growth and development, especially in the knowledge-intensive service and manufacturing industries that compose an increasing portion of developed economies. As many new firms fail and performance varies widely for surviving firms, studying new firm entry and pre-formation processes is necessary but not sufficient to create increased understanding of the important contribution of new firms to economic growth. In order to better understand and possibly predict economic development we must also understand the drivers and dynamic of new firm survival and performance.Absorptive capacity is an established firm-level capability theory that explains sustained firm performance through the interaction of internal capabilities and competencies and the access and assimilation of external knowledge and information. However, absorptive capacity was mainly developed by studying established firms. In this dissertation I develop new measures of absorptive capacity suitable for empirical research on new micro firms; specifically using human capital as a proxy for the knowledge acquisition component and organizational tenure to represent the knowledge assimilation and exploitation component of absorptive capacity.Developing and testing a conceptual model of new firm performance including these measures on a panel dataset of knowledge-intensive new firms in Sweden 1995-2002, I find that absorptive capacity is a useful theory to explain several aspects of new firm terminations, acquisitions, and profitability. In developing and testing these new measures, this dissertation provides theoretical and methodological contributions to the empirical entrepreneurship literature for the benefit of researchers, policy-makers, and industry practitioners with an interest in new firm survival and performance.
BIOMECHANICAL FACTORS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT TO PREVENT INJURIES AND IMPROVE SPORTING PERFORMANCE ON ARTIFICIAL TURF

This article reviews existing knowledge concerning the epidemiology, instruments and regulatory criteria currently used to evaluate artificial turf soccer pitches. Recent years have seen tremendous growth in the use of artificial turf as a playing surface for sports (rugby, soccer, American football…) and the problems traditionally associated with artificial turf and its relationship with a higher percentage of injuries seem to be disappearing. The contribution of biomechanics to the development of new techniques and instruments for analysing the properties and characteristics of grass pitches has contributed towards close collaboration with the regulatory bodies of different sporting organisations to define standards and criteria that guarantee not only the safety of the sportsmen and women, but also ensure performance and entertainment. Absorption of impacts, friction and traction, abrasion and factors associated with the mobile element and its interaction with artificial turf are the properties evaluated using a wide range of methodologies and instruments. In this sense, instruments such as the “Artificial Athlete” and the “Stuttgart Skiddometer” have helped different standards (DIN, BSI, AENOR, AFNOR, FIFA…amongst others) to define criteria for the homologation of a certain artificial turf surfaces.
Cell Autonomous and Nonautonomous Mechanisms Drive Hematopoietic Stem/progenitor Cell Loss in the Absence of DNA Repair

Daily, cells incur tens of thousands of DNA lesions caused by endogenous processes. Due to their long‐lived nature, adult stem cells may be particularly susceptible to the negative impact of this constant genotoxic stress. Indeed, in murine models of DNA repair deficiencies, there is accumulation of DNA damage in hematopoietic stem cells and premature loss of function. Herein, we demonstrate that mice expressing reduced levels of ERCC1‐XPF DNA repair endonuclease (Ercc1−/Δ mice) spontaneously display a progressive decline in the number and function of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). This was accompanied by increased cell death, expression of senescence markers, reactive oxygen species, and DNA damage in HSPC populations, illustrating cell autonomous mechanisms that contribute to loss of function. In addition, the bone marrow microenvironment of Ercc1−/Δ mice was not permissive for the engraftment of transplanted normal stem cells. Bones from Ercc1−/Δ mice displayed excessive osteoclastic activity, which alters the microenvironment in a way that is unfavorable to HSPC maintenance. This was accompanied by increased proinflammatory cytokines in the bone marrow of Ercc1−/Δ mice. These data provide novel evidence that spontaneous, endogenous DNA damage, if not repaired, promotes progressive attrition of adult stem cells via both cell autonomous and nonautonomous mechanisms. STEM CELLS2013;31:511–525
Medicinal Plants and Alzheimer's Disease: from Ethnobotany to Phytotherapy **

The use of complementary medicines, such as plant extracts, in dementia therapy varies according to the different cultural traditions. In orthodox Western medicine, contrasting with that in China and the Far East for example, pharmacological properties of traditional cognitive‐ or memory‐enhancing plants have not been widely investigated in the context of current models of Alzheimer's disease. An exception is Gingko biloba in which the gingkolides have antoxidant, neuroprotective and cholinergic activities relevant to Alzheimer's disease mechanisms. The therapeutic efficacy of Ginkgo extracts in Alzheimer's disease in placebo controlled clinical trials is reportedly similar to currently prescribed drugs such as tacrine or donepezil and, importantly, undesirable side effects of Gingko are minimal. Old European reference books, such as those on medicinal herbs, document a variety of other plants such as Salvia officinalis (sage) and Melissa officinalis (balm) with memory‐improving properties, and cholinergic activities have recently been identified in extracts of these plants. Precedents for modern discovery of clinically relevant pharmacological activity in plants with long‐established medicinal use include, for example, the interaction of alkaloid opioids in Papaver somniferum (opium poppy) with endogenous opiate receptors in the brain. With recent major advances in understanding the neurobiology of Alzheimer's disease, and as yet limited efficacy of so‐called rationally designed therapies, it may be timely to re‐explore historical archives for new directions in drug development. This article considers not only the value of an integrative traditional and modern scientific approach to developing new treatments for dementia, but also in the understanding of disease mechanisms. Long before the current biologically‐based hypothesis of cholinergic derangement in Alzheimer's disease emerged, plants now known to contain cholinergic antagonists were recorded for their amnesia‐ and dementia‐inducing properties.
Differential Contributions of Set-Shifting and Monitoring to Dual-Task Interference

It is commonly argued that complex behaviour is regulated by a number of “executive functions”, which work to coordinate the operation of disparate cognitive systems in the service of an overall goal. However, the identity, roles, and interactions of specific putative executive functions remain contentious, even within widely accepted tests of executive function. The authors present two experiments that use dual-task interference to provide further support for multiple distinct executive functions and to establish the differential contributions of those functions in two relatively complex executive tasks—random generation and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Results are interpreted in terms of process models of the complex executive tasks.
TOURISM AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES IN RHODES: THE AWARENESS OF THE LOCAL SOCIETIES

Tourism is a vital industry in Rhodes as it is in many Mediterranean economies. And the adoption of a sustainable development strategy and the consequent sustainable development policies seem to guarantee long term viability of the tourism product. This sustainable development in tourism will have a direct effect on the societies who live especially in environmentally sensitive areas. For sustainable tourism development to affect positively these areas, it is important that all parts involved in tourism develop a common language and a common understanding about sustainable tourism development. The need of the societies’ sensitization is recognized widely as a “must” for a successful adoption of sustainable development policies. In this article it is aimed to understand the awareness of the planners and other key figures about sustainable development and the high school children about the knowledge of the term sustainable development and of relevant terms, understanding of the multidimensional and holistic (integrated) meaning of the concept, ability to identify the problems of tourism development and to connect them to sustainable or unsustainable tourism.
Market Risk of Real Estate: Using Indirect Data to Understand Direct Risks

Even if the market capitalization of direct real estate is comparable to that of equities and fixed income, the data on direct real estate is very poor. It is, therefore, difficult to estimate the market risk of this important asset class. Moreover, risk systems from most vendors cover equities and fixed income, but do not cover direct real estate. We propose a simple methodology that uses widely available data on indirect real estate to estimate the market risk of direct real estate. In particular, we use data on Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) returns, determine their factor exposures to other asset classes and deleverage these exposures according to REITs’ balance sheets. We show that direct real estate can be considered as a portfolio of equities, fixed income and credit combined with idiosyncratic risk. We find that the existing direct indices understate the risk of the real estate market. In addition, with our methodology, the correlations to other asset classes become materially different and higher.
Aromatase inhibitors for uterine fibroids.

BACKGROUND Uterine fibroids, also called uterine leiomyomas or myomas, are the most common benign tumours in women of reproductive age. Albeit generally benign, uterine ﬁ broids can have a major impact on women's health and quality of life by contributing to abnormal uterine bleeding and causing pelvic pressure symptoms (such as increased urinary frequency, pelvic pain and constipation). Traditional treatments for symptomatic ﬁ broids include a variety of surgical techniques. However, because of the high recurrence rate, as well as possible pain and infertility caused by the formation of postoperative adhesions, this approach may not be advisable. Safer and more effective medical therapy has long been awaited. Both in vitro studies and clinical trials have suggested that use of the aromatase inhibitors (AIs), a class of anti-oestrogens, might inhibit ﬁ broid growth, thereby eliminating the need for surgery. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of aromatase Inhibitors (AIs) in women with uterine fibroids. SEARCH METHODS We searched the following databases (from inception to August 21, 2013): Cochrane Menstrual Disorders and Subfertility Group Specialised Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library), MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and PsycINFO. In addition, the reference lists of included trials were searched, and experts in the field were contacted. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in women of reproductive age comparing the effects of any AI versus placebo, no treatment or any medical treatment/surgery were included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Selection of eligible trials, assessment of trial quality and data extraction were performed independently by two review authors. If data were available, we planned to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for analysis of dichotomous data and mean differences for continuous data, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). MAIN RESULTS Only one trial involving 70 participants was included. This trial did not report our primary review outcome (relief of symptoms of fibroids). The only secondary review outcomes reported by this trial were adverse effects (hot flushes) and reduction in fibroid size. Significantly fewer women reported hot flushes in the letrozole group than in the GnRHa group (0/33 vs 26/27, P < 0.05). Use of letrozole reduced fibroid volume by 46% and use of a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist (GnRHa) by 32% after 12 weeks of treatment; these proportions were not significantly different. The included trial did not report data on fibroid volume in a form that permitted calcuation of an odds ratio. Morevoer it was unblinded and included only 60/70 women in analysis. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Evidence is insufficient to support the use of AI drugs in the treatment of women with uterine fibroids.
Immunohistochemical localization of Mcl‐1 and bcl‐2 proteins in thymic epithelial tumours

Mcl‐1 protein is a new member of the bcl‐2 protein family. It is believed to be a blocker of apoptosis but might be different from bcl‐2 in the control of apoptosis. Using immunostaining of formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded sections, we investigated the expression of Mcl‐1 in 42 thymic epithelial tumours: three medullary thymomas, five mixed thymomas, seven cortical thymomas, eight well‐differentiated thymic carcinomas, 14 squamous cell carcinomas, four lymphoepithelioma‐like carcinomas and one undifferentiated carcinoma. bcl‐2 immunocytochemical localization was also performed for comparison. High‐grade thymic carcinomas, especially squamous cell carcinomas, revealed more intense Mcl‐1 immunoreactivity as compared to other subtypes (P < 0.001). In cases that co‐expressed Mcl‐1 and bcl‐2, the less differentiated cells had more intense expression of bcl‐2, while the more differentiated cells displayed stronger Mcl‐1 immunoreactivity. The differential expression of Mcl‐1 and bcl‐2 in neoplastic cells provides evidence that these proteins may play different roles in the processes of programmed cell death in thymic neoplasms. The finding that thymic carcinomas have stronger immunoreactivity for Mcl‐1 indicates that this protein could be a useful marker to differentiate aggressive thymic epithelial tumours from indolent ones.
Risky decisions: How context modulates our risk preferences

Studies of risky decision-making have demonstrated that humans typically prefer risky options after incurring a financial loss, while generally preferring safer options after a monetary gain. Here, we examined the neural processes underlying these inconsistent risk preferences by investigating the evaluation of gains and losses, and demonstrating how these responses can impact subsequent preference for either risky or safe choice options. Participants performed a task while undergoing fMRI in which they experienced both gains and losses. Immediately following a gain or loss, participants decided to either play or pass on a “double-orquits” gamble. The outcome of the gamble could either double or eliminate their initial gain (from the time-estimation task) or redeem or double their initial loss. If they chose not to play this gamble, they retained the initial gain or loss. We demonstrate a shift in risk-taking preferences for identical sets of gambles as a function of previous gains or losses, with participants showing a greater preference towards riskier decisions in the context of a prior loss. An interaction between evaluating gain/loss contexts and subsequent behavioural risk pattern revealed an increased BOLD response in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), with stronger responses for both gambling in a loss context and safety in a gain context. This suggests that the vmPFC is responsible for integrating these contextual effects, with these processes impacting on subsequent risky choice. Based on: Losecaat Vermeer, A. B. , Boksem, M. A. S. & Sanfey, A. G. (2014). Neural mechanisms underlying context-dependent shifts in risk preferences, NeuroImage, 103, 355–363.
Therapy-Related Acute Myeloid Leukemias

Therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) is a heterogeneous group of myeloid neo‐ plasms occurring as an overwhelming complication in patients receiving previous cytotoxic chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy used to treat haematopoietic or solid malignancies or associated with immunosuppressive treatment for non-neoplastic rheumatologic/autoim‐ mune diseases or solid organ transplantation (Offman et al., 2004; Kwong, 2010). T-AML is an increasingly recognized condition included in the category of therapy-related myeloid neoplasms in the revised WHO classification of tumours of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues, together with therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome (t-MDS) and myelodys‐ plastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm, that constitute a unique clinical syndrome (Vardiman et al., 2009).
A new non-linear model for transformer oil residual operating time

The purpose of this paper is to implement non-linear multivariable regression technique (nlm) for the prediction of the residual operating time (ROT) of the transformer oil characteristics. This technique depends on non-linear models for each transformer oil characteristic and linear combination of these non-linear models. The characteristics under study are the oil breakdown voltage, total acidity and water content. The proposed technique has proved its accuracy and applicability by justifying the oil characteristics which have a strong impact on ROT and by giving more accurate predicted results than those obtained by previous modeling techniques.
Antecedents of Suppliers' Participation in Business-to- Government (B2G) Electronic Auction Markets: Thai B2G E-Auction

Despite business-to-government (B2G) electronic auction (e-auction) markets being a way for suppliers to create opportunities for market expansion and for trading activities, the effort to understand the behaviour of suppliers participating in these markets has been lacking. Low supplier participation has been a major problem in Thai e-auction markets. In this paper, we propose a framework to explain suppliers’ intention to participate, and the level of participation in B2G e-auction markets. We posit that suppliers’ participation depends on organizational motivation, and their capabilities. The conceptual framework draws from the Motivation-Ability Framework, Transaction Cost Theory, Institutional Theory, and Resource-Based Theory. It proposes that three key constructs - efficiency motive, legitimacy motive, and organizational capabilities influence suppliers’ intention to participate as well as their participation level in B2G e-auction markets. The conceptual framework may be useful to better understand the key reasons for suppliers to participate in B2G e-auction markets. We also provide rationale for each of the