Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exchange Rate, Uncertainty and Foreign Direct Investment Inflow in West African Monetary Zone

Exchange-rate movements are mostly unpredictable, and this tends to affect both trade and foreign investment flows. This is because foreign investors are unclear on the returns to investment decisions in such cases. Hence, this study examines the effect of exchange rate, its volatility and uncertainty on foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow in West African monetary zone (WAMZ). The study covers the period1980–2014, and the within estimator for the fixed effect model is employed. The study accounts for both exchange rate volatility and uncertainty measures which are anticipated and unanticipated exchange rate innovations measures, respectively. The results show that exchange-rate movements in WAMZ countries are more of unanticipated than anticipated innovations in affecting FDI inflow. Therefore, policies aimed at targeting exchange-rate stability are essential in the WAMZ countries since investors are profit maximizers; hence, investment uncertainties must be kept as low as possible. Also since WAMZ export sectors are primary products based, policies should be geared towards the diversification of the export sectors to combat unanticipated global shocks from commodity prices movement in having an effect on the exchange rate through the foreign exchange reserve channel.
Head Impact Exposure During a Weekend Youth Soccer Tournament

Concussion is a known risk in youth soccer, but little is known about subconcussive head impacts. The authors provided a prospective cohort study measuring frequency and magnitude of subconcussive head impacts using accelerometry in a middle school–age soccer tournament, and association between head impacts and changes in (1) symptoms, (2) cognitive testing, and (3) advanced neuroimaging. A total of 17 youth completed the study (41% female, mean 12.6 years). There were 73 head impacts >15g measured (45% headers) and only 2 had a maximum peak linear acceleration >50g. No youth reported symptoms consistent with concussion. After correction for multiple comparisons and a sensitivity analysis excluding clear outliers, no significant associations were found between head impact exposure and neuropsychological testing or advanced neuroimaging. The authors conclude that head impacts were relatively uncommon and low in acceleration in youth playing a weekend soccer tournament. This study adds to the limited data regarding head impacts in youth soccer.
Society 5.0 and Social Development: Contributions to a Discussion

In this working paper we intended to address the emergence of what, potentially, will be a central concept in the very near future, Society 5.0 and that arises politically in (with) following the implementation of the concept of Industry 4.0. Society 5.0 proposes to deepen the potential of the individual-technology relationship in the promotion of the improvement of the quality of life of all people through a super smart society, is an extremely recent concept as a guiding social development that can have a profound impact in societies at all levels, such as quality of life and sustainability. It is a presentation that is based on very recent3 publications, but which also has a prospective component, which always generates some indetermination and uncertainty. Also, for this reason, it is a contribution that seeks above all else to contribute to this very urgent and necessary discussion.
Polymorphisms for ghrelin with consequences on satiety and metabolic alterations

Purpose of review To understand the current trend of ghrelin genetic variations on the control of satiety, eating behaviours, obesity, and metabolic alterations, and its development over the last 18 months. Recent findings Several polymorphisms of the ghrelin gene, its receptor gene and ghrelin's acylating enzyme, ghrelin O-acyl transferase, have been identified and studied over the last decade in relation to control of satiety, obesity, eating behaviours, metabolic syndrome, glucose homeostasis, and type 2 diabetes. However, the effects described are either small or nonsignificant and often subjected to contradictory conclusions between studies. In the last 18 months, several of these areas of investigations have been revisited under more controlled conditions or have been subjected to meta-analysis. Summary The effects of ghrelin gene polymorphism, is a complex area of investigation, due to ghrelin's interplay with a host of various factors part of an integrative network. However, taken together, results suggest that there are no or nonsignificant effects of the common genetic variants. A better understanding of the network, probably by a systems biology type approach, will be necessary to assign the exact role played by gene polymorphism of the component of the ghrelin axis.
[The importance of multifactorial rehabilitation treatment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis].

INTRODUCTION The treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is still a major challenge. Rehabilitation treatment is scarcely considered and its usefulness in these patients continues to be controversial. PATIENTS AND METHODS A multidisciplinary team made up of neurologists, physiotherapists, logopaedists, defectologists, psychologists and specialist physicians treated six patients with ALS in an intensive rehabilitation programme of 41 hours per week for four weeks. We follow certain basic principles in rehabilitation including: 1. Treatment by a multidisclipinary team; 2. Treatment tailored to the individual; 3. Avoidance of muscle fatigue and vigorous exercise, and 4. Intensive treatment with carefully measured amounts of different activities (logophoniatrics, occupational therapy, psychology, physical therapy, etc.) to avoid fatigue. The patients fulfilled the criteria of E1 Escorial for the diagnosis of definite ALS, and gave their informed consent to undergo the treatment. Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) and ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS) tests were done on all patients at the beginning and end of the treatment. The Wilcoxon test for paired series, comparing scores at the start and finish, were done in each case. RESULTS In all patients the FVC and ALSFRS improved after the treatment. The results were statistically significant (Z: 2.2013; p= 0.027) on the Wilcoxon paired series test and no complications were seen. CONCLUSIONS Intensive, multifactorial rehabilitation treatment for four weeks improved the FVC and ALSFRS in all patients with ALS and no complications were seen. Until there is a curative treatment for ALS, multifactorial rehabilitation remains the best hope for these patients.
Hepatoprotective Activity of Herbal Composition SAL, a Standardize Blend Comprised of Schisandra chinensis, Artemisia capillaris, and Aloe barbadensis

Some botanicals have been reported to possess antioxidative activities acting as scavengers of free radicals rendering their usage in herbal medicine. Here we describe the potential use of “SAL,” a standardized blend comprised of three extracts from Schisandra chinensis, Artemisia capillaris, and Aloe barbadensis, in mitigating chemically induced acute liver toxicities. Acetaminophen and carbon tetrachloride induced acute liver toxicity models in mice were utilized. Hepatic functional tests from serum collected at T24 and hepatic glutathione and superoxide dismutases from liver homogenates were evaluated. Histopathology analysis and merit of blending 3 standardized extracts were also confirmed. Statistically significant and dose-correlated inhibitions in serum ALT ranging from 52.5% (p = 0.004) to 34.6% (p = 0.05) in the APAP and 46.3% (p < 0.001) to 29.9% (p = 0.02) in the CCl4 models were observed for SAL administered at doses of 400–250 mg/kg. Moreover, SAL resulted in up to 60.6% and 80.2% reductions in serums AST and bile acid, respectively. The composition replenished depleted hepatic glutathione in association with an increase of hepatic superoxide dismutase. Unexpected synergistic protection from liver damage was also observed. Therefore, the composition SAL could be potentially utilized as an effective hepatic-detoxification agent for the protection from liver damage.
Varieties of Workplace Dualisation: A Study of Agency Work in the German Automotive Industry

This article investigates the variation in workplace arrangements on agency work across four German automotive plants. The plants differ in terms of the proportion of agency workers, the length of their assignment, their function and their wage level compared with the permanent workforce. The article explores how the interaction between national-level deregulation, workplace power resources and the local political and economic context affects the bargaining outcomes achieved by works councils. Findings rely on interviews with human resource managers and labour representatives at workplace and sectoral level.
Regional and tissue specific transcript signatures of ion channel genes in the non‐diseased human heart

The various cardiac regions have specific action potential properties appropriate to their electrical specialization, resulting from a specific pattern of ion‐channel functional expression. The present study addressed regionally defined differential ion‐channel expression in the non‐diseased human heart with a genomic approach. High‐throughput real‐time RT‐PCR was used to quantify the expression patterns of 79 ion‐channel subunit transcripts and related genes in atria, ventricular epicardium and endocardium, and Purkinje fibres isolated from 15 non‐diseased human donor hearts. Two‐way non‐directed hierarchical clustering separated atria, Purkinje fibre and ventricular compartments, but did not show specific patterns for epicardium versus endocardium, nor left‐ versus right‐sided chambers. Genes that characterized the atria (versus ventricles) included Cx40, Kv1.5 and Kir3.1 as expected, but also Cav1.3, Cav3.1, Cavα2δ2, Navβ1, TWIK1, TASK1 and HCN4. Only Kir2.1, RyR2, phospholamban and Kv1.4 showed higher expression in the ventricles. The Purkinje fibre expression‐portrait (versus ventricle) included stronger expression of Cx40, Kv4.3, Kir3.1, TWIK1, HCN4, ClC6 and CALM1, along with weaker expression of mRNA encoding Cx43, Kir2.1, KChIP2, the pumps/exchangers Na+,K+‐ATPase, NCX1, SERCA2, and the Ca2+‐handling proteins RYR2 and CASQ2. Transcripts that were more strongly expressed in epicardium (versus endocardium) included Cav1.2, KChIP2, SERCA2, CALM3 and calcineurin‐α. Nav1.5 and Navβ1 were more strongly expressed in the endocardium. For selected genes, RT‐PCR data were confirmed at the protein level. This is the first report of the global portrait of regional ion‐channel subunit‐gene expression in the non‐diseased human heart. Our data point to significant regionally determined ion‐channel expression differences, with potentially important implications for understanding regional electrophysiology, arrhythmia mechanisms, and responses to ion‐channel blocking drugs. Concordance with previous functional studies suggests that regional regulation of cardiac ion‐current expression may be primarily transcriptional.
Characterization of Proteus mirabilisPrecocious Swarming Mutants: Identification of rsbA, Encoding a Regulator of Swarming Behavior

ABSTRACT Proteus mirabilis swarming behavior is characterized by the development of concentric rings of growth that are formed as cyclic events of swarmer cell differentiation, swarming migration, and cellular differentiation are repeated during colony translocation across a surface. This cycle produces the bull’s-eye colony often associated with cultures of P. mirabilis. How the cells communicate with one another to coordinate these perfectly synchronized rings is presently unknown. We report here the identification of a genetic locus that, when mutated, results in a precocious swarming phenotype. These mutants are defective in the temporal control of swarming migration and start swarming ca. 60 min sooner than wild-type cells. Unlike the wild type, precocious swarming mutants are also constitutive swarmer cells and swarm on minimal agar medium. The defects were found to be localized to a 5.4-kb locus on the P. mirabilis genome encoding RsbA (regulator of swarming behavior) and the P. mirabilis homologs to RcsB and RcsC. RsbA is homologous to membrane sensor histidine kinases of the two-component family of regulatory proteins, suggesting that RsbA may function as a sensor of environmental conditions required to initiate swarming migration. Introduction of a rsbA mutation back into the wild type via allelic-exchange mutagenesis reconstructed the precocious swarming phenotype, which could be complemented in trans by a plasmid-borne copy of rsbA. Overexpression of RsbA in wild-type cells resulted in precocious swarming, suggesting that RsbA may have both positive and negative functions in regulating swarming migration. A possible model to describe the role of RsbA in swarming migration is discussed.
Serum levels of BDNF are associated with craving in opiate-dependent patients

Preclinical study results suggest that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) are involved in the modulation of addictive behaviour. We investigated alterations in serum levels of BDNF and GDNF in opiate-dependent patients (28 males) who received diacetylmorphine treatment within a structured opiate maintenance programme. BDNF (T = 2.735, p = 0.009) serum levels were significantly increased in the opiate-dependent patients as compared with healthy controls (21 males), whereas GDNF serum levels (T = 1.425, p = 0.162) did not differ significantly from GDNF serum levels of the healthy controls. BDNF serum levels were significantly associated with craving for heroin (measured by the Heroin Craving Questionnaire (r = 0.420, p = 0.029) and by the General Craving Scale (r = 0.457, p = 0.016), whereas GDNF serum levels were not associated with psychometric dimensions of heroin craving. In conclusion, our results show a positive association between BDNF serum levels and opiate craving in opiate-dependent patients.
The role of zoning in the strategic planning of protected areas: lessons learnt from EU countries and Serbia

ABSTRACT This paper aims to highlight the problems and possibilities for improving the nature protection zoning of protected areas (PA) in spatial planning. It analyses and compares the systems of spatial planning and the legal basis for protecting nature in PAs in selected EU countries and Serbia. It investigates and compares the role of nature protection zoning and the practice of spatial planning for selected European countries. The case study of a national park in each of the selected countries is used to analyse the nature protection zoning and its role in the coordination of spatial planning for PAs and their surroundings. The initial hypothesis is tested and confirmed that, regardless of differences in the planning systems of the selected European countries, the models of nature protection zoning established for PAs are defining for the coordination of planning instruments in achieving the protection and sustainable development of PAs. The lessons learnt concern the identification of similarities and differences in approaches to nature protection zoning, and their relationship with the spatial planning for PAs in six European countries. Based on these lessons and existing research, recommendations are given for improving the legal basis for the nature protection zoning and spatial planning of PAs in Serbia.
Beyond Rab GTPases Legionella activates the small GTPase Ran to promote microtubule polymerization, pathogen vacuole motility, and infection

Legionella spp. are amoebae-resistant environmental bacteria that replicate in free-living protozoa in a distinct compartment, the Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV). Upon transmission of Legionella pneumophila to the lung, the pathogens employ an evolutionarily conserved mechanism to grow in LCVs within alveolar macrophages, thus triggering a severe pneumonia termed Legionnaires’ disease. LCV formation is a complex and robust process, which requires the bacterial Icm/Dot type IV secretion system and involves the amazing number of 300 different translocated effector proteins. LCVs interact with the host cell's endosomal and secretory vesicle trafficking pathway. Accordingly, in a proteomics approach as many as 12 small Rab GTPases implicated in endosomal and secretory vesicle trafficking were identified and validated as LCV components. Moreover, the small GTPase Ran and its effector protein RanBP1 have been found to decorate the pathogen vacuole. Ran regulates nucleo-cytoplasmic transport, spindle assembly, and cytokinesis, as well as the organization of non-centrosomal microtubules. In L. pneumophila-infected amoebae or macrophages, Ran and RanBP1 localize to LCVs, and the small GTPase is activated by the Icm/Dot substrate LegG1. Ran activation by LegG1 leads to microtubule stabilization and promotes intracellular pathogen vacuole motility and bacterial growth, as well as chemotaxis and migration of Legionella-infected cells.
Host Genetic Factors in Susceptibility to Herpes Simplex Type 1 Virus Infection: Contribution of Polymorphic Genes at the Interface of Innate and Adaptive Immunity

HSV-1 establishes life-long latency that can result in clinical relapses or in asymptomatic virus shedding. Although virtually all adults have been exposed to HSV-1, the clinical course varies remarkably. Genetic host variability could be related to this clinical diversity. In this study, we analyzed the contribution of gene families in chromosomes 1, 6, 12, and 19, which encode key regulators of the innate and adaptive immunity, in a cohort of 302 individuals. Class I and class II alleles of the HLA system, the copy-number variation of NK cell receptor genes (KIR and NKG2C), the combinations of killer cell Ig-like receptor and their HLA ligands, and CD16A and CD32A allotypes of variable affinity for IgG subclasses were all studied. Although no major susceptibility locus for HSV-1 was identified, our results show that the risk of suffering clinical HSV-1 infection is modified by MHC class I allotypes (B*18, C*15, and the group of alleles encoding A19), the high-affinity receptor/ligand pair KIR2DL2/HLA-C1, and the CD16A-158V/F dimorphism. Conversely, HLA class II and CD32A polymorphisms and NKG2C deletion did not seem to influence the clinical course of herpetic infection. Collectively, these findings support an important role in host defense against herpetic infection for several polymorphic genes implicated in adaptive immunity and in surveillance of its subversion. They confirm the crucial role of cytotoxic cells (CTL and NK) and the contribution of genetic diversity to the clinical course of HSV-1 infection.
Early Corticosteroid Withdrawal in Recipients of Renal Allografts: A Single-Center Report of Ethnically Diverse Recipients and Recipients of Marginal Deceased-Donor Kidneys

Background Candidacy for kidney transplantation is being progressively liberalized, and the safety and efficacy of early withdrawal of corticosteroids in high-risk patients have not been fully characterized. Methods We analyzed the safety and efficacy of an early corticosteroid withdrawal regimen of rabbit antithymocyte globulin induction, tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and steroid withdrawal by day 5 after transplantation in our study cohort of 634 kidney transplant recipients that included 27% African American and 18% Hispanic recipients. Fifty-five percent of the recipients were recipients of deceased-donor kidneys, and 46% of deceased-donor kidneys were kidneys from expanded criteria donors. Results Kaplan-Meier patient survival at 1, 3, and 5 years after transplantation was 98.6%, 94.6%, and 90.2%, and death-censored graft survival was 96.2%, 91.9%, and 87.6%, respectively. During a mean follow-up of 57 months, 89.3% of patients remained off of corticosteroids, and the incidence of acute rejection including subclinical rejection identified by protocol biopsy was 12.0%. Multivariable analysis identified age older than 60 years as protective against (P=0.01) and the African American ethnicity as a risk factor for (P=0.03) rejection. Delayed graft function (P<0.0001), rejection (P<0.0001), and transplant panel reactive antibody 20% or more (P=0.03) were risk factors for graft loss. Opportunistic infections included viral in 15.3%, fungal in 1.6%, and parasitic in 0.6% of the patients. Posttransplantation malignancy occurred in 9.1% of patients. Conclusions An early corticosteroid withdrawal regimen of rabbit antithymocyte globulin induction, tacrolimus, and mycophenolate mofetil is associated with excellent patient and kidney graft survival in an ethnically diverse population with risk factors for poor outcomes.
Group Developmental Psychology and Software Development Performance

Due to the fact that software development is a product of team effort it is important to investigate the influence of group developmental psychology on software development performance. In this case study we wanted to test how performance (i.e. velocity and planning effectiveness) are related to the group's maturity level. We gave the Group Development Questionnaire (the GDQ) to 19 software developers to assess their group maturity (i.e. their progress in their group development) and ran correlation analysis against the development velocity and planning effectiveness (i.e. earned points over planned points). The results show that group maturity is correlated to planning effectiveness but not velocity, meaning that group development is connected to the team's ability to plan well, but not their ability to implement tasks fast.
Effect of intertidal exposure on Vibrio parahaemolyticus levels in Pacific Northwest oysters.

Interest in Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) increased in the United States following Vp-associated gastroenteritis outbreaks in 1997 and 1998 involving the West Coast and other areas. The present study evaluated multiple aspects of Vp ecology in the Pacific Northwest with three objectives: (i) to determine the effect of low-tide exposure on Vp levels in oysters, (ii) to determine the relationship between total and pathogenic Vp, and (iii) to examine sediments and aquatic fauna as reservoirs for pathogenic Vp. Samples were collected from intertidal reefs along Hood Canal, Wash. , in August 2001. Fecal matter from marine mammals and aquatic birds as well as intestinal contents from bottom-dwelling fish were tested. Total and pathogenic Vp levels in all the samples were enumerated with colony hybridization procedures using DNA probes that targeted the thermolabile direct hemolysin (tlh) and thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh) genes, respectively. The mean Vp densities in oysters were four to eight times greater at maximum exposure than at the corresponding first exposure. While tdh-positive Vp counts were generally < or = 10 CFU/g at first exposure, counts as high as 160 CFU/g were found at maximum exposure. Vp concentrations in sediments were not significantly different from those in oysters at maximum exposure. Pathogenic (tdh positive) Vp was detected in 9 of 42 (21%) oyster samples at maximum exposure, in 5 of 19 (26%) sediment samples, but in 0 of 9 excreta samples. These results demonstrate that summer conditions permit the multiplication of Vp in oysters exposed by a receding tide.