Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Metabolic Complications of in utero Maternal HIV and Antiretroviral Exposure in HIV-exposed Infants

Background: Despite a wide body of literature supporting the use of antenatal antiretrovirals (ARV) for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, there remains a need for continued monitoring as the intrauterine interval is a critical period during which fetal programming influences the future health and development of the child. Methods: We conducted a systematic review of the current literature addressing potential metabolic complications of in utero HIV and ARV exposure. We describe studies evaluating metabolic outcomes such as intrauterine and early postnatal growth, bone health and mitochondrial toxicity. Results: Overall, infants exposed to HIV/ARV do not appear to exhibit vastly compromised intrauterine or early postnatal growth. However, some studies on the effect of combination antiretroviral therapy on small for gestational age and low birth weight outcomes in low-middle income countries show a risk for small for gestational age/low birth weight while those in the United States do not. Postnatal growth to 1 year does not appear to be affected by intrauterine tenofovir exposure in African studies, but a US study found statistically significant differences in length for age z scores (LAZ) at 1 year. Little data exists on long-term bone health. Mitochondrial toxicity including abnormal mitochondrial morphology and DNA content, as well as neurologic deficits and death, have been demonstrated in HIV/ARV-exposed infants. Conclusion: Although gross measures of metabolic well-being appear to be reassuring, careful vigilance of even small risks for potential serious adverse effects to infants exposed to intrauterine HIV/ARVs is warranted as intrauterine fetal metabolic programming may substantially impact the future health of the child.
Control discrete-time switched singular systems with state delays under asynchronous switching

This article is concerned with the problem of state feedback control for a class of discrete-time switched singular systems with time-varying state delays under asynchronous switching. The asynchronous switching considered here means that the switching instants of the candidate controllers lag behind those of the system modes. The concept of mismatched control rate is introduced. By using the multiple Lyapunov function approach and the average dwell time technique, a sufficient condition for the existence a stabilising switching law is first derived to guarantee the regularity, causality and exponential stability of the closed-loop system in the presence of asynchronous switching. The stabilising switching law is characterised by a upper bound on the mismatched control rate and a lower bound on the average dwell time. Then, the corresponding solvability condition for a set of mode-dependent state feedback controllers is established by using the linear matrix inequality (LMI) technique. Finally, a numerical example is provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Divisions of Research & Statistics and Monetary Affairs Federal Reserve Board , Washington , D . C . From Which Consumption-Based Asset Pricing Models Can Investors Profit ? Evidence from Model-Based Priors

This paper compares consumption-based asset pricing models based on the forecasting performance of investors who use economic constraints derived from the models to predict the equity premium. Three prominent asset pricing models are considered: Habit Formation, Long Run Risk, and Prospect Theory. I propose a simple Bayesian framework through which the investors impose the economic constraints as model-based priors on the parameters of their predictive regressions. An investor whose prior beliefs are rooted in the Long Run Risk model achieves more accurate forecasts overall. The greatest difference in performance occurs during the bull market of the late 1990s. During this period, the weak predictability of the equity premium implied by the Long Run Risk model helps the investor to not prematurely anticipate falling stock prices. JEL classification: G11, G12, G17
A STUDY ON CONSUMERS ’ ATTITUDE TOWARDS ONLINE SHOPPING ON PENANG FAMOUS FRUIT PICKLES

Online shopping is no doubt the future trend. Online shopping on sectors such as fashion and accessories, electronic/electrical goods and books are growing in Malaysia. Many researches claimed that online shopping is still at the early stage of development in Malaysia and the potential for growth is inevitable. However, little is known about the acceptance of online shopping on localized products such as Penang famous fruit pickles and the factors which influence consumers’ attitudes purchasing it online. The purpose of this study is to identify the potential of online sales on Penang fruit pickles by investigating consumers’ attitudes towards purchasing Penang fruit pickles through online shopping as an alternative to visiting the physical shop. It also investigated the influence of factors (demographic profile, previous online shopping experience, perceived benefits, consumers’ lifestyles, and perceived merchants’ trustworthiness) towards attitude. In total 55 valid responses were gathered through self-administered questionnaire survey. The survey questionnaire consists of a total of 34 questions. The first 2 questions are for screening purpose to ensure only those who have either bought fruit pickles at any retail store before or at least like fruit pickles to take part in the survey. Pearson‘s Correlation and 1-way ANOVA were used to test hypotheses and determine the significance and degree of relationship between dependent and independent variables. The results and findings show that consumers exhibited positive intention to make an online purchase in future and attitude is positively and strongly correlated with behavioral intention. The study also concluded the perceived benefits of online shopping, perceived merchant’s trustworthiness, consumers’ lifestyle and consumers’ prior ecommerce experience have direct influence on attitude. On the contrary, demographic profile, online shopping frequency and duration of daily internet usage found to have no impact on attitude. The research model applying Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) can effectively be used to achieve the primary purpose of this study. Finally, future researches are suggested to improve the generalisability by selecting truly randomized and a larger sample size. The research should be conducted by inviting participants to take part in the survey through the actual website. The website should have been improvised with features that consumers prefer such as ease of transaction, security and trustworthiness.
Inventory Behavior and Financial Constraints: Theory and Evidence

Financially constrained firms hold more inventory than do financially unconstrained firms and also show more volatility in inventory holdings. To understand why, we model the interaction of financial constraints, capacity constraints, and the response of production and inventory to cost shocks. We develop several implications as to how financial constraints affect the inventory response to cost shocks of constrained firms relative to unconstrained firms, which cannot be derived from any of a host of other ways in which two groups of firms are differentiated in our model. We find consistent results when we take these implications to the real data.
A new species and a revised key of the genus Thoradonta (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae)

Abstract A new species of the genus Thoradonta (Orthoptera, Tetrigidae), Thoradonta varispina Zha & Sheng, sp. n. , was found in Lengshuihe Nature Preserve, Jinsha, Guizhou, China. It is introduced with a description and photographs and compared with similar taxa. Ecology, habits, and morphological variation of the new species are discussed and illustrated. Generic characteristics of Thoradonta are updated and an updated key to all known species of Thoradonta is given.
Kinetic Characterization of OmcA and MtrC, Terminal Reductases Involved in Respiratory Electron Transfer for Dissimilatory Iron Reduction in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1

ABSTRACT We have used scaling kinetics and the concept of kinetic competence to elucidate the role of hemeproteins OmcA and MtrC in iron reduction by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. Second-order rate constants for OmcA and MtrC were determined by single-turnover experiments. For soluble iron species, a stopped-flow apparatus was used, and for the less reactive iron oxide goethite, a conventional spectrophotometer was used to measure rates. Steady-state experiments were performed to obtain molecular rate constants by quantifying the OmcA and MtrC contents of membrane fractions and whole cells by Western blot analysis. For reduction of soluble iron, rates determined from transient-state experiments were able to account for rates obtained from steady-state experiments. However, this was not true with goethite; rate constants determined from transient-state experiments were 100 to 1,000 times slower than those calculated from steady-state experiments with membrane fractions and whole cells. In contrast, addition of flavins to the goethite experiments resulted in rates that were consistent with both transient- and steady-state experiments. Kinetic simulations of steady-state results with kinetic constants obtained from transient-state experiments supported flavin involvement. Therefore, we show for the first time that OmcA and MtrC are kinetically competent to account for catalysis of soluble iron reduction in whole Shewanella cells but are not responsible for electron transfer via direct contact alone with insoluble iron-containing minerals. This work supports the hypothesis that electron shuttles are important participants in the reduction of solid Fe phases by this organism.
The Limits of Restorative Justice

Kathleen Daly is Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University (Brisbane). She writes on gender, race, crime and justice; and on restorative justice and Indigenous justice. Her book, Gender, Crime, and Punishment (1994) received the Michael Hindelang award from the American Society of Criminology. From 1998 to 2004, she received three major Australian Research Council grants to direct a program of research on restorative justice and the race and gender politics of new justice practices in Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. She is Vice-President of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology.
Physiology of MPTP Tremor

Rhesus and vervet monkeys respond differently to treatment with 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine hydrochloride neurotoxin (MPTP). Both species develop akinesia. rigidity, and severe postural instability. However, rhesus monkeys only develop infrequent, short episodes of high‐frequency tremor, whereas vervet monkeys have many prolonged episodes of low‐frequency tremor. After MPTP treatment, the spiking activity of many pallidal neurons became oscillatory and highly correlated. Oscillatory autocorrelation functions were dominated by lower frequencies, cross‐correlograms by higher frequencies. The phase shift distribution of the oscillatory cross‐correlograms of pallidal cells in MPTP‐treated vervet monkey were clustered around 0 phase shift, unlike the oscillatory correlograms in the MPTP‐treated rhesus monkey, which were widely distributed between 0° and 180°. Analysis of the instantaneous phase differences between tremors of two limbs in the MPTP monkeys and human parkinsonian patients showed short periods of tremor synchronization. We thus concluded that the rhesus and the vervet models of MPTP‐induced parkinsonism may represent the tremulous and nontremulous variants of human parkinsonism. We suggest that the tremor phenomena of Parkinson's disease (PD) are related to the emergence of synchronous neuronal oscillations in the basal ganglia. Finally, the oscillating neuronal assemblies in the pallidum of tremulous parkinsonian primates are more stable (in time and in space) than those of parkinsonian primates without overt tremor.
Rethinking Mathematical Proofs and the Opportunity to Learn

Engagement with curriculum has a significant effect on a student’s ability to understand and interact with the content. Mathematical proofs are conceptually difficult for many students and the perceived lack of relevance in terms of authenticity and practicality often results in feelings of apathy or indifference. However, providing students with connections and applications of the process of proof-solving that occur in real-world situations can help alleviate this problem. It is also important to scaffold content to reach different levels of learners, as this conceptual process may be more difficult for some. This curriculum project includes materials designed to supplement existing units on geometric proof. These materials intend for students to both frequently practice with components of mathematical literacy relative to proofs and to allow multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate growth and evidence of learning. Communication and collaboration amongst students are also strongly encouraged and fostered by this content. A key component to the measurement of engagement is the use of a preand post-survey to be completed by students. These materials are an effective enhancement to curriculum and support the aim of improving students’ perspectives and understanding of proofs.
Value Relevance of Other Comprehensive Income

Studies on value relevance of other comprehensive income have thus far provided mixed evidence. Prior studies also found that fair value reporting has a significant impact on the value relevance of other comprehensive income. Most studies on value relevance of other comprehensive income focused on developed countries where the capital market is more efficient. In these settings due to the existence of active market, fair valuation of assets may not pose a major problem. Therefore, more studies are needed to better understand the value relevance of such items especially in developing countries which have less efficient market. Thus, this study examined whether other comprehensive income and its components are value relevant in Malaysia as a developing country. In order to fulfill these objectives, this study hypothesized that other comprehensive income and its components are associated with share price. These hypotheses were empirically examined using a sample of 1,419 firm years observations from 2011 to 2013, of firms listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia. The results of Panel Analysis, indicate that other comprehensive and its components are value relevant. These results remain robust after additional analyse.
Nuclear DNA variation, chromosome numbers and polyploidy in the endemic and indigenous grass flora of New Zealand.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Little information is available on DNA C-values for the New Zealand flora. Nearly 85 % of the named species of the native vascular flora are endemic, including 157 species of Poaceae, the second most species-rich plant family in New Zealand. Few C-values have been published for New Zealand native grasses, and chromosome numbers have previously been reported for fewer than half of the species. The aim of this research was to determine C-values and chromosome numbers for most of the endemic and indigenous Poaceae from New Zealand. SCOPE To analyse DNA C-values from 155 species and chromosome numbers from 55 species of the endemic and indigenous grass flora of New Zealand. KEY RESULTS The new C-values increase significantly the number of such measurements for Poaceae worldwide. New chromosome numbers were determined from 55 species. Variation in C-value and percentage polyploidy were analysed in relation to plant distribution. No clear relationship could be demonstrated between these variables. CONCLUSIONS A wide range of C-values was found in the New Zealand endemic and indigenous grasses. This variation can be related to the phylogenetic position of the genera, plants in the BOP (Bambusoideae, Oryzoideae, Pooideae) clade in general having higher C-values than those in the PACC (Panicoideae, Arundinoideae, Chloridoideae + Centothecoideae) clade. Within genera, polyploids typically have smaller genome sizes (C-value divided by ploidy level) than diploids and there is commonly a progressive decrease with increasing ploidy level. The high frequency of polyploidy in the New Zealand grasses was confirmed by our additional counts, with only approximately 10 % being diploid. No clear relationship between C-value, polyploidy and rarity was evident.
The oxidation handicap hypothesis and the carotenoid allocation trade‐off

The oxidation handicap hypothesis proposes that testosterone mediates the trade‐off between the expression of secondary sexual traits and the fight against free radicals. Coloured traits controlled by testosterone can be produced by carotenoid pigments (yellow–orange–red traits), but carotenoids also help to quench free radicals. Recently, it has been shown that testosterone increases the amount of circulating carotenoids in birds. Here, a testosterone‐mediated trade‐off in the carotenoid allocation between colour expression and the fight against oxidative stress is proposed. Male red‐legged partridges were treated with testosterone, anti‐androgens or manipulated as controls. Testosterone‐treated males maintained the highest circulating carotenoid levels, but showed the palest red traits and no evidence of oxidative damage. Increased levels of a key intracellular antioxidant (i.e. glutathione) indicated that an oxidative challenge was in fact induced but controlled. The trade‐off was apparently solved by reducing redness, allowing increased carotenoid availability, which could have contributed to buffer oxidative stress.
Nerve growth factor-dependent activation of trkA receptors in the human ovary results in synthesis of follicle-stimulating hormone receptors and estrogen secretion.

CONTEXT Previous studies showed that nerve growth factor (NGF) induces the expression of functional FSH receptors (FSHR) in preantral follicles of the developing rat ovary. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine whether NGF can affect granulosa cell (GC) function in human periovulatory follicles using intact human ovaries and isolated human GCs. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS Human GCs were obtained from in vitro fertilization patients and normal ovaries from women with elective pelvic surgery for nonovarian indications. RESULTS In normal ovaries, NGF and trkA (NGF's high-affinity receptor) were detected by immunohistochemistry in GCs of preantral and antral follicles. NGF and trkA are also present in thecal cells of antral follicles. Both freshly collected and cultured GCs contained immunoreactive NGF and trkA in addition to their respective mRNAs. Human GCs respond to NGF with increased estradiol (E(2)) secretion and a reduction in progesterone output. Exposure of human GCs to NGF increased FSHR mRNA content within 18 h of treatment, and this effect was blocked by the trk tyrosine kinase blocker K-252a. Also, cells preexposed to NGF released significantly more E(2) in response to hFSH than cells not pretreated with the neurotropin, showing that the NGF-induced increase in FSHR gene expression results in the formation of functional FSHRs. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that one of the functions of NGF in the preovulatory human ovary is to increase the secretion of E(2) while preventing early luteinization via an inhibitory effect on progesterone secretion. NGF stimulates E(2) secretion both directly and by increasing the formation of FSHRs.
Impact of Hepatitis C Virus Chronic Infection on Quality of Life in Egypt

— The study aimed at determining the impact of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on patients’ Quality of Life (QoL), its relation to geographical characteristics of patients, awareness of the disease, treatment regimen, co-morbid psychiatric or other diseases. 457 patients were randomly selected from ten National Treatment Reference Centers of Ministry of Health hospitals from four community locations representing Egypt. Health related QoL assessment questionnaire with the 36-item Short Form used for assessment of the enrolled patients. The study showed no significant difference between HCV patients in different governorates as regards total QoL. Females, illiterate patients and those had bilharziasis, diabetes mellitus, hypertension or were depressed had significantly the lowest QoL score. HCV patients who knew the danger of the disease had significant lower mean score of physical and mental health components. Optimal care of overall well-being of HCV patients requires adequate knowledge of their neurological and psychological status. It is important to know how to cope with having a family member with hepatitis C and more importantly to know what should you say and what shouldn’t you say as a positive hopeful attitude is essential for combating HCV chronic infection . was done as comparative between different governorates, between depressed and non-depressed HCV patients and between male and female patients. The analysis was done using independent-Sample T test between two means and One-Way ANOVA test between more than two means.
The African Case of Microenterprise in the Light of Islamic Development Financing

What can bring about and sustain the life of microenterprise and microcredit for poverty alleviation? The answer is given in this paper by way of the epistemology of organic unity of markets, finance and society premised on the essential outlook of how the Islamic worldview prevails in this tripartite interrelationship. This paper settles this issue of integrative development financing to bring about participation between markets, finance and society in a complementary way so as to connect the poor with mainstream economic order by raising their productivity and market access. Such transformations are necessary for survival of microenterprises in today’s world of bitter competition and conflict between the rich and poor. The argument launched here is that the competition model of microenterprises is not appropriate for the sustainability and poverty alleviation. Contrarily, an epistemic foundation of unity reflected in a participatory development framework is necessary. Islamic finance ought to be studied within such an alternative comprehensive model of organic unity. Systemic unity is equivalent to participation by complementarities between the three subsystems comprising sustainability. These are namely markets, finance and society as these are represented by their variables. This paper thus establishes a model of general-system equilibrium between these embedded subsystems in order to study the possibility of poverty alleviation by means of Islamic financing of microenterprise and microcredit. The model formalized here is argued to be the appropriate one for Africa in the area of participatory development of microenterprises and poverty alleviation. The example of microenterprises in Sudan is studied in the context of a general-system model.