Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Origin and Metabolic Fate of Plasma Glycerol in the Rat and Rabbit Fetus

Summary: On day 21.5 a pregnant rat received a single injection of [1-14C]glycerol. The purpose was to study the transfer of glycerol through the placenta from the maternal to fetal plasma. From 3–20 min after injection the specific activity of glycerol in maternal and fetal plasma was measured. The results indicate that the mother can provide this molecule to the fetus. Similar results were obtained with the rabbit on day 28 of pregnancy.The possibility of the conversion of plasma glycerol to glucose has been investigated in the rat and rabbit fetus. This molecule was chosen chiefly to see whether the gluconeogenic pathway was functioning in the fetus above the triose phosphate step.At two stages of fetal development the capacity of the fetus to incorporate [1-14C]glycerol into glucose plus glycogen has been shown in the two species.In the rat fetus the conversion of [1-14C]glycerol to [14C)glucose increases from 19.5 to 21.5 days of gestation. For the rabbit this parameter increases from 25 to 28 days of gestation.On day 25 in the rabbit and day 19.5 in the rat the liver glycogen was labeled, but it did not accumulate the [14C]glucose from [1-14C]glycerol during the time that we have studied. In contrast, on day 28 in the rabbit and day 21.5 in the rat the incorporation of radioactivity increased as function of the time.However, the relative importance of glycerol as precursor of the glucose plus glycogen in the fetus remains to be elucidated.Speculation: The available evidence suggests that in the fetal rat liver the gluconeogenesis does not appear until after birth. Quantitatively, the most important source of glucose for the fetus must be the mother.The existence of glycerol in the plasma of the rat and rabbit fetus may contribute to produce glucose and increase liver glycogen reserves near term.
RATIONAL VS. PROFESSIONAL FORECASTS

We compare theoretical and empirical forecasts computed by rational agents living in a model economy to those produced by professional forecasters. We focus on the variance of the prediction errors as a function of the forecast horizon and analyze the speed with which it converges to a constant (which can be seen as a measure of the speed of convergence of the economy to the steady state). We look at a standard sticky-prices-wages model, concluding that it delivers a strong theoretical forecastability of the variables under scrutiny, at odds with the data (professional forecasts). The flexible prices-wages version delivers a forecastability closer to the data and performs relatively better empirically (with actual data), but mainly because forecasts deviate little from the unconditional mean. These results can be interpreted in at least two ways: first, actual deviations from the steady-state are not persistent, in which case the implications of the specific formulation of nominal rigidities for short-run dynamics are unrealistic; second, and still looking through the lens of a model, exogenous (or unmodelled) steady-state shifts attributable to, e.g., changes in monetary-policy, taxation, regulation or in the growth of the technological frontier, occur in such a way as to strongly limit the performance of professional forecasters.
Effect of variable‐stiffness walking shoes on knee adduction moment, pain, and function in subjects with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis after 1 year

This study investigated the load‐modifying and clinical efficacy of variable‐stiffness shoes after 12 months in subjects with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis. Subjects who completed a prior 6‐month study were asked to wear their assigned constant‐stiffness control or variable‐stiffness intervention shoes during the remainder of the study. Changes in peak knee adduction moment, total Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC), and WOMAC pain scores were assessed. Seventy‐nine subjects were enrolled, and 55 completed the trial. Using an intention‐to‐treat analysis, the variable‐stiffness shoes reduced the within‐day peak knee adduction moment (−5.5%, p < 0.001) in the intervention subjects, while the constant‐stiffness shoes increased the peak knee adduction moment in the control subjects (+3.1%, p = 0.015) at the 12‐month visit. WOMAC pain and total scores for the intervention group were significantly reduced from baseline to 12 months (−32%, p = 0.002 and −35%, p = 0.007, respectively). The control group had a reduction of 27% in WOMAC pain score (p = 0.04) and no significant reduction in total WOMAC score. Reductions in WOMAC pain and total scores were similar between groups (p = 0.8 and p = 0.47, respectively). In the intervention group, reductions in adduction moment were related to improvements in pain and function (R2 = 0.11, p = 0.04). Analysis by disease severity revealed greater efficacy in adduction moment reduction in the less severe intervention group. While the long‐term effects of the intervention shoes on pain and function did not differ from control, the data suggest wearing the intervention shoe reduces the within‐day adduction moment after long‐term wear, and thus should reduce loading on the affected medial compartment of the knee. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 30:514–521, 2012
Impact of specific language impairment and type of school on different language subsystems.

PURPOSE This study aimed to explore quantitative and qualitative effects of type of school and specific language impairment (SLI) on different language abilities. METHODS 204 Brazilian children aged from 4 to 6 years old participated in the study. Children were selected to form three groups: 1) 63 typically developing children studying in private schools (TDPri); 2) 102 typically developing children studying in state schools (TDSta); and 39 children with SLI studying in state schools (SLISta). All individuals were assessed regarding expressive vocabulary, number morphology and morphosyntactic comprehension. RESULTS All language subsystems were vulnerable to both environmental (type of school) and biological (SLI) effects. The relationship between the three language measures was exactly the same to all groups: vocabulary growth correlated with age and with the development of morphological abilities and morphosyntactic comprehension. Children with SLI showed atypical errors in the comprehension test at the age of 4, but presented a pattern of errors that gradually resembled typical development. CONCLUSION The effect of type of school was marked by quantitative differences, while the effect of SLI was characterised by both quantitative and qualitative differences.
Polar Codes for the Rayleigh Fading Channel

The application of polar codes for the Rayleigh fading channel is considered. We construct polar codes for the block Rayleigh fading channel with known channel side information (CSI) and for the Rayleigh channel with known channel distribution information (CDI). The construction of polar codes for the Rayleigh fading with known CSI allows them to work with any signal noise ratio (SNR). The rate of the codeword is adapted correspondingly. Polar codes for Rayleigh fading with known CDI suffer a penalty for not having complete information about the channel. The penalty, however, is small, about 1.3 dB. We perform simulations and compare the obtained results with the theoretical limits. We show that they are close to the theoretical limit. We compare polar codes with other good codes and the results show that long polar codes are closer to the limit.
From SHIW to IT-SILC: construction and representativeness of the new CAPP_DYN first-year population

This paper describes the construction of the initial population in CAPP_DYN and illustrates the degree of representativeness of the Italian population in 2006. While the previous version of the model was constructed using the Bank of Italy Survey on Household Income and Wealth, the current version is based on the new ISTAT Survey on Income and Living Conditions. The first part of the paper discusses the reasons that led us to this switch. It also provides full details on the operations carried out on the original dataset in order to obtain a sample that can be used as the first year population of the Dynamic Simulation Model. In the second part of the paper, the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the initial population sample are compared with information coming from other sources, such as administrative archives, national accounts and Labour Force Surveys. This exercise is crucial in assessing the capability of CAPP_DYN to represent the population's characteristics at the starting point
Exchange rate risk and Philippine stock returns: before and after the Asian financial crisis

This paper examines whether the Philippine stock market prices exchange rate risk during the period 1992–2001; specifically, before and after the onset of the Asian financial crisis. Using a two-factor arbitrage pricing theory model, the evidence presented in the paper suggests that stock returns did not react significantly to foreign exchange rate fluctuations before the period of the crisis. After the onset of the crisis, however, Philippine firms started to exhibit cross-sectional differences in their reaction to exchange rate movements. Furthermore, during the post-crisis period, investors began to expect a risk premium on their investments for their perceived added exposure to exchange rate risk. In the larger, macroeconomic sense, this implies market inefficiencies in the foreign exchange or stock market or both and inadequate hedging by local firms for foreign exchange risk.
Ortho -quinone-enhanced ascorbate oxidation. Combined roles of lipid charge and the magnesium cation

Quinones are widely distributed compounds in nature. Of these, ortho-quinones are found to be involved in the pathogenic mechanism of Parkinson's disease, in oxidative deaminations to free-radical redox reactions, and as intermediates in the pathways implicated in the carcinogenicity of 2,3- and 3,4-catechol estrogens. Addition of MgCl2 to solutions of the hydrophobic ortho-quinones, 1,10-phenanthroquinone (PHQ) and beta-lapachone (LQ) enhances ascorbate oxidation in the absence or presence of large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) of the neutral lipid dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC), although initial rates of ascorbate oxidation are smaller in the presence of lipid as compared to its absence. Addition of this salt to solutions of the para-quinone 1,4-naphthoquinone (NQ) did not affect the ascorbate rate of oxidation in the absence or presence of DMPC. Addition of MgCl2 to semiquinone solutions of PHQ or LQ in the presence or absence of DMPC increases semiquinone stability, as detected from the semiquinone disproportionation equilibrium displacement to semiquinone formation. Furthermore, MgCl2 increases the partition of the ortho-semiquinones into the aqueous phase, although no such effect is observed for the semiquinone of NQ. For all the quinones under study, smaller rates of ascorbate oxidation and of semiquinone equilibrium concentration occur in the presence of negatively charged LUVs composed of an equimolar mixture of DMPC and dimyristoylphosphatidic acid DMPA. Ascorbate oxidation rate enhancements correlate with an increase in semiquinone concentration with addition of MgCl2, in the absence or presence of neutral lipid. This observation favors the proposition that ascorbate oxidation rate increases are caused by semiquinone thermodynamic stabilization. Thus, the ascorbate oxidation rate enhancement by MgCl2 in solutions containing hydrophobic ortho-quinones is still possible in systems with hydrophobic environments analogous to that of DMPC.
Public Understandings of Nature: A Case Study of Local Knowledge About "Natural" Forest Conditions

This study is intended to serve as an explicit and specific example of the social construction of nature. It is motivated by the need to develop a more sophisticated language for a critical public dialogue about society's relationship with nature. We conducted a case study of environmental discourse in one local population in hopes of better understanding how a place-based community of environmental stakeholders relates to its local natural environment. We did this by analyzing discussions with local residents about the values and physical indicators they associated with the wild, authentic, healthy, and natural qualities of the forest. Findings from this type of study (such as our finding of "cultured naturalness") can enable a more sophisticated discussion about which of the many possible natural conditions are desirable environmental conditions for the future.
Chemotherapy and information‐seeking behaviour: characteristics of patients using mass‐media information sources

Fulfilling patients' information needs can help them cope with illness and improve their well‐being. Little research has been conducted on the characteristics of patients using different information sources. This study aims to get insight into which information sources patients receiving chemotherapy for the first time use and which factors (background characteristics, psychological factors, information needs and source reliability) explain the use of different mass‐media information sources.
Cover Me: Managers' Responses to Changes in Analyst Coverage in the Post-Regulation FD Period

ABSTRACT: We show that managers increase the volume of public financial guidance in response to decreases in analyst coverage of their firms, particularly to decreases that are driven by exogenous reduction in brokerage firm size. Managers do not respond to increases in analyst coverage. The managerial guidance response to decreases in coverage reflects the trade-off between the marginal benefits from analyst coverage and the marginal costs of providing guidance. Specifically, the response is concentrated within firms engaging in equity issuance activities, firms with low stock liquidity, and firms with low current guidance levels. The response is also concentrated within firms whose remaining analyst pool is smaller in number and/or has a lower percentage of analysts who are positive about the firm or who belong to a large brokerage house. Overall, our results shed insights on the interaction between managers and analysts and on how the value of analysts, as perceived by managers, varies in the cross-sec.
Human Embryonic Stem Cell‐Derived Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells: Preclinical Efficacy and Safety in Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) remains an important research focus for regenerative medicine given the potential for severe functional deficits and the current lack of treatment options to augment neurological recovery. We recently reported the preclinical safety data of a human embryonic cell‐derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) therapy that supported initiation of a phase I clinical trial for patients with sensorimotor complete thoracic SCI. To support the clinical use of this OPC therapy for cervical injuries, we conducted preclinical efficacy and safety testing of the OPCs in a nude rat model of cervical SCI. Using the automated TreadScan system to track motor behavioral recovery, we found that OPCs significantly improved locomotor performance when administered directly into the cervical spinal cord 1 week after injury, and that this functional improvement was associated with reduced parenchymal cavitation and increased sparing of myelinated axons within the injury site. Based on large scale biodistribution and toxicology studies, we show that OPC migration is limited to the spinal cord and brainstem and did not cause any adverse clinical observations, toxicities, allodynia, or tumors. In combination with previously published efficacy and safety data, the results presented here supported initiation of a phase I/IIa clinical trial in the U.S. for patients with sensorimotor complete cervical SCI. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2017;6:1917–1929
Modular product design for dynamic capabilities of manufacturing organisations: a case study

Importance of flexibility and responsiveness in the 21st century of global business is growing. Different strategies, techniques and tools have been used for achieving agility in an organisation. One of such strategies is the modular product design. Modular product design has not been studied widely, despite the importance of this subject. Considering this, an attempt has been made to improve organisation performance by using other concepts like generic product development process. The purpose of the case study is to deepen understanding of the requirements for and implementation of modular product design and its benefits to customer relations. This paper supports the view that modular product design can be used successfully for improving company efficiency in power electronics industry.
Conditional equity risk premia and realized variance jump risk

This study explores the relationship between realized variance jump risk and conditional equity risk premium. Using high frequency records of the Standard & Poor’s 500 index, we construct a realized variance measure and estimate its jump component using a Heterogeneous Autoregressive model augmented by a jump component. We find strong evidence that the realized variance jump risk measure significantly relates to excess stock market returns in-sample and out-of-sample from 1998 to 2010. Further, the predictive power of the variance jump remains both statistically and economically significant after controlling for commonly-used return predictors, and is also independent from variance risk premium and price jump risk. Calibration-based evidence is also consistent with our empirical findings.
The Community Hopes, Fears and Actions Survey: Survey method, sample representativeness and data quality

Abstract This paper describes and discusses the method used to collect data on the hopes, fearsand actions of Australians in relation to the tax system in 2000. Data were collectedfrom June through to October 2000 by means of a national survey of Australians whowere randomly selected from the publicly available electoral rolls. A response rate of29% yielded 2040 questionnaires that could be used for further analysis. Diagnosticstatistics comparing the sample with Australian Bureau of Statistics populationestimates on age, sex, occupation and education suggested that the sample was broadlyrepresentative of the population, but with some bias in favour of those involved inoccupations in which reading and writing skills are integral. The survey also under-represented younger age groups, a bias that is shared with many other social surveys ofthis kind. A number of regression models were run to find out if responses wereaffected by anonymity, time taken to respond to the survey and the introduction of thegoods and services tax (GST) during the survey period. No evidence was forthcomingto suggest a direct relationship between any of these variables and tax-related attitudesand behaviours. We conclude that these data provide a satisfactory base for examiningthe relationships outlined and discussed in the Centre for Tax System Integrity WorkingPapers No. 2 and No. 3 (Braithwaite, 2001; Braithwaite, Reinhart, Mearns & Graham,2001).
The Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury during Adolescence on Career Plans and Outcomes

ABSTRACT. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often occurs during the years when individuals are aiming for vocational goals and acquiring skills needed to achieve vocational success. This exploratory study aimed to describe the perceived long-term impact on career outcomes for individuals who were hospitalized with a TBI during adolescence. This study used a retrospective cohort design. A telephone questionnaire was administered 5 years postinjury to a consecutive series of 51 participants aged 15–19 years at time of injury, as well as 46 informants who knew the participants well. Participants and informants described the impact the injury had on career plans and outcomes. The nature of occupation postinjury was compared with preinjury plans, with results indicating many participants altering preinjury career plans following TBI.
Highly linear programmable balanced current scaling technique in moderate inversion

A technique to achieve highly linear current scaling in CMOS technologies is proposed. It is based on two balanced electronically programmable current mirrors operating in moderate inversion. The scaling factor can be continuously adjusted in a wide range. This technique can be employed to achieve or to extend gain adjustment in amplifiers. As an application example, a variable-gain differential current amplifier and a tunable transconductor are presented. Measurement results of the transconductor implemented in a 0.5-/spl mu/m CMOS technology validate in silicon the proposed approach.
Development of Enteric-coated Timed-release Matrix Tablets for Colon Targeting

A new oral drug delivery system for colon targeting has been developed based on enteric-coated matrix tablets which suitably exploits both pH-sensitive and time-dependent functions. Matrix-tablets were prepared by direct compression of mixtures of hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), a hydrophilic swellable polymer, with the inert insoluble ethylcellulose (EC) or micro-crystalline cellulose (MCC) polymers, in which theophylline, selected as model drug, was dispersed. Eudragit S100, a methacrylic acid copolymer soluble at pH 7, was used as pH-sensitive coating polymer. The influence of varying the cellulose-derivative combinations and their relative ratios as well as the level of the coating polymer was investigated. Surface morphology of the tablets was monitored by SEM analysis before and after the release test. The results of release studies, performed according to the USP basket method using a sequence of dissolution media simulating the gastrointestinal physiological pH variation, indicated that the Eudragit S100 enteric-coated matrix tablets were successful in achieving gastric resistance and timed-release of the drug, assuring an adequate lag time for the intended colonic targeting, followed by a controlled-release phase. The enteric-coating level emerged as the critical factor in determining the duration of the lag-phase, whereas the release rate mainly depended on the matrix composition. Formulations with higher HEC content showed a faster drug release rate than those with greater content in inert polymer and the MCC–HEC combinations were more effective than the corresponding EC–HEC ones. The best results were given by the 27% coated 1:0.3:0.7 (w/w) drug/MCC/HEC tablets, which, after a 260 min lag time, regularly released the drug, achieving about 90% of release after 10 h.
The Impact of Litigation against an Audit Firm on the Market Value of Nonlitigating Clients

This study investigates how litigation against an audit firm affects the market value of its publicly traded clients. We examine the impact of private litigation alleging audit failure on the audit firm's clients not involved in the lawsuit. Our results indicate that clients not involved in the litigation experience significant negative returns at the announcement of litigation against their audit firm. These results suggest that the market interprets litigation against an audit firm as a signal of decreased audit quality and that the market places a value on audit quality when pricing a firm's securities. The results are also consistent with an audit insurance explanation, which views the audit firm as a source of potential financial indemnification to investors and predicts that damage to the auditor's underwriting ability will be reflected in reduced securities prices for the firm's clients. When the analysis was restricted to companies in the same industry where the alleged audit failure occurred, the market response is significantly more negative when the audit firm is considered a specialist in that industry than when the audit firm is not a specialist. Finally, the market response is weaker later in the sample period, consistent with the findings of prior research that the frequency of nonmeritorious suits has increased over time.