Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CONVERGENCE THEOREMS OF TWO-STEP IMPLICIT ITERATIVE PROCESS WITH ERRORS FOR A FINITE FAMILY OF ASYMPTOTICALLY NONEXPANSIVE MAPPINGS

The objective of this paper is to study the weak and strong convergence of two-step implicit iteration process with errors to a common fixed point for a finite family of asymptotically nonexpansive mappings in Banach spaces. The results presented in this paper extend and improve the corresponding results of Chang and Cho (2003), Xu and Ori (2001), Zhou and Chang (2002) and Gu and Lu (2006).
Interleukin-15 but Not Interleukin-7 Abrogates Vaccine-Induced Decrease in Virus Level in Simian Immunodeficiency Virusmac251-Infected Macaques1

The loss of CD4+ T cells and the impairment of CD8+ T cell function in HIV infection suggest that pharmacological treatment with IL-7 and IL-15, cytokines that increase the homeostatic proliferation of T cells and improve effector function, may be beneficial. However, these cytokines could also have a detrimental effect in HIV-1-infected individuals, because both cytokines increase HIV replication in vitro. We assessed the impact of IL-7 and IL-15 treatment on viral replication and the immunogenicity of live poxvirus vaccines in SIVmac251-infected macaques (Macaca mulatta). Neither cytokine augmented the frequency of vaccine-expanded CD4+ or CD8+ memory T cells, clonal recruitment to the SIV-specific CD8+ T cell pool, or CD8+ T cell function. Vaccination alone transiently decreased the viral set point following antiretroviral therapy suspension. IL-15 induced massive proliferation of CD4+ effector T cells and abrogated the ability of vaccination to decrease set point viremia. In contrast, IL-7 neither augmented nor decreased the vaccine effect and was associated with a decrease in TGF-β expression. These results underscore the importance of testing immunomodulatory approaches in vivo to assess potential risks and benefits for HIV-1-infected individuals.
Sustaining IT Advantage: The Role of Structural Differences

Information systems are strategic business tools, frequently essential to a firm and central to its competitive strategy. Their importance is now acknowledged. But information technology-equipment and services-is available to all firms, and most applications can be duplicated. The copying firm often enjoys the advantages of newer and better technology, learns from the experience of the innovator, and thus can offer comparable services at lower costs. When can an information technology-based strategy confer sustainable competitive advantage? The answer may lie with the role of strategic resources in explaining the allocation of economic benefits from an IT innovation. Specifically, information technology can lead to sustainable competitive advantage when it is used to leverage differences in strategic resources. This may be true even in cases where duplication is relatively easy and there are few dynamic effects, like first-mover advantages, to protect the innovation. An important characteristic of IT is its ability to manage interactions among economic activities; the economic theory can be used to establish a link between this characteristic of IT and shifts in resource values. This allows us to identify and examine some opportunities for deploying IT to leverage structural resource differences among firms, including differences in vertical integration and diversification as well as differences in the quality and organization of key resources.
Monitoring programme on nitrates in vegetables and vegetable-based baby foods marketed in the Region of Valencia, Spain: levels and estimated daily intake

This study was carried out to determine the current levels of nitrates in vegetables and vegetable-based baby foods (a total of 1150 samples) marketed in the Region of Valencia, Spain, over the period 2000–2008, and to estimate the toxicological risk associated with their intake. Average (median) levels of nitrate in lettuce, iceberg-type lettuce and spinach (1156, 798 and 1410 mg kg−1 w/w, respectively) were lower than the maximum limits established by European Union legislation. Thirteen fresh spinach samples exceeded the regulatory limits. Median nitrate values in other vegetables for which a maximum limit has not been fixed by the European Commission were 196, 203, 1597, 96, 4474 and 2572 mg kg−1 w/w (for potato, carrot, chard, artichoke, rucola and lamb's lettuce, respectively). The estimated nitrate daily intakes through vegetables consumption for adult, extreme consumers and children were found to be about 29%, 79.8% and 15.1%, respectively, of the acceptable daily intake (3.7 mg kg−1). The levels (median = 60.4 mg kg−1 w/w) found in vegetable-based baby foods were, in all cases, lower the maximum level proposed by European Union legislation. The estimated nitrate daily intake through baby foods for infants between 0–1 and 1–2 years of age were 13% and 18%, respectively, of the acceptable daily intake.
The Multidimensional Structure of External Barriers to Substance Abuse Treatment and its Invariance across Gender, Ethnicity, and Age

The goal of the present study was to identify the multidimensional factor structure of external barriers to substance abuse treatment and test its invariance across gender, ethnic, and age groups in a sample of 518 substance abusers assessed at a centralized intake unit. Exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) demonstrated a well-defined multidimensional factor structure of highly differentiated external barrier factors: time conflict, treatment accessibility, treatment entry difficulty, and financial problems. Furthermore, multi-group CFA tests were used to test equivalencies of the measurement and structural models. The statistical fit results supported the invariance of the ethnic groups. Although there were some gender and age differences in measurement and structural relations among the external barrier facets, the model fit indices results provided support for the invariance of both measurement and structural models. The findings suggest that it would be reasonable to consider the pattern of factor loadings and structure relations as invariant across gender, ethnic, and age groups.
Research Note - How Does Personality Matter? Relating the Five-Factor Model to Technology Acceptance and Use

The five-factor model (FFM) of personality has been used to great effect in management and psychology research to predict attitudes, cognitions, and behaviors, but has largely been ignored in the IS field. We demonstrate the potential utility of incorporating this model into IS research by using the FFM personality factors in the context of technology acceptance. We propose a dispositional perspective to understanding user attitudes and beliefs, and examine the effect of user personality---captured using the FFM's big five factors---on both the perceived usefulness of and subjective norms toward the acceptance and use of technology. Using logged usage data from 180 new users of a collaborative technology, we found general support for our hypotheses that the FFM personality dimensions can be useful predictors of users' attitudes and beliefs. We also found strong support for the relationships between intention to use and system use.
Caveolin-1 Acts as a Tumor Suppressor by Down-Regulating Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathway in Pancreatic Carcinoma Cell Lines

Objective: To investigate the effect of caveolin-1 (cav1) in pancreatic carcinoma panc1 cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Caveolin-1 gene was transferred into panc1 cells, and stably overexpressed cav1 clones were established. Proliferation and anchorage-independent growth capacity in vitro were detected by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and colony formation assays in soft agar. Flow cytometry was used to analyze cell cycle and apoptosis. The invasion ability was measured by Transwell invasion assay. Activities of signal molecules in epidermal growth factor receptor-mitogen-activated protein kinase (EGFR-MAPK) signal pathway were determined by Western blots. Tumor growth in vivo was evaluated by tumorigenesis assay in nude mice. Results: Stably overexpressing cav1 cells exhibited slower growth and reduced the capacity of anchorage-independent growth. Overexpression of cav1 reduced cell invasion capacity and promoted cell apoptosis. The activities of EGFR-MAPK signal pathway were also inhibited significantly by overexpression of cav1, in addition, overexpression of cav1 in panc1 cells reduced tumor formation in vivo. Conclusions: The cav1 may act as a candidate tumor suppressor gene in human panceatic carcinoma, and this effect may be related with the inhibition of EGFR-MAPK signal cascade.Abbreviations: cav1 - caveolin-1, FBS - fetal bovine serum, EGFR - epidermal growth factor receptor, DMEM - Dulbecco modified Eagle medium, MAPK - mitogen-activated protein kinase, MEK - MAP/ERK kinase, ERK - extracellular signal-regulated kinase, MTT - 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, PBS - phosphate-buffered saline, DMSO - dimethyl sulphoxide
Measuring Social Media Success: The Case of Facebook Marketing in the Motion Picture Industry

Social media marketing is playing a growing role in firms’ marketing efforts. However, industry practice suggests that firms have difficulty in quantitatively measuring its impact and implementing effective content management strategy. This study attempts to assess the value of Facebook marketing for the financial success of a movie’s theatrical release, and investigate what kind of high quality contents are most effective for movie studios. We construct a rich dataset that includes information about 200 movies’ Facebook marketing activities, box office revenues, and various control variables such as traditional marketing expenditure, critical and customer reviews, and movie characteristics. We estimate that an official Facebook Page contributes to an average increase of more than 6 million US dollars in opening weekend box office revenue and more than 11 million US dollars in overall box office revenue. We also address the self-selection issues. Further on, we will dig more into both the intensity and content of those page posts by using text mining techniques. These findings will contribute to social media marketing literature, and provide practical implications for studios to improve their social media marketing implementation.
Toxicity of Dimorphandra mollis to Workers of Apis mellifera

In this communication we have evaluated the toxic properties of methanol extracts from flowers, peduncles, leaves, petioles and stem bark of Dimorphandra mollis to Apis mellifera workers. Astilbin (5,7,3',4'-tetrahydroxy¾2,3-dihydroflavonol-3-b-O-rhamnoside) has been isolated from peduncles and flowers of this plant in large amounts. Astilbin presented insecticidal activity against confined bees. The results suggest that astilbin reduces the average survival of treated bees.
Effects of dietary taurine supplementation on growth performance and immune status in growing Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

The effect of dietary taurine was investigated on performance and immune responses in growing (1 to 42 d) Japanese quail. One-day-old quails of both sexes (300) were randomly allotted to 12 groups with 25 quails in each group (3 dietary treatments, 4 replicates). They were fed with maize-soybean meal-based diets containing 0, 0.01, or 0.05% taurine for 42 d. Dietary 0.01% taurine decreased food intake (P < 0.05) in the starter phase but did not affect BW gain and feed efficiency from d 1 to 42 of age. In the starter phase, dietary 0.05% taurine did not affect food intake but increased weight gain and improved feed efficiency (P < 0.05). In the grower phase, dietary 0.05% taurine did not affect weight gain but improved feed efficiency and decreased food intake (P < 0.05). In the overall period, dietary 0.05% taurine improved feed efficiency and decreased food intake (P < 0.05). The relative weights of thymus were greater in the quails given 0.01% taurine in diet (P < 0.05). The relative weights of the bursa of Fabricius and thymus were greater in dietary 0.05% taurine compared with the control (P < 0.05). The quail serum anti-Newcastle disease virus hemagglutination antibody titer in the taurine-supplemented diet had no significant effects compared with the control (P > 0.05). The response to phytohemagglutinin measured as the foot web index was significantly increased by 0.05% taurine supplementation (P < 0.05). It is concluded that the taurine-supplemented diet has a beneficial effect on immune responses and performance in growing Japanese quail.
Long‐term low‐dose macrolides for chronic rhinosinusitis in adults – a systematic review of the literature

Chronic rhinosinusitis is a very common inflammatory disease that impairs quality of life and is associated with high healthcare spending. Chronic rhinosinusitis treatment commonly involves the use of intranasal corticosteroids, oral antibiotics, and surgery. Macrolides have been identified as a potential treatment option for chronic rhinosinusitis due to their immunomodulatory effects; however, the evidence supporting their use is still conflicting.
Measurement of jet shapes in p-barp collisions at sqrt s =1.8 TeV.

We present a measurement of jet shapes in [ital [bar p]p] collisions at [radical][ital s] =1.8 TeV at the Fermilab Tevatron using the Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF). Qualitative agreement is seen with the predictions of recent next-to-leading [[ital O]([alpha][sub [ital s]][sup 3])] calculations and with leading logarithm QCD based Monte Carlo simulations. The dependence of the jet shape on transverse energy is studied.
Determination of microbial contamination in meat and fish products sold in the Kumasi metropolis (A Case Study of Kumasi central market and the Bantama market)

Department of Horticulture Faculty of AgricultureKwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Kumasi. *Corresponding Author E-mail: kbmaalekuu.agric@knust.edu. gh Food borne diseases are considered to be the most wide spread health problem in most parts of the world especially in the developing countries. This is mainly due to the way food is handled by the producer and the final consumer. The food safety risks associated with meat and fish products have been widely documented. This study evaluates the level of microbial contamination of meat and fish products that are sold in two major markets in the Kumasi metropolis of the Ashanti Region in Ghana. Ten samples of different meat portions and fish samples each were selected from the two markets (5 meat and 5 fish samples from Bantama market and then 5 meat and 5 fish samples from Kumasi Central market). The samples were analyzed for total viable bacteria count, total coliforms count, Escherichia coli and salmonella using different biochemical test. Pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, mould, Pseudomonas spp. Salmonella and Bacillus spp. were also isolated from both the meat and fish products. The study suggested that most of the meat and fish products that are sold are commonly contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms. Bantama market recorded the highest level of contamination. This contamination may play a significant role in the transmission of potentially harmful microorganisms which causes different diseases such as cholera, diarrhea and skin infections. It is therefore expedient that great care is taken during handling and the preparation of our meat and fish products to avoid or reduce the level of microbial load and contamination. Thorough cooking processes and good hygiene practices could help reduce the microbial load to harmless level.
MEASURES OF PHENOTYPIC SELECTION ARE BIASED BY PARTIAL INBREEDING

When populations are partially inbred due to the population structure or to a mixed mating system like partial self‐fertilization, some individuals will be more inbred than others. This heterogeneity among individuals in the history of inbreeding can greatly complicate the interpretation of measures of quantitative genetic variability when the traits studied exhibit inbreeding depression. Partial inbreeding can also bias measures of phenotypic selection toward the detection of strong directional and stabilizing selection. In this paper, data are presented from several inbreeding experiments conducted on two partially selfing, annual populations of the monkeyflower Mimulus guttatus that show that the means of many of the morphological and phenological traits measured were affected by inbreeding. These findings imply that estimates of heritabilities and additive genetic covariances would not reflect the potential for these populations to respond to selection. Phenotypic selection analyses conducted on naturally occurring plants, involving linear regressions of relative seed production on the traits, revealed significant directional selection on many of the same quantitative traits measured in the inbreeding studies. However, when the same selection analyses were performed on plants with known histories of inbreeding, part of the statistical relationship between relative seed number and the traits was found to be due to the mating system: inbred individuals had both lower seed production and different mean values for the traits than outcrossed individuals. It is also shown, with a hypothetical example, that partial inbreeding can bias measures of stabilizing selection toward the detection of strong stabilizing selection. Partial inbreeding therefore tends to make directional and stabilizing selection appear stronger than it is, and it may be that natural selection in the wild is actually weaker than many studies of partially inbred species suggest.
A Population-based Study Showing Better Renal Prognosis for Proteinase 3 Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody (ANCA)–associated Nephritis Versus Myeloperoxidase ANCA–associated Nephritis

Objective. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)–associated vasculitis (AAV) is usually differentiated based on clinical phenotypes, but recent data indicate that myeloperoxidase (MPO)-AAV is genetically distinct from proteinase 3 (PR3)-AAV. We reviewed a population-based cohort of AAV, focusing on differences in clinical and laboratory characteristics and to compare renal outcome between MPO-ANCA and PR3-ANCA nephritis. Methods. All new cases of AAV diagnosed between 1997 and 2009 in a geographically defined area in southern Sweden were retrieved using a validated search algorithm. Data were collected from time of diagnosis and end of followup. Renal and patient survival were analyzed according to ANCA serotype. Results. During the study period, 201 patients were diagnosed with AAV, 98 tested positive for PR3-ANCA, and 85 for MPO-ANCA. Patients with PR3-ANCA were younger, had significantly higher inflammatory activity, and had a larger number of organs involved at diagnosis, but nephritis was more prevalent among patients with MPO-associated (72/85; 85%) versus PR3-associated disease (67/98, 68%). When comparing only patients with ANCA-associated nephritis, those with MPO-ANCA were more likely to develop endstage renal disease (n = 27, 38%) than those with PR3-ANCA (n = 10, 15%), p = 0.003. The risk remained significantly elevated after adjusting for sex, age, and s-creatinine level at diagnosis (HR 2.64; 95% CI 1.25–5.58; p = 0.003). There were no significant differences in mortality rates between the 2 groups. Conclusion. The outcome in this population-based cohort indicates that among AAV patients with nephritis, renal prognosis is better in the PR3-ANCA group, even after adjustment for sex, age, and renal function at diagnosis.
Discussion Paper No . 442 Signaling Competence in Elections

We analyze how political candidates can signal their competence and show that polarization might be a way of doing this. For this purpose, we study a unidimensional Hotelling-Downs model of electoral competition in which a fraction of candidates have the ability to correctly observe a policy-relevant state of the world. We show that candidates tend to polarize, even in the absence of policy bias. This is because proposing an extreme platform has a competence signaling e¤ect and has a strictly higher probability of winning than proposing a median platform. The degree of polarization depends on how uncertain is the state of the world.
Depression therapy: Future prospects

Current biological approaches to the treatment of depression focus mainly on modification of monoaminergic neurotransmission. New agents targeting these neurotransmitters are under development. Many novel antidepressant targets are however under investigation. These include the neurokinins, glutamate, purinoceptors, opioids and trophic factors. While many of these potential targets are likely to fail clinical development, exciting novel therapeutic options are likely to emerge.
Disruption of basement membrane, extracellular matrix metalloproteinases and E-cadherin in renal-cell carcinoma.

UNLABELLED A retrospective study was performed to determine the prognostic value of Basement Membrane (BM) integrity, Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and E-Cadherin expression in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS An immunohistochemical study on laminin and collagen IV, MMPs 1 and 2, and E-Cadherin was carried out on 71 RCCs. BM fragmentation was considered taking 75% as a cut-off. MMP 1 and MMP2 immunostaining, as well as E-Cadherin was considered taking 25% as a cut-off. RESULTS An inverse relationship was seen between E-Cadherin with laminin, collagen IV and MMPs. More than 75% loss of laminin, collagen IV and E-Cadherin, as well as higher expression of MMPs, were associated with symptoms, tumoral size and worse grade. Loss of collagen IV and E-Cadherin were of prognostic value. CONCLUSION Both BM and E-Cadherin are good prognostic markers. MMPs patterns show a relationship between BM proteins and E-Cadherin, but evaluation is more time-consuming and provide no better prognostication; consequently they are not useful in routine clinical applications.
Review of photoplethysmography based non-invasive continuous blood pressure methods

Blood pressure is an important parameter for early detections of cardiovascular diseases. There have been many relevant technological advances to measure blood pressure, such as in wearable sensing, pervasive computing, and smartphones. The disadvantage of conventional measurement is discomfort for the patients because of painful cuff inflation. The emergence of photoplethysmography for blood pressure estimation is offering a more convenient method. Photoplethysmography can generally be grouped into the following three categories; pulse wave velocity, pulse transit time, and pulse wave analysis. The objective of this review is to study the achievement of photoplethysmography based non-invasive continuous blood pressure methods. The method is quite promising and useful for the future studies and enhancement on cuff-less continuous BP monitoring approach.