Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Banking Relationships of Lower-Income Families and the Governmental Trend toward Electronic Payment

In the past three years, the federal government and many states have lowered their costs of administering welfare and benefits programs by expanding the use of electronic payment. These initiatives promise to have their greatest significance, and meet their greatest challenge, among lower-income families, the demographic group with the lowest rate of bank account ownership and the least familiarity with electronic transactions. Although the payment programs do not require a banking relationship, the move to electronic transfer could change the financial practices of many recipients without a deposit account or with no banking relationship at all. Recipients of social security and other benefits payments who do not have a checking account may well continue to obtain cash and other financial services from alternative service providers, such as check cashing outlets and grocery stores. But in light of the increased promotion of direct deposit, many of these recipients may be more inclined to open a deposit account. The attraction of a bank account for some families without one may become heightened as governments and the payment system in general move more toward electronic transactions. An example of such a move is the federal government’s introduction this summer of special accounts to be made available at depository institutions primarily for the transfer of federal payments. In these ways, the governmental move to electronic payment may do more than the ‘‘basic banking’’ effort of the 1980s to spread the use of bank accounts to ‘‘unbanked’’ families. Moreover, the greater use of the banking system by these families could harmonize with the emphasis that welfare reform has placed on asset-building for lower-income families, a goal that may be harder to achieve without the use of a bank account. On the other hand, a move by greater numbers of lower-income families into the mainstream of the payment system is likely to be a difficult transition for many of them, given survey results on why they do not currently use the banking system. This article examines the ways in which lowerincome families obtain checking and credit services, the effects that the government move to electronic payment may have on these families and on depository institutions, and the promotional and educational efforts that may be needed to facilitate the move to electronic services.
Planar type probe with multiple-polarization response for in-vivo permittivity measurements of heterogeneous biological tissues

A three-way planar-type probe optimized for in-vivo permittivity measurements of biological materials has been developed. The probe in this letter consists of three orthogonally-faced probing apertures, which allows one to make accurate and uninterrupted measurements in three different directions per each insertion. As a result, this probe is significantly less invasive for the collection of the desired information of the biological materials, thus providing a vastly improved solution for in-vivo measurements. This probe can also be used for microwave ablation, in which case the treating region can be significantly expanded
Numerical relationship between neurons in the lateral geniculate nucleus and primary visual cortex in macaque monkeys

Abstract We examined the numerical correlation between total populations of neurons in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and the primary visual cortex (area 17 of Brodmann) in ten cerebral hemispheres of five normal rhesus monkeys using an unbiased three-dimensional counting method. There were 1.4 ± 0.2 million and 341 ±54 million neurons in the LGN and area 17, respectively. In each animal, a larger LGN on one side was in register with a larger area 17 of the cortex on the same side. Furthermore, asymmetry in the number of neurons in both the LGN and area 17 favored the right side. However, because of small variations across subjects, correlation between the total neuron number in LGN and area 17 was weak (r = 0.29). These results suggest that the final numbers of neurons in these visual centers may be established independently or by multiple factors controlling elimination of initially overproduced neurons.
Six color flow cytometry detects plasma cells expressing aberrant immunophenotype in bone marrow of healthy donors

Both normal and malignant plasma cell (PC) populations can be identified using modern flow cytometry (FC) technique in multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Expression of CD19 and CD56 markers is heterogenous on bone marrow PCs of healthy individuals. Little is known about immunophenotypically aberrant (CD19−/CD56+) PCs subpopulation of healthy people.
DETERMINAN INKLUSI KEUANGAN DI INDONESIA (GLOBAL FINDEX 2014)

Financial inclusion has been a trend since post 2008 crisis especially derived from the effects of the crisis towards the class in the bottom of the pyramid. Financial inclusion rate in Indonesia, if seen from three main indicators, is still low. Indonesians who have an account in financial institutions is at 35,95 percent and those who save is at 25,56 percent. Meanwhile, Indonesians who borrow in formal financial institutions are only at 13,3 percent. This study aims to examine individual characteristics in influencing three main indicators of financial inclusion, the ownership of the account, saving, and borrowing from formal financial institution in Indonesia. The data used is the micro-level data with 1000 respondents of the Indonesian population obtained from Global Findex 2014 issued by the World Bank. In accordance with the objectives of this study, the method used is the logit regression model. The results of the research shows that individual characteristics such as income level, education level, and age significantly affect ownership and savings accounts in formal financial institutions. While gender has no significant effect. In the third indicator which is the borrowing from formal financial institutions, only the poorest income quintile and age has a significant effect.
p14ARF, p15INK4b and p16INK4a Methylation Status in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

The INK4 family of proteins p15INK4b, p14ARF and p16INK4a function as cell cycle inhibitors where they are involved in the inhibition of G1 phase progression. Methylation of the p15INK4b promoter never seems to occur in solid tumors but is a major gene silencing mechanism in hematological malignancies. p14ARF and p16INK4a promoter methylation often occurs in solid tumors but also in leukemias and lymphomas. In chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), only a few reports have been published regarding INK4 methylation and the results of the literature are discordant. Thus clearly, more works on large series have to be performed independently.
Renée Ventura-Clapier and Ruddy Richard

[PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , January 1, 2007; 102 (1): 79-86. J Appl Physiol B. Roels, C. Thomas, D. J. Bentley, J. Mercier, M. Hayot and G. Millet human permeabilized muscle fibers Effects of intermittent hypoxic training on amino and fatty acid oxidative combustion in [PDF] [Full Text] , August 1, 2007; 103 (2): 731-732. J Appl Physiol J. Zoll, E. Ponsot, S. Dufour and M. Fluck Reply to Padilla, Hamilton, Lundgren, Mckenzie, and Mickleborough [PDF] [Full Text] , August 1, 2007; 103 (2): 730-730. J Appl Physiol J. Padilla, S. A. Hamilton, E. A. Lundgren, J. M. McKenzie and T. D. Mickleborough hypoxia? Exercise training in normobaric hypoxia: is carbonic anhydrase III the best marker of [PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , May 1, 2008; 104 (5): 1436-1441. J Appl Physiol B. Mettauer, F. Piquard, B. Geny and R. Richard F. N. Daussin, J. Zoll, E. Ponsot, S. P. Dufour, S. Doutreleau, E. Lonsdorfer, R. Ventura-Clapier, function in human skeletal muscle Training at high exercise intensity promotes qualitative adaptations of mitochondrial
Oral epithelium-Candida glabrata interactions in vitro.

BACKGROUND Oropharyngeal candidiasis is a common opportunistic infection and Candida glabrata is the second or third most frequently isolated species from oropharyngeal candidiasis lesions, after Candida albicans. The aim of this study was to study the cytokine-inducing and cell-damaging potential of C. glabrata in oral epithelial cells and compare this to C. albicans. METHODS Oral epithelial cell lines and primary gingival epithelial cells were cocultured with C. glabrata strains GDH2269 and 94-11 or C. albicans strains SC5314 and ATCC28366. Supernatants were analysed for the presence of interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha), IL-8 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The cytotoxity of different strains was determined using the CytoTox-96 assay. RESULTS Compared to C. albicans, C. glabrata induced different proinflammatory cytokine responses in oral epithelial cells; a high level of GM-CSF induction was only detected in C. glabrata-infected cells and not in C. albicans-infected cells, regardless of the origin of these cells (cell lines or primary cells) or the strain used. Like C. albicans, C. glabrata induced an IL-1alpha response by oral epithelial cells, but this response was both strain-dependent and epithelial cell origin-dependent. Unlike C. albicans, C. glabrata failed to induce a strong IL-8 response in any of the cell systems studied. Finally, in these studies C. glabrata showed lower cytotoxicity than C. albicans. CONCLUSIONS C. glabrata is less cytotoxic than C. albicans and induces different proinflammatory cytokine responses in oral epithelial cells.
Resting and exercise cardiorespiratory function in survivors of congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Our objective was to study exercise capacity and cardiorespiratory response to exertion in survivors of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). This was a cross‐sectional cohort study of 23 CDH survivors, aged 10–16 years, and 23 gender‐ and age‐matched controls. Exercise testing was performed on a cycle ergometer, with cardiac output measurements made using exponential CO2 rebreathing. Pretest cardiorespiratory assessment was done by echocardiography and pulmonary function testing. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t‐test, regression analysis, and longitudinal model computing with spatial covariance structure. No echocardiographic evidence for pulmonary hypertension was found at rest (right ventricular systolic pressures, 27 ± 6 mmHg). Mean pulmonary artery diameter on the side of the CDH was significantly smaller than contralaterally, but was within normal range (z‐score, 0 ± 1.1 vs. 1.2 ± 1.6, P < 0.01). Exercise capacity was mildly reduced in CDH compared to controls and predictive data (maximum workload, 77% ± 12% vs. 91% ± 16% of predicted, P < 0.01). Cardiorespiratory response to exertion was not significantly different between groups. In conclusion, most adolescent CDH survivors have nearly normal exercise capacity and cardiorespiratory response to exertion. This study may prove useful in comparisons with future cohorts comprising more severely affected individuals now surviving due to improved neonatal care. Pediatr Pulmonol. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
How Long Tail and Trust Affect Online Shopping Behavior: An Extension to UTAUT2 Framework

This research aims at understanding the effect of long tail and trust on the customer motivation behind online shopping use. In this research, we adopt the Extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology2 (UTAUT2) and expand with two additional constructs “long tail effect” and “trust” to understand whether these two key factors influence the customer motivation to choose online channels for shopping. Research was conducted in Japan for two product categories i.e. airline ticket and book. One is a physical product while the other is a service product. Both “long tail effect” and “trust” were found to have significant relationships with the intention to use, however, there were some differences between the two products, due to their inherent characteristics. Inclusion of both “long tail effect” and “trust” constructs to the existing UTAUT2 research framework is proposed for future research.
Does Ethics Reward on Public Markets: Empirical Evidences Ten Years After the Great Recession

In the aftermath of the last Great Recession in 2007, firms’ commitment to social responsibility and sustainability started to be considered a corporate leverage to make extra-returns as well as to improve corporate reputation on institutional markets. This in turn has implied a lower uncertainty among investors and a higher trust from stakeholders’ categories, rising virtuous firms’ returns to over-perform their less responsible peers. Hence, this paper investigates the positive externalities of CSR on Italian stock exchange market, focusing on Blue Chips’ financial performance over the ten years post-crisis. In particular, we examined whether a listed company has been rewarded by its stakeholders over a high volatility periods, leveraging on CSR and Sustainability issues. Empirical findings highlight, ceteris paribus, two implications in regards to the impact of sustainability rating on corporate financial health. Indeed, the effect of CSR and corporate sustainability improves significantly companies’ earning performance (Return on Asset), although firms do not benefit from economic outperformances (Earning per Share) on stock exchange market.
Multiple-state control model for binocular motion rivalry in human

In the present study, a dichoptic motion experiment by introducing obliquely-oriented moving targets was used to probe the cortical control processing during binocular rivalry. The perceptual motion was indicated by the eye movements of the optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) slow phase. The results showed that the OKN slow phases exhibited three types of directional shifts. Two of these directional shifts tracked the stimuli (i.e., upper right (UR) or upper left (UL)), whereas the third moved purely upwards (UP). Since physically there is no upward-moving target for the visual inputs, this result supported the stimulus-feature rivalry hypothesis, in which higher cortical centers mediate interocular perceptual clustering for reassembling candidate percepts, and the error between emerged candidate and visual inputs would elicited binocular rivalry. The results lead us to figure out a multiple-state control model for binocular rivalry
Routine soil testing to monitor heavy metals and boron

Microelementos tem um papel importante na agricultura, devido a sua essencialidade para plantas e tambem a possibilidade de serem toxicos as plantas e aos animais. Os cinco micronutrientes (B, Cu, Fe, Mn, e Zn) sao comumente determinados nas analises rotineiras de solos com finalidade de recomendacao de adubacao. Os outros quatro elementos (Cd, Cr, Pb, e Ni) sao metais pesados importantes para os solos agricolas e nao sao normalmente determinados em amostras de solos enviadas pelos agricultores. Portanto, altos teores desses metais pesados em terras agricultaveis poderao passar despercebidos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi usar a analise de rotina de solo para monitorar o teor dos nove elementos em amostras de solo. Um total de 13.416 amostras de solo de 21 estados brasileiros, sendo 58% delas originarias do estado de Sao Paulo, foram analisadas. O boro foi determinado usando a agua quente e os outros metais foram extraidos pelo DTPA (pH 7,3). Considerando todas as amostras, as faixas dos teores, em de mg dm-3 foram: B, 0,01-10,6; Cu, 0,1-56,2; Fe, 0,5-476; Mn, 1-325; Zn, 1-453; Cd 0,00-3,43, Cr, 0,0-42,9; Ni, 0,00-65,1; Pb, 0,00-63,9. Os valores medios para amostras originadas do Estado de Sao Paulo foram de: 0,32-B, 2,5-Cu, 36-Fe, 16,1-Mn, 4,8-Zn, 0,02-Cd, 0,03-Cr, 0,18-Ni e 0,85-Pb. Resultados semelhantes foram obtidos para amostras de outros Estados. Os valores mais altos sao indicativos de acao antropogenica, devido a aplicacao de fertilizantes ou de atividades industriais de mineracao. Analises de rotina feitas na amostras de solos do Brasil, especialmente originarias do estado de Sao Paulo, podem servir com base de dados para indicar o potencial de deficiencia de micronutrientes ou fitotoxicidade de metal pesado em solos agricultaveis, permitindo a tomada de acoes preventivas.
Mechanical and electrical contact properties of wedge-connectors

The paper describes the mechanical and electrical contact properties of a typical fired wedge-connector. The measured forces and displacements in the connector components are compared with the predictions of a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of a wedge-connector interfaced with solid aluminium conductors. The distribution of mechanical stresses resulting from typical applied mechanical loads are evaluated using a nonlinear FEA code. The nonlinear input data for the FEA calculations were obtained from mechanical testing of metal specimens obtained from connectors used in the investigation. Measurements of contact resistance of the electrical interfaces are also reported. The wipe-off of surface oxide films from the electrical interfaces during connector installation is described.
Early thrombosis in bovine mesenteric vein grafts after infrainguinal reconstruction.

INTRODUCTION Autologous vein grafts are still the gold standard in infrainguinal arterial bypass grafting procedures. However, due to the unavailability of suitable autologous vein grafts, heterogeneous grafts are usually preferred. In the present study, surgical outcomes with bovine mesenteric vein grafts (ProCol, Hancock Jaffe Laboratories, USA) in the infrainguinal location in patients with ischemic leg infection or necrosis are presented. METHODS Seven patients who underwent infrainguinal arterial reconstructions with ProCol grafts were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS Graft thrombosis was seen in two patients on postoperative day 1 (28.5%). The shortest and the longest patency durations were six and 18 months, respectively. Aneurysmal dilation developed postoperatively in two grafts (28.5%) after 12 and 18 months, respectively. CONCLUSION In cases where infection accompanies ischemia, and autologous veins are not available as graft materials, ProCol grafts can be used as temporary grafts in infrainguinal arterial reconstructions. The use of the graft is believed to be unacceptable for any indication other than infection due to its low short- and long-term patency rates and high risk of aneurysm formation in this location.
Comparative study of the effect of ACE-inhibitors and other antihypertensive agents on proteinuria in diabetic patients.

Several studies during the past 15 years have shown that antihypertensive therapy with different types of drugs can reduce microalbuminuria or clinical proteinuria and retard the progression toward end-stage renal failure. However, some authors reported disparate renal protective effects of different antihypertensive drugs in diabetic animals and humans. In an attempt to resolve the controversy surrounding this possibility, previously we reported a meta-analysis of published studies in diabetics with microalbuminuria or overt proteinuria treated with conventional agents, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, or calcium antagonists (Ca2+ antagonists). Here we present an updated meta-analysis of published studies in diabetics with microalbuminuria or clinical proteinuria (UProt), treated during > or = 4 weeks with ACE inhibitors, Ca2+ antagonists, or conventional therapy (diuretic and/or beta-blocker). Despite similar blood pressure (BP) reductions, UProt tended to decrease more on ACE inhibitors (on average -45%) than on conventional therapy (on average -23%) or Ca2+ antagonists other than nifedipine (on average -35%); in contrast, UProt tended to increase slightly on nifedipine (on average 5%, P < .05). On the basis of multiple regression analysis, ACE inhibitor-induced UProt changes correlated with BP changes (r = 0.77, P < .00001), averaged -28% at zero BP change, and varied 1.5% for each percent BP change. On conventional therapy, UProt and BP changes also correlated (r = 0.62, P < .005), but UProt began to decrease only after a BP reduction of > 5% and the slope was steeper (4% UProt change per percent BP change) than on ACE inhibitors. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Detection, Evaluation and Minimization of Nonenzymatic Deamidation in Proteomic Sample Preparation*

Identification of deamidated sites in proteins is commonly used for assignment of N-glycosylation sites. It is also important for assessing the role of deamidation in vivo. However, nonenzymatic deamidation occurs easily in peptides under conditions commonly used in treatment with trypsin and PNGase F. The impact on proteomic sample preparation has not yet been evaluated systematically. In addition, the 13C peaks of amidated peptides can be misassigned as monoisotopic peaks of the corresponding deamidated ones in database searches. The 19.34 mDa mass difference between them is proposed as a means for eliminating the resulting false positive identifications in large-scale proteomic analysis. We evaluated five groups of proteomic data, obtained mainly through an electrostatic repulsion-hydrophilic interaction chromatography (ERLIC)-reverse phase (RP) chromatography sequence, and ascertained that nonenzymatic asparagine deamidation occurred to some extent on 4–9% of the peptides, resulting in the false positive identification of many N-glycosylation sites. A comprehensive investigation indicated that the chief causative factors were the mildly alkaline pH and prolonged incubations at 37 °C during proteomic sample preparation. An improved protocol is proposed featuring tryptic digestion at pH 6 and deglycosylation at pH 5, resulting in a significant decrease in nonenzymatic deamidation while conserving adequate digestion efficiency. The number of identified deamidation sites was improved significantly by increasing the sample loading amount in liquid chromatography-tandem MS. This permitted the identification of a significant number of glutamine deamidation sites, which featured sequence motifs largely different from those for asparagine deamidation: -Q-V-, -Q-L- and -Q-G- and, to a lesser extent, -Q-A- and -Q-E-.
A prospective evaluation of the combined use of the modified Alvarado score with selective laparoscopy in adult females in the management of suspected appendicitis.

BACKGROUND A diagnostic scoring system such as the modified Alvarado score, combined with selective laparoscopy in adult females, can be used in the assessment of acute abdominal pain suggestive of appendicitis. METHOD A total of 84 consecutive patients presenting to our surgical team with suspected appendicitis were assessed prospectively using the modified Alvarado score. The definitive management of this study group was instigated according to a set algorithm based on the score. The algorithm included the use of diagnostic laparoscopy in adult female patients with scores suggestive of appendicitis. A negative appendicectomy rate was obtained from those undergoing appendicectomy using this approach and compared to that obtained from the 97 patients that had undergone appendicectomy under the care of the other surgical teams in our unit during the study period. RESULTS The rate of negative appendicectomy in the study group was 0% compared to 18% in the control group (P < 0.05); 10% of adult female women had negative diagnostic laparoscopies for appendicitis thus saving this group an unnecessary appendicectomy. This was achieved without an increase in total in-patient stay. CONCLUSION An algorithm combining the modified Alvarado score with selective laparoscopy is recommended for widespread use in the management of suspected acute appendicitis.