Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Community perspectives on alcohol use among a tribal population in rural southern India.

BACKGROUND Alcohol use is common in many cultures. Excessive use of alcohol adversely impacts individuals, families and communities. Medicine, which uses biomedical models and perspectives, views alcohol dependence as a disease. Alcohol use and dependence are complex societal problems, which need to be viewed through multidisciplinary approaches and corrected by adopting intersectoral efforts involving local communities. METHODS We used qualitative methods such as focus group discussions and in-depth interviews to document perspectives on alcohol use among a tribal community in southern India. We recorded traditional norms, changing patterns of use of alcohol and its consequences for individuals, families and the community. RESULTS Eight focus group discussions and eleven in-depth interviews were conducted. Though consumption of alcohol is part of the local culture, changes in occupation and availability of alcohol has made its consumption a problem. The introduction and easy availability of Indian-made foreign liquor, which is stronger than the locally brewed variety, in government-run outlets has changed the culture of drinking at festivals to drinking more often. This leads to public fights, domestic violence and increasing mortality and morbidity due to road traffic incidents and ill health. The age of initiation into drinking has decreased. CONCLUSION The introduction of non-traditional and commercial alcohol use has put a heavy price on tribal and rural people. Community-based interventions targeting young children and adolescents may pay more dividends than pursuing purely medical treatments for problem drinkers.
Reduction to a Single Closed Equation for 2-by-2 Reaction-Diffusion Systems of Lotka-Volterra Type

We consider general models of coupled reaction-diffusion systems for interacting variants of a species. When the total population becomes large with intensive competition, we prove that the frequency (i.e., proportion) of a variant can be approached by the solution of a single reaction-diffusion equation, through a singular limit method and a relative compactness argument. Applying this result, we retrieve the classical bistable equation for Wolbachia's spread into an arthropod population from a system modeling interaction between infected and uninfected individuals.
Narcissism and coach interpersonal style: A self‐determination theory perspective

Athletes’ sport experiences are often influenced by the interpersonal styles of communication used by their coaches. Research on personality antecedents of such styles is scarce. We examined the link between a well‐researched personality trait, namely narcissism, and two types of coaching interpersonal style, namely autonomy‐supportive and controlling styles. We also tested the mediating roles of dominance and empathic concern in explaining the relations between narcissism and the two coaching interpersonal styles. United Kingdom‐based coaches (N = 211) from various sports completed a multi‐section questionnaire assessing the study variables. Regression analyses revealed a positive direct relation between narcissism and controlling coach behaviors. Furthermore, empathy (but not dominance) mediated the positive and negative indirect effects of narcissism on controlling and autonomy‐supported interpersonal styles, respectively. We discuss these findings in terms of their implications for coaching and the quality of athletes’ sport experiences.
Migration, health, and socioenvironmental safety net among children of Dhaka, Bangladesh

ABSTRACT This study quantifies the diarrhea burden among migrant children under age 5 (who have migrated due to environmental degradation) in Dhaka. We used a multifactor socioepidemiological as well as environmental approach with pretested questionnaires and observations. It was found that 52% of the children were affected by diarrhea. Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost was reduced manifold with the increase of mothers' behavioral determinants. Health losses were 1,718 fold with significant coefficient (β) in the migrant group. DALYs lost were significantly associated with socioenvironmental factors such as mother's illiteracy (β = .18; p < .001), no hand wash before eating (β = .08; p = .004), and no hand wash after defecation (β = .10; p < .001). This puts emphasis clearly on the awareness at household level, especially of mothers and children under age 5 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in formulating migration-related policies.
The Circadian Body Temperature Rhythm in the Elderly: Effect of Single Daily Melatonin Dosing

The present study is part of a more extensive investigation dedicated to the study and treatment of age‐dependent changes/disturbances in the circadian system in humans. It was performed in the Tyumen Elderly Veteran House and included 97 subjects of both genders, ranging from 63 to 91 yrs of age. They lived a self‐chosen sleep‐wake regimen to suit their personal convenience. The experiment lasted 3 wks. After 1 control week, part of the group (n=63) received 1.5 mg melatonin (Melaxen™) daily at 22:30 h for 2 wks. The other 34 subjects were given placebo. Axillary temperature was measured using calibrated mercury thermometers at 03:00, 08:00, 11:00, 14:00, 17:00, and 23:00 h each of the first and third week. Specially trained personnel took the measurements, avoiding disturbing the sleep of the subjects. To evaluate age‐dependent changes, data obtained under similar conditions on 58 young adults (both genders, 17 to 39 yrs of age) were used. Rhythm characteristics were estimated by means of cosinor analyses, and intra‐ and inter‐individual variability by analysis of variance (ANOVA). In both age groups, the body temperature underwent daily changes. The MESOR (36.38±0.19°C vs. 36.17±0.21°C) and circadian amplitude (0.33±0.01°C vs. 0.26±0.01°C) were slightly decreased in the elderly compared to the young adult subjects (p<0.001). The mean circadian acrophase was similar in both age groups (17.19±1.66 vs. 16.93±3.08 h). However, the inter‐individual differences were higher in the older group, with individual values varying between 10:00 and 23:00 h. It was mainly this phase variability that caused a decrease in the inter‐daily rhythm stability and lower group amplitude. With melatonin treatment, the MESOR was lower by 0.1°C and the amplitude increased to 0.34±0.01°C, a similar value to that found in young adults. This was probably due to the increase of the inter‐daily rhythm stability. The mean acrophase did not change (16.93 vs. 16.75 h), although the inter‐individual variability decreased considerably. The corresponding standard deviations (SD) of the group acrophases were 3.08 and 1.51 h (p<0.01). A highly significant correlation between the acrophase before treatment and the phase change under melatonin treatment indicates that this is due to a synchronizing effect of melatonin. Apart from the difference in MESOR, the body temperature rhythm in the elderly subjects undergoing melatonin treatment was not significantly different from that of young adults. The data clearly show that age‐dependent changes mainly concern rhythm stability and synchronization with the 24 h day. A single daily melatonin dose stabilizes/synchronizes the body temperature rhythm, most probably via hypothermic and sleep‐improving effects.
The income smoothing

The income smoothing is one goal of accounting policy of French firms listed on the Stock Exchange. The aim of this study consists in showing that earnings are not naturally smoothed but, on the contrary, that they were manipulated as accounting principles and rules allow managers to choose among different methods. This research shows that accruals were manipulated in order to reduce the variability of net income.
RELATIONSHIP MARKETING TERHADAP CUSTOMER RETENTION DAN CUSTOMER LOYALITY PADA NASABAH BANK MEGA, Tbk. MALANG

Abstract : Competition that is increasingly sharply this claims every bank that be able to maintain and takes care of the client loyality. One of strategy needed to by the thing is strategy Relationship Marketing. This research done to know influence Relationship Marketing to Retensi Pelanggan and Loyalitas cutomer. This research done to the clients by using sampling technique. Sample measure taken is 75. Data is collected by through interview by using questionaire and hereinafter processing data by using descriptive analysis and path analysis. Result of analysis indicates that Commitment, Trust and Relationsship Satisfaction influential signifikan to Customer Retention. This research also shows existence of influence signifikan between Customer Loyalty, there is influence signifikan between Trust directly and also indirectly through Customer Retention to Customer Loyalty while Commitment and Relationship Satisfaction doesn't have an effect on to Customer Loyalty. Key words: Commitment, Trust, Relationship Satisfaction, Customer Retention and Customer Loyalty
Ownership Structure and Debt Leverage: Empirical Test on French

Debt is traditionally analyzed as disciplinary in the shareholders-manager conflict. It is less commonly analyzed in relation to controlling and outside shareholders. This paper shows that the joint problematics of ownership, private benefits and debt leverage are linked in a framework of financial governance. At the same time, debt helps to manage the conflict because it may be easier for the controlling shareholders to modify the leverage ratio than to modify his share of capital. A model shows that debt appears as a key governance variable as it can moderate private benefits or, conversely, may help diversion. The entrenchment effect and the fear for failure may explain the impact of debt. The existence of self-limited appropriation logics is highlighted as well as the importance of the information policy adopted by the controlling shareholders. In this paper, we test a possible non-linear relation between shareholders ownership and leverage. Using a sample of 118 French listed firms over the period 1998-2002, our results show that controlling shareholders ownership is linked with debt at different stage. At low levels of ownership, controlling shareholders use more debt in order to inflate their stake in capital and resist to unfriendly takeovers attempts. When ownership reaches a certain point, controlling shareholders' objectives converge further to those of outside shareholders. Moreover, the fear of financial distress will prompt controlling shareholders to reduce the firm's leverage ratio.
Uncoupling of pathways that promote postmitotic life span and apoptosis from replicative immortality of Caenorhabditis elegans germ cells

A dichotomy exists between germ and somatic cells in most organisms, such that somatic cell lineages proliferate for a single generation, whereas the germ cell lineage has the capacity to proliferate from one generation to the next, indefinitely. Several theories have been proposed to explain the unlimited replicative life span of germ cells, including the elimination of damaged germ cells by apoptosis or expression of high levels of gene products that prevent aging in somatic cells. These theories were tested in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans by examining the consequences of eliminating either apoptosis or the daf‐16, daf‐18 or sir‐2.1 genes that promote longevity of postmitotic somatic cells. However, germ cells of strains deficient for these activities displayed an unlimited proliferative capacity. Thus, C. elegans germ cells retain their youthful character via alternative pathways that prevent or eliminate damage that accumulates as a consequence of cell proliferation.
Proximity nanovalve with large phase-tunable thermal conductance

We propose a phase-controlled heat-flux quantum valve based on the proximity effect driven by a superconducting quantum interference proximity transistor (SQUIPT). Its operation relies on the phase-dependent quasiparticle density of states in the Josephson weak-link of the SQUIPT which controls thermal transport across the device. In a realistic Al/Cu-based setup the structure can provide efficient control of thermal current inducing temperature swings exceeding ∼100 mK, and flux-to-temperature transfer coefficients up to ∼500 mK/Φ0 below 100 mK. The nanovalve performances improve by lowering the bath temperature, making the proposed structure a promising building-block for the implementation of coherent caloritronic devices operating below 1 K.
The macroeconomics of public sector deficits : the case of Ghana

Ghana's economic program after independence emphasized public investment and spending as the road to growth, a strategy that led to recurring fiscal deficits and declining growth. Since the 1984 Economic Recovery Program, Ghana's fiscal deficits have declined and the public sector has been rationalized. Average growth rates have become positive. The authors provide two different definitions of the fiscal deficit in Ghana. The first, more conventional approach aggregates components of the public sector, including the central government, the social security and national insurance trust, state-owned enterprises, and the cocoa marketing board. The second way looks at the total financing flows to the public sector. Data on the central government debt are supplemented with data on the claims of the central bank and banking system against state-owned enterprises and data on public external debt. The authors examine the ways Ghana chose to finance its deficits and how these affected the financial side of the economy. They found that : 1) the fiscal deficit has had only little effect on private consumption; 2) public sector investment in Ghana has mostly substituted for private investment; and 3) the fiscal deficit had a significant negative effect on the external side. The official real exchange rate tended to appreciate, the trade balance worsened, and the black market premium rose.
Rational Design of a Mouse Granulocyte Macrophage- Colony-stimulating Factor Receptor Antagonist (*)

Mouse granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (mGM-CSF) proteins with substitutions at residues in the first α-helix were examined for biological activity and receptor binding properties. Substitution at the buried residue His affected both bioactivity and receptor binding. Of the four surface-exposed positions examined (Arg, Lys14, Lys, and Glu) only substitutions at Glu impaired bioactivity. Proteins with charge reversal substitutions at this position were partial agonists and weak antagonists of native mGM-CSF action. All substitutions at Glu abrogated high affinity binding. Lys14 and Lys substitution proteins showed various receptor binding defects. Qualitative and quantitative measurement of these binding defects identified Lys14 as a residue that interacts specifically with the β subunit of the mGM-CSF receptor, whereas Lys appeared to exist at the GM-R α-subunit/GM-R β-subunit interface as substitutions at this position produce both high and low affinity binding losses. These determinations permitted the design of a more potent mGM-CSF antagonist.
When Does Bonding Bond? The Case of Adrs and Gdrs

We show that initial cross-listings are consistent with legal bonding for only a small fraction of Depositary Receipt issues between 1990 and 2000. We argue that subsequent equity issue patterns cannot be consistent with legal bonding for a greater fraction of the sample. However, using a proprietary sample of Rule 144A/Reg S offering circulars, we show that firms from countries with weak legal systems voluntarily disclose enough information to allow homemarket investors and Qualified Institutional Buyers to price existing and new securities reasonably, even though ownership concentrations in these firms are high, accounting and auditing practices are governed by local standards, and legal remedies for potential breaches of Rule 144A/Reg S contracts are unavailable in US or UK courts. We find no evidence that interests of controlling and (new or existing) minority shareholders are misaligned. If anything, our tests show the opposite.
Influence of Medicaid managed care enrollment on emergency department utilization by children.

OBJECTIVE To explore the association between Medicaid managed care plan enrollment and emergency department (ED) utilization. DESIGN Retrospective cohort analysis using administrative claims data. PARTICIPANTS A total of 518 982 nondisabled children 1 to 18 years of age who were Medicaid beneficiaries in calendar year 2000. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Annual visit rates per 1000 member-months and incidence rate ratios for complex and noncomplex ED visits. Medicaid beneficiaries were classified on the basis of months enrolled in managed care. Administrative claims for ED visits were classified as complex or noncomplex on the basis of procedure and diagnostic codes. Multivariate logistic regression models of the incidence rate ratios were used to compare children with varying degrees of enrollment in Medicaid man-aged care with a reference group consisting of those exclusively enrolled in Medicaid managed care. RESULTS Overall, 22% of children receiving Medicaid made 1 or more ED visits in 2000; 77% of ED visits were for noncomplex services. Children who spent less than half of their enrolled months in managed care used complex ED services 37% more frequently (P<.001) and noncomplex services 11% more frequently (P<.001) than those exclusively enrolled in Medicaid managed care. CONCLUSIONS Children with all of their Medicaid enrollment in managed care have the lowest ED utilization rates for complex and noncomplex services. These results suggest that reducing delays in managed care plan enrollment may be an effective strategy to reduce ED utilization for this population.
In Vivo Assay of Protein-Protein Interactions in Hin-Mediated DNA Inversion

ABSTRACT In order to form the catalytic nucleoprotein complex called the invertasome in the Hin-mediated DNA inversion reaction, interactions of the DNA-binding proteins Hin and Fis are required. Assays for these protein-protein interactions have been exploited with protein cross-linkers in vitro. In this study, an in vivo assay system that probes protein-protein interactions was developed. The formation of a DNA loop generated by protein interactions resulted in transcriptional repression of an artificially designed operon, which in turn increased the chance of survival of Escherichia colihost cells in a streptomycin-containing medium. Using this system, we were able to assay the Hin-Hin interaction that results in the pairing of the two recombination sites and protein interactions that result in the formation of the invertasome. This assay system also led us to find that an individual Hin dimer bound on a recombination site can form a stable complex with Fis bound on the recombinational enhancer; this finding has never been observed in in vitro studies. Possible pathways toward the formation of the invertasome are discussed based on the assay results for a previously reported Hin mutant.
Glucosamine and Chondroitin for Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common, chronic disease that most frequently affects the knees and is a major cause of disability in the elderly. It is characterized by progressive cartilage loss, accompanied by secondary changes such as osteophyte formation and calcium deposition. Inflammatory processes are also involved, leading to stiffness and pain, for which patients seek treatment. Conventional treatment includes analgesics or non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs, however life-style changes should also be recommended, such as weight reduction and specific exercises. Glucosamine and chondroitin, classed as over-the-counter supplements or nutraceuticals, are regularly self-administered by patients with OA. Both agents are produced endogenously in the human body and are essential components of cartilage. This review discusses the evidence that supports the use of these agents either alone or in combination for pain relief and as disease-modifying agents in OA.
Experimental Characterization of Wearable Antennas and Circuits for RF Energy Harvesting in WBANs

Field trials have been performed in Covilhã to identify the spectrum opportunities for radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting through power density measurements from 350 MHz to 3 GHz. Based on the identification of the most promising opportunities, a dual-band printed antenna was conceived, operating at GSM bands (900/1800), with gains of 1.8 and 2.06 dBi, and efficiency varying from 77.6 to 82%, for the highest and lowest operating frequency bands, respectively. In this paper, guidelines for the design of RF energy harvesting circuits and choice of textile materials for a wearable antenna are briefly discussed. Besides, we address the development and experimental characterization of three different prototypes of a five-stage Dickson voltage multiplier (with and without impedance matching circuit) responsible for RF energy harvesting. All the three prototypes (1, 2 and 3) can power supply the sensor node for RF received powers of 2 dBm, -3 dBm and -4 dBm, and conversion efficiencies of 6, 18 and 20%, respectively.
Evaluation of intensive inpatient treatment of patients with severe personality disorders.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine whether severe personality disorders improve or deteriorate with intensive inpatient treatment. METHODS Overall 216 patients diagnosed as having personality disorders by DSM-III-R criteria were prospectively monitored at two private psychiatric hospitals from admission through discharge to one-year follow-up. RESULTS Substantial positive change in the sample was recorded at discharge, and the improvements held up at one-year follow-up. The proportion of patients with scores of 50 or more on the Global Assessment Scale was 3.7 percent at the time of admission. By discharge the proportion had increased to 55.1 percent, and by one-year follow-up it had risen to 66.3 percent. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that patients with severe personality disorders benefit from intensive inpatient treatment. We found no evidence that hospitalization of such patients is associated with regression or deterioration of function.