Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
How to Hedge Selectively : A Bayesian Approach

A Bayesian optimal hedging model is developed to quantitatively analyze selective hedging behavior. Numerical results confirm that subjective market views can have a substantial impact on a hedger’s optimal position. The impact is most evident when the hedger speculates on future market price directions and/or is pessimistic about the effectiveness of hedging, i.e., a breakdown in the correlation among different markets. The results offer new insight into selective hedging behavior and contribute to explaining the large cross-sectional and timeseries variation of hedging positions often observed in practice.
The role of supply chain integration in the relationship between market orientation and performance in SMEs

The purpose of this paper is to verify the alignment between market orientation and supply chain integration practices for improving performance in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). A model of the relationships between variables was derived from the literature. Data from 327 SMEs were analysed by confirmatory factorial analysis (CFA) to verify the relationships. The findings show that market orientation indirectly and positively influences performance via supply chain integration. The direct relationship between market orientation (MO) and supply chain integration (SCI) was also confirmed. Likewise, the relationship between market orientation and supply chain integration was found to be strong and positive. The findings suggest that the generation of information in market oriented SMEs favours their sharing information both interand intra-organizational. A discussion of these findings, the implications for practice, and proposals for further research are provided.
No difference between doses in skin anesthesia after lidocaine delivered via iontophoresis.

CONTEXT Iontophoresis is a method of administering medications transcutaneously using galvanic current. Dose is the product of current amplitude and treatment duration. It is assumed that higher doses of iontophoresis are more effective in delivering medication, yet research supporting this claim is insufficient. OBJECTIVE To compare high-dose lidocaine iontophoresis (80 mA-min), standard-dose lidocaine iontophoresis (40 mA-min), and 2 sham treatments indirectly by measuring skin anesthesia. DESIGN Double-blind crossover study. SETTING Research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS 15 healthy volunteers (10 women, 5 men: age 24.06 ± 2 y, height 169.7 ± 8.3 cm, weight 72.5 ± 14.2 kg). INTERVENTION Four treatments were counterbalanced and applied on the anterior forearm: 2 true interventions (40 and 80 mA-min) and 2 sham interventions separated by at least 24 h. The true-intervention doses were applied at a current of 2 mA with 2.5 ml 2% lidocaine HCL for 20 and 40 min. The sham treatments were 2.5 ml of lidocaine without galvanic current (intensity = 0 mA, 40 min) and 2.5 ml of saline solution (galvanic current of 2 mA for 40 min). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Semmes-Weinstein monofilament scores were taken preintervention and postintervention (at 0, 20, 40, and 60 min) to measure skin anesthesia. RESULTS A significant interaction between treatment and time (F = 4.137, P < .01) was identified. The 40-mA-min dose produced greater anesthesia than the lidocaine and saline shams at all times. The 80-mA-min dose produced greater anesthesia than saline sham at all times. There was a significant difference noted, with 40 mA-min over 80 mA-min, at the 20-min posttest, but there were no other significant differences between the 40- and 80-mA-min doses at 0, 40, or 60 min posttreatment or between the 2 sham treatments at any time. CONCLUSIONS The 40-mA-min treatment was just as effective as the 80-mA-min treatment, suggesting that shorter treatments may be more time efficient for clinicians and patients.
An Examination and Validation of the Theoretical Resistivity-Temperature Relationship for Conductors

Electrical resistivity is a fundamental parameter of metals or electrical conductors. Since resistivity is a function of temperature, in order to completely understand the behavior of metals, a temperature dependent theoretical model is needed. A model based on physics principles has recently been developed to obtain an equation that relates electrical resistivity to temperature. This equation is dependent upon a parameter associated with the electron travel time before being scattered, and a parameter that relates the energy of the atoms and their separation distance. Analysis of the energy parameter reveals that the equation is optimized if the proportionality term in the equation is not constant but varies over the temperature range. Additional analysis reveals that the theoretical equation can be used to determine the mean free path of conduction electrons, the number of defects in the atomic lattice, and the ‘equivalent’ charge associated with the metallic bonding of the atoms. All of this analysis provides validation for the theoretical model and provides insight into the behavior of metals where performance is affected by temperatures (e.g., integrated circuits and temperature sensors). Keywords—Callendar–van Dusen, conductivity, mean free path, resistance temperature detector, temperature sensor.
The Moderating Effect of Technology Awareness on the Relationship between UTAUT Constructs and Behavioural Intention to Use Technology: A Conceptual Paper

The volume and value of cash-based transactions in Nigeria is high and expected to rise. This is liked to non-adoption of new e-payment process introduced by the Central Bank. The adoption of Point of Sale (POS) terminal is reported to be very low. A number of researchers have used several technology adoption theories to answer a similar phenomenon, but their studies were fragmented. Thus the Unified Theory of acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) combined eight among those numerous theories and models of technology adoption, toward a unified view. However, several studies that used UTAUT and investigate behavioural intention to use technology yielded conflicting findings. Therefore this paper, based on review of past literature, conceptualised that ‘technology awareness’ moderates the relationship between performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions and behavioural intention to use POS.
Association of the C677T MTHFR Polymorphism With Homocysteine, Ox-LDL Levels, and Thiolactonase Activities in the Severity of Coronary Syndrome

Coronary artery diseases (CAD) are influenced by multiple genes of modest effect as the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T gene polymorphism, related to MTHFR activity and total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) concentration. This study was designed to evaluate tHcy, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (ox-LDL), high-sensibility C-reactive protein (Hs CRP) levels, and homocysteine thiolactonase (HTase) activities as new risk factors for CAD and to investigate an association between MTHFR polymorphism tHcy concentrations and coronary syndrome severity. Our results showed significantly higher levels of tHcy and ox-LDL in patients associated with lower HTase activities. These levels increased proportionally to disease severity. Total plasma Hcy levels were negatively correlated to HTase activities in patients where the TT genotype was significantly more frequent. In a multivariate analysis, tHcy level was the only independent factor affecting the coronary syndrome severity. High tHcy levels are associated with coronary syndrome severity and may be explained either by the elevated prevalence of TT genotype or by the diminished HTase activities.
Mutational Uncoupling of α1A-Adrenergic Receptors from G Proteins Also Uncouples Mitogenic and Transcriptional Responses in PC12 Cells

Activation of human α1A-adrenergic receptors in PC12 cells causes many second messenger, mitogenic, and transcriptional responses. We examined the role of G protein activation in these responses by uncoupling the receptor through deletion of the first three amino acids from the third intracellular loop (Δ208–210). Expression levels of retrovirus-transfected wild-type and Δ208–210 α1A-adrenergic receptors in PC12 cells were similar and showed identical binding affinities for antagonists. However, the potency of the agonist norepinephrine was increased 9-fold by the Δ208–210 mutation. In PC12 cells expressing the Δ208–210 construct, calcium and inositol phosphate responses to norepinephrine were essentially abolished. The strong activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways seen upon stimulation of wild-type α1A-adrenergic receptors in PC12 cells was abolished by the Δ208–210 mutation, as was activation of the tyrosine kinase Pyk2. Norepinephrine also activates several transcriptional reporters through α1A-adrenergic receptors in PC12 cells, including reporters for activator protein 1, serum response element, cAMP response element, nuclear factor-κB, nuclear factor of activated T cells, γ-interferon-activated sequence, and signal transducer and activator of transcription. All these transcriptional responses were abolished by the Δ208–210 mutation. Overexpression of Gα16 did not rescue any of these responses. These data suggest that known second messenger, mitogenic, and transcriptional effects of α1A-adrenergic receptors in PC12 cells all require G protein activation.
From Basic Biology to Randomized Clinical Trial: The Beta Radiation for ArterioVenous Graft Outflow Stenosis (BRAVO II)

The BRAVO‐II study was a randomized controlled study of endovascular radiation therapy as compared to sham radiation therapy, following angioplasty of a thrombosed PRFE graft. The results did not show a benefit of endovascular radiation therapy, albeit in the context of an early termination of the study at less than 50% enrollment due to business reasons. Emphasis is laid on the fact that there may still be a role for radiation therapy in specific clinical settings associated with dialysis vascular access dysfunction.
Patients with macroprolactinaemia: clinical and radiological features

Background Macroprolactinaemia may represent a relevant cause of misdiagnosis, unnecessary investigation and inappropriate treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and neuroradiological characteristics of patients with and without macroprolactinaemia and to evaluate the impact of macroprolactin determination on the diagnostic work‐up of hyperprolactinaemic patients.
Fish Consumption and Risk of Stroke

Evaluation of: Larsson SC, Virtamo J, Wolk A: Fish consumption and risk of stroke in Swedish women. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 93(3), 487–493 (2010). A population-based prospective study of 34,670 women in the Swedish Mammography Cohort was conducted, aiming to examine the associations between fish consumption and stroke incidence in women. After a mean follow-up of 10.4 years, 1680 cases of stroke were recorded. Fish consumption was inversely associated with risk of total stroke, but not cerebral infarction or hemorrhagic stroke. Compared with women in the lowest quintile of fish consumption, those in the highest quintile had a 16% lower risk of stroke. In addition, consumption of lean fish, but not of other fish types, was inversely associated with risk of stroke.
Parameterized multistate population dynamics and projections.

"This article reports progress on the development of a population projection process that emphasizes model selection over demographic accounting. Transparent multiregional/multistate population projections that rely on parameterized model schedules are illustrated [using data primarily from a number of developed countries, particularly Sweden], together with simple techniques that extrapolate the recent trends exhibited by the parameters of such schedules. " The author notes that "the parameterized schedules condense the amount of demographic information, expressing it in a language and variables that are more readily understood by the users of the projections. In addition, they permit a concise specification of the expected temporal patterns of variation among these variables, and they allow a disaggregated focus on demographic change that otherwise would not be feasible. "
Liver Abnormalities in Adult Onset Still's Disease: A Retrospective Study of 77 Chinese Patients

Objective: Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a systemic inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by high fever, transient cutaneous rash, arthralgia/arthritis, and leukocytosis. Liver involvement in AOSD has been described, but few reports have described it in depth. The present study analyzed clinical and laboratory features in a series of Chinese AOSD patients. Methods: Data of 77 patients with AOSD (fulfilling Yamaguchi's diagnostic criteria) were retrospectively reviewed and compared with other series. Results: The characteristics of our patients are similar to those reported in the literature. Hepatomegaly occurred in 11.7% of the cases; abnormal liver enzymes in 62.3% mild cytolysis (level of transaminases <2 N) (23.4%), moderate cytolysis (between 2 and 5 N) (23.4%), severe cytolysis (>5 N) (15.6%), and increase in the level of alkaline phosphatase (32.9%), gamma-glutamyltransferase (48.1%), lactic dehydrogenase (69.0%). Complete recovery occurred in all patients, except for 1 who died of severe liver failure and complications. Conclusion: AOSD is a systemic disease, and the present study reemphasizes the high frequency of liver involvement. Although it was slight to moderate in most cases, severe cytolytic hepatitis has been described. Treatment for AOSD patients with liver involvement aimed mainly at AOSD itself and most of the patients with liver involvement got complete remission with systemic corticosteroid therapy.
Severe right heart failure after heart transplantation. A single‐center experience

We reviewed our heart transplantation recipient population, using hard criteria defining severe right heart failure (RHF), and analyzed possible risk factors for outcome after RHF. Between 1983 and 1998 621 cardiac transplantations were performed at our institution. RHF was defined by the necessity to implant an assist device or echocardiographically confirmed right ventricular ballooning with concomitant end organ failure. RHF patients were compared with a matched control group. Thirty‐five patients (5.9%) with severe RHF after transplantation fulfilled inclusion criteria. Of these, 32 patients died, while none of the control patients died (P < 0.001). Increased preoperative pulmonary capillary wedge (P = 0.005) and mean pulmonary artery pressure (P = 0.006) were identified as significant risk factors for severe RHF. Severe RHF as defined in our study is irreversible in almost every case without differences among therapeutical concepts. Hence, improvement of postoperative outcome necessitates avoidance or aggressive therapy of possible risk factors.
Radiologic estimation of heart volume. A valuable diagnostic tool.

Heart size can be determined by a simple radiologic method here described. The method, widely used in Europe, depends on 3 measurements made on standard posteroanterior and lateral chest films at focal distances from 150 to 200 cm. The heart volume is calculated by slide rule from these data. Correlations of radiologically determined heart volume with other anatomic and physiological variants, such as calculated body surface area, total hemoglobin content, and physical working capacity, provide indices for recognizing cardiac enlargement and other cardiophysiologic abnormalities. This method has theoretical and practical advantages, and the author believes it to be the most uniform and precise plan for utilizing rediologic data for serial determinations of heart size.
Microwave Processing for Sample Preparation to Evaluate Mitochondrial Ultrastructural Damage in Hemorrhagic Shock

This is a report of the adaptation of microwave processing in the preparation of liver biopsies for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to examine ultrastructural damage of mitochondria in the setting of metabolic stress. Hemorrhagic shock was induced in pigs via 35% total blood volume bleed and a 90-min period of shock followed by resuscitation. Hepatic biopsies were collected before shock and after resuscitation. Following collection, biopsies were processed for TEM by a rapid method involving microwave irradiation (Giberson, 2001). Samples pre- and postshock of each of two animals were viewed and scored using the mitochondrial ultrastructure scoring system (Crouser et al., 2002), a system used to quantify the severity of ultrastructural damage during shock. Results showed evidence of increased ultrastructural damage in the postshock samples, which scored 4.00 and 3.42, versus their preshock controls, which scored 1.18 and 1.27. The results of this analysis were similar to those obtained in another model of shock (Crouser et al., 2002). However, the amount of time used to process the samples was significantly shortened with methods involving microwave irradiation.
Differential regulation of sphingomyelin synthesis and catabolism in oligodendrocytes and neurons

Neurons (both primary cultures of 3‐day rat hippocampal neurons and embryonic chick neurons) rapidly converted exogenous NBD‐sphingomyelin (SM) to NBD‐Cer but only slowly converted NBD‐Cer to NBD‐SM. This was confirmed by demonstrating low in vitro sphingomyelin synthase (SMS) and high sphingomyelinase (SMase) activity in neurons. Similar results were observed in a human neuroblastoma cell line (LA‐N‐5). In contrast, primary cultures of 3‐day‐old rat oligodendrocytes only slowly converted NBD‐SM to NBD‐Cer but rapidly converted NBD‐Cer to NBD‐SM. This difference was confirmed by high in vitro SMS and low SMase activity in neonatal rat oligodendrocytes. Similar results were observed in a human oligodendroglioma cell line. Mass‐Spectrometric analyses confirmed that neurons had a low SM/Cer ratio of (1.5 : 1) whereas oligodendroglia had a high SM/Cer ratio (9 : 1). Differences were also confirmed by [3H]palmitate‐labeling of ceramide, which was higher in neurons compared with oligodendrocytes. Stable transfection of human oligodendroglioma cells with neutral SMase, which enhanced the conversion of NBD‐SM to NBD‐Cer and increased cell death, whereas transfection with SMS1 or SMS2 enhanced conversion of NBD‐Cer to NBD‐SM and was somewhat protective against cell death. Thus, SMS rather than SMases may be more important for sphingolipid homeostasis in oligodendrocytes, whereas the reverse may be true for neurons.
Removal of Cu(II) from wastewater by waste tire rubber ash

The influence of pH, adsorbent dose, initial Cu(II) concentration and contact time on the removal of Cu(II) from aqueous solution by the batch adsorption technique using waste tire rubber ash as a low-cost adsorbent was investigated. The adsorption equilibrium was achieved after 2 h at pH 4-6, the optimum for the adsorption of Cu(II) ions. A dose of 1.5 g/L of adsorbent was sufficient for the optimum removal of copper ions. The experimental data were analyzed by the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms and the corresponding sorption constants were evaluated. The adsorption kinetics data were fitted by a first-order equation. The cost of removal is expected to be quite low, as the adsorbent is cheap and easily available in large quantities. The present study showed that waste tire rubber ash was capable of removing copper ions from industrial wastewater samples.
An overview of interactions between micronutrients and of micronutrients with drugs, genes and immune mechanisms

Abstract The objective of the present review is to examine critically the consequences of interactions that micronutrients undergo with nutrients and non-nutrients (mainly prescribed medicines) in diets and lifestyle factors (smoking, tea and alcohol consumption). In addition, the review describes recent work on interactions between nutrients and genes, the influence of gene polymorphisms on micronutrients, the impact of immune responses on micronutrients and specific interactions of antioxidant micronutrients in disease processes to minimise potential pro-oxidant damage.
Infertility in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Woman’s Issue for How Long? A Qualitative Review of Literature

Infertility or childlessness is a major reproductive health issue for females as well as males respectively. Many couples suffer from infertility worldwide and in Sub-Saharan Africa, which has a cultural preference for high fertility; women shoulder the highest infertility consequences. The objective of this review was therefore to explore socially acceptable and culturally effective reproductive health strategies for the social management of infertility in sub-Sahara Africa. Different databases were searched to source articles on infertility in Sub-Saharan Africa. The databases included Medline, Pubmed and Fudan University library. Google scholar was also utilized to get additional relevant articles. Titles and abstracts of the articles searched were critically evaluated for relevance based on the inclusion criteria. Final extraction of the articles was done by getting only those studies that met the inclusion criteria. Twenty articles were identified and five were included in this review. The findings reveal three main themes: perception, health seeking behavior and the social impact of infertility. In many Sub-Saharan Africa societies, there is negative perception of infertility problem as such those affected do not seek medical attention early. There is also a disproportionate social impact of infertility on women in the region. In Sub-Saharan Africa, high value is placed on children and those who are infertile are greatly stigmatized. In such a setting, the concept of reproductive health should include policies which could make it possible for couples and the whole society aware of the reality of infertility as a reproductive health problem and seek medical attention early.