Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A longitudinal study of spreadsheet program use

Results from a case study on the use of a spreadsheet program (SP) are reported. The study focuses on the SP user's perceptions of the SP and their information environment (including SP models) and changes in those perceptions over a period of thirteen months. The approach has its roots in personal construct theory and in cognitive complexity theories. The results of the study provide insight into the impact of computer-based models developed by users of decision-support systems. <<ETX>>
Are US Firms and Markets Becoming More Short-Term Oriented? Evidence of shifting firm and investor time horizons, 1980-2013

We provide evidence that investors in US public markets are increasingly discounting firms over the period of 1980-2013. This trend is shown not only on average across firms, but also within those firms over time after various alternative explanations are accounted for. To corroborate a link with time horizons, we estimate the relationship between market discounting and factors relevant to a firm's longterm strategy. We find that market discounting is associated with firm investments, ownership, management incentives, external pressures and its financial health that have been shown to correlate with firm time horizons. This paper represents one of the first attempts to demonstrate firm-level evidence of shortening investor time horizons. These changing horizons bear important implications for firm time horizons and strategy. (JEL: D22, D92, G23, G32, M21;
Improvement of Rhizobium Inoculants

A practical approach was used to develop a Rhizobium (Bradyrhizobium) japonicum inoculant that increases soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr. ) yield in fields with indigenous Rhizobium populations, which typically outcompete strains present in existing commercial inoculants and therefore decrease the value of inoculant use. Field tests managed by several universities in the Mississippi delta region averaged a 169-kg/ha (P < 0.01) grain yield increase. The inoculant contains a mixture of mutants selected for increased nitrogen fixation ability. These mutants were derived from indigenous wild-type strains that are capable of high-level occupancy of nodules in soybean fields in the Mississippi delta region. To ensure microbiological purity, the inoculant is fermented directly in the point-of-use container with a vermiculite carrier (L. Graham-Weiss, M. L. Bennett, and A. S. Paau, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 53:2138-2140, 1987). It should be possible to use this approach to produce more effective Rhizobium inoculants for any legume in any geographical area.
The Burden of Water Shortages on Informal Firms

The informal sector in developing economies is a significant source of livelihood for a sizable portion of the population. This study uncovers the effect of poor water infrastructure on the productivity of informal firms. This is achieved using firm-level data for 12 developing economies between 2009 and 2014. The findings indicate that an increase of one standard deviation of the total duration of water shortages in a month can lead to annual average losses of about 14.5% of the monthly sales per worker for the average informal firm in the sample that uses water for business activities. (JEL O17, Q25)
Patient-centered evaluation of home-based rehabilitation developed using community-based participatory research approach for people with disabilities: a case series

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the locally tailored and individualized home-based rehabilitation (HBR) program developed using the community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach, in terms of perceived health in patients with different levels of social engagement, and to explore the perceived facilitators and barriers to rehabilitation. Method: A concurrent mixed-method design was employed. Four patients participated in the combined therapist- and self-delivered HBR program for 5 months. The perceived health outcomes were quantitatively assessed at baseline, after the therapist-delivered intervention period, and at 1 and 3 months after the self-delivered intervention period. Then, in-depth individual interviews were conducted to explore the facilitators and barriers to rehabilitation. Results: The perceived health of patients who were fully or partially engaged in society was increased during the therapist-delivered intervention period, and maintained the increased level during the self-delivered intervention period, whereas that of patients who were rarely or not engaged dropped again to lower than the baseline. These results were caused by differentiated facilitators and barriers to rehabilitation depending on the level of social engagement. Conclusions: Applying tailored strategies to patients with differing levels of social engagement is recommended to further optimize the local relevance of the HBR program. Implications for rehabilitation A community-based participatory research approach can provide an opportunity to enhance local relevance through community-academic partnerships, in developing a home-based rehabilitation (HBR) program for the people with disabilities. For community therapists, enhancing the local relevance of the HBR program, applying tailored strategies to patients with differing levels of social engagement is recommended because the perceived health of the HBR program can be different owing to differing perceived facilitators and barriers to rehabilitation, depending on the level of social engagement. For patients with rare or no engagement in society, satisfying their need for interaction with the therapists and helping them cope with their wrong belief about the possibility of their recovery is important to encourage behavioral change and perceived physical improvements.
Site-specific Acetylation of the Proteasome Activator REGγ Directs Its Heptameric Structure and Functions*

Background: REGγ mediates degradation of numerous proteins. How REGγ activity is regulated remains unclear. Results: REGγ acetylation at lysine 195 promotes its activity by enhancing monomeric interactions and heptameric formation of the REGγ molecules. Conclusion: Site-specific acetylation of REGγ is important for its structural architecture and enzymatic function. Significance: Our discovery provides basis for additional venue to intervene the REGγ proteasome function. The proteasome activator REGγ has been reported to promote degradation of steroid receptor coactivator-3 and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21, p16, and p19 in a ubiquitin- and ATP-independent manner. A recent comparative analysis of REGγ expression in mouse and human tissues reveals a unique pattern of REGγ in specific cell types, suggesting undisclosed functions and biological importance of this molecule. Despite the emerging progress made in REGγ-related studies, how REGγ function is regulated remains to be explored. In this study, we report for the first time that REGγ can be acetylated mostly on its lysine 195 (Lys-195) residue by CREB binding protein (CBP), which can be reversed by sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) in mammalian cells. Site-directed mutagenesis abrogated acetylation at Lys-195 and significantly attenuated the capability of REGγ to degrade its target substrates, p21 and hepatitis C virus core protein. Mechanistically, acetylation at Lys-195 is important for the interactions between REGγ monomers and ultimately influences REGγ heptamerization. Biological analysis of cells containing REGγ-WT or REGγ-K195R mutant indicates an impact of acetylation on REGγ-mediated regulation of cell proliferation and cell cycle progression. These findings reveal a previously unknown mechanism in the regulation of REGγ assembly and activity, suggesting a potential venue for the intervention of the ubiquitin-independent REGγ proteasome activity.
Vector t-Norms With Applications

Some basic t-norms defined on [0, 1] are well known in many study areas and applications. However, more general extension of them into vector forms can be used in a lot of new decision-making realms. In this study, we first define preference vector on a linearly ordered set, which includes different special vectors that are mathematically equivalent but with different application backgrounds and practical meanings. As a reasoning rule, we provide a merging method for more than two preference vectors to be aggregated into a finally resultant preference vector. The merging method is based on a special vector value function, which can be seen as a reasonable counterpart of product t-norm, f(x, y) = xy (x and y belong to [0, 1]). In addition, we use bilinear frame to define corresponding four types of basic bilinear vector t-norms, which are just counterparts of basic t-norms from many aspects. Mathematically, preference vectors are related to decreasing matrices, and we find the general entry relation for the decreasing matrices, by which we prove that a decreasing matrix is commutative and closed under matrix multiplication. Thus, we finally present the definition of preference multiplication commutative monoid, which is equivalent to product bilinear vector t-norm. We also show illustrative examples and applications of some results.
Polymorphic Variants of LIGHT (TNF Superfamily-14) Alter Receptor Avidity and Bioavailability

The TNF superfamily member homologous to lymphotoxins, exhibits inducible expression, and competes with HSV glycoprotein D for herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM), a receptor expressed by T lymphocytes (LIGHT) [TNF superfamily (SF)-14], is a key cytokine that activates T cells and dendritic cells and is implicated as a mediator of inflammatory, metabolic, and malignant diseases. LIGHT engages the lymphotoxin-β receptor (LTβR) and HVEM (TNFRSF14), but is competitively limited in activating these receptors by soluble decoy receptor-3 (DcR3; TNFRSF6B). Two variants in the human LIGHT alter the protein at E214K (rs344560) in the receptor-binding domain and S32L (rs2291667) in the cytosolic domain; however, the functional impact of these polymorphisms is unknown. A neutralizing Ab failed to bind the LIGHT-214K variant, indicating this position as a part of the receptor-binding region. Relative to the predominant reference variant S32/E214, the other variants showed altered avidity with LTβR and less with HVEM. Heterotrimers of the LIGHT variants decreased binding avidity to DcR3 and minimized the inhibitory effect of DcR3 toward LTβR-induced activation of NF-κB. In patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, DcR3 protein levels were significantly elevated. Immunohistochemistry revealed synoviocytes as a significant source of DcR3 production, and DcR3 hyperexpression is controlled by posttranscriptional mechanisms. The increased potential for LTβR signaling, coupled with increased bioavailability due to lower DcR3 avidity, provides a mechanism of how polymorphic variants in LIGHT could contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases.
Designing a fair, financially sustainable pay rate for owner-operator truck drivers. Modeling and case study

ABSTRACT Owner operator truck drivers have been dealing with a long-standing problem: compensation per distance. Owner operators who get paid according to these criteria get a fixed payment per distance traveled regardless of how long it takes to actually cover the distance. This means that there are numerous situations that truck drivers are working; yet they might be unpaid because the truck is not moving. To compensate for the unfairness of the pay rate models, owner operators have continuously increased their working hours. In addition, many studies have confirmed that a fair payment is among the most important factors that truck drivers take into consideration when deciding to leave a company. Consequently, an unfair pay rate, along with the hard labor conditions truck drivers suffer from, inevitably leads to high turnover rates. For all these reasons, our study aims at developing a fair, financially sustainable pay rate for owner operators that will help companies ensure a stable and highly experienced workforce by making sure that owner operators can cover the real expenses of their working activity. Finally, in order to prove that our pay rate was of practical use, we test the model on one of the largest Spanish agro-food companies.
An empirical analysis of tax ratios and tax efforts for Kenya and Malawi

The study intended to analyse the trends in tax ratio and tax effort differentials between Kenya and Malawi using secondary annual data for the period 1980 to 2015. The data were obtained from both the International Monetary Fund and World Bank data bases. The study was carried out to analyse tax ratios for Kenya and Malawi, estimate the tax effort for each, and identify the factors that accounted for the differences in the tax ratios and tax effort indices in the two countries. The regression models for the two countries were estimated using the ordinary least squares (OLS) method. The results reveal that GDP per capita was explaining changes in tax revenue in Kenya both in the long run and the short run, share of agriculture to GDP, and the share of industry were influencing the tax revenue in Kenya, in the long run. However, the coefficient for the dummy variable for political reform in Kenya has been insignificant. In Malawi, GDP per capita, share of agriculture in GDP, share of industry in GDP, and the dummy variable for political reform were all explaining changes in tax revenue in the long run but not in the short run. In regards to the tax efforts, the study reviels that Malawi was undertaxing while Kenya was overtaxing given the structure of their respective economies. The study recommends the two countries have to work towards optimal level of taxation. Keywords: Tax ratios, Tax Efforts, Kenya, Malawi, OLS
Urine protein-to-creatinine ratio in an untimed urine collection is a reliable measure of proteinuria in lupus nephritis.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the accuracy of urine protein-to-creatinine (P/C) ratio in an untimed urine specimen as compared with 24 h total protein excretion for measurement of proteinuria in patients with lupus nephritis. METHODS Proteinuria in patients with lupus nephritis was assessed by 24 h total protein excretion and spot urine P/C ratio. Correlation and limits of agreement between the two methods were evaluated. The discriminant cutoff values for spot urine P/C ratio in predicting 24 h protein 'threshold' excretion of > or =0.3, > or =0.5, > or =1.0 and > or =3.5 g/day were determined using receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS A total of 165 samples were available for assessment with 21.8% excluded due to inadequate collection. A strong correlation (r = 0.91, P < 0.0001) was found between spot urine P/C ratio and 24 h urine protein excretion. Bland-Altman plot showed the two tests had acceptable limits of agreement in low level of protein excretion (-0.86 to +0.92 g/day when protein excretion was <2.0 g/day). The limits became wider as the protein excretion increased. The spot urine P/C ratios of 0.45 (sensitivity 0.92; specificity 0.88), 0.7 (0.92; 0.89) and 1.84 (1.0; 0.86) mg/mg reliably predicted 24 h urine total protein equivalent 'thresholds' at > or =0.5, 1.0 and 3.5 g/day. CONCLUSION This study supports the recommendation of using spot urine P/C ratio in screening and monitoring proteinuria in patients with lupus nephritis. However, in assessing the exact amount of proteinuria, the urine P/C ratio may have unacceptably wide limits of agreement in high protein excretion range.
Enhanced resting‐state oscillations in schizophrenia are associated with decreased synchronization during inattentional blindness

Patients suffering from schizophrenia have been characterized by an apparent lack of theta (around 6 Hz) and gamma (>40 Hz) brain oscillatory activity during task execution. The neurocognitive reasons for these abnormal synchronization patterns, however, remain elusive. Recording the electroencephalogramm (EEG) during a selective visual attention task, the current study investigates whether abnormal brain oscillatory resting‐state activity in the theta band might account for a lack of task‐related brain oscillatory activity in schizophrenia. EEGs were recorded from 26 patients with schizophrenia and 26 healthy matched controls during rest and during the execution of a selective visual attention task, in which an unexpected object (monkey) appeared on the screen. On a behavioral level, patients were less likely to report perceiving the unexpected event than controls. Controls showed a stronger increase in task‐related theta power than patients in prefrontal, parietal, and occipital brain regions. Task‐related theta power change differed between patients who perceived, and patients who did not perceive the unexpected event. Moreover, patients showed higher levels of theta power during rest than controls, whereas the absolute theta power values during the selective attention task did not differ between groups. These results suggest that the failure to increase oscillatory activity during a cognitive task can be accounted for by abnormally high oscillatory activity in a resting state. This finding has important implications for future studies examining abnormal brain oscillatory activity in schizophrenia, which usually treat resting‐state activity as a baseline for task‐related activity. Hum Brain Mapp 34:2266–2275, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Comparison of nitrogen-15 and purines as microbial markers in continuous culture.

Eight dual-flow continuous-culture fermenters were used in four replicated periods to compare the effects of diet and microbial marker on estimates of N metabolism in continuous culture of ruminal microorganisms. A basal diet was supplemented with urea and tryptone, soybean meal (SBM), lignosulfonate-treated SBM, corn gluten meal, blood meal (BM), hydrolyzed feather meal, fish meal (FM), or meat and bone meal (MBM). Microbial protein flow and protein degradation in fermenters were estimated using purines, purine N, and 15N in bacteria obtained from fermenter flasks or from the effluent. The ratio of purine N to total N in bacteria averaged . 083 and was not affected (P > .05) by treatment. Dietary purine content (percentage of DM) ranged from . 033 in BM to . 084 in FM. Escape of feed purine N (percentage of total purine N flow) averaged 1.7% (SE = 2.9) and was not different (P > .05) among treatments. Bacterial N flows obtained using purines were more variable than estimates obtained using 15N. Bacterial N flows calculated using 15N in bacteria isolated from fermenters were more variable than those obtained using bacteria isolated from the effluent. The use of purines as a microbial marker resulted in lower estimates of protein degradation and smaller differences among treatments compared with use of 15N. Data suggest that escape of feed purine N seems to be a minor factor affecting calculation of bacterial N flow and that the use of 15N in effluent bacteria may be a more accurate procedure when using continuous-culture fermenters.
A multi-centre evaluation of nine rapid, point-of-care syphilis tests using archived sera

Objectives: To evaluate nine rapid syphilis tests at eight geographically diverse laboratory sites for their performance and operational characteristics. Methods: Tests were compared “head to head” using locally assembled panels of 100 archived (50 positive and 50 negative) sera at each site using as reference standards the Treponema pallidum haemagglutination or the T pallidum particle agglutination test. In addition inter-site variation, result stability, test reproducibility and test operational characteristics were assessed. Results: All nine tests gave good performance relative to the reference standard with sensitivities ranging from 84.5–97.7% and specificities from 84.5–98%. Result stability was variable if result reading was delayed past the recommended period. All the tests were found to be easy to use, especially the lateral flow tests. Conclusions: All the tests evaluated have acceptable performance characteristics and could make an impact on the control of syphilis. Tests that can use whole blood and do not require refrigeration were selected for further evaluation in field settings.
Diet and colorectal cancer with special reference to fiber intake

In this nested case‐control study, 8,006 American Japanese men were examined and interviewed with a dietary questionnaire from 1965 to 1968. After a follow‐up period of over 16 years, 102 colon and 60 rectal cancer incident cases were identified. Dietary data from these patients and from 361 cancer‐free controls were analyzed for intake of dietary fiber (DF), vitamins, minerals, macronutrients, and selected food groups. We found a significant (p = 0.042) negative association of DF and colon cancer risk among low fat intake men (<6I g/d). In this subgroup, the men consuming <7.5 g/d of DF had an adjusted relative risk (RR) for colon cancer of 2.28 (95% CI 0.93‐5.60), compared to those consuming ⩾ 14.8 g/d of DF. We also observed (among the complete group of subjects) a significant (p = 0.011) negative association between vitamin C intake and the risk of colon cancer. Men in the lowest quintile of vitamin C intake (<37 mg/d) had an adjusted colon cancer RR of 1.87 (95% CI 1.03‐3.37), compared to men in the highest quintile (⩾ 160 mg/d). We view these dietary associations with colon cancer risk with caution. There were no other significant associations of dietary variables with colon cancer risk. Also, there were no significant associations between intake levels of DF, micronutrients, or food groups and rectal cancer risk.
Immunohistochemical investigation of evolving inflammation in lesions of acne vulgaris

Abstract: The mechanisms involved in the development of inflammation in acne vulgaris have yet to be elucidated. Previous studies have shown that the initial cellular infiltrate in early inflammatory lesions is mononuclear, predominantly CD4 positive T cells. The aims of this study were to investigate the pattern of expression of adhesion molecules and HLA‐DR in evolving acne lesions. Forty‐nine patients with moderate to severe acne were biopsied following lesion mapping. Lesions were classified according to their duration of inflammation as up to 6 h, from 6 to 24 h, from 24 to 48 h and from 24 to 48 h and from 48 to 72 h. The cellular infiltrate was determined using monoclonal antibodies to CD1, CD3, CD4 and CD8. The expression of ICAM‐1, E‐selectin, VCAM‐1 and HLA‐DR was determined. Early (6 h) lesions had perivascular CD3 positive T‐cell infiltrates which were predominantly CD4 positive. This was associated with vascular expression of ICAM‐1, E‐selectin, VCAM‐1 and HLA‐DR. Periductal infiltrates were present in 70% of the early lesions (up to 6 h). The cells were predominantly CD4 positive and associated with a high level of HLA‐DR and ICAM‐1 expression. Periductal infiltration increased with time and persisted to 72 h. ICAM‐1 and HLA‐DR were expressed epidermally in early and late lesions. CD1 positive cells were a minor, but consistent element in the perivascular and periductal infiltrates of early and late lesions. There was no statistically significant difference in the levels of expression of E‐selectin, VCAM‐1, ICAM‐1 or HLA‐DR for lesions of different duration. The pattern of HLA‐DR and adhesion molecule expression plus the nature of the cellular infiltrate supports the hypothesis that inflammation in acne is mediated by CD4 positive T cells.