Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Practical aspects of portfolio selection and optimisation on the capital market

Abstract This article highlights some observations concerning the deficiencies in the application of statistics on the capital market, with special reference to Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT). The main point is the sensitivity of statistical parameters (especially the standard deviation of the daily rates of return) to subjective/random factors. For securities with similar patterns and quasi-identical charts, statistical results in contradiction to the evidence of the market can be obtained. This article makes a pledge in favour of the necessity for increased attention in constructing an optimal/efficient portfolio.
Correlation of in vivo and in vitro functions of fresh and stored human platelets

BACKGROUND: Long‐term storage of human platelets has been hindered by the loss of function of the platelets stored under current protocols. Novel preservation methods have encouraged examination of platelet function of cells preserved by cooling and freezing. The function of the platelets was assessed by using both in vitro assays and an in vivo rabbit bleeding model.
Static and dynamic visul fields in human space perception.

Human space perception is discussed in the context of the environmental geometry around a moving eye. It is shown that the interpretive scaling of visual angle is a key factor in size, distance, and motion estimation. The analysis of the velocity-vector pattern indicates that, contrary to the motion-parallax cue to distance suggested by Helmholtz, the pattern would not reveal distance, particularly on a curved trajectory. It is pointed out that the angular acceleration of an environmental point, seen by a moving eye, increases as the square of velocity. The consequences of this interesting relationship for the perception of speed are indicated. The pattern of the angular-acceleration field does not appear to resemble any familiar pattern of visual experience. Evidence is therefore provided that acceleration is not directly sensed.
Scarpa fascia preservation during abdominoplasty: randomized clinical study of efficacy and safety.

wall, the rib-sparing technique can still be attempted with a high success rate when the radiation-induced change is not severe. If the significant difficulty of using the intercostal segment is encountered intraoperatively, the rib-sparing approach can be easily converted to a rib resection approach for exploring the retrocostal segment, although we have not yet experienced this situa-tion. A larger-scale outcome study would be warranted to draw a sounder conclusion on the safety of using the intercostal segment of the internal mammary vessel in prior radiation patients.
The Welfare Effects of Peer Entry in the Accommodation Market: The Case of Airbnb

We study the effects of enabling peer supply through Airbnb in the accommodation industry. We present a model of competition between flexible and dedicated sellers - peer hosts and hotels - who provide differentiated products. We estimate this model using data from major US cities and quantify the welfare effects of Airbnb on travelers, hosts, and hotels. The welfare gains are concentrated in locations (New York) and times (New Years Eve) when hotels are capacity constrained. This occurs because peer hosts are responsive to market conditions, expand supply as hotels fill up, and keep hotel prices down as a result.
Integrins α4β1 and αVβ3 are Reduced in Endothelial Progenitor Cells from Diabetic Dyslipidemic Mice and May Represent New Targets for Therapy in Aortic Valve Disease

Diabetes reduces the number and induces dysfunction in circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) by mechanisms that are still uncovered. This study aims to evaluate the number, viability, phenotype, and function of EPCs in dyslipidemic mice with early diabetes mellitus and EPC infiltration in the aortic valve in order to identify possible therapeutic targets in diabetes-associated cardiovascular disease. A streptozotocin-induced diabetic apolipoprotein E knock-out (ApoE−/−) mouse model was used to identify the early and progressive changes, at 4 or 7 days on atherogenic diet after the last streptozotocin or citrate buffer injection. Blood and aortic valves from diabetic or nondiabetic ApoE−/− animals were collected. EPCs were identified as CD34 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 positive monocytes, and the expression levels of α4β1, αVβ3, αVβ5, β1, αLβ2, α5 integrins, and C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 chemokine receptor on EPC surface were assessed by flow cytometry. The number of CD34 positive cells in the aortic valve, previously found to be recruited progenitor cells, was measured by fluorescence microscopy. Our results show that aortic valves from mice fed 7 days with atherogenic diet presented a significantly higher number of CD34 positive cells compared with mice fed only 4 days with the same diet, and diabetes reversed this finding. We also show a reduction of circulatory EPC numbers in diabetic mice caused by cell senescence and lower mobilization. Dyslipidemia induced EPC death through apoptosis regardless of the presence of diabetes, as shown by the higher percent of propidium iodide positive cells and higher cleaved caspase-3 levels. EPCs from diabetic mice expressed α4β1 and αVβ3 integrins at a lower level, while the rest of the integrins tested were unaffected by diabetes or diet. In conclusion, reduced EPC number and expression of α4β1 and αVβ3 integrins on EPCs at 4 and 7 days after diabetes induction in atherosclerosis-prone mice have resulted in lower recruitment of EPCs in the aortic valve.
Assessment of the stability of pesticides during the cryogenic processing of fruits and vegetables

An evaluation of the stability of pesticides in fruit and vegetables during cryogenic sample processing (comminution of samples in the presence of dry ice) is reported. Pesticides were spiked onto the undamaged surface of individual units of fruit before freezing and comminution. The mean recoveries of pesticides spiked before and after comminution of the sample were compared to determine the relative stability of the individual pesticides during cryogenic sample processing. A stable internal deposition standard (IDS) was used to correct for physical losses and volumetric errors. Mean recovery results together with associated standard errors were obtained using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) analysis. A total of 134 pesticides in four commodities (apples, grapes, lettuce and oranges) were evaluated. The results demonstrated that 120 pesticides were stable (i.e. the mean difference in recovery of pesticides spiked pre- and post-processing was <20%) during cryogenic sample processing. Fourteen pesticides showed some instability or loss (i.e. the mean difference in recovery of pesticides spiked pre- and post-processing was >20%) during cryogenic sample processing: biphenyl, cadusafos, captan, chlorothalonil, dichlorvos, disulfoton, ethoxyquin, etridiazole, heptenophos, malaoxon, phorate, tebuconazole, tecnazene and trifluralin.
Mitoxantrone-Associated Acute Myelogenous Leukemia in a Patient with High-Risk Adenocarcinoma of the Prostate: A Case Report and Brief Review

Background: Mitoxantrone, a topoisomerase II-targeted drug, is used to treat several conditions and is a Food and Drug Administration approved chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of advanced carcinoma of the prostate. Case Report: A 64-year-old male with high-risk prostate cancer was treated with adjuvant mitoxantrone (12 mg/meter2) every 3 weeks for 6 cycles. Approximately 10 months after finishing therapy, he was diagnosed with an inv [16] Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML). Despite aggressive treatment and support, the patient had a rapidly fatal clinical course. Conclusion: Despite its regular use in this setting, this is the first reported case of treatment-associated AML after mitoxantrone in prostate cancer.
Guglielmi detachable coil embolization of cerebral aneurysms: 11 years' experience.

OBJECT The authors report on their 11 years' experience with embolization of cerebral aneurysms using Guglielmi Detachable Coil (GDC) technology and on the attendant anatomical and clinical outcomes. METHODS Since December 1990, 818 patients harboring 916 aneurysms were treated with GDC embolization at University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center. For comparative purposes, the patients were divided into two groups: Group A included their initial 5 years' experience with 230 patients harboring 251 aneurysms and Group B included the later 6 years' experience with 588 patients harboring 665 aneurysms. Angiographically demonstrated complete occlusion was achieved in 55% of aneurysms and a neck remnant was displayed in 35.4% of lesions. Incomplete embolization was performed in 3.5% of aneurysms, and in 5% occlusion was attempted unsuccessfully. A comparison between the two groups revealed a higher complete embolization rate in patients in Group B compared with that in Group A patients (56.8 and 50.2%, respectively). The overall morbidity/mortality rate was 9.4%. Angiographic follow ups were obtained in 53.4% of cases of aneurysms, and recanalization was exhibited in 26.1% of aneurysms in Group A and 17.2% of those in Group B. The overall recanalization rate was 20.9%. Note that recanalization was related to the size of the dome and neck of the aneurysm. Overall incidence of delayed aneurysm rupture was 1.6%, a rate that improved in the past 5 years to 0.5%. Ten of 12 delayed ruptures occurred in large or giant aneurysms. CONCLUSIONS The clinical and postembolization outcomes in patients treated with the GDC system have improved in the past 5 years. Aneurysm recanalization, however, is still a major limitation of current GDC therapy. Follow-up angiography is mandatory after GDC embolization of cerebral aneurysms. Further technical and device improvements are mandatory to overcome current GDC limitations.
Role of interleukin‐6 in hypoxic regulation of intestinal iron absorption

The regulation of intestinal iron absorption is not fully understood. Hepcidin, a liver‐produced peptide, has recently been identified as a negative regulator of iron absorption in various conditions associated with altered iron metabolism (e.g. inflammation, anaemia, hypoxia). It is not clear whether these perturbants share a common signalling pathway. In this study, the importance of the cytokine interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) was investigated in the hypoxic mouse model. Hypoxia was associated with increased levels of circulating IL‐6, decreased liver hepcidin mRNA and increased iron absorption (especially MT). A significant positive correlation existed between the total iron uptake and IL‐6 levels in circulation. IL‐6 per se, though inducing hepcidin mRNA, failed to affect basal iron absorption. The adaptive response to absorption following the hypoxic exposure was, however, more prominent if mice had been treated concurrently with IL‐6. This enhancement in absorption occurred even though hepcidin mRNA was not significantly changed. Similar prominent responses were seen with both human and mouse IL‐6. Anti‐IL‐6 antiserum normalised iron absorption in mice exposed to hypoxia, because of a reduction in the MT. These data indicate that IL‐6 can influence iron absorption (especially MT) during the hypoxic exposure, but via a mechanism independent of hepcidin.
The Voice-Recognition Accuracy of Blind Listeners

A research programme has been carried out that concerns the accuracy with which listeners can identify a speaker heard once before. The present study examined the voice-recognition abilities of blind listeners, and it was found that they could more accurately select target voices from the test arrays than could sighted people. However, the degree of blindness, the age at onset of blindness, and the number of years of blindness all failed to relate to voice-recognition accuracy.
1 HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS IMMEDIATE-EARLY PROTEIN ICP 22 TRIGGERS LOSS OF SERINE 2-PHOSPHORYLATED RNA POLYMERASE II Revised 2 / 27 / 07 Running title : Alteration of RNA polymerase II by HSV-1 ICP 22

word count: 245 Text word count: 7381 AC CE PT ED Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology and/or the Listed Authors/Institutions. All Rights Reserved. J. Virol. doi:10.1128/JVI.00184-07 JVI Accepts, published online ahead of print on 7 March 2007 on O cber 8, 2017 by gest http/jvi.asm . rg/ D ow nladed fom
Incidence of Diabetic Retinopathy and Blindness: A Population-based Study in Rochester, Minnesota

Among the 1135 Rochester residents discovered to have diabetes in the period 1945–69, the prevalence of retinopathy was 2.6% at the time of initial diagnosis. Among those free of retinopathy at diagnosis of diabetes, the subsequent incidence of any retinopathy was 17.4 per 1000 person-years and for proliferative retinopathy alone was 1.6 per 1000 person-years, based on 12,000 person-years of follow-up. The incidence rate of retinopathy was almost three times greater among residents with insulin-dependent (IDDM) than with non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM); however, the actual number of retinopathy cases was over four times greater among the more numerous residents with NIDDM. By 20 yr after diagnosis of diabetes, the cumulative incidence of retinopathy approached 70% among IDDM subjects and was 30% and 36%, respectively, among the obese and nonobese NIDDM residents. The epidemiologic patterns for proliferative retinopathy were qualitatively similar to those for nonproliferative retinopathy. The risk of blindness was greater among those with proliferative than with nonproliferative retinopathy but was substantial even for those without retinopathy. Most blindness was caused by factors other than isolated diabetic retinopathy.
Ticagrelor versus clopidogrel in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

BACKGROUND Ticagrelor is an oral, reversible, direct-acting inhibitor of the adenosine diphosphate receptor P2Y12 that has a more rapid onset and more pronounced platelet inhibition than clopidogrel. METHODS In this multicenter, double-blind, randomized trial, we compared ticagrelor (180-mg loading dose, 90 mg twice daily thereafter) and clopidogrel (300-to-600-mg loading dose, 75 mg daily thereafter) for the prevention of cardiovascular events in 18,624 patients admitted to the hospital with an acute coronary syndrome, with or without ST-segment elevation. RESULTS At 12 months, the primary end point--a composite of death from vascular causes, myocardial infarction, or stroke--had occurred in 9.8% of patients receiving ticagrelor as compared with 11.7% of those receiving clopidogrel (hazard ratio, 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.77 to 0.92; P<0.001). Predefined hierarchical testing of secondary end points showed significant differences in the rates of other composite end points, as well as myocardial infarction alone (5.8% in the ticagrelor group vs. 6.9% in the clopidogrel group, P=0.005) and death from vascular causes (4.0% vs. 5.1%, P=0.001) but not stroke alone (1.5% vs. 1.3%, P=0.22). The rate of death from any cause was also reduced with ticagrelor (4.5%, vs. 5.9% with clopidogrel; P<0.001). No significant difference in the rates of major bleeding was found between the ticagrelor and clopidogrel groups (11.6% and 11.2%, respectively; P=0.43), but ticagrelor was associated with a higher rate of major bleeding not related to coronary-artery bypass grafting (4.5% vs. 3.8%, P=0.03), including more instances of fatal intracranial bleeding and fewer of fatal bleeding of other types. CONCLUSIONS In patients who have an acute coronary syndrome with or without ST-segment elevation, treatment with ticagrelor as compared with clopidogrel significantly reduced the rate of death from vascular causes, myocardial infarction, or stroke without an increase in the rate of overall major bleeding but with an increase in the rate of non-procedure-related bleeding. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00391872.)
Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of essential oils from leaves, stems and flowers of Salvia reuterana Boiss. grown in Iran

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of the leaves, stems and flowers of Salvia reuterana (Lamiaceae) were analysed by GC and GC/MS. Germacrene D and β-caryophyllene were the major constituents in all the three oils: (28.5, 27.7 and 32.5%) and (15.5, 11.4 and 16.6%), respectively. Bicyclogermacrene (10.2 and 13.2%) was also prodominated in the stem and flower oils. The composition of the oils was mostly quantitativel rather than qualitatively different. All the oils consisted mainly of sesquiterpenes and a small percentage of non-terpenoid compounds. In all the three oils, monoterpenes were in a concentration less than 0.5%. Antibacterial activity was determined by the measurement of growth inhibitory zones.
Vitamin B 12 -binding protein of leukocytes as a possible major source of the third vitamin B 12 -binding protein of serum.

Much evidence suggests that granulocytes are a major source of serum vitamin B12-binding protein (BBP). The latter has three components: α-1-globulin BBP (Transcobalamin I, TC I), β-globulin BBP (TC II), and a recently described third BBP. Granulocytic BBP has appeared to be identical to TC I except in electrophoretic mobility. In the present study, the dominant BBP of leukocyte extracts from subjects with and without myeloproliferative disease behaved like the third serum BBP. With a few exceptions, more than half the leukocytic binder eluted with the "β globulins" on rapid DEAE-cellulose chromatography. At pH 8.6, electrophoretic mobility of the leukocytic BBP was always α2 or β. At ph 4.5, normal and chronic myelogenous leukemia leukocytic BBP, unlike TC I and TC II, showed little electrophoretic migration. These findings suggest that leukocytic BBP is probably heterogenous and that its major component resembles the third serum BBP more than it does TC I. The third serum BBP, levels of which are elevated in some states of leukocytic proliferation, may derive directly from mature granulocytes. TC I may arise by addition of sialic acid to the third (granulocytic) BBP under certain circumstances or be released from other cells, such as less mature granulocytes. Much of the confusion in the literature regarding source and significance of serum BBP may relate to separating it into only two fractions (α globulin and "β globulin," or "TC I" and TC II) instead of into three fractions.
Moderate, but not vigorous, intensity exercise training reduces C-reactive protein

Abstract Background: Sprint interval cycle training is a contemporary popular mode of training but its relative efficacy, under conditions of matched energy expenditure, to reduce risk factors for cardiometabolic disease is incompletely characterised, especially in young women. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the relative efficacy of six weeks of moderate-intensity cycling (MOD-C) and vigorous sprint-interval cycling (VIG-SIC) on lipid profile, insulin (INS) and insulin resistance using the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in inactive, overweight/obese (OW/OB) young women. Methods: Participants (BMI ≥25 kg/m2, waist circumference ≥88 cm) were randomly assigned to MOD-C (20–30 min at 60–70% of heart rate reserve(HRR)) or VIG-SIC (5–7 repeated bouts 30-second maximal effort sprints, followed by four minutes of active recovery) supervised training three days/week for six weeks, with each group matched on energy expenditure. Adiposity (%Fat) was measured using dual x-ray absorptiometry. Results: Forty-four participants (20.4 ± 1.6 years, 65.9% Caucasian, 29.8 ± 4.1 kg/m2) were included in the analysis. The improvement in CRP observed in the MOD-C group was larger than the VIG-C group (p = .034). Overall, high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) levels improved following training (p < .05); however, total cholesterol, triglyceride, INS and HOMA-IR did not improve (p > .05). Conclusion: These results indicate MOD-C training may be more effective in reducing CRP than VIG-SIC.
Abacavir-induced reaction with fever and severe skin rash in a patient tested human leukocyte antigen-B*5701 negative

The most serious adverse event caused by abacavir is the hypersensitivity reaction, which is usually associated with the presence of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) subtype B*5701, as shown in recent studies. We describe the case of a 41-year-old Caucasian female patient, who tested HLA-B*5701 negative and developed fever and severe skin rash 10 weeks after the start of abacavir therapy. Similar reports suggest that not all severe abacavir-induced adverse events occur as a result of classic hypersensitivity reactions, and can present also in HLA-B*5701-negative patients.
Magnetic acoustic resonance immunoassay (MARIA): a multifrequency acoustic approach for the non‐labelled detection of biomolecular interactions

A unique sensing platform, comprising an electromagnetic field detector and an acoustic resonator, has been used as a wireless system for remote sensing of biorecognition events. The MARS (Magnetic Acoustic Resonator Sensor) technique has proven useful for detecting the formation of protein multilayers derived from specific binding phenomena. The technique enables multifrequency analysis, without the need of electrodes attached to the sensing element, and also facilitates the in situ surface modification of the substrate for antibody attachment. The MARS sensor was utilized as the platform on which a standard immunoassay was carried out. Two different conditions for the attachment of the first antibody to the quartz surface were tested: (i) Adsorption of the antibody onto the surface of a bare quartz disc; (ii) covalent immobilization of the antibody to a chemically modified quartz surface. Both methods can be successfully utilized for the ‘label‐less’ detection of the biorecognition event between goat IgG and anti‐goat IgG by analysis of the multifrequency spectrum. Covalent attachment of the primary antibody results in a more efficient immobilization, with higher surface density, and a consistently enhanced response for the binding of the secondary antibody. This approach will be of interest to life scientists and biochemists that require high performance assay methodologies that do not use chemical labels. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
THE ROLE OF DIVERSIFICATION IN CAUSING THE CORRELATES OF DIOECY

Abstract Dioecy is reported to be correlated with a number of ecological traits, including tropical distribution, woody growth form, plain flowers, and fleshy fruits. Previous analyses have concentrated on determining whether dioecy is more likely to evolve in lineages possessing these traits, rather than considering the speciation and extinction rates of dioecious lineages with certain combinations of traits. To address the association between species richness in dioecious lineages as a function of the ecological traits, we compared the evolutionary success (i.e., relative species richness) of dioecious focal lineages with that of their nondioecious sister groups. This test was repeated for the evolutionary success of randomly chosen nondioecious lineages (control lineages) compared with their nondioecious sister groups. If the possession of certain ecological traits enhances the evolutionary success of dioecious lineages, we predict an association between the presence of these traits and relative species richness in the former, but not latter, set of sister-group comparisons. Dioecious focal lineages with a higher number of these traits experienced higher evolutionary success in sister-group comparisons, whereas no trend was found for the control focal lineages. The increase in evolutionary success was especially true for dioecious focal lineages that had a tropical distribution or fleshy fruit. We discuss how these results provide strong support for differential evolutionary success theories for the correlations between dioecy and the ecological traits considered.