Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the cardinality of power homogeneous Hausdorff spaces

We prove that the cardinality of power homogeneous Hausdorff spaces X is bounded by d(X) ��(X) . This inequality improves many known results and it also solves a question by J. van Mill. We further introduce �-power homogeneity, which leads to a new proof of van Douwen's theorem.
On measuring bank funding liquidity risk

The standard framework to measure bank funding liquidity risk compares expected cumulative cash shortfalls over a particular time horizon against stock of available funding sources. This requires assigning cash-flows to future periods on financial products with uncertain cash-flow timing. There is lack of consensus on how to assign such cash-flows. So far, existing models employed to assign cash-flows give little credence to the distribution of time that financial products remain on a bank’s book. Thus, little is known about the empirical run-off distribution of most bank financial products. Against this background, this study formulates a method to handle cash-flow timing uncertainty when measuring bank funding liquidity risk at a business unit level on a run-off basis. A state-dependent non-parametric survival model is employed to assign cash-flows to future time horizons. The resulting model is illustrated on a case study of a bank savings product.
Role of Fusobacterium nucleatum in Periodontal Health and Disease

The pathogenesis of periodontitis involves the interplay of microbiota present in the subgingival plaque and the host responses. Inflammation and destruction of periodontal tissues are considered to result from the response of a susceptible host to a microbial biofilm containing gramnegative pathogens. Antimicrobial peptides are important contributors to maintaining the balance between health and disease in this complex environment. These include several salivary antimicrobial peptides such as βdefensins expressed in the epithelium and LL-37 expressed in both epithelium and neutrophils. Among gram-negative bacteria implicated in periodontal diseases, Fusobacterium nucleatum, is one of the most interesting. This review will focus on expression, function, regulation and functional efficacy of antimicrobial peptides against F. nucleatum. We are looking for how the presence of F. nucleatum induces secretion of peptides which have an impact on host cells and modulate immune response.
Notice of RetractionSaudiization: HRD strategy or replacement policy

This article aims to develop an in-depth understanding of the Saudi Arabian Government's strategy of Saudiization. The purpose is to evaluate critically how national culture-based programmes like Saudiization, infused as they are with universalistic assumptions, can affect organisations, focusing specifically on their link with human resource development. The main findings reveal the reality of Saudi work organizations to be diverse, yet neglected in policy deliberations. There are different and even contradictive perspectives towards Saudiization. While policy makers at strategic levels perceive Saudiization as a development strategy of native humane resource, managers and employees at implementation levels see Saudiization as a mere replacement policy. The failure to recognize these differences and complexity limits the potential of Saudiization, and in some areas detracts from the stated aim of investing native human resources.
The design versus the analysis of observational studies for causal effects: parallels with the design of randomized trials

For estimating causal effects of treatments, randomized experiments are generally considered the gold standard. Nevertheless, they are often infeasible to conduct for a variety of reasons, such as ethical concerns, excessive expense, or timeliness. Consequently, much of our knowledge of causal effects must come from non‐randomized observational studies. This article will advocate the position that observational studies can and should be designed to approximate randomized experiments as closely as possible. In particular, observational studies should be designed using only background information to create subgroups of similar treated and control units, where ‘similar’ here refers to their distributions of background variables. Of great importance, this activity should be conducted without any access to any outcome data, thereby assuring the objectivity of the design. In many situations, this objective creation of subgroups of similar treated and control units, which are balanced with respect to covariates, can be accomplished using propensity score methods. The theoretical perspective underlying this position will be presented followed by a particular application in the context of the US tobacco litigation. This application uses propensity score methods to create subgroups of treated units (male current smokers) and control units (male never smokers) who are at least as similar with respect to their distributions of observed background characteristics as if they had been randomized. The collection of these subgroups then ‘approximate’ a randomized block experiment with respect to the observed covariates. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Association of rs7041 and rs4588 Polymorphisms of the Vitamin D Binding Protein and the rs10741657 Polymorphism of CYP2R1 with Vitamin D Status Among Jordanian Patients.

AIM Previous studies have shown a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among Jordanians despite adequate exposure to sunlight, suggesting the presence of other causes for this deficiency. The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25-(OH) VD] status and the nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs7041 and rs4588) of the GC gene, which encodes the vitamin D binding protein, and one SNP (rs10741657) near the CYP2R1 gene. METHODS Blood samples from 381 subjects (74 males and 307 females, 18-60 years of age) were obtained from the "National Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Genetics" (Amman, Jordan). The subjects were classified as "apparently healthy" if they did not suffer from chronic diseases and as "unhealthy" if they suffered from certain chronic diseases. Subjects' genotypes for GC; rs7041 and rs4588; CYP2R1; rs10741657 were determined by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay method. RESULTS Apparently, healthy subjects had significantly higher 25-(OH) VD levels than unhealthy patients. In apparently healthy subjects, the rs10743657 genotypes containing the variant allele A (AA, GA) were associated with higher 25-(OH) VD levels than the homozygous wild-type genotype (GG). The genotypes containing the variant allele of rs7041 (TT, TG) and rs4588 (AA, AC) were associated with lower 25-(OH) VD levels than the wild-type genotypes (GG and CC, respectively). Haplotype analysis of rs7041 and rs4588 revealed that the haplotypes GC1S and GC1S/S were associated with 25-(OH) VD sufficiency, whereas haplotypes GC1F/S, GC1F/2, GC1S/2, GC2, and GC2/2 were associated with 25-(OH) VD deficiency. In unhealthy patients, only the homozygous genotype of the variant allele of rs7041 (TT) was associated with higher 25-(OH) VD levels, which is the reverse of what had been observed in apparently healthy subjects. CONCLUSIONS The rs70141657G/A of CYP2R1 and rs7041T/G and rs4588C/A of vitamin D binding protein genetic polymorphisms were associated with increased risk of vitamin D deficiency among apparently healthy Jordanians.
Adjuvant antiplatelet therapy with aspirin in colo-rectal cancer.

Sixty-six patients with Duke's B2 or C colon or rectal cancer were randomized for treatment with aspirin (ASA), 600 mg, p.o. , twice daily x 2 years or placebo (P). Compliance was checked in both groups by random measurement of blood salicylate levels. Fifty-seven patients are currently evaluable. No difference in disease-free (p = .66) or overall survival (p = .90) is present between ASA and P groups. The time at which ASA therapy is started (within 2 or within 4 weeks) following surgery does not affect these results. Aspirin at conventional dosage is ineffective in preventing the appearance of metastases in patients with colo-rectal cancer.
The Challenge of Innovation

While this article is about Senator Clinton and the implications of her race for the presidency for not only women but for the country in general, it is mainly concerned with women in the workplace and the underlying difficulties they face as women in a male dominated society. The "innovation" of having women compete for positions seen as belonging to males only has repercussions which are both positive and negative. And that is what innovation produces - both positive and negative responses to the change in the familiar.
A Physics-Based Modeling of Interelectrode MOS Capacitances of Power MOSFET and IGBT

The conventional and widespread modeling of interelectrode capacitances of power MOSFET and insulated gate bipolar transistor is based on a single dipolar representation of the electric charge induced in the intercellular drain region. In this paper, it is proved by some experimental tests that this representation, symbolized by the gate transfer capacitance C GD, may not be physics-based, especially under negative gate polarization. Then, it is demonstrated that interelectrode MOS capacitances are fundamentally of three-port coupling origin. A physical capacitive model, available for both gate capacitance and gate transfer capacitance, is detailed, implemented in a simulation software, and compared with experiment.three-port coupling origin.
Recent dynamic changes on Fleming Glacier after the disintegration of Wordie Ice Shelf, Antarctic Peninsula

Abstract. The Antarctic Peninsula is one of the world's regions most affected by climate change. Several ice shelves have retreated, thinned or completely disintegrated during recent decades, leading to acceleration and increased calving of their tributary glaciers. Wordie Ice Shelf, located in Marguerite Bay at the south-western side of the Antarctic Peninsula, completely disintegrated in a series of events between the 1960s and the late 1990s. We investigate the long-term dynamics (1994–2016) of Fleming Glacier after the disintegration of Wordie Ice Shelf by analysing various multi-sensor remote sensing data sets. We present a dense time series of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) surface velocities that reveals a rapid acceleration of Fleming Glacier in 2008 and a phase of further gradual acceleration and upstream propagation of high velocities in 2010–2011.The timing in acceleration correlates with strong upwelling events of warm circumpolar deep water (CDW) into Wordie Bay, most likely leading to increased submarine melt. This, together with continuous dynamic thinning and a deep subglacial trough with a retrograde bed slope close to the terminus probably, has induced unpinning of the glacier tongue in 2008 and gradual grounding line retreat between 2010 and 2011. Our data suggest that the glacier's grounding line had retreated by ∼ 6–9 km between 1996 and 2011, which caused ∼ 56 km 2 of the glacier tongue to go afloat. The resulting reduction in buttressing explains a median speedup of ∼ 1.3 m d −1 ( ∼ 27 %) between 2008 and 2011, which we observed along a centre line extending between the grounding line in 1996 and ∼ 16 km upstream. Current median ice thinning rates (2011–2014) along profiles in areas below 1000 m altitude range between ∼ 2.6 to 3.2 m a −1 and are ∼ 70 % higher than between 2004 and 2008. Our study shows that Fleming Glacier is far away from approaching a new equilibrium and that the glacier dynamics are not primarily controlled by the loss of the former ice shelf anymore. Currently, the tongue of Fleming Glacier is grounded in a zone of bedrock elevation between ∼ − 400 and − 500 m. However, about 3–4 km upstream modelled bedrock topography indicates a retrograde bed which transitions into a deep trough of up to ∼ − 1100 m at ∼ 10 km upstream. Hence, this endangers upstream ice masses, which can significantly increase the contribution of Fleming Glacier to sea level rise in the future.
Influenza A Virus Polymerase Is a Site for Adaptive Changes during Experimental Evolution in Bat Cells

ABSTRACT The recent identification of highly divergent influenza A viruses in bats revealed a new, geographically dispersed viral reservoir. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of host-restricted viral tropism and the potential for transmission of viruses between humans and bats, we exposed a panel of cell lines from bats of diverse species to a prototypical human-origin influenza A virus. All of the tested bat cell lines were susceptible to influenza A virus infection. Experimental evolution of human and avian-like viruses in bat cells resulted in efficient replication and created highly cytopathic variants. Deep sequencing of adapted human influenza A virus revealed a mutation in the PA polymerase subunit not previously described, M285K. Recombinant virus with the PA M285K mutation completely phenocopied the adapted virus. Adaptation of an avian virus-like virus resulted in the canonical PB2 E627K mutation that is required for efficient replication in other mammals. None of the adaptive mutations occurred in the gene for viral hemagglutinin, a gene that frequently acquires changes to recognize host-specific variations in sialic acid receptors. We showed that human influenza A virus uses canonical sialic acid receptors to infect bat cells, even though bat influenza A viruses do not appear to use these receptors for virus entry. Our results demonstrate that bats are unique hosts that select for both a novel mutation and a well-known adaptive mutation in the viral polymerase to support replication. IMPORTANCE Bats constitute well-known reservoirs for viruses that may be transferred into human populations, sometimes with fatal consequences. Influenza A viruses have recently been identified in bats, dramatically expanding the known host range of this virus. Here we investigated the replication of human influenza A virus in bat cell lines and the barriers that the virus faces in this new host. Human influenza A and B viruses infected cells from geographically and evolutionarily diverse New and Old World bats. Viruses mutated during infections in bat cells, resulting in increased replication and cytopathic effects. These mutations were mapped to the viral polymerase and shown to be solely responsible for adaptation to bat cells. Our data suggest that replication of human influenza A viruses in a nonnative host drives the evolution of new variants and may be an important source of genetic diversity.
Mapping Sonification for Perception and Action in Motor Skill Learning

Real-time sonification of human movement (conversion of motion signals into sound) can be used as augmented feedback for motor skill learning. With sonification, motor skills can, in some instances, be learned more quickly and successfully (Sigrist et al., 2013a). The goal of such sonification systems is a permanent (or at least, lasting) improvement in performance at a physical task or skill, which persists in the absence of augmented feedback. Many experimental investigations of feedback, however, show that when performance is tested without feedback, a decline occurs (Park et al., 2000; Maslovat et al., 2009). This finding has become known as the “guidance effect” (Buchanan and Wang, 2012). It has been suggested that this effect is a consequence of learner overreliance on the “guidance” provided by augmented feedback, at the expense of task-intrinsic sensory feedback. For effective learning, this is clearly not desirable. In this paper, we advocate a perception-action approach to sonification when used as feedback for skill learning, which may lead researchers and trainers to design more effective prototypes. We highlight three main issues: 1. The learner's task should be conceived as perception-action based and sonification designed accordingly, 2. Sonification should provide Ecological information for perception rather than propositional knowledge-of-performance, and 3. Ecologically meaningful sound morphologies should be harnessed effectively.
Dynamic light scattering arising from flowing Brownian particles: analytical model in optical coherence tomography conditions

Abstract. The statistical model of scattered by flowing Brownian particles coherent radiation is suggested. The model includes the random Doppler shifts caused by particle Brownian motion and the speckle fluctuations caused primarily by the flow motion of particles. Analytical expressions are obtained for the correlation function, power spectrum, and spectral width of scattered radiation in the imaging geometry typically used in optical coherence tomography (OCT). It is shown that the spectral density has the Voigt shape, a well-known spectral profile from atomic and molecular spectroscopy. The approach enables the choice of the experimental regimes for the measurement of Brownian particle motion parameters even in the presence of flow. These regimes are characterized by the dominant contribution of Brownian motion in the spectral width of the flow-caused Doppler shift component. Further, the new formalism suggests that prior attempts to extract transverse flow velocity are only valid at near-perpendicular geometry. The impact of the small scattering volume contributing to the OCT signal is also discussed.
Prevalence of depression in the terminally ill: effects of diagnostic criteria and symptom threshold judgments.

OBJECTIVE Two issues that may influence the diagnosis of depression in the medically ill are 1) the severity with which symptoms must be expressed before they are considered clinically significant and 2) how to deal with somatic symptoms that may be caused by medical illness. This study used different approaches to case identification to examine prevalence rates for major and minor depression in a group of terminally ill cancer patients. METHODS Semistructured diagnostic interviews were conducted with 130 patients receiving palliative care. Diagnoses according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) were compared with diagnoses according to Endicott's revised criteria (which involve replacing somatic symptoms with non-somatic alternatives) when either a low-severity or a high-severity threshold for classifying RDC criterion A symptoms was used. RESULTS A low-threshold (less stringent) diagnostic approach greatly increased the overall prevalence of major and minor depressive episodes with both the RDC and the Endicott criteria. With high thresholds, the RDC and the Endicott criteria were equivalent, whereas with low thresholds the Endicott substitutions identified fewer cases of major (but not minor) depression. CONCLUSIONS Small differences between investigators in the applications of symptom-severity thresholds can result in large differences in prevalence rates for depression. However, the inclusions of somatic symptoms in the diagnostic criteria inflates the rates of diagnosis only when these symptoms are used in conjunction with a low-threshold approach.
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal Responses to Weight Loss in Mice Following Diet Restriction, Activity or Separation Stress: Effects of Tyrosine

Abstract We have studied three different types of weight-loss stress caused by Diet restriction, Activity or Separation, for their effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in young female mice and their responses to tyrosine 100 mg/kg/day. Plasma was assayed for ACTH and glucocorticoid determinations, and brain catecholamine concentrations were measured by HPLC/ECD. A similar weight loss of 24-28% was observed in the models despite significant differences in food intake. Diet restriction to 60% and Separation models produced a significant increase in hypothalamic noradrenaline (p<0.01), while there was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the Diet restriction to 40% that was restored after tyrosine. After Activity, noradrenaline levels did not change. ACTH concentrations decreased following Diet restriction (p<0.05) but were unaffected by Separation or Activity. The peripheral glucocorticoid response increased significantly after Activity and Diet restriction (p<0.001), but decreased significantly after Separation (p<0.001). Tyrosine increased glucocorticoid concentrations in the Activity and Separation models (p<0.05), but not after Diet restriction. Despite similar weight loss in the three models there were no predictable associations between hypothalamic noradrenaline metabolism and plasma ACTH or glucocorticoid concentrations. Tyrosine might alleviate some of the different patho-physiological problems associated with the stress of weight loss
Serological survey for antibodies against bovine viral diarrhoea virus and Neospora caninum in a population of South Australian alpacas (Vicugna pacos).

OBJECTIVE Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) and Neospora caninum may cause clinical disease in alpacas. Both diseases are present in the Australian cattle population. The objective of this study was to perform a serological prevalence survey for BVDV and N. caninum exposure in a regional alpaca population of South Australia. METHODS Serum samples were taken from 182 alpacas on 10 farms, which had a combined population of 1308 alpacas. Serological analysis for BVD antibodies was performed using a competitive BVDV antibody ELISA kit. Serological analysis for N. caninum was performed using an anti-Neospora ELISA with a protein G conjugate. RESULTS Of the 182 alpacas sampled, 5 animals located on three properties were positive for BVDV antibodies, constituting a prevalence of 2.7% (95% confidence interval 1-6%). All samples tested negative for N. caninum antibodies. CONCLUSION There is a low BVDV seroprevalence and N. caninum is currently either absent or present at a very low prevalence in this population of alpacas in South Australia. There is serological evidence for the presence of both organisms in South Australian beef and dairy cattle herds. Appropriate biosecurity protocols to minimise the risk of introduction and exposure should be a high priority to maintain this favourable status.
Preventing intimate partner and sexual violence against women: taking action and generating evidence

Intimate partner and sexual violence affect a large proportion of the population. The majority of those directly experiencing such violence are women, and the majority perpetrating it are men. The WHO Multi-Country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence against Women,1 for instance, indicated that 15-71% of women experience physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner at some point in their lives. The majority of those directly experiencing such violence are women, and the majority perpetrating it are men. The harm these forms of violence cause can last a lifetime and span generations. They have serious adverse effects on health, education, employment and the wider economy. The health outcomes due to intimate partner and sexual violence are comparable to (and in some cases exceed) those associated with many other better-known health risk factors. For example, a study in Victoria, Australia, estimated that among women 18–44 years of age, intimate partner violence was associated with 7% of the overall burden of disease and was a larger risk factor than raised blood pressure, tobacco use and increased body weight.2 Intimate partner violence also very often has severe negative impacts on the emotional and social well-being of entire families, affecting parenting skills …