Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A serum thyroxine method: application in thyroid disease and iodine-treated patients.

A practical method for measuring serum thyroxine levels has been developed that is diagnostically accurate in the evaluation of thyroid function, even in patients with high PBI levels following the administration of iodine-containing compounds. The average serum thyroxine iodine (T4I) level was 5.24 ±1.06 (1 sd) μg/100 ml in 117 euthyroid subjects, 1.1 μg/100 ml in 51 hypothyroid patients, and 12.9 μg/100 ml in 64 hyperthyroid patients. All but 2 of the hypothyroid patients had T4I values that were lower than normal ( 2 sd). Serum T4I levels were measured in 90 euthyroid patients with high PBI levels due to the administration of KI, Hypaque, Telepaque, Pantopaque, Dionosil, or a combination of these compounds. The average serum T4I level in this iodine-treated group was 5.3 μg/100 ml and 86 % of them had normal values.
Shareholder Risk-Taking Incentives in the Presence of Contingent Capital

Purpose This paper aims to present a model of shareholders’ willingness to exert effort to reduce the likelihood of bank distress and the implications of the presence of contingent convertible (CoCo) bonds in the liabilities structure of a bank. Design/methodology/approach This study presents a basic model about the moral hazard surrounding shareholders willingness to exert effort that increases the likelihood of a bank’s success. This study uses a one-shot game and so do not capture the effects of repeated interactions. Findings Consistent with the existing literature, this study shows that the direction of the wealth transfer at the conversion of CoCo bonds determines their impact on shareholder risk-taking incentives. This study also finds that “anytime” CoCos (CoCo bonds trigger-able anytime at the discretion of managers) have a minor advantage over regular CoCo bonds, and that quality of capital requirements can reduce the risk-taking incentives of shareholders. Practical implications This study argues that shareholders can also use manager-specific CoCo bonds to reduce the riskiness of the bank activities. The issuance of such bonds can increase the resilience of individual banks and the whole banking system. Regulators can use restrictions on conversion rates and/or requirements on the quality of capital to address the impact of CoCo bonds issuance on risk-taking incentives. Originality/value To model the risk-taking incentives, authors generally modify the asset processes to introduce components that reflect asymmetric information between CoCo holders and shareholders and/or managers. This paper follows a simpler method similar to that of Holmström and Tirole (1998).
Transformational branding for B2B business: protective packaging company

Purpose The concept of brand transformation concerns a brand strategy that advocates radical changes. It involves a collective set of actions and activities that are coherently steered to regenerate the engagement experience of the target market emanating from the brand strategy. Nevertheless, there are still lack of case studies demonstrating this in the B2B business sector. The purpose of this paper is to exhibit a brand transformation initiative taken by a B2B business, particularly the handling challenges leading to the initiative coupled with the framework and processes involved to make it a success. Design/methodology/approach A case study method was applied with documentation of inputs captured from different stakeholders. Consulting practitioners from a brand consultancy involved in the brand transformation initiative documented interviews and audit findings which offered first hand report regarding their involvement and experience of bringing the B2B business through the brand transformation jour.
The Effect of Restaurant s Physical Environment on Perceived Value, Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty: Case of Istanbul

Global competition in 21st century has made essential firms to differentiate from their competitors. Pyhsical environment elements in this needed differentiation have an important role. The physical environment, either in the differentiation of the atmosphere, changing the total perception of the product or creating the first impression in order to provide preferred, has become a strategic factor preferred by businesses.
Evolutionarily Conserved Orthologous Families in Phages Are Relatively Rare in Their Prokaryotic Hosts

ABSTRACT We have identified conserved orthologs in completely sequenced genomes of double-strand DNA phages and arranged them into evolutionary families (phage orthologous groups [POGs]). Using this resource to analyze the collection of known phage genomes, we find that most orthologs are unique in their genomes (having no diverged duplicates [paralogs]), and while many proteins contain multiple domains, the evolutionary recombination of these domains does not appear to be a major factor in evolution of these orthologous families. The number of POGs has been rapidly increasing over the past decade, the percentage of genes in phage genomes that have orthologs in other phages has also been increasing, and the percentage of unknown “ORFans” is decreasing as more proteins find homologs and establish a family. Other properties of phage genomes have remained relatively stable over time, most notably the high fraction of genes that are never or only rarely observed in their cellular hosts. This suggests that despite the renowned ability of phages to transduce cellular genes, these cellular “hitchhiker” genes do not dominate the phage genomic landscape, and a large fraction of the genes in phage genomes maintain an evolutionary trajectory that is distinct from that of the host genes.
Factors associated with institutional delivery in Dangila district, North West Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION Childbirth in a health institution has been shown to be associated with lower rates of maternal and neonatal mortality. However, about 85% of mothers in Ethiopia deliver at home. OBJECTIVE To assess factors associated with institutional delivery service utilization among women who gave birth within one year prior to the study in Dangila district. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted from February 01-28, 2015. A total of 763 mothers were interviewed using structured questionnaire. SPSS version 20 was used for analysis. Crude and adjusted Odds ratios were computed for selected variables. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistical significant. RESULTS Only 18.3% of mothers gave birth at health facilities. Knowledge on danger signs [AOR=2.0, 95% CI: (1.1, 3.4)], plan to give birth at health institution [AOR=5.4, 95% CI: (3.0, 9.6)], having ANC follow up during pregnancy [AOR=12.9, 95% CI: (5.0, 33.3)] and time taken to get to a nearby health institution [AOR=5.1, 95% CI: (2.9, 9.1)] were associated with institutional delivery service utilization. CONCLUSION Institutional delivery was very low. Knowledge about danger signs, having ANC visits, and time were factors associated with institutional delivery service utilization. Thus, the findings recommend repeated re-enforcement of institutional delivery service utilization through professionals. And also, the findings recommend promotion of institutional delivery service utilization through mass media.
Pathophysiology of dyslipidemia and increased cardiovascular risk in HIV lipodystrophy: a model of ‘systemic steatosis’

Purpose of review This review addresses a syndrome of dyslipidemia and lipodystrophy that has emerged in HIV-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The term ‘HIV/HAART associated dyslipidemic lipodystrophy (HADL)’ describes this syndrome. Although HAART increases patient survival rates, their increased longevity and dyslipidemias place them at risk for cardiovascular disease. Identification of rationally based therapies requires an understanding of the mechanistic basis of HADL. Recent findings A case definition for HIV lipodystrophy, based on age, gender, duration of HIV disease, serum HDL cholesterol and anthropometry, provides high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. The dyslipidemias, mainly hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and low-plasma HDL cholesterol, among HIV-infected patients in the pre- and post-HAART eras are summarized. Clinical studies of HADL patients show increased lipolysis, which increases free fatty acid transfer to liver for incorporation into lipoprotein triglycerides that are secreted, and to skeletal muscle where they impair normal insulin signaling. A model of HADL that includes preferential lipolysis in femoral-gluteal fat depots is presented. Relevant therapies include those that inhibit lipolysis (niacin) or increase hepatic fatty acid oxidation (fibrates). Summary HADL is one of several disorders characterized by dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and lipodystrophy. The relative acuteness of HADL should facilitate identification of the sequence of metabolic changes that gives rise to the syndrome. Current evidence suggests that deranged energy storage in femoral-gluteal and other peripheral sites is important; the molecular details for the derangement are unknown but are under scrutiny by many investigators.
Fas-Mediated Neutrophil Apoptosis and Associated A1 Protein Expression During Systemic Inflammation Are Regulated Independently of Both Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptors

TNFR-1 (p55) and Fas share a death domain which is critical for apoptosis signaling whereas TNFR-p55 and TNFR-2 (p75) can activate NF-&kgr;B leading to anti-apoptotic proteins expression such as A1. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the role(s) of TNFR-p55 and TNFR-p75 in Fas-mediated neutrophil apoptosis and A1 expression in a mouse model of endotoxemia. Gene knockout (KO) (p55−/−, p75−/−, p55−/−/p75−/−) or wild type (WT) mice were injected i.p. with saline or LPS (4 &mgr;g/g) followed by collecting peripheral blood after 24 h. Neutrophil apoptosis was assessed by propidium iodide staining using two-color flow cytometry with granulocyte-specific Gr1-FITC after 6-h whole blood culture with or without Fas agonist Jo2 (300 ng/ml) in the presence or absence of cycloheximide (CHX, 30 &mgr;g/ml). Membrane-associated receptors (Fas, TNFR-p55 and TNFR-p75) and cytoplasmic A1 expression of freshly isolated neutrophils were assessed by one-color flow cytometry and western blotting respectively. Compared with the group-WT/Sal, Jo2 induced apoptosis only in the presence of CHX (J+C). J+C-induced apoptosis was significantly lower in the group-p55−/−/Sal and p55−/−/p75−/−/Sal but not in the group-p75−/−/Sal. J+C-induced apoptosis was inhibited similarly in all the LPS-injected WT and KO mice. Strong A1 expression was also induced similarly in all the LPS-injected WT and KO mice. Fas and TNFR-p55 expression was normal and TNFR-p75 was significantly increased in all the LPS-injected WT and KO mice although absence of the appropriate surface receptors was confirmed in the KO mice. We conclude that p55 normally plays a proapoptotic role, but p75 appears to play a minimal role in Fas-mediated neutrophil apoptosis. During endotoxin-induced systemic inflammation, both TNFR-p55 and TNFR-p75 appear to be of minimal importance for modulation of Fas-mediated apoptosis and associated A1 protein expression despite normal Fas/TNFR-p55 and increased TNFR-p75 expression in neutrophils.
More insights into RFID-enabled changes in retail: A simulation model

As retailers move from pilot studies to rolling out RFID implementations across their stores, they need to adapt their current processes to the capabilities of this new technology. The main objective of this study is to explore areas in retail operations other than the supply chain that can be adapted to the capabilities of enhanced visibility by RFID. We develop a system dynamics simulation model for retailers’ floor operations that is based on a Delphi study. Our model explores changes in merchandising processes that improve store operations. More specifically, our simulation model demonstrates how lower inventory holdings and reduced shelf space can result in more variety and assortment of products in stores.
The effect of budget tightness and internal audit on the perceived usefulness of management accounting systems.

The objective of this research is how to effect and measure the budget tightness and internal audit on the perceived usefulness of management accounting systems. Mail questionnaires were distrbuted to 149 stated-owned enterprise in Indonesia and than we have responcy rate of 85 Indonesia enterprise. Data validity and reliability of independent variable is valid and reliable. Hypothesis testing use regression analysis. The result show that positively effect of the budget tightness and internal audit on the perceived usefulness of management accounting systems. Base on research, characteristics of management accounting informations including of broadscope, timeliness, the level of aggregation and integrative nature can be support by the roles of implementation of tight budget and internal auditor’s function.
Microvascular Blood Flow, Volume, and Velocity Measured by Laser Doppler Techniques in IDDM

A laser Doppler device with the capability to simultaneously measure skin blood flow, microvascular volume, and erythrocyte velocity was used to assess blood flow changes in 35 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) subjects, mean age 33 ± 1 yr, with average duration of diabetes 14 ± 1 yr, and in a nondiabetic control group. Blood flow was determined at 35 and 44°C at several sites on the upper and the lower extremities with a temperature-regulated probe. Blood flow was highest at both temperatures on the pulps of the index finger and the first toe, regions of high density of arteriovenous anastomoses. There was significantly greater blood flow at most locations for the nondiabetic than the diabetic group at 35°C, and the differences between the two groups were substantially larger at 44°C. At 44°C, blood flow in the control group was ∼40% greater in the upper extremity and 50% greater in the lower extremity than it was in the diabetic subjects. The differences were attributed to decreases of both microvascular volume and velocity in the diabetic group. In the upper extremity, volumes in the diabetic patients were 10–15% lower and velocities 10–40% lower than in the nondiabetic subjects. In the lower extremity, volumes were 20–25% lower and velocities 40–50% lower. We conclude that laser Doppler techniques can be used to assess microvascular changes in the skin of diabetic patients. This approach may be useful to evaluate and model diabetic microangiopathy.
Self-grounded vision: hand ownership modulates visual location through cortical beta and gamma oscillations.

Vision is known to be shaped by context, defined by environmental and bodily signals. In the Taylor illusion, the size of an afterimage projected on one's hand changes according to proprioceptive signals conveying hand position. Here, we assessed whether the Taylor illusion does not just depend on the physical hand position, but also on bodily self-consciousness as quantified through illusory hand ownership. Relying on the somatic rubber hand illusion, we manipulated hand ownership, such that participants embodied a rubber hand placed next to their own hand. We found that an afterimage projected on the participant's hand drifted depending on illusory ownership between the participants' two hands, showing an implication of self-representation during the Taylor illusion. Oscillatory power analysis of electroencephalographic signals showed that illusory hand ownership was stronger in participants with stronger alpha suppression over left sensorimotor cortex, while the Taylor illusion correlated with higher beta/gamma power over fronto-temporal regions. Higher gamma connectivity between left sensorimotor and inferior parietal cortex was also found during illusory hand ownership. These data show that afterimage drifts in the Taylor illusion do not only depend on the physical hand position but also on subjective ownership, which itself is based on the synchrony of somatosensory signals from the two hands. The effect of ownership on afterimage drifts is associated with beta/gamma power, and gamma connectivity between fronto-parietal regions and the visual cortex. Taken together, our results suggest that visual percepts are not only influenced by bodily context, but are self-grounded, mapped on a self-referential frame. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Vision is influenced by the body: in the Taylor illusion, the size of an afterimage projected on one's hand changes according to tactile and proprioceptive signals conveying hand position. Here, we report a new phenomenon revealing that the perception of afterimages depends not only on bodily signals, but also on the sense of self. Relying on the rubber hand illusion, we manipulated hand ownership, so that participants embodied a rubber hand placed next to their own hand. We found that visual afterimages projected on the participant's hand drifted laterally, only when the rubber hand was embodied. Electroencephalography revealed spectral dissociations between somatic and visual effects, and higher gamma connectivity along the dorsal visual pathways when the rubber hand was embodied.
Determinants of measles mortality in a rural area of Guinea-Bissau: crowding, age, and malnutrition.

Malnutrition has been considered the major determinant of high measles mortality. Data from a rural area of Guinea-Bissau suggests that overcrowding and age may be more important as determinants than nutritional status. Case fatality rate was significantly higher in houses with several cases than in homes with only a single case. Measles vaccination may contribute to increased survival rates by limiting the number of infections raising the mean age of attack and by impeding clustering of cases. 66% of the cases occured during the dry season. The case fatality rate (CFR) for children under 5 years of age was 33.7% and for children 5 years and older 6.6%. The highest CFR was observed for children in the age group 0-11 and 12-23 months of age 46.7% and 52.4% respectively.
Write-energy-saving ReRAM-based nonvolatile SRAM with redundant bit-write-aware controller for last-level caches

Nonvolatile static random-access memory (NV-SRAM) is a crucial component type for normally-off computing systems. This work proposes a novel 10T2R resistive random-access memory (ReRAM)-based NV-SRAM controller that is aware of redundant bit writes and considers the conditions of redundant bit writes. When data stored in SRAM cells are the same as the data in ReRAM devices, backup can be skipped. Otherwise, backup is performed. As a result, redundant bit-write conditions indicate that energy can be saved when backing up data. Simulations show that as much as 93% of typical energy requirements can be saved when the high resistive state is larger than 10 MΩ. As long as the probability of redundant bit writes is larger than 25%, backup energy saving can be achieved. The ReRAM chip is manufactured with 90 nm CMOS technology and the ReRAM process of the Industrial Technology Research Institute. This design can be applied to L2 and L3 caches.
Waiting for Godot: The Failure of SMEs in the Italian Manufacturing Industry to Grow

Abstract of the paper. We use a panel of Italian manufacturing firms for the period 2001-2014 to analyse the distribution of firm size, and then test for the validity of Gibrat’s law using unit root tests. Although Gibrat’s Law is rejected and the estimates suggest that small firms grow faster than larger ones, we do not observe a signifi- cant change in the average size of companies at the end of the period under investigation. Also, by using a long-run Transition Probability Matrix, we verify that the steady-state distribution of firm size remains stable. The higher propensity to grow shown by smaller firms is confined to the size class in which the firm is established. We further investigate the relationship between the rate of growth in a firm’s size conditional on specific firm and industry characteristics. Export intensity plays a signifi- cant role in affecting the size growth rate together with industry characteristics related to technological levels. Finally, we esti- mate the probability that a firm increases in size relative to the mean size prevailing in its own size class over a 14-year interval. This approach enables us to highlight those factors that affect this probability, thereby enabling us to underline how Gibrat’s Law tests, although important, require complementary analysis to ascertain whether a firm’s propensity to increase in size is a long run effect and thus a significant modification of the distri- bution of company size or only implies a marginal increase in size within a reference size class.
Global Analysis of Regional Differences in Craniometric Diversity and Population Substructure

Estimates of genetic diversity in major geographic regions are frequently made by pooling all individuals into regional aggregates. This method can potentially bias results if there are differences in population substructure within regions, since increased variation among local populations could inflate regional diversity. A preferred method of estimating regional diversity is to compute the mean diversity within local populations. Both methods are applied to a global sample of craniometric data consisting of 57 measurements taken on 1734 crania from 18 local populations in six geographic regions: sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, East Asia, Australasia, Polynesia, and the Americas. Each region is represented by three local populations. Both methods for estimating regional diversity show sub-Saharan Africa to have the highest levels of phenotypic variation, consistent with many genetic studies. Polynesia and the Americas both show high levels of regional diversity when regional aggregates are used, but the lowest mean local population diversity. Regional estimates of FST made using quantitative genetic methods show that both Polynesia and the Americas also have the highest levels of differentiation among local populations, which inflates regional diversity. Regional differences in FST are directly related to the geographic dispersion of samples within each region; higher FST values occur when the local populations are geographically dispersed. These results show that geographic sampling can affect results, and suggest caution in making inferences regarding regional diversity when population substructure is ignored.