Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Budgets, expenditure composition and political manipulation

Abstract This paper analyses the presence of political cycles in Portuguese Governments’ expenditures using monthly data over the period 1991–2013 for the main categories of government expenditures. The results indicate that Portuguese Governments act opportunistically regarding the budget surplus and that they favour capital instead of current spending near to the elections. Moreover, right-wing governments are more prone to reduce expenditures and deficits after the elections than left-wing ones. A deeper disaggregated analysis of the components of government expenditures corroborates these findings while disentangling other relevant patterns of political manipulation in Portugal.
Expression of glutathione S-transferase variants in human airway wall after long-term response to sulfur mustard

Abstract Context: Sulfur mustard (SM) is an alkylating agent identified as a potent chemical warfare agent. More recently, SM was used in the Iraq conflict against Iranian troops and civilians. At present, there are many people suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to mustard gas in Iran. SM increases the endogenous production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The oxidant/antioxidant imbalance present in the lungs of these patients also results from the impaired capacity of the antioxidant/detoxification enzymes to detoxify the harmful reactive oxygen metabolites. Objective: One of the major antioxidants in human airways is glutathione S-transferase. They facilitate the detoxification of various environmental of oxidative stress. In this study, we attempted to understand the significance different in expression of GSTs in airway wall of chemical patients and control. Materials and methods: Seven normal and 20 SM induced COPD individuals were studied. Bronchoscopy was performed in all subjects and two specimens were taken from the main bronchus for mRNA extraction, PCR analysis and immunohistochemistry. Results: SM-induced COPD individuals showed expression of GSTA1 2.51 ± 0.83-, GSTM1 2.84 ± 1.71- and GSTP1 5.61 ± 2.59-folds higher than those of controls that revealed. GSTP1-immunoreactivity was strongly expressed in luminal border of normal samples. SM patient samples immunoreactivity for GSTP1 in the same area were negative. Discussion and conclusion: According to these findings, we speculated that overexpression of GSTs mRNA in patients revealed that GSTs plays an important role in cellular protection against oxidative stress of MS in airway wall of patients.
A Trapeizform U-Slot Folded Patch Feed Antenna Design Optimized With Jumping Genes Evolutionary Algorithm

A novel design of trapeizform U-slot folded patch feed antenna is presented in this paper. It is optimized by an evolutionary based optimization scheme which is capable of producing an antenna design that has a wide impedance bandwidth but small in dimension size. The optimized design was also experimentally verified by its hardware prototype in which 101.3% measured impedance bandwidth was obtained compared with its simulated bandwidth of 104%. Also, both the effectiveness of the optimization methodology and the proposed antenna configuration have been justified through comparison results.
Continuing medical education and primary physicians’ job stress, burnout and dissatisfaction

The association between opportunities for continuing medical education (CME) and primary physicians’ job stress, burnout and job dissatisfaction has not been investigated. It was hypothesized that participation in CME activities and perceived opportunities at work for keeping up‐to‐date with medical and professional developments would be correlated negatively with job stress and burnout, and positively with job satisfaction.
AMPA receptor pHluorin-GluA2 reports NMDA receptor-induced intracellular acidification in hippocampal neurons

NMDA receptor activation promotes endocytosis of AMPA receptors, which is an important mechanism underlying long-term synaptic depression. The pH-sensitive GFP variant pHluorin fused to the N terminus of GluA2 (pH-GluA2) has been used to assay NMDA-mediated AMPA receptor endocytosis and recycling. Here, we demonstrate that in somatic and dendritic regions of hippocampal neurons a large fraction of the fluorescent signal originates from intracellular pH-GluA2, and that the decline in fluorescence in response to NMDA and AMPA primarily describes an intracellular acidification, which quenches the pHluorin signal from intracellular receptor pools. Neurons expressing an endoplasmic reticulum-retained mutant of GluA2 (pH-GluA2 ΔC49) displayed a larger response to NMDA than neurons expressing wild-type pH-GluA2. A similar NMDA-elicited decline in pHluorin signal was observed by expressing cytosolic pHluorin alone without fusion to GluA2 (cyto-pHluorin). Intracellular acidification in response to NMDA was further confirmed by using the ratiometric pH indicator carboxy-SNARF-1. The NMDA-induced decline was followed by rapid recovery of the fluorescent signal from both cyto-pHluorin and pH-GluA2. The recovery was sodium-dependent and sensitive to Na+/H+-exchanger (NHE) inhibitors. Moreover, recovery was more rapid after shRNA-mediated knockdown of the GluA2 binding PDZ domain-containing protein interacting with C kinase 1 (PICK1). Interestingly, the accelerating effect of PICK1 knockdown on the fluorescence recovery was eliminated in the presence of the NHE1 inhibitor zoniporide. Our results indicate that the pH-GluA2 recycling assay is an unreliable assay for studying AMPA receptor trafficking and also suggest a role for PICK1 in regulating intracellular pH via modulation of NHE activity.
Clinical experience of entirely subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in children and adults: cause for caution.

AIMS This paper describes our clinical experience of using an entirely subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) in children and adults. Maintaining lead integrity and long-term vascular access are critical challenges of ICD therapy, especially in younger patients. The S-ICD has considerable theoretical advantages in selected patients without pacing indications, particularly children and young adults. Although sensing in an S-ICD may be influenced by age, pathology, and posture, there are currently few published data on clinical sensing performance outside the setting of intra-operative testing or in younger patients. METHODS AND RESULTS Patients were selected by a multi-disciplinary team on clinical grounds for S-ICD implantation from a broad population at risk of sudden arrhythmic death. Sixteen patients underwent implantation [median age 20 years (range 10-48 years)]. Twelve had primary electrical disease and four had congenital structural heart disease. There were no operative complications, and ventricular fibrillation (VF) induction testing was successful in all cases. During median follow-up of 9 months (range 3-15 months), three children required re-operation. Eighteen clinical shocks were delivered in six patients. Ten shocks in four patients were inappropriate due to T-wave over-sensing. Within the eight shocks for ventricular arrhythmia, three were delivered for VF, among which two had delays in detection with time to therapy of 24 and 27 s. CONCLUSION The S-ICD is an important new option for some patients. However, these data give cause for caution in light of the limited published data regarding clinical sensing capabilities, particularly among younger patients.
Elevation of Cytokine Concentrations in Asphyxiated Neonates

Background: Various cytokines are reportedly associated with many neonatal diseases. Asphyxia is considered to result in ischemia-reperfusion injuries and induces abnormal inflammatory responses involving excessive cytokine production. Objectives: To evaluate alteration in sera levels of various cytokines/chemokines in case of perinatal asphyxia at birth. Methods: In orderto determine the concentrations of various cytokines/chemokines in sera, we used a highly sensitive fluorescence microsphere method. We measured the concentration of 8 types of cytokines/chemokines in sera obtained from 17 cases of asphyxia, 10 normal neonates, and 6 healthy adults. Results: The concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 in the sera of asphyxiated neonates were higher than those in the normal neonates. Irrespective of the presence or absence of asphyxia, sera concentrations of IL-2, IL-4, IFN-γ, and TNF-α were higher in the neonates than those in the adults. The concentration of IFN-γ in the asphyxiated neonates was lower than that in the normal neonates. Sera levels of IL-10 were higher in the asphyxiated cases than those in the normal neonates. The sera levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 in asphyxiated neonates with either a poor outcome or death were higher than those without poor outcomes. Conclusions: The concentrations of various types of cytokines/chemokines were different in neonatal sera and some of them increased drastically during asphyxia. The concentration of an anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was elevated in asphyxiated neonates immediately after birth, thereby suggesting that IL-10 might be associated with neuroprotective functions.
The impacts of hotels’ error management culture on customer engagement behaviors (CEBs)

Purpose Drawing upon an error management perspective, this study aims to examine how in the wake of an information security breach, a hotel’s error management culture influences customer engagement behaviors and trust. The potential moderating effects of the perceived error controllability are also assessed. Design/methodology/approach This study develops four experimental conditions concerning a privacy breach in Hotel A, where different levels of error controllability and error management culture are manipulated for testing hypotheses. Data collection is administered with the help of Amazon Mechanical Turk. Findings The findings from 235 former hotel guests show significant influences of error management culture on customer engagement behaviors, which are mediated by consumer trust. No moderating effect of the perceived error controllability is found. Practical implications This study stresses the significance of cultivating a high error management culture and communicating it to attract consumers. It also provides guidance to hoteliers for adopting effective error analysis and management approaches, improving customer engagement and, ultimately, enhancing the firm’s performance. Originality/value The results of this study expand the error management literature by studying the impacts of error management within the organization to its impacts on consumer-related outcomes. Further, this study contributes to the customer engagement literature by focusing on a series of customer engagement behaviors after a service failure scenario. Third, this study extends previous service failure and recovery literature to credence-related service encounters.
Electroinsertion and activation of the C-terminal domain of Colicin A, a voltage gated bacterial toxin, into mammalian cell membranes

The C-terminal fragment of colicin, a protein that is highly soluble in aqueous solution, is spontaneously and irreversibly inserted into the membranes of mammalian cells, which are locally permeabilized by a transmembrane voltage increase. Insertion is detected by immunodetection. This is obtained by mixing the protein with electropermeabilized cells. The same result is observed by pulsing the colicin/cell mixture. Electroinsertion is therefore obtained for the first time with a multi-fragment spanning protein. The cell viability is not affected beyond the effect of electropermeabilization. A train of low voltage repetitive transmembrane modulation, which cannot trigger membrane permeabilization, is applied a day after the electroinsertion. This induces no effect on unmodified cells but triggers the lysis of cells in which colicin has been inserted by the first electropulsation. The low-level electrical treatment is high enough to trigger the voltage gated opening of colicin and to induce the associated toxicity. A transmembrane configuration of colicin is therefore obtained by electroinsertion. The toxic effect of their voltage gating is only obtained when a critical number of voltage gated channels are activated.
An alert on the recent fall of the fiscal reaction in Brazil

ABSTRACT Recent evaluations of how the Brazilian government’s primary surplus reacts to the evolution of the debt to GDP ratio convey two important (and worrisome) messages: first, the reaction function has been almost steadily decreasing since 2012. Second, it has turned from positive to negative figures as of October 2017. With effective real interest rates (over the net government debt) higher than prospects of GDP growth, negative figures for the fiscal reaction function mean a non-sustainable debt trajectory. Therefore, significant fiscal adjustments are required in the short run.
PLASMA OXYTOCIN, ARGININE VASOPRESSIN AND ATRIAL NATRIURETIC PEPTIDE RESPONSES TO INSULIN‐INDUCED HYPOGLYCAEMIA IN MAN

The changes in blood glucose, plasma oxytocin, plasma vasopressin, plasma atrial natriuretic peptide, serum osmolality, haematocrit and blood pressure were measured in response to acute insulin‐induced hypoglycaemia in six normal male subjects. After the i.v. administration of insulin (015 U/kg), plasma concentrations of oxytocin and vasopressin increased rapidly in all subjects and were maximal 15 min after the acute hypoglycaemic reaction (R). Haematocrit increased at the time of the hypoglycaemic reaction, but there was no change in serum osmolality. Systolic blood pressure rose and diastolic blood pressure fell, but mean arterial blood pressure remained unchanged. No changes were demonstrated in plasma concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide. The release of oxytocin and vasopressin in response to acute hypoglycaemia in man is probably caused by stimulation of the posterior pituitary gland via hypothalamic activation, and not by stimulation of osmoreceptors or baroreceptors.
An Information Framework for Facilitating Cost Saving of Environmental Impacts in the Coal Mining Industry in South Africa

Coal-mining contributes much to the economic welfare of a country. Yet it brings along a number of challenges, notably environmental impacts which include water pollution in a water scarce country such as South Africa. This research is conducted in two phases. The first phase intends to establish environmental and other challenges brought about by the coal-mining industry through a comprehensive analysis of available literature. Combatting these challenges is costly; consequently, our work investigates how established management accounting tools and techniques such as Environmental Management Accounting (EMA), Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) may facilitate cost savings for the companies involved. These techniques promote increased transparency of material usage by tracing and quantifying the flows and inventories of materials within the coal-mining industry in physical and monetary terms, hence hidden costs are elicited. The researchers postulate that an Information Framework integrating these aspects may be the way forward. To this end existing frameworks in the literature are identified. A number of research questions embodying the above aspects are defined and the objective is to define a conceptual framework to facilitate cost savings for coal-mining companies. The main contribution of this work is an information framework presented towards the end of this article. The second phase of the research will involve fieldwork in the form of a survey among stakeholders in industry to validate the conceptual framework.
Hyperopia is predominantly axial in nature.

PURPOSE Myopia has been found to be predominantly axial in nature, i.e. myopic eyes have longer than normal axial lengths, with corneal radius variations having only a small influence on the magnitude of the refractive error. In this study we assess whether a similar relationship exists for hyperopia. METHODS Biometric data were collected on 57 subjects with either emmetropic or hyperopic refractive errors ranging in magnitude from -0.37 D to +17.25 D. Our main analysis concentrated on subjects with less than +10 D of hyperopia (group 1, n = 53), as subjects with +10 D of hyperopia or more (group 2, n = 4) exhibited marked differences in their biometric characteristics. RESULTS Analysis of group 1 data revealed a significant relationship (r2 = 0.611, p = 0.0001) between the degree of hyperopia and the measured axial lengths. A weak but statistically significant relationship (r2 = 0.128, p = 0.009) was also found between mean corneal radius measures and mean spherical refractive errors, with the mean corneal radius flattening with increasing hyperopia. In group 2, three of the four subjects exhibited much steeper corneal characteristics than predicted from the group 1 data. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that hyperopia, like myopia, is predominantly axial in nature, although the corneal radius also plays a role in determining refractive error magnitude. These results have implications for refractive surgery and visual performance in hyperopic eyes.
Barriers to Technology use in Large and Small School Districts

Barriers to effective technology integration come in several different categories, including access to technology tools and resources, technology training and support, administrative support, time to plan and prepare for technology integration, and beliefs about the importance and usefulness of technology tools and resources. This study used survey research to compare reported barriers to technology use in smaller school districts and communities to those in larger school districts and communities. This study also sought to determine other district and classroom factors that could influence barriers to technology integration. The population for this study was current public K12 teachers in a rural North Midwestern state. Findings indicated that teachers in smaller districts and communities reported more access to technology tools and resources and higher administrative support for the use of technology than did teachers in larger districts and communities. By contrast, teachers in larger districts and communities reported higher time to plan and prepare for technology integration.
The evolved landscape of ePortfolios: Current values and purposes of academic teachers and curriculum designers

As ePortfolios are increasingly being used in universities to help develop self-reflective practitioners, academic teachers and students need to develop the skills and processes required to implement them. During 2015, a series of webinars was presented by a cross-university team to provide professional development for academic teachers, curriculum designers and other staff interested in initiating or extending ePortfolio learning in their institutions. A survey was conducted with participants to gauge the depth of understanding and use of ePortfolios in degree programs. The survey aimed to clarify participants’ perception of the value of ePortfolio tools in Australian universities, and to identify future directions for developing knowledge and learning related to ePortfolios. Through the survey questions participants were able to provide information anonymously about their knowledge and use of ePortfolios. Respondents were also invited to be interviewed. Nine interviews, conducted in 2016, explored ePortfolio-users’ opinions of the learning tool. The results indicate that teachers’ use of the ePortfolio as a learning tool has evolved beyond that reported in the current literature. Furthermore, when used for reflection, assessment and documenting professional standards, the ePortfolio tool contributes to the students’ development of skills required to transition to future careers.
Genotype 4 HCV infection is difficult to cure with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. Results from a Greek Nationwide Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM Patients with genotype 4 (G4) chronic hepatitis C (CHC) are considered a difficult to treat population, although current data on G4 treatment responsiveness and duration are controversial. Greece represents a country with an intermediate prevalence of G4 infections, offering an opportunity to compare treatment outcomes by genotype and to identify potential prognostic factors for sustained virologic response (SVR). METHODS All CHC patients from the HepNet.Greece, an ongoing nationwide cohort study on viral hepatitis, with known hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype who received treatment with Peg-IFNa and ribavirin were analyzed. RESULTS From 4443 patients, 951 (61.7% males, 78.4% Greeks, median age 40.6 years, 10% cirrhosis) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. G4 was found in 125 (13.1%) patients. Genotype distribution was not significantly different between Greeks and immigrants. Patients with G4 had similar odds of SVR compared to G1 but significantly lower compared to G2/G3. Age, treatment discontinuation, presence of cirrhosis and previous history of HCV-treatment were associated with lower probabilities of SVR. Ethnicity did not affect SVR for all genotypes while response to treatment was similar between Greek and Egyptian patients groups (35.7% vs 40.9%, p=0.660%) with G4 infection. The relation between SVR and genotype did not substantially change after adjustment for age, gender, cirrhosis, treatment interruption and history of HCV-treatment. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this large cohort of CHC patients with a well balanced genotype distribution further supports the idea of considering G4 as a difficult to treat genotype. Further investigation is needed to identify genotype specific prognostic factors.
Trait worry is associated with difficulties in working memory updating

ABSTRACT The current study investigated the effects of trait worry, a subcomponent of trait anxiety, on the process of updating information in working memory (WM). A leading theory on anxiety and executive functions, attentional control theory (ACT), states that anxiety is not related to WM updating in emotionally neutral situations. Previous research, however, has focused almost exclusively on WM span tasks that primarily emphasised storage, rather than the updating of WM representations. Moreover, few studies have directly examined the effects of trait worry. In this study, 116 subjects performed a WM updating task that required the memorisation of short lists of words and the within-trial removal of some of these items from WM. Results indicated that levels of trait worry were not related to word-span performance, but were related to performance on trials that required subjects to effectively update WM. Moreover, these effects were observed only for trait worry, not for levels of anxious arousal or comorbid levels of dysphoria. These results support the hypothesis that trait worry is related to WM updating performance and thereby extend ACT in new directions.