Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prediction of thermodynamic derivative properties of fluids by Monte Carlo simulation

We compute second order derivatives of the Gibbs energy by Monte Carlo simulation in the isobaric–isothermal ensemble for fluids made of rigid and flexible molecules and test the accuracy of the simple interactions potential. The thermal expansivity and the isothermal compressibility can be calculated directly during a simulation run. The total heat capacity is obtained as the sum of the residual heat capacity computed using the fluctuation method and the ideal heat capacity, which cannot be determined by Monte Carlo simulation and must be taken from experimental data. The Joule–Thomson coefficient is obtained by the combined use of thermal expansivity and total heat capacity. The fluctuation method proves to converge very well, with limitation at low pressure for the Joule–Thomson coefficient. The fluctuation method has been extensively tested on pure light hydrocarbons (methane, ethane and butane) in the vapour and liquid states. In the case of methane, we used a united atom Lennard-Jones potential (D. Moller, J. Oprzynski, A. Muller and J. Fischer, Mol. Phys., 1992, 75, 363). Detailed comparison with experimental heat capacities, volumetric properties and Joule–Thomson coefficients at pressures up to 100 MPa showed excellent agreement. The inversion of the Joule–Thomson effect is predicted with an excellent accuracy. In the case of ethane and n-butane, we used an anisotropic united atoms potential (P. Ungerer, C. Beauvais, J. Delhommelle, A. Boutin, B. Rousseau and A. H. Fuchs, J. Chem. Phys., 2000, 112, 5499). Comparison with experimental data available up to 10 MPa shows that ethane properties are well predicted. For n-butane, derivative properties have been determined in the gas and in the liquid state with good agreement in both phases. Finally, tests made on a methane–ethane system at pressures up to 100 MPa show that the fluctuation method can be extended to mixtures without any further complication.
Pancreatic amylase activity from ruminants fed different rations.

Pancreatic tissue, obtained from groups of 24 steers each fed pasture plus free-choice minerals or an all-concentrate ration for 126 days, was analyzed for amylase activity. Feeding grain resulted in a highly significant increase in pancreatic amylase activity. Pancreatic tissue from 48 steers fed grain with corn silage had intermediate amylase activity. Data from wethers with pancreatic duct or common bile duct cannulas to permit collection of pancreatic secretions during dietary change support a conclusion that ruminants adapt to increased grain intake by increasing their production of pancreatic amylase. The time required for full adaptation appeared to be longer than for monogastric animals.
Beneficial effects of cholesterol-lowering therapy on the coronary endothelium in patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND Impaired endothelium-mediated relaxation contributes to vasospasm and myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary artery disease. We hypothesized that cholesterol-lowering therapy with the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitor lovastatin could improve endothelium-mediated responses in patients with coronary atherosclerosis. METHODS In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we studied coronary endothelial responses in 23 patients randomly assigned to either lovastatin (40 mg twice daily; 11 patients) or placebo (12 patients) plus a lipid-lowering diet (American Heart Association Step 1 diet). Patients were studied 12 days after randomization and again at 5 1/2 months. These patients had total cholesterol levels ranging from 160 to 300 mg per deciliter (4.1 to 7.8 mmol per liter) and were undergoing coronary angioplasty. At the initial and follow-up studies, patients received serial intracoronary infusions (in a coronary artery not undergoing angioplasty) of acetylcholine to assess endothelium-mediated vasodilatation. The responses of the coronary vessels were analyzed with quantitative angiography. RESULTS The patients in the placebo and lovastatin groups had similar responses to acetylcholine at a mean of 12 days of therapy (expressed as the percentage of change in diameter in response to acetylcholine doses of 10(-9) M, 10(-8) M, 10(-7) M, and 10(-6) M). In the placebo group, the respective mean (+/- SE) changes were 1 +/- 2, 0 +/- 2, -2 +/- 4, and -19 +/- 4 percent; in the lovastatin group, they were -2 +/- 2, -4 +/- 4, -12 +/- 5, and -16 +/- 7 percent (P = 0.32). (Coronary-artery constriction is reflected by negative numbers). The responses to acetylcholine in the placebo group after a mean of 5.5 months of therapy were -3 +/- 3, -1 +/- 2, -8 +/- 4, and -18 +/- 5 percent, respectively; there was significant improvement in the lovastatin group, which had responses of 3 +/- 3, 3 +/- 3, 0 +/- 2, and 0 +/- 3 percent (P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS Cholesterol lowering with lovastatin significantly improved endothelium-mediated responses in the coronary arteries of patients with atherosclerosis. Such improvement in the local regulation of coronary arterial tone could potentially relieve ischemic symptoms and signal the stabilization of the atherosclerotic plaque.
Cross-Sectional Identification of Informed Trading

We propose a new approach to measuring informed trading in individual securities based on a portfolio optimization model for investors facing information and liquidity shocks. These shocks induce speculative and liquidity-motivated order flow, taking into account the price impact of trading. The model allows us to back out the amount of informed trading from a security’s aggregate order flow, based on the cross-section of price impact parameters ($\lambda$) and order imbalances (OIB). Furthermore, we obtain a very simple expression for a security’s aggregate private information shock: its lambda times OIB, in excess of the same term for a benchmark security that is insulated from informed trading. We validate our private information measure (based on daily data for all S&P 1500 stocks over 2001-2010) by showing that it is strongly related to contemporaneous returns, and that return reversals are significantly weaker following stock-days with high private information estimates.
The monitoring of growth and nutritional status in South Africa

Analyses of the economic, political, demographic, and health indicators of South Africa place it within the context of the developing nations of the world. In particular current urbanization and population growth rates will lead to an increase of the Black urban population from 6.5 million in 1985 to over 20 million by the year 2000. Such dramatic social change will place major stress on the health of urban children. Few studies are available, however, that may be used to monitor the growth, and by implication the health, of rural children and thereby act as a baseline for the investigation of the effects of the urban environment. Research since 1985 on the growth and nutritional status of children has concentrated on longitudinal studies of rural children to form a basis for comparison to their urban counterparts. The results of these rural studies demonstrate growth patterns characteristic of children living in developing countries with some degree of variation, particularly with regard to weight and subcutaneous fat, between different rural groups. Rural children have a superior growth status in comparison to “average” urban children but are inferior to “well‐off” urban children. The urban environment thus favors those children with adequate socioeconomic support but may be disadvantageous to children from “average” backgrounds. Interpretation of the effects of the rural environment will be greatly enhanced with information relating to nutritional intake and morbidity.
IJV board director role: myths and reality

Context and aims • International Joint Ventures (IJVs): important means for companies to achieve their strategic goals in international business environment; however, a high record of failure of IJVs in terms of satisfying the strategic objectives of the partner companies could be attributed to IJV “fragile” form of governance shared sovereignty and incomplete contracting (Pearce, 1997; Filatotchev and Wright, 2011) • Importance of IJV board directors for IJV success: the partners’ control over IJV board directors more direct than that exercised by dispersed and anonymous shareholders because IJV partners are identifiable owners with a possible investment in strong corporate governance (CG) (Carver, 2000). • Uniqueness and potential complexity of IJV board director role: IJV shared governance structure and the presence of two or more partner organisations of different national and organisational cultures and possibly divergent agendas about their IJV, require IJV board members maintain inter-partner relationships and manage different partners’ agendas in the overall interests of the venture (Bamford and Ernst, 2005) • However, academic debate limited in its understanding of IJV director role and contribution to board effectiveness.
Gaming Device Usage Patterns Predict Internet Gaming Disorder: Comparison across Different Gaming Device Usage Patterns

Gaming behaviors have been significantly influenced by smartphones. This study was designed to explore gaming behaviors and clinical characteristics across different gaming device usage patterns and the role of the patterns on Internet gaming disorder (IGD). Responders of an online survey regarding smartphone and online game usage were classified by different gaming device usage patterns: (1) individuals who played only computer games; (2) individuals who played computer games more than smartphone games; (3) individuals who played computer and smartphone games evenly; (4) individuals who played smartphone games more than computer games; (5) individuals who played only smartphone games. Data on demographics, gaming-related behaviors, and scales for Internet and smartphone addiction, depression, anxiety disorder, and substance use were collected. Combined users, especially those who played computer and smartphone games evenly, had higher prevalence of IGD, depression, anxiety disorder, and substance use disorder. These subjects were more prone to develop IGD than reference group (computer only gamers) (B = 0.457, odds ratio = 1.579). Smartphone only gamers had the lowest prevalence of IGD, spent the least time and money on gaming, and showed lowest scores of Internet and smartphone addiction. Our findings suggest that gaming device usage patterns may be associated with the occurrence, course, and prognosis of IGD.
Effects of government regulations, market orientation and ownership structure on corporate social responsibility in China:an empirical study

Previous research on corporate social responsibility mainly focuses on its nature and impact on business performance. This paper reports on a study that contributes to our understanding of the determinants of corporate social responsibility by focusing specifically on the role played by three strategically important variables, namely government regulation, ownership structure and market orientation. Results of a survey of 586 general managers of hotels in China suggest that the market orientation is the most significant predicator of corporate social responsibility followed by government regulation. In contrast, the ownership structure is found to have little effect. The implications of the findings for managers in China are discussed.
Targeted Inhibition of Leucine-Rich Repeat and Immunoglobulin Domain-Containing Protein 1 in Transplanted Neural Stem Cells Promotes Neuronal Differentiation and Functional Recovery in Rats Subjected to Spinal Cord Injury*

Objective:Leucine-rich repeat and immunoglobulin domain-containing protein (LINGO)-1 is expressed in neural stem cells, and its neutralization results in sustained neuronal immaturity. Thus, targeted inhibition of LINGO-1 via RNA interference may enhance transplanted neural stem cell survival and neuronal differentiation in vivo. Furthermore, LINGO-1 RNA interference in neural stem cells represents a potential therapeutic strategy for spinal cord injury. Design:Department of Spine Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Setting:Translational Medicine Center Research Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Subjects:Female Sprague–Dawley rats. Interventions:The animals were divided into three groups that underwent laminectomy and complete spinal cord transection accompanied by transplantation of control-RNA interference-treated or LINGO-1-RNA interference-treated neural stem cells at the injured site in vivo. In vitro, neural stem cells were divided into four groups for the following treatments: control, control RNA interference lentivirus, LINGO-1 RNA interference lentivirus and LINGO-1 complementary DNA lentivirusand the Key Projects of the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (No. S2013020012818). Measurements and Main Results:Neural stem cells in each treatment group were examined for cell survival and neuronal differentiation in vitro and in vivo via immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. Axonal regeneration and tissue repair were assessed via retrograde tracing using Fluorogold, electron microscopy, hematoxylin-eosin staining and MRI. Rats were also examined for functional recovery based on the measurement of spinal cord-evoked potentials and the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan score. LINGO-1-RNA interference–treated neural stem cell transplantation increased tissue repair and functional recovery of the injured spinal cord in rats. Similarly, LINGO-1 RNA interference increased neural stem cell survival and neuronal differentiation in vitro. The mechanism underlying the effect of LINGO-1 RNA interference on the injured rat spinal cord may be that the significant inhibition of LINGO-1 expression in neural stem cells inactivated the RhoA and Notch signaling pathways, which act downstream of LINGO-1. Conclusions:Our findings indicate that transplantation of LINGO-1-RNA interference–treated neural stem cells facilitates functional recovery after spinal cord injury and represents a promising potential strategy for the repair of spinal cord injury.
The effect of Citalopram in panic disorder

Background Citalopram is a serotonin reuptake inhibitor which has been demonstrated to be highly selective and with a superior tolerability profile to the classical tricyclic antidepressants. This study was designed to test whether there was any difference in eff icacy in the management of panic disorder (PD) between Citalopram and placebo. Method This was a double-blind, placebo and clomipramine controlled, parallel group eight-week study. A total of 475 patients with PD, with or without agoraphobia, were randomised to treatment with either placebo, clomipramine 60 or 90 mg/day, or Citalopram 10 or 15 mg/day, 20 or 30 mg/day, or 40 or 60 mg/day. Doses were increased over the first three weeks, stabilised during the fourth week and fixed between weeks five and eight. Results Treatment with Citalopram at 20 or 30 mg, 40 or 60 mg and clomipramine were significantly superior to placebo, judged by the number of patients free of panic attacks in the week prior to the final assessment. All rating scales examined suggested that Citalopram 20 or 30 mg was more effective than Citalopram 40 or 60 mg. Conclusion The most advantageous benefit/risk ratio for the treatment of PD was associated with citalopram 20 or 30 mg/day.
Primary Dysmenorrhea: Alleviation by an Inhibitor of Prostaglandin Synthesis and Action

Sixteen young women (18–35 years old) suffering from severe primary dysmenorrhea were treated with the anti-inflammatory drug Flunalgan [flufenamic acid; N-(α, α, α-trifluorom-tolyl) anthranilic acid], 125 mg tid or qid, during one to three menstrual periods. In all patients (a total of 31 treated cycles) the drug afforded symptomatic relief. Treatment with other analgesic spasmolytic or tranquilizing drugs, or with placebos, was ineffective in these patients (72 control cycles). Flufenamic acid inhhibits prostaglandin synthetase and the biologic action of prostaglandin F2α on smooth muscle in laboratory animal preparations. The hypothesis is discussed that excessive amounts of prostaglandin originating from breakdown of the “pseudodecidual” tissue of the premenstrual endometrium during cyclic progesterone withdrawal may be the cause of painful myometrial contractures and of the accompanying gastrointestinal symptoms that characterize this syndrome. Further study of the efficacy and safety of drugs that antagonize prostaglandin synthesis and/or action in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea seems indicated.
Strategic Alliances: Performance Measurementin the Financial Service IndustryCase study : The Beneficial Life Insurance S.A. and MicrofinanceInstitutions in Cameroon

Title: Strategic Alliances: Performance Measurement in the Financial Service IndustrySubtitle: Case study: The Beneficial Life Insurance S.A. and Microfinance Institutionsin CameroonAuthors: Chi Jonathan Dze & Anouar SoldiSupervisor: David GilbertBackground: Due to the globalization, companies choose different strategies in order tosurvive. Some run towards the vertical integration in order to control the wholeproduction process, others outsource in order to reduce the productions costs, others gofor strategic alliances aiming to strengthen their market positions by bringing the lackedresources and competencies.Aims: To find a defined combination and set of factors that lead to the success of thiskind of partnerships, and to cover the lack of inexistence of one vision of measuring thesuccess of strategic alliances, especially in the service industry.Definition: We find in Varadarajan and Cunningham (1995) that strategic alliances aredefined as "the pooling of specific resources and skills by the cooperating organizationsin order to achieve common goals, as well as goals specific to the individual partners". Completion and Results: The success factors of strategic alliances in general aredifficult to be concretely measured. Still, we managed to find a model that can be usedby these companies as a guideline for the evaluation.Search terms: Strategic alliances, collaboration, success measurement, success factors,service industry
In vivo assessment of diaphragm contraction by ultrasound in normal subjects.

BACKGROUND Ultrasound allows observation of the thickness of the diaphragm in the zone of apposition in vivo during relaxation and maximum inspiratory efforts. METHODS Changes of diaphragm thickness were studied by B mode (two dimensional) ultrasound in 13 healthy men aged 29-54 years in the seated position. A high resolution 7.5 MHz ultrasound transducer was held perpendicular to the chest wall in the line of a right intercostal space between the anteroaxillary and mid-axillary lines to observe the diaphragm in the zone of apposition 0.5-2 cm below the costophrenic angle. The changes of thickness were observed while breath holding at total lung capacity (TLC), functional residual capacity (FRC), and residual volume (RV). At FRC the thickness while relaxing against a closed mouthpiece and during a maximum inspiratory mouth pressure (PImax) manoeuvre was recorded. The thickening ratio (TR) was calculated as TR = thickness during PImax manoeuvre/thickness while relaxing. RESULTS Mean (SD) thickness was 4.5 (0.9) mm at TLC, 1.7 (0.2) mm at FRC, and 1.6 (0.2) mm at RV. During the PImax manoeuvre at FRC mean thickness increased from 1.7 (0.2) mm during relaxation to 4.4 (1.4) mm, while mean PImax and TR were -104 (33) cm H2O and 2.6 (0.7), respectively. There was a high degree of correlation between TR and the pressure achieved during the maximum inspiratory manoeuvre (r = -0.82). CONCLUSIONS Ultrasound provides a non-invasive assessment of diaphragm thickness with change of lung volume and during the PImax manoeuvre which should prove useful in assessing diaphragm mass and contraction in respiratory and muscle disease.
Endogenous Virus and Hepatitis C Virus-Like Particle Budding in BHK-21 Cells

A recent paper by H. J. Ezelle and coworkers reported the generation of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-like particles by using a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) vector (4). The authors inserted the contiguous HCV Core, E1, and E2 coding region into the VSV genome, and recombinant VSV producing the three HCV structural proteins were used to infect the BHK-21 cell line. With this strategy, the authors claimed to have obtained the complete budding of HCV-like particles, visualized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in cytoplasmic vacuoles derived from the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In their Fig. 3 (panels C and D) they indicate “HCV-like virions,” described as 40- to 80-nm particles exhibiting an electron-dense core with an envelope, fully released into the ER lumen (4). Unfortunately, we believe that these particles represent the endogenous viruses of BHK-21 cells known as intracisternal R-type particles that have been widely described elsewhere (3, 6, 7). Our group is experienced in the transfection of BHK-21 cells with various constructs encoding viral structural proteins (1, 2, 5). We have frequently observed these intracisternal R-type particles in untransfected BHK-21 studied by TEM (arrowheads in Fig. ​Fig.1A). 1A). In our most recent study, we used a recombinant Semliki forest virus (SFV) replicon to express, in BHK-21 cells, the genes encoding HCV structural proteins (1). The self-assembly of HCV proteins at the ER membrane was associated with the budding of HCV-like particles towards the ER lumen. These HCV-like particles could not be confused with the particles endogenous to BHK-21, as seen in Fig. ​Fig.1B. 1B. HCV-like virions consist of a core-like particle, 30 to 35 nm in diameter, surrounded by an electron-dense ER-derived envelope, yielding a much darker particle with a total diameter of 50 to 60 nm (Fig. ​(Fig.1B,1B, arrow). In our study, these HCV-like particles appeared to display abortive budding in BHK-21 cells. Indeed, few particles were fully released from the ER membrane (1). This is consistent with the low levels of HCV structural proteins detected in the transfected cell supernatant. A similar absence of HCV structural protein secretion was reported by H. J. Ezelle and coworkers in studies of BHK-21 cells infected with recombinant VSV (4). FIG. 1. Electron micrographs of ultrathin sections of untransfected BHK-21 cells (A) and BHK-21 cells electroporated with an SFV vector encoding the HCV Core, E1, and E2 structural proteins (B). The bar in panel B (for both panels A and B) represents 100 nm. Despite the inefficiency of particle secretion, both the SFV and VSV expression systems may be valuable tools for studies of virus assembly mechanisms and virus-host cell interactions. Nevertheless, we would like to emphasize that no system in which the complete budding of HCV-like particles is observed has yet been developed.