Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anemia inMen andWomenwith HIV Infection 1 – 3

Background: Early andchronic inflammation is ahallmark ofHIV infection, and inflammation is known to increasehepcidin expression. Consequently, hepcidin may be a key determinant of the iron homeostasis and anemia associated with poorer HIV prognoses. Objective: The objective of this study was to understand how hepcidin is related to anemia, iron homeostasis, and inflammation at HIV diagnosis and to investigate associations between hepcidin and all-cause mortality in HIV infection. Methods: In a retrospective cohort, baseline plasma hepcidin wasmeasured by competitive enzyme immunoassaywithin 3 mo of HIV diagnosis in 196 antiretroviral-naive Gambians. Iron homeostasis [hemoglobin, plasma transferrin, ferritin, iron, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR)] and inflammation [a1-antichymotrypsin (ACT)] from the same plasma sample were available, as were absolute CD4 cell counts, age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and HIV type. Results: Anemia was common across the spectrum of immunosuppression [CD4 cell counts (prevalence of anemia): >500 cells/mL (68%), 200–500 cells/mL (73%), and <200 cells/mL (89%); P = 0.032] and in men (81%) and women (76%). Increasing hepcidin was associated with iron homeostasis biomarkers (higher ferritin and lower transferrin, hemoglobin, and sTfR), inflammation (higher ACT), and key health indicators (lower CD4 or BMI, advancing age, and male gender; P < 0.001 except for hemoglobin, P = 0.021). Elevated hepcidin was associated with greater all-cause mortality in a dosedependent manner [intermediate vs. lowest tertile: unadjusted HR (95% CI), 1.95 (1.22, 3.10); upper vs. lowest tertile: 3.02 (1.91, 4.78)]. Principal components analysis identified 2 patterns composed of hepcidin-ferritin-transferrin, with or without ACT, and iron-sTfR-hemoglobin that may distinguish inflammation and erythropoiesis iron functions. Conclusions: Elevated hepcidin is independently associated with greater mortality in men and womenwith HIV infection, and hepcidin is also part of a complex relation linking iron homeostasis, anemia, and HIV. Understanding the mechanisms and role of hepcidin modulation may further guide evidence-based interventions needed to counter detrimental iron homeostasis and anemia in HIV infection. J Nutr 2015;145:1194–201.
Productivity Growth and Biased Technological Change in Baltic Banks

In this paper, the productivity of Baltic banks over 2000-2006 is analysed with a Malmquist index and the input technological bias is investigated. Baltic banks on average became more efficient and experienced technological improvment. Our results indicate that the traditional growth accounting method, which assumes Hicks neutral technological change, is not appropriate for analyzing changes in productivity for Baltic banks.
Pneumatic tyres interacting with deformable terrains

In this study, a numerical model of a deformable tyre interacting with a deformable road has been developed with the use of the finite element code ABAQUS (v. 6.13). Two tyre models with different widths, not necessarily identical to any real industry tyres, have been created purely for research use. The behaviour of these tyres under various vertical loads and different inflation pressures is studied, initially in contact with a rigid surface and then with a deformable terrain. After ensuring that the tyre model gives realistic results in terms of the interaction with a rigid surface, the rolling process of the tyre on a deformable road was studied. The effects of friction coefficient, inflation pressure, rebar orientation and vertical load on the overall performance are reported. Regarding the modelling procedure, a sequence of models were analysed, using the coupling implicit - explicit method. The numerical results reveal that not only there is significant dependence of the final tyre response on the various initial driving parameters, but also special conditions emerge, where the desired response of the tyre results from specific optimum combination of these parameters.
Effect of Valsartan on Systemic Right Ventricular Function: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Trial

Background— The role of angiotensin II receptor blockers in patients with a systemic right ventricle has not been elucidated. Methods and Results— We conducted a multicenter, double-blind, parallel, randomized controlled trial of angiotensin II receptor blocker valsartan 160 mg twice daily compared with placebo in patients with a systemic right ventricle caused by congenitally or surgically corrected transposition of the great arteries. The primary end point was change in right ventricular ejection fraction during 3-year follow-up, determined by cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging or, in patients with contraindication for magnetic resonance imaging, multirow detector computed tomography. Secondary end points were change in right ventricular volumes and mass, peak, and quality of life. Primary analyses were performed on an intention-to-treat basis. A total of 88 patients (valsartan, n=44; placebo, n=44) were enrolled in the trial. No serious adverse effects occurred in either group. There was no significant effect of 3-year valsartan therapy on systemic right ventricular ejection fraction (treatment effect, 1.3%; 95% confidence interval, −1.3% to 3.9%; P=0.34), maximum exercise capacity, or quality of life. There was a larger increase in right ventricular end-diastolic volume (15 mL; 95% confidence interval, 3–28 mL; P<0.01) and mass (8 g; 95% confidence interval, 2–14 g; P=0.01) in the placebo group than in the valsartan group. Conclusions— There was no significant treatment effect of valsartan on right ventricular ejection fraction, exercise capacity, or quality of life. Valsartan was associated with a similar frequency of significant clinical events as placebo. Small but significant differences between valsartan and placebo were present for change in right ventricular volumes and mass. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: http://www.controlled-trials.com. Unique identifier: ISRCTN52352170.
Morpho-anatomy of the Okinawa Rail Rallus okinawae

A specimen of the young flightless Okinawa Rail Rallus okinawae, endemic to Okinawa Island, the Ryukyus, was studied anatomically for the first time. This bird was obtained accidentally, and had been preserved frozen at the Educational Committee of Higashison, Okinawa, until it was sent to Abiko Bird Museum for preservation where the carcass was offered to me for anatomical study. As expected, it showed marked degeneration of pectoralo (shallow sternal keel)-humeral (short and thin) structure and well developed femoro-tibial muscles compared with a typical rail, Rallus aquaticus, as well as other species. Some anatomical details are given based on relative data of Rallina eurizonoides, capable of flight, but an insular endemic species. The Okinawa Rail is entirely terrestrial, but roosts on inclined dead trees, climbing often to a great height. This habit has apparently been developed as a fugitive reaction from terrestrial predators, especially the poisonous snake Trimeresurus flavoviridis. The Okinawa Rail seems to be further threatened by the introduced weasel Mustela itatsi and mongoose Herpestes mungo, both of which are spreading to the rail's habitat.
TESTING ON LINEAR STRUCTURES OF HIGH DIMENSIONAL COVARIANCE MATRIX By

This paper is concerned with test of significance on high dimensional covariance structures, and aims to develop a unified framework for testing commonly-used linear covariance structures. We first construct a consistent estimator for parameters involved in the linear covariance structure, and then develop two tests for the linear covariance structures based on entropy loss and quadratic loss used for covariance matrix estimation. To study the asymptotic properties of the proposed tests, we study related high dimensional random matrix theory, and establish several highly useful asymptotic results. With the aid of these asymptotic results, we derive the limiting distributions of these two tests under the null and alternative hypotheses. We further show that the quadratic loss based test is asymptotically unbiased. We conduct Monte Carlo simulation study to examine the finite sample performance of the two tests. Our simulation results show that the limiting null distributions approximate their null distributions quite well, and the corresponding asymptotic critical values keep Type I error rate very well. Our numerical comparison implies that the proposed tests outperform existing ones in terms of controlling Type I error rate and power. Our simulation indicates that the test based on quadratic loss seems to have better power than the test based on entropy loss.
Comparison of differences in medical costs when new oral anticoagulants are used for the treatment of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and venous thromboembolism vs warfarin or placebo in the US

Abstract Objective: Medical costs that may be avoided when any of the four new oral anticoagulants (NOACs), dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban, are used instead of warfarin for the treatment of non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) were estimated and compared. Additionally, the overall differences in medical costs were estimated for NVAF and venous thromboembolism (VTE) patient populations combined. Methods: Medical cost differences associated with NOAC use vs warfarin or placebo among NVAF and VTE patients were estimated based on clinical event rates obtained from the published trial data. The clinical event rates were calculated as the percentage of patients with each of the clinical events during the trial periods. Univariate and multivariate sensitivity analyses were conducted for the medical-cost differences determined for NVAF patients. A hypothetical health plan population of 1 million members was used to estimate and compare the combined medical-cost differences of the NVAF and VTE populations and were projected in the years 2015–2018. Results: In a year, the medical-cost differences associated with NOAC use instead of warfarin were estimated at −$204, −$140, −$495, and −$340 per patient for dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban, respectively. In 2014, among the hypothetical population, the medical-cost differences were −$3.7, −$4.2, −$11.5, and −$6.6 million for NVAF and acute VTE patients treated with dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban, respectively. In 2014, for the combined NVAF, acute VTE, and extended VTE patient populations, medical-cost differences were −$10.0, −$10.9, −$21.0, and −$21.0 million for dabigatran, rivaroxaban, 2.5 mg apixaban, and 5 mg apixaban, respectively. Medical-cost differences associated with use of NOACs were projected to steadily increase from 2014 to 2018. Conclusions: Medical costs are reduced when NOACs are used instead of warfarin/placebo for the treatment of NVAF or VTE, with apixaban being associated with the greatest reduction in medical costs.
HOUSING FINANCE OF AUSTRALIAN ISLAMIC FINANCIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS (IFSPS): AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS FROM SHARÔ CAHPERSPECTIVES

The purpose of this study is to examine the extent of divergence in the practice of Islamic housing finance from the Shari'ah in the Australian context. It presents a discursive analysis of the extent to which the Australian Islamic Financial Service Providers (IFSPs) differ from the traditional Shari'ah in their current practices of Islamic finance by their use of different mortgage products. The study seeks to argue that the Shari'ah compliance of the IFSPs in housing finance should be strictly maintained, and a separate regulatory and legislative framework be established for Islamic housing finance to facilitate its growth since the underlying principles of Islamic finance differ from those of conventional finance. The approach for the study is restricted to critically examining the extent of divergence of Australian IFSPs from the strict Shari'ah compliance in their current use of different financial products and instruments for housing finance. Therefore, it does not attempt to examine any other Islamic products they use for Islamic finance. Besides, it does not evaluate the economic efficiency and profitability or otherwise, of Islamic finance in Australia. In addition to the direct policy recommendations and suggestions for further research it provides for authorities concerned, the study sheds new light on how the challenges of Shari'ah compliance for IFSPs in Australia are met since theShari'ah contracts they use and advertise appear to be traditional mortgage contracts where the borrower takes the risk and the lender gets a fixed rate of return. JEL Classification: G19, G21, Z12 Key words: Islamic housing finance, Shari'ah, Australia
PHILONOTIS (BARTRAMIACEAE, BRYOPHYTA) IN RUSSIA

The genus Philonotis in Russia includes two species with a subcontinuous holarctic distribution, P. fontana (Hedw.) Brid. and P. tomentella Molendo, one holarctic highly disjunctive species, P. marchica (Hedw.) Brid. , three mainly European and western Asian species, P. calcarea (Bruch et al.) Schimp. , P. rigida Brid. and P. seriata Mitt. , and one mainly SE Asiatic and African species, P. falcata (Hook.) Mitt. Philonotis capillaris Lindb. has a disjunct distribution from western Europe to the Caucasus area, and in western North America through the Aleutian Islands to Russian Far East. P. yezoana Besch. & Cardot is known in addition to Japan and Korea from North and South Far East regions of Russia, and P. americana Dism. ranges from the Kuril Islands and Kamchatka to Western North America. Only a few specimens from European Russia can be referred to P. caespitosa Jur. A key to the species is given, they are illustrated and their taxonomy is discussed. The total ranges of taxa based on specimens studied, previous revisions and checklists and floras are given. Some erroneous reports are corrected and correct reports are confirmed. DNA studies (nrITS1-2 and cp trnL-F) show distiction of sect. Philonotis and sect. Philonotula, however P. capillaris is resolved within the former one. ITS analysis supports the distinction of P. caespitosa and P. tomentella from P. fontana, but the latter species appears to be paraphyletic.
Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism 을 이용한 바이러스성 어류 질병 진단

181 �Corresponding Author : 해산 어류에 질병을 일으키는 병원성 인자인 바이러스는 어류 iridovirus, viral hemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV), viral nervous necrosis virus (VNNV), hirame rhabdovirus (HRV) 등이 보 고되고 있다. VHSV는 서유럽 무지개송어에 심각한 질병을 유발하여 상업적 피해를 미치는 것으로 잘 알려 져 있었으나 최근 유럽 근해, 북미뿐만 아니라 일본 등의 다양한 어류에서 그 피해 사례가 보 고되었다 (Takano et al., 2000; Hedrick et al., 2003; Skall et al., 2004). 어류 iridovirus에 속하는 Megalocytivirus가 담수 및 해수어류에 심각한 질병을 일으켜 높은 폐사를 나타내는데, 일본의 참돔에서 분리된 red sea bream iridovirus (RSIV), 농어에서 분리된 sea bass iridovirus (SBIV), grouper sleep disease iridovirus, infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV), dwarf gourami iridovirus, 한국의 돌돔에서 분리된 rock bream iridovirus (RBIV), orange-spotted grouper iridovirus 등이 이에 해당 한다 (Inouye et al., 1992; Nakajima and Sorimachi, 1995; He et al., 2001; Sudthongkong et al., 2002; Do et al., 2004; Lu et al., 2005). 이외에도 larvae와 juvenile 시기의 몇 몇 경골어류에 심각한 폐사를 일으키기도 하는 VNNV와 일본의 넙치에서 분리된 후 (Gorie et al., 1985) 은어, black seabream 에서도 분리된 (Yoshimizu et al., 1987) HRV도 전 세계적으로 광범위한 숙주 특이성을 갖는 바이러스로 알려 Polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism을 이용한 바이러스성 어류 질병 진단 김명석∙박신후∙조미영∙김진우∙박명애 국립수산과학원 병리연구과
Dietary levels of lysine for male broilers from 23 to 36 days of age: performance and body composition

One thousand and fifty (1,050) Ross male broilers from 23 to 36 days of age were used to evaluate the dietary effects of levels of lysine. It was used a random block design with 5 levels of digestible lysine (0.95; 1.00; 1.05; 1.10 and 1.15%). Each level was applied to seven replicates and the experimental unit was composed of 30 birds. Diets were offered in seven replicates and the experimental unit was represented by 30 birds. Weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion, carcass traits, cut yields, composition and deposition of body nutrients were evaluated. The concentration of 1.09% of digestible lysine optimized performance without significant effects on feed intake. Carcass traits and cut yields had no significant differences among levels of lysine. On the other hand, there was a quadratic effect on carcass weight, which was the best at the level of 1.07% of digestible lysine. On crude protein content of the empty body, the best response was observed at the level of 1.10% of dietary lysine. This same level corresponded to a quadratic response in the deposition of water from carcass and empty body. The level of digestible lysine for better performance, chemical composition and body nutrient deposition in broilers from 23 to 36 days of age is between 1.07 and 1.10%.
Phase Behavior and Hydrogen Bonding in Ternary Polymer Blends of Phenolic Resin/Poly(ethylene oxide)/Poly(ε-caprolactone)

The phase behavior and hydrogen bonding in ternary polymer blends of phenolic resin, poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), and poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) were investigated by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Although all three binary blends are respective miscible, there exists a closed immiscibility loop in the phase diagram due to the so-called “Δχ” and “ΔK” effects in this hydrogen-bonded ternary polymer system. The interassociation equilibrium constant based on the Painter−Coleman association model between phenolic resin and PEO can be indirectly calculated from the fraction of hydrogen-bonded carbonyl groups. Quantitative analyses show that the hydroxyl−ether interassociation is more favorable than the hydroxyl−carbonyl interassociation at room temperature. The interaction energy density value of BPEO/PCL= −2.85 cal/cm3 was obtained by comparing the theoretically predicted phase diagram with experimental data.
Measuring the Output and Prices of the Lottery Sector: An Application of Implicit Expected Utility Theory

Using implicit expected utility theory, a money metric of utility derived from playing a lottery game is developed. Output of the lottery sector can be defined as the difference in utility with and without the game. Using a kinked parametric functional form, outputs of the Canadian Lotto 6/49 are estimated. Results show that this direct economic approach yield an average output which is almost three times of the official GDP, which takes total factor costs as output. A by-product of the estimation is an implicit price index for lottery, which can serve as a cost-of-living index for the CPI. The estimated price elasticity of demand -0.67 closely resembles results for the U.K. and Israel in previous studies. JEL Classification: C43, D81, H50, L83, O47, P44
Adaptive Sample Reduction Techniques for Continuous Interleaved Sampling Strategy in Multi Channel Cochlear Implant

CIS (Continuous Interleaved Sampling) strategy in which electrodes stimulus is determined based on extracted information from amplitude of different bands of input signal, is a basis in processing methods in cochlear implant systems. In this paper besides implementing this strategy, methods for improving sample reduction and computational efficiency are also presented. In this case adaptive method according to processing parameters and an input signal has been suggested that due to the use of fewer samples to synthesize the signal is better than the other methods and is significantly efficient.
Predicting eutrophication status in reservoirs at large spatial scales using landscape and morphometric variables

Abstract Aquatic ecosystem management requires knowledge of the links among landscape-level anthropogenic disturbances and aquatic ecosystem properties. With large catchment area to surface area ratios (CA:SA), reservoirs often receive substantial terrestrial subsidies and can be particularly sensitive to eutrophication. Reservoir numbers and attendant management problems are increasing, and tools are needed to categorize their eutrophication status. We analyzed a dataset of 109 reservoirs in Ohio (USA) in an effort to classify eutrophication status using landscape-level features and reservoir morphometry. These predictor variables were selected because they are relatively stable and easily measured. We employed regression tree analysis and used a composite eutrophication variable as our response variable. Our regression tree analysis accurately divided 67% of Ohio reservoirs into 4 eutrophication status groups using 3 predictor variables: percentage of catchment area composed of agriculture versus forest; maximum reservoir depth; and CA:SA. We can infer that reservoirs with catchments containing >71% forest will likely be oligotrophic to mesotrophic. For reservoirs with <71% catchment forest, trophic status is determined by the relative extent of catchment row crops and either CA:SA or maximum depth. We applied our regression tree to a subset of reservoirs in the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Lakes Assessment (NLA; n = 339 reservoirs). With a few exceptions, we categorized NLA reservoirs by eutrophication status despite their broad geographical range across the contiguous USA. Our results show that a few easily measured, stable parameters can classify reservoir eutrophication status. Models like ours may be useful for broad-scale management decisions.
ON TWO APPROACHES TO COHERENT RISK CONTRIBUTION

We compare two approaches to the coherent risk contribution: the directional risk contribution is defined as where ρ is a coherent risk measure; the linear risk contribution ρl(X; Y) is defined through a set of axioms, one of which is the linearity in X. The linear risk contribution exists and is unique for any ρ from the Weighted V@R class. We provide the representation for both risk contributions in the general setting as well as in some examples, including the MINV@R risk measure defined as where X1, … , XN are independent copies of X.
The Response of Macrophytes to Nutrients and Implications for the Control of Phytoplankton Blooms in East Taihu Lake, China

When macrophytes are growing in the eutrophicated aquatic ecosystem, the vegetation induces important effects to the water quality and phytoplankton concentrations in the water which affected by macroscopic physical, chemical and biological processes and the effects are the results of direct and indirect interactions of the aquatic plants and water body. The interactions between macrophytes, nutrients and phytoplankton blooms were examined in the water and sediments of a shallow, eutrophic and typical East Taihu, China. The importance of macrophytes as a sink for nutrients, and the inhibitory effect of macrophytes on phytoplankton bloom potential were assessed through three different seasons. Luxuriant aquatic plants growth in this system led to decrease available nutrients for phytoplankton and prevented bloom development. Uptake of N and P by aquatic plants accounted for a major portion of the observed N and P loss from the water column and sediments. Luxury uptake of N and P were indicated by high biomass and tissues N and P concentrations, indicating the capacity of macrophytes to act as a nutrient sink in midsummer. Dissolved inorganic N (DIN) and soluble reactive phosphorous (SRP) in water were reduced in midsummer in the presence of macrophytes. The use of macrophytes to reduce the nutrients in water system and thereby inhibit freshwater phytoplankton blooms should be considered as an effective management strategy in shallow eutrophicated lakes. As aquatic macrophytes also develops considerable indirect effects that could have a vital impact than the direct uptake the nutrients into the plant biomass.