Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cryptocurrencies as an Alternative Asset Class

Bitcoin was the ﬁrst digital currency to rely on a decentralized peer-to-peer network instead of a trusted third party. This was achieved through Bitcoin’s revolutionary underlying technology based on cryptographic proof: the blockchain. After Bit-coin’s emergence, many other so called cryptocurrencies entered the market and we have seen enormous price increases that promised large returns for early users. The return characteristics of cryptocurrencies have been studied by various scholars and some have even declared cryptocurrencies to be an asset class instead of a digital currency. Due to the fast changes in the cryptocurrency market and the increased importance of other cryptocurrencies than Bitcoin, we believe that research focusing on the ﬁnancial performance of cryptocurrencies should be renewed on a regular basis. Therefore, with this work we aim to shed light on the return characteristics of cryptocurrencies in relation to traditional asset classes and on the potential of cryptocurrencies to improve portfolio diversiﬁcation. In addition, we investigate the cryptocurrency market, describe selected cryptocurrencies in more detail and provide an overview of potential technological risks arising with the use of cryptocurren-cies. Our results indicate that cryptocurrencies provide large return potentials with high levels of volatility but compared to traditional asset classes provide a higher level of return per level of risk. We also ﬁnd that selected cryptocurrencies can improve diversiﬁcation in a cryptocurrency portfolio, as well as in a portfolio of international equity and private equity investments.
Stability analysis of human stance control from the system theoretic point of view

This paper analyzes basic aspects of the human stance control. It proceeds from a linear model of the human body as an inverted pendulum. The model is used to show how humans achieve control stability despite considerable neural time delays of the sensory feedback loops that pass through higher brain centers and allow for context dependent and modifiable responses. Control stability is attributed to the fact that these long-latency (LL) loops are combined with short-latency (SL) loops of `primitive' (stereotype) reflexes via spinal cord and brainstem and with passive loops with virtually no time delay given by the intrinsic musculoskeletal stiffness and damping. The tool used for our stability analysis is an extended Nyquist Criterion. Weighting the combination of the three sets of feedback loops is identified as a key to the adaptability properties of the human stance control and its energy efficiency.
Differential expression of hydrogenase isoenzymes in Escherichia coli K-12: evidence for a third isoenzyme

The cellular contents of the nickel-containing, membrane-bound hydrogenase isoenzymes 1 and 2 (hydrogenases 1 and 2) were analyzed by crossed immunoelectrophoresis. Their expression was differentially influenced by nutritional and genetic factors. Hydrogenase 2 content was enhanced after growth with either hydrogen and fumarate or glycerol and fumarate and correlated reasonably with cellular hydrogen uptake capacity. Hydrogenase 1 content was negligible under the above conditions but was enhanced by exogenous formate. Its expression was greatly reduced in a pfl mutant, which is unable to synthesise formate, but was restored to normal levels when the growth medium included formate. A mutation in the anaerobic regulatory gene, fnr, led to low overall hydrogenase activity and greatly reduced levels of both isoenzymes and abolished the formate enhancement of hydrogenase 1 content. Formate hydrogenlyase activity was similarly reduced in the fnr strain but, in contrast, was restored, as was overall hydrogenase activity, to normal levels by growth in the presence of formate. Low H2 uptake activity was found for the fnr strain under all growth conditions examined. Hydrogenase 1 content, therefore, does not correlate with formate hydrogenlyase activity and its role is unclear. A third hydrogenase isoenzyme, immunologically distinct from hydrogenases 1 and 2, whose expression is enhanced by formate, is present and forms part of the formate hydrogenlyase. We suggest that the effect of the fnr gene product on formate hydrogenlyase expression is mediated via internal formate.
Entire plastid phylogeny of the carrot genus (Daucus, Apiaceae): Concordance with nuclear data and mitochondrial and nuclear DNA insertions to the plastid.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY We explored the phylogenetic utility of entire plastid DNA sequences in Daucus and compared the results with prior phylogenetic results using plastid and nuclear DNA sequences. METHODS We used Illumina sequencing to obtain full plastid sequences of 37 accessions of 20 Daucus taxa and outgroups, analyzed the data with phylogenetic methods, and examined evidence for mitochondrial DNA transfer to the plastid (DcMP). KEY RESULTS Our phylogenetic trees of the entire data set were highly resolved, with 100% bootstrap support for most of the external and many of the internal clades, except for the clade of D. carota and its most closely related species D. syrticus. Subsets of the data, including regions traditionally used as phylogenetically informative regions, provide various degrees of soft congruence with the entire data set. There are areas of hard incongruence, however, with phylogenies using nuclear data. We extended knowledge of a mitochondrial to plastid DNA insertion sequence previously named DcMP and identified the first instance in flowering plants of a sequence of potential nuclear genome origin inserted into the plastid genome. There is a relationship of inverted repeat junction classes and repeat DNA to phylogeny, but no such relationship with nonsynonymous mutations. CONCLUSIONS Our data have allowed us to (1) produce a well-resolved plastid phylogeny of Daucus, (2) evaluate subsets of the entire plastid data for phylogeny, (3) examine evidence for plastid and nuclear DNA phylogenetic incongruence, and (4) examine mitochondrial and nuclear DNA insertion into the plastid.
SLO-Microperimetry in Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration During Anti-VEGF Therapy.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE To evaluate the morphological and functional outcome of wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) during antivascular endothelial growth factor therapy with bevacizumab using SLO microperimetry (SLO-MP) with eye tracking. PATIENTS AND METHODS First, reproducibility was tested over the choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in 21 eyes of 19 patients with wet AMD. Second, 21 eyes of 19 patients with active CNV were studied longitudinally during bevacizumab therapy. Best-corrected visual acuity, SLO-MP, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography were performed. RESULTS There was good reproducibility with a concordance correlation coefficient of 0.85. In the longitudinal study, eyes with anatomical response demonstrated a significant increase of retinal sensitivity. Non-responders showed no change in SLO-MP. Retinal sensitivity at baseline had a significant predictive value for the change in retinal sensitivity during therapy with bevacizumab (P=.032). CONCLUSION SLO-MP is able to analyze retinal function overlying lesions in wet AMD and can be a useful tool to monitor therapy in patients with macular diseases.
Dynamics of Individual Income Rank Volatility: Evidence from West Germany and the US

Abstract This paper presents a methodology for comparing income rank volatility profiles over time and across distributions. While most of the existing measures are affected by changes in marginal distributions, this paper proposes a framework based on individuals’ relative positions in the distribution that is neutral to structural changes that occur in that distribution. Applying this approach to West Germany and the US over three decades, we show that while poorer individuals in both countries are the most volatile in all periods investigated, the long-term trends of volatility at the different points of the distribution in each of these countries differ.
The B lymphocyte stimulator receptor–ligand system in hepatitis C virus-induced B cell clonal disorders

Objective: The study aim was to examine the B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) receptor–ligand system in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced B lymphocyte clonal disorders. Methods: 94 patients with chronic HCV (including 35 with HCV+ mixed cryoglobulinaemia (MC)-vasculitis and nine with HCV+ B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (B-NHL)) and 15 healthy volunteers were included. Results: A twofold serum BLyS increase was associated with HCV-induced MC-vasculitis, and a threefold increase with HCV-induced B-NHL, compared with patients that were HCV+, but without vasculitis, or healthy controls (p<0.05). Lower membrane BLyS expression in HCV-induced MC-vasculitis was observed. CD19+ BLyS binding and BLyS receptor 3 (BR3) staining showed a stepwise decrease with highest values in healthy controls and who were HCV+ without MC, and lowest in B-NHL (p<0.05, p<0.0001, respectively) with a further decrease in VH1-69+ clonal B cells. BLyS anti-apoptotic effects were maintained despite this decrease in BR3 staining. Complete clinical remission after antiviral treatment was associated with a decrease in serum BLyS, and an increase in BR3 staining. Rituximab treatment was associated with a fivefold increase in serum BLyS (p<0.001), mirroring the depletion of CD19+ cells. BR3 staining in repopulating B cells was significantly decreased (p<0.005). Conclusions: The BLyS ligand–receptor activity is increased in HCV-induced B cell clonal disorders, indicating a possible role for treatment targeting the BLyS receptor–ligand system.
Effect of water, sanitation and hygiene interventions on active trachoma in North and South Wollo zones of Amhara Region, Ethiopia: A Quasi-experimental study

Background Trachoma is chronic kerato conjunctivitis, which is caused by repeated infection with Chlamydia trachomatis bacterium. It is hyper endemic in many rural areas of Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to measure the effect of water, sanitation and hygiene interventions on active trachoma in selected woredas of North and South Wollo zones of Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Methodology A community based quasi-experimental study was conducted from October 2014 to December 2015 among children aged 1–8 years at baseline and among one year older same children after intervention. A four-stage random cluster-sampling technique was employed to select study participants. From each selected household, one child was clinically assessed for active trachoma. Structured questionnaire was used to collect socio demographic and behavioral data. MacNemar test was applied to compare the prevalence of active trachoma between baseline and after the intervention period at both intervention and non-intervention study areas. Results The prevalence of active trachoma was reduced from baseline prevalence of 26% to 18% after one-year intervention period in the intervention woredas (P≤0.001). MacNemar test result showed significant reduction of active trachoma prevalence after the intervention period in the intervention woredas compared to the non-intervention woredas (P≤0.001). Water, sanitation and hygiene related activities were significantly improved after the intervention period in the intervention woredas (P<0.05). Conclusions There was a significant reduction of active trachoma prevalence between the baseline and after the intervention period in the intervention woredas, but not in the non-intervention ones. Improved water, sanitation and hygiene interventions contributed to the reduction of active trachoma. However, the magnitude of active trachoma prevalence observed after the intervention is still very high in the studied areas of North and South Wollo Zones communities. To achieve the global trachoma elimination target by the year 2020 as set by the WHO, continued WaSH interventions and periodic monitoring, evaluation and reporting of the impact of WaSH on active trachoma is warranted.
Pyrethroid insecticides in municipal wastewater

Pyrethroids are widely used insecticides, but minimal information has been published on their presence in municipal wastewater in the United States. Pyrethroids in wastewater from the Sacramento, California, USA, area consisted of permethrin, bifenthrin, cypermethrin, and cyhalothrin, with a combined concentration of 200 ng/L to 500 ng/L. Sampling within the wastewater collection system leading to the treatment plant suggested pyrethroids did not originate primarily from urban runoff, but could be from any of several drain disposal practices. Wastewater from residential areas was similar in pyrethroid composition and concentration to that from the larger metropolitan area as a whole. Secondary treatment removed approximately 90% of pyrethroids, but those remaining exceeded concentrations acutely toxic to sensitive species. Toxicity to the amphipod, Hyalella azteca, was consistently evident in the final effluent. The large river into which this particular plant discharged provided sufficient dilution such that pyrethroids were undetected in the river, and there was only slight toxicity of unknown cause in 1 river sample, but effects in receiving waters elsewhere will be site‐specific. Environ Toxicol Chem 2013;32:2460–2468. © 2013 SETAC
In vivo Raman spectroscopy–assisted early identification of potential second primary/recurrences in oral cancers: An exploratory study

Higher rates of local recurrences and second primaries, ascribable to field cancerization, are known problem in oral cancers. The present study explored utility of identification of potential recurrences by Raman spectroscopy, which has been shown to identify oral precancers, cancers, and field cancerization in humans and micro‐sized mechanical irritation‐induced tumors in animals.
An Exploratory Study on the Knowledge Gap in Public Affairs among Kenyans

Abstract The current exploratory survey examines the knowledge gap hypothesis in the context of Kenya (n=1,000). Using education as an indicator of socioeconomic status (SES), the study explores the overall knowledge on public affairs among people in Nairobi, Kenya's capital. Also, in line with the knowledge gap hypothesis, the study investigates whether Kenyans of high SES are more knowledgeable about public affair than those of low SES. Relatedly, the research examines the variance on public affairs knowledge when compared by gender and local public affairs vs. international topics. The findings confirm the knowledge gap theory hypothesis. When analysed by demographics, male Kenyans are more knowledgeable about public affairs (72%) than their female colleagues (64%). In terms of marital status, married Kenyans appear more knowledgeable, while Protestants and Roman Catholic members recorded higher scores in public affairs than other religious groupings. By topics, Kenyans are more highly conversant with local public affairs (75%) compared to international topics (56%).
Cross-cultural interview studies using interpreters: systematic literature review.

AIM This paper reviews how the interpreter's role is described in empirically based, qualitative cross-cultural interview studies and how trustworthiness is determined. BACKGROUND Increased immigration during the past decades has created a multiethnic society in many countries. This development poses a challenge to healthcare staff, in that they need to understand how people from different cultures experience health and illness. One way to assess immigrants' experiences is through cross-cultural interview studies, involving an interpreter. Thorough knowledge of the interpreter's role is needed in order to increase the trustworthiness of this kind of nursing research. METHOD Literature searches were conducted from October to November 2004 using PubMed, CINAHL, Psycinfo, Sociological abstract, Your Journals@ovid, and Eric databases. Qualitative interview studies written in English and performed with an interpreter were included. The Matrix Method was used to review the literature. FINDINGS In almost all of the 13 relevant papers found, the role of the interpreter(s) in the research process was only sparsely described. In addition, all studies except one employed different techniques to established trustworthiness. The most common techniques were prolonged engagement, member check or triangulation, the latter performed either on the data, investigators or methods. CONCLUSION Methodological issues with respect to interpreters have received only limited attention in cross-cultural interview studies. Researchers in the field of nursing need to consider (1) the interpreter's role/involvement in the research process; (2) the interpreter's competence and the style of interpreting; (3) the interpreter's impact on the findings. This information is a prerequisite when trying to determine the trustworthiness of a cross-cultural study.
Towards fundraising excellence in museums : linking governance with performance

This paper presents an empirical analysis of the relationship between fund-raising governance characteristics and fund-raising performance in a sample of 98 Swiss museums. We propose a governance model that reflects the developmental level of an organization's fund-raising in regard to success. Inspired by research on business excellence, the proposed model extends the primarily qualitative and theory-based concepts of dynamic organization life-cycle models, which are found in nonprofit research, by taking a quantitative approach. We explore five fund-raising governance factors: boards' fund-raising activity, board as symbolic decision maker, board as donor, fund-raising strategic planning and controlling, and fund-raising techniques. Museums are classified into fund-raising governance levels: ‘zero’, ‘awareness’, ‘composition’ and ‘integration’. The model is shown to be linked with fund-raising income. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The development of the neurons of the glossopharyngeal (IX) and vagal (X) sensory ganglia in chick embryos.

The timetable of cell generation, neuronal death and neuron numbers in the fused proximal glossopharyngeal (IX) and vagal (X) ganglion and distal IX and X ganglia were studied in normal and nerve growth factor (NGF) treated chick embryos. 3H-thymidine was injected between the 3rd and 7th days of incubation and embryos sacrificed on the 11th day. Neurons in the distal IX and X ganglia were generated between the 2nd and 5th days of incubation, the peak mitotic activity occurring on the 4th and 3rd days, respectively. Neurons of the proximal IX and X ganglion were generated between the 4th and 7th days, with maximum neuron generation on the 5th day of incubation. Counts of neurons in the 3 ganglia between the 5th and 18th days of incubation showed a maximum of 22,000 on the 8th day in the proximal IX and X ganglion and this decreased to 12,000 by the 13th day. In the distal IX ganglion, the neuron number decreased by 44% from 4,500 on the 6th day to 2,500 by the 11th day. A similar decrease of 43% was found in the distal X ganglion, the neuron number falling from 11,500 on the 7th day to 6,500 by the 11th day of incubation. Neuronal cell death in these ganglia extended from the 5th to the 12th day of incubation, maximum cell death occurring at or after the cessation of mitotic activity. NGF administration from the 5th to the 11th day of incubation did not have a measurable effect on the neurons of proximal IX and X and distal IX ganglia, but increased neuronal survival by 30% in the distal X ganglion. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Helping Us or Helping Them? What Makes Aid Appeal to Australians?

This paper reports on a survey experiment designed to test whether support for aid is more readily increased by emphasising aid’s benefits to the donor country, or by emphasising aid’s role in helping people in developing countries. The survey experiment was pre-registered and involved a large, nationally-representative sample of over 4000 Australians. Information based on a real Australian government aid project was presented in the form of a newspaper article. Participants were randomly assigned to one of five groups: a control group, which was given no information on the project; a basic treatment group, which was given basic information on the project; an ‘enlightened national interest’ group, which was told about benefits the project would bring Australia; a ‘global leader group’, which was told how the project would make Australia a global leader; and an ‘altruism’ group, which was given information on how the project would help people in need in developing countries. All of the treatment groups including the basic treatment group outperformed the control group in eliciting increased approval of aid, and in reducing the share of people who thought Australia gave too much aid. Both the altruism and enlightened national interest treatments out-performed the control in increasing the share of people who thought Australia did not give enough aid. However, only the enlightened national interest treatment outperformed the basic treatment group in this area. Results were complicated by the altruism treatment’s limited success in convincing people that the aid project was actually being run for altruistic ends. When we limited our analysis only to those people who appeared to accept the narrative used in the treatment, altruism actually proved to be the most effective treatment.
Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplantation From Donation After Cardiac Death: Successful Long-term Outcomes

Objective:The outcomes of simultaneous pancreas-kidney (SPK) transplantation with donor organs procured from donation after cardiac death (DCD) are compared with transplants performed with donor organs recovered from donation after brain death (DBD). Summary Background Data:Concerns exist regarding the utilization of pancreata obtained from DCD donors. While it is known that DCD kidneys will have a higher rate of DGF, long-term functional graft survival data for DCD pancreata have not been reported. Methods:A retrospective review of all DCD SPK transplants performed at a single center was undertaken. Results:Patient, pancreas, and kidney survival at 5 years were similar between DCD and DBD organs. Pancreas function and outcomes were indistinguishable between the 2 modes of procurement. As expected, the DCD kidneys had an elevated rate of DGF, which had no significant long-term clinical impact. Conclusion:SPK transplantation using selected DCD donors is a safe and viable method to expand the organ pool for transplantation.