Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Profile of mycosis fungoides in 43 Saudi patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Mycosis fungoides (MF) is a rare disease; and to our knowledge, there are no reports on its profile in Arabs. The objective of this study was to preliminarily analyze the clinical characteristics of MF patients seen in our institution. DESIGN AND SETTING Retrospective review of 140 patients with pathologic or clinical diagnosis or differential diagnosis of MF for the period 2000–2006. PATIENTS AND METHODS Pathology reports with diagnosis or differential diagnosis of MF were retrieved and suspected cases were identified and reviewed. For pathologically confirmed cases, sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological details were collected. Details of staging, treatment modalities, and disease status at the last follow-up were retrieved. RESULTS A total of 43 pathologically confirmed MF patients (skin phototypes IV and V) with a mean age at diagnosis of 33.5 years were reviewed. This comprised 29 males (M:F ratio, 2:1), and the majority (86%) of patients had early-stage (I and II) MF. Twenty-one (48.8%) patients had classic MF; 18 (41.8%), hypopigmented MF; and 4 (9.3%), other variants. The male-to-female ratio was higher in the hypopigmented (3.5:1) than in the classic variant (1.6:1). The mean age at diagnosis was lower in the hypopigmented compared to the classic variant (25 versus 38.8 years, P=.019). The mean duration of follow-up was 27.6 months (range, 1–98 months). At the final assessment, 4 (9.5%) patients recovered; whereas 35 (83.3%) had MF skin disease; 1 had (2.4%) extracutaneous disease; and 2 (4.8%) died of MF. CONCLUSIONS MF tends to affect younger Saudi patients. The hypopigmented variant constitutes a significant proportion of MF cases, especially in younger patients.
The Effects of Currency Futures Trading on Turkish Currency Market

In this article, the impact of the introduction of currency futures trading on the volatility of the underlying currency market for Turkey is studied. Analyzing the data, following results are obtained. First, the results suggest that the introduction of futures trading has decreased the volatility of Turkish currency market. Second, the results show that futures trading increases the speed at which information is impounded into spot market prices. Third, the asymmetric responses of volatility to the arrival of news have increased after the introduction of futures trading.
An assessment of the laboratory tests used to monitor the exposure of lead workers

Hæger-Aronsen, Birgitta (1971). Brit. J. industr. Med., 28, 52-58. An assessment of the laboratory tests used to monitor the exposure of lead workers. In order to ascertain which laboratory tests are valuable for the monitoring of lead workers, 168 men exposed to lead at eight factories were examined for lead (Pb), protoporphyrin (PP), haemoglobin (Hb), and basophilic stippling of red cells (BSC) in the blood and for δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and coproporphyrin (CP) in the urine. The counting of BSC and the determination of PP in the blood are both complicated and time-consuming procedures. As they do not offer any particular advantages in the detection or evaluation of lead poisoning they are considered as less suitable. The concentration of Pb in the blood reflects the absorption of the lead but not its effect. This is certainly a disadvantage. A highly significant, negative correlation was found between Hb in the blood and ALA in the urine. The concentrations of ALA and CP in the urine are both good indicators of the degree of lead poisoning. The former is more specific and more sensitive and is therefore considered the most suitable test for the biochemical monitoring of lead workers. A simple, safe, and quick method is recommended. Determinations of Hb and Pb in the blood may be useful as supplementary methods in the evaluation of lead poisoning but are, in our experience, only seldom needed.
RNA on the brain: emerging layers of post‐transcriptional regulation in cerebral cortex development

Embryonic development is a critical period during which neurons of the brain are generated and organized. In the developing cerebral cortex, this requires complex processes of neural progenitor proliferation, neuronal differentiation, and migration. Each step relies upon highly regulated control of gene expression. In particular, RNA splicing, stability, localization, and translation have emerged as key post‐transcriptional regulatory nodes of mouse corticogenesis. Trans‐regulators of RNA metabolism, including microRNAs (miRs) and RNA‐binding proteins (RBPs), orchestrate diverse steps of cortical development. These trans‐factors function either individually or cooperatively to influence RNAs, often of similar classes, termed RNA regulons. New technological advances raise the potential for an increasingly sophisticated understanding of post‐transcriptional control in the developing neocortex. Many RNA‐binding factors are also implicated in neurodevelopmental diseases of the cortex. Therefore, elucidating how RBPs and miRs converge to influence mRNA expression in progenitors and neurons will give valuable insights into mechanisms of cortical development and disease. WIREs Dev Biol 2018, 7:e290. doi: 10.1002/wdev.290
Exploring the role of the online customer experience in firms' multi-channel strategy: an empirical analysis of the retail banking services sector

The concept of online customer service experience (OCSE) has recently received great interest from academia and businesses alike. Despite the belief that providing superb online experiences will influence customers' behaviour, most of the research focuses solely on the customer perspective rather than the firm's strategic viewpoint. This study investigates current strategies of retail banking service, developing a much-needed typology of such practices. Based on in-depth interviews with senior executives, using the Emerging Consensus Technique (ECT) method, we explore firms offering more and more sophisticated online tools to compete for contemporary, digitalized customers. We propose a typology of online channel strategies and management based on five dimensions: (1) key objectives; (2) business processes; (3) benefits; (4) integration; and (5) outlook. Three emerging categories differentiate strategies and practice into introducers, converters and integrators. We highlight current and future roles of online channels, social media and their strategic implications for the financial services sector.
Customer Loyalty and Approach of Service Providers: An Empirical Study of Mobile Airtime Service Industry in India

Services are always unique from a marketing perspective due to their intangible nature. Especially in the case of a service like mobile airtime service where there is no service encounter, attributes required for brand loyalty become more complex. This article tests the relationship of customer loyalty and the approach of service providers in India. It looks into the airtime service market in India and delves into customer psyche.
The role of 5 0-adenylylsulfate reductase in the sulfur assimilation pathway of soybean: Molecular cloning, kinetic characterization, and gene expression

Soybean seeds are a major source of protein, but contain low levels of sulfur-containing amino acids. With the objective of studying the sulfur assimilation pathway of soybean, a full-length cDNA clone for 5 0-adenylylsulfate reductase (APS reductase) was isolated and characterized. The cDNA clone contained an open reading frame of 1414 bp encoding a 52 kDa protein with a N-terminal chloroplast/ plastid transit peptide. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA indicated that the APS reductase in soybean is encoded by a small multigene family. Biochemical characterization of the heterologously expressed and purified protein shows that the clone encoded a functional APS reductase. Although expressed in tissues throughout the plant, these analyses established an abundant expression of the gene and activity of the encoded protein in the early developmental stages of soybean seed, which declined with seed maturity. Sulfur and phosphorus deprivation increased this expression level, while nitrogen starvation repressed APS reductase mRNA transcript and protein levels. Cold-treatment increased expression and the total activity of APS reductase in root tissues. This study provides insight into the sulfur assimilation pathway of this nutritionally important legume. 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Shear Properties of the Temporomandibular Joint Disc in Relation to Compressive and Shear Strain

Shear stress can result in fatigue, damage, and irreversible deformation of the temporomandibular joint disc. Insight into the dynamic shear properties of the disc may give insight into the mechanism inducing tissue failure due to shear. We tested the hypothesis that the dynamic shear properties of the disc depend on the amount of shear and compressive strain. Twenty-four porcine discs were used for dynamic shear tests. The specimens were clamped between the plates of a loading apparatus under compressive strains of 5%, 10%, and 15%. Dynamic shear was applied to the specimen by a sinusoidal strain of, respectively, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5%. Both the dynamic elasticity and viscosity were proportional to compressive strain and inversely proportional to shear strain. These shear characteristics suggest a significant role of compressive and shear strain on the internal friction of the disc.
Facilitating Adequate Revenue Generation for Enhanced Service Delivery: The Case of Nigeria

The capacity of any level of government within a federal structure to initiate and strengthen public service delivery in any given economy is often hinged on the generation of adequate revenue. The paper noted that international development institutions provide more facilities for Nigerians than their government. It was also observed that poor tax administration, poor legal basis, tax evasion and tax avoidance amongst others acted as constraints to revenue generation, and that these problems further foster other factors which hinder efficient service delivery. Factors identified as constraints to efficient service delivery include; mismatch of revenue generation sources and assigned expenditure at the sub-national levels of government, lopsided revenue allocation formula, defective institutional guidelines, corruption and political patronage and inadequate tracking of the process of public expenditure. In order to facilitate adequate revenue generation for efficient service delivery the paper called for a holistic budgeting and reforms of financial management, and in addition, relevant staff training and orientation towards best practices in revenue generation and expenditure processing should be engineered and adopted in the country.
Fast Growth of Infants of Overweight Mothers: Can It Be Slowed Down

Data from 3 recently completed studies were pooled and analyzed to answer the question whether breastfed infants of overweight/obese mothers show accelerated growth. It was shown that these infants gain weight faster than indicated by the WHO standards and that they grow significantly faster than infants of lean mothers. The question whether fast infant growth can be slowed down by lowering the protein content of formulas was examined. It was shown that formulas with a protein content that is just moderately above that of human milk support normal growth while significantly slowing down fast growth.
Investigation of Tetherable Distilbazolium Compounds as Fluorescent Probes in Nanostructured Silica Sol‐gel Materials ¶

Distibazolium dyes are investigated by steady‐state and time‐resolved fluorescence techniques in a series of low‐ and highviscosity polar solvents and in a silica sol‐gel matrix. In all solvents and the sol‐gel matrix, an interplay of photoinduced switching between different cis‐trans isomers and solvation dynamics is observed. Even in a viscous solution (glycerol) and in silica gel, cis‐trans isomerization is solvent‐controlled. Whereas in glycerol the solvation results in a time‐dependent fluorescence Stokes shift, the solvation‐induced spectral heterogeneity in silica gel is mostly static, possibly due to a close proximity of dye molecules to the silica surfaces of the nanopores. Compared to low‐viscosity solvents, where the cis‐trans isomerization process takes place with a solvent‐dependent rate on the timescale of about 120–150 ps, it slows down to about 1100–1400 ps in glycerol and about 1500 ps in a sol‐gel matrix. Additionally, fluorescence kinetics of the dyes in the sol‐gel reveals the presence of a range of different “frozen‐in” conformers exhibiting a broad spectrum of lifetimes from 20 to 300 ps.
Low rate of conversion to transfemoral approach when attempting both radial arteries for coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention: a study of 1,826 consecutive procedures.

AIMS Despite a proven safety profile, the transradial approach (TRA) for coronary procedures is regarded by many as complicated and the second-choice arterial access, with a high conversion rate to transfemoral access (TFA). This study reports causes of failure and the contemporary success rate of TRA when both radial arteries are attempted first before converting to TFA. METHODS This prospective, single-center study included 1,826 consecutive patients referred for cardiac catheterization, which was performed by two trained operators between January 2005 and June 2007. Procedural data were reported in a specific database. RESULTS The procedural success rate through TRA (attempting one or both radial arteries) was 98.8%. One hundred and thirty-five radial attempts failed. Inability to puncture or to wire the artery accounted for 52.6% of failures, inability to reach coronary or graft ostia accounted for 20.7% and the remaining failures were related to the inability to reach a contralateral mammary graft. By multivariate analysis, the best predictors for failures were peripheral artery disease (PAD) (odds ratio [OR] 1.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-2.8; p = 0.016), bedside clinical assessment of either a "small radial artery" size (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.4 to 5.0; p = 0.003) or a "difficult access" (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.3-4.9; p = 0.006). The number of failed attempts regresses annually by about 40% (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4-0.8; p < 0.001), thus demonstrating a continuous learning curve. Although rare, hematoma combined with swelling (3.8%) arises more frequently in females (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4-3.9; p = 0.001) and elderly patients (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.0- 3.7; p = 0.040). CONCLUSION The TRA can be safely proposed for all patients, with a low conversion rate to TFA when an attempt on both radial arteries is considered first.
Organization Architecture and Dynamic Capabilities: Network Microfoundations of Competitive Advantages in Dynamic Markets

This paper contributes to dynamic capabilities research by investigating how features of organization architecture provide a basis for superior firm performance and sustainable competitive advantage in dynamic markets. Using a simple model of organization architecture composed of networked employees with distinctive knowledge and dynamic markets composed of a flow of heterogeneous opportunities, I explore how knowledge mobilization mechanisms leveraging network ties – transfer, collaboration, and recombination – underlie dynamic capabilities. Prior theory predicts that the performance of these substitute network mechanisms increases with market dynamism, but produces unsustainable advantages under imitative conditions. By contrast, I find different performance effects of unpredictability and complexity, and a complementary impact of using transfer and recombination mechanisms together that can generate sustainable advantages, suggesting design conditions for dynamic capabilities.
Importance of Disclosure Requirements Issued by Securities Exchange Commission, and their Adequacy for Serving Users of Financial Statements

The study aimed at investigating the importance of disclosure requirements related to the periodic financial statements of the Jordanian public share-holding companies, issued by the Securities Exchange Commission for the year 1998, and their adequacy for serving the users of the financial statements. The study concentrated on the views of the external auditors, the responsibles for preparing the financial statements and the investors. To achieve the objectives of the study, a questionnaire was designed and administered to samples of the three groups. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Kruskal- test and Mann-Whitney test. The findings of the study showed that- from the point of view of all groups- all disclosure requirements are of medium to high importance. It appears from the study that there is a consensus among the three groups concerning the importance and adequacy of most of the disclosure requirements, and there are some differences related to some of the requirements. The findings of the study also showed that the disclosure requirements help improve the process of decision making because the size and quality of disclosure were enhanced as a result of the new regulations. The study concluded by recommending the Securities Exchange Commission to take the views of the financial statements users into consideration when introducing new regulations or disclosure requirements.
Analysis of lightning-radiated electromagnetic fields in the vicinity of lossy ground

An antenna theory (AT) approach in the frequency domain is presented to compute electromagnetic fields radiated by a lightning return stroke. The lightning channel is modeled as a lossy-wire monopole antenna (a wire antenna with distributed resistance) energized by a current source at its base, and the ground is modeled as a lossy half-space. The method of moments is used for solving the governing electric field integral equation (EFIE) in the frequency domain. The resultant current distribution along the channel is used to calculate electromagnetic fields at different distances from the channel. All field components are evaluated using a rapid but accurate procedure based on a new approximation of Sommerfeld integrals. In contrast with the previous models, the approach proposed here is characterized by a self-consistent treatment of different field components in air or on the surface of a lossy half-space. It is shown that the omission of surface wave terms in the general field equations, as done in the perfect-ground approximation, can strongly affect model-predicted field components.
Long-Term Changes in Carotid Intima-Media Thickness among HIV-Infected Children and Young Adults

Background HIV-infected patients are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study assessed long-term changes in carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) as a surrogate marker for CVD risk in HIV-infected children and young adults. Methods This was a longitudinal, observational study comparing carotid IMT in HIV-infected subjects who were 2–21 years old to matched controls over 144 weeks. Results A total of 34 HIV-infected subjects and 29 controls were included in the analyses. Among the HIV-infected group, median age was 10 years, 74% were black, and 65% were female. Overall, 91% were perinatally-infected with 82% on antiretroviral therapy and a median CD4+ T-cell count of 681 cells/mm3. At baseline, HIV-infected subjects had increased internal carotid artery (ICA) and common carotid artery (CCA) IMT (ICA, HIV-infected 0.90 mm versus controls 0.73 mm; P<0.01; CCA, HIV-infected 1.00 mm versus controls 0.90 mm; P=0.02). Relatively large changes in ICA and CCA IMT were seen from year to year in both groups. However, by week 144, there were no net changes in ICA or CCA IMT within the HIV-infected group. In the controls, CCA increased 0.1 mm and ICA increased 0.17 mm from baseline to week 144. ICA and CCA IMT were similar between groups by 144 weeks. Conclusions Despite variations from year to year in carotid IMT in HIV-infected children and healthy controls, likely due to arterial growth and/or luminal diameter change, little or no net change occurred in carotid IMT over the entire 144-week study period. This suggests that only small net changes occur over time in HIV-infected children despite an increased long-term risk of CVD.
Corporate Investment in Emerging Markets: Financing vs. Real Options Channel

We examine how firm and country heterogeneity shape the response of corporate investment in emerging markets to changes in global interest rates and volatility. We test for the presence of (i) a financing channel originating from changes in the costs of external borrowing and (ii) a real options channel-reflecting firms' option values to delay investment. We find evidence of the coexistence of both channels. Financially weaker firms reduce investment by more in response to higher interest rates or volatility, while firms with stronger balance sheets become less willing to invest after volatility spikes. Furthermore, the intensity of the financing channel diminishes for firms in countries with lower public debt, higher foreign reserves, or deeper financial markets.
EVOLUTION AT THE MOUSE t COMPLEX: WHY IS THE t HAPLOTYPE PRESERVED AS AN INTEGRAL UNIT?

Abstract Segregation distorters are selfish genetic elements that bias Mendelian segregation in their favor. All well-known segregation distortion systems consist of one or more “distorter” loci that act upon a “responder” locus. At the t complex of the house mouse, segregation distortion is brought about by the harmful effect of t alleles at a number of distorter loci on the wild-type variant of the responder locus. The responder and distorter alleles are closely linked by a number of inversions, thus forming a coherent t haplotype. It has been conjectured that the close integration of the various components into a “complete” t haplotype has been crucial for the evolutionary success of these selfish genetic elements. By means of a population genetical metapopulation model, we show that this intuition may be unfounded. In fact, under most circumstances an “insensitive” t haplotype retaining only the responder did invade and reach a high frequency, despite the fact that this haplotype has a strong segregation disadvantage. For certain population structures, the complete t haplotype was even competitively excluded by partial t haplotypes with lower segregation ratios. Moreover, t haplotypes carrying one or more recessive lethals only prevailed over their nonlethal counterparts if the product of local population size and migration rate (Nm) was not much smaller or larger than one. These phenomena occurred for rather realistic fitness, segregation, and recombination values. It is therefore quite puzzling that partial t haplotypes are absent from natural house mousepopulations, and that t haplotypes carrying recessive lethals prevail over nonlethal t haplotypes. Corresponding Editor: S. Edwards