Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Midiendo la centralidad de los países y la integración comercial desde una perspectiva de red // Measuring Countries Centrality and the Trade Integration Using a Network Approach

Al revisar los estudios del comercio internacional desde un enfoque de redes, encontramos una falta de contenido economico en los indicadores utilizados. Ante tal carencia, el presente articulo propone una alternativa metodologica para describir al comercio como red, pero enfatizando el sentido economico. Dicha metodologia propone: estimar la centralidad de los paises en el comercio brindando resultados economicamente interpretables; construir redes y mapas de estructura de comercio como alternativa visual a las redes de comercio convencionales; y estimar indicadores para evaluar la fortaleza de la integracion comercial de grupos de paises. Al aplicar tal metodologia a informacion de 145 paises entre 1992 y 2015, se logra: identificar los posibles paises mas influyentes en el comercio mundial; identificar potenciales estructuras centro-perifericas regionales; mostrar que la centralidad se distribuye de forma heterogenea, pero siempre concentrandose en pocos paises; e identificar grupos de mayor y menor fortaleza en su integracion comercial. Todos los resultados parecen describir adecuadamente la complejidad economica del comercio, mostrando que la metodologia propuesta seria valida para brindar un sentido economico al comercio internacional visto como red. ------------------------------------Most papers which study the world trade network use indicators that suffer from an absence of economic content. Understanding this problem, we propose an alternative methodology to describe the international trade using a network perspective, but recovering the economic interpretation. The proposal consists in: estimating countries' centrality using indicators with economic interpretation; building trade structure networks and maps as alternatives to conventional visualizations; and estimating indicators to evaluate the strength of trade integration. We apply the methodology to information for 145 countries from 1992 to 2015, finding that our indicators identify the potentially most influential countries on international trade, possible core-periphery structures, a heterogeneous centrality distribution (always concentrated in few countries), and groups of different strength on its trade integration. All the results seem adequate in its description of trade economic-complexity, suggesting that the proposed methodology would be a valid tool to bring some economic sense to the international trade studied from a network perspective.
[Assessment of efficacy of reconstructive operations on carotid arteries in combination of stenosis and pathological tortuosity].

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to assess efficacy of reconstructive operations on carotid arteries in patients presenting with stenosis of the internal carotid artery (ICA) combined with its pathological tortuosity. MATERIAL AND METHODS We analysed our experience in surgical treatment of 84 patients with pathological tortuosity of the ICA combined with atherosclerotic stenosis. The study included patients with ICA stenosis ≥60% (any type of the atherosclerotic plaque) and with any degree of cerebrovascular insufficiency (CVI), or with ICA stenosis <60% (type I-III atherosclerotic plaque) with degree II-IV CVI in a combination with either S- or C-shaped tortuosity of the ICA, kinking or coiling, with the linear blood flow rate ≥110 cm/s and turbulence of blood flow. Only six (7.1%) patients of the 84 (100%) presented with no clinical signs of CVI and were found to have a past medical history free from episodes of cerebral circulation impairments. The ratio of asymptomatic/symptomatic patients was as follows: in group 1 - 12 (58.7%)/19 (61.3%), in group 2 - 27 (81.8%)/6 (18.2%), and in group 3 - 10 (50%)/10 (50%). RESULTS Six months after surgery, the asymptomatic/symptomatic patients ratio was as follows: in group 1 - 22 (70.9%)/9 (29.1%), in group 2 - 28 (84.8%)/5 (15.2%), p=0.045, and in group 3 - 9 (45%)/11 (55%), p=0.024. In group 3, one (5%) patient developed thrombosis of the reconstruction zone with the development of ischaemic-type acute cerebral circulation impairment. Twelve months after surgery the ratio in the groups did not change. Of twelve patients with degree IV chronic CVI, four (33.3%) were found to have partial regression of the focal neurological symptomatology. CONCLUSION Surgical method of treatment of patients with ICA stenos combined with pathological tortuosity proved efficient and safe both for asymptomatic patients and patients with clinical manifestations of CVI. Significantly better results were observed in the group subjected to eversion carotid endarterectomy with resection of the excessive ICA, with brining down and reimplantation into the ostium as compared with carotid endarterectomy with a patch and as compared with ICA resection with prosthetic repair.
Isolation, purification, and partial characterization of a lipopolysaccharide from Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae 1536, serotype 2, was isolated and purified by a procedure designed to be equally satisfactory for both smooth- and rough-type LPS. The LPS yield was 53%. Analysis of the preparations revealed that protein, nucleic acid, and cellular phospholipid contamination was negligible (less than 0.1%). Analysis of the sugar content of the LPS by gas-liquid chromatography and colorimetric analysis revealed the presence of rhamnose, mannose, galactose, glucose, heptose, glucosamine, galactosamine, and 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid. The heptose and glucose contents appeared to be unusually high. The fatty acids of the LPS consisted of a mixture of C14:0 and C16:0 in a ratio of about 4.5:1 (50% of the total) and 3-hydroxy C14:0. When used as a preparatory dose for the dermal Shwartzman reaction, as little as 10 micrograms of the LPS injected intradermally in rabbits produced reddening and swelling. After intravenous injection of a 100-micrograms LPS provoking dose, necrosis was observed at all intradermal injection sites. Limulus amebocyte lysate gelation was observed with an LPS concentration as low as 0.5 ng/ml. A typical biphasic fever response was noted in rabbits injected with as little as 0.25 ng of LPS per kg of body weight.
Towards Measuring Professionalism in Accounting

This paper develops an instrument that measures accounting professionalism. The instrument's development was informed by literature on professionalism, similar to the genesis of instruments developed in other fields (i.e., sociology, medicine and pharmacy), and interviews with practising accountants and accounting academics. An exploratory factor analysis of 516 survey responses received from members of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) produced four sub&#8208;dimensions of accounting professionalism: ethics and independence, altruism, respect for others, and excellence. This four&#8208;factor model and a unidimensional model were tested using confirmatory factor analysis. The four&#8208;factor model proved superior to the unidimensional one and produced a final instrument with strong psychometric properties.
Molecular Protons Trap NR 1 / NR 2 B NMDA Receptors in a Nonconducting State

NMDA receptors are highly expressed in the CNS and are involved in excitatory synaptic transmission, as well as synaptic plasticity. Given that overstimulation of NMDA receptors can cause cell death, it is not surprising that these channels are under tight control by a series of inhibitory extracellular ions, including zinc, magnesium, and H . We studied the inhibition by extracellular protons of recombinant NMDA receptor NR1/NR2B single-channel and macroscopic responses in transiently transfected human embryonic kidney HEK 293 cells using patch-clamp techniques. We report that proton inhibition proceeds identically in the absence or presence of agonist, which rules out the possibility that protonation inhibits receptors by altering coagonist binding. The response of macroscopic currents in excised patches to rapid jumps in pH was used to estimate the microscopic association and dissociation rates for protons, which were 1.4 10 9
Evaluation of signaling loads in 3GPP networks

3GPP Release 5 is the first step toward an all-IP cellular network. While Release 99 is still heavily based on a core network inherited from 2G networks, Release 5 introduces a new core network architecture based on IETF protocols. In particular, SIP is used for initiating, managing, and terminating media sessions. However, the use of SIP can result in a significant increase of the signaling and computational loads inside the core network, due to its larger message size and increased requirements on network nodes. This article compares the core network signaling loads of 3GPP Release 99 and Release 5, and elaborates on possible enhancements to improve the bandwidth efficiency of the signaling in Release 5.
Gun Violence, eSports, and Global Crises: A Proposed Model for Sport Crisis Communication Practitioners

Abstract On Sunday, August 26, 2018 an eSport gamer killed two competitors and injured 10 others in Jacksonville, FL. at the Madden 19 Southeast Qualifier, a competition sanctioned by the Madden Championship Series. The shooting, live-streamed to thousands of fans watching on Twitch, stands as the first mass shooting to occur at a professional sporting event. Due to the changing complexity of sports crises, and the ever-increasing power of sport organizations, the authors of this paper argue that sport communication practitioners and managers need explicit guidance for how to act in crisis situations, especially as research shows that sport crisis managers are overwhelmingly underprepared. The authors, therefore, propose a visual step-by-step model based off of Coombs’s (2007b) Situational Crisis Communication Theory that lowers barriers to entry for sport communication practitioners to effectively implement a crisis response even when they have little knowledge of the theory.
ATTS-DF: Adaptive tracking solution to the target for data fusion in wireless sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks are composed of many sensor nodes limited to residual energy. The sensor nodes are randomly scattered within in the ranger monitoring and sending - receiving data by radio waves. The measured data often contains the same information, and sending to base station causes the waste of energy of sensor nodes and the risk of congestion. According to the statistics, the energy consumed by transceiver radio signals is many times greater than the energy consumes to process other tasks of sensor node including the calculation on the sensor node. In this paper, we propose algorithms installed on the sensor nodes to monitor non-cyclical target fixed, which base on the fluctuation of the target when it exceeds the threshold. Moreover, algorithm control sensor nodes measures just in time fluctuations exceeded targets need to measure.
Financial Prudence Through Financial Education: A Conceptual Framework for Financial Inclusion

This paper aims to develop a framework to improve financial prudence through financial education and financial inclusion for low-income households in Indonesia. Knowledge shapes attitude, which later influences behavior. A household, in terms of its social production function, needs to feel secure financially in order not to fall into insolvency or bankruptcy. Households that are equipped with better financial education and knowledge are more likely to undertake recommended financial behaviors. By targeting the low-income group through a financial inclusion agenda, the government, Islamic social finance practitioners, and academicians enable low-income households to act with financial prudence. تهدف هذه الورقة إلى رسم إطار لتحسين الحكمة المالية من خلال التعليم المالي والإدماج المالي لأسر ذات الدخل المنخفض في إندونيسيا. العلم والمعرفة تشكلان المواقف، والتي تؤثر تبعا على السلوك. تحتاج الأسر من حيث وظيفتها في مجال الإنتاج الاجتماعي، إلى الشعور بالأمان من الناحية المالية حتى لا تقع في الإعسار أو الإفلاس. ومن المرجح أن الأسر التي هي أكثر علما ومعرفة بالأمور المالية تقوم بسلوكيات مالية موصي بها. من خلال استهداف الفئة ذات الدخل المنخفض ببرنامج الإدماج المالي، يمكن للحكومة وممارسي التمويل الاجتماعي الإسلامي والأكاديميين أن يمكنوا هذه الفئة من التصرف بحكمة.
TGF-beta 3 expression during umbilical cord development and its alteration in pre-eclampsia.

Members of the TGF-beta family have been shown to play an important role in numerous tissues during development. In the present study we have investigated the spatial and temporal expression of TGF-beta 3, in human umbilical cord development. Total TGF-beta 3 protein content, assessed by immunoblotting, increased with advancing gestation as did immunostaining and mRNA in Wharton's jelly fibroblasts. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that TGF-beta 3 was present in all cell types. Temporal changes in TGF-beta 3 expression were observed in the vascular smooth muscle cells, such that with advancing gestation TGF-beta 3 protein expression and became mostly restricted to the extracellular compartment of the vascular media. This was associated with a decrease in TGF-beta 3 mRNA expression in umbilical vascular smooth muscle cells. Of clinical significance, umbilical cords from pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia, showed a significant reduction in total TGF-beta 3 protein expression when compared to those of age-matched patients. Both TGF-beta 3 mRNA and protein expression were downregulated in the endothelium and smooth muscle layers of the umbilical arteries, as well as in the Wharton jelly fibroblasts. Our data demonstrate that during umbilical cord development TGF-beta 3 expression is spatially and temporally regulated and that TGF-beta 3 expression is altered in umbilical cords of pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia. We speculate that the downregulation of TGF-beta 3 expression found in pre-eclamptic umbilical cord may contribute to the abnormal structure and mechanical properties seen in these pathological umbilical cords.
A comparative study of physics engines for modeling soft tissue deformation

Deformation of objects geometry in computer graphics has been based on a number of different approaches. Two classes of methods are highlighted: physics-based and geometry-based. Physics-based methods, such as Mass-Spring Damper, Finite Element Method and Point-Associated Finite Field have been applied to model soft tissue. However, they all have difficulties in handling the compromise between physical realism and performance. Such difficulties can comprehend the complexity in setting physical parameters of the object, large computational cost and high complexity in implementation. This work proposes a case study evaluation on the Mass-Spring Damper model. A set of well known physical engines are analyzed, allowing to understand how the implementation decisions influence performance and accuracy. These results are compared with an implementation especially proposed for this study.
Neuroblastoma × spinal cord (NSC) hybrid cell lines resemble developing motor neurons

We have developed a series of mouse‐mouse neural hybrid cell lines by fusing the aminopterin‐sensitive neuroblastoma N18TG2 with motor neuron‐enriched embryonic day 12–14 spinal cord cells. Of 30 neuroblastoma‐spinal cord (NSC) hybrids displaying a multipolar neuron‐like phenotype, 10 express choline acetyltransferase, and 4 induce twitching in cocultured mouse myotubules. NSC‐19, NSC‐34, and their subclones express additional properties expected of motor neurons, including generation of action potentials, expression of neurofilament triplet proteins, and acetylcholine synthesis, storage, and release. In addition, NSC‐34 cells induce acetylcholine receptor clusters on cocultured myotubes, and undergo a vimentin‐neurofilament switch with maturation in culture, similar to that occurring in neuronal development. NSC cell lines appear to model selected aspects of motor neuron development in an immortalized clonal system. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
In vitro and in vivo assessment of titanium surface modification for coloring the backplate of the Boston keratoprosthesis.

PURPOSE Recent use of a titanium (Ti) backplate has improved the design and biocompatibility of the Boston Keratoprosthesis (BKpro). Titanium's shiny metallic appearance, however, makes the cosmetic outcome less favorable. The purpose of this study was to develop and test a coloring surface modification of Ti. METHODS Ti coloring was achieved using electrochemical anodization. Color assessment included scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), x-ray diffraction crystallography (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Biocompatibility assessment of Ti disks included in vitro proliferation and cytotoxicity in coculture with human corneal limbal epithelial (HCLE) cells, primary human corneal fibroblasts, and immortalized human corneal endothelial cells (HCEnCs), and in vivo intralamellar implantation in rabbit corneas. Histologic appearance (hematoxylin-eosin and trichrome staining) and presence of cell inflammation (CD45), apoptosis (TUNEL), and corneal neovascularization (CD31) were evaluated 27 and 53 days post implantation. RESULTS Blue and brown coloration of Ti was achieved. Analysis showed the presence of a nanoporous oxide surface with no chemical change of the modified Ti surface. In vitro assessment showed no significant differences in cell proliferation and cytotoxicity between anodized and nonanodized Ti (P > 0.05; ANOVA for all cell types). Analysis of corneal tissues harboring the Ti disks showed normal cellular appearance, and lack of CD45, TUNEL, and CD31-positive cells. CONCLUSIONS A biocompatible Ti backplate coloring was achieved by electrochemical anodization. In vitro and in vivo results suggest that the anodized Ti is equally biocompatible and as safe as the standard nonanodized Ti. The color modification of the BKpro may improve the cosmesis and acceptance of the BKpro by patients.
An intramolecular disulfide bridge between Cys-7 and Cys61 determines the structure of the secretory core gene product (e antigen) of hepatitis B virus

Hepatitis B virus, the prototypic member of the Hepadnaviridae, is a small enveloped DNA virus that replicates via reverse transcription. Efficient usage of its compact 3.2-kb genome is exemplified by the pre-C/C gene from which two proteins with largely overlapping primary sequences but distinctly different properties are synthesized: the self-assembling core protein p21c (hepatitis B core antigen [HbcAg]) and the secretory, nonparticulate protein p17e (hepatitis B e antigen [HbeAg]). Mature p17e carries a 10-amino-acid N-terminal extension with a Cys residue (Cys-7). Using transient transfection of a human liver cell line with constructs expressing wild-type p17 or a series of Cys mutants of p17, we show that Cys-7 forms an intramolecular S-S bond to Cys61, which in assembly-competent core proteins is available for intermolecular disulfide bonds between two neighboring subunits. Removal of the Cys-7/Cys61 bond by mutating either residue has differential effects: in the absence of Cys-7, secretion is relatively efficient and independent of Cys61; however, the molecules are exported as homodimers exhibiting both HBe and HBc antigenicity. In the absence of Cys61, the nonpaired Cys-7 interferes with secretion efficiency. The amino acid sequence flanking Cys-7 also contributes to the formation of the proper intramolecular S-S bond. These results suggest that the Cys-7/Cys61 bond imposes on p17e a conformation that is critical for its secretion and distinct biophysical and antigenic properties. This mechanism adds selective disulfide formation to the repertoire of hepatitis B virus for efficient use of its tiny genome.
External Validation of Prediction Models for Pneumonia in Primary Care Patients with Lower Respiratory Tract Infection: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis

Background Pneumonia remains difficult to diagnose in primary care. Prediction models based on signs and symptoms (S&S) serve to minimize the diagnostic uncertainty. External validation of these models is essential before implementation into routine practice. In this study all published S&S models for prediction of pneumonia in primary care were externally validated in the individual patient data (IPD) of previously performed diagnostic studies. Methods and Findings S&S models for diagnosing pneumonia in adults presenting to primary care with lower respiratory tract infection and IPD for validation were identified through a systematical search. Six prediction models and IPD of eight diagnostic studies (N total = 5308, prevalence pneumonia 12%) were included. Models were assessed on discrimination and calibration. Discrimination was measured using the pooled Area Under the Curve (AUC) and delta AUC, representing the performance of an individual model relative to the average dataset performance. Prediction models by van Vugt et al. and Heckerling et al. demonstrated the highest pooled AUC of 0.79 (95% CI 0.74–0.85) and 0.72 (0.68–0.76), respectively. Other models by Diehr et al., Singal et al., Melbye et al., and Hopstaken et al. demonstrated pooled AUCs of 0.65 (0.61–0.68), 0.64 (0.61–0.67), 0.56 (0.49–0.63) and 0.53 (0.5–0.56), respectively. A similar ranking was present based on the delta AUCs of the models. Calibration demonstrated close agreement of observed and predicted probabilities in the models by van Vugt et al. and Singal et al., other models lacked such correspondence. The absence of predictors in the IPD on dataset level hampered a systematical comparison of model performance and could be a limitation to the study. Conclusions The model by van Vugt et al. demonstrated the highest discriminative accuracy coupled with reasonable to good calibration across the IPD of different study populations. This model is therefore the main candidate for primary care use.
Diabetes Complications and Glycemk Control: The Pittsburgh Prospective Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Cohort Study Status Report After 5 yr of IDDM

The relationship between glycemic control and complications of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) remains controversial. With the use of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA,) to assess glycemic control from diagnosis onward, the Pittsburgh Prospective Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus Cohort Study prospectively evaluated 80 new cases of IDDM diagnosed at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. This study presents findings in 62 patients at 5 yr postdiagnosis. Only 7 patients, all girls, had any retinopathy (microaneurysms). These subjects had an elevated 5-yr mean HbA1 compared to those with no retinopathy (13.0 vs. 11.7%; P < .05). Six female subjects who had an elevated albumin excretion rate (AER; >20 μg/min) had a higher 5-yr mean HbA, (13.3%) than the 26 subjects with AER <20 |xg/min (11.8%; P < .05). Current HbA1 was correlated with AER (r = +.36, P < .05) and systolic blood pressure (r = +.49, P < .01) in females. However, these associations were not observed in males. Positive correlations were found between HbA1 (5-yr mean and current) and serum triglyceride and cholesterol, but only in females was HbA1 inversely related to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. However, HbA1 was independent of sex, HLA-DR type, and urine C-peptide status. Age adjustment did not change the above results. These analyses suggest that glycemic control is related to AER, systolic blood pressure, presence of microaneurysms, and serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations during the first 5 yr of IDDM. However, these associations appear to be predominant in girls.