Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk Incorporation and Efficiency in Emerging Market Banks During the Global Crisis: Evidence from Turkey, 2002-2009

This study focuses on the efficiency measures of deposit banks operating in Turkey following the twin crises of 2000 and 2001 and applies a new approach in bank efficiency analysis by incorporating credit risk as an undesirable by-product in a multi-output model. Data envelopment analysis is used to assess the long-term performance trend in the context of balance sheet and revenue approaches. Empirical results indicate that the efficiency of deposit banks improve significantly in the restructuring period. The global crisis does not seem to have had a significant impact on managerial efficiency in the deposit banks operating in Turkey. The most striking finding is that the efficiency scores are much lower when nonperforming loans are incorporated as an undesirable output in the model. This shows that all efficiency studies in the literature that ignore undesirable output overestimate efficiency scores.
Pulmonary hypertension in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement: discussion of the current evidence.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a significant, often irreversible, risk factor of early and late morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The widely used Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STSs) Predicted Risk of Mortality (STS-Predicted Risk of Mortality) risk score does not include PH and the commonly associated right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. Therefore, procedural risk of patients with severe PH undergoing TAVR is probably underestimated and consideration of its risk relies heavily on clinical, procedural, and anecdotal experience. In addition, literature on the management of patients with severe PH undergoing TAVR is scarce. Using 1 of our recent transapical TAVR patients as an illustrative example we, therefore, sought to discuss recent data on outcomes of patients with severe PH undergoing TAVR, emerging TAVR risk scores that incorporate severe PH and other TAVR-specific risk factors as well as a guideline on how to clinically manage patients with severe PH undergoing TAVR who often present as difficult hemodynamic challenges. An 82-year-old (body mass index, 26.8 kg/m2) insulin-dependent diabetic female (151 cm, 62 kg) with symptomatic severe calcific aortic stenosis (echocardiographically derived: mean transvalvular gradient 43 mm Hg, maximal velocity 4.3 m/s and a calculated valve area of 0.5 cm2) and preserved left ventricular (LV) function with an ejection fraction of 60%. She has severe coronary artery disease, is status post coronary artery bypass graft surgery with patent grafts to left anterior descending and ramus intermedius; the circumflex artery is only moderately diseased and the right coronary artery is small, nondominant with mild, diffuse disease (<1.5 mm in size). The right heart hemodynamics are summarized in Figure 1 and Table 1 with mild-to-moderate right heart failure (increased RV end-diastolic pressure) and severe mixed PH with a low-normal cardiac output. Her pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) was high without a …
Performance of extreme value theory in emerging markets: An empirical treatment

This paper investigates the performance of extreme value theory (EVT) with the daily stock index returns of four different emerging markets. The research covers the sample representing the Serbian (BELEXline), Croatian (CROBEX), Slovenian (SBI20) and Hungarian (BUX) stock indexes using the data from January 2006 ‐ September 2009. In the paper, a performance test was carried out for the success of application of the extreme value theory in estimating and forecasting of the tails of daily return distribution of the analyzed stock indexes. Therefore, the main goal is to determine whether EVT adequately estimates and forecasts the tails (2.5 and 5% at the tail) of daily stock index return distribution in the emerging markets of Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and Hungary. The applied methodology during the research includes analyses, synthesis and statistical/mathematical methods. Research results according to estimated Generalized Pareto Distribution (GPD) parameters indicate the necessity of applying market risk estimation methods, that is, extreme value theory (EVT) in the framework of a broader analysis of investment processes in emerging markets.
An NAD+-dependent transcriptional program governs self-renewal and radiation resistance in glioblastoma

Significance Glioblastoma, the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults, remains challenging despite multimodality therapy, necessitating the discovery of new therapies. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) plays a pivotal role in cancer cell metabolism, but how NAD+ impacts functional signaling events in glioblastoma is not well understood. We provide clinical evidence that high expression of NAMPT, the rate-limiting step in NAD+ biosynthesis, in glioblastoma tumors is associated with poor overall survival in patients, and demonstrate NAMPT and NAD+ are required for the maintenance of patient-derived glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs). Moreover, we delineate a NAD+-dependent transcriptional program that governs GSC self-renewal and dictates the radiation resistance of these cells. These findings identify potential new therapeutic avenues for the treatment of glioblastoma. Accumulating evidence suggests cancer cells exhibit a dependency on metabolic pathways regulated by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). Nevertheless, how the regulation of this metabolic cofactor interfaces with signal transduction networks remains poorly understood in glioblastoma. Here, we report nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), the rate-limiting step in NAD+ synthesis, is highly expressed in glioblastoma tumors and patient-derived glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs). High NAMPT expression in tumors correlates with decreased patient survival. Pharmacological and genetic inhibition of NAMPT decreased NAD+ levels and GSC self-renewal capacity, and NAMPT knockdown inhibited the in vivo tumorigenicity of GSCs. Regulatory network analysis of RNA sequencing data using GSCs treated with NAMPT inhibitor identified transcription factor E2F2 as the center of a transcriptional hub in the NAD+-dependent network. Accordingly, we demonstrate E2F2 is required for GSC self-renewal. Downstream, E2F2 drives the transcription of members of the inhibitor of differentiation (ID) helix–loop–helix gene family. Finally, we find NAMPT mediates GSC radiation resistance. The identification of a NAMPT-E2F2-ID axis establishes a link between NAD+ metabolism and a self-renewal transcriptional program in glioblastoma, with therapeutic implications for this formidable cancer.
Cholecystokinin‐, galanin‐, and corticotropin‐releasing factor‐like immunoreactive projections from the nucleus of the solitary tract to the parabrachial nucleus in the rat

The parabrachial nucleus (PB) is the main relay for ascending visceral afferent information from the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) to the forebrain. We examined the chemical organization of solitary‐parabrachial afferents by using combined retrograde transport of fluorescent tracers and immunohistochemistry for galanin (GAL), cholecystokinin (CCK), and corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF).
The dollar, trade, technology and inequality in the USA

The US experienced a considerable increase in inequality between skilled and less-skilled workers during the early 1980s—a period which corresponds with a large temporary appreciation of the dollar. This article investigates the reasons behind this rise in inequality by evaluating the impact of trade with low-wage countries (LWCs) and technological change on the wage bill share of skilled workers (which is designed to capture movements in inequality arising from changes in both the relative wage and employment opportunities of the less-skilled). We find that an increase in US imports from LWCs—encouraged by the large appreciation of the dollar in the early 1980s—seems to explain some of the rise in US inequality in low-skill-intensive sectors, but that technological change (proxied by R&D expenditure) explains the rise in inequality in high-skill-intensive sectors. However, given that the timing of the sudden rise in US R&D expenditure corresponds with the appreciation of the dollar, it may be the case that the deterioration in US trade competitiveness during this period contributed to the rapid increase in the rate of technological change via mechanisms such as ‘defensive innovation’. Hence one might also argue that the technology-based explanation for the rise in US inequality could actually be a trade-based explanation.
User-inthe-loop smart lighting control system

In commercial buildings, smart lighting control systems are applied to minimize the electrical energy consumption. These systems use occupancy and light sensor data to adapt artificial light in accordance with changing occupancy and daylight conditions. In these systems, the performance relies on a pre-calibration phase to achieve daylight adaptation of artificial light. Since the pre-calibrated value is achieved by artificial light, the changes of daylight and/or reflectance changes can cause deviations against desired illumination. For example, the deviation takes place when the daylight distribution is affected by the reflectance changes in the environment. Additionally, these systems cannot account for individual user preferences at the workplace in real-time. A contribution of this thesis is to introduce human interaction to the smart lighting control system, taking user’s satisfaction into account to achieve better performance in terms of the desired illumination. A proposed sensor-driven human-in-the-loop lighting control system is developed to incorporates user feedback in addtion to occupancy and light sensor inputs. Camera-based visible light communication (VLC) is applied for the user to identify the luminaires within its neighborhood by its smartphone camera. Also, the intensity sensed by the smartphone camera is used as the illumination information offered from the user. A control algorithm is designed that incorporates these user inputs along with occupancy and light sensor inputs to determine the dimming levels of the luminaires to achieve illumination levels acceptable to users. The performance of the proposed lighting control system is compared with the state-of-the-art lighting control system in an experimental office space environment.
Inhibition of human efflux transporter ABCC2 (MRP2) by self-emulsifying drug delivery system: influences of concentration and combination of excipients.

PURPOSE This study investigated influences of concentration and combination of excipients, commonly used in self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS), on inhibition of human efflux transporter ABCC2 (MRP2). METHODS Ten commonly used excipients of SEDDS with inhibitory effect on MRP2 including Cremophor® EL, Cremophor® RH, Pluronic® F127, Maisine® 35-1, β-cyclodextrin, Labrasol®, Pluronic® F68, PEG 2000, PEG 400 and Transcutol® were studied with the Caco-2 cell model. Six excipients with inhibitory effect including Cremophor® EL, Cremophor® RH, Pluronic® F127, PEG 2000, PEG 400 and Transcutol® were further analyzed using the MRP2 vesicle assay and ATPase activity assay. Ultra-performance liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry was used to measure scutellarin as the MRP2 substrate. RESULTS In studying concentration-dependent effects, five excipients including Cremophor® EL, Cremophor® RH, Pluronic® F127, Maisine® 35-1 and β-cyclodextrin showed concentration-dependent decrease in efflux ratio of scutellarin. The other five excipients did not show such phenomenon, and their inhibitory effects were restricted to be above to certain critical or minimum concentrations. In studying combined effects, PEG 2000 and Pluronic® F127 both showed combined effect with Cremophor® EL on inhibiting MRP2. However, some combinations of excipients such as PEG 400 and Transcutol® with Cremophor® EL increased the scutellarin efflux ratio and decreased the transport of scutellarin and ATPase activity, compared to Cremophor® EL alone. CONCLUSION The above results suggest that appropriate choice of excipients according to their concentration-dependent and combined effects on MRP2 inhibition can facilitate formulation of SEDDS for improving the bioavailability of drugs that are MRP2 substrates.
Stratification and Spatial Segregation of Human Capital as Determinants of Metropolitan Productivity in the United States

This paper explores the dynamics of how the human capital embodied in metropolitan populations might impact metropolitan productivity. Three aspects of human capital are examined: the average aggregate level of human capital, stratification according to human capital and spatial segregation according to human capital. These are measured for the 100 largest metropolitan areas in the US for 1970, 1980 and 1990, and then tested as explanatory variables of metropolitan productivity. Econometric analysis confirms a strong relationship between higher average levels of human capital and higher productivity and growth. Stratification appears negatively correlated with productivity in 1970 and 1980, but positively correlated in 1990. Segregation appears negatively correlated with productivity in the 1970s, and in 1990 when controlling for stratification.
Object-based multilevel contrast stretching method for image enhancement

The purpose of image enhancement is to improve the perceptibility of information contained in an image. Since the human visual system tends to extract image structure, enhancing the structural features can improve perceived image quality. This paper proposes an object-based multilevel contrast stretching method to enhance image structure. The method first segments the image into its constitute objects, which are treated as image structural components, using morphological watersheds and region merging; then separately stretches the image contrast at interobject level and intra-object level in different ways. At interobject level, an approach of stretching between adjacent local extremes is used to adequately enlarge the local dynamic range of gray levels between objects. At intra-object level, the uniform linear stretching is used to enhance the textural features of objects while maintaining their homogeneity. Since the proposed method directly operates on the object, it can avoid introducing ringing, blocking or other false contouring artifacts in structural appearance; moreover, it can effectively suppress over emphasizing of noise and roughly preserve the overall brightness of the image. Experimental results show that the proposed method can produce enhanced images with more natural appearance in comparison with some classical methods.
Downshifting: An Exploration of Motivations, Quality of Life, and Environmental Practices†

“Downshifting,” reducing work hours, thereby income, to increase leisure time, offers a possible individual-level solution to the stress many experience from long working hours and work intensification. Recently, some have argued that an increase in leisure time with a reduction in income might also foster pro-environmental lifestyles as has been demonstrated for the “voluntary simplicity” movement. Quantitative research on the relationship between downshifting and quality of life is scant, with equivocal results, and studies of the relationship between downshifting and environmental lifestyles are even more rare. Survey data from a western Canadian city reveal nonsignificant impacts of downshifting on two measures of quality of life (subjective well-being and satisfaction with time use) as well as on sustainable transportation practices. However, downshifting is significantly associated with sustainable household practices. In order for downshifting to have more widespread positive effects, further structural changes in broader domains such as work culture, urban design, and support for families will be required.
A Structural Subsumption based Similarity Measure for the Description Logic ALEH

Description Logics (DLs) are a family of logic-based knowledge representation formalisms, which can be used to develop ontologies in a formally well-founded way. The standard reasoning service of subsumption has proved indispensable in ontology design and maintenance. This checks, relative to the logical definitions in the ontology, whether one concept is more general/specific than another. When no subsumption relationship is identified, however, no information about the two concepts can be given. This work extends from an existing work on similarity measure in ELH to the more expressive description logic ALEH . We introduce generalizations of the notion of normalization and homomorphism in ALEH which are then employed at the heart of our semantic similarity measure. The proposed similarity measure computes a numerical degree of similarity between two ALEH concept descriptions despite not being in the subsumption relation.
Evolution of starvation resistance in Drosophila melanogaster: measurement of direct and correlated responses to artificial selection

Laboratory selection for resistance to starvation has been conducted under relatively controlled conditions to investigate direct and correlated responses to artificial selection. With regard to starvation resistance, there are three physiological routes by which the trait can evolve: resource accumulation, energy conservation and starvation tolerance. A majority of energetic compounds and macromolecules including triglycerides, trehalose and other sugars, and soluble protein increased in abundance as a result of selection. Movement was additionally investigated with selected males moving less than control males and selected females exhibiting a similar response to selection. Results obtained from this study supported two of the possible evolutionary mechanisms for adaptation to starvation: energy compound storage and conservation. If the response to selection is based on an evolutionarily conserved pattern of genetic correlations (elevated lipid, elevated sugars and reduced movement), then the response to selection is medically relevant and the genetic architecture should be investigated in depth.
THE INTEREST RATES-STOCK PRICES NEXUS IN HIGHLY VOLATILE MARKETS: EVIDENCE FROM PAKISTAN

In this study causal relationship of interest rate and stock prices is investigated using a VAR-based granger causality test. The motivation for this study comes from erratic behavior of KSE-100 Index from 2007 to 2010 while State Bank of Pakistan revised the key policy rate up several times during this time.Implementing ADF test for unit root and Johansen Cointegration test for long run relationship we found that interest rates and stock prices have no long run relationship. VAR-based granger causality test reveal that stock prices do not granger cause interest rates but interest rate does granger cause stock prices.
Long‐Term Follow‐up of Patients With Chronic Back Pain Treated in a Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Program

Study Design The study evaluated the long-term outcomes of 129 chronic low back pain patients who had completed a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program. Objectives Two major outcome issues were addressed- one related to the effectiveness of the program as measured by return to work, use of the medical system, and sense of well being, and the other concerning the stability of the outcome effect over time. Summary of Background Data Other outcome studies have established the short-term effectiveness of rehabilitation programs such as the present one with between 50% and 75% of patients. However, long-term follow-up-i.e., 1 1/2 to 2 years or more-has been lacking to determine what happens later. Methods Graduates of the program were contacted by telephone to complete a 23-item questionnaire. Every effort was made to include all who had completed the program. Many had moved away or were inaccessible, but few of those contacted refused to participate. Results An attempt was made to classify the job outcome into good, fair, and poor outcomes by weighting return to work, remaining at work, and continuing to look for work. Forty-nine percent of the sample attained a good job outcome, 13% a fair job outcome, and 38% a poor job outcome. Regarding general wellbeing, 53% reported doing better or much better, 27% reported being about the same, and 20% reported being worse or much worse at follow-up. Conclusions The results provide support for the efficacy of programs such as this.
International Commodity Prices, Macroeconomic Performance, and Politics in Sub-Saharan Africa

This study loods at the experience of Sub-Saharan Africa in dealing with commodity-price variability and discusses whether poor macroeconomic results should be attributed to the inherent difficulty of predicting commodity-price fluctuations, or, rather, to flawed internal political and fiscal arrangements. In an attempt to establish the facts and to cast light on some of the mechanisms, it examines pan-African econometric evidence on the effects of commodity-price fluctuations on national output and its components.
Expression Variability and Function of the RET Gene in Adult Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

RET is a gene playing a key role during embryogenesis and in particular during the enteric nervous system development. High levels of RET gene expression are maintained in different human tissues also in adulthood, although their physiological role remains unclear. In particular, collected evidences of a RET contribution in the development and maintenance of the immune system prompted us to investigate its levels of surface expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from adult healthy donors. Despite variability among samples, RET expression was conserved at similar levels in the different immune cell subsets, with higher correlations in similar lymphocyte populations (i.e. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells). Conversely, no correlation was found between the amount of RET receptor, the expression of its putative ligands and co‐receptors and the genotypes at the RET locus. Moreover, we investigated the RET‐associated inflammatory pathways in PBMCs from healthy donors both in resting conditions and upon glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and GPI‐linked co‐receptors alpha 1 (GFRα1) mediated RET activation. RET mRNA levels positively correlated with the transcript amount of interleukin‐8 (IL‐8), a cytokine produced by monocytes and macrophages, though we could not demonstrate its direct effect on RET expression by in vitro experiments on THP1 human monocytic cells. These results imply that RET expression might be influenced by either cis‐ and/or trans‐factors, which together would account for its high variability within the general population, and suggest a putative functional role of the RET gene in modulating immune cell responses during inflammation and carcinogenesis. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 2027–2037, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.