Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Matrix metalloproteinase-9 is increased and correlates with severity in Guillain-Barré syndrome

Objective: To study the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) MMP-2 (72-kd type IV collagenase, gelatinase A), MMP-3 (58-kd stromelysin-1), and MMP-9 (92-kd type IV collagenase, gelatinase B) and tissue inhibitors of MPs (TIMP) in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Background: MMPs are able to proteolysis of basement membranes and other matrix components, promoting transmigration of inflammatory cells from circulation to nerve tissue. Methods: Twenty-five patients with GBS were analyzed according to the phase of the disease, i.e., progression, plateau, early recovery, and late recovery. Determinations of MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 were performed using ELISA, zymography, and immunocytochemistry in circulation or peripheral nerve. Results: MMP-9 plasma levels were increased in 67% of patients on admission and decreased from progression to late recovery (p < 0.002). During the course of GBS, MMP-9 was progressively balanced by its inhibitor TIMP-1, as assessed by the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio. MMP-9 and TIMP-1 plasma levels and the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio correlated positively with disability. MMP-2 expression was similar to controls. MMP-3 activity was not detected, and plasma levels were not different from those in controls. Positive MMP-9 immunolabeling was 51 ± 11% of circulating lymphocytes. It was observed in some endothelial cells and mononuclear cells adherent to the endothelium and close to myelinated fibers. Conclusions: Circulating matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-9) correlates with disease severity in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). MMP-9 likely represents an important molecule in the pathogenesis of GBS and therefore could represent an interesting therapeutic target.
The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics Online

The economic approach to valuing risks to life focuses on risk–money trade-offs for very small risks of death, or the value of statistical life (VSL). These VSL levels will generally exceed the optimal insurance amounts. A substantial literature has estimated the wage–fatality risk trade-offs, implying a median VSL of $7 million for US workers. International evidence often indicates a lower VSL, which is consistent with the lower income levels in less developed countries. Preference heterogeneity also generates different trade-off rates across the population as people who are more willing to bear risk will exhibit lower wage–risk trade-offs.
Increasing the performance of silicon microphones by the benefit of a complete system simulation

This paper presents a Spice based model of a silicon microphone system. The model considers the acoustical, the mechanical as well as the electrical behaviour. The simulation results are compared with the measurements to focus on the well understood model. Furthermore, a profit of the model is taken by determining the individual noise sources and their contribution to the total noise. Thus it is possible to calculate performance key parameters like sensitivity, noise or signal-to-noise ratio which are subject to special technology parameters. At last, optimizing these parameters will increase the performance.
A highly homologous 68 kbp plasmid found in Vibrio vulnificus strains virulent for eels

Vibrio vulnificus serovar E (biotype 2) strains are virulent for eels and have also been reported to cause illness in humans. Studies on the plasmid content of serovar E strains revealed the existence of a plasmid of approximately 70 kbp present in most of these strains. In this study we characterized the 70 kbp plasmids of seven biotype 2 strains isolated from seawater, diseased eels and wound infections in humans. We determined the exact size of the high molecular weight plasmids to be 68 kbp. A comparison of the plasmids of the seven strains by restriction length polymorphism and hybridization analysis showed them to be almost identical.
Immunoprecipitation of Native Botulinum Neurotoxin Complexes from Clostridium botulinum Subtype A Strains

ABSTRACT Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) naturally exist as components of protein complexes containing nontoxic proteins. The nontoxic proteins impart stability of BoNTs in the gastrointestinal tract and during purification and handling. The two primary neurotoxin complexes (TCs) are (i) TC1, consisting of BoNT, nontoxin-nonhemagglutinin (NTNH), and hemagglutinins (HAs), and (ii) TC2, consisting of BoNT and NTNH (and possibly OrfX proteins). In this study, BoNT/A subtypes A1, A2, A3, and A5 were examined for the compositions of their TCs in culture extracts using immunoprecipitation (IP). IP analyses showed that BoNT/A1 and BoNT/A5 form TC1s, while BoNT/A2 and BoNT/A3 form TC2s. A Clostridium botulinum host strain expressing recombinant BoNT/A4 (normally present as a TC2) from an extrachromosomal plasmid formed a TC1 with complexing proteins from the host strain, indicating that the HAs and NTNH encoded on the chromosome associated with the plasmid-encoded BoNT/A4. Strain NCTC 2916 (A1/silent B1), which carries both an ha silent bont/b cluster and an orfX bont/a1 cluster, was also examined. IP analysis revealed that NCTC 2916 formed only a TC2 containing BoNT/A1 and its associated NTNH. No association between BoNT/A1 and the nontoxic proteins from the silent bont/b cluster was detected, although the HAs were expressed as determined by Western blotting analysis. Additionally, NTNH and HAs from the silent bont/b cluster did not form a complex in NCTC 2916. The stabilities of the two types of TC differed at various pHs and with addition of KCl and NaCl. TC1 complexes were more stable than TC2 complexes. Mouse serum stabilized TC2, while TC1 was unaffected.
Lift on a Moving Sphere Near a Plane Wall in a Second Order Fluid

In this paper we examine the lift on a sphere moving very close to an infinite plane wall in a second-order fluid. The sphere is allowed to both translate and rotate along the plane. We focus on the limit when the sphere touches the wall. We found that due to the normal stress effect the flow gives rise to a positive elastic lift force on the sphere when gap between the sphere and the wall is small. For a moving particle in a shear flow, the ratio of the elastic lift to the buoyant weight of the particle is proportional to the particle radius, such that smaller particles will be easier to be suspended. We also found that the ratio of the inertial lift to the elastic lift is proportional to the square of the particle radius. Furthermore, the elastic lift force is singular when the minimum gap between the sphere and the wall approaches zero. Consequently, a moving particle in a viscoelastic fluid will be always suspended from a smooth surface.
Social Norms, Rule of Law, and Gender Reality 1

Numerous empirical studies have shown that the “Rule of Law” is positively associated with a range of desirable outcome variables including GDP levels, financial market development, the rate of investment as well as the volume of trade, human rights, and even with declines in child mortality, to name a few. In this paper we confront the puzzle that for all but the richest countries the same positive association does not hold for the status of women in society. Using country level data, we show that the status of women in society is relatively weakly associated with various Rule of Law indices and that in poor countries this association disappears altogether. Similarly, in high-income countries we find a high correlation between gender equality and indicators for the rule of law. By contrast, for 1 Copyright (US) 2008, by Katharina Pistor. Funded by generous grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. This article was produced by the American Bar Association as part of the ABA’s World Justice Project, with the objective of sharing information about the rule of law. The ABA and the author therefore grant permission for copies of this article to be made, in whole or in part, by not-for-profit organizations and individuals, provided that the use is for informational, non-commercial purposes only and provided that any copy of this article or portion thereof includes this statement of copyright ownership in its entirety and the legend, “Reprinted by permission of [name of author] and the American Bar Association. ” Please note, however, that use of materials from other authors that may be included within this article may require their written permission.
Liver and Cadmium Toxicity

Cadmium (Cd) is an important environmental pollutant. This metal presents a serious threat for both, humans and animals health. The environmental risk can lead to the absorption of large quantities of Cd and its toxic action on the organism. It adversely affects some organs in humans and animals, including the liver, kidneys, lungs, pancreas, and testis. The liver and kidneys, which are the primary organs involved in the elimination of this metal, are especially sensitive to its toxic effects. The liver is the main target organ of Cd toxicity following both acute and chronic exposure. This review presents the current state of knowledge related to the cellular mechanisms of Cd toxicity in the liver. Different mechanisms are discussed: the disruption of the cellular antioxidant system and the decrease in thiol status, the generation of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress, the interference of biological metal homeostasis, involvement of inflammatory mediators, disruption of cell adhesion and cell damage leading to apoptosis.
Are Changes Effective in Performance Management? An Analysis of Japanese Agencies

Agencies are key organizations for implementing and studying performance measurement and management (PMM). This article explores the implementation and effect of PMM in Japanese agencies. In Japan, design of the agency system included New Public Management elements, such as independence and delegation of powers, but also traditional ones, with a strong system of controls. The discourse about the soundness and ambitions of the PMM system permeated the agencies but not so much their effort toward PMM. The performance improvement attained by agencies depends on their agency characteristics, organizational culture, and organizational factors, with a remarkable influence of the organizational culture.
EFFECTS OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE ON PRODUCTION, INCOMES AND EMPLOYMENT IN FINLAND

This study examines the effects of public expenditure on production activity and private consumption activity. An input‐output model with consumption functions connected is used for evaluating the repercussions of public expenditure. Taking both production and consumption repercussions into account, it is concluded that in the year 1965 public expenditure generated 26 percent of domestic incomes and 18 percent of imports. Viewed in terms of the shares of different types of income generated, 72 percent of public expenditure goes to domestic income, and the remaining 28 percent to imports. Forty‐five percent of public expenditure returns directly as income to general government. The study also examines the effects of public expenditure by industry and over time (1959 to 1965).
Constructing the Meaning of Survivor With Former Pediatric Brain Tumor Patients

Although the term survivor is frequently used in cancer discourse, the meaning of survivor and how people identify with this term can be difficult to understand. The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the meaning of the term survivor from the perspective of young adults who have experienced a pediatric brain tumor (PBT). A constructivist grounded theory was utilized in this study with 6 young adults who had a PBT. This study also used semistructured interviews with participants who also completed reflective journals, which were focused on the survivor concept. Data were analyzed through coding strategies and constant comparative methods. Findings present 4 major themes of process: (a) reviewing the illness experience, (b) qualifying as a survivor, (c) thinking positive, and (d) being changed. These themes are important to consider in the construction, interpretation, and understanding of how the majority of this population do not identify with the current social use of the term survivor. Clearly, there is a need for a clearer understanding of survivor and how it specifically applies to those who have had a PBT. Everyone should remain conscious and consider how a broad, generalizing term such as survivor may influence a person’s attitude and advocacy toward their health.
Exchange rate uncertainty and employment : an algorithm describing 'play'

The paper deals with the impacts of exchange rate uncertainty on the relationship between macroeconomic labour market variables. Under uncertainty, areas of weak reactions—so‐called ‘play’ areas—have to be considered at the macrolevel. The width of the play area is a positive function of the degree of uncertainty. When changes go beyond the play‐area suddenly strong reactions (‘spurts’) occur. These non‐linear dynamics are captured in a simplified linearized way. An algorithm describing linear play hysteresis is developed and implemented into a regression framework. As an empirical application, the exchange rate impacts on German employment are analysed considering play effects. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Neural Basis of Difficulties Disengaging From Negative Irrelevant Material in Major Depression

Recurrent uncontrollable negative thoughts are a hallmark of depressive episodes. Deficits in cognitive control have been proposed to underlie this debilitating aspect of depression. Here, we used functional neuroimaging during an emotional working memory (WM) task to elucidate the neural correlates of these difficulties in cognitive control. In a WM manipulation involving depressed participants, the dorsal anterior cingulate and parietal and bilateral insular cortices were activated significantly more when negative words were removed from WM than when they were maintained in WM; in contrast, nondepressed participants exhibited stronger neural activations in these regions for positive than for negative material. These findings implicate anomalous activation of components of the task-positive network, known to be modulated by cognitive effort, in depression-associated difficulties in expelling negative material from WM. Future studies should examine the association between these aberrations and the maintenance of depressive symptoms.
Informing Program Design for Connectivity Conservation in the New South Wales Southern Highlands, Australia

Connectivity initiatives typically require conservation action on private lands as a complement to public reserve systems, so they are more likely to succeed if underpinned by knowledge of the social factors influencing landholders' participation. Using a combination of social survey and market research techniques, we identify spatially referenced landholder segments. Using a number of behavioral and attitudinal constructs, including three psychographic constructs not previously used for identifying segments—sense of place, lifestyle motives, and nature values—we identify three lifestyler and two farmer segments, and show that the characteristics of lifestyler segments are more nuanced than previously thought. Preferences for four corridor connectivity initiatives are found to differ across landholder segments, which indicates the importance using a targeted approach for designing connectivity conservation programs. The results highlight the importance for achieving corridor connectivity of the Blue Collar Lifestyler segment, a lower sociodemographic segment not previously identified in the literature.
Time-Dependent Variance and the Pricing of Bond Options

In this paper, the authors develop a model for valuing debt options which takes into account the changing characteristics of the underlying bond by assuming that the standard deviation of return is proportional to the bond's duration. The resulting model uses the bond price as the single state variable and thus preserves much of the simplicity and robustness of the Black-Scholes approach. The paper provides comparisons between option prices computed using this model and those using the Black-Scholes and Brennan-Schwartz models. Copyright 1987 by American Finance Association.
Neurocapitalism and the new neuros: using neuroeconomics, behavioural economics and picoeconomics for public policy

Neuroeconomics, behavioural economics and picoeconomics have recently come to widespread popular attention, informing both public policy and commercial applications in UK and USA in particular. From neuroeducation and neuromarketing to so-called ‘nudge’-inspired public policies, the resurgence of broadly behavioural accounts of economic theory has far-reaching consequences for how we both understand and intervene in human rationality. While economic geographers have long been engaged with behavioural concerns, the economic foundations of more recent ‘behaviour change’ initiatives remain to be fully interrogated. This article provides a critical review of these developments in economics and outlines concerns posed for a geographical analysis of new economic knowledges, methods and subjects.
Soy protein isolate versus meat-based low-protein diet for dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts.

BACKGROUND Both presurgical preparation and long-term support of nonoperable dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSS) require optimal dietary management. Studies suggested that protein source may play an important role, with vegetable and dairy protein sources having better effects on hepatic encephalopathy (HE) than meat proteins. OBJECTIVES Determine whether a low-protein test diet with soy as its main protein source results in better scores than a control diet with the same composition but with poultry as its main protein source in dogs with CPSS. METHODS In a double-blind cross-over study, 16 dogs received each diet for 4 weeks. Dogs in group T first received the test diet and then the control diet, whereas dogs in group C were fed the diets in the opposite order. Different variables (body weight, body condition score, HE score, fecal score, CBC, plasma tests of liver function including NH3, and coagulation tests) were measured at the start of the study and after completion of each diet. RESULTS One-way repeated measures ANOVA was performed. Plasma NH3 was significantly lower after the test diet than after the control diet. The test diet also resulted in significantly higher fibrinogen concentrations and lower prothrombin times. The HE score improved with both diets, with no significant difference between the 2 diets. CONCLUSIONS Both diets achieved a significant improvement in HE score. The influence of the soy-based diet on plasma NH3 concentration and coagulation parameters suggests that such a diet decreases the risk for HE and gives better support of liver function.
Femtosecond laser irradiation of metallic surfaces: effects of laser parameters on superhydrophobicity

This work studies in detail the effect of femtosecond laser irradiation process parameters (fluence and scanning speed) on the hydrophobicity of the resulting micro/nano-patterned morphologies on stainless steel. Depending on the laser parameters, four distinctly different nano-patterns were produced, namely nano-rippled, parabolic-pillared, elongated sinusoidal-pillared and triple roughness nano-structures. All of the produced structures were classified according to a newly defined parameter, the laser intensity factor (LIF); by increasing the LIF, the ablation rate and periodicity of the asperities increase. In order to decrease the surface energy, all of the surfaces were coated with a fluoroalkylsilane agent. Analysis of the wettability revealed enhanced superhydrophobicity for most of these structures, particularly those possessing the triple roughness pattern that also exhibited low contact angle hysteresis. The high permanent superhydrophobicity of this pattern is due to the special micro/nano-structure of the surface that facilitates the Cassie–Baxter state.
Changing therapeutic paradigms in CMV retinitis in AIDS

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis is a common ocular complication of immunosuppression. The management of CMV retinitis has been continuously evolving over the last decade. The mainstay of therapy remains ganciclovir and foscarnet. However, increasing resistance and ongoing toxicities to these agents remain a challenge. Additional frequently utilised agents include cidofovir and fomivirsen. The advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has allowed the restoration of immunocompetency to many patients previously challenged by CMV infection. In some circumstances, HAART has even eliminated the need for ongoing antiviral therapy. This paper reviews the current treatment modalities, including their toxicities and dosing recommendations.
Anomalies of Economic Growth

Economic growth today, as defined by S[imon] Kuznets,1 is economic development in which the long-term growth of production consistently exceeds the growth rate of the population. This is a new phenomenon in world economic history. For most of [this history], production growth has been at approximately the same rate as population growth, while per capita income has stabilized at a low level. There is reason to believe that this process has a certain time frame: because of resource constraints, the growth rate of per capita GDP cannot exceed population growth indefinitely.2 It can be assumed that economic growth today is a process of transition from one stable state (pre-industrial agrarian societies) to another (post-industrial societies with high per capita income).
Selecting suitable compensation plans of executive stock options

Theoretical and empirical works have emphasized that executive stock option plans play an important role in compensation management and corporate governance owing to the incentives to increase firm stock price and volatility levels. This study not only proposes models of executive stock options and constructs value-matched financial variables for comparing the incentive effects towards these options, but also develops an empirical study exploring the characteristics of executive stock options and suitable compensation management for companies. This investigation examines the daily value and compares incentive effects of six kinds of executive stock options with the empirical data of TSMC, the world's largest dedicated semiconductor foundry, which is listed on the TSE and NYSE. Empirical results indicate that purchased options would be the best choice for companies that are unsuitable to undertake risky investments, while the relative indexed options are appropriate for bear markets and good for companies whose executives are highly risk averse. Repriceable options are not recommended due to their high costs and weak incentive effects.
An On-Line UPS System With Power Factor Correction and Electric Isolation Using BIFRED Converter

This paper presents the design consideration and performance analysis of an on-line, low-cost, high performance, and single-phase uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system based on a boost integrated flyback rectifier/energy storage dc/dc (BIFRED) converter. The system consists of an isolated ac/dc BIFRED converter, a bidirectional dc/dc converter, and a dc/ac inverter. It provides input power factor correction, electric isolation of the input from the output, low battery voltage, and control simplicity. Unlike conventional UPS topologies, the electrical isolation is provided using a high frequency transformer that results in a smaller size and lower cost. Detailed circuit operation, analysis, as well as simulation and experiment results are presented. A novel digital control technique is also presented for UPS inverter control. This controller follows the reference current and voltage of the inverter with a delay of two and four sampling periods, respectively.