Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are published characteristics of the ambulatory blood pressure generalizable to rural Chinese? The JingNing population study

ObjectiveWe investigated the ambulatory blood pressure (BP) in rural Chinese and compared its characteristics with those reported in other population-based studies. MethodsWe enrolled inhabitants from six villages of the JingNing County, China. We recorded the ambulatory BP using 90207 SpaceLabs monitors. Trained physicians measured the conventional BP at the participants' homes. Hypertension was defined as a conventional BP of ≥140/≥90 mmHg or a condition requiring the intake of antihypertensive drugs. Using MEDLINE, we searched for population-based studies on ambulatory BP monitoring. ResultsThe 356 participants (12–86 years) included 192 (53.9%) women and 117 (32.9%) hypertensive patients. In all participants, systolic/diastolic BP averaged 129/80 mmHg at home. The ambulatory BP means were 121/77 mmHg over 24 h, 126/81 mmHg during daytime (0800 to 1800 h) and 112/70 mmHg during night-time (2200 to 0400 h). The awake and asleep BPs averaged 126/82 and 112/70 mmHg, respectively. Using previously published definitions of daytime (1000 to 2000 h) and night-time (midnight to 0600 h) instead of those given above, inflated the BP differences with the awake and asleep BPs from 0.4/0.2 to 1.2/1.0 mmHg and from 0.3/0 to 1.4/1.6 mmHg, respectively. Compared with daytime values, conventional BP was 2.7/3.1 mmHg lower in normotensive individuals, but 14.9/1.3 mmHg higher in hypertensive patients. In our normotensive individuals, the whole-day and night-time diastolic BPs were from 1 to 4 mmHg and from 3 to 7 mmHg higher than in five other population studies in Caucasians or Japanese, whereas night-time BP in our participants was 9/5 mmHg lower than in Chinese living in Taiwan. ConclusionsWe demonstrated significant differences in the characteristics of the ambulatory blood pressure across Asian and Caucasian populations. To what extent different activity patterns and genetic and environmental factors explain this context-dependency remains to be clarified.
Interpreting Net Fiscal Incidence Calculations

This paper evaluates calculations of net fiscal incidence, using an applied general equilibrium model of Australia into which public goods are incorporated. Results indicate that it is inappropriate to regard the redistributive impacts of government policies as a zero sum game. For large reductions in public goods provision and taxes, the dominant effect is the foregone consumer surplus from suboptimal public goods provision. In addition, the redistributive pattern of small charges are quite different from large charges. Marginal and average net fiscal incidence, thus, need to be clearly separated, a point not emphasized in existing literature. Copyright 1987 by MIT Press.
Is Gender Pay Discrimination on the Wane? Evidence from Panel Data, 1968–1989

Previous studies of the gender pay gap in the United States have found a narrowing of that gap in the past two decades, but have differed substantially in the reported magnitude of that change. This study calculates gender earnings differences using Panel Study of Income Dynamics data for 1968–89, a longer time series than has been examined by any similar study. It also employs improved statistical techniques, notably an adjustment for selection bias and a recently recommended modification of the most commonly used decomposition technique. The author finds a significant decline both in the portion of the differential due to observed differences between men's and women's characteristics and in the “unexplained” component, which is often attributed to discrimination. The results of one analysis show that over the 1968–89 period the gender pay gap narrowed to as little as 47%.
Phosphorylation in the carboxyl-terminal domain of the capsid protein of hepatitis B virus: evaluation with a monoclonal antibody

The capsid protein of hepatitis B virus (p21c) is made of 183 amino acids coded for by the C gene. By using p21c isolated from Dane particles (hepatitis B virus) as an immunogen, a monoclonal antibody (no. 2212) which recognized an epitope dependent on the phosphorylation of p21c was raised. The binding of no. 2212 antibody to authentic p21c was completely inhibited by a synthetic undecapeptide with a sequence of RRRSQSPRRRR, representing amino acids 165 to 175 of p21c, only when the peptide was phosphorylated. Either or both of Ser-168 and Ser-170 were phosphorylated in p21c in vivo, therefore, and contributed to the manifestation of the epitope. No. 2212 antibody bound to p21c from core particles derived from Dane particles or hepatocellular carcinoma tissues (PLC/342) propagated in nude mice but did not bind to p21c from core particles expressed in Escherichia coli or yeast cells, indicating different states of phosphorylation in them. Nonphosphorylated p21c showed a higher affinity for the viral DNA than did phosphorylated p21c. Since the serum from an asymptomatic carrier, with a high titer for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen, specifically bound to phosphorylated undecapeptide (amino acids 165 to 175), the epitope would stimulate humoral antibody responses in the human host.
Does ownership structure matter in explaining derivatives' use policy in French listed firms

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of ownership structure on derivatives' use policy. Using data for 262 French non-financial listed firms, the results show that the two decisions of whether to use derivatives or not and the extent of derivatives use are not affected by the same variables. CEO ownership has a negative effect on the decision to use derivatives, whereas CEO tenure length influences negatively the extent of derivative use. CEO age impacts positively both decisions, whereas firms that grant stock options to their CEOs do not rely too much on derivatives. However, the presence of outside blockholders seems not to affect the firms' hedging policy.
Detection of low-frequency pretherapy chemokine (CXC motif) receptor 4 (CXCR4)-using HIV-1 with ultra-deep pyrosequencing

Objective:Identification of low-frequency variants is of clinical importance in the identification of preexisting drug resistance. Using ‘ultra-deep’ sequencing, we address the detection of potential resistance to the chemokine (C–C motif) receptor 5 (CCR5) antagonist, maraviroc, due to the pretreatment presence of low levels of chemokine (CXC motif) receptor 4 (CXCR4)-using virus. Methods:We present a novel protocol for the phenotyping of HIV based on ‘454’ pyrosequence data and apply this to two large data sets comprised of 104 628 (before treatment, day 1) and 191 637 (after treatment, day 11) reads from the envelope region. We study resistance in the context of the evolutionary history of the intrapatient viral population. Variation was also investigated both within and outside the V3 region, the region associated with the receptor switch. Results:CXCR4-using virus can be detected at low frequency prior to maraviroc treatment (∼0.5%) and at high frequency after failure of monotherapy (∼81%). Inferring an evolutionary tree from the 1674 unique reads that span the V3 region confirms that the CXCR4-using population emerged from low-frequency CXCR4-using variants present before treatment. Changes in the frequency of amino acid residues used at individual sites were found in regions outside the V3 region, indicative of other potential sites associated with receptor usage. Conclusion:We have provided a high-resolution snapshot of intrapatient viral variation, prior and after treatment with maraviroc, and detected preexisting CXCR4-using variants present at an extremely low frequency. The evolutionary analysis demonstrates the extent of diversity present at a single time point within an infected individual and the rapid effect of drug pressure on the structure of a viral population.
EFFECTIVENESS OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ON EMPLOYEES' PERFORMANCE AND ORGANISATION COMPETITIVENESS IN THE NIGERIAN BANKING INDUSTRY

Training and development is indispensable strategic tool for enhancing employee performance and organizations keep increasing training budget on yearly basis with believe that it will earn them competitive edge. The main objective of this study is to examine the effectiveness of training and development on employees' performance and organisation competitive advantage in the Nigerian banking industry. Descriptive research method was adopted for this study using two hundred and twenty three valid questionnaires which were completed by selected banks in Lagos State, South-West Nigeria using simple random sampling technique. The data collected were carefully analyzed using descriptive statistics to represent the raw data in a meaningful manner. The results show that strong relationship exists between training and development, employees' performance and competitive advantage. Summary of the findings indicates that there is strong relationship between the tested dependent variable and independent construct. However, bank management should not relent in their quest to train their staff to develop new ideas that will keep improving and retaining employee performance.
Appliance Efficiency Standards and Labeling Programs in China

▪ Abstract Since the late 1980s, China has developed an extensive program of energy efficiency standards and labeling for household appliances. This development closely traces the rapid growth of appliance ownership and the domestic appliance industry and is an integral part of China's comprehensive energy conservation policy. The implementation of energy efficiency standards and labels for household appliances has not only achieved significant reductions in energy consumption and therefore greenhouse gas emissions in China, but it has also been instrumental in stimulating one of the world's largest appliance markets. This article reviews the historical development of Chinese programs, summarizes the most recent activities, and documents to the extent possible their impact on appliance efficiency and energy consumption.
Optimal Successive Mappings for classification

In this paper, we propose a new method of designing and constructing ldquogoodrdquo mappings defined by kernel functions for classification task, called Optimal Successive Mappings (OSM). Kernel methods, such as Support Vector Machines (SVM), could not provide satisfactory classification accuracy on some complicated data sets, which are still not linearly separable in feature space. It means kernels designed only by tuning kernel parameters cannot adapt well to classification of complicated data sets. Unlike tuning parameters, OSM learns and designs its kernel from training data, through a sequence of two mappings and optimizing a criteria function. After feature mapping of OSM, data in the feature space appear not only linearly separable but also intra-class compact and extra-class separate. As the problem of optimizing the criteria function reduces to a generalized eigenvalue problem, OSM possesses non-iterative and low complex properties. Comparative experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.
Cournot Oligopoly and the Theory of Supermodular Games

We reconsider the Cournot oligopoly problem in light of the theory of supermodular games. Invoking the recent ordinal version of this theory proposed by Milgrom Shannon (1991), we generalize Novshek's (1985) existence result, give an extension of a classical existence result under symmetry, and provide conditions making a Cournot oligopoly into a log-supermodular game (with the natural order on the action sets). We also provide extensive and precise insight as to why decreasing best-responses are widely regarded as being "typical", for the Cournot model with production costs. Several illustrative examples are provided.
Stateless People, Violent States

BOGUE, Mauritania The border region between Mauritania and Senegal is a marshy green stretch of the Senegal River Valley on the southern edge of the Sahara, where the Arab world meets black Africa. The town of Bogue is a bustling trading outpost of lowslung, camel-colored office blocks flanked by tin-roof shops and crowded tenements. Mopeds and donkey-drawn carts thread past ancient taxis. Vendors hawk their produce from wooden wagons and pickup trucks. Women in flowery veils, men in turquoise robes and turbans, bustle through the sandy
Angular Effects of Z-Plasty Technique on Extent of Relaxation of Contracted Scar, Cosmetic Appearance and Tip Necrosis in Dogs

Z-plasty is a plastic surgery technique which is used to improve the functional and cosmetic appearance of a scar by redirecting it into better alignment and allowing the closure of a large wound by increasing circumference of its orifices. This experimental study was executed to evaluate the extent of relaxation of contracted scar, cosmetic appearance and tip necrosis in dogs by using Z-plasty technique at different angles, i.e. 45°, 60° and 75°, respectively. 18 mongrel dogs were randomly selected and divided in three groups (A, B and C) comprising six dogs each; after induction of scar tissue, Z-plasty was applied at 45° in Group A, 60° in Group B and 75° in Group C, respectively. % Gain in length was superior for the 60° group (P<0.05), as compared with the 45° and 75° Z-plasty, respectively. Tip Necrosis Status and cosmetic appearance for the 60° group were also found superior (P<0.05) than at 45° and 75°, respectively. The results of the experimental trial showed that the parameters of extent of relaxation of the contracted scar, cosmetic appearance and tip necrosis, were mainly governed by two factors, (1) length of contracted scar and (2) angle of Z-plasty technique. Conclusively, 60° Z-plasty serves a better option for correction of burn scar contractures since it provides average gain in length, good cosmetic appearance and causes no tip necrosis.
Model-based adaptive frequency estimator for gear crack fault detection

Detection of gear cracks from vibration data is a difficult task. This paper investigates an alternative to the linear predictor residual fault detection based on the nonlinear adaptive control system concept of frequency estimators. The frequency estimator model takes advantage of the sinusoidal nature of vibration and adapts the system model during operation. The low-computational requirements, no-priori knowledge, sinusoidal-based prediction, and on-line model adaption makes this model ideal for on-line gear crack fault detection. Performance is evaluated through both synthetic and experimental data while comparing to the autoregressive linear predictor model.
THE AGGLUTININ RESPONSE IN SOCKEYE SALMON VACCINATED INTRAPERITONEALLY WITH A HEAT-KILLED PREPARATION OF THE BACTERIUM RESPONSIBLE FOR SALMONID KIDNEY DISEASE

Immature sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) responded to the intraperitoneal injection of heat-killed, adjuvant-suspended cells of the salmonid kidney disease bacterium by producing agglutinins specific for the pathogen. These antibodies were detectable for at least 16 months following a single injection. With water temperatures of 12–15 C which prevailed during the first 100 days following this injection, the response was rather slow to develop, and whether or not antibodies were produced in this period, depended on the dose of antigen given. Under a similar temperature regime, a second injection, given 13 months after the first, elicited a clear-cut anamnestic response. Ninety days following primary and secondary vaccination, maximum agglutinating titres were 1:2,560 and 1:10,240, respectively. Electrophoregrams of sera from vaccinated fish revealed the presence of one, and sometimes two, fractions of low mobility. These fractions occurred in the gamma and beta regions, and contained antibody. They were most distinct in sera with high titres; they were not observed in sera from non-vaccinated controls (these typically showed three major components of higher mobility); and they were selectively removed when sera were adsorbed with cells of the kidney disease bacterium. Some properties of the antibodies were studied.
A security system for personal genome information at DNA level

The personal information encoded in genomic DNA should not be made available to the public. With the increasing discoveries of new genes, it has become necessary to establish a security system for personal genome information. Although many security systems that are applied for electrical information in computers have been developed and established, there is no security system for information at DNA level. We describe a new security system for information encoded within DNA. The original genomic DNA was mixed with many kinds of dummy DNAs (mixtures of natural and/or artificial DNAs) resulting in the masking of the original information. Using these dummy molecules, we succeeded to completely 'lock' the original genome information. If this information must be 'unlocked', it can be extracted and analyzed by a removal of dummy DNAs using molecular tagging techniques or by selective amplification using key primers.
Factors associated with depression and suicidal ideation among individuals with arthritis or rheumatism: findings from a representative community survey.

OBJECTIVE To investigate factors associated with depression and suicidal ideation among individuals with arthritis or rheumatism. METHODS The nationally representative Canadian Community Health Survey 2000-2001 included 130,880 respondents (response rate 84.7%). Respondents were diagnosed as depressed using a subset of items from the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. There were 23,405 respondents age > or =20 years who reported that they had been diagnosed with arthritis or rheumatism by a health professional. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to investigate depression and suicidal ideation. RESULTS One in 10 Canadians with arthritis had clinically relevant levels of major depression. The age- and sex-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of major depression (OR 2.24, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.11-2.38) and suicidal ideation (OR 2.01, 95% CI 1.75-2.31) among those with arthritis were approximately twice that of those without arthritis. The adjusted ORs of major depression among those with arthritis were significantly higher among women, the unmarried, younger, and poorer individuals. Individuals in pain, with limitations in activities of daily living, with limitations in instrumental activities of daily living, and with greater numbers of chronic conditions had higher odds of major depression. Less than half of those with major depression had consulted a mental health professional. One in 5 individuals with arthritis and major depression had been suicidal in the past year. CONCLUSION The majority of individuals with arthritis and major depression were not receiving adequate treatment for major depression. Clients should be screened for major depression and suicidal ideation, particularly if they fall into the identified vulnerable groups.
Lumbar pedicle screw salvage: pullout testing of three different pedicle screw designs.

Although research has determined pedicle screw pullout strengths for normal and osteoporotic bone, this study provides the first biomechanical analysis of pedicle screw salvage. Ten fresh frozen human lumbar spines were separated into individual vertebrae; 6.0 x 40 mm pedicle screws were placed in each pedicle; and an axial pullout test was performed to establish control values. Ultimate load, initial stiffness, work, and displacement data were calculated. Each vertebra was reinstrumented with one 7.0 x 40 mm variable screw placement (VSP) screw side by side with either a 7.0 mm Cotrel Dubousset sacral screw (CD) or a 7.0 mm Compact Cotrel Dubousset pedicle screw (CCD). Pullout tests were repeated and compared to control data for individual screws and for each VSP/CD or VSP/CCD pair. Vertebrae were then reinstrumented with 8.0 mm VSP and CD screws and paired pullouts repeated. Statistical analysis was carried out using a paired T test. Analysis of intravertebral and intergroup variation of controls was carried out using a Paired Two Sample T test. The 7.0 mm CCD screws restored pullout strength to 62% of control pullouts; 7.0 mm CD screws, to 85%; 7.0 mm VSP screws, to 99%; 8.0 mm CD screws, to 109%; and 8.0 mm VSP screws, to 148% of control pullouts. The 7.0 mm VSP salvage screws exceeded CD screws in ultimate load by 22.5% (p < .03) and CCD screws by 33.5% (p < .05). The 8.0 mm salvage screws significantly increased pullout relative to both controls and all 7.0 mm salvage screws, with 8.0 mm VSP exceeding 8.0 mm CD by 34% (p < .03). Initial stiffness was also significantly greater in VSP than CD screws. Although applied in a smaller number of vertebrae, 8.0 mm screws sufficiently outperformed smaller screws to provide statistically significant differences. The 7.0 mm VSP salvage screws restored pullout to control levels, roughly equivalent to outcomes previously obtained with unpressurized polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA).
Amelioration of radiation-induced damages in mice by carotenoid meso-zeaxanthin

Abstract Purpose: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the radioprotective effect of meso-zeaxanthin, a xanthophyll carotenoid with profound antioxidant activity. Materials and methods: Swiss albino mice were treated with different doses of meso-zeaxanthin (50 and 250 mg/kg body weight, orally) five days before irradiation and sacrificed at different time points. The protective effects of meso-zeaxanthin on mortality, haematological parameters, bone marrow cellularity and gastrointestinal system of irradiated mice were studied. The anti-genotoxic action of meso-zeaxanthin was studied by measuring micronuclei formation, chromosomal aberrations and DNA damage (comet assay). Results: Meso-zeaxanthin administration significantly increased the lifespan of irradiated mice and reduced myelosuppression as evident from increases in white blood cell counts, bone marrow cellularity and the number of maturing monocytes when compared to the myelosuppression in radiation control animals. Meso-zeaxanthin significantly elevated the radiation-induced reduction in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione in both liver and intestinal mucosa. The carotenoid-treated animals showed a profound reduction in genotoxic activity which was apparent in decreases in micronuclei formation and chromosomal aberrations. Irradiation also induced damage to cellular DNA as was obvious from increases in comet parameters like tail DNA%, tail moment, tail length and Olive tail moment in the radiation control group. These parameters were decreased by meso-zeaxanthin treatment. Conclusion: Results indicated a radioprotective potential of meso-zeaxanthin.
Improving calibration of array antennas via Microwave Imaging

Complex array signal processing algorithms like Multiple Signal Classification often require a precise knowledge of the radiation characteristics of the array antenna in use. Calibration of group antennas by determination of antenna array radiation patterns is therefore a fundamental task for improving the performance of these algorithms. From a practical point of view this requirement is challenging, since the environment surrounding the antenna may alter over time or may even be completely unknown. This environment can have a severe influence on the group antenna radiation patterns. The approach proposed in this paper uses a Microwave Imaging technique to reconstruct position and shape of scatterers surrounding the array antenna. This information can further be used to calculate the field scattered by these objects as well as the total radiation pattern of group antenna and environment. The proposed algorithm only requires S-parameters of the antenna array measured in presence of the scatterers. The theoretical concept of this method is presented in this paper. Results obtained by numerical simulation show that this algorithm provides better radiation pattern estimates than other commonly known calibration methods.