Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Hydroxychalcone Derived from Cinnamon Functions as a Mimetic for Insulin in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

Objectives: These studies investigated the ability of a hydroxychalcone from cinnamon to function as an insulin mimetic in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Methods: Comparative experiments were performed with the cinnamon methylhydroxychalcone polymer and insulin with regard to glucose uptake, glycogen synthesis, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase dependency, glycogen synthase activation and glycogen synthase kinase-3β activity. The phosphorylation state of the insulin receptor was also investigated. Results: MHCP treatment stimulated glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis to a similar level as insulin. Glycogen synthesis was inhibited by both wortmannin and LY294002, inhibitors directed against the PI-3-kinase. In addition, MHCP treatment activated glycogen synthase and inhibited glycogen synthase kinase-3β activities, known effects of insulin treatment. Analysis of the insulin receptor demonstrated that the receptor was phosphorylated upon exposure to the MHCP. This supports that the insulin cascade was triggered by MHCP. Along with comparing MHCP to insulin, experiments were done with MHCP and insulin combined. The responses observed using the dual treatment were greater than additive, indicating synergism between the two compounds. Conclusion: Together, these results demonstrate that the MHCP is an effective mimetic of insulin. MHCP may be useful in the treatment of insulin resistance and in the study of the pathways leading to glucose utilization in cells.
Defy : a wearable , historical narrative told through somatic self-experience and self-reflection

This paper describes the exploratory design process of Wo.Defy, a bioresponsive wearable garment that integrates interaction design with feminist critique through an emphasis on intimacy, self-agency and self-reflection. Our research is based on a somaesthetics framework addressing values of selfexperience, poetics, materiality, and interaction semantics. Wo.Defy critically engages concepts of cultural history and identity to develop a richer understanding of design for the self. Our research design is informed by the historical precedent of the Self-Combing Sisters, a suffragette group in early 20th century Chinese society, who challenged the traditional Chinese status quo of gender roles and social conceptions of pre-arranged marriages through their chosen dress and styling of their hair. Wo.Defy contributes to the design discourse of wearable, embodied interaction through its emphasized integration of cultural historical research into contemporary wearable design practice, braiding a feminist HCI agenda through a somaesthetics framework.
Order statistics for correlated fading channels

In this paper, a simple procedure for computing the cumulative distribution function (CDF) of the r-th order statistic for correlated Nakagami fading channels with an arbitrary covariance matrix is proposed. This method, numerical in nature, is useful in assessing the impact of correlation on diversity system performance. The method represents a significant theoretical tool that can be applied to the analysis of diversity systems operating over correlative Nakagami-m fading channels. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the effect of fading correlation and fading severity on the received signal statistics.
Mandatory IFRS Adoption, Accounting Quality, and Investment Efficiency: Evidence from China

Abstract This paper investigates changes in accounting quality (AQ) and corporate investment efficiency around the mandatory adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in China in 2007. We find that Chinese firms experience an overall decline in both AQ (measured by accrual characteristics) and investment efficiency post-IFRS relative to pre-IFRS. There are both similarities and differences in how IFRS impacts investment behaviour between state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and non-SOEs which are confronted with distinct agency problems. Specifically, both under- and over-investment problems are aggravated among SOEs, whereas among non-SOEs only under-investment worsens, not over-investment. We also find that for both SOEs and non-SOEs, declines in investment efficiencies are concentrated on firms with more severe AQ drops. We rationalise these findings in the context of the various agency problems faced by Chinese firms, and infer that mandatory IFRS adoption has led to deteriorating reporting quality and real investment efficiency in China’s transitional economy.
Effect of sodium nitrite on local control of contracting skeletal muscle microvascular oxygen pressure in healthy rats.

Exercise intolerance characteristic of diseases such as chronic heart failure (CHF) and diabetes is associated with reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability from nitric oxide synthase (NOS), resulting in an impaired microvascular O2 driving pressure (Po2mv; O2 delivery/O2 utilization) and metabolic control. Infusions of the potent NO donor sodium nitroprusside augment NO bioavailability yet decrease mean arterial pressure (MAP) thereby reducing its potential efficacy for patient populations. To eliminate or reduce hypotensive sequelae, [Formula: see text] was superfused onto the spinotrapezius muscle. It was hypothesized that local [Formula: see text] administration would elevate resting Po2mv and slow Po2mv kinetics [increased time constant (τ) and mean response time (MRT)] following the onset of muscle contractions without decreasing MAP. In 12 anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats, Po2mv of the circulation-intact spinotrapezius muscle was measured by phosphorescence quenching during 180 s of electrically induced twitch contractions (1 Hz) before and after superfusion of sodium nitrite (NaNO2 30 mM). [Formula: see text] superfusion elevated resting Po2mv (control: 28.4 ± 1.1 vs. [Formula: see text]: 31.6 ± 1.2 mmHg; P ≤ 0.05), τ (control: 12.3 ± 1.2 vs. [Formula: see text]: 19.7 ± 2.2 s; P ≤ 0.05), and MRT (control: 19.3 ± 1.9 vs. [Formula: see text]: 25.6 ± 3.3 s; P ≤ 0.05). Importantly, these effects occurred in the absence of any reduction in MAP (103 ± 4 vs. 105 ± 4 mmHg, pre- and postsuperfusion respectively; P > 0.05). These results indicate that [Formula: see text] supplementation delivered to the muscle directly through [Formula: see text] superfusion enhances the blood-myocyte oxygen driving pressure without compromising MAP at rest and following the onset of muscle contraction. This strategy has substantial clinical utility for a range of ischemic conditions. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Ischemic conditions as diverse as chronic heart failure (CHF) and frostbite inflict tissue damage via inadequate O2 delivery. Herein we demonstrate that direct application of sodium nitrite enhances the O2 supply-O2 demand relationship, raising microvascular O2 pressure in healthy skeletal muscle. This therapeutic action of nitrite-derived nitric oxide occurred without inducing systemic hypotension and has the potential to relieve focal ischemia and preserve tissue vitality by enhancing O2 delivery.
Anatomy of the portuguese stock market risk and return in the 1977-2012 period

This paper analyses the Portuguese stock market since it reopened in 1977, with a special focus on the evolution of the statistic and stochastic characteristics of the market return throughout this 36 year period. The market return for the period of time between 1977 and 2012 (September 28) is estimated and then compared with the return that would have been achieved with Government bonds and treasury bills, which allows us to confirm that the hierarchy of return / risk across the different financial instruments is verified. The market risk premium for this 36 year period is also estimated and a comparison with other markets is performed, suggesting that the Portuguese market’s risk has not been compensated by an adequate return. The study also examines the evolution of the Portuguese market’s volatility in the 1977-2012 period and compares it with other markets, showing the existence of extremely high peaks during the first 11 years, but indicating a downwards trend throughout the whole period under analysis. Finally, the correlation between market returns for Portugal and for other countries and the degree of integration are estimated and their evolution throughout time is assessed, leading to the conclusion that the performance of the Portuguese stock market has become increasingly correlated with major European markets – correlation with some markets close to 0.70 from 2000 onwards-, but that country-specific risk factors are still relevant.
Systematic assessment of imputation performance using the 1000 Genomes reference panels

Genotype imputation has been widely adopted in the postgenome-wide association studies (GWAS) era. Owing to its ability to accurately predict the genotypes of untyped variants, imputation greatly boosts variant density, allowing fine-mapping studies of GWAS loci and large-scale meta-analysis across different genotyping arrays. By leveraging genotype data from 90 whole-genome deeply sequenced individuals as the evaluation benchmark and the 1000 Genomes Project data as reference panels, we systematically examined four important issues related to genotype imputation practice. First, in a study of imputation accuracy, we found that IMPUTE2 and minimac have the best imputation performance among the three popular imputing software evaluated and that using a multi-population reference panel is beneficial. Second, the optimal imputation quality cutoff for removing poorly imputed variants varies according to the software used. Third, the major contributing factors to consistently poor imputation are low variant heterozygosity, high sequence similarity to other genomic regions, high GC content, segmental duplication and being far from genotyping markers. Lastly, in an evaluation of the imputability of all known GWAS regions, we found that GWAS loci associated with hematological measurements and immune system diseases are harder to impute, as compared with other human traits. Recommendations made based on the above findings may provide practical guidance for imputation exercise in future genetic studies.
A Review of Three Decades of Doctoral Studies Using the Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale: A Lens on Methodological Progress in Educational Leadership

Background: This report continues in the lineage of reviews of research in educational leadership and management by examining methodological approaches used by doctoral researchers in studying principal instructional leadership. Research Design: The article reviews the full set of 130 doctoral dissertations completed over the past three decades that used the Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale (PIMRS). The report analyzes trends in the research foci, conceptual models, research designs, and statistical methods employed in these studies. Findings: The study finds that interest in instructional leadership among scholars and practitioners remained strong throughout the period of the review, the PIMRS has proven a reliable and valid data collection tool, and the use of research methodology has improved in several specific areas. Nonetheless, the results also suggest that the conceptual frameworks and methodologies used by these doctoral students were, on the whole, inadequate for the task of contributing to either the theoretical or the practical knowledge base in this field. This impression of weak knowledge accumulation was further reinforced by a citation analysis that found limited citations of the dissertations by other researchers in the field at large or by the dissertation authors themselves. These conclusions applied equally to EdD and PhD dissertations, regardless of the level of research university from which they were produced. Conclusions: The review adds empirical evidence of trends in research quality gathered over a 30-year period to the renewed debate over the purpose and direction of the doctoral dissertation in this professional field.
Uniform upper bound of the spectrum of rooted graphs

Given the number of vertices only, we provide a uniform upper bound for spectrum of rooted graphs under the equal-neighbor rule, by acquiring the tight upper bound of the scrambling constant (SC). Furthermore, with the concept of canonical form of rooted graphs, we find the least connective topology of rooted graphs in the sense of SC.
Vitamin D status and sex hormone binding globulin: Determinants of bone turnover and bone mineral density in elderly women

To examine the relation of the vitamin D status and the remaining estrogen activity with bone turnover and bone mineral density (BMD) in elderly women, BMD was measured at both hips using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry and at the distal radius using single photon absorptiometry, in 330 healthy women aged 70 and over. Vitamin D metabolites, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), PTH(1–84), osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, and hydroxyproline and calcium excretion in 2 h fasting urine were measured. Multiple linear regression was used to adjust for potential confounders. In 65% of the women, serum 25(OH)D was below 30 nmol/l. Only values below a threshold for 25(OH)D were negatively related to serum PTH(1–84) (p = 0.02, threshold at 25 nmol/l) and to osteocalcin levels (p = 0.04, threshold at 30 nmol/l). BMD of the femoral neck and trochanter was positively related to serum 25(OH)D (left neck p = 0.001) with thresholds at 30 nmol/l whereas the distal radius was not (p = 0.32). Serum PTH was negatively related to BMD at all measurement sites (all p < 0.001). Serum SHBG, an inverse measure of estrogen activity, was positively related to osteocalcin levels (p = 0.004) and the urinary hydroxyproline/creatinine ratio (p = 0.002) and negatively related to the BMD of the trochanter (left trochanter p = 0.02) and the distal radius (p = 0.001). We conclude that in elderly women, serum 25(OH)D levels below 30 nmol/l are associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism and increased bone turnover. SHBG is positively related to bone turnover. Vitamin D deficiency especially influences BMD of the femoral neck, a cortical area. SHBG mainly influences BMD at the trochanteric region and distal radius, predominantly trabecular areas, which may reflect the effects of remaining estrogen activity.
The Self-Assessment of Role-Performance and Activities of Daily Living Abilities (SARA™): Development and Clinical Utility of a Client-Centered Screening Tool and Outcome Measure

This article describes the development and use of the Self-Assessment of Role-performance and activities of daily living Abilities (SARA™), a standardized client-centered index of functional abilities. Developed in four phases, this article describes the initial development, pilot testing and revision, examination of psychometric properties, and finalization. Pilot studies found the SARA™ to be reliable, valid, and responsive to change. The use of the SARA™ in clinical practice and for outcome monitoring promotes client-centered goal setting and client-valued rehabilitation. It is a viable alternative to deficit-focused measures. The SARA™ is a promising new tool that warrants increased utilization and further research.
The effect of financial performance on company’s value moderated by dividend policy

Theobjective of the study was to analyze the effect of financial performance on company’s value moderated by dividend policy. Research variables consist of financial performance, dividend policy, and company’s value. Financial performance measured by liquidity, leverage, and profitability. Dividend policy was represented by dividend payout ratio. And last variable. company’s value was presented by Tobin’s Q. Data was purified from annual financial repot of18insurance and banking companies.Those 18 companies were listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange during the period 2010-2013. Data were analyzed using moderating regression analysis. There was evidence that financial performance did not affect the company’s value. It was also showed that dividend policy did not moderate the effect of financial performance on company’s value.
Determinants of Voluntary Disclosures in Overview of Operations - Korean Evidence

This study examines the economic determinants of voluntary disclosures in the ‘Overview of Operations’ section of the published annual report. The overview disclosures in Korea provide a unique setting for testing the economic motives of voluntary disclosures because there are no explicit regulations for the overview contents and format in Korea. We measure the level of voluntary disclosures by the number of words and the frequency of value-related keywords in an overview disclosure. We find that the levels of overview disclosure are positively associated with the degree of external financing, industry concentration, firm size, ownership of minority Copyright (C) 2006 NuriMedia Co., Ltd.
Cardiac troponin testing and the simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index

Summary A low simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (sPESI), defined as age ≤80 years and absence of systemic hypotension, tachycardia, hypoxia, cancer, heart failure, and lung disease, identifies low-risk patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). It is unknown whether cardiac troponin testing improves the prediction of clinical outcomes if the sPESI is not low. In the prospective Swiss Venous Thromboembolism Registry, 369 patients with acute PE and a troponin test (conventional troponin T or I, highly sensitive troponin T) were enrolled from 18 hospitals. A positive test result was defined as a troponin level above the manufacturers assay threshold. Among the 106 (29%) patients with low sPESI, the rate of mortality or PE recurrence at 30 days was 1.0%. Among the 263 (71%) patients with high sPESI, 177 (67%) were troponin-negative and 86 (33%) troponin-positive; the rate of mortality or PE recurrence at 30 days was 4.6% vs. 12.8% (p=0.015), respectively. Overall, risk assessment with a troponin test (hazard ratio [HR] 3.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.38–8.37; p=0.008) maintained its prognostic value for mortality or PE recurrence when adjusted for sPESI (HR 5.80, 95%CI 0.76–44.10; p=0.09). The combination of sPESI with a troponin test resulted in a greater area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.63–0.81) than sPESI alone (HR 0.63, 95% CI 0.57–0.68) (p=0.023). In conclusion, although cardiac troponin testing may not be required in patients with a low sPESI, it adds prognostic value for early death and recurrence for patients with a high sPESI.
The application of Lean Production and Six Sigma in the improvement of MRI efficiency in hospital settings

The number of patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is on the increased. However, there are too few MRI machines, resulting in long waiting times for the patients. In order to address this problem and shorten the waiting time, this study focuses on the prospects of sharing of resources with other hospitals and increase in equipment availability. The purpose of this study is to analyze whether there are wasteful, unnecessary procedures taking up too much time during MRI studies, the elimination of which would mean improved efficiency and shortening of waiting time for the patients. We employ the Value Stream Mapping (VSM) to identify potential wasteful, unnecessary work with Lean Production and Six Sigma. We also propose a scheme to improve the process and verify its feasibility by using system simulation. We hope the results of this research can be of a positive contribution to both academic and practical hospital management.
Do Better Managers Get Better Loan Contracts?

This paper examines the impact of managerial ability on bank loan contracting. We find that firms with higher‐ability managers obtain more favourable loan contract terms, including lower loan spreads, fewer covenants, and more short‐term maturities. Furthermore, the negative relation between managerial ability and loan spread is concentrated in firms with higher information asymmetry, higher default risk, or lower agency costs of debt. Finally, we find that firms with higher‐ability managers are more likely to choose public bonds over bank loans.
Monolithic front-end system for photon timing applications

Over the past few years there has been a growing interest in monolithic arrays of single photon avalanche diodes (SPAD) for spatially resolved detection of faint ultrafast optical signals. SPADs implemented in CMOS-compatible planar technologies offer the typical advantages of microelectronic devices (small size, ruggedness, low voltage, low power, etc.). Furthermore, they have inherently higher photon detection efficiency than PMTs and are able to provide, beside sensitivities down to single-photons, very high acquisition speeds (i.e. either high frame-rates or very short integration time-slots). In order to make SPAD array more and more competitive in time-resolved application it is necessary to face problems like electrical crosstalk between adjacent pixels.
Plagiarism Detection Using Machine Learning-Based Paraphrase Recognizer

Abstract Plagiarism in free text has become a common occurrence due to the wide availability of voluminous information resources. Automatic plagiarism detection systems aim to identify plagiarized content present in large repositories. This task is rendered difficult by the use of sophisticated plagiarism techniques such as paraphrasing and summarization, which mask the occurrence of plagiarism. In this work, a monolingual plagiarism detection technique has been developed to tackle cases of paraphrased plagiarism. A support vector machine based paraphrase recognition system, which works by extracting lexical, syntactic, and semantic features from input text has been used. Both sentence-level and passage-level approaches have been investigated. The performance of the system has been evaluated on various corpora, and the passage level approach has registered promising results.
Behavioural Consequences of the Performance Measurement System (PMS) in a Decision-Facilitating Role – A Review

The shortcomings of traditional PMS have led to the use of a more comprehensive PMS, which is widely used for decision-facilitating as well as decision-influencing purposes. Performance measurements for decision-facilitating or a cognitive role refer to the use of PMS to provide information to guide managers in decision-making whilst performance measurements used for a decision-influencing or motivation role refers to their use in the performance evaluation functions. Considerable prior PMS research identified the inconsistent findings in the relationship between PMS and organisational performance, thus, promoting the subsequent PMS related research to further explore the behavioural implications of PMS. This paper discusses the review of the literature examining the behavioural consequences of PMS. This review of the literature identified the conflicting findings from prior research and determined that research examining the informational characteristics of PMS on individual behaviour is still lacking.
A computational method of temperature distribution in high frequency planar transformers

In high frequency planar transformers and inductors, conventional wires have been replaced by printed circuit boards or laminated copper windings. This technology can outperform traditional wire-wound transformers in terms of cost, dimensions and performance. However, in order to obtain high efficiency and high power/size ratio, their design requires the knowledge of the internal temperature distribution. For such a reason, this paper proposes a two-dimensional numerical method for a combined computation of both the temperature distribution and the electromagnetic behaviour of planar transformers and inductors. After a detailed description of the proposed methodology, this paper reports, compares and analyzes calculated and measured results demonstrating prediction capabilities of the proposed method.