Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pharmacokinetics of nifedipine slow-release during sustained tocolysis.

OBJECTIVE The pharmacokinetics of nifedipine as a tocolytic agent has not been studied in great detail in pregnant women and has instead focused on immediate release tablets and gastrointestinal therapeutic system (GITS) tablets. The aim of this study was to determine nifedipine slow-release half-life and distribution volume in pregnant women and to compare these with pharmacokinetic parameters of nifedipine in non-pregnant subjects described in the literature. MATERIALS This is a study parallel to a trial studying women with threatened preterm labor between 26 + 0 and 32 + 2 weeks after initial tocolysis and a completed course of corticosteroids, who were randomly allocated to maintenance nifedipine (slow-release tablets 20 mg 4 times daily) or placebo. Exclusion criteria for the pharmacokinetic study were contra-indications for nifedipine, impaired liver function, and concomitant intake of inhibitors or inducers of the cytochrome P450 3A4 isoenzyme. Blood samples for measuring nifedipine plasma concentrations were drawn at t = 0, t = 12 hours, t = 24 hours, t = 48 hours, t = 72 hours, t = 7 days, and t = 9 days. METHODS Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using iterative two-stage Bayesian population pharmacokinetic analysis by MWPharm© software. The study was designed to establish a correlation between body weight and nifedipine plasma level. RESULTS The pharmacokinetic parameters of nifedipine slow-release tablets were determined from the data of 8 pregnant women. Nifedipine slow-release had a half-life of 2 - 5 hours, a mean distribution volume of 6.2 ± 1.9 L/kg (calculated while using a fixed biological availability of 0.45 taken from the literature due to lack of intravenous data in this population) compared to a half-life of 6 - 11 hours, and a distribution volume of 1.2 - 1.3 L/kg described in non-pregnant subjects in the literature. None of the women delivered during study medication. Study medication was continued for the duration of the pharmacokinetic study (9 days) in all women. A correlation between nifedipine plasma levels and maternal body weight was not demonstrated. This may have been caused by lack of power. CONCLUSION Pregnant subjects in this study, using nifedipine slow-release tablets, showed a larger volume of distribution and a shorter elimination half-life than for non-pregnant subjects as published in the literature.
Opaque Banks, Price Discovery, and Financial Instability

Opacity fosters price contagion that exacerbates the speculative cycles of bubbles and crashes that create financial instability. We find that banks with larger investments in opaque assets benefitted more from intra-industry revaluations associated with announcements of mergers in the period 2000–2006. The findings are robust to controls for competitive effects, spillover effects from higher likelihood of takeover, changes in real estate prices, and interest rates. Non-merger banks that gained most from merger activities also experienced the largest price declines during the subsequent 2007–2008 financial crisis.
Multi-timescale interference mitigation for massive MIMO cellular networks

We propose a multi-timescale interference mitigation scheme for massive MIMO cellular networks. The MIMO precoder at each base station (BS) is partitioned into an inner precoder and an outer precoder. The inner precoder controls the intra-cell interference and is adaptive to local channel state information (CSI) at each BS (CSIT). The outer precoder controls the inter-cell interference and is adaptive to channel statistics. Such hierarchical precoding structure reduces the number of pilot symbols required for CSI estimation in massive MIMO downlink and is robust to the backhaul latency. We study non-convex joint optimization of the outer precoders, the user selection, and the power allocation to maximize a general concave utility. Using the hidden convexity of the non-convex problem, we propose an iterative algorithm to find the optimal solution. We also obtain a low complexity algorithm with provable convergence. Simulations show that the proposed design has significant gain over various state-of-the-art baselines.
NLRX1 does not inhibit MAVS-dependent antiviral signalling

NLRX1 is a member of the Nod-like receptor family of intracellular sensors of microbial- and danger-associated molecular patterns. NLRX1 has a N-terminal mitochondrial addressing sequence that localizes the protein to the mitochondrial matrix. Recently, conflicting reports have been presented with regard to the putative implication of NLRX1 as a negative regulator of MAVS-dependent cytosolic antiviral responses. Here, we generated a new NLRX1 knockout mouse strain and observed that bone marrow-derived macrophages and murine embryonic fibroblasts from NLRX1-deficient mice displayed normal antiviral and inflammatory responses following Sendai virus infection. Importantly, wild type and NLRX1-deficient mice exhibited unaltered antiviral and inflammatory gene expression following intranasal challenge with influenza A virus or i.p. injection of Poly (I:C). Together, our results demonstrate that NLRX1 does not participate in the negative regulation of MAVS-dependent antiviral responses.
Joint Bidding, Entry, and the Price of OCS Leases

We use a two-equation system to estimate the effects of joint bidding on the number of bids and the maximum bid the government received in auctions for Offshore Continental Shelf tracts held between 1979 and 1983. The estimates are corrected for selection bias and simultaneity. We find that joint bidding encourages entry in the sense that the number of bids is positively associated with the existence of joint bidding. We also find support for the hypothesis that joint bidding increases the high bid with the number of bids held constant. We use these results to estimate the cost of a ban on joint bidding for OCS leases.
Phenformin Suppresses Calcium Responses to Glutamate and Protects Hippocampal Neurons against Excitotoxicity

Phenformin is a biguanide compound that can modulate glucose metabolism and promote weight loss and is therefore used to treat patients with type-2 diabetes. While phenformin may indirectly affect neurons by changing peripheral energy metabolism, the possibility that it directly affects neurons has not been examined. We now report that phenformin suppresses responses of hippocampal neurons to glutamate and decreases their vulnerability to excitotoxicity. Pretreatment of embryonic rat hippocampal cell cultures with phenformin protected neurons against glutamate-induced death, which was correlated with reduced calcium responses to glutamate. Immunoblot analyses showed that levels of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) subunits NR1 and NR2A were significantly decreased in neurons exposed to phenformin, whereas levels of the AMPA receptor subunit GluR1 were unchanged. Whole-cell patch clamp analyses revealed that NMDA-induced currents were decreased, and AMPA-induced currents were unchanged in neurons pretreated with phenformin. Our data demonstrate that phenformin can protect neurons against excitotoxicity by differentially modulating levels of NMDA receptor subunits in a manner that decreases glutamate-induced calcium influx. These findings show that phenformin can modulate neuronal responses to glutamate, and suggest possible use of phenformin and related compounds in the prevention and/or treatment of neurodegenerative conditions.
Trading Activity and Realized Volatility: Evidence with Decomposed Trading Volume and Order Imbalance

This study investigates the relation between decomposed trading volume (number of trades and average trade size) and realized volatility and its continuous and jump components. Considering buyer-initiated and seller-initiated trades and investigate whether buyer and seller initiated trades as two factors of realized volatility, we investigate whether they have an asymmetric effect on realized volatility. The stocks in the ASX50 sampled over the period January 1996 to April 2010 reveal that realized volatility and its continuous component in the returns has a positive association with trading volume, number of trades and average trade size. The association between the jump component of realized volatility and trading volume and the number of trades is negative. The buyer and seller initiated trades do not appear to explain realized volatility well. These results are robust to the GMM estimation and in sub-period analysis.
Differential effect of activators of protein kinase C on cytoskeletal changes in mouse and hamster eggs.

Treatment of metaphase II-arrested hamster eggs with activators of protein kinase C has been reported to promote resumption of the cell cycle, second polar body emission, and pronucleus formation (G.I. Gallicano, S.M. Schwarz, R.W. McGaughey, and D.G. Capco, 1993, Dev. Biol. 156, 94-106). In contrast, we have not observed these responses in mouse eggs obtained from CF-1 mice treated with these activators. In this report, we evaluated if this difference was due to differences in the technique used for PKC stimulation in the two different laboratories or due to species differences. Metaphase II-arrested hamster or mouse eggs were treated with phorbol diesters for 5 min or with a membrane-permeable diacylglycerol for 1 hr. Treatment of hamster eggs resulted in (1) the formation of "second polar body-like structures" commencing 5 min after treatment and reaching a maximum by 20-40 min; (2) a remarkable increase in the staining of filamentous actin in the region of these polar body-like structures; and (3) the disassembly of spindle microtubules. A reduction in cdc2/cyclin B1 kinase activity, as assessed by a decrease in H1 kinase activity, as well as progression from metaphase to anaphase were not observed. Treatment of mouse eggs from either CF-1 or CD-1 mice with these activators of PKC did not result in the formation of these polar body-like structures, did not cause an increase in filamentous actin, and did not result in a reduction in histone H1 kinase activity. This treatment, however, did induce disassembly of the spindle microtubules and the formation of multiple "pronucleus-like structures" that were more discernible in eggs from CD-1 mice. We conclude that the "apparent" activation of hamster eggs by activators of PKC is due to the effect of these agents on the cytoskeleton, which gives rise to structures that appear similar to polar bodies, but without any evidence of cell cycle resumption. The different responses seen in mouse and hamster eggs are mainly due to differences in the sensitivity of the cytoskeleton to rearrangements induced by these agents.
An extended group decision-making model for personnel performance evaluation

Appraisal of employee performance is among the most controversial management practices. Although many organisations have implemented formal procedures for evaluating their employees, the level of dissatisfaction with this process among both managers and employees has remained high. In this paper, the personnel performance evaluation is seen as a group decision-making problem. Accordingly, personnel will be assessed from different aspects (top-down, bottom-up and peripheral manner of appraisal, as well as the information from the viewpoints of employees themselves). This paper implements group TOPSIS and Borda methods for personnel performance evaluation based on assessors’ viewpoint weights for heterogeneous group decision-making. The introduced methods have been used in the empirical study, and the results have been analysed.
Trade and change: A meso perspective from four Italian provinces

We investigate the evolution of the economy of the four provinces of the Marche region using information derived from international trade flows. Although mainly descriptive, the analysis reveals several aspects on the changes of their economic structure associated to economic growth. We first compare the Marche provinces' features to the ones of other Italian provinces; this evidences a loss of export shares, but also an intensity of structural change in line with that of the Italian provinces and a positive evolution in terms of the complexity/sophistication of the goods produced. Nevertheless, a comparison with the dynamics of several international emerging and dynamic economies reveals that the pace of evolution in the Marche region is for some aspects slower than what is probably possible.
Reproducibility of a Standardized Actigraphy Scoring Algorithm for Sleep in a US Hispanic/Latino Population.

STUDY OBJECTIVES While actigraphy is considered objective, the process of setting rest intervals to calculate sleep variables is subjective. We sought to evaluate the reproducibility of actigraphy-derived measures of sleep using a standardized algorithm for setting rest intervals. DESIGN Observational study. SETTING Community-based. PARTICIPANTS A random sample of 50 adults aged 18-64 years free of severe sleep apnea participating in the Sueño sleep ancillary study to the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. INTERVENTIONS N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Participants underwent 7 days of continuous wrist actigraphy and completed daily sleep diaries. Studies were scored twice by each of two scorers. Rest intervals were set using a standardized hierarchical approach based on event marker, diary, light, and activity data. Sleep/wake status was then determined for each 30-sec epoch using a validated algorithm, and this was used to generate 11 variables: mean nightly sleep duration, nap duration, 24-h sleep duration, sleep latency, sleep maintenance efficiency, sleep fragmentation index, sleep onset time, sleep offset time, sleep midpoint time, standard deviation of sleep duration, and standard deviation of sleep midpoint. Intra-scorer intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were high, ranging from 0.911 to 0.995 across all 11 variables. Similarly, inter-scorer ICCs were high, also ranging from 0.911 to 0.995, and mean inter-scorer differences were small. Bland-Altman plots did not reveal any systematic disagreement in scoring. CONCLUSIONS With use of a standardized algorithm to set rest intervals, scoring of actigraphy for the purpose of generating a wide array of sleep variables is highly reproducible.
Group Work and Multicultural Management Education

Globalization changes the composition of the adult classroom, increasing diversity and bringing new associated teaching and learning problems; problems with group work. Educators may have goals to teach transferable multicultural group working skills yet learners find such work more challenging, showing a propensity to form groups containing students more like themselves i.e. unicultural. Using survey data from MBA students spanning 25 countries, this empirical article documents an investigation into methods and techniques used to create groups for teaching and learning in diverse classrooms and considers the arguments for and against a range of approaches. We conclude the educational goal directing the use of group work, student stage and the need for attaining affective and performance outcomes are important determinants of group allocation methods.
Automatic Bitcoin Address Clustering

Bitcoin is digital assets infrastructure powering the first worldwide decentralized cryptocurrency of the same name. All history of Bitcoins owning and transferring (addresses and transactions) is available as a public ledger called blockchain. But real-world owners of addresses are not known in general. That’s why Bitcoin is called pseudo-anonymous. However, some addresses can be grouped by their ownership using behavior patterns and publicly available information from off-chain sources. Blockchain-based common behavior pattern analysis (common spending and one-time change heuristics) is widely used for Bitcoin clustering as votes for addresses association, while offchain information (tags) is mostly used to verify results. In this paper, we propose to use off-chain information as votes for address separation and to consider it together with blockchain information during the clustering model construction step. Both blockchain and off-chain information are not reliable, and our approach aims to filter out errors in input data. The results of the study show the feasibility of a proposed approached for Bitcoin address clustering. It can be useful for the users to avoid insecure Bitcoin usage patterns and for the investigators to conduct a more advanced de-anonymizing analysis.
ENGAGING STUDENTS IN RESEARCH: THE USE OF STRUCTURED PROFESSIONAL DIALOGUE

Graduate students frequently have difficulty defining, developing, and resolving research problems in a manner consistent with the agricultural economics community. Here, we report on a seminar designed to assist graduate students integrate subject matter courses into independent research proposals through participation in professional dialogue. Professional dialogue involves developing arguments to explain and resolve questions where the explanations are supported by warranted evidence and appropriately qualified. The premise of the seminar is that more active problem solvers are developed using professional dialogue to sharpen critical thinking and writing skills.
Impact of the Reelin signaling cascade (Ligands–Receptors–Adaptor Complex) on cognition in schizophrenia

Our previous neurocognitive studies of schizophrenia outlined two clusters of affected subjects—cognitively spared (CS) and cognitive deficit (CD), the latter's characteristics pointing to developmental origins and impaired synaptic plasticity. Here we investigate the contribution of polymorphisms in major regulators of these processes to susceptibility to schizophrenia and to CD in patients. We examine variation in genes encoding proteins at the gateway of Reelin signaling: ligands RELN and APOE, their common receptors APOER2 and VLDLR, and adaptor DAB1. Association analysis with disease outcome and cognitive performance in the Western Australian Family Study of Schizophrenia (WAFSS) was followed by replication analysis in the Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank (ASRB) and in the Health in Men Study (HIMS) of normal aging males. In the WAFSS sample, we observed significant association of APOE, APOER2, VLDLR, and DAB1 SNPs with disease outcome in the case–control and CD–control datasets, and with pre‐morbid intelligence and verbal memory in cases. HIMS replication analysis supported rs439401 (APOE regulatory region), and rs2297660 and rs3737983 (APOER2), with an effect on memory performance in normal aging subjects consistent with the findings in schizophrenia cases. APOER2 gene expression analysis revealed lower transcript levels in lymphoblastoid cells from cognitively impaired schizophrenia patients of the alternatively spliced exon 19, mediating Reelin signaling and synaptic plasticity in the adult brain. ASRB replication analysis produced marginally significant results, possibly reflecting a recruitment strategy biased toward CS patients. The data suggest a contribution of neurodevelopmental/synaptic plasticity genes to cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Prevalence of Hypertension Accompanied by High Homocysteine and its Risk Factors in a Rural Population: A Cross-Sectional Study from Northeast China

Previous studies found that hypertension and high homocysteine (HHcy) exhibited a synergistic effect on the risk of cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of hypertension accompanied by HHcy and its risk factors in the rural areas of northeast China. This study was conducted using a stratified cluster random sampling method, and included 6529 subjects with complete data. Demographic characteristics were obtained from a questionnaire. Blood pressure and anthropometric indices were measured, and serum indices were analyzed. Hypertension accompanied by HHcy was defined as hypertension plus HHcy [homocysteine (Hcy) > 10 µmol/L]. The mean concentration of Hcy was 17.29 μmol/L in the general population. The prevalence of hypertension accompanied by HHcy was so high that it reached 45.1% of our study population and accounted for 86.8% of the total participants with hypertension. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the modifiable risk factors of hypertension accompanied by HHcy included obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and inactive physical activities. We found that the mean level of Hcy, and the prevalences of HHcy and hypertension accompanied by HHcy were very high among the rural population of northeast China. Obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and inactive physical activities were modifiable risk factors of hypertension accompanied by HHcy.
Integrated metagenomic and metaproteomic analyses of an ANME-1-dominated community in marine cold seep sediments.

Sulfate-reducing methanotrophy by anaerobic methanotrophic archaea (ANME) and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) is a major biological sink of methane in anoxic methane-enriched marine sediments. The physiology of a microbial community dominated by free-living ANME-1 at 14-16 cm below the seafloor in the G11 pockmark at Nyegga was investigated by integrated metagenomic and metaproteomic approaches. Total DNA was subjected to 454-pyrosequencing (829 527 reads), and 16.6 Mbp of sequence information was assembled into 27352 contigs. Taxonomic analysis supported a high abundance of Euryarchaea (70%) with 66% of the assembled metagenome belonging to ANME-1. Extracted sediment proteins were separated in two dimensions and subjected to mass spectrometry (LTQ-Orbitrap XL). Of 356 identified proteins, 245 were expressed by ANME-1. These included proteins for cold-adaptation and production of gas vesicles, reflecting both the adaptation of the ANME-1 community to a permanently cold environment and its potential for positioning in specific sediment depths respectively. In addition, key metabolic enzymes including the enzymes in the reverse methanogenesis pathway (except N(5) ,N(10) -methylene-tetrahydromethanopterin reductase), heterodisulfide reductases and the F(420) H(2) :quinone oxidoreductase (Fqo) complex were identified. A complete dissimilatory sulfate reduction pathway was expressed by sulfate-reducing Deltaproteobacteria. Interestingly, an APS-reductase comprising Gram-positive SRB and related sequences were identified in the proteome. Overall, the results demonstrated that our approach was effective in assessing in situ metabolic processes in cold seep sediments.
A framework of organisational innovation and outcomes in SMEs

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine innovation in small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs), and develop a comprehensive theoretical framework of how innovation occurs, the end result, and impact on business financial performance, focusing on three types of innovations.Design/methodology/approach – The study uses a grounded methodology. Interviews with entrepreneurs from across industries inform the development of the research propositions.Findings – Besides market environment, business and quality aspects, for SMEs innovation is driven by a desire to be successful, and improve working conditions. Positive outcomes of innovation include an enhancement of SMEs' reputation and image, an increase in operational efficiency and cost benefits, resulting in a better business financial performance, recruitment of a more skilled workforce, and greater in‐house expertise leading to further innovation. The negative outcomes of innovation relate to management, operational issues, and financial risks; in.