Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dangerous work: Terrorism against U.S. diplomats

ABSTRACT The goal of diplomats is to represent their countries’ interests through diplomacy, not arms. Because they are not military personnel, they may be perceived as at lower risk of being the target of terrorists. However, recent events have called this perception into question. Despite this danger, there has been little research on terrorist attacks against diplomats. Drawing on the terrorism studies literature, this article argues that diplomats are targeted more than non-diplomatic targets in countries where certain U.S. foreign policies are implemented. An empirical analysis of 471 attacks against U.S. diplomats from 1970 to 2011 reveals that while U.S. alliances and foreign aid increase the likelihood of attacks against diplomats, U.S. military intervention and civil war, on the other hand, increase the risk of terrorism against non-diplomatic targets. This finding is relevant because it shows terrorist attacks against diplomats result from certain types of foreign policy.
A low-complexity algorithm for utility based spectrum coordination in DSL systems

The static resource allocation which is usually assumed for the DSL physical layer leaves unused a significant portion of the achievable rate region. An alternative approach is to divide time into slots of short duration, and to change the resource allocation from each time slot to the next. A crosslayer scheduler then chooses a different resource allocation setting for each time slot by defining a utility function for each user n, and solving the corresponding network utility maximization (NUM) problem. For spectrum coordination, this NUM problem is non-convex and solving it is NP-Hard. This paper therefore introduces a fast algorithm, referred to as NUM-DSB, which converges to a local solution of the NUM problem. NUM-DSB can be applied to any NUM problem, regardless of the considered utility functions's characteristics. Simulation results show that NUM-DSB can compete with the state of the art algorithm for smooth non-convex network utility maximization.
Improving the adoption of agricultural technologies and farm performance through farmer groups: Evidence from the Great Lakes Region of Africa

This article examines the effect of membership in farmer groups (MFG) on the adoption lag of agricultural technologies and farm performance in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Rwanda. We use duration and stochastic production frontier models on farm household data. We find that long period of MFG reduces adoption lag and much more so if combined with sustainable extension service delivery from government or development agencies. Farmer groups function as an important mechanism for improving farm productivity through reduced technical inefficiency in input use. We discuss the policy implications under which farmer groups are a useful channel to reduce adoption lag, and by what means improved farm performance can be achieved.
Theories and theorems of the in-company continuing vocational training in Germany

First, the text provides a definition of the subject area of the in-service training (in-company continuing vocational training). Unfortunately, in-service training is rarely seen as an educational field of activity, where the public joint responsibility and active participation provide important regulatory frameworks beyond market radicalization and market failure. A series of different theories and theorems are classified based on a tripartite multi-level model. Although there is no theory of in-company continuing vocational training, a variety of approaches with different explanatory potential are intensively used in the continuing education research. Nevertheless, there is a need for further consolidation and development of the theory-based and above all andragogic studies in an interdisciplinary research and activity field.
Process and Variance Modeling

Models are an important component of research design that serve as intermediaries between theories and data, often directing decisions about methods and statistics. This article discusses the basic differences and assumptions associated with process and variance models as a way of introducing the four articles contained within this special issue of Family Business Review on “Process and Variance Methods. ” Specifically, we highlight three key issues regarding modeling—time and causality, measurement and operationalization, and model specification—making specific ties to the challenges often associated with family business research.
Bioavailability of triple-bead mixed amphetamine salts compared with a dose-augmentation strategy of mixed amphetamine salts extended release plus mixed amphetamine salts immediate release*

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare the single-dose pharmacokinetics of triple-bead mixed amphetamine salts (MAS), an oral, once-daily, enhanced extended-release amphetamine formulation, with MAS extended release (MAS XR) (Adderall XR†) + MAS immediate release (MAS IR) administered 8 h later. Methods: This was a phase I, randomized, open-label, single-dose, single-center, two-period, crossover study in healthy adult volunteers designed to evaluate the bioavailability of triple-bead MAS over the course of a full day. Subjects were randomized to triple-bead MAS 37.5 mg or MAS XR 25 mg + MAS IR 12.5 mg administered 8 h later (MAS XR + MAS IR). The reference treatment was designed to mimic the clinical practice of providing extended coverage by supplementing a morning dose of MAS XR with a dose of MAS IR 8 h later in order to increase the duration of action. Plasma was assayed for d‑amphetamine and l‑amphetamine. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), vital signs, electrocardiograms (ECGs), and laboratory data were also collected for safety evaluation. Results: Exposure to d‑ and l‑amphetamine was equivalent between triple-bead MAS and MAS XR + MAS IR based on maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time 0 to infinity (AUC0–∞). For Cmax, least-squares mean ratios comparing triple-bead MAS with MAS XR + MAS IR were 101.0% and 90.9% for d‑amphetamine and l‑amphetamine, respectively, and for AUC0–∞ were 104.4% and 95.3% for d‑amphetamine and l‑amphetamine, respectively. Median time to maximum observed plasma concentration (Tmax) values for d‑amphetamine and l‑amphetamine were 8.0 h for triple-bead MAS and 10.0 h for MAS XR + MAS IR. There were no clinically meaningful differences between the study formulations for TEAEs or laboratory values. One subject experienced an ECG abnormality (asymptomatic premature ventricular contractions) leading to early termination from the study. Conclusions: In healthy adults, the exposure observed with triple-bead MAS 37.5 mg was bioequivalent to MAS XR 25 mg supplemented by MAS IR 12.5 mg administered 8 h later. These data demonstrate that a single morning dose of triple-bead MAS provides equivalent plasma concentrations to those observed with a dose-augmentation strategy of MAS XR in the morning followed by MAS IR in the afternoon, while minimizing peak-to-trough fluctuations. Triple-bead MAS was also generally well-tolerated in this study.
Partition cost-sensitive CART based on customer value for Telecom customer churn prediction

Telecom Customer churn prediction is a cost sensitive classification problem. Most of studies regard it as a general classification problem use traditional methods, that the two types of misclassification cost are equal. And, in aspect of cost sensitive classification, there are some researches focused on static cost sensitive situation. In fact, customer value of each customer is different, so misclassification cost of each sample is different. For this problem, we propose the partition cost-sensitive CART model in this paper. According to the experiment based on the real data, it is showed that the method not only obtains a good classification performance, but also reduces the total misclassification costs effectively.
Peroneal tendon subluxation: the other lateral ankle injury

Ankle injuries are a frequent cause of patient visits to the emergency department and orthopaedic and primary care offices. Although lateral ligament sprains are the most common pathologic conditions, peroneal tendon subluxations occur with a similar inversion mechanism. Multiple grades of subluxation have been described with a recent addition of intrasheath subluxation. Magnetic resonance imaging is the best imaging modality to view the peroneal tendons at the retrofibular groove. Currently, point-of-care ultrasound is gaining clinical ground, especially for the dynamic viewing capability to capture an episodic subluxation. Although conservative treatment may be attempted for an acute injury, it has a low rate of success for the prevention of recurrent subluxation. Surgical procedures of various techniques have resulted in excellent recovery rates and faster return to play. The aim of this paper was to give a complete review of the current literature on peroneal tendon subluxation and to propose a clinical algorithm to help guide diagnosis and treatment. The goal of this study was to heighten clinical awareness to improve earlier detection and treatment of this sometimes elusive diagnosis.
Maximized nanodrug-loaded mesenchymal stem cells by a dual drug-loaded mode for the systemic treatment of metastatic lung cancer

Abstract Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), exhibiting tumor-tropic and migratory potential, can serve as cellular carriers to improve the effectiveness of anticancer agents. However, several challenges, such as the safety issue, the limited drug loading, the conservation of stemness and migration of MSCs, still remain in the MSC-based delivery system. In the present study, a novel nano-engineered MSC delivery system was established by loading doxorubicin (DOX)–polymer conjugates for the systemic treatment of pulmonary metastasis of breast cancer. For the first time, a dual drug-loaded mode, endocytosis and membrane-bound, was adopted to achieve the maximum amount of DOX conjugates in MSCs. The in vitro studies revealed the loaded MSCs possessed multifunctional properties, including preservation of the stemness and migration of MSCs, excellent stability of drug loading, acid sensitive drug release and obvious cytotoxicity against 4T1 cells. The in vivo studies confirmed that the loaded MSCs mainly located and long stayed in the lung where the foci of metastatic tumor situated. Importantly, loaded MSCs can significantly inhibit the tumor growth and prolong the life span of tumor-bearing mice in contrast with DOX and DOX-conjugate. The present loaded MSCs system suggested a promising strategy to solve several issues existed in cell-based delivery systems. Especially for the problem of low drug loading, the strategy, simultaneously loading nanodrug in cells’ internal and membrane, might be the most desirable method so far and could be developed as a generalizable manner for cell-mediated tumor-targeted therapy.
Somatic versus reproductive energy allocation in Papua New Guinea: Life history theory and public health policy

A fundamental evolutionary problem faced by organisms is how to allocate energy to somatic and reproductive functions in ways that optimize fitness. Given that energy is limited in all environments, energy allocation necessarily involves physiological tradeoffs between such factors as growth and reproduction, reproduction and condition, and current reproduction and future survival. Ultimately, the “decisions” that are made about energy allocation among growth, survival, and reproduction determine life history patterns and trajectories of organisms. For humans, knowing how energy allocation to reproduction will likely impact other aspects of the somatic well‐being of individuals may also have practical implications for public health policy. This article reviews the evidence for energy tradeoffs between somatic and reproductive functioning in a range of human societies. It also seeks to corroborate the results of earlier work in Papua New Guinea on lactation‐related maternal energy depletion using an independent measure of maternal energy reserves, tetrapolar bioelectrical impedance analysis. The current analysis shows that maternal energy reserves decline over the course of lactation and that a cumulative parity‐specific decline in maternal energy reserves also exists. A longitudinal follow‐up of five women over 11 years shows the decline to amount to about 3 mm of subcutaneous fat per round of pregnancy and lactation. The results corroborate predictions from life history theory and have applied public health implications. In particular, It is suggested that policies such as lactation advocacy that encourage enhanced energy allocation to reproduction in order to promote child health may have the unintended result of compromising maternal well‐being, particularly in nations of the developing world. Consequently, it is recommended that nutritional support of mothers be implemented in concert with lactation promotion. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 14:621–626, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Aggregative adherence fimbriae contribute to the inflammatory response of epithelial cells infected with enteroaggregative Escherichia coli

Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) causes watery diarrhoea that is often mildly inflammatory. Previous studies have reported that the flagellin of EAEC induces IL‐8 from intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) in culture. To characterize more fully the inflammatory response to EAEC, we infected IECs with EAEC prototype strain 042 and assessed cellular responses by macroarray and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). Genes upregulated in 042‐infected non‐polarized T84 cells included IL‐8, IL‐6, TNF‐α, GRO‐α, GRO‐γ, ICAM‐1, GM‐CSF and IL‐1α. RT‐PCR analyses performed with cDNA from T84 and HT‐29 cells infected with an aflagellar mutant (042fliC) suggested that these responses were primarily mediated by flagellin. To better reproduce the conditions of the infection for this non‐invasive pathogen, we assessed the responses of polarized IECs to strain 042 infection. As expected, 042 induced IL‐8 production from both polarized T84 and HT‐29 cells. However, significant IL‐8 secretion was induced in polarized T84 cells infected with 042fliC, suggesting that a factor other than flagellin contributes to inflammation in this model. This non‐flagellar IL‐8 response required expression of the aggregative adherence fimbria (AAF) adhesin, and was related to the presence of the minor fimbria‐associated protein AafB. Our data suggest that multiple factors contribute to EAEC‐induced inflammation, and further characterization of the nature of EAEC proinflammatory factors will greatly advance our understanding of this emerging pathogen.
Differences in the metabolism and disposition of ursodeoxycholic acid and of its taurine‐conjugated species in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis

The clinical effectiveness of ursodeoxycholate in the treatment of liver disease may be limited by its poor absorption and extensive biotransformation. Because in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that the more hydrophilic bile acid tauroursodeoxycholate has greater beneficial effects than ursodeoxycholate, we have compared for the first time the absorption, metabolism, and clinical responses to these bile acids in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC). Twelve female patients with PBC were sequentially administered tauroursodeoxycholate and ursodeoxycholate (750 mg/d for 2 months) in a randomized, cross‐over study. Bile acids were measured in serum, duodenal bile, urine, and feces by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). Biliary ursodeoxycholate enrichment was higher during tauroursodeoxycholate administration (32.6% vs. 29.2% during ursodeoxycholate; P < .05). Lithocholic acid concentration was consistently higher in all biological fluids during ursodeoxycholate administration. Fecal bile acid excretion was the major route of elimination of both bile acids; ursodeoxycholate accounted for 8% and 23% of the total fecal bile acids during tauroursodeoxycholate and ursodeoxycholate administration, respectively (P < .05). Tauroursodeoxycholate was better absorbed than ursodeoxycholate, and, although it was partially deconjugated and reconjugated with glycine, it underwent reduced biotransformation to more hydrophobic metabolites. This comparative study suggests that tauroursodeoxycholate has significant advantages over ursodeoxycholate that may be of benefit for long‐term therapy in PBC.
Croatia in the Second Stage of Transition 1994-1999

The paper attempts to summarize the important aspects of the transition experience in Croatia, focusing upon the second stage of transition, 1994-1999. The presentation is not historical, but rather links similar problems using international data comparisons and occasionally cross-section econometrics. Many topics are briefly surveyed: 1) relation between money growth, inflation, exchange rate regime and currency substitution; 2) determinants and costs of banking crisis; 3) relation between banking supervision, central bank credibility and exchange rate regime; 4) underlying reasons for the emergence of arrears in economy; 5) relationship between monetary and fiscal policy; 6) reasons for poor export performance and high external imbalance in Croatia; and 7) some basic labor market developments. The paper also draws some policy conclusions.
R&D Performance in the Pharmaceutical Industry: A Case Study of Egypt

In Egypt, knowledge production function estimation using firm-level panel data indicates weak RD modest collaboration with other firms in research and/or intellectual property; and a poor capacity to innovate. At the macro level, the public R&D system lacks good governance and sound coordination between research institutions. At both micro- and macro-levels, R&D efforts hinder innovation, thus hindering Egypt’s sustainable development and integration in today’s knowledge-based economy. Keywords: research and development, output, pharmaceutical industry, knowledge production function, in-depth interviews
Why does Scotland have a higher suicide rate than England? An area-level investigation of health and social factors

Background Up until the mid–late 2000s, the national suicide rate in Scotland was the highest among all the UK countries, but the reasons for this phenomenon are poorly understood. Methods In a multilevel study of suicide risk in Scotland and England during 2001–2006, the authors examined a range of social, cultural and health-related factors at small area level: postcode sector and Health Board in Scotland and ward and Primary Care Organisation in England. Results Scotland's national suicide rate was 79% higher than in England (rate ratio 1.79, 95% CI 1.62 to 1.98), with younger male and female Scots aged 15–44 years having double the risk compared with their English peers. Overall, 57% of the excess suicide risk in Scotland was explained by a range of area-level measures, including prescriptions for psychotropic drugs, alcohol and drug use, socioeconomic deprivation, social fragmentation, and other health-related indices. The use of psychotropic drugs, acting as a proxy measure for mental ill health, was the variable most strongly associated with the between-country differences in suicide risk. Alcohol misuse also made an important contribution to the differentials. Overall, the contribution of socioeconomic deprivation and social fragmentation was relatively small. Conclusions Any attempt to reverse the divergent trend in suicide between Scotland and England will require initiatives to prevent and treat mental ill health and to tackle alcohol and drug misuse. Differences in prescribing rates, however, may also be explained by differences in illness behaviour or the availability of psychosocial interventions, and addressing these may also reduce Scotland's excess risk.
Tracerouting peer-to-peer networks

As peer-to-peer (P2P) networks are being developed and deployed on the Internet at a fast pace, the need for a traceroute like mechanism at the application layer surfaces. Such mechanism, once implemented and deployed, will significantly reduce the complexity involved in developing, researching and evolving P2P networks. It will also help users understand how their queries are handled in P2P networks and mitigate their frustration when their queries return nothing. In this paper, we propose and describe AppTraceroute, which is analogous to traditional traceroute but determines the application layer hops and hosts that a query has visited. Meanwhile, we studied the bandwidth consumptions involved when introducing AppTraceroute into pure P2P networks, hybrid P2P networks and structured P2P networks. We have implemented and experimented the concept of AppTraceroute on a structured P2P network, and the results are promising.
Translating MDG 3: Gender, Empowerment and the Adolescent Girl in Maharashtra, India

iii Acknowledgements . v List of Figures . xiii List of Tables. xv List of Maps . xvii List of Photographs . xix List of Abbreviations. xxi Glossary of Terms . xxiii Chapter 1 .
Automated detection of circulating tumor cells with naive Bayesian classifiers

Personalized medicine is a modern healthcare approach where information on each person's unique clinical constitution is exploited to realize early disease intervention based on more informed medical decisions. The application of diagnostic tools in combination with measurement evaluation that can be performed in a reliable and automated fashion plays a key role in this context. As the progression of various cancer diseases and the effectiveness of their treatments are related to a varying number of tumor cells that circulate in blood, the determination of their extremely low numbers by liquid biopsy is a decisive prognostic marker. To detect and enumerate circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in a reliable and automated fashion, we apply methods from machine learning using a naive Bayesian classifier (NBC) based on a probabilistic generative mixture model. Cells are collected with a functionalized medical wire and are stained for fluorescence microscopy so that their color signature can be used for classification through the construction of Red‐Green‐Blue (RGB) color histograms. Exploiting the information on the fluorescence signature of CTCs by the NBC does not only allow going beyond previous approaches but also provides a method of unsupervised learning that is required for unlabeled training data. A quantitative comparison with a state‐of‐the‐art support vector machine, which requires labeled data, demonstrates the competitiveness of the NBC method. © 2014 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Fludarabine, treosulfan and etoposide sensitivity and the outcome of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in childhood acute myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND The prognostic role of the ex vivo drug resistance profile has not yet been proved in childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The aim of the study was the analysis of the impact of the ex vivo drug resistance profile in a cohort of 44 children with AML undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). PATIENTS AND METHODS Myeloblasts for drug resistance testing were obtained from the bone marrow either on diagnosis or at relapse, before the HSCT procedure and were tested by the MTT assay. RESULTS Children who relapsed after transplantation showed higher ex vivo resistance of the leukemic blasts to etoposide, mercaptopurine, thioguanine, fludarabine, mitoxantrone and treosulfan than those who stayed in remission. Despite being nondiscriminative, the combined ex vivo drug resistance profile to fludarabine, treosulfan and etoposide (FTE score) was the strongest prognostic factor by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION The combined drug resistance profile to fludarabine, treosulfan and etoposide may be useful for better stratification of children with AML undergoing stem cell transplantation or to indicate the necessity for additional post-transplant therapy.