Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Predictors of chronic post-traumatic stress disorder

Background Most individuals who, shortly after trauma, express symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) recover within one year of their traumatic experiences. In contrast, those who remain ill for one year rarely recover completely. The early identification of the latter is, therefore, very important. Aims To prospectively evaluate predictors of PTSD at four months and one year. Method We followed 236 trauma survivors recruited from admissions to a general hospital's emergency room for four months, at which point 41 (17.4%) met diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Twenty-three of these individuals, and 39 individuals without PTSD at four months, were assessed again at one year. Results Depressive symptoms were the best predictors of PTSD at both time points. Intrusive symptoms and peri-traumatic dissociation were better at predicting four-month PTSD than one-year PTSD. Conclusions The occurrence of depression during the months that follow a traumatic event is an important mediator of chronicity in PTSD.
Antiandrogenic activity of anthranilic acid ester derivatives as novel lead structures to inhibit prostate cancer cell proliferation

A plant extract from the fruits of saw palmetto, which is currently used to treat the androgen‐dependent benign prostatic hyperplasia and PCa, served as source for new structure variants. We investigated the antiandrogenic potential of an ethanolic total extract and one of its main aromatic components anthranilic acid. An androgen receptor‐antagonistic (antiandrogenic) effect of the extract was evident, and although anthranilic acid itself revealed no remarkable effect, its methyl ester, methyl anthranilate, exhibited antiandrogenic potential. Based on this chemical structure, we synthesized and investigated the antiandrogenic activity of four AnA ester derivatives, which were either novel or only little described in literature. These AnA esters inhibit the androgen‐dependent transactivation of both the wild‐type (wt) androgen receptor and the androgen receptor point mutant T877A, which often occurs in refractory PCa. Moreover, they inhibit the androgen receptor‐induced expression of the endogenous prostate‐specific antigen. Importantly, AnA esters repress the growth of human PCa cells. Deletion analyses of androgen receptor propose that the antiandrogenic effect of anthranilic acid esters is mediated by the ligand‐binding domain, most likely through direct binding, without affecting androgen receptor protein levels. Taken together, the data suggest antiandrogenic potential of anthranilic acid ester derivatives, which can serve as lead structures for novel antiandrogens.
Comparative assessment on in vitro antioxidant activities of ethanol extracts of Averrhoa bilimbi, Gymnema sylvestre and Capsicum frutescens

Background: Averrhoa bilimbi, Gymnema sylvestre and Capsicum frutescens are medicinal plants commonly used as traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. The present study was designed to investigate the antioxidant activities of Ethanolic extract of A. bilimbi, G. sylvestre and C. frutescens. Materials and Methods: The antioxidant activity of the extracts were evaluated using total phenolic and flavonoid contents, ferric reducing power and the free radical scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Results: Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were higher in G. sylvestre (53.63636 ± 0.454545 mg/g gallic acid equivalent) and C. frutescens (26.66667 ± 2.081666 mg/g quercetin equivalent) respectively. Reducing power of the crude ethanol extracts increased with the concentrations of the extracts and all the extracts showed moderate free radical scavenging activity against DPPH. The plant extract displayed moderate phenolic and flavonoid contents compared to gallic acid and quercetin equivalent respectively, whereas also exhibited significant scavenging of DPPH radical and reducing power compared with ascorbic acid as standard. Conclusion: Our study suggests that G. sylvestre has significant antioxidant activity. The antioxidant compound of this plant might be a therapeutic candidate against oxidative stress related diseases. Different sub-fraction of A. bilimbi and C. frutescens should be studied further to assess the effect. Further study is necessary for isolation and characterization of the active antioxidant agents for better treatment.
Index Futures Trading and Spot Price Volatility

This article contributes to the debate whether the introduction of derivative instruments stabilises or destabilises markets for underlying assets. It has often been argued that due to the higher degree of leverage, futures markets tend to attract uninformed speculative investors and thus destabilise cash markets by increasing volatility. On the other hand, it has been pointed out that futures markets increase the overall market depth and informativeness, are important for price discovery, allow the transfer of risk, and may actually reduce spot volatility. The empirical evidence is controversial and has been concentrated on large capitalisation markets. This paper investigates the issue for a dynamic emerging market, the Athens Stock Exchange, employing a methodology that allows the examination of changes in the nature of volatility rather than changes in volatility per se, and allowing for asymmetric responses to news. To anticipate the results, spot volatility appears unaffected with some evidence to suggest that uncertainty is actually reduced following the introduction of futures trading.
Non–governmental organisations (NGO) and businesses in joint product innovation: development of a theoretical framework for 'green' products

Against the background of growing demand for 'green' products and sustainable production - and the companies often-lacking knowledge - this paper engages with the question of how partnerships consisting of businesses with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) can be helpful in this area. This paper will answer the question of how partnerships between these players can help business to create innovative and sustainable products or services in a joint approach to fulfil future customer demand for 'green products'. A theoretical model is developed using illustrative case studies, which shows, how these often-antagonistic players can work together successfully. By using economic theories, rather than business theories, i.e. property rights and transaction cost theory and including a mutual benefit into the model, the paper fills the gap of a lacking valid explanation for how and why they can cooperate. These often-antagonistic players are enabled to successfully cooperate in the company's product innovation process, a new partner for business is introduced and sustainable solutions are promoted.
Exploring sectoral elasticity vis-à-vis per worker income with a focus to agriculture: a study of Sub-Saharan Africa

In this study, we explore the contribution from sectoral share towards per worker income in the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region over the years, 1980 to 2009. Within the last three decades, agriculture and services did not contribute positively towards growth in per worker income. Manufacturing sector on the other hand, had a transcending effect with a positive contributory power (0.31%) towards the long-run growth and sustainability of the region. Therefore, 'targeted sub-sectoral' policy reforms to strengthen backward-forward integration of agriculture and services sectors with manufacturing operations whilst taking into account the historical diversity of the region are vital matters for development and growth discourse in the region.
Managing intellectual capital in Nigerian telecommunications companies

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to assess how telecommunications companies in Nigeria leverage intellectual capital as a strategic resource for creating competitive advantage.Design/methodology/approach – A previously published research instrument was administered and survey data were collected from 320 managers in 29 telecommunications companies.Findings – Hypotheses related to the relationship of human, structural and customer capital and its influence on business performance were tested. Results show that Nigerian telecommunications companies have mostly emphasized the use of customer capital, exemplified by market research and customer relationship management to boost their business performance.Practical implications – The over‐emphasis on customer capital to the detriment of other intellectual capital components is found to be undermining the productivity of Nigerian telecommunications companies.Originality/value – This is the first published study of intellectual capital development in Nigeria.
An AHP method for evaluating usability of electronic government portals

This paper proposes an Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method to assess e-government website usability and shows the evaluation and ranking of the portals of Australian state governments. We derived six main usability criteria and 59 sub-criteria as well as proposed an algorithm to synthesise the overall priority of criteria and portals when two groups of decision makers are involved. We show how the AHP model is implemented to derive judgment data by random number generation instead of real user testing. The AHP method is more analytical than traditional methods of simple user testing and expert evaluation with checklists and is efficient in terms of reducing the number of pairwise comparisons required.
Verbal cues effectively orient children's auditory attention in a CV-syllable dichotic listening paradigm

ABSTRACT In their groundbreaking work featuring verbal dichotic listening tasks, Mondor and Bryden showed that tone cues do not enhance children's attentional orienting, in contrast to adults. The magnitude of the children's right-ear advantage was not attenuated when their attention was directed to the left ear. Verbal cues did, however, appear to favour the orientation of attention at around 10 years, although stimulus-onset asynchronies (SOAs), which ranged between 450 and 750 ms, were not rigorously controlled. The aim of our study was therefore to investigate the role of both types of cues in a typical CV-syllable dichotic listening task administered to 8- to 10-year-olds, applying a protocol as similar as possible to that used by Mondor and Bryden, but controlling for SOA as well as for cued ear. Results confirmed that verbal cues are more effective than tone cues in orienting children's attention. However, in contrast to adults, no effect of SOA was observed. We discuss the relative difficulty young children have processing CV syllables, as well as the role of top-down processes in attentional orienting abilities.
Evaluation of Lenticonus in Alport’s Syndrome: Quantitative Scheimpflug Analysis

Anterior lenticonus is an ocular abnormality that can occur in Alport’s syndrome. In this study, Scheimpflug slit imaging analyses were employed for quantitative and objective evaluation of lens changes associated with Alport’s syndrome. It was determined that while the apices of the lenticular protrusions are central in the vertical plane, they are nasally displaced in the horizontal meridian. The eccentricity and dimensions of the diameters and thicknesses of the conical aberration are highly correlated in both eyes. Lens thickness and anterior chamber depth do not differ between eyes. Densitometrically similar differences are apparent in the cortex and nuclear regions although evidence of overt opacification may or may not be present. The data strongly suggest that the physical parameters of the lenticonus are consistent with the constraints imposed by the pupil. Changes observed in the cornea and the vitreous may be associated with the syndrome.
Interference of a speB 5′ untranslated region partial deletion with mRNA degradation in Streptococcus pyogenes

The 5' untranslated region (5' UTR) of an mRNA molecule embeds important determinants that modify its stability and translation efficiency. In Streptococcus pyogenes, a strict human pathogen, a gene encoding a secreted protease (speB) has a large 5' UTR with unknown functions. Here we describe that a partial deletion of the speB 5' UTR caused a general accumulation of mRNA in the stationary phase, and that the mRNA accumulation was due to retarded mRNA degradation. The phenotype was observed in several M serotypes harboring the partial deletion of the speB 5' UTR. The phenotype was triggered by the production of the truncated speB 5' UTR, but not by the disruption of the intact speB 5' UTR. RNase Y, a major endoribonuclease, was previously shown to play a central role in bulk mRNA turnover in stationary phase. However, in contrast to our expectations, we observed a weaker interaction between the truncated speB 5' UTR and RNase Y compared with the wild-type, which suggests that other unidentified RNA degrading components are required for the pleiotropic effects observed from the speB UTR truncation. Our study demonstrates how S. pyogenes uses distinct mRNA degradation schemes in exponential and stationary growth phases.
Clearance of human papillomavirus in women treated for cervical dysplasia.

To the Editor: Moore et al present a prospective case series of women who underwent therapy for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia lesions.1 The large number of women included and the high compliance rate are the main advantages of this study. Nevertheless, I would like to point out some critical points. In the Materials and Methods section, the authors mention that Pap tests were collected during follow-up, but those results are not reported, which I cannot understand. The rate of abnormal histology at visit 4 (24.3 months after baseline) was extraordinarily high (40%). I also have reservations about the linear array human papillomavirus (HPV) test because it has been shown to deliver relatively high numbers of positive results compared with other tests such as HC2 (in vitro nucleic acid hybridization assay). This might explain the high survival probability (25%) of high-risk HPV at visit 4. The clearance rate of HPV, in particular of high-risk HPV, could be expected to be much higher than reported in this study.
Is U.S. Fiscal Policy Optimal?

We find and compare two simple fiscal rules. The first is a theoretical rule that approximates well Ramsey-optimal fiscal policy in a DSGE model calibrated to the U.S. economy over the period 1955:1 to 2007:3. The second is an empirical rule that approximates well actual U.S. fiscal policy over the same period. Our main findings are: First, Ramsey-optimal fiscal policy displays limited volatility even in the presence of sticky prices, while public debt absorbs most of the shocks. Second, actual U.S. fiscal policy is excessively counter-cyclical. Ramsey-optimal fiscal policy is negatively correlated with output over the business cycle, as expansions generate reduction in the level of public debt and the tax rate and vice versa. On the other hand, actual fiscal policy is positively correlated with output, with tax rate being raised during expansions and reduced during recessions. Third, actual fiscal policy is inconsistent with long-run debt sustainability over the period considered.
Knights and Knaves Return: Public Service Motivation and the Delivery of Public Services

ABSTRACT There are several models for delivering public services such as health care or education, most of which can be summarised under the headings of trust, mistrust, voice, and choice. Each contains assumptions concerning the motivation of the professionals and others who provide the service concerned: that is, the extent to which they are “knaves,” motivated primarily by self-interest, or “knights,” motivated by altruism and the desire to provide a public service. This article highlights the assumptions concerning motivation implicit in each of the delivery models, illustrating the points made by reference to the author's experience as a senior policy adviser to British Prime Minister Tony Blair and to some evidence on the performance of public services under the different models.
Do Newspapers Enlighten Preferences? Personal Ideology, Party Choice and the Electoral Cycle: The United Kingdom, 1992-1997

The Gelman-King theory of enlightened preferences holds that the mass media play an important role in enlightening vote choices during election campaigns in the United States. This article adapts this theory to the electoral cycle in Britain. It also expands the theory to consider the media's role in facilitating consistent attitudes. Using data from the 1992-1997 British Election Panel Study, the author finds that attitudinal consistency and enlightened party preferences were highest immediately following elections. Moreover, there were significant differences according to the type of newspapers voters read, with broadsheet readers being the most enlightened. These findings suggest that enlightened preferences theory has wider applicability than simply US election campaigns.
Reaping New Harvests: Collaboration and Communication through Field Experiences

Abstract Created under the auspices of the field experience offices at two public, four-year institutions of higher education, and in conjunction with a local urban school district, the Teaching and Learning Collaborative (TLC) and Communities of Practice (COMPRAC) were constructed to support a year-long experience (practicum and student teaching) at the undergraduate and postbaccalaureate levels. These programs, structured to help preservice teachers junction effectively in an urban classroom, included clustering groups in the same school and providing additional support through course work, seminars, and interactive small and whole-group meetings. What began as two separate programs evolved into a reconceptualization of a model for field experiences that has transferability to any type of school district. Multiple face-to-face and electronic communication fora within and across triad roles are proposed for creating a community for professional development that celebrates talking about issues germane to .
An extra virgin olive oil rich diet intervention ameliorates the nonalcoholic steatohepatitis induced by a high‐fat “Western‐type” diet in mice

Scope: We evaluated the protective effect of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) in high‐fat diets (HFDs) on the inflammatory response and liver damage in a nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) mouse model. Methods and results: C57BL/6J mice were fed a standard diet or a lard‐based HFD (HFD‐L) for 12 wk to develop NAFLD. HFD‐fed mice were then divided into four groups and fed for 24 wk with the following: HFD‐L, HFD‐EVOO, HFD based on phenolics‐rich EVOO, and reversion (standard diet). HFD‐L‐induced metabolic disorders were alleviated by replacement of lard with EVOO. EVOO diets improved plasma lipid profile and reduced body weight, plasma and epididymal fat INF‐γ, IL‐6 and leptin levels, and macrophage infiltration. Moreover, NAFLD activity scores were reduced. The liver lipid composition showed an increase in MUFAs, especially oleic acid, and a decrease in saturated fatty acids. Hepatic adiponutrin and Cd36 gene expression was upregulated in the EVOO groups. Liver ingenuity pathway analysis revealed in EVOO groups regulation of proteins involved in lipid metabolism, small molecule biochemistry, gastrointestinal disease, and liver regeneration. Conclusion: Dietary EVOO could repair HFD‐induced hepatic damage, possibly via an anti‐inflammatory effect in adipose tissue and modifications in the liver lipid composition and signaling pathways.
Pulmonary function in adult survivors of severe acute lung injury treated with inhaled nitric oxide

Background: Following an episode of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), some degree of measurable pulmonary impairment may be anticipated. ARDS is thought to be the more severe form of acute lung injury (ALI) and a recently proposed addition to conventional therapy in ALI/ARDS is inhaled nitric oxide (INO). We carried out a non‐randomised follow‐up study with pulmonary function tests on survivors of severe ALI/ARDS treated with INO.
Liver versus cardiothoracic transplant candidates and their pretransplant psychosocial and behavioral risk profiles: good neighbors or complete strangers?

Research concerning pretransplant psychosocial and behavioral characteristics in different organ transplant groups is limited. The aim was to assess relevant psychosocial and behavioral pretransplant factors in heart, lung and liver transplant candidates, and their differences among groups. One hundred and eighty‐six transplant candidates (i.e. 71 lung, 33 heart and 82 liver) were included (93% response rate). Demographics, clinical variables, co‐morbidity, anxiety, depression, personality traits, received social support and adherence with the therapeutic regimen were assessed using validated self‐report instruments and chart review. Because of significant differences in gender, age and co‐morbidity among groups, analyses were controlled for these factors. Lung (8.2 ± 4.2) and heart (7.6 ± 3.5) transplant candidates tended to report more depressive symptoms than liver transplant candidates (6.5 ± 4.8) (P = 0.05). Groups were comparable for other factors, except for liver transplant candidates being more frequently active smokers (22%) compared with heart (3%) and lung candidates (0%), and more heart (36.4%) and lung candidates (33.3%) drinking alcohol than liver transplant candidates (6.3%). Psychosocial and behavioral characteristics are comparable among pretransplant candidates. Instead of performing the pretransplant psychosocial and behavioral screening in an organ‐specific fashion, our data support the use of a more general screening protocol.
The Millennium Development Goals and Education: Accountability and Substitution in Global Assessment

Abstract Precise international metrics and assessments may induce governments to alter policies in pursuit of more favorable assessments according to these metrics. In this paper, we explore a secondary effect of global performance indicators (GPIs). Insofar as governments have finite resources and make trade-offs in public goods investments, a GPI that precisely targets the provision of a particular public good may cause governments to substitute away from the provision of other, related, public goods. We argue that both the main effect of the GPI (on the measured public good) and this substitution effect vary systematically based on the domestic political institutions and informational environments of targeted states. Specifically, we contend that both the main and substitution effects of GPIs should be largest for governments that are least accountable (opaque and nondemocratic) and should be smallest for those that are most accountable. We illustrate the logic of these arguments using a formal model and test these claims using data on primary and secondary enrollment rates across 114 countries. We find that countries substitute toward primary education enrollment rates (which is targeted by the Millennium Development Goals) and away from secondary (which is not), and that these effects are mitigated as accountability rises.