Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interspecies quantitative structure‐activity relationship model for aldehydes: Aquatic toxicity

The present study proposes a generic interspecies quantitative structure‐activity relationship (QSAR) model that can be used to predict the acute toxicity of aldehydes to most species of aquatic organisms. The model is based on the flow‐through fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) 50% lethal concentration (LC50) data combined with other selected fish acute toxicity data and on the static ciliate (Tetrahymena pyriformis) 50% inhibitory growth concentration (IGC50) data. The toxicity of Schiff‐base acting aldehydes was defined using hydrophobicity, as the calculated log 1‐octanol/water partition coefficient (logKow), and reactivity, as the donor delocalizability for the aldehyde O‐site (DO‐atom). The fish model [log 1/LC50 = —2.503(±1.950) + 0.480(±0.052) log Kow + 18.983(±6.573) DO‐atom, n = 62, r2 = 0.619, s2 = 0.241, F = 48.0, Q2 = 0.587] compares favorably with the ciliate model [log 1/IGC50 = —0.985(±1.309) + 0.530(±0.044) log Kow + 11.369(±4.350) DO‐atom, n = 81, r2 = 0.651, s2 = 0.147, F = 72.9, Q2 = 0.626]. The fish and ciliate surfaces appear to be parallel, because they deviate significantly only by their intercepts. These observations lead to the development of a global QSAR for aldehyde aquatic toxicity [log E−1 = bOrganismE + 0.505(±0.033) log Kow + 14.315(±3.731) DO‐atom, n — 143, r2 = 0.698, s2 = 0.187, s2Fish = 0.244, s2Ciliate = 0.149, F = 98, Q2 = 0.681]. The general character of the model was validated using acute toxicity data for other aquatic species. The aldehydes global interspecies QSAR model could be used to predict the acute aquatic toxicity of untested aldehydes and to extrapolate the toxicity of aldehydes to other aquatic species.
Family‐based and case‐control studies reveal no association of lipocalin‐type prostaglandin D2 synthase with schizophrenia

Several observations point to the involvement of disturbed lipid biology in schizophrenia. Reduced response to niacin flushing test, which involves vasodilatation induced by prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), is among the evidences, together with decreased CSF levels of lipocalin‐type prostaglandin D2 synthase (PTGDS), the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of PGD2 in the brain. Since PTGDS is also a carrier for lipophilic molecules such as retinoids and thyroid hormones, altered PTGDS levels might influence both PGD2‐mediated signaling, and vitamin A and thyroid hormone availability. To test whether genetic variants of PTGDS are involved in the etiology of schizophrenia, we searched for variants in the coding and regulatory regions of the gene. We identified four previously described polymorphisms. Using two case‐control samples from Portugal and Brazil, none of the polymorphisms tested was associated with the disease. In addition, no transmission distortion was observed in an independent parents‐offspring sample from the Azorean Islands. Our data do not support the involvement of the PTGDS gene in the etiology of schizophrenia. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Production and hedging under Knightian uncertainty

This article introduces Knightian uncertainty into the production and futures hedging framework. The firm has imprecise information about the probability density function of spot or futures prices in the future. Decision‐making under such scenario follows the “max‐min” principle. It is shown that inertia in hedging behavior prevails under Knightian uncertainty. In a forward market, there is a region for the current forward price within which full hedge is the optimal hedging policy. This result may help explain why the one‐to‐one hedge ratio is commonly observed. Also inertia increases as the ambiguity with the probability density function increases. When hedging on futures markets with basis risk, inertia is established at the regression hedge ratio. Moreover, if only the futures price is subject to Knightian uncertainty, the utility function has no bearing on the possibility of inertia. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 20: 397–404, 2000
Enamel microabrasion for aesthetic management of dental fluorosis

Fluorosis has increased in recent times due to fluoridation of drinking water and addition of fluoride to various edible items, which leads to unaesthetic appearance of teeth visible at close quarters. The enamel microabrasion technique is a conservative method that improves the appearance of the teeth by restoring bright and superficial smoothness, without causing significant structural loss. The aim of this article is to describe an easy technique for managing mild to moderate dental fluorosis using Opalustre (Ultradent Products) microabrasion slurry. This conservative approach may be considered an interesting alternative to more invasive prosthetic techniques like composite resin restorations, ceramic veneers or crown fabrications.
Oncoplastic Techniques Allow Extensive Resections for Breast-Conserving Therapy of Breast Carcinomas

ObjectiveTo assess the oncologic and cosmetic outcomes in women with breast carcinoma who were treated with breast-conserving therapy using oncoplastic techniques with concomitant symmetrization of the contralateral breast. Summary Background DataAlthough breast-conserving therapy is the standard form of treatment for invasive breast tumors up to 4 cm, in patients with large, ill-defined, or poorly situated tumors, cosmetic results can be poor and clear resection margins difficult to obtain. The integration of oncoplastic techniques with a concomitant contralateral symmetrization procedure is a novel surgical approach that allows wide excisions and prevents breast deformities. MethodsThis is a prospective study of 101 patients who were operated on for breast carcinoma between July 1985 and June 1999 at the Institut Curie. The procedure was proposed for patients in whom conservative treatment was possible on oncologic grounds but where a standard lumpectomy would have led to poor cosmesis. Standard institutional treatment protocols were followed. All patients received either pre- or postoperative radiotherapy. Seventeen patients received preoperative chemotherapy to downsize their tumors. Mean follow-up was 3.8 years. Results were analyzed statistically using Kaplan-Meier estimates. ResultsMean weight of excised material on the tumor side was 222 g. The actuarial 5-year local recurrence rate was 9.4%, the overall survival rate was 95.7%, and the metastasis-free survival rate was 82.8%. Cosmesis was favorable in 82% of cases. Preoperative radiotherapy resulted in worse cosmesis than when given postoperatively. ConclusionsThe use of oncoplastic techniques and concomitant symmetrization of the contralateral breast allows extensive resections for conservative treatment of breast carcinoma and results in favorable oncologic and esthetic outcomes. This approach might be useful in extending the indications for conservative therapy.
Investment Styles and Style Boxes in Equity Real Estate: Can the Emerging Model Succeed in Classifying Real Estate Alternatives?

Executive Summary: The real estate industry is working to develop a system of “style boxes,” with the recent NCREIF white paper seeking to define “core,” “value-added” and “opportunistic” styles of investing in private market real estate. This stems from the desire for: a) a framework to facilitate the investment process; b) a common language for communication; c) targeted portfolio strategy and balance; and d) a simpler search and selection process for advisors. However, where style box use in the public securities industry is based on defining the attributes of a benchmark universe, the institutional real estate investment industry seeks to define boxes based on expected risk/return ranges, and then attempts to define the asset attributes and management activities appropriate to that style. The process currently has wide variation in application, and likely requires further analysis and systematization before it can be widely useful for the purposes stated above. Even then, sophisticated consultants will be required as on-going referees to the process. Style Boxes: Now It’s Private Real Estate’s Turn In order to make “apples-to-apples” comparisons, institutional investors in publicly traded securities have long utilized “style boxes” to define and segment portfolio management activities. (See Christopherson and Williams, 1995.) In this framework, “small company” portfolios are not expected to perform identically with “large capitalization” ones. “Growth” stocks have perceived and measurable differences from “value” stocks. Investment committees routinely review and rank the performance of their various managers by style groups. In the 1970’s, a commitment to “real estate” could mean anything from a diversified, unlevered open-end fund to a partnership involved in raw land speculation for single-family homes, with no ostensible distinction of risks. Real estate was real estate. In the 1980’s, whatever small amount was invested in real estate
Adverse Incentive Effects of the Unemployment Benefit Level in Romania

Abstract This paper proposes an empirical analysis of the effects of unemployment benefit on unemployment in Romania. First, the existence of a long-run equilibrium relation between the two variables was checked using single-equation cointegration tests. The results showed that such a relation does not exist. Next, in order to evaluate the short-term effects of unemployment benefit on unemployment level, a VAR analysis was employed. Impulse response functions analysis showed that the number of persons registered as unemployed is expecting to rise as the value of monthly unemployment benefit is increasing. However, the variance decomposition analysis pointed out that only a small part (under 5%) of unemployment short-term dynamics could be explained by potential shocks in the unemployment benefit level.
Public Service Motivation in an International Comparative Perspective: The UK and Germany

Public service motivation refers to the type of motivation to perform behavior that relates typically to the public sector; such as altruism or public interest. The concept was originally developed within an American context by James Perry and other academics. However; one can distinguish a similar, if not identical, concept in several European countries. This article makes a comparison between two European cases of public service motivation: the United Kingdom and Germany. The results show that although there are similarities between them, there are also marked differences. Our findings provide the basis for further research to explore the phenomenon in a cross cultural and international context.
Innovation Networks in Logistics-Management and Competitive Advantages

Networks have become an important organization form for creating and disseminating innovations in many sectors. Innovation networks can help to cope with the demands of increasing competition and rapidly changing markets. This view has established also in the logistics sector. The objective of this treatise is to help readers understand the management of innovation networks based on a case study that examines how the DHL Group, one of the world's largest providers of logistics services, organizes its innovative activities with its network partners. The special focus is the network management and competitive advantages for DHL resulting form the network. The network of DHL Solutions & Innovations (DSI), a business unit in which the DHL Group bundles and coordinates its innovation activities, is described and analyzed. DSI utilizes a large international network of heterogeneous partners, which is largely being controlled through focal means and which is configured dynamically. Functions selection, allocatio.
Management of ureteral calculi and medical expulsive therapy in emergency departments

Introduction: Ureteral stones are a common problem in daily emergency department practice. Patients may be offered medical expulsive therapy (MET1) to facilitate stone expulsion and this should be offered as a treatment for patients with distal ureteral calculi, who are amenable to waiting management. Emergency department clinicians and family practitioners are often in the front line regarding the diagnosis and treatment of symptomatic nephrolithiasis and this commentary is dedicated to them because their decisions directly influence the outcome of the acute stone episode and appropriate referral patterns. Materials and Methods: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to understand the role of MET in the treatment of obstructing ureteral calculi. A bibliographic search covering the period from January 1980 to March 2010 was conducted in PubMed, MEDLINE and EMBASE. The searches were restricted to publications in English. This analysis is based on the 21 studies that fulfilled the predefined inclusion criteria. Results: A metaregression analysis of expulsion time showed a statistically significant advantage in the experimental group, in which the mean expulsion time was 6.2 days compared to 10.3 days in controls. The treatment effect on expulsion rate (P = 0.53) was partially lost as the size of the stones decreased because of the high spontaneous expulsion rate of small stones and the expulsion time was not influenced by pharmacological treatment (P = 0.76) if the stone size was smaller than 5 mm. Analysis of the tamsulosin database. A total of 1283 participants were included in the 17 studies. These studies showed that compared to standard therapy or placebo, tamsulosin had significant benefits, being associated with both a higher stone expulsion rate (P < 0.001) and reduction of the expulsion time (P = 0.02). Reductions in the need for analgesic therapy, hospitalization and surgery are also shown. Analysis of the nifedipine database. The number of participants in each trial ranged from 25 to 70. Compared to standard therapy, the use of nifedipine significantly improved the spontaneous stone expulsion rate (P < 0.001). The mean expulsion time was slightly, but not statistically significantly, different (P = 0.19) between the treatment and control groups. A possible benefit of nifedipine, in terms of significantly reducing the doses of analgesics required, was reported in three studies. There was no difference between the tamsulosin- and nifedipine-treated groups with regard to expulsion time (P = 0.17) or expulsion rate (P = 0.79). Conclusions: Despite all its advantages, MET is rarely used, representing a failure of the translation of medical science into practice. These data raise concerns not only about the quality of care of patients who could benefit from resolution of stones without anaesthetic and surgical risks but also with regard to potential cost savings. MET should be offered as a treatment for patients with distal ureteral calculi who are amenable to a waiting management.
Combined resection of great vessels or the heart for non-small lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES The surgical indications for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) infiltrating a great vessel or the heart are controversial. We assessed clinical features and surgical outcomes of patients with non-small cell lung cancer who underwent combined resection of a lung and great vessel. METHODS Fourteen patients underwent great vessel resection under a lobectomy (n = 9), sleeve lobectomy (n = 2), or pneumonectomy (n = 3) between 2000 and 2011, in whom the aorta was resected in 6, superior vena cava in 5, right atrium in 1, and left atrium in 2. The histological types were adenocarcinoma (n = 8) and squamous cell carcinoma (n = 6). RESULTS Complete resection was performed in 12 patients. Of all patients, 7 had pN0 disease, 2 had pN1, and 4 had pN2. The postoperative morbidity rate was 28.6% and mortality rate was 7.1%. The 5-year survival rate was 26.8% for all patients, 46.9% for those with an adenocarcinoma, 0% for those with a squamous cell carcinoma, 53.6% for those with pN0, and 0% for those with pN1-2. CONCLUSION Resection of the great vessels and heart involved by NSCLC can be performed with acceptable morbidity and mortality, and results in prolonged survival in patients, with an adenocarcinoma or N0 status.
What affects the innovation performance of small and medium-sized enterprises in China?

Abstract Innovation has been one of the key drivers of sustainable competitive advantage for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, many SMEs have difficulties in achieving successful innovation. This article attempts to explore the major factors and constraints to innovation for SMEs in China. Based on a survey to 188 Chinese manufacturing SMEs, the relationship of 10 major factors affecting innovation performance has been explored. The findings indicate that there is a positive relationship between some factors (e.g., financial capital, technically qualified staff, and technology information and so on) and the innovation performance of SMEs. Also, this paper finds that the current policy environment, such as intellectual property protection and government policies, are not conducive to innovation performance of Chinese SMEs.
Economic and Societal Changes in China and their Effects onWater Use A Scenario Analysis

China's development over the last few decades has been characterized by high rates of economic growth, large‐scale migration from rural areas to the fast‐growing cities accompanied by changes in lifestyles, and steady population growth. These developments have left deep marks on resource availability and quality. In this article we conduct a scenario analysis of how lifestyle changes and other major developments might affect water resources.
Inter-Organizational Strategic Cooperation: An Analysis of Pakistani Commercial Banking Sector

Intense competition of this post computer era has made many organizations to come together and to collaborate in different fields where they have a competitive edge. Banks are also not left behind in this area and like other business ventures, are exploring new ways of having strategic alliances with other businesses. Keeping this growing strategic partnership trend in view, a study was designed to focus upon the nature of various business strategic ties of banks operating in Pakistan with the other active corporate business units of the region. Data were collected from the representative branches of the following four main categories of banks; nationalized / government owned banks, private banks, foreign banks and Islamic banks, located in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad in Pakistan. Branch Managers of the said branches were interviewed through an interview guide developed for the present study that included open ended questions regarding the main research problem. The researcher was given access to secondary data too like promotion material published by the banks highlighting their inter-organizational business collaborations. Data were tabulated, analyzed and interpreted. The findings of the study indicate that out of the four categories of banks, foreign banks were found to have maximum strategic collaborations and specially in consumer products. They opted for such inter-organizational cooperation to capture a bigger market share. Private banks had such partnerships in fewer products. The data revealed that very low or no collaborations were found in case of nationalized and Islamic banks.
Protein–protein interactions within the Fatty Acid Synthase‐II system of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are essential for mycobacterial viability

Despite the existence of efficient chemotherapy, tuberculosis remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide. New drugs are urgently needed to reduce the potential impact of the emergence of multidrug‐resistant strains of the causative agent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The front‐line antibiotic isoniazid (INH), and several other drugs, target the biosynthesis of mycolic acids and especially the Fatty Acid Synthase‐II (FAS‐II) elongation system. This biosynthetic pathway is essential and specific for mycobacteria and still represents a valuable system for the search of new anti‐tuberculous agents. Several data, in the literature, suggest the existence of protein–protein interactions within the FAS‐II system. These interactions themselves might serve as targets for a new generation of drugs directed against Mtb. By using an extensive in vivo yeast two‐hybrid approach and in vitro co‐immunoprecipitation, we have demonstrated the existence of both homotypic and heterotypic interactions between the known components of FAS‐II. The condensing enzymes KasA, KasB and mtFabH interact with each other and with the reductases MabA and InhA. Furthermore, we have designed and constructed point mutations of the FAS‐II reductase MabA, able to disrupt its homotypic interactions and perturb the interaction pattern of this protein within FAS‐II. Finally, we showed by a transdominant genetic approach that these mutants are dominant negative in both non‐pathogenic and pathogenic mycobacteria. These data allowed us to draw a dynamic model of the organization of FAS‐II. They also represent an important step towards the design of a new generation of anti‐tuberculous agents, as being inhibitors of essential protein–protein interactions.
Use of an Experimental High‐Magnesium Tall Fescue to Reduce Grass Tetany in Cattle

Grass tetany (hypomagnesemia) continues to be a problem for the livestock industry. An experimental cultivar of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Shreb.) selected for high Mg concentration, HiMag, was compared against four other cultivars for its ability to increase serum-Mg and reduce the risk of grass tetany. Forage from HiMag contained 22% more Mg, 183% more Ca, and 9% more P than other cultivars; K levels were not different. Regardless of cultivar, concentrations of Ca and Mg were lower while K and P were higher during the spring than the autumn. The tetany ratio IK/(Ca + Mg) on basis] was lower for HiMag than for other cultivars (1.34 vs. 1.65); all cultivars had a higher ratio during spring than autumn (1.91 vs. 1.31). In cattle (Bos taurus) grazing trials, blood serum from steers grazing HiMag contained 8% more Mg in autumn 1993 but was not different in spring 1994. Blood serum Mg was not different for cows (either dry or nursing calves) during autumn grazing, but approached significance (P = 0.09) during the spring 1995 calving season (2.32 vs. 2.07 mg/dL for HiMag vs. other cultivars). Except for differences between calves on HiMag compared with Kentucky-31 in autumn 1995 (58 vs. 43 lb, respectively), animal weight change was not affected by cultivar. Normal forage Mg concentrations (>0.20%) and tetany ratios below 2.2 for all cultivars in every season except spring 1995 may explain the lack of consistent animal response. No clinical symptoms of grass tetany were observed at any time during these studies. However, the higher Mg concentration and lower tetany ratio suggest that HiMag could provide a means of reducing the incidence of grass tetany in livestock during periods when risk of the disorder is high.