Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The diversification-performance relationship in Spanish firms : does the CEO´S behaviour style matter?

The agency-stewardship theoretical framework posits that CEOs may choose to act as agents or as stewards. CEOs as agents are economically rational individuals driven by self-interest, whereas CEOs as stewards are self-actualizing individuals that behave pro-organizationally. Our study extends this framework to analyze whether the CEO/s behavior style affects the diversification-performance relationship. After applying Heckman/s method on a sample of Spanish firms, our results verify that diversification affects positively on firm performance and such effect is significantly strong when this strategy is managed and implemented by a CEO inclined to behave as steward.
General Equilibrium Effects of the U. S. Generalized System of Preferences

This paper presents results from a general equilibrium computational model of the production, employment, trade, and price effects of the United States scheme of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). The U.S. GSP, introduced in 1976, provides for the suspension of import duties on U.S. imports of many industrial and semi-industrial products from selected less-developed trade partners. This program was developed under the auspices of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), with the intention of stimulating industrialization and to encourage economic diversification of its beneficiaries through export growth. Previous studies of the GSP of the U.S. have employed the Vinerian customs union framework, focusing on trade creation and diversion. Baldwin and Murray [3], using ex ante partial equilibrium analysis, estimated that U.S. imports from beneficiary developing countries increased by $236.4 million based on trade in 1971. Of this, only 19.3% was the result of trade diversion. Sapir and Lundberg [19], employing an ex post gravity model, estimated trade creation to be $658.3 million and trade diversion to be $270.4 million, based on 1979 trade. Both studies conclude that trade creation exceeds trade diversion so that the
Falls and health status in elderly women following first eye cataract surgery: a randomised controlled trial

Background/aim: A third of elderly people fall each year. Poor vision is associated with increased risk of falls. The authors aimed to determine if first eye cataract surgery reduces the risk of falling, and to measure associated health gain. Methods: 306 women aged over 70, with cataract, were randomised to expedited (approximately 4 weeks) or routine (12 months wait) surgery. Falls were ascertained by diary, with follow up every 3 months. Health status was measured after 6 months. Results: Visual function improved in the operated group (corrected binocular acuity improved by 0.25 logMAR units; 8% had acuity worse than 6/12 compared with 37% of controls). Over 12 months of follow up, 76 (49%) operated participants fell at least once, and 28 (18%) fell more than once. 69 (45%) unoperated participants fell at least once, 38 (25%) fell more than once. Rate of falling was reduced by 34% in the operated group (rate ratio 0.66, 95% confidence interval 0.45 to 0.96, p = 0.03). Activity, anxiety, depression, confidence, visual disability, and handicap all improved in the operated group compared with the control group. Four participants in the operated group had fractures (3%), compared with 12 (8%) in the control group (p = 0.04). Conclusion: First eye cataract surgery reduces the rate of falling, and risk of fractures and improves visual function and general health status.
Prevalence, correlates, and impact of depressive and anxiety disorder in cancer: Findings from a multicenter study

ABSTRACT Objective: Our aim was to examine the prevalence, correlates, and association of depressive and anxiety disorders with quality of life (QoL) and such other outcomes as the need for psychosocial services in cancer patients. Method: A total of 400 patients participated in a multicenter survey involving five cancer centers located throughout Korea. The Short-Form Health Survey, the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory, the Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MINI-MAC), and Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview were administered. Results: The prevalence rates for depressive and anxiety disorders were 16 and 17.1%, respectively. Younger age and poor Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, and all physical symptoms, as well as helplessness/hopelessness, anxious preoccupation (AP), and cognitive avoidance (CA) on the MINI-MAC were found to be significantly related to depressive disorder (DD) in a univariate logistic regression analysis. Metastases, the symptoms of disturbed sleep, dry mouth, and numbness or tingling, as well as AP and CA were significantly correlated with anxiety disorder (AD) in the univariate analysis. In the multivariate analyses, only AP was significant for AD (odds ratio = 2.94, p < 0.001), while none reached statistical significance for DD. Psychiatric comorbidity status had a detrimental effect on various dimensions of QoL. Patients with DD or AD reported a significantly higher need for professional psychosocial services. Significance of results: Given the substantial prevalence and pervasive impact of DD and AD on various aspects of QoL, its assessment and care should be integrated as a regular part of oncological care throughout the cancer continuum.
Valuation on non-use values of biodiversity by contingent valuation method in Changbai Mountain Biosphere Reserve in China.

This is a case study conducted in 1996 by contingent valuation method (CVM) and willingness to pay (WTP) survey to estimate the existence value, bequest value and option value of Changbai Mountain Biosphere Reserve (CMBR) in Northeast of China. The CV survey has 603 feedback respondents with a rate of 64.56%, and 74.02% respondents have WTP with a median of 33.30 yuan for their bids of WTP. The study shows the total non-use value of the reserve is up to 43.19 billion yuan (about US$520 mill) per year, of which existence value is the main one.
Expression of the superantigen Mycoplasma arthritidis mitogen in Escherichia coli and characterization of the recombinant protein

Mycoplasma arthritidis mitogen (MAM), is a soluble protein with classical superantigenic properties and is produced by an organism that causes an acute and chronic proliferative arthritis. Unfortunately, the process of obtaining purified MAM from M. arthritidis culture supernatants is extremely time-consuming and costly, and very little material is recovered. Thus, our laboratory has expressed MAM in Escherichia coli by using a protein fusion expression system. The construction and expression of recombinant MAM (rMAM), as well as a comparison of the biological properties of rMAM to those of native MAM, are discussed. Briefly, conversion of the three UGA codons to UGG codons was required to obtain full-length expression and mitogenic activity of rMAM. Antisera to native MAM recognized both rMAM and the fusion protein. The T-cell receptor Vbeta and major histocompatibility complex class II receptor usages by rMAM and the fusion protein were identical to that of native MAM. In addition, the ability to induce suppression and form the superantigen bridge could also be demonstrated with rMAM. Importantly, dose-response experiments indicated that homogeneous native MAM and rMAM were of equal potency. Thus, MAM has been successfully expressed in E. coli, thereby creating a viable alternative to native MAM.
Assembly of a polyadenylation-specific 25S ribonucleoprotein complex in vitro

Extracts from HeLa cell nuclei assemble RNAs containing the adenovirus type 2 L3 polyadenylation site into a number of rapidly sedimenting heterodisperse complexes. Briefly treating reaction mixtures prior to sedimentation with heparin reveals a core 25S assembly formed with substrate RNA but not an inactive RNA containing a U----C mutation in the AAUAAA hexanucleotide sequence. The requirements for assembly of this heparin-stable core complex parallel those for cleavage and polyadenylation in vitro, including a functional hexanucleotide, ATP, and a uridylate-rich tract downstream of the cleavage site. The AAUAAA and a downstream U-rich element are resistant in the assembly to attack by RNase H. The poly(A) site between the two protected elements is accessible, but is attacked more slowly than in naked RNA, suggesting that a specific factor or secondary structure is located nearby. The presence of a factor bound to the AAUAAA in the complex is independently demonstrated by immunoprecipitation of a specific T1 oligonucleotide containing the element from the 25S fraction. Precipitation of this fragment from reaction mixtures is blocked by the U----C mutation. However, neither ATP nor the downstream sequence element is required for binding of this factor in the nuclear extract, suggesting that recognition of the AAUAAA is an initial event in complex assembly.
Human DNA repair genes

DNA repair systems are essential for the maintenance of genome integrity. Consequently, the disregulation of repair genes can be expected to be associated with significant, detrimental health effects, which can include an increased prevalence of birth defects, an enhancement of cancer risk, and an accelerated rate of aging. Although original insights into DNA repair and the genes responsible were largely derived from studies in bacteria and yeast, well over 125 genes directly involved in DNA repair have now been identified in humans, and their cDNA sequence established. These genes function in a diverse set of pathways that involve the recognition and removal of DNA lesions, tolerance to DNA damage, and protection from errors of incorporation made during DNA replication or DNA repair. Additional genes indirectly affect DNA repair, by regulating the cell cycle, ostensibly to provide an opportunity for repair or to direct the cell to apoptosis. For about 70 of the DNA repair genes listed in Table I, both the genomic DNA sequence and the cDNA sequence and chromosomal location have been elucidated. In 45 cases single‐nucleotide polymorphisms have been identified and, in some cases, genetic variants have been associated with specific disorders. With the accelerating rate of gene discovery, the number of identified DNA repair genes and sequence variants is quickly rising. This report tabulates the current status of what is known about these genes. The report is limited to genes whose function is directly related to DNA repair. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 37:241–283, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Energy Storage Operation for Voltage Control in Distribution Networks: A Receding Horizon Approach

The widespread diffusion of renewable energy sources and low carbon technologies in distribution electricity grids calls for counteracting overvoltage and undervoltage arising in low voltage (LV) feeders, where peaks of load demand and distributed generation are typically not aligned in time. In this context, deployment of energy storage systems (ESSs) in appropriately selected nodes of the network is recognized as a viable approach to tackle the problem. This paper proposes a voltage control scheme based on a receding horizon approach to operate the ESSs installed in an LV network. The essential feature of the approach lies in the very limited information needed to predict possible voltage problems, and to compute the storage control policy making it possible to counteract them in advance. The procedure is successfully applied to an Italian LV network, featuring demand and generation profiles, which cause overvoltage and undervoltage in the absence of voltage control.
A decisional framework for autonomous robots interacting with humans

The presence of humans in its environment and the necessity to interact with them raise new challenges to the robot. Indeed, they require explicit reasoning on the human environment and on the robot capacities to achieve its tasks in a collaborative way with a human partner. This paper focuses on architectural aspects and more particularly on the organization of the robot decisional abilities for interacting with people. Indeed, our objective is to develop a management of human interaction that would be an integral part of a general robot control architecture. This should hopefully allow to come up with a principled way to deal with human-robot interaction for robot task achievement in presence of humans or in synergy with humans. Such an architecture should be the framework that would allow the robot to produce behaviors to accomplish its tasks but also produce behaviors that support its engagement vis-a-vis its human partner and interpret similar behaviors from him. We also intend to use the proposed approach as a framework in which we would develop and experiment various task planners and interaction schemes. Indeed, the robot should be able, for instance, to devise plans that allow it to execute its actions and to place itself to be seen by or to observe humans, according to the task.
A Non-peptide Mimetic of Ras-CAAX: Selective Inhibition of Farnesyltransferase and Ras Processing (*)

Cysteine farnesylation of the carboxyl-terminal tetrapeptide CAAX (C = Cys, A = Leu, Ile, or Val, X = Met or Ser) of the oncogene product Ras is required for its malignant transformation activity. As a consequence farnesyltransferase (FTase), the enzyme responsible for this lipid modification, has become one of the most sought-after targets for anticancer drug development. We have recently designed peptide mimics of the COOH-terminal Cys-Val-Ile-Met of KB-Ras where the dipeptide Val-Ile was replaced by aminobenzoic acid derivatives. Although these peptidomimetics are potent inhibitors of FTase in vitro, they retain several undesirable peptide features that hamper their use in vivo. We report here the design, synthesis, and biological activity of the first non-peptide mimetics of CAAX where the tripeptide AAX was replaced by biphenyl derivatives. (R)-4-[N-(3-mercapto-2-aminopropyl)]amino-3′-carboxybiphenyl, where the cysteine is linked to the biphenyl derivative through a secondary amine, contains no amino acids, lacks peptidic features, and has no hydrolyzable bonds. This peptidomimetic is a potent inhibitor of FTase in vitro (IC = 50-150 nM) and disrupts Ras processing in whole cells. Furthermore, this non-peptide mimetic of CAAX is highly selective for FTase (666-fold) relative to the closely related geranylgeranyltransferase I. This selectivity is also respected in vivo since the processing of Ras but not the geranylgeranylated Rap1A was disrupted in whole cells. Structure activity relationship studies revealed that FTase recognition and inhibitory potency of CAAX peptidomimetics require free thiol and carboxylate groups separated by a hydrophobic moiety, and that precise positioning of these functional groups must correspond to that of the parent CAAX. The true CAAX peptidomimetic described in this manuscript has several desirable features for further development as a potential anticancer agent. It is not metabolically inactivated by FTase, does not require a prodrug strategy for inhibition in vivo, and is selective for farnesylation relative to geranylgeranylation.
Estimating collection size with logistic regression

Collection size is an important feature to represent the content summaries of a collection, and plays a vital role in collection selection for distributed search. In uncooperative environments, collection size estimation algorithms are adopted to estimate the sizes of collections with their search interfaces. This paper proposes heterogeneous capture (HC) algorithm, in which the capture probabilities of documents are modeled with logistic regression. With heterogeneous capture probabilities, HC algorithm estimates collection size through conditional maximum likelihood. Experimental results on real web data show that our HC algorithm outperforms both multiple capture-recapture and capture history algorithms.
The international face of sports science through the window of the Journal of Sports Sciences – with a special reference to kinanthropometry

Abstract The history of the Journal of Sports Sciences is traced from the antecedents of its initiation to the current time. The developments of the sports sciences at large are reflected in the content of the journal. Its links with the international agenda are described, and related to landmark publications. Special attention is given to the relationships with international bodies, the International Society for Advancement of Kinanthropometry and the World Commission of Science and Sports. The expansion of sport and exercise sciences, both nationally and internationally, was reflected in the increased frequency of publication of the journal. Key areas in the kinanthropometric content are identified and placed in context. The review culminates in the highlighting of likely areas for future research.
Type I IFN-Producing CD4 Vα14i NKT Cells Facilitate Priming of IL-10-Producing CD8 T Cells by Hepatocytes1

Upon entering the liver CD8 T cells encounter large numbers of NKT cells patrolling the hepatocyte (HC) surface facing the perisinusoidal space. We asked whether hepatic NKT cells modulate the priming of CD8 T cells by HC. Hepatic (α-galactosyl-ceramide-loaded CD1d dimer binding) NKT cells produce predominantly IL-4 when stimulated with glycolipid-presenting HC but predominantly IFN-γ when stimulated with glycolipid-presenting dendritic cells. These NKT cells prime naive CD8 T cells to a (Kb-presented) peptide ligand if they simultaneously recognize a CD1d-binding glycolipid presented to them on the surface of the responding CD8 T cells that they prime. No IL-10-producing CD8 T cells are detected if these T cells are primed by either HC or NKT cells. In contrast, IL-10 is produced by HC-primed CD8 T cells if IFN-β-producing NKT cells are coactivated by the same HC presenting a glycolipid (in the context of CD1d) and an antigenic peptide (in the context of Kb). Hence, IL-10-producing CD8 T cells are generated in a type I IFN-dependent manner if the three cell types (CD8 T cells, NKT cells, and ligand-presenting HC) specifically and closely interact. IL-10-producing CD8 T cells generated under these conditions down-modulate IL-2 (and proliferative) responses of naive CD4 or CD8 T cells primed by DC. If in close proximity, NKT cells can thus locally modulate the phenotype of CD8 T cells during their priming by HC thereby limiting the local activation of proinflammatory immune effector cells and protecting the liver against immune injury.
The Effect of a Multispecies Probiotic Mixture on the Symptoms and Fecal Microbiota in Diarrhea-dominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial

Background: The clinical effect of probiotics on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is still controversial. Aims: We aimed to evaluate the effects of a probiotic mixture on IBS symptoms and the composition of fecal microbiota in patients with diarrhea-dominant IBS (D-IBS). Methods: Fifty patients with D-IBS were randomized into placebo or probiotic mixture (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum, and Streptococcus thermophilus 1.0×1010 CFU) groups. Treatment was taken daily for 8 weeks. The primary outcome was adequate relief (AR) of overall IBS symptoms, which was assessed weekly for 10 weeks. A responder was defined as a patient who experienced AR for at least half of the 10-week study period. Secondary outcomes included the effects on individual symptoms, stool parameters, and IBS quality of life. The fecal flora compositions were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Results: The proportion of AR was consistently higher in the probiotics group than in the placebo group throughout the 10-week period (P<0.05). The proportion of responders was significantly higher in the probiotics group than in the placebo group (48% vs. 12%, P=0.01). Stool consistency improved significantly in the probiotics group compared with the placebo group. Percent changes in individual symptom scores were similar in the 2 groups, but IBS quality of life improvement tended to be higher in the probiotics group. Comparison of denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiles of fecal flora showed that the concordance rate between bacterial compositions before and after treatment was significantly higher in the probiotics group than in the placebo group (69.5% vs. 56.5%, P=0.005). Conclusions: The probiotic mixture was effective in providing AR of overall IBS symptoms and improvement of stool consistency in D-IBS patients, although it had no significant effect on individual symptoms. The therapeutic effect of probiotics is associated with the stabilization of intestinal microbiota.
The Neural Substrate for Binaural Masking Level Differences in the Auditory Cortex

The binaural masking level difference (BMLD) is a phenomenon whereby a signal that is identical at each ear (S0), masked by a noise that is identical at each ear (N0), can be made 12–15 dB more detectable by inverting the waveform of either the tone or noise at one ear (Sπ, Nπ). Single-cell responses to BMLD stimuli were measured in the primary auditory cortex of urethane-anesthetized guinea pigs. Firing rate was measured as a function of signal level of a 500 Hz pure tone masked by low-passed white noise. Responses were similar to those reported in the inferior colliculus. At low signal levels, the response was dominated by the masker. At higher signal levels, firing rate either increased or decreased. Detection thresholds for each neuron were determined using signal detection theory. Few neurons yielded measurable detection thresholds for all stimulus conditions, with a wide range in thresholds. However, across the entire population, the lowest thresholds were consistent with human psychophysical BMLDs. As in the inferior colliculus, the shape of the firing-rate versus signal-level functions depended on the neurons' selectivity for interaural time difference. Our results suggest that, in cortex, BMLD signals are detected from increases or decreases in the firing rate, consistent with predictions of cross-correlation models of binaural processing and that the psychophysical detection threshold is based on the lowest neural thresholds across the population.
The Outcomes of Total Hip Replacement in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: Comparison of the Elective and Hip Fracture Groups

Introduction The aim of the study was to compare the clinical outcomes following elective and traumatic total hip arthroplasty in Parkinson's disease patients. Materials and Methods Ten patients with osteoarthritis comprise the elective group (mean age at operation 74 years; mean follow-up 82 months). Thirteen patients with femoral fracture comprise the hip fracture group (mean age 76 years; mean follow-up 54 months). All patients were followed up at 6 and 36 months postoperatively and at the time of the latest follow-up. Results Despite the significant improvement in Merle d'Aubigné-Postel and pain scores, disability related to Parkinson's disease increased during the follow-up. Whereas more than 1/3 of hip fracture patients and all elective patients walked independently at 36 months after total hip arthroplasty, 43% of living patients from both groups were able to walk independently at the time of the latest follow-up. The medical complications were seen mainly in patients with hip fracture. Conclusions Excellent pain relief with preserved walking ability without support of another person and acceptable complication profile was observed in Parkinson's disease patients at 36 months after elective total hip arthroplasty. This procedure may be indicated in Parkinson's disease patients after careful and individualized planning.