Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of weight loss and lifestyle changes on vascular inflammatory markers in obese women: a randomized trial.

CONTEXT Obesity is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which may be mediated by increased secretion of proinflammatory cytokines by adipose tissue. OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of a program of changes in lifestyle designed to obtain a sustained reduction of body weight on markers of systemic vascular inflammation and insulin resistance. DESIGN AND SETTING Randomized single-blind trial conducted from February 1999 to February 2002 at a university hospital in Italy. PATIENTS One hundred twenty premenopausal obese women (body mass index > or =30) aged 20 to 46 years without diabetes, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia. INTERVENTIONS The 60 women randomly assigned to the intervention group received detailed advice about how to achieve a reduction of weight of 10% or more through a low-energy Mediterranean-style diet and increased physical activity. The control group (n = 60) was given general information about healthy food choices and exercise. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Lipid and glucose intake; blood pressure; homeostatic model assessment of insulin sensitivity; and circulating levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 18 (IL-18), C-reactive protein (CRP), and adiponectin. RESULTS After 2 years, women in the intervention group consumed more foods rich in complex carbohydrates (9% corrected difference; P<.001), monounsaturated fat (2%; P =.009), and fiber (7 g/d; P<.001); had a lower ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids (-5; P<.001); and had lower energy (-310 kcal/d; P<.001), saturated fat (-3.5%; P =.007), and cholesterol intake (-92 mg/d; P<.001) than controls. Body mass index decreased more in the intervention group than in controls (-4.2; P<.001), as did serum concentrations of IL-6 (-1.1 pg/mL; P =.009), IL-18 (-57 pg/mL; P =.02), and CRP (-1.6 mg/L; P =.008), while adiponectin levels increased significantly (2.2 microg/mL; P =.01). In multivariate analyses, changes in free fatty acids (P =.008), IL-6 (P =.02), and adiponectin (P =.007) levels were independently associated with changes in insulin sensitivity. CONCLUSION In this study, a multidisciplinary program aimed to reduce body weight in obese women through lifestyle changes was associated with a reduction in markers of vascular inflammation and insulin resistance.
Collective classification in social networks

Classification is one of the most studied subjects in machine learning. Most classification methods that were developed this last decade either account for structure (interactions, relationships) or attributes (text, numerical, etc). This leads to ignoring significant patterns in a dataset that could only be captured by analyzing the features of an item and its interactions. Collective classification methods use both structure and attributes, often by aggregating data from neighbors of a node and learning a model on the aggregated data. In social networks, the degree distribution of nodes follows a power law where few nodes have many neighbors. High degree nodes have incoming links from low degree nodes of different classes and many nodes have very few edges. Hence, using only local structure may lead to poor predictions. Also, many social networks allow for different types of interactions (retweet, reply, like, etc.) that affect classification differently. This article proposes a collective classification method that makes use of the structure of a network to determine its neighbors. It then presents experiments aimed at detecting jihadi propagandists and malware distributors on social networks.
EU Integration and Croatian Labour Market Flexibility

This paper seeks to identify the extent of labour market flexibility in Croatia. It measures different dimensions of flexibility using a range of various indicators and compares them against available indicators for EU member countries. The presented evidence runs counter to some of the previous research as several of the selected indicators point to significant flexibility in their domains. However, there also remain some weak points where appropriate policies need to be designed in order to bring the expected flexibility.
A Process View of Alliance Capability: Generating Value in Alliance Portfolios

This paper investigates the source of heterogeneity in the distribution of alliance capabilities among firms, and relates it to business processes that enable firms to generate collaborative value. Complementing the existing view of dyadic value creation, and the emerging experience and structural perspectives of alliance capabilities, we argue the importance of examining such a capability through the lens of organizational processes. Based on a theoretical framework of collaborative rents, we identify three processes - namely alliance proactiveness, relational orientation and portfolio coordination as constituting such a capability. Using data from 235 firms, and controlling for alliance experience and the presence of a dedicated alliance function, we show that the three processes play an important role in enhancing a firm's alliance portfolio capital. Further, we find that the alliance portfolio capital has a positive impact on firm performance. Thus we find evidence of heterogeneity in deriving value from alliance portfolios through an alliance capability emanating from organizational processes.
BUSINESS MODEL INNOVATION DIFFUSION AMONG COMPANIES

Business model innovation represents nowadays an important source of competitive advantage. This paper aims to identify the spread of business model innovation among organizations. Thus, we have conducted an exploratory research and have done a longitudinal study on 96 organizations from different industries. Our analysed data consists in 1124 annual reports for a time interval of 12 years, between the years 2000 and 2011. As a result we found out that the majority of studied companies practice business model innovation.
The study of renewable energy market in Texas, USA

The developing process and status of renewable energy in Texas, USA were briefly introduced, and the policies established by USA and Public Utility Commission of Texas(PUCT) to promote the developing of renewable energy were explained in detail, such as "Renewable Portfolio Standards" and "Electricity Facts Label". Especially, the trading program of Renewable Energy Credit (REC) in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas(ERCOT) market was described, and the trends of renewable energy in Texas electric power market were analyzed.
Ad libitum adjustments to fluid intake during cool environmental conditions maintain hydration status during a 3-day mountain bike race

Objective In this study, the hydration status of amateur cyclists who voluntarily adjusted their fluid intake to environmental conditions during a 3-day, 248-km mountain bike (MTB) race was assessed. Design Prospective observational field study. Setting Sani2C MTB Race, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 2006. Participants 18 randomly selected amateur, male MTB cyclists. Main outcome measures Reported usual fluid intake, environmental conditions, voluntary fluid intake, urine voided, changes in body mass, serum osmolality (SO), sodium concentration [Na+] and urinary specific gravity (Usg) during each stage (S). Results Dry bulb temperature (adjusted for windchill) ranged from 6° to 21.4°C during S1, S2 and S3. While 77.8% (n = 14) of subjects reported a usual intake of >750 ml h−1 in previous MTB events, mean (SE) fluid intake in this race ranged from 341 (32) ml h−1 during S1 to 551 (56) ml h−1 during S3. Changes in mean body mass ranged between −0.99% and −2.02% during the three stages. Mean SO and serum [Na+] ranged between 292 (0.73) mOsm kg−1 and 298 mOsm kg−1 and 137 (0.35) mEq and 140 (0.42) mEq, respectively, during the 3-day period, while Usg remained ≤1.025. Conclusion Ad libitum fluid intake during the 2006 Sani2C MTB Race, which took place in unexpectedly cold environmental conditions, was substantially lower than the usual reported fluid intake of subjects. Changes in body mass, SO, serum [Na+] and Usg were not clinically significant, indicating that an adequate hydration status was maintained during the multiday MTB cycle race.
Positive Identity Experiences of Young Bisexual and Other Nonmonosexual People: A Qualitative Inquiry

ABSTRACT The majority of LGBTQ psychological research focuses on dysfunction. The exclusion of strengths-based perspectives in LGBTQ psychology limits the understanding of LGBTQ mental health. In this article we report experiences that young bisexual and other nonmonosexual people perceive as affirming of their sexual identity. A 28-day, daily diary study was used to investigate whether bisexual-identified participants encountered positive experiences related to their sexual identity, and which type of experiences they perceived to be positive. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, participants’ experiences were organized according to a social ecological model. Experiences were reported at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and institutional levels, but most positive sexual identity experiences occurred at the interpersonal level. Implications for positive health outcome research and the integration of positive psychology with LGBTQ psychology are discussed, as well as study limitations.
Noonan syndrome–associated SHP2/PTPN11 mutants cause EGF‐dependent prolonged GAB1 binding and sustained ERK2/MAPK1 activation

Noonan syndrome is a developmental disorder with dysmorphic facies, short stature, cardiac defects, and skeletal anomalies, which can be caused by missense PTPN11 mutations. PTPN11 encodes Src homology 2 domain‐containing tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP2 or SHP‐2), a protein tyrosine phosphatase that acts in signal transduction downstream to growth factor, hormone, and cytokine receptors. We compared the functional effects of three Noonan syndrome–causative PTPN11 mutations on SHP2's phosphatase activity, interaction with a binding partner, and signal transduction. All SHP2 mutants had significantly increased basal phosphatase activity compared to wild type, but that activity varied significantly between mutants and was further increased after epidermal growth factor stimulation. Cells expressing SHP2 mutants had prolonged extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 2 activation, which was ligand‐dependent. Binding of SHP2 mutants to Grb2‐associated binder‐1 was increased and sustained, and tyrosine phosphorylation of both proteins was prolonged. Coexpression of Grb2‐associated binder‐1‐FF, which lacks SHP2 binding motifs, blocked the epidermal growth factor‐mediated increase in SHP2's phosphatase activity and resulted in a dramatic reduction of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 2 activation. Taken together, these results document that Noonan syndrome‐associated PTPN11 mutations increase SHP2's basal phosphatase activity, with greater activation when residues directly involved in binding at the interface between the N‐terminal Src homology 2 and protein tyrosine phosphatase domains are altered. The SHP2 mutants prolonged signal flux through the RAS/mitogen‐activated protein kinase (ERK2/MAPK1) pathway in a ligand‐dependent manner that required docking through Grb2‐associated binder‐1 (GAB1), leading to increased cell proliferation. Hum Mutat 23:267–277, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A sensitive and specific high performance liquid chromatographic assay for milrinone in rat and human plasma using a commercially available internal standard and low sample volume.

PURPOSE To develop an alternate high performance liquid chromatographic method (HPLC) for the analysis of the positive inotropic agent, milrinone, in rat and human plasma. METHODS To plasma samples (0.1 mL), containing milrinone and the commercially available internal standard, amrinone, were added 0.15 mL of water and 0.35 mL of acetonitrile. Tubes were briefly vortex-mixed and centrifuged. The supernatant was transferred to clean tubes and 3 mL of methanol: diethyl ether (5:95) was added. The tubes were vortex mixed, centrifuged, and reconstituted with the mobile phase and injected into the HPLC. Separation was accomplished using a reverse phase chromatography using C18 analytical column, and detection was afforded by monitoring the eluent at an ultraviolet wavelength of 326 nm. RESULTS Standard curves were highly linear over the range 10 to 10000 ng/mL (r2 >0.99). Recovery ranged from 52-69% over a 40-fold range of plasma concentrations from 50 to 2000 ng/mL. Intra- and inter-day coefficient of variation and mean error in were less than 20% at plasma concentrations ranging from 10 to 1000 ng/mL. The utility of the assay was demonstrated in a pharmacokinetic evaluation of milrinone in two rats given intravenous bolus doses. CONCLUSION The developed assay was sensitive, specific and appropriate for monitoring milrinone in rat or human plasma samples.
Heterogeneity in surface antigen and glycoprotein expression of cell lines derived from different melanoma metastases of the same patient. Implications for the study of tumor antigens

Three established lines of melanoma cells were derived from anatomically distinct metastases occurring in a single patient (DX). The lines, DX-1, DX-2, and DX-3, showed marked phenotypic diversity, as indicated by characteristic differences in growth rate, morphology, pigmentation, and the expression of surface antigens and glycoproteins. DX-1 and DX-3 expressed HLA-DR products, whereas DX-2 lacked HLA-DR expression. DX-1, DX-2, and DX-3 could also be distinguished on the basis of the profile of radiolabeled glycoproteins. Additional quantitative differences in the surface antigenic phenotype of the three cell lines were revealed by serological tests with a battery of monoclonal and conventional antibodies defining melanoma differentiation antigens. In tests for autologous humoral immunity to melanoma cells, sera from patient DX were found to have IgG antibody that reacted with surface antigens of DX-2 cells; no autologous reactivity was seen with DX-1 or DX-3 target cells or with three more recently established melanoma cell lines from patient DX. Absorption analysis indicated that the antigen detected by DX sera on DX-2 cells is a class 1 melanoma antigen, having been detected only on DX-2 cells and in much lower but demonstrable amounts on DX-1 and DX-3 cells. No other cell type, including DX normal fibroblasts, DX B cells, or 45 allogeneic melanoma cell lines expressed the class 1 antigen of DX melanoma. The fact that only one of the melanoma cell lines derived from patient DX was suitable target for the detection of autologous class 1 reactivity has implications for the study of human tumor antigens and may explain why antibody to class 1 antigens has been found so infrequently in past studies of melanoma patients.
Consumer attitudes toward privacy and direct marketing in Argentina

As international direct marketing continues to grow, understanding international consumers’ attitudes toward direct marketing practices becomes paramount. In this article we develop and test a conceptual model that delineates antecedents to consumers’ attitudes toward direct marketing and consumer privacy issues in Argentina. Our empirical study partially replicates the Equifax survey. The results from our sample of Argentine consumers are compared to those of U.S. consumers.
Genetic and environmental parameters for mature weight in Angus cattle.

Genetic and environmental variances and covariances and associated genetic parameters were estimated for weaning weight, asymptotic mature weight, and repeated mature weights. Data consisted of a set of weight measurements of 3,044 Angus cows born between 1976 and 1990. Mature weight was predicted by individually fitting Brody growth curves (asymptotic weight) and by using weights repeatedly measured after 4 yr of age. Variance and covariance components for mature weight were estimated by REML from a single-trait animal model with asymptotic weight, a two-trait animal model with asymptotic and weaning weight, and a two-trait animal model with repeated weights and weaning weight. Weaning and cow contemporary groups were defined as fixed effects. Random effects for weaning weight included direct genetic, maternal genetic, and permanent environmental effects; and for mature weight, direct genetic and repeated measurements (if in the model). Heritability estimates for weaning weight were similar for both two-trait models (.53 and .59). Estimates of heritability for mature weight were . 44, . 52, and . 53 for the single-trait model with asymptotic weight, two-trait model with asymptotic weight, and two-trait model with repeated measures weights, respectively. The estimate of the genetic correlation between mature and weaning weight was higher for the repeated measures model (.85 vs. .63). A lower heritability estimate for mature weight from the single-trait model was likely due to postweaning culling. Therefore, a genetic evaluation of mature weight from field data should include a trait recorded earlier in life that is less subjected to selective data reporting.
MONETARY POLICY RULES FOR EUROPEAN MONETARY UNION ACCEDING COUNTRIES

The identification of central banks (CBs) behavior in setting interest rates may give a conclusive image on both the objectives and on their prioritization. A standard approach in this respect is the estimation of a CB reaction function as a Taylor rule. Since the formulation of the original version, Taylor monetary policy rule has undergone a number of changes and extensions designed to better reflect the monetary policy decisions of central banks. This paper addresses two extensions of Taylor monetary policy rule strictly targeting the current features of the Central and Eastern European (CEE) states, emerging economies with a high degree of openness in the middle of a convergence process towards the euro area. Models are built on the assumption that the monetary authority follows a strategy of flexible inflation targeting (IT) and are estimated using the generalized method of moments (GMM).
AN OBJECTIVE MEASUREMENT OF COGNITIVE FUNCTIIONS:

Objective: Cognitive impairemnt is an important feature in patients with parkinson’s diesease. Cognition is assessed through many validated psychometric batteries as Montreal cognitive assessment (MOCA) and Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDRs). Subjective nature of these batteries has an impact on their reliability. An objective measure of cognitive function minimizes this defect. Rehacom cognitive assessment is an objective way of cognitive assessment. Subjects and Methods: Twenty three male subjects ;twelve patients with parkinson’s disease and eleven normal age matched subjests participated in this study.the age ranged from 50 to 70 years old. Subjects were assessed by the MoCA and CDRs and rehacom device for attention and concentration and memory domains (attention level, minimum reaction time, median reaction time and maximum reaction time, while the varaibles of figural memory modules that were measured were memory level, acquisition time and solution time). This study is a cross section design. Results: A significant difference was found in CDRs scores, attention level, memory level and solution time between parkinsonian and normal group (P<0.004), (P<0.011), (P<0.004), (P<0.000). Conclusion: MOCA scores can detect objectively any decline in cognitive functions in patients with PD because there was a direct moderate correlation between it and rehacome scores . Also there is a decline in cognitive functions in patients with PD when measured objectively by rehacome and compared with healthy subjects of martched age. Also the mean average of cognitive functions in egyptians healthy subjects by MOCA scores is 25.36 ± 3.776 and rehacom (attention level is 6.55 +/1.214, memory level is 5.64± 1.286, solution time is 64.64± 8.640 s). the median CDRs score is 0.000, minimum reaction time is 4460.0000 ms, median reaction time is 6190.00 ms, maximum reaction time is 23740.0000 ms and acquisition time is 9.00 s.
Bubonic lymphogranuloma venereum with multidrug treatment failure

A patient with proctitis and inguinal buboes diagnosed with lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) was treated with doxycycline 21 days, azithromycin 20 days and moxifloxacin for a further 12 days because of progressive worsening of inguinal symptoms. Despite extensive antibiotic treatment, the inguinal LGV lesions persisted; however, the patient recovered spontaneously after three months.
New explanations for old observations: marginal band coiling during platelet activation

Blood platelets are tiny cell fragments derived from megakaryocytes. Their primary function is to control blood vessel integrity and ensure hemostasis if a vessel wall is damaged. Circulating quiescent platelets have a flat, discoid shape maintained by a circumferential microtubule bundle, called the marginal band (MB). In the case of injury platelets are activated and rapidly adopt a spherical shape due to microtubule motor‐induced elongation and subsequent coiling of the MB. Platelet activation and shape change can be transient or become irreversible. This depends on the strength of the activation stimulus, which is translated into a cytoskeletal crosstalk between microtubules, their motors and the actomyosin cortex, ensuring stimulus‐response coupling. Following microtubule motor‐driven disc‐to‐sphere transition, a strong stimulus will lead to compression of the sphere through actomyosin cortex contraction. This will concentrate the granules in the center of the platelet and accelerate their exocytosis. Once granules are released, platelets have crossed the point of no return to irreversible activation. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the molecular mechanism leading to platelet shape change, with a special emphasis on microtubules, and refers to previously published observations, which have been essential for generating an integrated view of cytoskeletal rearrangements during platelet activation.
Increasing the Quality and Quantity of Tertiary-Level Information Systems Students: A Graduate Development Framework

This article forms part of research-in-progress aimed toward creating a comprehensive graduate development framework that will assist Information Systems (IS) departments in increasing the quality and quantity of their enrollments and graduates. In this article, we present the IS Graduate Development Framework (ISGDF). This framework combines concepts from four related fields of IS study into a single framework for identifying the graduate development potential of IS institutions, courses, and development projects. These four fields of study are: (i) Information and Communication Technology for Development, (ii) economic labor market theory that relates to IS labor, (iii) a study of IS education concepts and course structures, and (iv) a study of IS labor within the creative industries. We present the ISGDF based on literature from these fields of study and show how this framework can be applied by means of a comprehensive case study example. The case study gives a detailed account of how the framework was used to identify, and improve, the graduate development potential of an IS graduate development project. Findings from the case study include several areas for possible improvement of IS curricula to increase the graduate development potential of IS departments. Although the case study was conducted in a South African context, we suggest that the ISGDF, and case study findings report in this article, can be useful for informing IS departments toward increasing graduate quality and quantity in their own contexts.