Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic changes in Bach1 expression in the kidney of rhabdomyolysis-associated acute kidney injury

Free heme, a pro-oxidant released from myoglobin, is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of rhabdomyolysis-associated acute kidney injury (RM-AKI), because renal overexpression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), the rate-limiting enzyme in heme catabolism, confers protection against RM-AKI. BTB and CNC homology 1 (Bach1) is a heme-responsive transcription factor that represses HO-1. Here, we examined the changes with time in the gene expression of Bach1, HO-1, and δ-aminolevulinate synthase (ALAS1, a heme biosynthetic enzyme) in the rat kidney using an RM-AKI model induced by the injection of 50% glycerol (10 mL/kg body weight) into bilateral limbs. We also examined the protein expression of Bach1 in the nucleus and cytosol, and HO-1 in the rat kidney. Glycerol treatment induced significant elevation of serum creatinine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase levels followed by the marked elevation of serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels, which caused serious damage to renal tubules. Following glycerol treatment, HO-1 mRNA and protein levels were significantly up-regulated, while ALAS1 mRNA expression was down-regulated, suggesting an increase in the free renal heme concentration. The Bach1 mRNA level was drastically increased 3 h after glycerol treatment, and the increased level was maintained for 12 h. Nuclear Bach1 protein levels were significantly decreased 3 h after treatment. Conversely, cytosolic Bach1 protein levels abruptly increased after 6 h. In conclusion, we demonstrate the dynamic changes in Bach1 expression in a rat model of RM-AKI. Our findings suggest that the increase in Bach1 mRNA and cytosolic Bach1 protein expression may reflect de novo Bach1 protein synthesis to compensate for the depletion of nuclear Bach1 protein caused by the induction of HO-1 by free heme.
The causality between returns of interest-based banks and Islamic banks: the case of Turkey

Purpose - – This study aims to test whether the Islamic bank rate of returns are affected by the deposit rates of the interest-based bank in Turkey and whether they need to develop additional tools to manage it if they face an interest risk. Design/methodology/approach - – This study tests the causality between the Islamic bank rate of returns and the time deposit interest rates between 2002 and 2010 in Turkey by use of the Granger Causality method based on monthly data. The same analysis is repeated with respect to the terms before and after 2006. Findings - – It is concluded that for each term, the time deposit interest rates are the Granger cause of the Islamic bank rate of returns. This causality relation is more visible for the period after 2006. Originality/value - – The results shows that the Islamic banks are sensitive to the interest-based bank interest rates in Turkey. Therefore, this finding suggests that these banks need to remain cautious
FDI and licensing strategies by Dutch multinationals in Japan

After reviewing the stylised facts concerning Japan''s low level of inward investment and the explanations for these facts put forward in the literature, this paper examines the licensing and investment behaviour of Dutch multinational enterprises in Japan. It is shown that aggregate data on Dutch foreign direct investment in Japan substantially underestimate the presence of Dutch firms. Survey data indicate that employment in affiliates of Dutch multinationals reached at least 12,000 in 1995. The largest five industrial groups (Shell, Unilever, Philips, Akzo-Nobel and DSM) are responsible for more than 90 percent of Dutch investment. Dutch affiliates on balance register a trade surplus with the rest of the world and with the Netherlands, which contrasts with the trade pattern of other foreign affiliates in Japan. The trade surplus is due to the active procurement of Japanese components and materials for world-wide operations by some affiliates, and the export-oriented manufacturing operations of affiliates in the electronics and speciality chemicals sectors. The data also reveal a diversity of investment strategies, from a focus on wholly and majority owned operations and intra-group transfers (Shell and Unilever), to an almost exclusive use of joint ventures coupled with licensing agreements with independent Japanese firm (DSM and Akzo-Nobel). A striking feature of Dutch investment in Japan remains the complete absence of a large number of multinationals with expanding operations in Europe and the United States. The new opportunities for market entry and acquisitions in Japan in the late 1990s, demonstrated by the expansion of a number of Dutch firms, warrant a much greater focus on the Japanese market than has been the case until today.
Modeling and verifying security protocols using UML 2

Large scale distributed systems often require security protocols to ensure high integrity. We present a modeling approach that uses UML 2 without extensions to support the design, composition and verification of security protocols. The approach assumes a strong threat model, in which an attacker can intercept, modify, and spoof all communications, with the exception of those protected by known-strong encryption. Through a series of models of extensively-studied protocols we demonstrate that the approach allows protocol properties to be accurately represented, and protocols to be automatically tested to detect potential security flaws. The approach benefits from the existing strong tool support for UML 2, allowing automatic generation of protocol implementations from the models.
Day-to-Day Monetary Policy and the Volatility of the Federal Funds Interest Rate

We propose a model of the interbank money market with an explicit role for central bank intervention and periodic reserve requirements, and study the interaction of profit-maximizing banks with a central bank targeting interest rates at high frequency. The model yields predictions on biweekly patterns of the federal funds rate`s volatility and on its response to changes in target rates and in intervention procedures, such as those implemented by the Federal Reserve in 1994. Theoretical results are consistent with empirical patterns of interest rate volatility in the U.S. market for federal funds.
Signal Extraction with Kalman Filter: A Study of the Hong Kong Property Price Bubbles

Since the early 1980s, the debate surrounding speculative bubbles has never subsided. A key obstacle to resolving this issue is the identification problem. A bubble is usually inferred from some assumed fundamental determinants of a price. These assumptions could be oversimplified. Furthermore, there might be data measurement errors. This paper attempts to capture such errors with a latent state variable. This variable is extracted using the Kalman filter. Based on the empirical comparisons, it is found that it is possible to attribute the observed large price swings in the property market of Hong Kong during the 1980s and 1990s to a periodically collapsing rational speculative bubble.
Comparative simulation analysis of the European multi-country models

This paper is a product of the SPES programme on multi-country models and describes a set of diagnostic simulations on five European-based multi-country models. These are the EEC's model QUEST as operated by the Deutsches Institut fur Wirtschaftsforschung (DIW); the GEM model jointly operated by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research and the London Business School; the Oxford Economic Forecasting model; the MIMOSA model used by the Observatoire Francais des Conjonctures Economiques (OFCE) and Centre D'Etudes Prospectives et D'Informations Internationales (CEPII), and OECD's Interlink model. The simulation experiments are designed to clarify the interdependencies and relative structures of the major European economies using both (internal) single-country and external common shocks. All the models tend to adopt similar specifications across the different countries but differences in simulation responses still occur and cross-model differences often dominate those between countries. Several general qualitative conclusions can be drawn, however. For example, independent fiscal policy under a monetary policy of fixed real interest rates has only limited power to raise output, although full crowding out does not occur. Spillover effects to the other European economies are weak with respect to independent fiscal expansions but stronger for an external shock. The model comparisons reveal differences in modelling strategies, notably with respect to the treatment of inflation on consumption, the role of activity on import behaviour and the influence of excess demand on wages. These; are all key factors in explaining simulation differences between the models. Not all the models currently have endogenous exchange rate determination and this becomes an essential requirement for analysis of non-EMS and EMS-style regimes.
The Burroughs Wellcome Career Award in the Biomedical Sciences

The Career Award in Biomedical Sciences (CABS) was launched by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund to assist talented scientists to cross the “bridge” that connects postdoctoral training with independent investigator status. This study examines the causal effects of CABS, using both conventional methods and a newer method (propensity score analysis) in attempting to account for selection biases (e.g., selecting the “best and the brightest”) in estimating the award's impact. The results indicated that grantees outperformed unsuccessful applicants in obtaining a faculty position, competing for an R01 grant, and publishing in prestigious journals. However, it was nearly impossible to remove all the effects of selection bias from estimates of program effects. Because selection bias is a pervasive problem in assessing these programs, recommendations for improving evaluations of similar merit-based programs are offered.
Coordinated Motion Control of Autonomous and Semiautonomous Mobile Agents

This paper addresses networked control problems which arise in the coordinated motion control of autonomous and semiautonomous mobile agents, where the sensors and controllers are geographically separated and connected by digital communication channels carrying a finite number of bits per unit time. Different from the existing results, this case with quantized output measurements and limited data rates is considered. A quantization, coding and control scheme is presented under communication constraints. In particular, it is shown that the unstable plant may be stabilizable in the mean square sense if the data rate of the channel is greater than the lower bound proposed in our results. Simulation results show the validity of the proposed scheme. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.11591/telkomnika.v10i8. 1192 Full Text: PDF
Current views on the diagnosis and management of hypokalaemia in children

Hypokalaemia is a common electrolyte disorder in children, caused by decreased potassium intake, increased gastrointestinal and urinary losses or transcellular shift. Patients with severe hypokalaemia may suffer from symptoms such as life‐threatening cardiac arrhythmias. The aim of our study was to review the aetiology of hypokalaemia, suggest a diagnostic algorithm and discuss the management of patients with various aetiologies of hypokalaemia.
Barriers to Franchising in Saudi Arabia

Franchising has rapidly grown in Saudi Arabia since 2005, yet a small number of the large companies dominate the market with mostly foreign brands. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the barriers that Saudi small and medium enterprises and startups face when striving to become franchisors or franchisees. These barriers are investigated through the use of semi-structured interviews with people who belong to the franchise community either as administrators, franchise committee members, franchise developers, franchisees–franchisors, or prospective franchisees and franchisors. The results of this study show that there are several barriers standing against using franchising as a mode of expansion and investment by small and medium enterprises and startups, such as lack of legal, financial, institutional, marketing, development, and educational services support, and other key factors related to international franchisors' preferences and domestic franchising.
An audit of diabetes control, dietary management and quality of life in adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus, and a comparison with nondiabetic subjects.

OBJECTIVES The study's objective was to audit current diet and disease management in a community-based sample of people with type 1 diabetes. METHODS The study involved adults with type 1 diabetes and control subjects. Reported amounts of dietary intake were collected. Indices of diabetes control were determined by standard methods. Quality of life of both groups was assessed with appropriate measures. Results were compared between two groups. RESULTS Mean HbA(1c) concentration was 8.5% (SD 2.21%) for women with diabetes and 8.6% (SD 1.91%) for men. There was no significant difference between the diabetic and control subjects in self-reported energy intake and macronutrient intake, with the exception that the contribution of saturated fatty acid to energy intake was higher in male controls than in male diabetics. There was no association between dietary intakes and glycemic control in diabetic subjects. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure and plasma lipids in patients were within normal range and not significantly different from the controls. Plasma fibrinogen concentration was higher in patients. Diabetic subjects did not have a diminished quality of life. CONCLUSIONS Dietary management in these patients was generally focused on controlling carbohydrate intake. Most had suboptimal diabetes control.
Derivation of class II force fields. VIII. Derivation of a general quantum mechanical force field for organic compounds

A class II valence force field covering a broad range of organic molecules has been derived employing ab initio quantum mechanical “observables. ” The procedure includes selecting representative molecules and molecular structures, and systematically sampling their energy surfaces as described by energies and energy first and second derivatives with respect to molecular deformations. In this article the procedure for fitting the force field parameters to these energies and energy derivatives is briefly reviewed. The application of the methodology to the derivation of a class II quantum mechanical force field (QMFF) for 32 organic functional groups is then described. A training set of 400 molecules spanning the 32 functional groups was used to parameterize the force field. The molecular families comprising the functional groups and, within each family, the torsional angles used to sample different conformers, are described. The number of stationary points (equilibria and transition states) for these molecules is given for each functional group. This set contains 1324 stationary structures, with 718 minimum energy structures and 606 transition states. The quality of the fit to the quantum data is gauged based on the deviations between the ab initio and force field energies and energy derivatives. The accuracy with which the QMFF reproduces the ab initio molecular bond lengths, bond angles, torsional angles, vibrational frequencies, and conformational energies is then given for each functional group. Consistently good accuracy is found for these computed properties for the various types of molecules. This demonstrates that the methodology is broadly applicable for the derivation of force field parameters across widely differing types of molecular structures. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 1782–1800, 2001
Maximum entropy power spectrum estimation with uncertainty in correlation measurements

The purpose of this paper is to present a multidimensional MEM algorithm, valid for nonuniformly sampled arrays, which satisfies a "correlation-approximating" constraint. To this end, the correlation matching equality constraints of the usual MEM are replaced by a single inequality constraint whose form is based on a measure of the noise in the given autocovariance function (ACF). In this way, one can incorporate into the model knowledge of the noisy nature of the "given" ACF, since the "given" ACF is usually estimated from the samples of the wavefield. Specifically, the covariance matrix of the correlation estimates is used in a quadratic form that weights the difference between the "given" ACF and the one matched by the power spectrum. The maximization of entropy under this inequality constraint leads, ultimately, to a steepest-descent algorithm. The algorithm has been tested with 1-D synthetic data representing multiple sinusoids buried in additive white noise. The performance of this modified MEM algorithm is compared to a traditional MEM algorithm for extendible ACF's and for different SNR's. Examples of the MEM spectrum are given for the case of nonextendible ACF's.
Regular Voters, Marginal Voters and the Electoral Effects of Turnout

How do marginal voters differ from regular voters? This article develops a method for comparing the partisan preferences of regular voters to those marginal voters whose turnout decisions are influenced by exogenous factors and applies it to two sources of variation in turnout in the United States—weather and election timing. In both cases, marginal voters are over 20 percentage points more supportive of the Democratic Party than regular voters—a significant divide. The findings suggest that the expansion or contraction of the electorate can have important consequences. Moreover, the findings suggest that election results do not always reflect the preferences of the citizenry, because the marginal citizens who may stay home have systematically different preferences than those who participate. Finally, the methods developed in the article may enable future researchers to compare regular and marginal voters on many different dimensions and in many different electoral settings.
Testing for contagion in US industry portfolios – a four-factor pricing approach

We conduct an empirical investigation into the financial contagion hypothesis in the context of 12 US industry portfolios. Using a four-factor asset pricing model we measure contagion as the excess co-movement between idiosyncratic portfolio shocks, and test for an increase in the frequency of contagion during the 2007–2009 crisis sub-sample. We find evidence of 22 instances of financial contagion during the noncrisis sample period, and 21 such occurrences during the 2007–2009 crisis period, at the 5% level. It appears that the frequency of contagion remained steady or declined during the crisis for the industries that had a relatively high frequency of contagion prior to the crisis, but increased for those industries that had relatively few such incidences. Interestingly, the financial sector exhibited the least number of contagion instances across both crisis and noncrisis periods.
Utility of quantitative T-cell responses versus unstimulated interferon-γ for the diagnosis of pleural tuberculosis

The clinical utility of antigen-specific interferon (IFN)-γ release assays (IGRAs) using pleural mononuclear cells, for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB), requires clarification. We compared the diagnostic utility of unstimulated pleural IFN-γ levels with several pleural antigen-specific T-cell IGRAs (early secretory antigenic target-6 and culture filtrate protein-10 (T-SPOT.®TB, QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-tube), purified protein derivative (PPD) and heparin-binding haemagglutinin (HBHA)) in 78 South African TB suspects. Test results were compared against a clinical score and a reference standard. Out of 74 evaluable subjects 48, seven and 19 had definite, probable and no TB, respectively. 11 (15%) out of 74 pleural samples (nine (19%) out of 48 of the definite TB cases) had total cell counts that were inadequate for T-cell processing. In the remaining 63 samples, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of different diagnostic methods were as follows. Maximal bioclinical score: 54, 89, 92 and 43%, respectively; T-SPOT. ®TB: 86, 60, 84 and 64%, respectively; QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-tube: 57, 80, 87 and 44%, respectively; HBHA-specific IGRA: 59, 31, 64 and 27%, respectively; PPD-specific IGRA: 81, 40, 76 and 46%, respectively; and pleural fluid unstimulated IFN-γ: 97, 100, 100 and 94%, respectively. Unstimulated IFN-γ was the most accurate test for distinguishing TB from non-TB effusions in a high-burden setting. The antigen-specific T-cell IGRAs were limited by suboptimal accuracy and the inability to isolate sufficient mononuclear cells to perform the assay.
The ‘security paradoxes’ of the Black Sea region

The international order has entered a new era that is characterized by dramatic changes, in terms of both structure and process. Within this evolving non‐polar world, the emergence of the Black Sea as a region and as a geopolitical hub is undeniable; yet the issues at hand are many, complex and challenging. A number of key paradoxes that have shaped the profile of the region to date, and will continue to define its future, are ever more clearly making their presence felt. This article attempts to illustrate and bring to the surface these paradoxes, namely the interplay between economic growth/subregionalism versus ethnonationalism/security dilemmas and the ‘neighbourhood perception paradox’. The purpose is to help assess the current state of play and address the key questions for the future of the region.
Modelo de predicción de quiebra en micro y pequeñas empresas (MiPyMEs)

The main purpose of this research is to validate and improve the Weighted Ratio Valuation Model (RPV) model in micro and small enterprises in Central Mexico, in order to propose an alternative to financial valuation methods to anticipate bankruptcy in this sector of the economy. To achieve this objective, the study proposes the empirical application of Mosqueda 2010. The results shed important information that allowed the identification of variables that lead to bankruptcy, making risk detection more accurate, which, in turn, made it possible to validate and consolidate the model. 1024x768 Normal 0 21 false false false
The Impact of European Employment Strategy on the Role of Labour Law and Industrial Relations

The aim of this article is to discuss the co-ordination process of employment policies provided by the Treaty of Amsterdam so as to assess its impact on labour law and industrial relations. It maintains that the 'Luxembourg Process' is producing side-effects by determining the re-regulation of labour market arrangements and, more in general, modernising the legal framework of industrial relations. The main conclusion confirms the European Union's adoption of the so-called 'European social model', although collective bargaining and, overall, industrial relations will be required to pay increased attention to a job creation function. It is argued that a modernisation of labour law and industrial relations will continue, since the 'Luxembourg Process' will not cease to heavily influence the action of both Governments and social parties.
Regional Policy and Convergence of Real per Capita Income Among Swedish Counties

This study analyses how regional policy, which was introduced around 1970, has affected regional growth of real per capita incomes in Sweden in the post-war period. The study shows: (a) that real per capita incomes in Swedish counties have converged since 1945, (b) support counties have not grown faster than other counties after 1970, (c) selective regional policy supports, which constitute an important part of Swedish regional policy, do not affect the regional growth rates, and (d) government expenditures seem to affect the regional growth of real per capita incomes negatively.