Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Receptor Deficiency in Macrophages Accelerates Atherosclerosis and Induces an Unstable Plaque Phenotype in Apolipoprotein E–Deficient Mice

Background— We have previously shown that systemic infusion of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and reduces atherosclerotic burden in apolipoprotein E (Apoe)–deficient mice. Monocytes/macrophages express high levels of IGF-1 receptor (IGF1R) and play a pivotal role in atherogenesis, but the potential effects of IGF-1 on their function are unknown. Methods and Results— To determine mechanisms whereby IGF-1 reduces atherosclerosis and to explore the potential involvement of monocytes/macrophages, we created monocyte/macrophage–specific IGF1R knockout (M&PHgr;-IGF1R-KO) mice on an Apoe−/− background. We assessed atherosclerotic burden, plaque features of stability, and monocyte recruitment to atherosclerotic lesions. Phenotypic changes of IGF1R-deficient macrophages were investigated in culture. M&PHgr;-IGF1R-KO significantly increased atherosclerotic lesion formation, as assessed by Oil Red O staining of en face aortas and aortic root cross-sections, and changed plaque composition to a less stable phenotype, characterized by increased macrophage and decreased &agr;-smooth muscle actin–positive cell population, fibrous cap thinning, and decreased collagen content. Brachiocephalic artery lesions of M&PHgr;-IGF1R-KO mice had histological features implying plaque vulnerability. Macrophages isolated from M&PHgr;-IGF1R-KO mice showed enhanced proinflammatory responses on stimulation by interferon-&ggr; and oxidized low-density lipoprotein and elevated antioxidant gene expression levels. Moreover, IGF1R-deficient macrophages had decreased expression of ABCA1 and ABCG1 and reduced lipid efflux. Conclusions— Our data indicate that macrophage IGF1R signaling suppresses macrophage and foam cell accumulation in lesions and reduces plaque vulnerability, providing a novel mechanism whereby IGF-1 exerts antiatherogenic effects.
Automatic I/O scheduling algorithm selection for parallel file systems

This article presents our approach to provide input/output (I/O) scheduling with double adaptivity: to applications and devices. In high‐performance computing environments, parallel file systems provide a shared storage infrastructure to applications. In the situation where multiple applications access this shared infrastructure concurrently, their performance can be impaired because of interference. Our work focuses on I/O scheduling as a tool to improve performance by alleviating interference effects. The role of the I/O scheduler is to decide the order in which applications' requests must be processed by the parallel file system's servers, applying optimizations to adjust the resulting access pattern for improved performance. Our approach to improve I/O scheduling results is based on using information from applications' access patterns and storage devices' sensitivity to access sequentiality. We have applied machine learning to provide the ability to automatically select the best scheduling algorithm for each situation. Our approach improves performance by up to 75% over an approach that uses the same scheduling algorithm to all situations, without adaptability. Our results evidence that both aspects – applications and storage devices – are essential to make good scheduling decisions. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Optimal Taxation of International Mergers & Acquisitions

If interest income is subject to tax, the taxation of business income from international mergers & acquisitions as well as international greenfield investments is globally optimal if economic depreciations are permitted as tax-deductible expenses, investors receive a credit for foreign taxes paid (tax credit method), and business income is taxed at the uniform income tax rate. It is nationally optimal with full taxation after deduction. This optimality result prevails with historical cost depreciation for international greenfield investments, but not for international mergers & acquisitions. Cash-flow taxation of international mergers & acquisitions and greenfield investment is globally optimal with a tax credit method and nationally optimal with full taxation after deduction.
Differences of small-scale farmers and the related short agri-food value chains An empirical evidence from Hungary

Recently, short food supply chains have been thoroughly studied in some countries; however, data are sparse from others. In Hungary, the local food movement has been developing very fast and an outburst in the number of farmers markets has happened, due to the changes of the legal environment. The paper addresses the question whether farmers selling at various short food supply chains are different based on their socio-demographic, farm- and production-related characteristics, expectations and motivations. Employing survey data our results confirm that short supply chains are different in terms of farmers’ profiles. The outcomes are important in the light of the coming EU funding schemes as different small-scale farmers require different supporting frameworks and solutions.
The Personality Assessment Inventory as a Proxy for the Psychopathy Checklist–Revised

The Personality Assessment Inventory's (PAI's) ability to predict psychopathic personality features, as assessed by the Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (PCL-R), was examined. To investigate whether the PAI Antisocial Features (ANT) Scale and subscales possessed incremental validity beyond other theoretically relevant PAI scales, optimized regression equations were derived in a sample of 281 Canadian federal offenders. ANT, or ANT–Antisocial Behavior (ANT-A), demonstrated unique variance in regression analyses predicting PCL-R total and Factor 2 (Lifestyle Impulsivity and Social Deviance) scores, but only the Dominance (DOM) Scale was retained in models predicting Factor 1 (Interpersonal and Affective Deficits). Attempts to cross-validate the regression equations derived from the first sample on a sample of 85 U.S. sex offenders resulted in considerable validity shrinkage, with the ANT Scale in isolation performing comparably to or better than the statistical models for PCL-R total and Factor 2 scores. Results offer limited evidence of convergent validity between the PAI and the PCL-R.
Performance of REITs: a sector- and company-based analysis of links and time lags between real estate market cycles, earnings, and pricing of REITs

Analyzing 131 U.S.-REITs and 5 REIT property sectors over a 12-year period and combining the exact, size-adjusted property holdings (›30,000 properties) with the corresponding space market data for every quarter, company, submarket and property type, the dissertation is an important milestone in the way that it shows specific timelags between space market cycles and the earnings of REIT sectors and individual companies that differ across property types. Also, the dissertation shows the (in)efficiency in terms of the pricing of REITs by space market fundamentals.
Indiscriminate Friendliness in Maltreated Foster Children

Indiscriminate friendliness is well documented in children adopted internationally following institutional rearing but is less studied in maltreated foster children. Precursors and correlates of indiscriminate friendliness were examined in 93 preschool-aged maltreated children residing in foster care and 60 age-matched, nonmaltreated children living with their biological parents. Measures included parent reports, official case record data, and standardized laboratory assessments. Foster children exhibited higher levels of indiscriminate friendliness than nonmaltreated children. Inhibitory control was negatively associated with indiscriminate friendliness even after controlling for age and general cognitive ability. Additionally, the foster children who had experienced a greater number of foster caregivers had poorer inhibitory control, which was in turn associated with greater indiscriminate friendliness. The results indicate a greater prevalence of indiscriminate friendliness among foster children and suggest that indiscriminate friendliness is part of a larger pattern of dysregulation associated with inconsistency in caregiving.
Chest Wall Reconstruction for Radionecrosis After Breast Carcinoma Therapy

This study aimed at evaluating various reconstructive procedures for, chest wall radionecrosis after breast carcinoma therapy. Four different techniques were performed between 1973 and 1992 in 120 patients: latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap (LDF; n = 81); transposed omentum and split-thickness skin graft (TGO; n = 20); fasciocutaneous flap (FCF; n = 10), and transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap (TRAM; n = 9). Initial dose of irradiation ranged from 60 to 110 Gy. The average interval between initial treatment and reconstruction was 11 years. Local recurrence was suspected in 26 patients and was histologically proven after removal in 36 (30%). Surgical procedure results were analyzed by mean hospital stay (8 days for LDF vs. 52 days for TGO), early (13% LDF vs. 60% TGO) and late (7% LDF vs. 35% FCF) complications, second surgery (15% LDF vs. 53% FCF), and functional and cosmetic outcomes. In our experience, the LDF was the first-line flap. The TRAM was used to cover very large defects and when breast reconstruction was needed. When these flaps were impossible or dangerous, we performed a TGO. These three procedures have replaced FCF indications.
Halo in customer satisfaction measures: The role of purpose of rating, number of attributes and customer involvement

Firms usually measure customer satisfaction on an attribute‐by‐attribute basis in order to identify and improve potential weaknesses, and to fortify their strengths in service delivery. However, research has shown that halo can threaten the interpretability of such data. Also, halo is particularly acute in satisfaction measurement of services with a high degree of ambiguous and credence attributes. This paper examines three halo‐reducing methods developed in psychology and organizational behavior in the context of customer satisfaction. The perceived purpose of evaluation (evaluative vs developmental) and the number of attributes measured (few vs many) were examined in an experimental design, and the level of product involvement (low vs high) was examined using a quasi‐experimental design. The data showed reduced halo when the respondents were presented with a developmental rather than evaluative purpose, when more rather than fewer attributes were measured, and when subjects were highly involved with the service.
A Systematic Review into the Efficacy of Static Stretching as Part of a Warm-Up for the Prevention of Exercise-Related Injury

A systematic review of the literature was undertaken to assess the efficacy of static stretching as part of the warm-up for the prevention of exercise-related injuries. Computer-aided literature search for articles post-1990 and pre-January 2008 related to static stretching and injury prevention using MEDLINE, SPORT Discus, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases. All relevant randomised clinical trials (RCTs) and controlled clinical trials (CCTs) satisfying inclusion/exclusion criteria were evaluated by methodological assessment to score the studies using accredited criteria. Seven out of 364 studies met the inclusion/exclusion criteria. All four RCTs concluded that static stretching was ineffective in reducing the incidence of exercise-related injury, and only one of the three CCTs concluded that static stretching did reduce the incidence of exercise-related injury. Three out of the seven studies noted significant reductions in musculotendinous and ligament injuries following a static stretching protocol despite nonsignificant reductions in the all-injury risk. All RCTs scored over 50 points (maximum possible score = 100), whereas all CCTs scored under 45 points. There is moderate to strong evidence that routine application of static stretching does not reduce overall injury rates. There is preliminary evidence, however, that static stretching may reduce musculotendinous injuries.
Impact of Liquidity on Islamic Banks’ Profitability: Evidence from Bangladesh

This study examines the impact of liquidity on Islamic banks’ profitability during an 11 years period of 2001 to 2011. To explore and interpret the results the study has taken samples from five Islamic banks that have been in operation in Bangladesh on or before 2001 to till date. In order to construct the liquidity model it used four liquidity variables namely cash & due from banks to total assets (CDTA), cash & due from banks to total deposits (CDDEP), investment to total assets(INVSTA) and investment to total deposits (INVSDEP). According to adjusted R squares profitability variables return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE) and return on deposits (ROD) are respectively 17.1%, 4.5% and 24.6% dependent on independent variables. The statistical results suggest that CDTA is found insignificant with all profitability variables, whereas CDDEP is individually significant with all profitability variables except ROE. On the other hand INVSTA and INVSDEP are recognized significant with all three profitability variables. However, when ROE stands for an insignificant relationship with the overall liquidity model, ROA and ROD are identified significantly correlated with the similar model at 1% significant level. Unsurprisingly the findings do strengthen the specification that the impact of liquidity reflects adequate imposition on profitability that the Islamic banks in Bangladesh must abide by.
Cost-effectiveness of active case-finding of household contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis patients in a low HIV, tuberculosis-endemic urban area of Lima, Peru

SUMMARY We compared the cost-effectiveness (CE) of an active case-finding (ACF) programme for household contacts of tuberculosis (TB) cases enrolled in first-line treatment to routine passive case-finding (PCF) within an established national TB programme in Peru. Decision analysis was used to model detection of TB in household contacts through: (1) self-report of symptomatic cases for evaluation (PCF), (2) a provider-initiated ACF programme, (3) addition of an Xpert MTB/RIF diagnostic test for a single sputum sample from household contacts, and (4) all strategies combined. CE was calculated as the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) in terms of US dollars per disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted. Compared to PCF alone, ACF for household contacts resulted in an ICER of $2155 per DALY averted. The addition of the Xpert MTB/RIF diagnostic test resulted in an ICER of $3275 per DALY averted within a PCF programme and $3399 per DALY averted when an ACF programme was included. Provider-initiated ACF of household contacts in an urban setting of Lima, Peru can be highly cost-effective, even including costs to seek out contacts and perform an Xpert/MTB RIF test. ACF including Xpert MTB/RIF was not cost-effective if TB cases detected had high rates of default from treatment or poor outcomes.
Assessment of optimal condylar position with cone-beam computed tomography in south Indian female population

Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate, the condyle-fossa relationship, in clinically asymptomatic orthodontically untreated south Indian female volunteers, by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of 13 clinically symptom-free and orthodontically untreated angle's Class I female subjects with the mean age of 18 years (ranges from 17 years to 20 years). The normal disc position of the 13 subjects was confirmed by history, clinical examination and magnetic resonance imaging scan. Then, the images of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)of the subjects were taken using CBCT to evaluate the optimal condylar position. Posterior joint space (PS), superior joint space (SS) and anterior joint space (AS) were measured, and the values were subjected to statistical analysis. Mean PS, SS and AS of right and left side TMJ ' and AS of right sid 's were calculated. Paired samples t-test were used for each measurement to evaluate the average differences between the right and left side for each element of the sample. Results: The mean value of PS, SS and AS of right side TMJ 's were 2.1385, 2.2769 and 1.7615, respectively. The mean value of PS, SS and AS of left side TMJ 's were 2.1385, 2.5308 and 1.8538, respectively. Statistical analysis with the t-test indicated no significant differences in the AS, SS, or PS values between the right and left side. TMJ 's mean PS, SS, and AS measurements were2.1 mm (standard deviation [SD] ±0.65 mm), 2.4 mm (SD ± 0.58 mm), and 1.8 mm (SD ± 0.52 mm), respectively. The ratios of SS and PS to AS, with AS set to 1.0, were 1.3 and 1.2, respectively. Conclusion: These data from optimal joints might serve as norms for the clinical assessment of condylar position obtained by CBCT.
Smart Feedback and the Challenges of Virtualisation

The use of audio feedback is becoming more prevalent and it would be possible to use avatars for this purpose. When audio feedback is recorded by a human tutor, the recording contains not only the text of the feedback, but also additional information associated with the intonation and manner of delivery of the voice. Experiments were conducted to investigate student’s responses to the use of audio in comparison with other forms of feedback. Students were generally positive about audio feedback; results also indicated that the conveyed emotion or intent is significant and that it is perceived by the student as an important part of the feedback. We also explore this in the context of strategies for the deployment of virtual agents in the provision of feedback.
Olfactory Function in HIV-positive Subjects

The aim of this study was to reinvestigate previous reports of chemosensory dysfunction in HIV-positive subjects. Odor thresholds, odor discrimination and odor identification were assessed using the Sniffin' Sticks test battery. Seventy-four HIV-positive patients were tested. According to CDC criteria, 38 subjects were classified as stage A, 10 as stage B and 26 as stage C. None of the subjects exhibited severe cognitive impairment. Compared to normative data all subjects had normal odor identification and discrimination. However, odor thresholds were well below the median of a normal population. There were no significant differences between stage A, B or C subjects. This may be interpreted as indicating that olfactory dysfunction is among the primary deficits of HIV infection and occurs independently of disease stage. These results confirm previous work suggesting that odor thresholds are elevated early in HIV infection whereas a decline in identification and discrimination abilities is correlated with reduced cognitive abilities.
The Role of Human Coronaviruses in Children Hospitalized for Acute Bronchiolitis, Acute Gastroenteritis, and Febrile Seizures: A 2-Year Prospective Study

Human coronaviruses (HCoVs) are associated with a variety of clinical presentations in children, but their role in disease remains uncertain. The objective of our prospective study was to investigate HCoVs associations with various clinical presentations in hospitalized children up to 6 years of age. Children hospitalized with acute bronchiolitis (AB), acute gastroenteritis (AGE), or febrile seizures (FS), and children admitted for elective surgical procedures (healthy controls) were included in the study. In patients with AB, AGE, and FS, a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab and blood sample were obtained upon admission and the follow-up visit 14 days later, whereas in children with AGE a stool sample was also acquired upon admission; in healthy controls a NP swab and stool sample were taken upon admission. Amplification of polymerase 1b gene was used to detect HCoVs in the specimens. HCoVs-positive specimens were also examined for the presence of several other viruses. HCoVs were most often detected in children with FS (19/192, 9.9%, 95% CI: 6–15%), followed by children with AGE (19/218, 8.7%, 95% CI: 5.3–13.3%) and AB (20/308, 6.5%, 95% CI: 4.0–9.8%). The presence of other viruses was a common finding, most frequent in the group of children with AB (19/20, 95%, 95% CI: 75.1–99.8%), followed by FS (10/19, 52.6%, 95% CI: 28.9–75.6%) and AGE (7/19, 36.8%, 95% CI: 16.3–61.6%). In healthy control children HCoVs were detected in 3/156 (1.9%, 95% CI: 0.4–5.5%) NP swabs and 1/150 (0.7%, 95% CI: 0.02–3.3%) stool samples. It seems that an etiological role of HCoVs is most likely in children with FS, considering that they had a higher proportion of positive HCoVs results than patients with AB and those with AGE, and had the highest viral load; however, the co-detection of other viruses was 52.6%. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00987519
Logistics and virtual integration: Postponement, outsourcing and the flow of information

This paper uses empirical findings, from a survey and a case study, about the three (logistics) elements that constitute a virtually integrated supply chain: chain‐wide application of postponement, extensive involvement of suppliers and distributors, and the integration of the flow of information. A virtually integrated supply chain differs from a traditional supply chain in that the flow of information is no longer a by‐product of the flow of goods but makes an integral contribution to the creation of customer relations, services offered and cross‐functional and cross‐company interfaces. It was found that information communications technologies (ICT) are critical in changing the supply chain format to become more responsive to individual customers, while involving multiple companies and functions. Challenges for the individual functions are formulated based on the findings from the two methods.
ICU discharge APACHE II scores help to predict post-ICU death.

BACKGROUND The mortality rate after discharge from the intensive care unit (ICU) (so called post-ICU mortality) has remained high (8.6-23.6%) during the past 15 years. The object of this study was to examine the effects of the severity of illness at ICU discharge assessed using the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) on the post-ICU mortality rate. METHODS A 6-month prospective observational study was conducted in the medical ICU of a university affiliated tertiary care hospital. RESULTS A total of 203 patients were discharged from the ICU to general wards from December 1998 through June 1999, and 39 (19.2%) of the 203 discharged ICU patients subsequently died at hospital. Logistic regression analysis identified two independent risk factors for post-ICU mortality rate: discharge APACHE II score (Odds Ratio 1.17, 95% IC 1.10-1.25, p < 0.0001) and male gender (OR 3.24, 95% CI 1.26-8.33, p = 0.015). Patients discharged from the ICU with discharge APACHE II scores of 17 or greater had the mortality rate of 37.3% compared with 9.4% for those with discharge APACHE II scores of less than 17. The former group were significantly older (p < 0.0001) and had higher proportion of requiring tracheostomy or hemodialysis during ICU admission (p < 0.0001) than the latter group. CONCLUSION In our study, a higher APACHE II score calculated at ICU discharge and male gender were independent risk factors for post-ICU death. Identifying patients with discharge APACHE II scores of 17 or greater helps to predict post-ICU death.