Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Corticosterone secretion-inducing activity of saikosaponin metabolites formed in the alimentary tract.

The corticosterone secretion-inducing activities of saikosaponin a, saikosaponin c and saikosaponin d, isolated from the root of Bupleurum falcatum L. , and 27 metabolites formed in the murine alimentary tract were studied in mice. Serum corticosterone was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Intraperitoneal administration of saikosaponin a and its intestinal metabolite, prosaikogenin F, showed corticosterone secretion-inducing activity at a dose of 0.1 mmol/kg, and maximally increased it at a dose of 0.4 mmol/kg. On the other hand, the genuine sapogenin, saikogenin F, was inactive. Saikosaponin b1 and saikosaponin g, gastric metabolites of saikosaponin a, and their intestinal metabolites, prosaikogenin A, prosaikogenin H, saikogenin A and saikogenin H, were also inactive. Serum corticosterone was increased by the administration of saikosaponin d and its intestinal metabolite, prosaikogenin G, at a dose of 0.04 mmol/kg, and it reached the maximal level at the dose of 0.1 mmol/kg. Saikogenin G also showed a slight activity. A gastric metabolite of saikosaponin d, saikosaponin b2, and its intestinal metabolites, prosaikogenin D and saikogenin D, were inactive. In the experiments on saikosaponin c and its metabolites, saikosaponin c was inactive but its intestinal metabolites, especially prosaikogenin E-2, showed activity almost equal to that of saikosaponin a. Saikosaponin h and saikosaponin i, gastric metabolites of saikosaponin c, were also inactive, but their prosaikogenins showed slight activities. When these compounds were orally administered, their corticosterone secretion-inducing activities were similar to those obtained in the intraperitoneal experiment. These results suggest that a proper polar balance between the sugar moiety and the aglycone is important for the corticosterone secretion-inducing activity of saikosaponins and their metabolites.
Predicting binding free energies: Frontiers and benchmarks

Binding free energy calculations based on molecular simulations provide predicted affinities for biomolecular complexes. These calculations begin with a detailed description of a system, including its chemical composition and the interactions between its components. Simulations of the system are then used to compute thermodynamic information, such as binding affinities. Because of their promise for guiding molecular design, these calculations have recently begun to see widespread applications in early stage drug discovery. However, many challenges remain to make them a robust and reliable tool. Here, we briefly explain how the calculations work, highlight key challenges, and argue for the development of accepted benchmark test systems that will help the research community generate and evaluate progress. Manuscript version 1.1. 1 pre-release See https://github.com/mobleylab/benchmarksets for all versions.
Prévalence du trouble de stress post-traumatique chez des chauffeurs d’autobus

Plusieurs rapports indiquent que les employes du transport en commun constituent un groupe de travailleurs risquant de vivre des evenements traumatiques. Cependant, il n'y a que peu de donnees scientifiques sur l'impact de tels evenements dans cette population. Lors d'une enquete epidemiologique menee aupres des chauffeurs d'autobus de la STCUM, un peu plus du tiers des chauffeurs rapportent un evenement traumatique au travail. De ces evenements, les menaces graves et les agressions constituent la majorite. Les evenements traumatiques sont plus frequents au travail que dans la vie privee. La prevalence a vie du TSPT est de 10,7% pour les evenements subis au travail et de 21,3 % pour ceux de la vie privee. Neuf chauffeurs sur 100 exposes a un evenement au travail souffraient d'un TSPT dans le mois precedant l'enquete. Lorsque nous considerons les evenements survenus dans la vie privee, pres de 15% de ces exposes etaient victimes d'un TSPT. Lorsque les deux milieux d'exposition sont reunis, 12% presentaient un TSPT dans le mois precedant la recherche.
Antimicrobial resistance and pathogenicity of Escherichia coli isolated from common dairy products in the Lebanon

Abstract In a recent study, bacteria have been isolated from popular Lebanese dairy products, which had been collected in the Beqaa Valley, in north–eastern Lebanon. The foods investigated were two cheeses (shankleesh and baladi) and a dried fermented mixture of yogurt and wheat grains (kishk). Bacterial colonies on McConkey and sorbitol–McConkey agar that showed the morphology of Escherichia coli were biochemically tested and then classified, using PCR-based assays, into the various strains of pathogenic and non-pathogenic E. coli. Some of the confirmed E. coli isolates were proven to be pathogenic, including two identified as E. coli O157:H7. When the pathogenic isolates were tested for their susceptibility to 10 different antibiotics (all commonly used, by clinicians and veterinarians, for the treatment of infections with Gram-negative bacteria), each tested isolate was found to be highly resistant to at least one antibiotic. It therefore appears that, in Lebanon, some popular dairy products pose a public-health hazard, acting as vehicles for the transmission of drug-resistant pathogens.
Influence of asimadoline, a new kappa-opioid receptor agonist, on tubular water absorption and vasopressin secretion in man.

AIMS The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of asimadoline, a new kappa-opioid agonist, on renal function and on hormones related to body fluid balance as well as its tolerability in healthy subjects. METHODS In a placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind crossover design we studied the effects of single oral doses of 1, 5, and 10 mg of asimadoline, in 24 healthy volunteers. Two hour control urine collections were followed by 2 h postdose urine collections and subsequently 2.5% saline was given i.v. at a rate of 0.3 ml min(-1) kg(-1) during another 2 h urine collection. Blood was obtained hourly. Arginine-vasopressin (AVP), atrial natriuretic peptide (alpha-hANP), endothelin (ET-1) and cAMP were determined by r.i. a. or ELISA. RESULTS GC-MS measurements revealed Cmax values of asimadoline in plasma ranging from 18 ng ml(-1) at the 1 mg dose, 91 ng ml(-1) at the 5 mg dose, to 214 ng ml(-1) at the 10 mg dose after an average of 1.1-1.4 h. Without effects on blood pressure, heart rate, GFR or urine electrolyte excretion, urine volume increased after 1-2 h after administration of 5 and 10 mg asimadoline from 3.3+/-1.3 to 5.6+/-1.4 (P<0.05) and from 3.2 +/-1.6 to 5.5+/-2.2 ml min(-1) (P<0.01), respectively. CH2O rose from 0.2+/-1.5 to 2.0+/-1.6 (P<0.05) and from 0.6+/-1.6 to 3.0+/-1.6 ml min(-1) (P<0.01). Urinary excretion of AVP was suppressed only with the 10 mg dose from 46+/-23 to 25+/-15 fmol min(-1) (P<0.05) without and from 410+/-206 to 181+/-125 fmol min(-1) (P<0.05) with stimulation by 2.5% saline. Plasma AVP was suppressed only by the 10 mg dose of asimadoline in six of eight subjects during the 2.5% saline infusion. Changes in the alpha-hANP or ET-1 systems were not affected by asimadoline. CONCLUSIONS Asimadoline is diuretic in man after single doses of 5 or 10 mg probably through a direct effect at the renal tubular level. Suppression of AVP secretion was observed only at the highest dose level of 10 mg of asimadoline.
Making the Case: A national drought contingency fund for Kenya

The critical failure in Kenya’s system of drought management is its slow response. A national drought contingency fund should be established to ensure timely, appropriate, and adequate intervention aimed at mitigating the impact of drought-related crises. Recurrent drought may be an inevitable fact of life in Kenya, but the human suffering it causes is not.
The effects of mergers on product positioning: evidence from the music radio industry

This article shows that mergers between close competitors in the music radio industry lead to important changes in product positioning. Firms that buy competing stations tend to differentiate them and, consistent with the firm wanting to reduce audience cannibalization, their combined audience increases. However, the merging stations also become more like competitors, so that aggregate variety does not increase, and the gains in market share come at the expense of other stations in the same format. The results shed light on the effects of mergers and, more broadly, on how multiproduct firms may use product positioning as a competitive tool. Copyright (c) 2010, RAND.
The Determinants of Enterprise Risk Management: Evidence from the Appointment of Chief Risk Officers

Enterprise risk management (ERM) has captured the attention of risk management professionals and academics worldwide. Unlike the traditional "silo-based" approach to corporate risk management, ERM enables firms to benefit from an integrated approach to managing risk that shifts the focus of the risk management function from primarily defensive to increasingly offensive and strategic. Despite the heightened interest in ERM, little empirical research has been conducted on the topic. This study provides an initial attempt at identifying the determinants of ERM adoption. We construct a sample of firms that have signaled their use of ERM by appointing a Chief Risk Officer (CRO) who is charged with the responsibility of implementing and managing the ERM program. We use a logistic regression framework to compare these firms to a size - and industry-matched control sample. While our results suggest a general absence of differences in the financial and ownership characteristics of sample and control firms, we find that firms with greater financial leverage are more likely to appoint a CRO. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that firms appoint CROs to reduce information asymmetry regarding the firm's current and expected risk profile.
Curriculum of Islamic Economics and Finance in Islamic University of Indonesia: Challenges of ASEAN Economic Community

Objective - This research was aimed to examine the curriculum of Islamic Economics of Faculty of Islamic Studies and of Economics of Faculty of Economics, both in Islamic University of Indonesia to oversee whether it is relevant with the need of human resources in the ASEAN Economic Community era or not. Methodology/Technique - The research uses data on curriculum of two departments to analyse and overcome the problems faced by curriculum to meet the need in the context of regional economic globalization. Findings - Its findings indicate that the curriculum in the two departments was prepared mainly to achieve national goals in higher education standards and had not been prepared for regional level yet. Therefore the research suggested additional contents in the courses of the curriculum to meet the need of human resources challenges in ASEAN Economic Community context. Novelty - The research provides a new platform for study in Islamic finance and economics curriculum for the context of Southeast Asian countries.
Guideline on the prevention of secondary central nervous system lymphoma: British Committee for Standards in Haematology

The guideline group was selected to be representative of UK‐based medical experts. Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE and NCBI Pubmed were searched systematically for publications in English from 1980 to 2012 using the MeSH subheading ‘lymphoma, CNS’, ‘lymphoma, central nervous system’, ‘lymphoma, high grade’, ‘lymphoma, Burkitt's’, ‘lymphoma, lymphoblastic’ and ‘lymphoma, diffuse large B cell’ as keywords, as well as all subheadings. The writing group produced the draft guideline, which was subsequently revised by consensus by members of the Haemato‐oncology Task Force of the British Committee for Standards in Haematology (BCSH). The guideline was then reviewed by a sounding board of ~50 UK haematologists, the BCSH and the British Society for Haematology (BSH) Committee and comments incorporated where appropriate. The ‘GRADE’ system was used to quote levels and grades of evidence, details of which can be found in Appendix I. The objective of this guideline is to provide healthcare professionals with clear guidance on the optimal prevention of secondary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma. The guidance may not be appropriate to patients of all lymphoma sub‐types and in all cases individual patient circumstances may dictate an alternative approach. Acronyms are defined at time of first use.
Electricity Crisis in Pakistan: Reception & Adoption of Energy Saving Campaign Messages by PEPCO

Without the energy namely electricity no nation can survive. In this industrial world it becomes as oxygen. The main epitome of the scrutiny is to espy the adoption and reception of energy saving campaign initiated by PEPCO. This research is expounded to enlighten the wastage and squandering of energy in terms of electricity. According to the investigation the majority of the respondents were leaning to espouse the campaign messages. The campaign indirectly enforced masses to adapt these messages to avoid the ultimate extinguishment of energy, which is inevitable. It will be a foolery to fritter energy in this delicate period of Pakistan. The study was conducted amid the two classes in terms of economic status namely, Middle class, lower class dwellers of Multan city. To conduct the study, the nine hypotheses were formulated. And finally it was suggested that the government should initiate some solid steps to eclat their regime in terms of electricity, in spite of depleting their energy in embroiling.
Localization Factors and Inward Foreign Direct Investment in Greece

This study examines the foreign direct investment (FDI) attractiveness for Greece as a host country in the period 1998-2007. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of variables, such as market size, labour costs, trade openness, taxes, inflation and economic stability. The manuscript applies a panel data approach (Fixed Effects estimator and GMM system estimator). In contrast to previous studies, this paper used a dynamic panel data to solve the problems of serial correlation and endogeneity. The empirical results indicate that the market size, trade openness, and labour costs are significant factors to explain inward FDI to Greece. These results indicate that the FDI attracting will be influenced by market size. Our results also show that Greece has some problems of macroeconomic stability, which discourages the investors.
Europeanisation Before and After Accession: Conditionality, Legacies and Compliance

Abstract This introductory essay reviews the literature on historical legacies in the post-communist area and relates it to the study of enlargement and Europeanisation. The authors develop a framework for the special section, specify various ways in which historical legacies can be conceived of affecting conditionality and compliance, give an overview of the contributions and summarise the findings.
Mapping of the amino terminus of the H-1 parvovirus major capsid protein

The amino terminus of VP2', the major capsid protein of the parvovirus H-1, was identified and mapped to the H-1 genome. The protein initiates at the start codon at nucleotide 2797 and is translated uninterrupted to the stop codon at nucleotide 4582. The primary sequence predicts a protein of 593 amino acids (65,500 daltons) with an amino acid composition which very closely matches the experimentally determined composition of the pure protein. The data suggest that the VP2' mRNA has a 5' leader sequence of ca. 650 bases and that protein translation initiates downstream from the sole splice junction.
The Nordic Model in Education: Education as part of the political system in the last 50 years

This article describes, analyses and discusses the development of the Nordic school model in three phases of the post‐war period, viewed in the light of the development of the political system throughout the period and in comparison with the development of the school system in the western world in this period. The “classical period” from 1945 until about 1970 is often referred to as the golden era of social democracy, during which a number of special characteristics were attributed to the model. First, the reforms were introduced on the basis of national policies drawn up by a strong and innovative state in association with business organisations and industry. The main objective was to involve the school in the realisation of social goals such as equal opportunity and community fellowship. School development is very largely determined by state‐managed conditions—“input management”. The Nordic model was regarded as an ideal for school development in western countries. The Nordic countries generally followed the same course, but at different tempos, with Sweden being the main source of inspiration. During the next phase, 1970–1980/85, the Nordic model was influenced by international, political new radicalism in which increasing importance was attached to pupils' individual emancipation, and there was greater local influence over school development as well as by the teaching profession. In the third and final phase, the Nordic school model was of less importance in comparison to other countries. Partly as a result of new globalisation and free markets, economic competition between nations gained greater influence over school philosophy and development. Technical and instrumental goals were prioritised at the expense of national and social unity. Evaluation of pupils' academic skills was intensified and became an important management tool—“output management”. State control diminished as a result of the decentralisation of power and of the increasing influence of international reports and resolutions on school reform in the Nordic countries. During the latter phase the dominant neo‐liberal education policy has been subjected to criticism from the culture conservative and social democratic/progressive side.
Political Connections and the Cost of Bank Loans

This paper analyzes whether the political connections of listed firms in the United States affect the cost and terms of loan contracts. Using a hand-collected data set of the political connections of S&P 500 companies over the 2003-2008 time period, we find that the cost of bank loans is significantly lower for companies that have board members with political ties. We consider two possible explanations for these findings: a Borrower Channel in which lenders charge lower rates because they recognize that connections enhance the borrower's credit worthiness and a Bank Channel in which banks assign greater value to connected loans to enhance their own relationships with key politicians. After employing a series of tests to distinguish between these two channels, we find strong support for the Borrower Channel but no direct evidence supporting the Bank Channel. Finally, we demonstrate that political connections reduce the likelihood of a capital expenditure restriction or liquidity requirement commanded by banks at the origination of the loan. Taken together, our results suggest that political connections increase the value of U.S. companies and reduce monitoring costs and credit risk faced by banks, which, in turn, reduces the borrower's cost of debt.
“Equity Risk Premium: Expectations Great and Small,” Richard A. Derrig and Elisha D. Orr, January 2004

SHANE F. WHELAN* Derrig and Orr provide a comprehensive overview of current estimates of the equity risk premium (ERP), carefully distinguishing between the many different definitions in common use that lead to much confusion. Their survey concentrated almost entirely on the U.S. markets, with the statistical analysis based primarily on the 77 annual returns over the period 1926–2002 (inclusive) given in Ibbotson Associates (2003), with occasional reference to a longer series of annual returns from 1871 to 2002 in Wilson and Jones (2002) or data over the years 1802–2001 in Siegel (2002). In this discussion I address two issues:
Lower pain and faster treatment with mechanico-chemical endovenous ablation using ClariVein®

Objectives To assess the efficacy of the ClariVein® system of mechanico-chemical ablation of superficial vein incompetence. Method ClariVein® treatment uses a micropuncture technique and a 4-Fr sheath to allow a catheter to be placed 1.5 cm from the saphenofemoral junction. Unlike laser (endovenous laser treatment (EVLT)) or radiofrequency ablation (RFA), no tumescence is required. The technique depends on a wire rotating at 3500 r/min causing endothelial damage whilst liquid sclerosant (1.5% sodium tetradecyl sulphate) is infused. The wire is pulled back whilst continuously infusing sclerosant along the target vessel’s length. Initially, 8 mL of dilute sclerosant was used, but this was subsequently increased to 12 mL. No routine post-op analgesia was prescribed and specifically no non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Procedure times and pain scores (visual analogue scale) were recorded and compared to EVLT and RFA. All patients were invited for duplex post-procedure. Results Fifty-one great saphenous veins and six short saphenous veins were treated and followed up with duplex in the 10 months from July 2011. No major complications or deep vein thrombosis were reported. Duplex showed patency of three treated veins with two more veins having only a short length of occlusion, giving a technical success rate of 91%. Comparison with 50 RFA and 40 EVLT showed procedure times were significantly less for ClariVein® (23.0 ± 8.3 min) than for either RFA (37.9 ± 8.3 min) or EVLT (44.1 ± 11.4 min). Median pain scores were significantly lower for ClariVein® than RFA and EVLT (1 vs. 5 vs. 6, p < 0.01). Conclusion Mechanochemical ablation with the ClariVein® system is safe and effective. After some initial failures, the use of 12 mL of dilute sclerosant results in a very high technical success rate >90% which accords with the limited published literature. Procedure times and pain scores are significantly better than for RFA and EVLT. We await the long-term clinical outcomes.
Optimal Mean Reversion Trading with Transaction Costs and Stop-Loss Exit

Motivated by the industry practice of pairs trading, we study the optimal timing strategies for trading a mean-reverting price spread. An optimal double stopping problem is formulated to analyze the timing to start and subsequently liquidate the position subject to transaction costs. Modeling the price spread by an Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process, we apply a probabilistic methodology and rigorously derive the optimal price intervals for market entry and exit. As an extension, we incorporate a stop-loss constraint to limit the maximum loss. We show that the entry region is characterized by a bounded price interval that lies strictly above the stop-loss level. As for the exit timing, a higher stop-loss level always implies a lower optimal take-profit level. Both analytical and numerical results are provided to illustrate the dependence of timing strategies on model parameters such as transaction costs and stop-loss level.