Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Capital Flows and Capital-Market Crises: The Simple Economics of Sudden Stops

The paper studies mechanisms through which a sudden stop in international credit flows may bring about financial and balance of payments crises. It is shown that these crises can occur even though the current account deficit is fully financed by foreign direct investment. However, equity and long-term bond financing may shield the economy from sudden stop crises. The paper also examines possible factors that could trigger sudden stops, and argues that the greater independence that countries have, as compared to regions of a given country, could help to explain why sudden stop crises are more prevalent and destructive at international than at national levels.
Management of Endometrial Hyperplasia With a Levonorgestrel-Releasing Intrauterine System: A Korean Gynecologic-Oncology Group Study

Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) for treatment of endometrial hyperplasia (EH). Methods A prospective multicenter study was conducted from November 2010 to March 2014. Patients with histologically confirmed EH were treated with LNG-IUS. At 3, 6, and 9 months after LNG-IUS insertion, follow-up endometrial aspiration biopsies with the LNG-IUS in the uterus were undertaken. At the 12th month of follow-up, endometrial tissues were obtained via 2 methods: endometrial aspiration biopsy with the LNG-IUS in the uterus, followed by dilatation and curettage (D&C) after LNG-IUS removal. The primary outcome was the regression rate at 12 months after LNG-IUS insertion, and the secondary outcome was the consistency of the results between the endometrial aspiration biopsy and the D&C. Results The study population comprised 75 patients, including 37 with simple hyperplasia without atypia; 3 with atypical simple hyperplasia; 23 with complex hyperplasia without atypia, and 12 with atypical complex hyperplasia. Of these patients treated with the LNG-IUS, 38 (50.7%) were followed up at 12 months after LNG-IUS insertion. The complete regression rate at 12 months was 94.7% (36/38): 100% (6/6) of patients with atypical EH and 93.7% (30/32) with EH without atypia. In all of the cases (100%, 36/36), patients achieved complete regression within 3 months of LNG-IUS insertion. A comparison of the pathologic results from endometrial aspiration biopsy and D&C was carried out for 15 patients. In the histologic results by endometrial aspiration biopsy, 14 patients were diagnosed as “normal endometrium” and 1 as “insufficient tissue for pathologic evaluation. ” Among the 14 cases of normal endometrium by endometrial aspiration biopsy, 1 was diagnosed as “residual EH” by D&C, and the 1 case with insufficient tissue was diagnosed as normal endometrium by D&C. Conclusions Levonorgestrel intrauterine system is an effective and favorable method for treatment of EH.
A privacy-enhancing protocol that provides in-network data aggregation and verifiable smart meter billing

We present an innovative protocol combining innetwork data aggregation and smart meter billing for a smart grid scenario. The former enables an energy supplier to allocate and balance resources. The latter provides dynamic pricing schemes according to fine-grained consumption profiles. Moreover, smart meters and their energy supplier can prove their billing values. Since the energy supplier knows the amount of generated electricity and the consolidated consumption in a round of measurements, the energy supplier can detect energy loss and fraud. To preserve customers' privacy, we use a homomorphic commitment scheme with a homomorphic encryption scheme. All data sent from a meter to any other component in the communication network is either a commitment or an encrypted message. To provide security and privacy, we only require software modifications, leaving the hardware of the smart grid unchanged.
Harm Reduction and 12 Steps: Complementary, Oppositional, or Something In-Between?

Background: Initially born of the desire to prevent the transmission of HIV among injection drug users, harm reduction presents a relatively new option for assisting individuals who struggle with drug and alcohol use. Twelve-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) are widely recognized as being a representative example of abstinence-based treatment and are often seen as oppositional to harm reduction. Methods: The purpose of this study is to examine the ways in which harm reduction workers interpret the relationship between harm reduction and 12-step approaches to treatment. The study draws upon qualitative interviews with 18 staff members from two harm reduction-based substance use treatment programs.1 Results: Two central themes emerge from the qualitative data: (1) harm reduction and 12-step approaches can be complementary; and (2) 12-step approaches in high-threshold treatment settings may differ significantly from their original philosophy and intent. A third, much less prominent theme reflects some respondents’ skepticism about the capacity of the two approaches to work together given the resistance to harm reduction by some in the 12-step community. Conclusion: Complementary conceptualizations of harm reduction and 12-step approaches have the potential to broaden the range of options available to people experiencing substance use problems.
Direct detection of Listeria monocytogenes in 25 milliliters of raw milk by a two-step PCR with nested primers

A method for direct detection of Listeria monocytogenes in 25 ml of raw milk is presented. The detection limit can be situated between 10 and 5 CFU. The detection method is based on chemical extraction of the milk components and PCR amplification with two nested pairs of primers specific for Listeria monocytogenes.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences the Role of Proanthocyanidins Complex in Structure and Nutrition Interaction in Alfalfa Forage

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the main forages grown in the world. Alfalfa is a winter hardy, drought tolerant, N-fixing legume with a good longevity, high yield, high nutrient levels, high digestibility, unique structural to non-structural components ratio, high dry matter intake, and high animal productivity per hectare. However, its main limitation is its excessively rapid initial rate of protein degradation in the rumen, which results in pasture bloat and inefficient use of protein with consequent excessive excretions of nitrogen into the environment. Proanthocyanidins are secondary plant metabolites that can bind with protein and thereby reduce the rate and extent of ruminal protein degradation. However, these secondary metabolites do not accumulate in alfalfa. This review aims to firstly describe the events involved in the rapid release of protein from alfalfa and its effect on ruminant nutrition, environmental pollution, and pasture bloat; secondly, to describe occurrence, structure, functions and benefits of moderate amounts of proanthocyanidin; and finally, to describe the development of alfalfa which accumulates moderate amounts of proanthocyanidins. The emphasis of this review focuses on the role of proanthocyanidins compounds in structure and nutrition interaction in ruminant livestock systems. 1. Mechanisms for the Release of Protein from Model Alfalfa Alfalfa has an excessively rapid initial rate of protein degradation compared to grasses and many legumes like cicer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia L.), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus. L.), big trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus L. also known as Lotus major L. and Lotus uliginosus L.) and sulla (Hedysarium coronarium L.) but similar to white clover (Trifolium repens L.; also known as ladino clover), red clover (Trifolium pratense. L) and wheat pasture forage (Triticum aestivum) [1–13]. The main portion of forage proteins is located in leaf mesophyll cells. Soluble proteins can be divided into fraction I proteins (Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate Carboxylase (Rubisco)) which makes up 30%–50% of soluble protein, fraction II protein (several proteins present in small amounts, e.g., plant enzymes and hormones) and chloroplast membrane proteins [14]. On a plant cell level, rapidly degradable nitrogen (N) fractions in plants are non-protein N (NPN; e.g., NH 4 + and NO 3 ´ , which are mainly found in the plant cell vacuole) and cytoplasmic and soluble protein (mainly Rubisco in alfalfa, which is mainly found in the plant cell chloroplast) [15]. The first mechanism by which these soluble protein fractions are released from the plant cell is ingestive chewing during grazing …
International expansion strategy of firms in China: An empirical study on information technology industry

In recent years, IT firms in emerging market countries have begun to undertake direct investments abroad. According to incremental internationalization theory, experience prompts internationalized investments. This article employs data of Chinese listed companies to verify the above theory. Besides, what we conclude is that internationalization experience of senior executives will counterbalance deficiency of enterprise's foreign investment experience; while firm's capability of managing risks will prompt internationalization.
Role of Growth Hormone (GH)-Releasing Hormone and Somatostatin on Leptin-Induced GH Secretion

Leptin is a hormone secreted by the adipocytes that regulates food intake and energy expenditure. It is known that growth hormone (GH) secretion is markedly influenced by body weight, being suppressed in obesity and cachexia, and recent data have demonstrated that GH release is regulated by leptin levels. Although one of the sites of action of leptin is likely to be the hypothalamus, since leptin receptor mRNA is particularly abundant in several hypothalamic nuclei, the mechanisms by which leptin regulates GH secretion are not yet known. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether leptin could act at the hypothalamic level modulating somatostatin and GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) expression. The administration of anti-GHRH serum (500 µl, i.v.) completely blocked leptin-induced GH release in fasting rats. In contrast, the treatment with anti-somatostatin serum (500 µl, i.v.) significantly increased GH release in this condition. Furthermore, leptin administration (10 µg, i.c.v.) to intact fasting animals reversed the inhibitory effect produced by fasting on GHRH mRNA levels in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, and increased somatostatin mRNA content in the periventricular nucleus. Finally, leptin administration (10 µg, i.c.v.) to hypophysectomized fasting rats increased GHRH mRNA levels, and decreased somatostatin mRNA content, indicating an effect of leptin on hypothalamic GHRH- and somatostatin-producing neurons. These findings suggest a role for GHRH and somatostatin as mediators of leptin-induced GH secretion.
Design of a cheap tracked mobile robot for map building tasks

Disasters are inevitable part of the modern World. This paper introduces an easy to build, economical mobile robot that has been developed to aid the rescue effort by building a map automatically in such situations. The robot navigates in an unknown environment in which the only information it can obtain comes from onboard sensors and it needs to not only map the environment but to estimate its own location as well. Ultrasonic sensors, infrared sensors, encoders and a digital compass are used on the vehicle to determine the distance of the surrounding objects and to choose a suitable path. RF modules are used to communicate and transfer information to a distant computer. In order to present the effectiveness of the robot and the navigation algorithms we presented various experiments on planar environments. The scope of this ongoing research includes the construction of an autonomous system containing a robotic tracked vehicle and a telemetry system, as well as developing and testing novel planning algorithms.
Improved Mental Acuity Forecasting with an Individualized Quantitative Sleep Model

Sleep impairment significantly alters human brain structure and cognitive function, but available evidence suggests that adults in developed nations are sleeping less. A growing body of research has sought to use sleep to forecast cognitive performance by modeling the relationship between the two, but has generally focused on vigilance rather than other cognitive constructs affected by sleep, such as reaction time, executive function, and working memory. Previous modeling efforts have also utilized subjective, self-reported sleep durations and were restricted to laboratory environments. In the current effort, we addressed these limitations by employing wearable systems and mobile applications to gather objective sleep information, assess multi-construct cognitive performance, and model/predict changes to mental acuity. Thirty participants were recruited for participation in the study, which lasted 1 week. Using the Fitbit Charge HR and a mobile version of the automated neuropsychological assessment metric called CogGauge, we gathered a series of features and utilized the unified model of performance to predict mental acuity based on sleep records. Our results suggest that individuals poorly rate their sleep duration, supporting the need for objective sleep metrics to model circadian changes to mental acuity. Participant compliance in using the wearable throughout the week and responding to the CogGauge assessments was 80%. Specific biases were identified in temporal metrics across mobile devices and operating systems and were excluded from the mental acuity metric development. Individualized prediction of mental acuity consistently outperformed group modeling. This effort indicates the feasibility of creating an individualized, mobile assessment and prediction of mental acuity, compatible with the majority of current mobile devices.
COMMONALITY OF CONTEMPORARY EXTREMIST GROUPS: WHY SOME FALL AND OTHERS FLOURISH

ii TABLE OF CONTENTS . iv INTRODUCTION . 1 CHAPTER 1 – EXTREMIST GROUPS OF THE LATE 20 TH CENTURY. 11 1.1 Brief History of Extremist Groups . 11 1.1.1 The Rise of Democracies . 12 1.1.2 Social Movements Based on Political Structure . 13 1.1. 3 International Terrorism . 14 1.1. 4 Religious Fundamentalism . 14 1.2 Emergence of the Modern Extremist Group . 15 1.2.1 Nationalism, Religion and Globalization . 16 1.2.2 Extremist Groups go Global . 21 CHAPTER 2 – CHARACTERIZATION OF EXTREMIST GROUPS. 25 2.1 Extremist Groups Based on Political Ideology . 25 2.2 Extremist Groups Based on Religion . 27 2.2.1 Zionist Extremism . 28 2.2.2 Christian Extremism . 35 2.2.3 Islamic Extremism . 39 2.3 Analysis and Emergent Trends. 48 CHAPTER 3 – COMMON ATTRIBUTES OF RELIGIOUS EXTREMIST GROUPS . 50 3.1 A Search for Meaning . 50 3.2 A Sense of Religious Duty . 52 3.3 A Quest for Purity . 53 v 3.4 Inspirational Leadership . 54 3.5 Scripture as Justification . 55 CHAPTER 4 – CHARACTERIZATION OF CURRENT ISLAMIC EXTREMIST GROUPS . 58 4.1 Islamic Radicalization . 58 4.2 Islamic Modernization and Modernity . 61 4.2.1 The Traditional View . 62 4.2.2 The Contemporary View . 65 4.3 Islamic Identity, Cultural Framings and the Future . 74 CHAPTER 5 – GOVERNMENT POLICY AND RESPONSE STRATEGY . 84 5.1 Diplomatic Disengagement . 85 5.2 Diplomatic De-radicalization . 86 5.3 Diplomatic Engagement and Political Inclusion . 88 5.4 Civilian, Intelligence and Military Responses . 89 5.4.1 Civilian Responses . 90 5.4.2 Intelligence Responses . 91 5.4.3 Counterinsurgency, Counterterrorism and Military Action . 91 5.4. 4 Integrated Responses using the Media and the Internet . 93 CONCLUSION . 95 BIBLIOGRAPHY . 114
Renal lesions: characterization with diffusion-weighted imaging versus contrast-enhanced MR imaging.

PURPOSE To compare the diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with that of contrast material-enhanced (CE) MR imaging and to assess the performance of these examinations combined for the characterization of renal lesions, with MR follow-up and histopathologic analysis as the reference standards. MATERIALS AND METHODS The institutional review board waived the requirement of informed patient consent for this retrospective HIPAA-compliant study. One hundred nine renal lesions in 64 patients (46 men, 18 women; mean age, 60.7 years) were evaluated with CE MR imaging and breath-hold DW imaging performed with various b values. Renal lesions were characterized with use of CE MR criteria, and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) were measured. The ADCs of benign and malignant lesions were compared at Mann-Whitney testing. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to assess the accuracy of DW imaging and CE MR imaging in the diagnosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). RESULTS The 109 renal lesions--81 benign lesions and 28 RCCs--had a mean diameter of 4.2 cm +/- 2.5 (standard deviation). The mean ADC for RCCs (1.41 x 10(-3) mm(2)/sec +/- 0.61) was significantly lower (P < .0001) than that for benign lesions (2.23 x 10(-3) mm(2)/sec +/- 0.87) at DW imaging performed with b values of 0, 400, and 800 sec/mm(2). At a cutoff ADC of less than or equal to 1.92 x 10(-3) mm(2)/sec, the area under the ROC curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity of DW imaging for the diagnosis of RCCs (excluding angiomyolipomas) were 0.856, 86%, and 80%, respectively. The corresponding AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of CE MR imaging were 0.944, 100%, and 89%, respectively. Combined DW and CE MR imaging had 96% specificity. The AUC for the DW imaging-based diagnosis of solid RCC versus oncocytoma was 0.854. Papillary RCCs had lower ADCs than nonpapillary RCCs. CONCLUSION DW imaging can be used to characterize renal lesions; however, compared with CE MR imaging, it is less accurate. DW imaging can be used to differentiate solid RCCs from oncocytomas and characterize the histologic subtypes of RCC.
Role of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in Obesity, Insulin Resistance, Type 2 Diabetes, and Associated Hepatic Co-Morbidities: A Comprehensive Review of Human and Rodent Studies

Obesity is associated with a chronic low-grade inflammatory state that drives the development of obesity-related co-morbidities such as insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and cardiovascular disease. This metabolic inflammation is thought to originate in the adipose tissue, which becomes inflamed and insulin resistant when it is no longer able to expand in response to excess caloric and nutrient intake. The production of inflammatory mediators by dysfunctional adipose tissue is thought to drive the development of more complex forms of disease such as type 2 diabetes and NAFLD. An important factor that may contribute to metabolic inflammation is the cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). Increasing evidence suggests that MIF is released by adipose tissue in obesity and that it is also involved in metabolic and inflammatory processes that underlie the development of obesity-related pathologies. This review provides a comprehensive summary of our current knowledge on the role of MIF in obesity, its production by adipose tissue, and its involvement in the development of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and NAFLD. We discuss the main findings from recent clinical studies in obese subjects and weight-loss intervention studies as well as results from clinical studies in patients with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, we summarize findings from experimental disease models studying the contribution of MIF in obesity and insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and hepatic lipid accumulation and fibrosis. Although many of the findings support a pro-inflammatory role of MIF in disease development, recent reports also provide indications that MIF may exert protective effects under certain conditions.
Care of patients with chronic hepatitis C and HIV co-infection: recommendations from the HIV-HCV International Panel.

· The magnitude of the problem of HIV/HCV coinfection · The differences and similarities between HIV and HCV disease paradigms, thereby allowing extrapolation of the lessons learned in HIV on the care of patients with HCV or HIV/HCV co-infections · Strategies for managing HIV in HCV-co-infected patients using antiretroviral drugs · Current standards for HCV treatment and ongoing management · Strategies for treating HCV in HIV-co-infected patients using pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) plus ribavirin, and the management of possible adverse effects · Special challenges in HIV/HCV co-infection, including non-responders to IFN/ribavirin, patients with cirrhosis, extrahepatic manifestations, and hepatitis B virus co-infection.
¿Se pilla antes a un mentiroso que a un cojo? Sabiduría popular frente a conocimiento científico sobrela detección no-verbal del engaño

Existe una serie de creencias populares sobre los indicadores conductuales del engano que no se ven corroboradas por la evidencia empirica. Determinados libros “de autoayuda” contribuyen a la difusion de las mismas. En este trabajo se revisan varias decadas de investigacion en psicologia y comunicacion sobre la deteccion no-verbal del engano. Al contrario de lo que propugnan los libros “de autoayuda” y de lo que sostiene la sabiduria popular, detectar la mentira a partir del comportamiento no-verbal es extremadamente dificil, apenas si existen claves conductuales que permitan discriminar entre verdades y mentiras, su significado y poder de discriminacion varian en funcion de diversas variables contextuales, y la eficacia de los programas de entrenamiento es muy limitada. Frente a las cuestionables afirmaciones de determinados libros populares y dadas las graves consecuencias que en ciertos ambitos pueden tener los juicios de credibilidad erroneos, es necesario desmontar los falsos mitos existentes sobre la deteccion no-verbal de la mentira, sustituyendolos por informacion mas valida y cientificamente contrastada. There is a series of popular beliefs about the behavioral indicators of deception that are not supported by empirical research. A number of “self-help” books are contributing to the spreading around of these beliefs. In this article, several decades of psychological and communication research on the nonverbal detection of deception are reviewed. Contrary to the claims of “self-help” books and to the tenets of popular wisdom, detecting deception from behavioral cues is extremely difficult, there are almost no behavioral cues to differentiate between truths and lies, their meaning and usefulness are under the influence of a number of contextual variables, and training programs have yielded only very limited improvements in accuracy. In view of the misleading contents of certain popular books and the serious consequences of wrong credibility judgments in a number of contexts, it is necessary to dispel the existing false myths about the nonverbal detection of deceit, providing instead valid and scientifically tested information.