Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nocturnal oxyhemoglobin desaturation and arteriopathy in a pediatric sickle cell disease cohort

Objective: The purpose of this study of sickle cell disease (SCD) was to determine whether arteriopathy, measurable as intracranial vessel signal loss on magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), was associated with low nocturnal hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO2) or hemolytic rate, measurable as reticulocytosis or unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Methods: Ninety-five East London children with SCD without prior stroke had overnight pulse oximetry, of whom 47 (26 boys, 39 hemoglobin SS; mean age 9.1 ± 3.1 years) also had MRA, transcranial Doppler (TCD), steady-state hemoglobin, and reticulocytes within 34 months. Two radiologists blinded to the other data graded arteriopathy on MRA as 0 (none) or as increasing severity grades 1, 2, or 3. Results: Grades 2 or 3 arteriopathy (n = 24; 2 with abnormal TCD) predicted stroke/TIA compared with grades 0 and 1 (log-rank χ2 [1, n = 47] = 8.1, p = 0.004). Mean overnight SpO2 correlated negatively with reticulocyte percentage (r = −0.387; p = 0.007). Despite no significant differences across the degrees of arteriopathy in genotype, mean overnight SpO2 was higher (p < 0.01) in those with grade 0 (97.0% ± 1.6%) than those with grades 2 (93.9 ± 3.7%) or 3 (93.5% ± 3.0%) arteriopathy. Unconjugated bilirubin was not associated but reticulocyte percentage was lower (p < 0.001) in those with grade 0 than those with grades 2 and 3 arteriopathy. In multivariable logistic regression, lower mean overnight SpO2 (odds ratio 0.50, 95% confidence interval 0.26–0.96; p < 0.01) predicted arteriopathy independent of reticulocyte percentage (odds ratio 1.47, 95% confidence interval 1.15–1.87; p = 0.003). Conclusion: Low nocturnal SpO2 and reticulocytosis are associated with intracranial arteriopathy in children with SCD. Preventative strategies might reduce stroke risk.
Cladophialophora inabaensis sp. nov., a New Species among the Dark Septate Endophytes from a Secondary Forest in Tottori, Japan

A novel species of Cladophialophora is herein described from the natural environment of secondary forest soil in Japan, which was able to be colonized by the host plant root. Morphological observations indicated that the isolate is distinct from previously identified species, and, thus, is described as the new species, C. inabaensis sp. nov.
Understanding language profile of open source software using association rule mining

The development of open source software has gained popularity. Most of the software projects use diverse sets of programming languages for development. In this work, the Knowledge Discovery in Data (KDD) approach to analyze the data of 30,518 open source projects hosted on SourceForge. The process of knowledge discovery is explored by using the association rule mining algorithm to find the programming languages, which are often used together in combination for the development of software project. The group-matrix based visualization technique is further implied to visualize the generated associated group of languages. The generated knowledge base and visualization of associated languages provide current and future developers with insight knowledge of multiple set of programming languages which are used together frequently for the development of open source software projects.
Refined structure of melittin bound to perdeuterated dodeclylphoscholine micelles as studied by 2D‐NMR and distance geometry calculation

In our previous paper we reported the conformation of melittin bound to perdeuterated dodecylphosphocholine micelles as studied by 1H NMR experiment and distance geometry calculation. No hydrogen bonds were taken into consideration explicitly in the calculation. However, mostly α‐helical conformations were obtained as results of the calculation even with no explicitly assumed hydrogen bonds. In the present paper we refined the distance geometry calculation by incorporating hydrogen bonds suggested by the previous calculation. As a result, we obtained the conformation of melittin, which was consistent with both NMR data and the additional hydrogen bonding data. The α‐helical rod in the refined conformation also has a kink at Thr‐11 and Gly‐12, but its bent angle is now a bit narrowly distributed in 135° × 15°. In the present study another distortion at Trp‐19 and IIe‐20 becomes conspicuous. The average root‐mean‐square displacement of atoms is now much smaller and is 1.5 Å for all backbone atoms. In the present paper side chain conformations are also analyzed.
The Nature of Board Nominating Committees and Their Role in Corporate Governance

This study examines the association between the employment and composition of nominating committees with board and ownership characteristics. First, the results suggest that the likelihood of using a nominating committee is inversely related to the level of inside ownership and positively weakly, related to the independence, but not the number, of outside board members. Second, the percentage of insiders participating in the committee is positively related to inside ownership, and negatively related to proxies for outside director quality. Finally, outside directors are more likely to serve on the nominating committee the more outside directorships they hold, and the longer their tenure in the firm. The likelihood of insider committee membership rises with a director's equity investment, with board tenure, and with other committee memberships. Taken together, the results are consistent with nominating committees substituting inside ownership in controlling management, mostly improving board quality, and being staffed with independent, experienced, and knowledgable members. Copyright Blackwell Publishers Ltd 1999.
Health Expenditure and Economic growth: An ARDL Approach for the Case of Iran

This paper examines the relationship between health expenditure and economic growth in Iran for the period 1970-2007, based on the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach. The study finds a cointegrating relationship among real GDP, health expenditure, capital stock, oil revenues and education, although among them, health spending explains just a small part of the economic growth. The results indicate that while health care expenditures are among the most important factors in the lowering of infant mortality, they do not make a significant marginal contribution to the economic growth in Iran. This findings call for pressing reforms and improved allocation of resources in health sector.
Research on the relationship between perceived service and customer satisfaction

Perceived service is regarded as an antecedent of customer satisfaction, and most of studies use linear model to estimate the effect of perceived service on customer satisfaction. However, nonlinear relationship between perceived service and customer satisfaction may exist according to previous theories. In this study, we use a bank customer sample of 2500 people and a refrigerator customer sample of 2407 people to investigate the service distribution and use a cubic model to estimate the relationship between perceived service and customer satisfaction. Results show that customers are inclined to rank the service in medium or high level. Different kinds of service affect customer satisfaction differently. Perceived service is nonlinearly correlative with customer satisfaction in bank industry, while the curve is linear in refrigerator industry. Then we further analyze the curve of service under different customer satisfaction levels. The results indicate that perceived service curve changes slowly with the change of satisfaction level. It is inferred that with the existence of perceived service frontier, the efforts to improve the satisfaction level may be repaid little. Companies should keep customer satisfaction at a certain level, rather than attempt to promote it all the time.
Gravity for Dummies and Dummies for Gravity Equations

This paper provides a minimalist derivation of the gravity equation and uses it to identify three common errors in the literature, what we call the gold, silver and bronze medal errors. The paper provides estimates of the size of the biases taking the currency union trade effect as an example. We generalize Anderson-Van Wincoop's multilateral trade resistance factor (which only works with cross section data) to allow for panel data and then show that it can be dealt with using time-varying country dummies with omitted determinants of bilateral trade being dealt with by time-invariant pair dummies.
Inactivation of local root canal medicaments by dentine: an in vitro study.

AIMS The aim of the study was to investigate the inactivation by dentine of the antibacterial activity of various commonly used local root canal medicaments. METHODOLOGY The medicaments tested were saturated calcium hydroxide solution, 1% sodium hypochlorite, 0.5% and 0.05% chlorhexidine acetate, and 2/4% and 0.2/0.4% iodine potassium iodide. Dentine was sterilized by autoclaving and crushed into powder with a particle size of 0.2-20 microns. Aliquots of dentine suspension were incubated with the medicaments in sealed test tubes at 37 degrees C for 24 h or 1 h before adding the bacteria. In some experiments bacteria were added simultaneously with dentine powder and the medicament. Enterococcus faecalis A197A was used as a test organism. Samples for bacterial culturing were taken from the suspensions at 5 min, 1 h and 24 h after adding the bacteria. RESULTS Dentine powder had an inhibitory effect on all medicaments tested. The effect was dependent on the concentration of the medicament as well as on the length of the time the medicament was preincubated with dentine powder before adding the bacteria. The effect of calcium hydroxide on E. faecalis was totally abolished by the presence of dentine powder. Similarly, 0.2/0.4% iodine potassium iodide lost its effect after preincubation for 1 h with dentine before adding the bacteria. The effect of 0.05% chlorhexidine and 1% sodium hypochlorite on E. faecalis was reduced but not totally eliminated by the presence of dentine. No inhibition could be measured when full strength solutions of chlorhexidine and iodine potassium iodide were used in killing E. faecalis. CONCLUSIONS The dentine powder model appears to be an efficient tool for the study of interactions between local endodontic medicaments, dentine, and microbes.
The Fundamental Privatization Theorem: Ideology, Evolution, Practice

The article focuses on the analysis of the evolution of contemporary theoretic approaches to the choice of an optimal form of ownership, and the corresponding estimation of privatization in the context of the advantages and disadvantages of the public and private sectors of the national economy. Various interpretations of the fundamental privatization theorem are considered: based on the principal-agent relationship; based on the comparison of the structure of information flows; the combination of ownership rights and contractual rights; consideration of sociopolitical factors, etc. The latest trends in Russia’s de-statization policy in 2010-2013 are analyzed in the context of ‘reluctant privatization’, with special emphasis on the asymmetry between the statization and privatization processes.
Fully Automated Detection of Hepatitis C Virus RNA in Serum and Whole-Blood Samples

ABSTRACT In this study, we established a fully automated molecular assay for qualitative detection of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in serum and whole-blood samples and compared it with conventional molecular assays, including manual HCV RNA extraction protocols. Whole-blood samples were collected from patients with and without chronic HCV infection in EDTA tubes and nucleic acid stabilization tubes (NASTs). Prior to HCV RNA extraction, the HCV Internal Control (IC), derived from the COBAS AMPLICOR HCV test, version 2.0 (Roche Molecular Diagnostics), was added. The new assay was based on an automated extraction protocol on the MagNA Pure LC instrument (Roche Applied Science), followed by automated reverse transcription, amplification, hybridization, and detection on the Cobas Amplicor analyzer (Roche Molecular Diagnostics). The detection limit of the new assay was found to be similar to those of conventional molecular assays. In clinical samples, 100% agreement between the new assay and conventional methods was observed. The introduced amount of IC was detected in 45 of 45 serum samples, 41 of 45 EDTA tube whole-blood samples, and 43 of 45 NAST whole-blood samples. Retesting led to more frequent IC detection. The fully automated molecular assay was found to be suitable for detection of HCV RNA in different kinds of sample materials. It may be recommended for use in the high-throughput routine molecular diagnostic laboratory.
Does altruism play a role in determining U.S. consumer preferences and willingness to pay for natural and regionally produced beef

An area of increasing differentiation among meat products relates to the source-of-origin and types of production methods used to raise the animals. Consumer data collected from a U.S. national online survey was used to estimate the factors helping explain consumers' willingness to purchase and pay a higher premium for two natural and regionally produced beef products: ground beef and USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Choice rib eye steaks. Consumer preferences for natural and regionally produced beef are shown to be motivated by a combination of perceptions of personal benefits and altruistic factors. Additionally, the results of probit models indicate that the probability a consumer will pay more or less of a premium depends on purchase behavior and shopping location, stated importance of production attributes, awareness and interest in private and civic agricultural issues, in addition to some typical demographic variables such as income. lEconLit Citations: Q130, M130, Q180r. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
THE NATURE OF SOUTH AFRICA'S TRADE PATTERNS BY ECONOMIC SECTOR, AND THE EXTENT OF TRADE LIBERALIZATION DURING THE COURSE OF THE 1990′s

We explore changing trade protection of the South African economy by means of E¤ective Protection Rates (EPR’s). Results on EPR’s for 28 manufacturing sectors over the 1988-98 period are presented. Findings suggest that trade liberalization of the South African economy has been less dramatic than is popularly thought. Analyzers proceed to suggest that trade liberalization is di¢cult to associate with increased import penetration of the SA economy, though liberalized sectors do appear to have demonstrated improved export performance.
FFA STATUS OF SELECTEDAGRICULTURAL EDUCATION ENROLLEES IN OKLAHOMA

Scope and Method of Study: The purpose of this study was to describe traditional and nontraditional Agricultural Education enrollees and the degree to which these groups participate in the Agricultural Education program. Participants in the study included 393 junior and senior agricultural education enrollees at selected secondary high schools in Oklahoma. Selected schools contained multiple teachers with horticulture or natural resources being taught. Non-traditional enrollees were defined as those students who enrolled in an Agricultural Education course for the first time as a junior or senior while traditional enrollees were those students who had previous years in Agricultural Education. Students completed a questionnaire regarding demographic information, FFA activities and supervised agricultural experienced programs. Descriptive statistics and T-tests were utilized to describe and compare groups. Findings and Conclusions: Demographically, traditional enrollees tended to be male and from rural areas while nontraditional enrollees were either male or female and from urban areas. Differences were seen in FFA activity involvement as more than 35% of traditional enrollees were involved in 8-15 activities while more than 50% of non-traditional enrollees were involved in no FFA activities. Traditional enrollees with higher grade point averages were more likely to be involved in a greater number of FFA activities. This was not true for non-traditional enrollees. Majorities of both groups were found not to have supervised agricultural experience programs or record books. Point of enrollment was found to be a factor in students level of involvement in FFA and SAE activities.
Optimal Control of Series Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles Considering the Cabin Heat Demand

In series plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, the engine is decoupled from the wheels and the fuel economy is not very sensitive to the energy management. Therefore, different works recommend charge depletion, charge sustenance (CDCS) strategies for vehicle implementation as they always ensure a desirable full exploitation of the battery capacity. In contrast, this brief illustrates great fuel saving potentials by blending CD and CS with regard to using the engine waste heat for cabin heating. In this way, the energy demand of the electric heater and thus the fuel consumption are reduced significantly. The potential is outlined by comparing the fuel consumption of optimal blended and optimal CDCS strategies for different boundary conditions. In this context, a novel hybrid optimization approach is presented, which combines dynamic programming with a genetic algorithm. Furthermore, a power to heat ratio is deduced, which is useful to interpret the results, and might support the design process of causal controllers considering the cabin heat demand.
Role of sensory innervation and mast cells in neurogenic plasma protein exudation into the airway lumen

Abstract Neurogenic inflammation in the airways involves both mucosal oedema and plasma protein exudation into the airway lumen. We aimed to investigate the mechanism of exudation of plasma proteins into the airway lumen. Neurogenic inflammation was induced in anaesthetized Sprague‐Dawley rats by electrical stimulation of both vagal nerves at 20 V, 10 Hz, 5 ms. Vascular permeability was measured as 125I‐albumin extravasation into both the airway wall and tracheobronchial lavage fluid. Following vagal stimulation, tracheobronchial lavages were analysed for albumin, total protein, histamine, immunoreactive substance P (SP), and immunoreactive calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP). Vagal stimulation rapidly increased vascular permeability in the airway mucosa and induced exudation of plasma proteins into the tracheobronchial fluid. Pretreatment with capsaicin inhibited both neurogenic vascular permeability and movement of albumin into the airway lumen. SP and CGRP were detectable in basal lavages (1.37 ± 0.12 ng/mL and 2.17 ± 0.21 ng/mL, respectively) and the concentration of SP fell by 43% following treatment with capsaicin. Following vagal stimulation, concentrations of both SP and CGRP decreased significantly. Although basal tracheobronchial lavages contained histamine, vagal stimulation did not increase the histamine concentration. These results indicate that both neurogenic vascular permeability and plasma protein exudation into the airway lumen results from activation of capsaicin‐sensitive sensory nerves and the reaction is not associated with mast cell activation.
Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of single doses of subcutaneous pegylated human G‐CSF mutant (Ro 25‐8315) in healthy volunteers: Comparison with single and multiple daily doses of filgrastim

Ro 25‐8315 is produced by conjugation of rhG‐CSF mutant with polyethylene glycol (PEG). The purpose of this study was to examine the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of Ro 25‐8315 in comparison with Filgrastim (rhG‐CSF). Subjects received single subcutaneous doses of Ro 25‐8315 ranging from 10 to 150 μg/kg using a double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled design. Filgrastim was administered as a single dose (5 or 10 μg/kg) and, following a 14‐day washout period, daily for 7 days. Ro 25‐8315 increased absolute neutrophil count (ANC) by 6‐ to 8‐fold and CD34+ cell count more than 30‐fold at the highest doses tested. Single doses (60–150 μg/kg) of Ro 25‐8315 and multiple doses of Filgrastim had similar effects on ANC and CD34+, although Ro 25‐8315 had a greater effect on CFU‐GM. The pharmacokinetics of Ro 25‐8315 were dose‐dependent, with peak concentrations and area under the serum concentration–time curve (AUC) increasing 100‐fold over the range of doses studied. Time to reach peak concentration (Tmax) and half‐life of Ro 25‐8315 averaged 20–30 hr at all doses, approximately three times longer than with Filgrastim. Adverse events were not serious and occurred with similar frequency with both products. Pegylation of rhG‐CSF mutant results in more desirable pharmacokinetic properties and a longer duration of action with effective increases in ANC and measures of peripheral blood progenitor cell mobilization for at least 1 week. Am. J. Hematol. 66:245–251, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Dynamics of Public Confidence in U.S. State and Local Government

While the dynamics of trust in the national government have been shown to be responsive to political events and governmental performance, less is known about why the publics trust in U.S. state and local government rises and falls over time. We examine the trends in confidence in subnational government using an aggregate level approach. First, we consider whether levels of trust are defined by reactions to the national government. Second, we consider how factors specific to subnational politics such as governmental performance and the quality of community life influence trust. Using measures of confidence in state and local government from 1968 to 2004 and a set of error correction models, we find evidence for both accounts. Confidence in subnational governments reflects national trends such as economic tides and public preferences for more or less government, but also exhibits unique dynamics explained by factors specific to subnational politics.
Speculative Attacks on Pegged Exchange Rates: An Empirical Exploration with Special Reference to the European Monetary System

This paper presents an empirical analysis of speculative attacks on pegged exchange rates in 22 countries between 1967 and 1992. We define speculative attacks or crises as large movements in exchange rates, interest rates, and international reserves. We develop stylized facts concerning the univariate behavior of a variety of macroeconomic variables, comparing crises with periods of tranquility. For ERM observations we cannot reject the null hypothesis that there are few significant differences in the behavior of key macroeconomic variables between crises and non-crisis periods. This null can be decisively rejected for non-ERM observations, however. Precisely the opposite pattern is evident in the behavior of actual realignments and changes in exchange rate regimes. We attempt to tie these findings to the theoretical literature on balance of payments crises.
Eyes wide shut? UK consumer perceptions on aviation climate impacts and travel decisions to New Zealand

The purview of climate change concern has implicated air travel, as evidenced in a growing body of academic literature concerned with aviation CO2 emissions. This article assesses the relevance of climate change to long-haul air travel decisions to New Zealand for UK consumers. Based on 15 semi-structured open-ended interviews conducted in Bournemouth, UK during June 2009, it was found that participants were unlikely to forgo potential travel decisions to New Zealand because of concern over air travel emissions. Underpinning the interviewees' understandings and responses to air travel's climate impact was a spectrum of awareness and attitudes to air travel and climate change. This spectrum ranged from individuals who were unaware of air travel's climate impact to those who were beginning to consume air travel with a ‘carbon conscience’. Within this spectrum were some who were aware of the impact but not willing to change their travel behaviours at all. Rather than implicating long-haul air travel, the empirical evidence instead exemplifies changing perceptions towards frequent short-haul air travel and voices calls for both government and media in the UK to deliver more concrete messages on air travel's climate impact.