Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ochratoxin A and ochratoxin-producing fungi on cereal grain in China: a review

The mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA) is known to be the main contaminant of cereal grain and has become increasingly important in recent years. Therefore, a survey of ochratoxigenic fungi and OTA contamination in China is a special challenge. This paper summarises data on cereals and moulds (Aspergillus niger, Penicillium verrucosum, Aspergillus ochraceus, for example) and on grain and OTA from 1973 by searching Chinese information databases (NCKI, VIP, DuXiu etc.), calculating the OTA-producing mould detection rate, referring to sampling locations, latitude and temperature, and also combining six grain-producing areas of ochratoxigenic fungi and OTA positive rate through a comprehensive analysis. It is concluded that in China rice (excluding shell rice) has less OTA contamination than wheat or maize. The contamination of cereal grains with Aspergillus section Nigri (formerly of the A. niger group) is a serious problem in China, and these fungi may be the main ochratoxigenic fungi on cereals.
The role of thromboelastometry in the assessment and treatment of coagulopathy in liver transplant patients

Perioperative monitoring of coagulation is vital to assess bleeding risks, diagnose deficiencies associated with hemorrhage, and guide hemostatic therapy in major surgical procedures, such as liver transplantation. Routine static tests demand long turnaround time and do not assess platelet function; they are determined on plasma at a standard temperature of 37°C; hence these tests are ill-suited for intraoperative use. In contrast, methods which evaluate the viscoelastic properties of whole blood, such as thromboelastogram and rotational thromboelastometry, provide rapid qualitative coagulation assessment and appropriate guidance for transfusion therapy. These are promising tools for the assessment and treatment of hyper- and hypocoagulable states associated with bleeding in liver transplantation. When combined with traditional tests and objective assessment of the surgical field, this information provides ideal guidance for transfusion strategies, with potential improvement of patient outcomes. RESUMO A monitorização perioperatória da coagulação é fundamental para estimar o risco de sangramento, diagnosticar deficiências causadoras de hemorragia e guiar terapias hemostáticas durante procedimentos cirúrgicos de grande porte, como o transplante hepático. Os testes estáticos, comumente usados na prática clínica, são insatisfatórios no intraoperatório, pois demandam tempo e não avaliam a função plaquetária; são determinados no plasma e realizados em temperatura padrão de 37°C. Os métodos que avaliam as propriedades viscoelásticas do sangue total, como o tromboelastograma e a tromboelastometria rotacional, podem suprir as deficiências dos testes estáticos tradicionais, uma vez que permitem avaliar a coagulação de forma rápida e qualitativa, guiando a terapia transfusional de forma adequada. A tromboelastometria rotacional mostrou-se promissora na avaliação e no tratamento de estados de hipercoagulação e hipocoagulação, associados a sangramento no transplante hepático. Estas informações, combinadas com os testes tradicionais e uma avaliação objetiva do campo cirúrgico, promovem um cenário ótimo para guiar as estratégias transfusionais e potencialmente melhorar o desfecho destes pacientes.
Degradation of isolated tomato cell walls by purified polygalacturonase in vitro.

Cell wall preparations from green pericarp of normal and mutant Neverripe (Nr) and ripening inhibitor (rin) tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) fruit were all equally degraded in vitro by a cell wall-bound protein extract from ripe normal tomatoes.Similar cell wall-bound protein extracts from ripe Nr fruit were not as effective and those from ripe rin fruit gave no cell wall degradation at all in vitro. This was correlated with the absence of polygalacturonase in rin and low activity of Nr extracts.Purified polygalacturonase was capable of in vitro cell wall degradation and it seems that this enzyme can account for the cell wall degradation observed with the total cell wall-bound protein extracts from ripe fruit.
An examination of the relationship between internal and external audit in the Saudi Arabian corporate sector

This paper uses questionnaires from and interviews to examine the level of co‐operation and co‐ordination between directors of internal audit departments, and partners and managers in external audit firms in Saudi Arabian companies. The results revealed that external auditors expressed concern about the independence, scope of work and small size of many internal audit departments. Internal auditors considered co‐operation between internal and external audits to be limited, although external auditors were more positive about the extent of co‐operation when the internal audit department was of high quality. The extent of reliance by the external auditor on the work of the internal auditor varied with the quality of the internal audit department. External auditors suggested that the objectivity, competence and work experience were important factors affecting the reliance decision. They felt that the internal audit function in many Saudi companies lacked professionalism and independence from management, which adversely affected its work and the potential for reliance thereon.
Search, Sorting, and Urban Agglomeration

Studies have suggested that urban agglomeration enhances productivity by facilitating the firm‐worker matching process. This article develops a model that formalizes this notion and demonstrates that, when firm capital and worker skill are complementary in production, urban agglomeration will tend to generate more efficient, yet segregated matches. As a result, not only will local market size be positively associated with average productivity, it will also generate greater between‐skill‐group wage inequality and a higher expected return to skill acquisition. Recent data from the counties and metropolitan areas of the United States is consistent with each of these implications.
Clinical Legal Education in the 21st Century: Still Educating for Service?

As a lawyer and clinical legal educator, I have direct experience of the ways in which clinical legal education programmes in Australia2 provide legal services to poor and disadvantaged people. In this context I recently began to wonder about the image of lawyers and of the legal profession, that other clinical educators and I portray in our work and about the values underlying clinical legal education.3 I began to think that despite a longstanding commitment to access to justice,4 clinical legal education in Australia might actually be acquiescing in a notion of professionalism that is counter to that commitment. In this article I explore the connection between the continuing commitment of clinical legal education to the provision of legal services to those unable to otherwise afford them and the notions of professionalism traditionally adopted by the organised legal profession. In doing so I focus on the Australian legal environment as the one with which I am most familiar. However, I believe the issues I raise are relevant for other legal educators concerned about the state of the legal profession in their jurisdictions and about the values which clinical legal education imparts to law students.
Comparing brains.

Some animals have larger brains than others, but it is not yet known why. Species differences in life-style, including dietary habits and patterns of development of the young, are associated with variation in brain weight, independently of the effects of body weight and evolutionary history. Taken together with behavioral and neuroanatomical analyses, these studies begin to suggest the evolutionary pressures that favor different sized brains and brain components.
Alternative asset-price dynamics and volatility smile

Abstract We review the general class of analytically tractable asset-price models that was introduced by Brigo and Mercurio (2001a Mathematical Finance—Bachelier Congr. 2000 (Springer Finance) ed H Geman, D B Madan, S R Pliska and A C F Vorst (Berlin: Springer) pp 151–74), where the considered asset can be an exchange rate, a stock index or even a forward Libor rate. The class is based on an explicit SDE under a given forward measure and includes models featuring (i) explicit asset-price dynamics, (ii) a virtually unlimited number of parameters and (iii) analytical formulae for European options. We also review the fundamental case where the asset-price density is given, at every time, by a mixture of log-normal densities with equal means. We then introduce two other cases: the first is still based on log-normal densities, but it allows for different means in the distributions; the second is based on processes of hyperbolic-sine type. Finally, we test the goodness of calibration to real market data of the considered models, choosing a particularly asymmetric volatility surface. As expected, the model based on hyperbolic-sine density mixtures achieves the lowest calibration error.
A multi-layer multi-sensor wearable device for physical and chemical environmental parameters monitoring (CO & NO2)

The monitoring of the ambient working conditions is a crucial part in occupational medicine. A wearable system for monitoring environmental conditions including physical and chemical parameters is introduced. The system operates based on an integrated and add on-board multi-layer sensors and fusion approach. It uniquely consists of only a small and light wrist-worn device which embeds a microcontroller board with integrated temperature, humidity and barometer sensors (Physical parameters), add on-board gas sensors (Chemical parameters) in second top layer for monitoring hazardous gases in air and a vibration motor placed under of the board. For an early notification of the user about ambient parameters a haptic feedback pattern is actuated using a micro embedded vibration motor. Data are also sent to a smart phone simultaneously. The collected data are used to monitor the ambient environment and establish a long-term individual profile for employees in real-time. With this paper we introduce the system architecture. Efficiency, performance and power consumption of such unique multi-layer multi-parameter monitoring device in size and weight are evaluated.
Pittsburgh compound B imaging and prediction of progression from cognitive normality to symptomatic Alzheimer disease.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether preclinical Alzheimer disease (AD), as detected by the amyloid-imaging agent Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB) in cognitively normal older adults, is associated with risk of symptomatic AD. DESIGN A longitudinal cohort study of cognitively normal older adults assessed with positron emission tomography (PET) to determine the mean cortical binding potential for PiB and followed up with annual clinical and cognitive assessments for progression to very mild dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT). SETTING The Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University, St Louis, Missouri. PARTICIPANTS One hundred fifty-nine participants with a mean age of 71.5 years with a Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) of 0 on a PET PiB scan at baseline. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Progression from CDR 0 to CDR 0.5 status (very mild dementia). RESULTS Twenty-three participants progressed to CDR 0.5 at follow-up assessment (range, 1-5 assessments after PET PiB). Of these, 9 also were diagnosed with DAT. Higher mean cortical binding potential values for PiB (hazard ratio, 4.85; 95% confidence interval, 1.22-19.01; P = .02) and age (hazard ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.28; P = .03) predicted progression to CDR 0.5 DAT. The CDR 0.5 DAT group showed decline in 3 cognitive domains (episodic memory, semantic memory, and visuospatial performance) and had volume loss in the parahippocampal gyrus (includes entorhinal cortex) compared with individuals who remained at CDR 0. CONCLUSION Preclinical AD as detected by PET PiB is not benign, as it is associated with progression to symptomatic AD.
[Demodicosis of dogs--a factorial disease?].

Demodex canis is a normal resident of the intact canine skin, being present in small numbers in virtually every dog. Most animals are only carriers of the mites and do not develop clinical symptoms, therefore, demodectic mange has already to be considered as a factorial disease. The modus operandi of transition of clinically inapparent colonization of the mites into a disease may be explained according to investigations so far published multifactorially and thereby essentially as consequences of primary or secondary immunodepression. A primary immunodepression is initially based most probably on a hereditary defect of T-cells and is subsequently reinforced by substances, which are presumably synthesized and liberated not only by mites but also by secondary bacterial agents. A secondary immunodepression operates as trigger mechanism of a clinical manifestation after corticosteroid or cytostatic therapy or in course of underlying diseases of potentially immunodepressive nature, i.e., malignant neoplasia, hepatopathies, hyperadrenocorticism and lymphosarcoma.
Atypical Severe Puumala Hantavirus Infection and Virus Sequence Analysis of the Patient and Regional Reservoir Host

Nephropathia epidemica (NE) caused by Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) is a mild variant of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, which is endemic in Germany. We describe the case of a 67‐year‐old man initially presenting with acute bilateral angle‐closure glaucoma, an atypical clinical presentation of PUUV infection. Subsequently, the patient developed a severe course of disease additionally complicated by profound hepatitis and interstitial nephritis, both phenomena which are rarely described in association with hantavirus infection. Serologic diagnosis was complicated by delayed antibody production until the 10th day of illness; however, PUUV RNA was detectable early in disease. To further analyse this unusual case, sequencing of the PUUV S segment was performed from the patient and regional reservoir host which showed a close relation.
The Dynamics of Industrial Location: The Factory, the Firm and the Production System

Part 1: The Problem of Industrial Transformation Industrial Geography Manufacturing Change in Historical Perspective The Geography of Manufacturing. Part 2: The Location of Factories Location Conditions and Location Factors Factory Location as a Cost Minimizing Exercise Factory Location as a Decision Making Process Factory Location as a Strategic (Bargaining) Process. Part 3: The Manufacturing Firm and its Geography The Size Distribution of Firms - Geographical Perspectives The Formation and Function of New (and Small) Firms Medium Size Firms, Big Firms Locally The Growth of Multi-National Firms Corporate Restructuring and Employment Flexibility. Part 4 Production Systems and Local Development Production Systems and Industrial Districts Core Firm-Based Production Systems and the Japanese Auto Industry Production Systems in Home and Host Economies Deindustrialized Districts - Restructured - and Rejuvenating? Industrial Transformation and Jobs - Contemporary Dilemmas.
Response of Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction to Recovery from General Anesthesia: Measurement by Gated Radionuclide Angiography

To test the hypothesis that, after anesthesia for noncardiac surgical procedures, the increased cardiac work during recovery induces wall motion and ejection fraction (EF) abnormalities in patients with mild angina pectoris, gated radionuclide angiography was performed in patients undergoing simple cholecystectomy under narcotic-relaxant general anesthesia. The ejection fraction was determined during anesthesia at the end of surgery, and then determined 3 min and 3 hr after extubation, A new angiography was performed 24 hr later, and a myocardial scintigraphy (Thallium 201) was performed during infusion of the coronary vasodilator, dipyridamole. In the first part of the investigation, eight patients without coronary artery disease (CAD) (group 1) and 20 patients with mild angina (group 2) were studied. In the second part of the study, seven patients (group 3) with mild angina pectoris received an intravenous infusion of 0.4 μg·kg−1·min−1 of nitroglycerin started before surgery and gradually decreased 4 hr after extubation. In group 1, EF remained unchanged at recovery. In contrast in group 2, EF responded abnormally to recovery: EF decreased from 55% during anesthesia to 45% 3 min after extubation (P < 0.001). Patients in group 3, who received intravenous nitroglycerin, showed no change of EF at recovery. This study demonstrates that recovery from general anesthesia causes abnormalities in left ventricular function in patients suffering from CAD. These abnormalities are prevented by prophylactic intravenous nitroglycerin.
High transduction efficiency of circulating first trimester fetal mesenchymal stem cells: potential targets for in utero ex vivo gene therapy

We recently reported the existence of fetal mesenchymal stem cells in first trimester fetal blood. Here we demonstrate that fetal mesenchymal stem cells from as early as eight weeks of gestation can be retrovirally transduced with 99% efficiency without selection. Circulating fetal mesenchymal stem cells are known to readily expand and differentiate into multiple tissue types both in vitro and in vivo, and might be suitable vehicles for prenatal gene delivery. With advances in early fetal blood sampling techniques, we suggest that genetic disorders causing irreversible damage before birth could be treated in utero in the late first/early second trimester by genetically manipulated autologous fetal stem cells.
Nutrition and Other Risk Factors for Renal Cell Carcinoma in Postmenopausal Women

Among 35,192 postmenopausal, predominantly white women in Iowa age 55–69 years and free of cancer, we collected baseline history, dietary information, and anthropometric data by mail in 1986. We ascertained the 8‐year incidence (62 new cases) of renal cell carcinoma using the Iowa Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) register, the National Death Index, and mail follow‐up. Risk factors for renal cell carcinoma included increasing age, increasing weight (either current, maximum adult weight, or weight at ages 18, 30, or 50 years), greater waist‐to‐hip ratio, and a history of blood transfusion. Total dietary calcium was associated independently with a reduced risk of renal cell carcinoma. No other dietary micro‐ or macronutrients or food groups were predictive of the development of renal cell carcinoma. Other previously identified risk factors were not confirmed: most notably, there was no increased risk from a history of hypertension, after adjustment for diuretic use. History of ever‐use of diuretics was associated with a twofold increased risk of renal cancer, although the strength of association was markedly reduced after adjustment for age, weight, waist‐to‐hip ratio, and calcium intake.
A Reduced Rank Regression Approach to Tests of Asset Pricing

Both the Arbitrage Pricing Theory (APT) and the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) place restrictions of the cross sectional variation of conditional expectations of asset returns and of macro-indicators. The authors show that these restrictions imposed on the reference statistical models lead to special cases of the reduced rank regression model. The maximum likelihood problem is solved by canonical correlation analysis. Likelihood ratio tests about the number of factors underlying stock returns are straightforward to calculate, thus allowing to discriminate between competing financial theories. Moreover LR tests on the relevance of each macroeconomic indicator within a chosen model can be implemented. Some of the tests are illustrated by an application to Italian stock market data. Copyright 1997 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Evaluating style investment—Does a fund market defined along equity styles add value?

Most long-term institutional investors follow a three-step process to meet their investment objectives. First, a feasible set of investment vehicles is identified. To make investment decisions efficiently, common practice employs broad asset classes such as government bonds, large-cap growth stocks, small-cap value stocks, etc. as the core assets rather than thousands of single securities. Second, a target mix is set for the portfolio; various methods from portfolio theory can be applied at this stage. Third, the actual portfolio is constructed by assigning capital to various types of passive and/or active funds, corresponding to the broad asset classes defined at the first step. Investors employing asset allocation manage their portfolios by controlling their positions on broad asset classes while delegating micro management within each asset class to the hired fund managers. Since funds are generally restricted to stay within their universes, a prevailing determinant for a long-term investor’s performance is the characteristics of the benchmark indices that define the fund market structure. For instance, when the benchmark indices are highly correlated, corresponding funds are also likely to be highly correlated. Similarly, unstable membership leads to high turnover, causing high fees. From this, a natural question arises—what is the best ‘Moda Lisboa 2008’ José Gouläo, 2008. Source: Wikipedia.
Data at Our Fingertips, Myths in Our Minds: Recent Grain Price Jumps as the ‘Perfect Storm’

The onset of the grain price spikes in late 2007 heralded a heated discussion among economists and policy makers on the source of the problem and appropriate policy responses. The subsequent rounds of price surges hit landless poor consumers hard, and transferred billions of dollars from them to landowners worldwide. Economists offered a list of highly plausible explanations for the recent jumps in grain price levels. Key findings included the large harvest shortfalls caused by climate change, energy prices, and fertilizer prices, as well as demand increases due to the large and persistent annual income increases in India and China. Several declared various combinations of the above factors to be a ‘perfect storm’ in grain markets. In fact little more than a quick series of online searches easily reveals that only the last is plausible as a major cause of recent grain price jumps. In particular there was no major global grain production shortfall. On the other hand biofuels mandates, relatively neglected in many studies, introduced a new source of grain demand that tightened markets and drove up prices. The disconnect between economic analysis and easily verified facts is a disturbing feature of recent economic analyses of grain markets.
Why Agriculture Remains a Viable Means of Poverty Reduction in Sub‐Saharan Africa: The Case of Ethiopia

Although there is much empirical evidence of the importance of agricultureled economic growth, there is a renewed emphasis in development circles on the industrial sector as the main driver of growth, even for the low‐income countries of sub‐Saharan Africa. This article applies a simplified model of agricultural growth linkages to illustrate the importance of agricultural growth for increasing employment and accelerating poverty reduction in Ethiopia. Achieving rapid agricultural growth, however, will require the engagement of small commercial farmers, large enough to adopt new technologies and produce significant marketed surpluses, but small and numerous enough to have spending patterns that drive a large, vibrant rural non‐farm sector.