Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anorexia in Hemodialysis Patients: The Possible Role of Des-Acyl Ghrelin

Background: Anorexia is frequently found in end-stage renal disease and is a reliable predictor of morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The pathogenesis of anorexia is complex and the appetite-modulating hormone ghrelin could be involved. Two forms of circulating ghrelin have been described: acylated ghrelin (<10% of circulating ghrelin) which promotes food intake, and des-acyl ghrelin which induces a negative energy balance. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to clarify whether anorexia and body weight change in HD patients relate to plasma des-acyl ghrelin levels. Methods: 34 HD patients and 15 healthy controls were studied. The presence of anorexia was assessed by a questionnaire. Serum des-acyl ghrelin was measured in HD patients and in 15 body mass index-, sex- and age-matched controls by ELISA. Energy intake was assessed by a 3-day dietary diary, and fat-free mass (FFM) was evaluated by body impedance analysis. Data have been statistically analyzed and are presented as mean ± SD. Results: 14 patients (41%) were found to be anorexic, and 20 patients (59%) non-anorexic. Energy intake (kcal/day) was significantly lower in anorexic than in non-anorexic patients (1,682 ± 241 vs. 1,972.50 ± 490; p < 0.05). FFM (%) was lower in anorexic than in non-anorexic patients (65.8 ± 4.4 vs. 70.9 ± 8.7; p = 0.05). Plasma des-acyl ghrelin levels (fmol/ml) were significantly higher in HD patients than in controls (214.88 ± 154.24 vs. 128.93 ± 51.07; p < 0.05), and in anorexic HD patients than in non-anorexic (301.7 ± 162.4 vs. 159.1 ± 115.5; p < 0.01). Conclusion: Anorexia is highly prevalent among HD patients and des-acyl ghrelin could be involved in its pathogenesis.
Demystifying the environmental Kuznets curve: turning a black box into a policy tool

The reduced-form approach to the income–environment relationship has been a useful first step towards answering the question of how economic growth affects the environment. However, without an explicit consideration of the underlying determinants of environmental quality, the scope for policy intervention is unduly circumscribed. In this paper a modest attempt is made to incorporate explicit policy considerations into the income–environment relationship and to explore its determinants as a step towards a better understanding of this relationship and its potential as a policy tool. The role of the rate of economic growth and population density is also explored. A main finding is that at least in the case of ambient SO2 levels, policies and institutions can significantly reduce environmental degradation at low income levels and speed up improvements at higher income levels, thereby flattening the EKC and reducing the environmental price of economic growth.
Ten‐Year Experience with Antispermatozoal Activity in Ovulatory Cervical Mucus and Local Hydrocortisone Treatment

PROBLEM: During 1987–1996, cervical mucus spermagglutinating antibodies of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) or IgG detected by the tray agglutination test (TAT) and the indirect mixed antiglobulin reaction (MAR) test were found in 234 women aged 23–39 years with previously unexplained infertility.
Timing of multimodal robot behaviors during human-robot collaboration

In this paper, we address issues of timing between robot behaviors in multimodal human-robot interaction. In particular, we study what effects sequential order and simultaneity of robot arm and body movement and verbal behavior have on the fluency of interactions. In a study with the Care-O-bot, a large service robot, in a medical measurement scenario, we compare the timing of the robot's behaviors in three between-subject conditions. The results show that the relative timing of robot behaviors has significant effects on the number of problems participants encounter, and that the robot's verbal output plays a special role because participants carry their expectations from human verbal interaction into the interactions with robots.
Backstepping control design for a coupled hyperbolic-parabolic mixed class PDE system

We consider the class of linear partial differential equation systems in 1-D involving two distinct families, hyperbolic and parabolic. The model is motivated by physical phenomena arising in extreme ultraviolet light generation (EUV) for next-generation photolithography, where the droplet transport stream is affected by the diffusion of plasma generated from droplet vaporization. Other systems that can exhibit this behavior are found in biological chemotaxis and simplified predator-prey models. The two PDEs are coupled in-domain, which brings additional complexity when compared with the boundary coupled case, which has been explored in previous literature by Krstic (2009). The coupling is considered in an unidirectional manner, where the controlled hyperbolic PDE modeling the droplet stream displacement exhibits an in-domain Volterra integral source driven by the parabolic PDE modeling the plasma diffusion, which itself is driven at the boundary via the hyperbolic PDE. A backstepping method is derived to transform the system into a chosen exponentially stable target system, in the L2 × H1 norm. The backstepping method gives rise to a coupled hyperbolic-parabolic gain kernel PDE which must be solved to determine the controller. Simulation studies are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the control.
It's a small world:managing human resources in small businesses

It has become widely acknowledged that, during the past decade or so, large mainstream companies in the UK have adopted a new agenda for managing people. Relatively little is known about the impact of this new agenda on small businesses. The small business sector has been long regarded as the natural home for ‘bleak house’ employment relations practices typified by direct management control, poor terms and conditions, high staff turnover and little training. In March 1993, however, a large survey of 560 companies in Leicestershire revealed a surprisingly high take-up and awareness of new management ideas among small business managers. These findings are at odds with a crude ‘bleak house’ scenario. This large-scale telephone survey was then followed up with detailed case study research. This article presents and reflects upon the evidence and reformulates ideas about people management in small businesses.
Systems marketing: a new operating model for pharmaceutical marketing

This paper introduces a new model for marketing based on systems design. Adaptive tactical systems are featured as a novel commercial approach that enables ROI to be measured holistically, and serves as a comprehensive strategy for progressive integration, accommodating new marketing components, on-demand technologies, and business ideas as they emerge and are added to the same containing whole. Initially applied to the pharmaceutical industry, the paper details the design and evolution of a brand module, a tactical system focused specifically on harvesting top-line sales from primary care brands in a middle market of the United States. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Migrant workers on temporary 457 visas working in Australia: implications for human resource management

In this paper data was collected in 2012 for a study concerning the employment of skilled workers on temporary 457 visas in the Western Australian resources sector. While workers came from numerous countries in order to meet the sector’s skill shortages, issues relating to workers from the Philippines were prominent due to the difficulties they reported. These difficulties included: skill recognition; workplace and community integration challenges, and deficiencies in their family members’ English language ability. The experiences of workers on 457 visas from other countries are compared with those of workers from the Philippines. Interviews with key stakeholders from a sample of resource sector firms that employ Filipino workers on 457 visas and agencies that support their integration are also reported. The purpose of the paper is to highlight the HRM implications of employing migrant workers on 457 visas, especially Filipino workers, to facilitate successfully adaption to Australian workplace culture.
Phylogeography of the Brackish Water Clam Corbicula japonica Around the Japanese Archipelago Inferred from Mitochondrial COII Gene Sequences

We investigated the phylogeography of the Asian brackish water clam, Corbicula japonica, to clarify its demographic history using partial mitochondrial COII gene sequences (990 bp) from 283 individuals collected from around the Japanese archipelago and adjacent areas. Phylogenetic analyses revealed the presence of two major groups within our samples: monophyletic Group I comprising Lineages A-E of C. japonica and paraphyletic Group II consisting of Corbicula sp. Lineages A-C were distributed in Japan and Sakhalin Island, and Lineages D, E, and Corbicula sp. were distributed in the Korean Peninsula. Nested clade analysis (NCA) revealed that Lineage A—the dominant lineage in Japan—consisted of Pacific and Japan Sea lineages, the latter comprising southern and northern Japan Sea groups. Genetic diversity indices of the southern group were higher than those of the northern group, suggesting historical range expansion in the Sea of Japan from southwest to northeast. Geographical distribution of these genetic groups appears to have been influenced by major ocean currents around the Japanese archipelago. Dominant haplotypes in the star-shaped haplotype network of Lineage A were distributed throughout the entire distribution range of each genetic group, implying rapid range expansion of this species. The results of mismatch distribution analysis and molecular clock estimation suggest that expansion of lineage A occurred during the late Middle or Late Pleistocene. In contrast, restricted or past gene flow suggested by NCA and the many unique haplotypes (110/123; 89.4%) present in Lineage A suggest that gene flow among extant populations is rather limited.
In Vitro Activity of Telavancin in Combination with Colistin versus Gram-Negative Bacterial Pathogens

ABSTRACT The treatment of Gram-negative infections is increasingly compromised by the spread of resistance. With few agents currently in development, clinicians are now considering the use of unorthodox combination therapies for multidrug-resistant strains. Here we assessed the in vitro activity of the novel lipoglycopeptide telavancin (TLV) when combined with colistin (COL) versus 13 Gram-negative type strains and 66 clinical isolates. Marked synergy was observed in either checkerboard (fractional inhibitory concentration index [FICI], <0.5; susceptibility breakpoint index [SBPI], >2) or time-kill assays (>2-log reduction in viable counts compared with starting inocula at 24 h) versus the majority of COL-susceptible enterobacteria, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and Acinetobacter baumannii isolates, but only limited effects were seen against Pseudomonas aeruginosa or strains with COL resistance. Using an Etest/agar dilution method, the activity of TLV was potentiated by relatively low concentrations of COL (0.25 to 0.75 μg/ml), reducing the MIC of TLV from >32 μg/ml to ≤1 μg/ml for 35% of the clinical isolates. This provides further evidence that glycopeptide-polymyxin combinations may be a useful therapeutic option in the treatment of Gram-negative infections.
Comparative proteomic profiles of the soybean (Glycine max) root apex and differentiated root zone

The root apical meristem (RAM) is responsible for the growth of the plant root system. Because of the importance of root architecture in the performance of crop plants, we established a proteome reference map of the soybean root apex and compared this with the proteome of the differentiated root zone. The root apex samples contained the apical 1 mm of the root, comprising the RAM, quiescent center and root cap. We identified 342 protein spots from 550 excised proteins (∼62%) of root apex samples by MALDI‐TOF MS/MS analysis. All these proteins were also present in the differentiated root, but differed in abundance. Functional classification showed that the most numerous protein categories represented in the root were those of stress response, glycolysis, redox homeostasis and protein processing. Using DIGE, we identified 73 differentially accumulated proteins between root apex and differentiated root. Proteins overrepresented in the root apex belonged primarily to the pathways for protein synthesis and processing, cell redox homeostasis and flavonoid biosynthesis. Proteins underrepresented in the root apex were those of glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid metabolism and stress response. Our results highlight the importance of stress and defense response, redox control and flavonoid metabolism in the root apex.
On Timing and Selectivity

The dichotomy between timing ability and the ability to select individual assets has been widely used in discussing investment performance measurement. This paper discusses the conceptual and econometric problems associated with defining and measuring timing and selectivity. In defining these notions we attempt to capture their intuitive interpretation. We offer two basic modeling approaches, which we term the portfolio approach and the factor approach. We show how the quality of timing and selectivity information can be identified statistically in a number of simple models, and discuss some of the econometric issues associated with these models. In particular, a simple quadratic regression is shown to be valid in measuring timing information.
Restoring Natural Resources With Destination-Driven Costs

Economics typically assumes that injured natural resources are restored along a fixed path of increasing marginal costs. By contrast, many restoration efforts -- such as cleaning a contaminated aquifer or replacing the sand on an oil-tarnished beach -- are characterized by destination-driven costs, which depend mainly on final quality, not the pre-restoration quality. Given the resulting non-convexities in cost, the optimal level of restoration may be a discontinuous and non-monotonic function of post-injury quality. Regulatory rules should reflect these patterns, as should liability rules, since restoration plans and costs determine the expected cost of putting a resource at risk.
Determinants of Tax Morale in Spain and Turkey: An Empirical Analysis

Tax morale is defined as the intrinsic motivation to pay taxes, and is closely related to tax compliance. Determinants of tax morale need to be investigated for a more comprehensive understanding of tax compliance. In this paper, determinants of tax morale in Turkey and Spain are analysed on the basis of World Values Survey data. Firstly, descriptive statistics of the variables used in the models are provided. Since tax morale is an ordered categorical dependent variable, ordered probit models are estimated separately for Turkey and Spain to derive the relations between tax morale and relevant variables. Marginal effects are computed since the coefficients of the models cannot be interpreted because of the nonlinearity of the estimated models. The marginal effects related to the top level of tax morale category are presented. The independent variables are combined by demographic factors, employment categories, economic status of the respondents and social capital variables. The findings from the estimated model suggest that social capital variables and some of the demographic factors have important effects on tax morale in Turkey. Confidence variables have positive effects; if taxpayers feel confidence in political entities they are willing to pay taxes. Religion and national pride affect tax morale positively. On the other hand, the results are different for Spain; social capital variables do not have effects on tax morale. Specifically, confidence variables are found to be statistically insignificant. Age, education level and the income level have significant effects on tax morale in Spain.
Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker Reduces Oxidative Stress and Attenuates Hypoxia-Induced Left Ventricular Remodeling in Apolipoprotein E–Knockout Mice

Elevated superoxide formation in cardiac extracts of apolipoprotein E–knockout (apoE-KO) mice has been reported. In addition, we previously reported that hypoxia increased oxidative stress in the aortas of apoE-KO mice, although we did not examine the effect of hypoxia on the heart. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of chronic hypoxia on the left ventricular (LV) remodeling in apoE-KO mice treated with or without an angiotensin II receptor blocker. Male apoE-KO mice (n=83) and wild-type mice (n=34) at 15 weeks of age were kept under hypoxic conditions (oxygen, 10.0±0.5%) and treated with olmesartan (3 mg/kg/day) or vehicle for 3 weeks. Although LV pressure was not changed, hypoxia caused hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes and increased interstitial fibrosis in the LV myocardium. Furthermore, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activities were increased in apoE-KO mice exposed to chronic hypoxia. Olmesartan effectively suppressed the 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal protein expression and NF-κB and MMP-9 activities, and preserved the fine structure of the LV myocardium without affecting the LV pressure. In conclusion, olmesartan reduced oxidative stress, and attenuated the hypoxia-induced LV remodeling, in part through the inhibition of NF-κB and MMP-9 activities, in apoE-KO mice.
Poliovirus mutant that does not selectively inhibit host cell protein synthesis

A poliovirus type I (Mahoney strain) mutant was obtained by inserting three base pairs into an infectious cDNA clone. The extra amino acid encoded by the insertion was in the amino-terminal (protein 8) portion of the P2 segment of the polyprotein. The mutant virus makes small plaques on HeLa and monkey kidney (CV-1) cells at all temperatures. It lost the ability to mediate the selective inhibition of host cell translation which ordinarily occurs in the first few hours after infection. As an apparent consequence, the mutant synthesizes far less protein than does wild-type virus. In mutant-infected CV-1 cells enough protein was produced to permit a normal course of RNA replication, but the yield of progeny virus was very low. In mutant-infected HeLa cells there was a premature cessation of both cellular and viral protein synthesis followed by a premature halt of viral RNA synthesis. This nonspecific translational inhibition was distinguishable from wild-type-mediated inhibition and did not appear to be part of an interferon or heat shock response. Because the mutant is recessive, our results imply that (at least in HeLa cells) wild-type poliovirus not only actively inhibits translation of cellular mRNAs, but also avoids early inhibition of its own protein synthesis. Cleavage of the cap-binding complex protein P220, which has been associated with the selective inhibition of capped mRNA translation, did not occur in mutant-infected cells. This result supports the hypothesis that cleavage of P220 plays an important role in normal poliovirus-mediated translational inhibition.
Are Long-Run Inflation Expectations Anchored More Firmly in the Euro Area than in the United States?

This paper compares the evolution of long-run inflation expectations in the euro area and the United States, using evidence from financial markets and surveys of professional forecasters. Survey data indicate that long-run inflation expectations are reasonably well anchored in both economies but reveal substantially greater dispersion across forecasters' long-horizon projections of US inflation. Analysis of daily data on inflation swaps and nominal-indexed bond spreads, which gauge compensation for expected inflation and inflation risk, also suggests that long-run inflation expectations are more firmly anchored in the euro area than in the United States. (JEL D84, E31, E37, E52, E58)
Dividend policy and stock price volatility: Australian evidence

Dividend policy remains a source of controversy despite years of theoretical and empirical research, including one aspect of dividend policy: the linkage between dividend policy and stock price risk. A sample of 173 Australian listed companies is examined for a period from 1972 to 1985. The work features a cross-sectional regression analysis of the relationship between stock price volatility and dividend policy, after controlling for firm size, earnings volatility, leverage and growth. Contrary to Baskin's (1989) US results, no evidence is found that dividend yield is correlated with stock price volatility. On the other hand, consistent with expectations, there is evidence of significant positive correlations between stock price volatility and earnings volatility and leverage, plus a significant negative correlation with the payout ratio. It is also discovered that a significant positive correlation exists between size and stock price volatility but this is probably explained by the tendency for larger co.
Origins of a 350-Kilobase Genomic Duplication in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Its Impact on Virulence

ABSTRACT In the present study, we have investigated the evolution and impact on virulence of a 350-kb genomic duplication present in the most recently evolved members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis East Asian lineage. In a mouse model of infection, comparing HN878 subclones HN878-27 (no duplication) and HN878-45 (with the 350-kb duplication) revealed that the latter is impaired for in vivo growth during the initial 3 weeks of infection. Furthermore, the median survival time of mice infected with isolate HN878-45 is significantly longer (77 days) than that of mice infected with HN878-27. Whole-genome sequencing of both isolates failed to reveal any mutational events other than the duplication that could account for such a substantial difference in virulence. Although we and others had previously speculated that the 350-kb duplication arose in response to some form of host-applied selective pressure (P. Domenech, G. S. Kolly, L. Leon-Solis, A. Fallow, M. B. Reed, J. Bacteriol. 192:4562–4570, 2010, and B. Weiner, J. Gomez, T. C. Victor, R. M. Warren, A. Sloutsky, B. B. Plikaytis, J. E. Posey, P. D. van Helden, N. C. Gey van Pittius, M. Koehrsen, P. Sisk, C. Stolte, J. White, S. Gagneux, B. Birren, D. Hung, M. Murray, J. Galagan, PLoS One 7:e26038, 2012), here we show that this large chromosomal amplification event is very rapidly selected within standard in vitro broth cultures in a range of isolates. Indeed, subclones harboring the duplication were detectable after just five rounds of in vitro passage. In contrast, the duplication appears to be highly unstable in vivo and is negatively selected during the later stages of infection in mice. We believe that the rapid in vitro evolution of M. tuberculosis is an underappreciated aspect of its biology that is often ignored, despite the fact that it has the potential to confound the data and conclusions arising from comparative studies of isolates at both the genotypic and phenotypic levels.