Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brain substrates and the effects of nutrition

The major role of the substrates utilized by the central nervous system is for oxidation to provide energy for maintenance of cerebral function. In addition, certain substrates can act as precursors for biosynthetic processes, for example, synthesis of myelin lipids during development (glucose and ketone bodies) or synthesis of proteins (amino acids). Apart from their role as respiratory fuels, cerebral substrates may also act as signals to control appetite or affect neurotransmission. The present paper deals with the short-term changes in substrate supply to the brain rather than the longer term, but equally important, effects of dietary restriction or imbalance.
Coping with the Cuts? The Management of the Worst Financial Settlement in Living Memory

Abstract The scale of the cuts to local government finance, coupled with increasing demand for services, has led to unprecedented ‘budget gaps’ in council budgets. Arguably, two competing narratives of the trajectory of local government have emerged in which contrasting futures are imagined for the sector – a positive story of adaptation and survival and more negative one of residualisation and marginalisation. Drawing on case study evidence from three English local authorities, the paper distinguishes and provides examples of three strategic approaches to managing austerity – efficiency, retrenchment and investment. It demonstrates how and why the balance of these strategies has shifted between the early and later phases of austerity and considers the extent to which the evidence of the case studies provide support for either the survival or marginalisation narrative. The paper concludes by arguing that a third narrative – responsibilisation – captures more fully the trajectory of local government in England.
EVENT STUDIES IN REAL- AND PLAY-MONEY PREDICTION MARKETS

Event study methodology is a powerful procedure to quantify the impact of events and managerial decisions such as new product announcements on the value of a publicly traded company. However, for many events, appropriate financial data may not be available, either because suitable securities are not traded on financial markets or confounding effects limit the insights from financial data. In such instances, prediction markets could potentially provide the necessary data for an event study. Prediction markets are electronic markets where participants can trade stocks whose prices reflect the outcome of future events, e.g. election outcomes, sports results, new product sales or internal project deadlines. One key distinction between different prediction market applications is whether they require real money investments or play-money investment with non-monetary incentives for traders. Thus, the goal of this paper is to compare prediction markets' ability to conduct event studies with respect to these two different incentive schemes. We empirically test the applicability of event study methodology in real-money vs. play-money prediction markets with two data sets. We show that event studies with prediction markets deliver robust and valid results with both incentive schemes.
Testing for Spanning with Futrures Contracts and Nontraded Assets: A General Approach

This paper generalizes the notion of mean-variance spanning as de- ned in the seminal paper of Huberman & Kandel (1987) in three di- mensions.It is shown how regression techniques can be used to test for spanning for more general classes of utility functions, in case some as- sets are nontraded, and in case some of the assets are zero-investment securities such as futures contracts.We then implement these tech- niques to test whether a basic set of three international stock indices, the S&P 500, the FAZ (Germany), and the FTSE (UK), span a set of commodity and currency futures contracts.Depending on whether mean-variance, logarithmic, or power utility functions are considered, the hypothesis of spanning can be rejected for most futures contracts considered.If an investor has a position in a nontraded commodity, then the hypothesis of spanning can almost always be rejected for fu- tures contracts on that commodity for all utility functions considered.For currency futures this is only the case for a power utility function that re ects a preference for skewness.Finally, if we explicitly take into account net futures positions of large traders that are known to have predictive power for futures returns, the hypothesis of spanning can be rejected for most futures contracts.
The use of appraisals in portfolio valuation and index construction

Provides a review of basic appraisal and statistical principles combined with a simple numerical simulation. Suggests two main directions in which the appraisal profession should move. First, because public stock exchanges tend to be more informationally efficient than private property markets, appraisal accuracy can be improved by making increased quantitative use of the information in the share prices of publicly‐traded property companies. Second, it must be recognized that the valuation techniques which are optimal for individual property appraisal are suboptimal for the mass appraisal of aggregate portfolios or indexes of property market values. Suggests that regression‐based techniques based purely on transaction prices may be superior for this latter function.
Business Payoffs Abroad: Rhetoric and Reality

This article reviews the disparate cultural and business environments that sanction "gifts," "contributions," and "bribes" and distinguishes between the "lubrication" payoff to expedite clearances and the "whitemail" variety involving extortion. The author analyzes three widely publicized cases in which psychological, political, and cultural pressures engendered overseas payoffs by U.S. firms and suggests several solutions that may assist managements for whom the practice presents a problem.
Comparison of Escherichia coli Recovery and Antimicrobial Resistance in Cecal, Colon, and Fecal Samples Collected from Wild House Mice (Mus musculus)

Escherichia coli isolated from colon, cecal, and fecal samples are commonly used as indicator organisms to monitor antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in wild animals. The effect of sample type on E. coli recovery and AMR detection is unknown. We compared the prevalence of E. coli, the frequency of AMR, and the level of agreement between cecal, colon, and fecal samples collected from individual wild house mice (Mus musculus). Samples were collected from 49 mice trapped at swine farms, May–October 2008. We found no difference in the proportion of E. coli– positive samples (82%) among sample types and the agreement among sample types for E. coli recovery ranged from moderate to almost perfect. The percentage of E. coli positive samples resistant to one or more antimicrobial varied from 53% for colon samples to 71% for cecum samples; however, there was no significant difference in the proportion of resistant samples among sample types. The agreement among sample types for resistance to one or more antimicrobial ranged from fair to substantial. These findings indicate that there is no definitive sample type for studies of AMR in house mice. However, we suggest that fecal samples, which have direct contact with the environment, are likely the best sample to use in studies assessing the potential impact of AMR in wildlife on environmental and public health.
Measurement of organochlorines in commercial over-the-counter fish oil preparations: implications for dietary and therapeutic recommendations for omega-3 fatty acids and a review of the literature.

CONTEXT The consumption of fish high in omega-3 fatty acids is advocated by the American Heart Association to decrease the risk of coronary artery disease. However, fish contain environmental toxins such as mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, and organochlorine pesticides, which may negate the beneficial cardiovascular effects of fish meals. Toxin levels vary depending on both the fish source and the specific toxin, and neither farm-raised nor wild fish are toxin free. Fish oil supplements also prevent the progression of coronary artery disease and reduce cardiovascular mortality. However, only sparse data exist on the level of toxins in fish oil. In a previous study we showed that the amount of mercury in 5 over-the-counter brands of fish oil was negligible. OBJECTIVE To determine the concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls and other organochlorines in 5 over-the-counter preparations of fish oil. DESIGN The contents of 5 commercial fish oil brands were sent for organochlorine analysis. RESULTS The levels of polychlorinated biphenyls and organochlorines were all below the detectable limit. CONCLUSIONS Fish oil supplements are more healthful than the consumption of fish high in organochlorines. Fish oils provide the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids without the risk of toxicity. In addition, fish oil supplements have been helpful in a variety of diseases, including bipolar disorder and depression.
Analysis and Design of a 30- to 220-GHz Balanced Cascaded Single-Stage Distributed Amplifier in 130-nm SiGe BiCMOS

This paper describes a novel distributed amplifier (DA) architecture for ultra-wide band of operation at millimeter-wave frequency. The DA consists of two cascaded single-stage DAs (CSSDAs) embedded in a balanced architecture. The implemented design retains the benefits of CSSDAs in terms of high maximum frequency, broad band of operation, and compact area, while significantly improving the amplifier input and output matching and its linearity with the balanced architecture, which are the major issues of this class of circuits. The small-signal analysis is provided in detail and explains the nature of the poor output matching typical of this class of DAs. Furthermore, the CSSDA gain is calculated as function of frequency and circuit parameters, extending available literature results, and providing direct design guidelines with a compact formula. Experimental validation is demonstrated with the fabrication of a circuit prototype in a 130-nm SiGe BiCMOS process. The circuit is able to provide an average of 16-dB gain over the frequency band 30–220 GHz, with input- and output-return losses above 10 dB, and a maximum measured output-referred 1-dB compression point of 4.5 dBm. To the best knowledge of the authors, the measured matching and linearity are the best reported for CSSDAs.
Virtual Communities for Innovation: Influence Factors and Impact on Company Innovation

An extensive body of literature indicates the growing influence of virtual communities not only on social interaction, spending free time and working, but also on the interaction of companies with their customers to exchange information on products and to develop innovative ideas. However, engaging in virtual communities poses certain challenges to companies which more often than not results in failure to establish a successful collaboration with customers. This leads to the following questions: What are virtual communities and how can companies establish successful interaction? Why and how can interaction with a community lead to an improvement of the innovation process? This article develops a comprehensive concept of the collaboration between companies and virtual communities called community–company interaction quality (CCIQ). Based on insights from academic literature, this paper reviews factors influencing the quality of community–company interaction, suggesting an integrative framework. After developing a working definition for virtual communities in innovation, a summary of findings regarding interaction quality in context of human–technology interaction and behaviour related to innovation is proposed.
Risk analysis: a case study of the Greek bond mutual funds

The present article aims to test the suitability of a newly developed bond index to measure and analyze the risk undertaken by the bond mutual funds operating in the Greek financial market. In doing so, the capital asset pricing model is applied using as an approximation of the market portfolio, first the General Index of the Athens Stock Exchange, secondly the new Bond Index, while, in turn, the results from these two applications are compared with each other. The research concludes that the proposed Bond Index approximates the market portfolio (Greek bond market) much better than the General Index of the Athens Stock Exchange.
Auditing power and policy in UK mental health services

This article summarises research that explored the way that policy has worked in UK mental health services over the last 20 years. It constructs a framework for analysing three stages of policy making, namely: policy initiation, policy formulation and policy implementation. Three levels of policy activity are also identified; these are located at the macro, national, level; the meso, district health authority level; and the micro, provider level. A matrix is then built up that facilitates an exploration of policy activity within and between these stages and levels. The main findings of the study were that, historically, no level has held a monopoly on power or influence in the policy process, that the hitherto unsung role of the meso level has been crucial for policy success and that managers’ abilities to shape their organisation decline above the meso level. Since the Labour Government came to power in 1997, however, the macro level has begun to dominate the policy process. The ensuing “top down” approach to policy formulation is encouraging uniformity of service, but may be stifling creativity. Policy activity is becoming less than the sum of its parts.
From renting to owning: Life course and housing market circumstances

Abstract Moving from a rental dwelling to owner occupation is an important event in the housing career of a household. The literature shows that considerations of housing consumption, related to household circumstances, play a dominant role in the decision to rent or to buy a dwelling. The analysis in this article substantiates again that family status must have reached a certain stability, and prospects of a substantial permanent income must be good, before the move from renting to owning is considered. But general economic circumstances which manifest themselves into changes in housing market conditions, also have measurable influences on the decision for renting or owning. In the Netherlands, the propensity for renters to buy a dwelling were low between 1978 and 1982 when prices of owner occupation were falling, mortgage interest rate was high and income prospects were uncertain. Government policy certainly has an influence on the decision of households to rent or to buy a dwelling. In the long term go.
Women's Participation in the NREGA: Some Observations from Fieldwork in Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and Rajasthan

The broad objective of this study was to understand the reasons behind the wide variations in participation by women in the NREGA and the policy implications that follow. Based on fieldwork in two states where women form a high proportion of the workers, Kerala and Rajasthan, and one where the proportion was low, Himachal Pradesh, emerging policy implications include the need to develop a wider range of activities that acknowledge life cycle issues and bodily ability; in sparsely populated and remote areas a different design or even a cash transfer programme may be better able to meet the objective of assuring minimum income; creation of spaces that allow non‐governmental local groups to be participants in implementation and outreach work and not just watchdogs; immediate revision of the schedule of rates and implementing the revised rates to allow better earning, or else payment on a daily wage basis.
Bilateral stress fractures of the femoral neck in adults : a case report

The concurrent bilateral stress fractures of the femoral neck (SFFN) are extremely rare injuries in individuals without excessive bone activities. We present a case with compression type stress fracture in the right femoral neck, and displaced type stress fracture in the left femoral neck which might progress from an undiagnosed tension type fracture. Based on the findings of the literature review and our experience, we developed a strategy for early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of SFFN in adult patients. Early diagnosis along with immediate interventions might prevent serious complications. Plain radiographs could often confirm the diagnosis, but if not bone scan, MRI and occasionally CT scan could provide more information in detecting stress fractures. If the fracture is the compression type, we strongly recommend an additional CT scan for detection occult tension-type fracture. Treatment should be based on the classification of the fracture and the risk of exacerbation or serious complications.
The short-lived African turquoise killifish: an emerging experimental model for ageing

ABSTRACT Human ageing is a fundamental biological process that leads to functional decay, increased risk for various diseases and, ultimately, death. Some of the basic biological mechanisms underlying human ageing are shared with other organisms; thus, animal models have been invaluable in providing key mechanistic and molecular insights into the common bases of biological ageing. In this Review, we briefly summarise the major applications of the most commonly used model organisms adopted in ageing research and highlight their relevance in understanding human ageing. We compare the strengths and limitations of different model organisms and discuss in detail an emerging ageing model, the short-lived African turquoise killifish. We review the recent progress made in using the turquoise killifish to study the biology of ageing and discuss potential future applications of this promising animal model. Summary: The short-lived African turquoise killifish is an emerging experimental vertebrate model organism, ideal for studies aimed at discovering the basic mechanisms underlying vertebrate ageing and adult phenotypes.
Temporal Bone Studies of the Human Peripheral Vestibular System

Quantitative studies of the vestibular system with serially sectioned human temporal bones have been limited because of difficulty in distinguishing hair cells from supporting cells and type I from type II hair cells. In addition, there is only a limited amount of normative data available regarding vestibular hair cell counts in humans. In this study, archival temporal bone sections were examined by Nomarski (differential interference contrast) microscopy, which permitted visualization of the cuticular plate and stereociliary bundle so as to allow unambiguous identification of hair cells. The density of type I, type II, and total numbers of vestibular hair cells in each of the 5 sense organs was determined in a set of 67 normal temporal bones that ranged from birth through 100 years of age. The mean total densities at birth were 76 to 79 cells per 0.01 mm2 in the cristae, 68 cells per 0.01 mm2 in the utricle, and 61 cells per 0.01 mm2 in the saccule. The ratio of type I to type II hair cells at birth was 2.4:1 in the cristae and 1.3:1 in the maculae. There was a highly significant age-related decline in all sense organs for total, type I, and type II hair cell densities that was best fit by a linear regression model. The cristae lost type I cells with advancing age at a significantly greater rate than the maculae, whereas age-related losses for type II cells occurred at the same rate for all 5 sense organs. Hair cell densities in the cristae were significantly higher at the periphery than at the center. There were no significant sex or interaural differences for any of the counts. Mathematical models were developed to calculate the mean and 95% prediction intervals for the total, type I, and type II hair cell densities in each sense organ on the basis of age. There was overall good agreement between the hair cell densities determined in this study and those reported by others using surface preparation techniques. Our data and related models will serve as a normative database that will be useful for comparison to counts made from subjects with known vestibular disorders.
Design of a Phased Array in Triangular Grid With an Efficient Matching Network and Reduced Mutual Coupling for Wide-Angle Scanning

In this paper, a wide-scan angle planar patch phased array is proposed. The proposed array is composed of wideband probe-fed microstrip patches placed $0.087\lambda _{h} (\lambda _{h}$ is the wavelength of highest frequency) above individual ground planes and interlaced with parasitic decoupling walls. In order to cancel the feed probe inductance, the array elements comprise additional degrees of freedom to introduce controllable capacitance. Concurrently, individual ground planes and parasitic decoupling walls are proposed as an effective structure to considerably increase the E-plane scanning angle of the phased array by reducing the magnitude of near-field mutual coupling. A 544-element phased array prototype of the proposed element was designed, manufactured, and validated experimentally. The experimental results agree well with the numerical simulation ones and indicate effectiveness of the proposed design for mutual coupling reduction and wide-angle scanning. Because of the modifications, the measured mutual coupling between adjacent elements is reduced to lower than −32 dB at the center frequency. The proposed phased array has almost a constant active input impedance (active VSWR less than 2 over 20% bandwidth) up to scan angle of 65° in E-plane and 60° in H-plane, with a realized gain reduction of about 3.5 dB.
Industrial Relations in the New Europe

This book presents an evidence-based assessment of the impact of EU enlargement on industrial relations and social standards in old and new EU Member States. It combines chapters which give an overview of the process of enlargement/integration and comparative socio-economic data at EU and national level, with chapters that present an in-depth analysis of the impact of European integration on national industrial relations. These in-depth analyses cover both a number of old EU Member States in Western Europe and new Member States in Central and Eastern Europe. The book combines supranational European, Western and Eastern perspectives on the impact of European integration.
Driving privately financed projects in Australia: what makes them tick?

This paper documents the growing dependence of Australian governments on the use of private funding to provide infrastructure and related services to the public. Using a Habermasian framework proposed by Broadbent and Laughlin in 1999 the paper examines their second research question: “what is the nature of PFI and who is regulating its application? ” to frame an analysis of the complex relationships between steering media and steering mechanisms in determining the operation of privately financed projects (PFP) in Australia. A secondary, but related concern is to explore the linkages between the macro‐economic policy debates that gave rise to PFP and their implications for the micro‐organisational control issues. The debate about whether or not PFP are a response by governments to macro economic pressures remains unresolved. Similarly, there is evidence that governments are not as successful as private‐sector consortia at identifying and shifting risk and, therefore, at achieving value‐for‐money. Ultimate PFP outcomes depend on two factors: broad policy parameters established by governments (steering mechanisms) either discreetly, or through other appointed steering media; and execution at the micro or organisational level, that is, on the decisions and actions taken by a variety of actors interfacing with PFP.