Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A pilot controlled clinical trial of ABT-418, a cholinergic agonist, in the treatment of adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

OBJECTIVE Despite the increasing recognition of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults, there is a paucity of controlled pharmacological trials. Recent reports have suggested the potential usefulness of cholinergic agents for ADHD. To this end, the authors completed a controlled study of ABT-418, a novel cholinergic activating agent, for the treatment of adults with ADHD. METHOD This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover trial that compared a transdermal patch of ABT-418 (75 mg/day) to placebo in adults who met DSM-IV criteria for ADHD. There were two 3-week treatment periods separated by 1 week of washout. RESULTS Of the 32 subjects enrolled in the study (88% were men; mean age = 40 years, SD = 9), 29 completed the study. At the endpoint of each active arm (last observation carried forward), a significantly higher proportion of subjects was considered improved while receiving ABT-418 than while receiving placebo (40% versus 13%). Similarly, at endpoint there was a significantly greater reduction in ADHD symptom checklist scores (28% versus 15%). Symptoms reflective of attention, and subjects with less severe ADHD, responded more robustly to ABT-418. Treatment with ABT-418 was relatively well tolerated; dizziness and nausea were the most frequently reported adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS The results of this investigation indicate that ABT-418, a nicotinic analog, may be a potentially useful agent for the treatment of ADHD.
Freedom, Choice, Wealth and Welfare

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Effects of isoleucine on glucose uptake through the enhancement of muscular membrane concentrations of GLUT1 and GLUT4 and intestinal membrane concentrations of Na+/glucose co-transporter 1 (SGLT-1) and GLUT2

Abstract Knowledge of regulation of glucose transport contributes to our understanding of whole-body glucose homoeostasis and human metabolic diseases. Isoleucine has been reported to participate in regulation of glucose levels in many studies; therefore, this study was designed to examine the effect of isoleucine on intestinal and muscular GLUT expressions. In an animal experiment, muscular GLUT and intestinal GLUT were determined in weaning pigs fed control or isoleucine-supplemented diets. Supplementation of isoleucine in the diet significantly increased piglet average daily gain, enhanced GLUT1 expression in red muscle and GLUT4 expression in red muscle, white muscle and intermediate muscle (P<0·05). In additional, expressions of Na+/glucose co-transporter 1 and GLUT2 were up-regulated in the small intestine when pigs were fed isoleucine-supplemented diets (P<0·05). C2C12 cells were used to examine the expressions of muscular GLUT and glucose uptake in vitro. In C2C12 cells supplemented with isoleucine in the medium, cellular 2-deoxyglucose uptake was increased (P<0·05) through enhancement of the expressions of GLUT4 and GLUT1 (P<0·05). The effect of isoleucine was greater than that of leucine on glucose uptake (P<0·05). Compared with newborn piglets, 35-d-old piglets have comparatively higher GLUT4, GLUT2 and GLUT5 expressions. The results of this study demonstrated that isoleucine supplementation enhanced the intestinal and muscular GLUT expressions, which have important implications that suggest that isoleucine could potentially increase muscle growth and intestinal development by enhancing local glucose uptake in animals and human beings.
The Turkish welfare regime in transformation

This article discusses the current transformation of Turkey’s welfare regime in the context of contemporary developments in social policy processes, particularly in Europe. It is argued that the transformation, under constraints of gobalization and neo-liberalism, involves a change from an inegalitarian corporatism where both the rural population and urban informal sector employees were excluded from the formal social security system. Variables influencing the direction of change include the historical legacy of state-society relations in the country, the conservative liberalism of the current government, the influence of international financial institutions that emphasize budgetary discipline, as well as the need for more universalist approaches to combat new forms of poverty and social exclusion. The relations of Turkey with the EU also affect the balance between conservative-liberal trends and universalist, rights-based approaches to social policy.
Formulas for which Contraction is Admissible

A formula A is said to have the contraction property in a logic L iff whenever A, A,Γ ⊢L B (when Γ is a multiset) also A,Γ ⊢L B. In MLL and in MALL without the additive constants a formula has the contraction property iff it is a theorem. Adding the mix rule does not change this fact. In MALL (with or without mix) and in affine logic A has the contraction property iff either A is provable or A is equivalent to the additive constant 0. We present some general proof-theoretical principles from which all these results (and others) easily follow.
Managerial behaviours over MIS growth stages

To improve the likelihood of system success and user involvement, an MIS department manager has to deal with people and lead them under given user styles and organizational culture. For this reason, the managerial behaviour of MIS managers plays an important role in developing MIS. First introduces the managerial behaviours and a stage model of MIS growth. Finally, discusses the relationships between managerial behaviour and MIS development stages.
The Emerging Role of the European Commission in Merger and Acquisition Monitoring: The Boeing / Mcdonnell Douglas Case #61623

On December 21, 1989 the European Community Counsel promulgated EEC regulation no. 4064/89 and in doing so, reinforced merger operations monitoring and control at the European level. The object of this study is to evaluate the consequences of the application of this regulation to non-European companies with merger and acquisition operations under way. It is an illustration of how the parts played by the different monitoring authorities at the world level are interwoven and of the complexity of the legal and political environments peculiar to multinational firms. We focus on the Boeing ? McDonnell Douglas case because it is one of the first non-European mergers considered by the Commission. The analysis of abnormal returns on the two securities shows that the threat of a ban of the merger by the Commission where not perceived as credible at first. But when Boeing decided to request the support of the American government, just after the decision of the European Commission to extend its investigations to the long term exclusivity contacts, the role of the Commission emerged.
Developing Maqasid al-Shari’ah Index to Evaluate Social Performance of Islamic Banks: A Conceptual and Empirical Attempt

The rise of Islamic banking and finance is now a reality with Shari 'ah compliant financial operations existing in many different parts of the world. However, its development has recently been subjected to criticism in relation to the aspirational objectives of Islamic moral economy, which constitutes the moral foundations of Islamic finance. The aspirational objectives are general expressed with maqasid alShari'ah, which is defined as 'human well-being'. The aim of this research, hence, is to evaluate the social performance of Islamic banks according to maqasid al-Shari'ah upon the realization of Islamic Moral Economy aspirations. AbdelMajid Najjar's concept of maqasid al-Shari 'ah with eight orientations or articulations is adopted to construct an evaluation framework aligned with the objective of rendering a critical improvement of current empirical studies. In operationalizing the developed framework, this study conducts empirical investigations by taking 13 banks from 6 countries for 5-year period as a sample. In doing so, the annual reports of the sampled banks for the period are subjected to content analysis to generate the necessary data in applying to the formulated framework. Empirical evidence indicates that there is lack of achievement in maqasid alperformance of Islamic bank and finance. Nevertheless, the overall industry concentrates mainly on self, faith and rights and stakeholding rather than wealthorientation, despite the fewer contributions in social entity, intellect, posterity andecology. Additionally, the empirical results find that there are different orientations across the banks and countries. Finally, the industry orientation is estimated in this research, which is located to be somewhere between faith and rights and stakeholding
Vulnerability assessments of pesticide leaching to groundwater

Pesticides may have adverse environmental effects if they are transported to groundwater and surface waters. The vulnerability of water resources to contamination of pesticides must therefore be evaluated. Different stakeholders, with different objectives and requirements, are interested in such vulnerability assessments. Various assessment methods have been developed in the past. For example, the vulnerability of groundwater to pesticide leaching may be evaluated by indices and overlay-based methods, by statistical analyses of monitoring data, or by using process-based models of pesticide fate. No single tool or methodology is likely to be appropriate for all end-users and stakeholders, since their suitability depends on the available data and the specific goals of the assessment. The overall purpose of this thesis was to develop tools, based on different process-based models of pesticide leaching that may be used in groundwater vulnerability assessments. Four different tools have been developed for end-users with varying goals and interests: (i) a tool based on the attenuation factor implemented in a GIS, where vulnerability maps are generated for the islands of Hawaii (U.S.A.), (ii) a simulation tool based on the MACRO model developed to support decision-makers at local authorities to assess potential risks of leaching of pesticides to groundwater following normal usage in drinking water abstraction districts, (iii) linked models of the soil root zone and groundwater to investigate leaching of the pesticide mecoprop to shallow and deep groundwater in fractured till, and (iv) a meta-model of the pesticide fate model MACRO developed for 'worst-case' groundwater vulnerability assessments in southern Sweden. The strengths and weaknesses of the different approaches are discussed.
How Naïve Is the Market's Use of "Firm-Specific" Earnings Information?

Recent studies suggest the apparent delay in the stock‐price response to earnings announcements (i.e., post‐earnings announcement drift) is caused by investors who underestimate the autocorrelation of seasonally‐differenced earnings (persistence). I present results that suggest: (1) a firm’s future persistence is predictable on the basis of its past persistence; (2) the immediate stock‐price response to earnings is positively related to historical persistence; (3) post‐earnings‐announcement drift is independent of historical persistence; and (4) consistent with (2) and (3), the difference between a firm’s current observed persistence and that implied in stock prices is independent of its historical persistence. These results extend prior research by demonstrating that investors are aware not only that seasonally‐differenced earnings are autocorrelated, but that investors recognize firm‐specific differences in the magnitude of the autocorrelation.
Hardware is the new Software

Moore's Law may be slowing, but, perhaps as a result, other measures of processor complexity are only accelerating. In recent years, Intel's architects have turned to an alphabet soup of instruction set extensions such as MPX, SGX, MPK, and CET as a way to sell CPUs through new security features. Unlike prior extensions, which mostly focused on accelerating user-mode data processing, these new features exhibit complex interactions and give system designers plenty to think about. This calls for a rethink of how we approach the instruction set. In this paper we highlight some of the challenges arising from recent security-focused extensions, and speculate about the longer-term implications.
Recent Developments in Electric Vehicles for Passenger Car Transport

Electric vehicles are considered as technology which can significantly reduce the problems related to road transport such as increasing GHG emissions, air pollutions and energy import dependency. The core objective of this paper is to analyze the current energetic, ecological and economic characteristics of different types of electric vehicles. The major conclusions of this analysis are: The high investments cost are the major barrier for broad market breakthrough of battery electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles. For battery electric vehicles also the limited driving range states a key obstacle. The analyzed hybrids could in principle serve as a bridging technology. However, due to their tank-to-wheel emissions they cannot state a proper solution for urban areas. Finally, the most important perception is that also battery electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles are environmentally benign solution if the primary fuel source is renewable. Keywords—Costs, fuel intensity, electric vehicles, emissions.
Habits and Time Preference

This paper proposes a utility function incorporating both habit formation and an endogenous rate of time preference in a manner consistent with the intuition of Irving Fisher regarding the influence of past consumption on impatience. It is shown that the ne w specification is tractable and generates new predictions in the cont ext of three model economies: (1) a closed economy with heterogeneous agents, (2) a small open economy with one traded good and one nontra ded good, and (3) a small open economy with a traded good and domestic money. Copyright 1993 by Economics Department of the University of Pennsylvania and the Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association.
Enhancing a large scale dictionary with a two-level system

We present in this paper a morphological analyzer and generator for French that contains a dictionary of 700,000 inflected words called DELAF 1, and a full twolevel system aimed at the analysis of new derivatives. Hence, this tool recognizes and generates both correct inflected forms of French simple words (DELAF lookup procedure) and new derivatives and their inflected forms (two-level analysis). Moreover, a clear distinction is made between dictionary look-up processes and new words analyses in order to clearly identify the analyses that involve heuristic rules. We tested this tool upon a French corpus of 1 , 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 words with significant results (Clemenceau D. 1992). With regards to efficiency, since this tool is compiled in to a unique transducer, it provides a very fast look-up procedure (1,100 words per second) at a low memory cost (around 1.3 Mb in RAM). Enhancing a large scale dictionary with a two-level system David Clemenceau & Emmanuel Roche LADL: Latxaatoire d'Automatique Documentaire et Linguistique Universit6 Paris 7; 2, place Jussieu, 75251 Paris cedex 05, France e-mail: roche@ max.ladl. jussieu.fr
Molecular epidemiology of human cancer risk: gene–environment interactions and p53 mutation spectrum in human lung cancer

The p53 tumour suppressor gene is at the crossroads of a network of cellular pathways including cell cycle checkpoints, DNA repair, chromosomal segregation, and apoptosis. These pathways have evolved to maintain the stability of the genome during cellular stress from DNA damage, hypoxia, and activated oncogenes. The high frequency of p53 mutations in human cancer is a reflection of the importance of p53 involvement in this network of pathways during human carcinogenesis. An electronic database containing p53 mutations from more than 9000 cancers (http://www.iarc.fr/p53/homepage.html) can be used to generate hypotheses for further clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory investigations. For example, one can hypothesize that (a)p53 mutations vary in their pathobiological significance; (b) cellular content influences the selection of p53 mutations in clonally derived cancers; (c) the location and type of mutation within the p53 gene provide clues to functional domains in the gene product; and (d) the p53 mutation spectrum can be a molecular link between aetiological agents and human cancer. This review will focus on the role of p53 and cancer susceptibility genes in the molecular pathogenesis and epidemiology of human lung cancer. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 and Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 Gene Promoter Polymorphisms Are Associated With Carotid Artery Stenosis

Background and Purpose— The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of enzymes that are important in the resorption of extracellular matrix and are involved in atherogenesis. Recently, 2 common polymorphisms on MMP-1 (1G/2G) and MMP-3 (5A/6A) gene promoters have been described. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible association between MMP polymorphisms and increased risk of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis. Methods— We studied 91 patients consecutively recruited for ICA stenosis who had undergone carotid endarterectomy and 133 subjects without ICA stenosis (controls). Polymorphic genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing analysis. Results— The frequency of the 6A allele was significantly different between cases and controls: 0.62 and 0.50, respectively (odds ratio [OR], 1.58; 95% CI, 1.08 to 2.33;P =0.017). The frequency of 6A/6A genotype was significantly higher in cases with involvement of both carotids (OR, 3.13; 95% CI, 1.14 to 8.5;P =0.026) and in patients with stenosis >70% (OR, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.07 to 6.07;P =0.033). No significant differences were observed in MMP-1 distribution. Patients who were homozygous for both the 6A and 2G alleles had an elevated relative risk of ICA stenosis (OR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.23 to 5.72;P =0.016). Multiple logistic regression analysis using the common risk factors and the 6A and 2G allele variants revealed that the 6A allele was an independent risk factor for ICA stenosis (P =0.049). When 6A/6A and 2G/2G were combined, the risk factor for ICA stenosis was 3-fold higher (OR, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.48 to 7.42;P =0.004). Conclusions— Homozygosity for the 6A allele of the MMP-3 promoter is associated with carotid stenosis and, in association with MMP-1 2G homozygosity, predicts an increased risk of ICA stenosis. Even if obtained from a relatively limited patient series, these results might have relevant implications for treatment of ICA stenosis and possibly prevention of carotid-related stroke.
Executive Compensation and Board Governance in US Firms

This paper investigates US executive compensation and governance. I find on average executive pay is positively correlated to firm performance and firm size. Executive pay contracts contain significant equity incentives. The use of restricted stock has become more important over time. Stock options remain an important part of executive pay. Compensation committees are generally independent and there is little evidence they result in ‘too high’ CEO pay. The Dodd-Frank Act changed the corporate governance landscape. Firms use compensation consultants that are generally engaged by the board and not management. ‘Say-on-Pay’ gave shareholders a non-binding mandatory vote on executive pay. Typically, stockholders endorse executive pay plans with very few resolutions failing.
Advances in the diagnosis of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) describes the post exercise phenomenon of acute airway narrowing in association with physical activity. A high prevalence of EIB is reported in both athletic and recreationally active populations. Without treatment, EIB has the potential to impact upon both health and performance. It is now acknowledged that clinical assessment alone is insufficient as a sole means of diagnosing airway dysfunction due to the poor predictive value of symptoms. Furthermore, a broad differential diagnosis has been established for EIB, prompting the requirement of objective evidence of airway narrowing to secure an accurate diagnosis. This article provides an appraisal of recent advances in available methodologies, with the principle aim of optimising diagnostic assessment, treatment and overall clinical care.
Rapid detection of the mecA gene in methicillin-resistant staphylococci by enzymatic detection of polymerase chain reaction products

In order to identify methicillin-resistant staphylococci from clinical sources with ease and reliability, enzymatic detection of polymerase chain reaction (ED-PCR) was applied. ED-PCR is based on the capture of amplified products via biotin-streptavidin affinity and the detection of an incorporated hapten in amplified products with an enzyme-linked antibody. In order to identify methicillin-resistant staphylococci of all species, a 150-bp fragment of the mecA gene was targeted for ED-PCR. After PCR was performed with a pair of biotin and dinitrophenol 5'-labeled primers, the reaction mixture was applied to a microtiter well precoated with streptavidin. Thereafter, bound PCR products were detected colorimetrically with alkaline phosphatase-conjugated anti-dinitrophenol antibody. The extraction of DNA from staphylococcal cells for PCR was simplified so that it could be performed within one tube. The total assay, including PCR, took less than 3 h. The sensitivity of mecA gene detection ranged from greater than 5 x 10(2) CFU per tube for Staphylococcus aureus to greater than 5 x 10(3) CFU per tube for Staphylococcus epidermidis. Genotyping results obtained by ED-PCR of 161 tested strains from the colonies (97 strains of S. aureus and 64 strains of coagulase-negative staphylococci) were compared with the phenotypic susceptibilities of the strains to oxacillin. The results of ED-PCR showed excellent agreement with the MICs of oxacillin with very few exceptions; only one strain of S. aureus and two strains of coagulase-negative staphylococci were found to possess the mecA gene, which was discrepant with their phenotypes. Fifty-five blood culture samples were also tested by ED-PCR. For staphylococcal isolates in 33 of the cultures, oxacillin MICs were >4 microgram/ml; 31 of the 33 staphylococcal isolates were determined by ED-PCR to be mecA gene positive. These results suggest that ED-PCR can be used with reasonable confidence in the clinical microbiological laboratory.