Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunoregulatory networks in human Chagas disease

Chagas disease, caused by the infection with Trypanosoma cruzi, is endemic in all Latin America. Due to the increase in population migration, Chagas disease has spread worldwide and is now considered a health issue not only in endemic countries. While most chronically infected individuals remain asymptomatic, approximately 30% of the patients develop a potentially deadly cardiomyopathy. The exact mechanisms that underlie the establishment and maintenance of the cardiac pathology are not clear. However, there is consistent evidence that immunoregulatory cytokines are critical for orchestrating the immune response and thus influence disease development or control. While the asymptomatic (indeterminate) form represents a state of balance between the host and the parasite, the establishment of the cardiac form represents the loss of this balance. Analysis of data obtained from several studies has led to the hypothesis that the indeterminate form is associated with an anti‐inflammatory cytokine profile, represented by high expression of IL‐10, while cardiac form is associated with a high production of IFN‐gamma and TNF‐alpha in relation to IL‐10, leading to an inflammatory profile. Here, we discuss the immunoregulatory events that might influence disease outcome, as well as the mechanisms that influence the establishment of these complex immunoregulatory networks.
Climate Change and the Sustainability of Ski-based Tourism in Eastern North America: A Reassessment

The sustainability of skiing tourism has been repeatedly identified as vulnerable to global climate change. Earlier research, however, did not fully consider snowmaking as an adaptation strategy, which is integral to the ski industry in eastern North America. This study examines how it reduces the vulnerability of ski areas to climate change in six study areas by developing a model to assess the impact of climate change on season length, probability of operations during critical tourism periods, snowmaking costs, and water requirements. It suggests that in the 2020s, even the warmest climate change scenario poses only a minor risk to four of the six ski areas. The reassessment for the 2050s period found that only the warmest scenario would jeopardise the sustainability of three of the ski areas examined. The confluence of climatic changes and other non-climate business factors will advantage certain ski areas and likely result in further contraction and consolidation in this regional ski market.
3‐O‐Glyceryl‐2‐O‐hexyl ascorbate suppresses melanogenesis by interfering with intracellular melanosome transport and suppressing tyrosinase protein synthesis

Ascorbic acid (AsA) has multifunctional benefits on skin beauty, such as the reduction in oxidative stress and the induction of collagen production. Among them, the prevention and improvement of skin pigmentation by AsA is a most important benefit for people. However, it is well known that AsA not only is quite unstable in formulations but it also has a low capability of skin penetration due to its hydrophilic property. In addition, existing water‐soluble AsA derivatives that were developed to improve its stability also have low skin penetration.
Backscatter Efficiency Modeling of Inductive Links Applied to Wireless Power Transfer Systems

In this paper, we analyze the backscatter response of inductive link-based wireless power transfer systems. This analysis leads to a model that predicts the power levels received back on the primary side of the inductive link. The proposed model considers the inductive link characteristics as the magnetic coupling factor, the quality factors of the inductors, and the impedance matching at the secondary side, but also accounts for the equivalent on-resistance of the switch used to apply the response on the secondary side. The modeling of the backscattering response can be helpful to choose design variables of the system such as the duty cycle of the response and the size of the switching transistors. Moreover, the estimation of the reflected power can be used to specify the receiver sensitivity on the primary side. The model is validated with experimental results on two different inductive links: one using only FR4-printed inductors with a PIN diode acting as backscatter switch and the other using a CMOS fully integrated wireless power receiver. The measured backscattered power in both cases agrees with the predicted values.
Determinants of IPO readiness in emerging markets: the case for Ugandan firms

The purpose of this study was to identify determinants of initial public offers readiness in large firms that have not yet sought to raise capital through a stock market. Following a series of focus group discussions, a conceptual framework is developed to determine micro determinants of initial public offers readiness. Since the firms face the same set of macro and market constraints, these are taken as a constant. The micro determinants are then regressed against a set of criterion indicators using logistic and multinomial logistic regression models and panel data collected from 35 firms for the financial years 2003–7. The fitted models show that age, level of disclosure, legitimacy of the board (inclusion of independent non-executive directors), and level of market activity (information asymmetry) are significant determinants of initial public offers readiness of the firm. Also, firms in Uganda do not meet most of the criteria for listing because they have not taken the requisite steps to improve governance by separating roles of the CEO and chairman, publishing accounts, and reducing single party control of their boards or making their shares transferable. This study provides empirical evidence of the direction policy formulation should take in order to grow and deepen financial markets in emerging or underdeveloped economies.
The novel affiliation treatment for children with deprivation amblyopia after congenital cataract surgery

Background: To compare the effect among different treatment for deprivation amblyopia after congenital cataract extraction and IOL implantation. Material/Methods: Totally 38 subjects diagnosed of deprivation amblyopia (aged from 5 a to 10 a) were divided into three groups and treated with different therapeutic methods: conventional treatment (group A), the video game treatment (group B), and combination of the video game and heat-sensitive moxibustion treatment (group C). After 60 days of above treatment, all cases received therapy with red light flicker, luster, and light brush for 120 days at home. In addition, visual acuity and visual evoked potentials (VEP) were measured in all cases at pre-therapy and 20 d, 40 d, 60 d, 180 d post-therapy during the period of treatment. Results: There was no significant difference in age, course and visual acuity in three groups (P>0.05). After 180 days of treatment the visual acuity of all case in three groups were higher than pre-therapy, and the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of group B and group C were higher than group A at every time point (P<0.05). The BCVA was improved from baseline by an average of 0.87 lines in the group A, 3.00 lines in the group B and 6.06 lines in the group C. Comparing with before treatment, the latency of P100 of VEP elicited by reversing checkerboard with different spatial frequencies were shortened significantly in three groups at 180 d. In addition, the latency of P100 of VEP elicited in group C were shorter than other cases in group A and B (all P<0.05). Conclusions: Compared two conventional treatment, heat-sensitive moxibustion affiliation treatment is better therapeutic tool for deprivation amblyopia after congenital cataract extraction and IOL implantation, and it should be widely applied in clinical treatment.
PEM fuel cells versus diesel generators — which solution to pick?

Hurricane Katrina and the pursuant ruling by the FCC has caused many Telecom operators to review and find solutions to provide extended runtime in critical areas of their network. In the past, lead acid batteries have dominated the backup power market for these sites and the power grid quality was considered robust. Katrina forced operators to look past this and it revealed that lead acid batteries typically only provide up to eight hours of backup for a site. For those sites where operators require extended runtime, a diesel generator was typically the only option. This paper will provide an overview of not only the diesel solution but also for a new solution that utilizes a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and premium lead acid batteries to provide extended runtime at the site using a 5 kW base station plant, we will examine the architecture and design solutions that will give operators well over 48 hours of backup and in some cases over 160 hours. The PEMFC solution can utilize advanced lead acid front terminal batteries to ease maintenance as well as a robust and cost effective PEMFC engine. Critical areas for the mainstream success of fuel cells include total solution costs, reliability, fuel supply, maintenance and hydrogen storage. The comparative diesel will be the embedded 30 kW solution that is normally found in sites throughout these applications. Issues associated with generator operation include noise, emissions, permitting, fuel supply and maintenance costs will all be examined. The goal will be to show a total cost of ownership for both solutions and educate operators about new approaches for their extended runtime requirements.
An exploration of the relationship between employee engagement, wellbeing and the role of human resources

As competition becomes fiercer within more stringent economic times, organizations have to act more strategically and change accordingly. The value and contribution of Human Resources becomes paramount in achieving maximum efficiency and effectiveness within organizations. This paper explores the growing academic literature surrounding employee engagement and wellbeing. According to Truss et al 2011:219, "Employee engagement has become something of an international phenomenon over the past few years, driven, on the one hand, by the growing focus within the academic community on positive psychology, and on the other, by the ever-present quest for organizations to find better and more effective ways of motivating staff towards higher performance levels". Our survey research conducted on a sample of 150 companies highlighted the way that the HR function has adapted itself to meet these strategic challenges in an ever changing world. Within this research, particular emphasis was placed upon the use of the Ulrich HR Business Partner model, and its perceived fit as far as employee wellbeing and engagement was concerned. Suggestions are presented as to how the HR function can ensure that the core concepts of employee engagement and wellbeing still operate effectively at strategic, tactical and operational level.
Optimizing HIV prevention for women: a review of evidence from microbicide studies and considerations for gender-sensitive microbicide introduction

Microbicides were conceptualized as a product that could give women increased agency over HIV prevention. However, gender‐related norms and inequalities that place women and girls at risk of acquiring HIV are also likely to affect their ability to use microbicides. Understanding how gendered norms and inequalities may pose obstacles to women's microbicide use is important to inform product design, microbicide trial implementation and eventually microbicide and other antiretroviral‐based prevention programmes. We reviewed published vaginal microbicide studies to identify gender‐related factors that are likely to affect microbicide acceptability, access and adherence. We make recommendations on product design, trial implementation, positioning, marketing and delivery of microbicides in a way that takes into account the gender‐related norms and inequalities identified in the review.
Placental Location and the Development of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy

Abnormal placentation is an important factor in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. As a result of diminished blood flow, the incidence of preeclampsia might be higher in patients with laterally located placentas compared to patients with centrally located placentas. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between placental location and the development of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Robust eXtended finite elements for complex cutting of deformables

In this paper we present a robust remeshing-free cutting algorithm on the basis of the eXtended Finite Element Method (XFEM) and fully implicit time integration. One of the most crucial points of the XFEM is that integrals over discontinuous polynomials have to be computed on subdomains of the polyhedral elements. Most existing approaches construct a cut-aligned auxiliary mesh for integration. In contrast, we propose a cutting algorithm that includes the construction of specialized quadrature rules for each dissected element without the requirement to explicitly represent the arising subdomains. Moreover, we solve the problem of ill-conditioned or even numerically singular solver matrices during time integration using a novel algorithm that constrains non-contributing degrees of freedom (DOFs) and introduce a preconditioner that efficiently reuses the constructed quadrature weights. Our method is particularly suitable for fine structural cutting as it decouples the added number of DOFs from the cut's geometry and correctly preserves geometry and physical properties by accurate integration. Due to the implicit time integration these fine features can still be simulated robustly using large time steps. As opposed to this, the vast majority of existing approaches either use remeshing or element duplication. Remeshing based methods are able to correctly preserve physical quantities but strongly couple cut geometry and mesh resolution leading to an unnecessary large number of additional DOFs. Element duplication based approaches keep the number of additional DOFs small but fail at correct conservation of mass and stiffness properties. We verify consistency and robustness of our approach on simple and reproducible academic examples while stability and applicability are demonstrated in large scenarios with complex and fine structural cutting.
Signalling, financial hierarchy and agency theory as explanations for dividend behaviour: Evidence from Italian firm data

Starting from the traditional Lintner model, an asymmetric model of dividend behaviour is derived. It allows both the speed of adjustment and the desired pay-out structural parameters to vary according to firm- and time-specific economic conditions. The model is then tested on a sample of large Italian quoted and non-quoted firms. The main result of the econometric testing is that managers adjust more quickly when they have to reduce dividends than when they have to increase them. This finding is not consistent with the traditional view that firms are more reluctant to reduce than to increase dividends because of signalling problems. It is, however, consistent with the existence of a financial hierarchy. If internal sources of funds are cheaper managers will rationally adjust relatively quickly when they have to reduce dividends in order not to cut investment and will adjust relatively slowly when they have to increase them in order to build financial slack. One further interesting result observed is that quoted firms are found to fix a higher pay-out ratio than non-quoted firms.
Markets serving states: the institutional bases of financial governance in the Gulf Cooperation Council States

Institutionalization in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states is proceeding within the financial sector in many ways as a result of economic growth, rather than as a precursor or foundation of economic growth. This paper gives an overview of the architecture of financial governance in the GCC states, situating financial governance in the context of domestic state-building, global capital flows and energy markets. The paper argues that demand for new financial services often originates in the global business and finance communities, while domestic financial institutions dominated by state and ruling family interests may prefer less diversity and range (and requisite regulation). When GCC states do regulate markets, they are able to move quickly, which often privileges state priorities over market depth and diversification. As Gulf states create new economic institutions to govern their markets, they are also creating a framework that enables broader political goals of financial and economic statecraft.
GROWTH AND CRISIS IN THE JAPANESE ECONOMY

Japan’ economy has experienced a period of very rapid economic growth in the 1950-1973 years, a partial slowing down of the rate of growth up to the end of the 1980s and then a prolonged severe structural crisis in the last two decades. The paper gives an overview of Japan’s main economic trends and policies in the post-war period and tries explaining the period of rapid growth and the period of structural crisis with an interpretative framework that can in part account for both phases.
Osmoreceptors, Osmoreception, and Osmoregulation

Mammals have evolved sophisticated behavioral and physiological responses to oppose changes in the osmolality of their extracellular fluid. The behavioral approach consists of regulating the intake of salt and water through changes in sodium appetite and thirst. The physiological approach comprises adjustments of renal excretion of water and sodium which are achieved through changes in the release of antidiuretic and natriuretic hormones. Individually, these osmoregulatory responses are controlled by "osmoreceptors": groups of specialized nerve cells capable of transducing changes in external osmotic pressure into meaningful electrical signals. Some of these sensors are located in the region of the hepatic portal vein, a strategic site allowing early detection of the osmotic impact of ingested foods and fluids. Changes in systemic osmolality, however, are detected centrally, within regions that include the medial preoptic area, the median preoptic nucleus, the organum vasculosum lamina terminalis (OVLT), the subfornical organ, and the supraoptic nucleus (SON). While studies have indicated that these central and peripheral osmoreceptors participate in the control of osmoregulatory responses, little is known of the mechanisms by which this is achieved. One notable exception, however, consists of the osmotic control of electrical activity in SON neurons which, in the rat, contributes to the regulation of natriuresis and diuresis through effects on the secretion of oxytocin and vasopressin. Previous studies have shown that these cells are respectively excited and inhibited by hypertonic and hypotonic conditions. Experiments in vitro indicate that these responses result from both the endogenous osmosensitivity of these cells and changes in synaptic drive. Patch-clamp analysis has revealed that SON neurons are respectively depolarized and hyperpolarized by increases and decreases in external osmolality and that these intrinsic responses result from changes in the activity of mechanosensitive cationic channels. Moreover, intracellular recordings in hypothalamic explants have shown that changes in electrical activity are associated with proportional changes in the frequency of glutamatergic excitatory postsynaptic potentials derived from osmosensitive OVLT neurons. Both of these mechanisms, therefore, may participate in the osmotic regulation of neurohypophysial hormone release in situ.
Karyotype plus NPM1 mutation status defines a group of elderly patients with AML (≥60 years) who benefit from intensive post‐induction consolidation therapy

Although it is generally appreciated that a subset of elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) may benefit from intensive consolidation, little is known about variables predicting such benefit. We analyzed 192 consecutive patients with de novo AML aged ≥60 years who were treated with intensive chemotherapy. About 115 patients (60%) achieved complete hematologic remission (CR). Among several parameters, the karyotype was the only independent variable predicting CR (P < 0.05). About 92% (105/115) of the CR‐patients received up to four consolidation cycles of intermediate dose ARA‐C. Median continuous CR (CCR) and disease‐free survival (DFS) were 1.3 and 1.1 years, respectively. CCR, DFS, and survival at 5 years were 23%, 18%, and 15%, respectively. Only karyotype and mutated NPM1 (NPM1mut) were independent predictors of survival. NPM1mut showed a particular prognostic impact in patients with normal (CN) or non‐monosomal (Mkneg) karyotype by Haemato‐Oncology Foundation for Adults in the Netherlands (HOVON)‐criteria, or intermediate karyotype by Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG)‐criteria. The median CCR was 0.94, 1.6, 0.9, and 0.5 years for core‐binding‐factor, CN/Mkneg‐NPM1mut, CN/Mkneg‐NPM1‐wild‐type AML, and AML with monosomal karyotype, respectively, and the 5‐year survival was 25%, 39%, 2%, and 0%, respectively (P < 0.05). Similar results (0.9, 1.5, 0.9, and 0.5 years) were obtained using modified SWOG criteria and NPM1 mutation status (P < 0.05). In summary, elderly patients with CN/Mkneg‐NPM1mut or CBF AML can achieve long term CCR when treated with intensive induction and consolidation therapy whereas most elderly patients with CN/Mkneg‐NPM1wt or Mkpos AML may not benefit from intensive chemotherapy. For these patients either hematopoietic‐stem‐cell‐transplantation or alternative treatments have to be considered. Am. J. Hematol. 91:1239–1245, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Concept for Intra-Hour PV Generation Forecast based on Distributed PV Inverter Data - An Approach Considering Machine Learning Techniques and Distributed Data

The mass-introduction of small scale power generation units like photovoltaic systems at household levels increase the risk for system unbalances, due to their stochastic generation profile. Additionally, upcoming technologies such as electric vehicles, battery storage systems and energy management systems lead to a change from consumer households to prosumers with a significant different residual load profile. For optimizing the profile of future prosumers, especially the forecast for PV generation is crucial. Whilst traditional weather forecasts are based on a few hundred metering locations in the case of Austria, more than 55000 PV systems are currently connected to the Austrian Power grid. Due to the low areal coverage of common metering locations, weather forecasts do not take local phenomena like shadows from clouds into account. An approach using generation data from neighbouring PV systems together with machine learning methods provides a promising alternative for individual location based intra-hour forecasts. This paper describes the requirements and methods of such a concept and concludes with a first proof of concept.
The pricing of dual-expiry exotics

Abstract This paper develops a new technique for pricing a class of exotic options that are characterized by two expiry dates. Examples of such exotics include compound options, chooser options, extendable options, shout options, partial barrier options and others. The method, based on the partial differential equation approach to option pricing, however requires no formal solution of such equations. Instead, the method exploits the observation that dual expiry options have payoffs that can be perfectly replicated by a particular set of first and second order binary options. Hence, in order to avoid arbitrage, the exotic option prices are obtained by static replication with respect to this family of binaries. The representation of prices in terms of these binaries is also quite general and does not depend on any particular underlying asset price dynamics. Closed form expressions agreeing with published results are given for the case of log-normal asset price dynamics and standard Black–Scholes assumptions.