Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Between scarcity and abundance : the political economy of international monetary organisation

The majority of radical literature on monetary historiography has examined the problem of the international organisation of money through a framework that largely ignores the defining class relation in capitalism the division between capital and the working class. Couched instead in concepts such as inter-imperialist rivalry, national capital and hegemony, socialist analysis has in practice duplicated, albeit in a radicalised form, arguments almost indistinguishable from those of political realism and hegemonic stability theory. To judge from this literature alone it would seem the struggle between capital and labour ceases at the border of the nation-state. In contrast, this thesis situates the struggle between capital and the working class at the centre of a political reading of the international organisation of money and the historically specific monetary regimes this organisation assumes. The centrepiece of the argument is an interrogation of how money subordinates the reproduction of social life to the imposition of endless work through the commodity-form. Isolating the source of this power exposes money as an antagonistic social relation, but one that is fragile and contradictory. Tracing this antagonism, from individual acts of exchange through to the state and central banking, the thesis argues that capitalist money is forced to constitute itself at the level of the world market if it is to successfully maintain this social power. The argument is developed through a political reading of the work of Keynes and the Austrian School. These two examples of orthodox economic science offer: contrasting strategies for neutralising, containing and/or manipulating labour's struggle against the social power of money and the imposition of work. Central to both strategies is the identification of a spatial organisation of money that will support the social power of money to command in the face of working class resistance. Using the conceptual framework developed through a political reading of money and orthodox economic science, the thesis then traces the historical development of international monetary regimes from the gold standard to the post-1971 'non-system'.
A grey-box identification of an LPV vehicle model for observer-based side slip angle estimation

In this paper an adaptive observer-based method is proposed for the estimation of the side slip angle of road vehicles. The method is based on a linear parameter varying (LPV) model of yaw-roll dynamics, which contains unknown parameters and time varying variables. In order to estimate the unknown parameters of the model a grey-box identification method is proposed. Since the adhesion coefficient changes during vehicle maneuvers this variable is estimated as a scheduling variable in the control-oriented LPV model. The three-step estimation procedure is illustrated through simulation examples.
An IR-UWB indoor positioning based on TOA and band-gap modulations

An IR-UWB indoor positioning is proposed in the paper that combines the algorithm of Time-of-Arrival (TOA) and band-gap modulations. The positioning is referenced by three UWB locators that have different band-gap and deployed in a right triangle. An object can determine its position by identifying pulse backscattered on locators and each locator's signatures through recognizing the exact segment of band-gap and the time of arrival. This positioning scheme is validated by a scenario where the object for positioning is placed at the coordinate of (60.00 mm, 80.00 mm) and band-gaps for three locators are 5.00GHz, 6.50GHz and 7.25GHz. Simulation results show the object is positioned at the coordinate of (60.98mm, 82.77mm), a deviation about 0.98mm in horizontal direction (x axial) and 2.77mm in vertical(y axial).
Variations in the Viral NS5B Region in Japanese Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1b Infection

Objective: A recent study suggested that the substitution of amino acid 415 of HCV NS5B from phenylalanine to tyrosine in patients with HCV genotype 1a infection is induced by ribavirin and responsible for resistance to ribavirin therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether specific variations in the HCV NS5B sequence in Japanese patients with HCV genotype 1b (HCV/1b) infection are associated with treatment response or selected by treatment with interferon-α/ribavirin combination therapy. Methods: Eighteen Japanese patients with HCV/1b infection receiving interferon-α/ribavirin combination therapy for 24 weeks were studied. Five patients treated with interferon-α monotherapy for 24 weeks were also studied as controls. The entire HCV NS5B sequence before and after therapy was determined. Results: All HCV isolates had tyrosine at position 415 of NS5B before and after therapy. Further analysis showed that no specific amino acid substitutions were identified to associate with clinical response and no specific amino acid substitutions were induced/selected by the clinical treatment. Conclusion: No specific HCV NS5B nucleotide/amino acid sequence variations, including amino acid 415 of NS5B, were identified as being associated with clinical treatment response or selected by the combination therapy in Japanese patients with HCV/1b infection.
Chemical cross‐linkers for protein structure studies by mass spectrometry

The cross‐linking approach combined with MS for protein structure determination is one of the most striking examples of multidisciplinary success. Indeed, it has become clear that the bottleneck of the method was the detection and the identification of low‐abundance cross‐linked peptides in complex mixtures. Sample treatment or chromatography separation partially addresses these issues. However, the main problem comes from over‐represented unmodified peptides, which do not yield any structural information. A real breakthrough was provided by high mass accuracy measurement, because of the outstanding technical developments in MS. This improvement greatly simplified the identification of cross‐linked peptides, reducing the possible combinations matching with an observed m/z value. In addition, the huge amount of data collected has to be processed with dedicated software whose role is to propose distance constraints or ideally a structural model of the protein. In addition to instrumentation and algorithms efficiency, significant efforts have been made to design new cross‐linkers matching all the requirements in terms of reactivity and selectivity but also displaying probes or reactive systems facilitating the isolation, the detection of cross‐links, or the interpretation of MS data. These chemical features are reviewed and commented on in the light of the more recent strategies.
OSAS treatment with oral appliance: assessment of our experience through the use of a new device.

BACKGROUND Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is defined as repeated episodes of obstruction of the upper airway and oxygen desaturation of the arterial hemoglobin. OSAS is associated with loud snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, cardiovascular and neurocognitive disease, increase risk of road accidents. AIM The aim of this study is to evaluate non-surgical therapy for OSAS using a mandibular advancement device (MAD) that provides for lower jaw protrusion and for an adequate vertical opening, that allows for greater airflow. MATERIALS AND METHODS The device was assembled using the working principles of "Herbst-like" appliances and splints of neuromuscular deprogramming of the "Federici" type used for gnathologic treatments. We selected 17 males and 4 females, with an average age of 42 years, and an average BMI of 29. Eighteen patients were treated with our oral appliance, 1 patient was treated with the orthesis proposed by Schmidt-Nowara et al and 2 patients were treated with the oral appliance proposed by Johal and Battagel. All patients used the appliance for at least 6 months. RESULTS After treatment with the oral appliance, the posterior airway space increased (p = 0.0002); no statistically significant difference for the improvement degree of OSAS severity (p = 0.1085) was shown; an improvement was found in: AHI (p = 0.0028); Nadir O2 (p = 0.0035); TO2 < 90% (p = 0.0140); 2 patients presented with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discomfort. CONCLUSIONS Our MAD has proved effective in improving the polysomnographic and radiographic parameters and assures good TMJ compliance.
Distribution of Borna Disease Virus in the Brain of Rats Infected with an Obesity‐inducing Virus Strain

Experimental infection of Lewis rats with Borna disease virus (BDV), a nonsegmented, single‐stranded RNA virus, usually causes an immune‐mediated biphasic neurobehavioral disorder. Such animals develop a persistent infection of the CNS with viral antigen expression in all brain regions and a disseminated nonpurulent meningoencephalitis. Interestingly, intracerebral infection of Lewis rats with a BDV‐variant (BDV‐ob) causes a rapid increase of body weight with the development of an obesity syndrome without obvious neurological signs. The obese phenotype is correlated with a characteristic distribution of inflammatory lesions and BDV‐antigen in the rat brain. Infiltration with mononuclear immune cells and viral antigen expression are restricted to the septum, hippocampus, amygdala and ventromedian tuberal hypothalamus. Therefore, infection with the obesity‐inducing BDV‐ob results most likely in neuroendocrine dysregulations leading to the development of an obesity syndrome. This might be due to the restriction of viral antigen expression and inflammatory lesions to brain areas which are involved in the regulation of body weight and food intake. The BDV‐induced obesity syndrome represents a model for the study of immune‐mediated neuroendocrine disorders caused by viral infections of the CNS.
Clinical decision-making skills on the developmental journey from student to Registered Nurse: a longitudinal inquiry.

AIM This paper is a report of a study to explore, from the perspective of nursing students, how they acquire clinical decision-making skills and how well-prepared they feel in this respect regarding their responsibilities as Registered Nurses. BACKGROUND Previous research has focused mainly on exploring experienced nurses' judgement and decision-making. Some studies have elicited senior nursing students' understanding of the process, but none has explored the development of clinical decision-making skills throughout the educational programme and in the first year as a Registered Nurse. METHOD A volunteer sample of 20 respondents, broadly representative of the student cohort regarding qualifications, age, gender and nursing specialty, was recruited. A longitudinal hermeneutic phenomenological study was carried out from 2000 to 2004, using interviews, reflective journals, care studies, critical incident analyses and document analysis. FINDINGS Ten conceptions of nursing and 10 perceptions of clinical decision-making were identified and a growing pattern of inter-relationships between them became apparent. A 'matrix model' was developed by cross-referencing the two thematic categories within the timeline of respondents' developmental journey through significant milestones and changing contexts. As Registered Nurses they found having to 'think on your feet' without the 'comfort blanket' of student status both a stressful and formative learning experience. CONCLUSION Further collaboration between education and health service partners is recommended to integrate clinical decision-making throughout the nursing curriculum, enhance the development of such vital skills, and facilitate the transition from student to Registered Nurse.
Cooperative distributed aggregation algorithm for demand response using distributed energy storage devices

The growing number of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) in the power grid is increasing the management complexity for grid operators such as Independent System Operators (ISO). In this context, aggregators have emerged as new market participants to leverage the capacity of DERs at the system level, to reduce the control burden for the ISO. Recently, new Demand Response (DR) programs such as the Demand Response Auction Mechanism (DRAM) in California have been launched in wholesale markets by the ISO, aiming at further utilizing the capacity of the aggregated DERs for grid support. In this paper, the authors propose a fully distributed optimal aggregation algorithm to provide peak-hours DR to the grid, through peer-to-peer cooperation of a large fleet of Distributed Energy Storage Devices (DESD). The key features of the proposed algorithm include: 1) scalability to a large number of devices; 2) minimization of the battery degradation to prolong battery remaining useful life; 3) participation in aggregation without disclosure of each device's local private information; and 4) elimination of single-point-of-failure in aggregation systems. The effectiveness of the algorithm is demonstrated through numerical simulations using real residential data from Pecan Street database.
Psychiatric Dimensions of Disaster: Patient Care, Community Consultation, and Preventive Medicine

&NA; The majority of persons exposed to a disaster do well and have only mild, transitory symptoms. However, some individuals develop psychiatric illness postdisaster. Such illnesses include those that are secondary to physical injury and sickness as well as specific trauma‐related psychiatric disorders such as acute stress disorder. The extent of the psychiatric morbidity and mortality that develops in individuals in the community depends on the type of disaster, the degree of injury sustained, the amount of life threat, and the duration of community disruption. In this paper we examine the posttraumatic responses of direct concern to psychiatrists working in a community exposed to a disaster. We review the epidemiology of posttraumatic responses, the interface of psychiatry and traumatic stress, the psychiatric disorders associated with trauma, and psychiatric consultation to the disaster community. Overall, psychiatric intervention after a disaster is based on the principles of preventive medicine and includes community consultation and outreach programs with the goals of identifying high‐risk groups, promoting community recovery, and minimizing social disruption.
Hysteretic Transition Method for Avoiding the Dead-Zone Effect and Subharmonics in a Noninverting Buck–Boost Converter

A new hysteresis window method is proposed as a solution for avoiding the operational dead zone that exists at the transition between buck and boost operating modes in all noninverting buck-boost converters. In addition, this method also eliminates the discontinuities in the converter's steady-state output voltage transfer characteristic, which is a function of the duty cycle. The converter's output voltage function is surjective and, therefore, smooth mode transitions are achieved. The negative effects of operating within the dead zone are shown by the presence of subharmonics in the output voltage, increased output voltage ripple, poor regulation, and the instability of the converter during the transition between buck and boost operating modes. The dead-zone avoidance technique proposed in this paper eliminates all these issues while at the same time ensures highly efficient operation of the converter. An additional advantage of the technique is its simplicity, which allows for implementation into low-cost digital signal controllers, as well as into analog control circuits. The advantageous features of the proposed approach were evaluated on the basis of comparisons with three other dead-zone avoidance approaches and the initial case, which does not utilize any dead-zone avoidance technique. All the experiments were carried out on a purpose-built prototype of a noninverting buck-boost converter with magnetically coupled inductors.
Skin blood flow responses to the iontophoresis of acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside in man: possible mechanisms.

1. The mechanisms involved in the human skin blood flow responses to iontophoretic application of acetylcholine (ACH; delivered using an anodal charge) or sodium nitroprusside (SNP; administered with a cathodal charge) are unclear. The aims of this study were to investigate possible contributions of prostaglandin production to the increase in skin blood flow induced following the iontophoresis of ACh and to investigate possible contributions from local sensory nerves to the perfusion responses induced by ACh, SNP and their vehicles. 2. The contribution of prostaglandins to the ACh response was determined in a randomized double‐blind study of eight healthy subjects, who were studied on two occasions. Basal responses to ACh were measured before the oral administration of 600 mg soluble aspirin in diluted orange juice (1 occasion or orange juice (1 occasion) and again 30 min after the drink. The contribution of local sensory nerve activation to the responses to ACh and ACh vehicle (8 subjects) and to SNP and SNP vehicle (7 subjects) was assessed. EMLA (5%) (a eutectic mixture of lignocaine and prilocaine) and placebo cream were applied to two separate areas on the forearm in a double‐blind randomized manner 2 h before drug responses were measured. In all studies the skin microcirculation responses to iontophoretically applied drug vehicle (1 site) and drug (2 sites) were recorded by laser Doppler perfusion imaging. 3. The increase in forearm skin perfusion (P < 0.001) in response to the iontophoresis of ACh minus the response to ACh vehicle was not significantly different following placebo or aspirin administration. The increase in forearm skin red blood cell flux (P < 0.001) in response to the iontophoresis of ACh minus the response to ACh vehicle was not significantly different at the placebo‐compared with the EMLA‐treated site. THe small increase in perfusion (P < 0.001) in response to the iontophoresis of ACh vehicle was significantly inhibited at the EMLA‐compared with the placebo‐treated site (P < 0.05). The marked increase in perfusion (P < 0.001) in response to the iontophoresis of SNP vehicle was significantly inhibited at the EMLA‐compared with the placebo‐treated site (P < 0.01). 4. These data suggest that in healthy volunteers: (1) mechanisms other than prostaglandin production and local sensory nerve activation may be involved in the increase in skin perfusion observed following the iontophoretic application of ACh; and (2) stimulation of local sensory nerves may be responsible for the increase in tissue perfusion observed following the iontophoretic application of either ACh vehicle or SNP vehicle.
Identification of a Signaling Pathway Activated Specifically in the Somatodendritic Compartment by a Heparan Sulfate That Regulates Dendrite Growth

In two earlier reports we demonstrated that natural heparan sulfate, but not dermatan or chondroitin sulfate glycosaminoglycans, stimulate axonal elongation and inhibit dendrite growth in vitro (Lafont et al., 1992). The latter specific effect on dendrite elongation was reproduced by chemically synthesized heparan sulfates and by SR 80037A, a purified sulfated and hexanoylated heparin fragment (Lafont et al., 1994). Adding radioactive SR 80037A to purified neurons demonstrated the existence, at the neuronal surface, of heparan sulfate-specific and saturable binding sites, suggesting that SR 80037A activates specific signal transduction pathways. In the present study, using rat or mouse neurons from the embryonic cortex, we show that SR 80037A signaling involves one or several G-coupled receptor or receptors, small GTPases ρA and/or ρC, and one or several PKCs. We also demonstrate that the rapid soma rounding elicited by SR 80037A does not require protein synthesis but that the long-term effect on dendrite initiation requires protein synthesis in a short period after the addition of the heparan sulfate. Finally, by preparing membranes from the somatodendritic or axonal compartments we demonstrate that the identified signaling pathway is activated by SR 80037A primarily in the somatodendritic compartment and is not sensitive to the addition of a dermatan sulfate glycosaminoglycan that does not induce the axonal phenotype by impairing dendrite initiation and elongation.
Preliminary Study Analyzing the Methylated Genes in the Plasma of Patients with Pancreatic Cancer

Background and Aims CpG islands of the promoter region of some genes are methylated in pancreatic cancer tissue and the detection of this methylation has been suggested to be useful in the diagnosis of various cancers. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the detection of methylated CpG islands in plasma can be used in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Material and Methods Plasma DNA was collected from patients with pancreatic cancer, chronic pancreatitis, and healthy controls. The methylation status of six genes, UCHL1, NPTX2, SARP2, ppENK, p16, and RASSF1A, was checked by methylation-specific PCR and was subsequently confirmed by direct sequencing after bisulfite treatment. Results CpG island methylation was detectable in 13 of 16 patients (81.3%) with pancreatic cancer, 1 of 29 healthy controls (3.5%), and 8 of 13 patients with chronic pancreatitis (61.5%). The mean number of genes with CpG island methylation was 1.6 ± 1.2 in pancreatic cancer, 0.04 ± 0.19 in healthy controls, and 1.2 ± 1.1 in chronic pancreatitis. Among six genes, p16 was more specifically methylated in pancreatic cancer compared with chronic pancreatitis (p = 0.016). The methylation status was not correlated with smoking history, tumor size, or cancer stage. Conclusions The detection of methylated genes in the plasma may have a role in differentiating between pancreatic cancers and healthy controls but not between pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis.
The Impact Of Political Instability Driven By The Tunisian Revolution On Stock Market Volatility: Evidence From Sectorial Indices

The aim of this paper is to study the impact of political uncertainty, driven by the Tunisian Revolution, on return and volatility of major sectorial stock indices in the Tunisian Stock Exchange. We specifically use EGARCH (1.1) model from 01/12/2010 to 31/08/2016. This model is applied to the daily returns relevant to ten sectorial stock indices and to the Tunisian benchmark index (TUNINDEX). To test the impact of political news on returns and volatility, we divided them into two groups (good and bad news). Our results show that both of good and bad news have increased the volatility of major selected indices, including the TUNINDEX. However, the return of all indices are not affected by the political news. We then examined the impact of terrorism on the behavior of indices return and volatility. Results show that the Tunisian market responds significantly to terrorist acts. Hence, the return declines and the volatility increase the day of terrorist attacks. Furthermore, results confirm that bad news have stronger effect on the volatility than good news, which reveal the asymmetric effect of volatility.