Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expensive and Cheap Funds – Polish Stock Mutual Fund Fees in 2017

Abstract Mutual fund fees are extraordinarily high in Poland – almost three times higher than in Western Europe and almost five times higher than in the United States. In fact is that from among 183 Polish open-ended stock mutual funds as many as 81 impose a management fee of 4%, which is the highest value in the sample. The question arises whether it is really worth to invest in funds from the more expensive group. Comparing funds charging the highest fees (4%) with the cheaper ones it seems that there is no statistically significant difference between rate of return, risk and efficiency. However, more expensive funds have on average higher costs, are three years older and have almost 70% bigger assets. This may suggest that a well-established market position – not performance – is the trigger for raising their fees. Interestingly, funds with a relatively high minimal initial contribution level (5,000 PLN) have significantly lower management fees with similar costs, total assets value and performance results. Further analysis has also indicated that the costs level (Total Expense Ratio) is higher for older funds, while it is not related to funds’ size.
Comparative effects of magnesium salts on reactivity of arterioles and venules to constrictor agents: an in situ study on microcirculation.

The influence of different magnesium salts (i.e., MgCl2, MgSO4, Mg aspartate HCl and Mg acetate) on reactivity of rat mesenteric arterioles (10-25 micron I.D.) and venules (15-30 micron I.D.) to standard constrictor doses of epinephrine and BaCl2 was examined utilizing perivascular, i.a. and i.v. administration of each Mg salt. Perivascular application (0.1, 1.0 and 10 mumol) of the four Mg salts on the microvessels attenuated the vasoconstrictor actions of both epinephrine and BaCl2, dose-dependently. With respect to arterioles, the vasoconstriction induced by BaCl2 was inhibited more potently by each Mg salt than that induced by epinephrine; the reverse was observed with respect to the venules. MgCl2 displayed the most potent antagonism to the constriction induced by BaCl2 in arterioles as well as by epinephrine in venules. Infusion of each Mg salt in very low doses (e.g., 0.1 mumol/min i.a.) resulted in significant attenuation of the arteriolar constrictions induced by both stimulants. However, the difference in the degree of attenuation on i.a. infusion of each Mg salt was significantly less than that observed by perivascular pretreatment. Arteriolar constrictions induced by epinephrine and BaCl2 were also attenuated by systemic i.v. infusion of each Mg salt, except for MgSO4, when low doses (e.g., 0.1 and 1.0 mumol/min.) were given; surprisingly, high dose i.v. infusion (10 and 20 mumol/min) often potentiated arteriolar constrictions induced by both stimulants, but the magnitude of this potentiation depended on the Mg salt utilized. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Ecological Validity and Neuroanatomical Correlates of the NIH EXAMINER Executive Composite Score

Abstract Executive functions refer to a constellation of higher-level cognitive abilities that enable goal-oriented behavior. The NIH EXAMINER battery was designed to assess executive functions comprehensively and efficiently. Performance can be summarized by a single score, the “Executive Composite,” which combines measures of inhibition, set-shifting, fluency, and working memory. We evaluated the ecological validity of the Executive Composite in a sample of 225 mixed neurological patients and controls using the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe), an informant-based measure of real-world executive behavior. In addition, we investigated the neuroanatomical correlates of the Executive Composite using voxel-based morphometry in a sample of 37 participants diagnosed with dementia, mild cognitive impairment, or as neurologically healthy. The Executive Composite accounted for 28% of the variance in Frontal Systems Behavior Scale scores beyond age. Even after including two widely used executive function tests (Trails B and Stroop) as covariates, the Executive Composite remained a significant predictor of real-world behavior. Anatomically, poorer scores on the Executive Composite were associated with smaller right and left dorsolateral prefrontal volumes, brain regions critical for good executive control. Taken together, these results suggest that the Executive Composite measures important aspects of executive function not captured by standard measures and reflects the integrity of frontal systems. (JINS, 2013, 19, 1–9)
Relations of Perceived Ethnic Disparity to Involvement in Ethnic and Host Cultures

Among 124 single foreign students residing in the USA, this study examined the relations between perceived ethnic disparity, consisting of physical, cultural, and linguistic dimensions, and ethnic and host culture involvement. The Ethnic Disparity Perception Inventory, a 44-item Likert scale devised to measure perceived ethnic disparity, showed perceived physical disparity (r = .60) and cultural disparity (r = .51) were positively related to ethnic involvement. Perceived cultural disparity (r = -.22) and linguistic disparity (r = -.27) were negatively associated with involvement in the host culture. Multiple regression analysis indicated that, although the findings held for non-White respondents, for White respondents (n = 39) perceived physical disparity (β = .54), not cultural disparity, was a significant predictor of ethnic involvement (Adjusted R2 = .268) and perceived cultural disparity (β = -.37), not linguistic disparity, was a significant (negative) indicator of host culture involvement (Adjusted R2 = .110).
Comparison between Second-Hand Apparel Shoppers versus Non-Shoppers: The Perspectives of Consumer Ethics

Second-hand apparel shopping has been increasingly popular, and the industry is one of the fastest growing retail sectors. It is also considered as one of the eco-friendly consumption choices. The importance to investigate the sector to promote consumer ethics prompts in-depth understanding about the ethical traits and decision-making processes of second-hand consumers. The purpose of the study is to compare consumer ethics between shoppers and non-shoppers of second-hand apparel products. This study specifically focuses on finding differences in ethical traits such as altruism, ethical concerns, and ethical obligation; attitudes toward social responsibility in the apparel and textile industry; and ethical purchase and post-purchase returning intentions between the two consumer groups. An independent samples t-test was used to compare the groups on the means of individual ethical variables listed above. The analyses identified that second-hand shoppers were higher than non-shoppers on most of the variables examined.
Demo Abstract: HajjCPS - A Cyber Physical Environment for Providing Location-Aware Services to a Very Large Crowd

In this demo we will present a suite of smartphone applications that support location-aware, personalized multimedia services to a very large crowd with the help of a cyber computing infrastructure. As a proof of concept, we target Hajj where more than 5 million pilgrims perform spatio-temporal activities. The cyber-physical system creates an ad-hoc social network among pilgrims, their family members, Hajj authorities, vehicles that provide services to the pilgrims, medical doctors and hospitals, and the city admins. The crowdsourced multimedia data from the suite of smartphone applications are captured by the cyber environment, processed to extract context information, sent to a cloud environment for real-time query processing, and finally shared with a very large crowd. The framework has been deployed since 2014.
Estimation of risk of inherited medullary thyroid carcinoma in apparent sporadic patients.

PURPOSE The study was undertaken to evaluate the frequency of inherited medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) among patients with apparent sporadic disease. A stepwise algorithm was used depending on clinical indices and the age of patient at MTC diagnosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS One hundred sixteen patients with MTC verified by postoperative pathologic examination were subjected to genetic analysis of RET exons 10, 11, 13, 14, and 16 by means of polymerase chain reaction, restriction endonuclease digestion, and DNA sequencing. RESULTS Among 116 apparent sporadic MTC patients, we identified eleven (9.5%) RET germline mutation carriers. Seven of these (6.0%) were found by routine analysis (exons 10 and 11). The frequency of inherited disease among patients younger than 45 years at diagnosis was 10.2% by analysis of typical mutations in exons 10 and 11. Extended genetic analysis (sequencing of exons 11, 13, 14, and 16) yielded 6.1% additional diagnoses, giving a risk of 16.3% in this age group. One previously unreported mutation in exon 11 affected codon 649 (TCG>TTG, Ser>Leu). In the true sporadic MTC patients younger than 30 years at diagnosis, frequencies of 36% and 4.5% in polymorphic variants L769L and S836S, respectively, were observed. The frequency for L769L was higher than in older patients (P <.05). CONCLUSION The frequency of inherited disease among apparent sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma patients is close to 10% in the Polish population of MTC patients. The extended analysis of all known RET proto-oncogene mutation sites is obligatory in patients younger than 45 years at diagnosis, but we also see the need to analyze the impact of rarer mutations in older patients.
Discriminating microsatellites from Macrophomina phaseolina and their potential association to biological functions

One hundred and eighty-two microsatellites or simple-sequence-repeat (SSR) markers for Macrophomina phaseolina were developed. These were tested on 24 isolates of M. phaseolina obtained from seven plant species, and the genetic variation of isolates was studied in relation to potential biological processes that could be affected in this fungus. A total of 120 SSR markers were polymorphic, amplifying >90% of the 24 isolates tested. Thirty percent of the markers showed multiple alleles on individual samples. A large number of markers showed unique alleles in isolates collected from pumpkin and snap bean. DNA sequences corresponding to 43 markers had signiﬁcant hits on BLAST x and ⁄ or BLAST2GO , and the polymorphism of 36 of those markers showed speciﬁc allele patterns for one or more plant host origin of the isolates. Additional tests on growth rate and copper resistance of the isolates identiﬁed markers that could be related to those traits. In addition, 27 markers were monomorphic and ampliﬁed all 24 isolates. Whereas polymorphic markers can be used for population genetics studies of M. phaseolina , the group of 27 monomorphic markers could help in the fast identiﬁcation of this species in clinical speci-mens. The SSR markers developed here will enrich the limited molecular marker resource in M. phaseolina and could be used as the basis for more in-depth studies of the host-pathogen interactions of M. phaseolina.
A novel miniaturized dual-mode zeroth-order ring bandpass filter with only one left-handed unit

In this paper, a novel miniaturized dual-mode ring bandpass filter is realized and studied. By using only one resonant-type left-handed unit with complementary split ring resonator to combine with a microstrip line, the ring configuration can provide two orthogonal zeroth-order resonance modes, and its occupied area can be reduced by about 82% compared with the conventional one. The filter has the first spurious response 2.58 times away from the central frequency, so its spurious suppression characteristics is also improved. The filter performance is demonstrated by our measured S-parameters, with good agreement obtained as compared with the simulated ones.
Hemorrhagic cystitis: a retrospective single‐center survey

Abstract: Severe hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) may be a life‐threatening complication in allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT). In order to improve the strategies for prophylaxis and treatment, we retrospectively analyzed data on patients who underwent SCT at our center from 1990 through 2005. Patients with HC were identified through our database and their medical charts were reviewed. Grades 2–5 and 3–5 HC developed in 109/834 patients (13.1%) and 27/834 patients (3.2%), respectively. The frequency of HC decreased over the time from 18.0% in 1990–1992 to 9.5% in 2002–2005 (p = 0.005). HC started on a median of 35 (0–166) days post‐transplant and persisted for a median of 23 (2–270) days. Transplant‐related mortality was 21% in patients without HC, 15% in those with HC of grade 2, 55% in those with grade 3, and 71% in patients with HC of grades 4–5 (p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, the risk factors for HC were myeloablative conditioning, busulphan, cytomegalovirus infection, hematological malignancy, and acute graft‐versus‐host disease (aGVHD). With four risk factors, the risk of HC development was 31%. Risk factors for severe HC of grades 3–5 were aGVHD and bacteremia.
An alternative Alcian Blue dye variant for the evaluation of fetal cartilage.

BACKGROUND The most comprehensive evaluation of vertebrate skeletal development involves the use of Alizarin Red S dye to stain ossified bone and various other dyes to stain cartilage. The dye used most widely to stain fetal cartilage in rodents and rabbits is Alcian Blue 8GX. However, the global supply of this specific dye has been exhausted. Several forms of the dye marketed as Alcian Blue 8GX are now available, although they are not synthesized via the original 8GX manufacturing process. METHODS One new Alcian Blue 8GX form and two Alcian Blue dye variants were evaluated in rats and rabbits using standard staining procedures. The staining quality of these dyes were evaluated relative to the original form of Alcian Blue 8GX based on cartilage uptake of the dye, clarity of the cartilaginous components, staining intensity of the dye, and overall readability of the specimens under stereomicroscopic evaluation. RESULTS Staining with the newer form of Alcian Blue 8GX resulted in poor staining quality. The Alcian Blue-Pyridine variant performed well, although staining intensity was less than optimal. The Alcian Blue-Tetrakis variant provided staining characteristics that were most similar to the original form of Alcian Blue 8GX. CONCLUSIONS Alcian Blue-Tetrakis was markedly better in its ability to stain fetal cartilage than the newer form of Alcian Blue 8GX.
Prognosis after ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence and locoregional recurrences in patients treated by breast-conserving therapy in five National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project protocols of node-negative breast cancer.

PURPOSE Locoregional failure (LRF) after breast-conserving therapy (BCT) is associated with increased risk of distant disease and death. The magnitude of this risk has not been adequately characterized in patients with lymph node-negative disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS Our study population included 3,799 women randomly assigned to five National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project protocols of node-negative disease (ie, B-13, B-14, B-19, B-20, and B-23) who underwent lumpectomy and whole breast irradiation with or without adjuvant systemic therapy. Cumulative incidences of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) and other locoregional recurrence (oLRR) were calculated, along with distant-disease-free interval (DDFI) and overall survival (OS) after these events. Cox models were employed to model mortality by using clinical and pathologic factors jointly with these events. RESULTS Four hundred nineteen patients (11.0%) experienced LRF: 342 (9.0%) experienced IBTR, and 77 (2.0%) experienced oLRR. The 12-year cumulative incidences of IBTR and oLRR in patients treated with adjuvant systemic therapy were 6.6% and 1.8%, respectively. Overall, 37.1% of IBTRs and 72.7% of oLRRs occurred within 5 years of diagnosis. Older age, black race, higher body mass index (BMI), larger tumors, and occurrence of IBTR or oLRR were significantly associated with increased mortality. The 5-year OS after IBTR and oLRR were 76.6% and 34.9%, respectively. Adjusted hazard ratios for mortality associated with IBTR and oLRR were significantly higher in estrogen receptor (ER)-negative patients than in ER-positive patients (P = .002 and P < .0001, respectively). Patients with early LRF had worse OS and DDFI than those with later-occurring LRF. CONCLUSION Although LRF is uncommon in patients with node-negative breast cancer who are treated with lumpectomy, radiation, and adjuvant systemic therapy, those who do develop LRF have substantially worse OS and DDFI.
Definitional, personal, and mechanical constraints on part of speech annotation performance

For one aspect of grammatical annotation, part-of-speech tagging, we investigate experimentally whether the ceiling on accuracy stems from limits to the precision of tag definition or limits to analysts' ability to apply precise definitions, and we examine how analysts' performance is affected by alternative types of semi-automatic support. We find that, even for analysts very well-versed in a part-of-speech tagging scheme, human ability to conform to the scheme is a more serious constraint than precision of scheme definition. We also find that although semi-automatic techniques can greatly increase speed relative to manual tagging, they have little effect on accuracy, either positively (by suggesting valid candidate tags) or negatively (by lending an appearance of authority to incorrect tag assignments). On the other hand, it emerges that there are large differences between individual analysts with respect to usability of particular types of semi-automatic support.
Replicating myoblasts express a muscle-specific phenotype.

During the terminal stage of skeletal myogenesis, myoblasts stop replicating, fuse to form multinucleate fibers, and express the genes that encode the proteins that convey contractile capacity. Because of this dramatic shift in proliferative state, morphology, and gene expression, it has been possible to readily identify and quantitate terminally differentiating myoblasts. In contrast, it is not clear whether the proliferating cells that give rise to postmitotic myoblasts are equally distinct in their phenotype and in fact whether distinct stages in skeletal myogenesis precede the onset of terminal differentiation. To address these questions, monoclonal antibodies and immunofluorescence microscopy were used to determine that replicating myoblasts from newborn rats do express a muscle-specific phenotype. To identify replicating cells, incorporation of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdUrd) into DNA was assayed by using anti-BrdUrd antibody. The developmentally regulated, muscle-specific, integral membrane protein H36 and the intermediate-filament protein desmin were scored as markers of the myogenic phenotype. The percentage of BrdUrd+ (i.e., proliferative) cells among H36+ and desmin+ myoblasts was equal to the percentage of BrdUrd+ cells in the entire population, indicating that the expression of H36 and desmin is uniformly characteristic of replicating myoblasts. Inhibition of protein synthesis before and during growth in BrdUrd did not alter the frequency of desmin and H36 immunofluorescence in BrdUrd+ cells. Thus, desmin and H36 were present in the replicating myoblasts prior to the onset of growth in BrdUrd. These results were confirmed using H36+ cells selected by flow cytometry: these purified H36+ myoblasts replicate, express desmin, and differentiate. Similar results were obtained with mouse myoblasts. Desmin expression in these mammalian cells differs from that in chicken embryo myoblasts: only a small proportion of replicating chicken embryo myoblasts express desmin. That replicating mammalian myoblasts have a muscle-specific phenotype serves to define a distinct stage in myogenic development and a specific cell in the myogenic lineage. Further, it implies that there is a regulatory event activated during myogenesis that precedes terminal differentiation and that is required for expression of those genes whose products distinguish the replicating myoblast.
On the role of the bithiazole moiety in sequence-selective DNA cleavage by Fe.bleomycin.

A recent study of Fe(II). bleomycin-mediated DNA strand scission suggested that the metal binding domain of the drug is also the primary determinant of the observed sequence selectivity of strand scission (Carter, B. J., Murty, V. S., Reddy, K. S., Wang, S.-N., and Hecht, S. M. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 4193-4196). Although it is well established that the bithiazole moiety+C-terminal substituent of bleomycin are required for DNA binding, the role of the bithiazole in sequence-selective DNA recognition remains unclear. To determine whether the bithiazole moiety exhibits an intrinsic DNA binding selectivity, three synthetic EDTA-conjugated bithiazole derivatives were used to mediate DNA cleavage in the presence of Fe2+ and dithiothreitol. Incubation of these Fe(II). EDTA-bithiazoles in the presence of a 5'-32P end-labeled DNA duplex resulted in strand scission at every position to essentially the same extent. The relative cleavage efficiencies among the bithiazoles were a strong function of their ionic state. These findings imply that the bithiazoles can bind to many sites on the DNA; they support a model of bleomycin-DNA interaction in which the bithiazole moiety+C-terminal substituent are required only for DNA binding, whereas the metal binding domain is responsible for metal ion coordination and oxygen activation as well as being the primary determinant of sequence-selective DNA cleavage.
Residential demand-side response in the UK : maximising consumer uptake and response

Residential demand-side response (DSR) is a key strategy for meeting the challenges facing the UK electricity system. Leveraging residential flexibility should help to enhance system reliability, reduce carbon emissions, support the integration of renewables into the energy mix and deliver a lower-cost electricity system. However, the viability of residential DSR hinges on two critical factors: consumers will first need to switch to DSR programmes in sufficient numbers and then successfully respond by adjusting their consumption patterns accordingly. This thesis explores how to optimise the impact of residential DSR by examining the enablers and constraints of uptake and response. While participation is primarily encouraged through financial incentives, studies suggest that some consumers may be willing to participate for nonfinancial reasons. As such, this thesis also explores how environmental and pro-social motivations could be leveraged to help promote uptake and response. The thesis contributes to the knowledge on DSR by testing UK consumer preferences for different programme models through a large-scale online survey and identifying measures which could help to maximise uptake. It also explores the potential afforded by dynamic information-only programmes through a trial based on available wind generation. The thesis further makes a theoretical contribution by exploring how the Fogg Behaviour Model (FBM) can be used to conceptualise the enablers and constraints of uptake and response. By mapping these factors to the FBM’s core components of ability, motivation and trigger, the model is refined as a tool for understanding how to optimise the impact of residential DSR. The research reveals that information-only DSR programmes may represent a significant untapped resource. Approximately 8% of a representative sample of UK consumers indicated a preference for this model over more conventional price-based programmes; while trial households succeeded in reducing electricity consumption by 9.9% on average when asked to consume less and increasing consumption by 4.4% on average when asked to consume more. These promising findings may help to inform policy and programme design as the UK energy system evolves towards a renewables-based future.