Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Global Systemic Risk and International Regulatory Coordination: Squaring Sovereignty and Financial Stability

In recent years much attention has been given to systemic risk and maintaining financial stability. Much of the focus, rightly, has been on market failures and the role of regulation in addressing them. This article looks at the role of domestic policies and government actions as sources of global instability. The global financial system is built upon global markets controlled by national financial and macroeconomic policies. In this context, regulatory asymmetries, diverging policy preferences, and government failures add a further dimension to global systemic risk not present at the national level.Systemic risk is a result of the interplay between two independent variables: an underlying trigger event, in this analysis a domestic policy measure, and a transmission channel. The solution to systemic risk requires tackling one of these variables. In a domestic setting, the centralization of regulatory power into one single authority makes it easier to balance the delicate equilibrium between enhancing efficiency and reducing instability. However, in a global financial system in which national financial policies serve to maximize economic welfare, regulators will be confronted with difficult policy and legal tradeoffs.We investigate the role that financial regulation plays in addressing domestic policy failures and in controlling the danger of global financial interdependence. To do so we analyse global financial interconnectedness, and explain its role in transmitting instability; we investigate the political economy dynamics at the origin of regulatory asymmetries and government failures; and we discuss the limits of regulation.
Successful treatment of severe recalcitrant psoriasis with combination infliximab and methotrexate

Plaques of psoriasis contain increased levels of cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), which are thought to be essential to the maintenance of the psoriatic process. We report the successful treatment of severe, recalcitrant psoriasis when infliximab (a monoclonal antibody to TNF‐α) was used in combination with methotrexate.
Helpful Statistics in Recognizing Basic Arabic Phonemes

The recognition of continuous speech is one of the main challenges in the building of automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems, especially when it comes to phonetically complex languages such as Arabic. An ASR system seems to be actually in a blocked alley. Nearly all solutions follow the same general model. The previous research focused on enhancing its performance by incorporating supplementary features. This paper is part of ongoing research efforts aimed at developing a high-performance Arabic speech recognition system for learning and teaching purposes. It investigates a statistical analysis of certain distinctive features of the basic Arabic phonemes which seems helpful in enhancing the performance of a baseline HMM-based ASR system. The statistics are collected using a particular Arabic speech database, which involves ten different male speakers and more than eight hours of speech which covers all Arabic phonemes. In HMM modeling framework, the statistics provided are helpful in establishing the appropriate number of HMM states for each phoneme and they can also be utilized as an initial condition for the EM estimation procedure, which generally, accelerates the estimation process and, thus, improves the performance of the system. The obtained findings are presented and possible applications of automatic speech recognition and speaker identification systems are also suggested.
Global Growth from an Investor’s Point of View - Initial Public Offerings in the Fashion and Accessories Industry

﻿In this paper we analyze the long-run stock price performance of 207 initial public offerings in the fashion and leather accessories industry between 1990 and 2007. We find a highly significant underperformance of IPO stocks compared to corresponding benchmark indices. Cross-sectional regression analysis reveals that underperformance is mainly driven by offerings of smaller, less mature companies that are not taken public by a prestigious underwriter. Nevertheless, we also find that fashion IPO firms experience a considerable reduction in their systematic risk exposure due to the realization of real options which helps to explain at least part of their seemingly poor stock price performance.
CONTINUING EDUCATION

Background: Exposure to chemotherapy is an occupational hazard predisposing nurses to severe health effects. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify the recent literature describing the risk factors for occupational exposure to chemotherapy among nurses. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses methodology was employed to conduct the review. The databases searched were Scopus, PubMed, and CINAHL using the search terms “chemotherapy,” “drugs,” “exposure,” and “nurses. ” Included articles were published between January 2010 and February 2022, published in peerreviewed journals for research conducted in the United States, and written in English language. Excluded articles were studies that did not involve nurses in their samples. Review articles, books, theses, and dissertations were excluded as well. The Johns Hopkins Nursing EvidenceBased Practice Model was used to assess the level of evidence from the reviewed studies. Findings: Fourteen studies were included in this review. Ten studies were rated on Evidence Level III, two on Evidence Level II, one on Evidence Level I, and one on Evidence Level V. The main risk factors for occupational exposure were nurses’ knowledge of chemotherapy handling guidelines, nurses’ adherence to using the personal protective equipment, nurses’ health beliefs regarding chemotherapy exposure, and workplace-related factors such as workload and managerial support. Conclusion: Addressing the identified risk factors would protect nurses from chemotherapy exposure. More research on nurses’ health beliefs regarding chemotherapy exposure and the cues to adhere to chemotherapy handling guidelines in the work environment is needed.
Identiﬁcation and Characterization of Ral-Binding Protein 1, a Potential Downstream Target of Ral GTPases

Ral proteins constitute a distinct family of Ras-related GTPases. Although similar to Ras in amino acid sequence, Ral proteins are activated by a unique nucleotide exchange factor and inactivated by a distinct GTPase-activating protein. Unlike Ras, they fail to promote transformed foci when activated versions are expressed in cells. To identify downstream targets that might mediate a Ral-speciﬁc function, we used a Saccharomyces cerevisiae -based interaction assay to clone a novel cDNA that encodes a Ral-binding protein (RalBP1). RalBP1 binds speciﬁcally to the active GTP-bound form of RalA and not to a mutant Ral with a point mutation in its putative effector domain. In addition to a Ral-binding domain, RalBP1 also contains a Rho–GTPase-activating protein domain that interacts preferentially with Rho family member CDC42. Since CDC42 has been implicated in bud site selection in S. cerevisiae and ﬁlopodium formation in mammalian cells, Ral may function to modulate the actin cytoskeleton through its interactions with RalBP1. Two closely related Ral proteins (RalA and RalB; 85% identical) constitute a distinct family within the Ras superfamily of GTPases (5). They are among the closest relatives of Ras proteins, sharing 58% sequence identity, and have similar over-all structural features (15). For example, their afﬁnities for guanine nucleotides and intrinsic GTPase activities are comparable. Moreover, mutations in Ral
Penetration Enhancers and Ocular Bioadhesives: Two New Avenues for Ophthalmic Drug Delivery

ABSTRACT This review is focused on the two avenues of development that promise a major impact on future ocular drug therapeutics: bioadhesives, including hydrogels and other agents like carbopols, polyacrylic acids, chitosan, etc., and penetration enhancers, including different surfactants, calcium chelators, etc. The capacity of some polymers to adhere to the mucin coat covering the conjunctiva and the corneal surface of the eye forms the basis for ocular mucoadhesion. These systems markedly prolong the residence time of a drug in the conjunctival sac, since clearence is now controlled by the much slower rate of mucus turnover rather than the tear turnover rate. But improving the corneal drug retention alone is inadequate in bringing about a significant improvement of drug bioavailability. Another approach consists of transiently increasing the pentration characteristics of the cornea with appropriate substances, known as penetration enhancers or absorption promoters. The main aim of this article is to give an insight into the potential application of mucoadhesives and corneal penetration enhancers for the conception of innovative opthalmic delivery appraoches, to decrease the systemic side effects, and create a more focused effect, which may be achieved with lower doses of the drug. Ophthalmic formulations based on these mucoadhesives and penetration enhancers are simple to manufacture and exhibit an excellent tolerance when administered into the cornea. The use of the former considerably prolongs the corneal contact time and the use of the latter increases the rate and amount of drug transport. The various corneal epithelial barriers along with the major routes of transport of drugs are discussed. The article includes a list of the various substances in use or under investigation for the aforementioned properties, along with their mechanisms of action. A fair appraisal of the subject with regard to these two therapeutic approaches and any expected ill effects has been made.
Origin, differentiation and renewal of the four main epithelial cell types in the mouse small intestine. I. Columnar cell.

The mucous cell population of duodenum, jejunum and ileum was investigated in the light and electron microscopes with the help of radioautography in mice sacrificed at various times after single injection or continuous infusion of 3H-thymidine. Mucous cells are characterized by globules of mucus and by dilated cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum. Two subgroups of mucous cells, one called common and the other granular, may be identified. The granular mucous cells differ from the common ones by the presence of small dense granules embedded within the mucous globules. Each subgroup is further divided into immature oligomucous cells containing few mucous globules, and mature goblet cells with a large accumulation of mucous globules. Common and granular oligomucous cells are found exclusively in the crypt, mainly within the lower mid-crypt, whereas the corresponding two types of goblet cells are present in the upper part of the crypts and in the lower part of the villi. Only common mucous cells are observed in the upper part of the villi. The two types of oligomucous cells, but not goblet cells, have the ability to take up 3H-thymidine and divide. Electron microscopic radioautography demonstrates that, as oligomucous cells migrate upwards, they transform into goblet cells. The latter then migrate to the villus epithelium. In the case of granular mucous cells, this migration is associated with a gradual loss of the characteristic dense granules, so that the granular goblet cells reaching the upper part of the villi become common goblet cells. The goblet cells in the villus epithelium, regardless of their origin, ascend towards the villus tips where they are lost through the extrusion zones. The turnover time of common mucous cells is about three days, as for columnar cells; and that of granular mucous cells, somewhat shorter. In both cases, the divisions of oligomucous cells account only for the production of about half the mucous cells present. Hence, the other half must be derived from precursors other than oligomucous cells. Since a few crypt-base columnar cells contain the odd mucous globule, they are suspected of being the precursors of the two types of oligomucous cells and, through them, of the entire mucous cell population.
THE Hb S/β+-Thalassemia Phenotype Demonstrates that the IVS-I (−2) (A>C) Mutation is a Mild β-Thalassemia Allele

We report a family in which two siblings are compound heterozygotes for Hb S [β6(A3)Glu→Val] and a rare β-globin mutation [IVS-I (−2) (A>C)]. Both patients had significant levels of Hb A, indicating that the IVS-I (−2) mutation is a relatively mild β+-thalassemia (β+-thal) allele. This mutation, in compound heterozygosity with Hb S, does not necessarily lead to a mild clinical course.
Robust control of distributed systems with sequentially semi-separable structure

We consider the problem of designing robust controllers for uncertain spatially-varying interconnected systems distributed in one spatial dimension. Previous work has shown that the matrix structure of such systems can be exploited to allow fast analysis and design of centralized controllers with simple distributed implementations, and this paper seeks to extend these techniques to robust analysis and synthesis. Iterative algorithms are provided for robustness analysis, and controller-scaling iterations for robust design. Methods for `pulling out' distributed uncertainties, including those in subsystem interconnections, are explained. The computational accuracy of the algorithms incorporating these techniques are demonstrated on an example.
In addition to insulin resistance and obesity, hyperuricemia is strongly associated with metabolic syndrome using different definitions in Chinese populations: a population-based study (Taichung Community Health Study)

Hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome (MetS) have been shown to increase the risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and increase the risk of total and CVD mortality.1 2 Insulin resistance (IR) and central obesity have been recognised as the common underlying mechanism.3 4 The association between hyperuricemia and MetS has been studied, but most of these studies focused on Caucasians.5 In this study, we examined this relationship using five different definitions (proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the National Cholesterol Education Program Third Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP-ATPIII), the modified NCEP-ATPIII, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), and the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (AHA/NHLBI)) in Taiwan.6 A total of …
Families, Informal Supports,and Alzheimer's Disease

With the aging of most Western populations, there is growing research attention to the social and behavioral aspects of age-related chronic diseases and disabilities. Research is just beginning to focus on how families and other social supports affect and are affected by Alzheimer's Disease and related disorders. This article reviews the current state of knowledge in this area and suggests a future research agenda.
Application of Distributed Platforms in a Video Surveillance System

One of the key aspects in the development of distributed and complex network applications has been the establishment of commonly accepted distributed middleware platforms able to provide an effective solution as far as the development effort versus performance trade-off is concerned. Based on research work supported on two current key distributed technologies, CORBA and DCOM, the objective of this paper is to show how distributed platforms can be used in a video surveillance system and how they influence the performance of the real-time video service in comparison to other solutions, namely based on Windows Sockets. As far as the performance issue is concerned, the paper identifies the relevant parameters that should be assessed to characterize such video service and presents and discusses results from experiments carried in a testbed. Based on the results obtained, recommendations are formulated concerning the use of distributed platforms in time-bound distributed applications with requirements similar to video surveillance systems.
Clarithromycin might attenuate the airway inflammation of smoke-exposed asthmatic mice via affecting HDAC2.

BACKGROUND Smoke has been proved to be one of the most dangerous ingredients leading to the unsatisfying treatment response of asthmatics to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) therapy. Macrolides, a class of antibiotics, possess the traits of immunomodulation and anti-inflammation besides antimicrobial activity. Given that studies on the efficacy of macrolides on the refractory asthma patient have diverting conclusions, this article was carried on to investigate the effects of macrolide on the airway inflammation of smoke-exposed asthmatic mice. METHODS BALB/c mice were chosen to be the subjects of this study. They were raised to establish asthma model (OVA group); and one asthma group were exposed to the smoke (SEA group), one asthma group were treat with clarithromycin (CAM group) after smoke exposure. Control group mice were used as parallel comparison. Total inspiratory resistance (RL), expiratory resistance of the lung (Re) and lung compliance (Cdyn) were the main index to evaluate airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). The histopathological change was studied to assess lung tissue inflammation. Cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were also tested to represent airway inflammation. IL-4 and CXCL1 in BALF and serum were also used to evaluate the airway inflammation. Histone deacelytase2 (HDAC2) activity of lung tissues was measure by assay kit. HDAC2 expression in the lung tissue had been detected by western blot. RESULTS Re, RL and Cdyn were monitored to represent airway responsiveness. All of the three indicators in SEA group were significantly different from control group, while clarithromycin improved airway responsiveness and the three indicator were statistically significant (P<0.01). Histopathology observation had showed massive infiltration of inflammatory cells in both OVA group and SEA group, while inflammation infiltration attenuated in CAM group. Total cell counts in SEA group was much higher than that in CAM group (P=0.019), so were neutrophils (P=0.022) and eosinophils (P=0.042); while macrophages in SEA group decreased when compared to CAM group (P=0.026), IL-4 and CXCL1 level in CAM group were significantly decreased in comparison to those in SEA group (P=0.031, P=0.017). HDAC2 activity in SEA group decreased significantly when compared to control group (P=0.010); while HDAC2 activity in CAM group was improved and significantly better than that in SEA group (P=0.038). The expression of HADC2 in CAM group improved significantly when compared to that in SEA group (P=0.022). CONCLUSIONS Clarithromycin could improve AHR and attenuate airway inflammation in smoke exposed asthmatic mice which may involve HDAC2. Macrolides might have the potential to serve as the adjunctive treatment to some refractory asthmatics who are smokers or passive smokers.
DNA forms indicate rolling circle and recombination‐dependent replication of Abutilon mosaic virus

Geminiviruses have spread worldwide and have become increasingly important in crop plants during recent decades. Recombination among geminiviruses was one major source of new variants. Geminiviruses replicate via rolling circles, confirmed here by electron microscopic visualization and two‐dimensional gel analysis of Abutilon mosaic virus (AbMV) DNA. However, only a minority of DNA intermediates are consistent with this model. The majority are compatible with recombination‐dependent replication (RDR). During development of naturally infected leaves, viral intermediates compatible with both models appeared simultaneously, whereas agro‐infection of leaf discs with AbMV led to an early appearance of RDR forms but no RCR intermediates. Inactivation of viral genes ac2 and ac3 delayed replication, but produced the same DNA types as after wild‐type infection, indicating that these genes were not essential for RDR in leaf discs. In conclusion, host factors alone or in combination with the viral AC1 protein are necessary and sufficient for the production of RDR intermediates. The consequences of an inherent geminiviral recombination activity for the use of pathogen‐derived resistance traits are discussed.
Identification of mammaglobin B, a novel member of the uteroglobin gene family.

In this report, we have identified, sequenced, and characterized the expression pattern of a novel human gene, mammaglobin B. Mammaglobin B (MGB2) is highly homologous to mammaglobin (MGB1), a previously characterized human gene whose expression is limited to the mammary epithelium and frequently up-regulated in human breast cancer cells. Based upon amino acid sequence similarities, both mammaglobin and mammaglobin B may be considered members of a larger, mammalian multigene family that includes rabbit uteroglobin, human Clara Cell 10-kDa protein (CC10), and the multimeric rat prostatein protein. Together with the human CC10 gene, mammaglobin and mammaglobin B are closely linked on human chromosome 11q13. However, despite their primary sequence similarity and close chromosomal proximity, the expression of mammaglobin and mammaglobin B is nonconcordant in both nonmalignant and neoplastic tissue.
Clinical impairment of sequential finger movements in Parkinson's disease

A retrospective analysis was performed on the records of 33 off‐therapy parkinsonian patients. We analyzed the clinical score of three sequential upper limb movements: finger tapping, hand opening and closing, and forearm pronation and supination. The records showed that nearly all patients had difficulty in performing all three motor tasks, but movement scores showed that they found the sequential finger‐tapping task significantly more difficult than the other two tasks. We suggest that parkinsonian patients find individual finger movements more difficult to execute than gross hand movements because‐owing to their abnormal basal ganglia output‐they lack the finer cortical control and greater facilitation that the finger task demands.
Laparoscopic repyeloplasty after failed open repair of ureteropelvic junction obstruction: a case-matched multi-institutional study

Abstract Objective: The aim of this study was to retrospectively review the experience and midterm results of laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP) in patients with previous failed open pyeloplasty in comparison to primary LP. Materials and methods: Thirty-two patients who had undergone previous failed open surgery for management of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) were reviewed. The patients underwent transperitoneal dismembered LP. All operations were performed by the same laparoscopist from March 2009 to June 2013. Surgical results were compared to 72 patients who underwent primary LP carried out by the same surgeon during the same period. Results: The laparoscopic repyeloplasty group consisted of 14 men and 18 women. The mean age was 29 ± 6 years. The mean operative period was 133 ± 42 and 110 ± 57 min; the mean length of stay in hospital was 2.7 ± 2.3 and 1.3 ± 2.1 days; and the mean follow-up period was 32.4 ± 14 and 29.3 ± 11.2 months in the secondary and primary LP groups, respectively. The success rate was 90.6% for secondary LP and 94.4% for primary LP. There was no conversion in either group. The percentage of intraoperative and postoperative complications in secondary LP was 9.4% and 12.5%, respectively, compared with 0% and 5.6% in the primary LP group. Conclusions: Laparoscopic repyeloplasty is a safe and viable treatment option for secondary UPJO, with a success rate similar to that of primary repair but with longer operative time. Considerable experience in laparoscopic reconstructive procedures is a prerequisite for optimal results.