Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Arterial stiffness is an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment in the elderly: a pilot study

Background Loss of cognitive function is a common condition in the elderly population. Cognitive impairment is defined as the transitional stage of cognitive decline, between normal aging and early dementia. We tested whether arterial stiffness, evaluated as pulse wave velocity (PWV), is associated with cognitive impairment in older subjects, and whether PWV is increased at a comparable extent in older subjects with cortical or subcortical cerebral lesions when compared with age-matched controls referred for memory deficits. Subjects and methods Eighty-four subjects (78 ± 5 years, 30 men and 54 women) referred for memory deficit with no history of stroke or atrial fibrillation were studied. Carotid-femoral PWV was determined non-invasively with Complior. The Mini Mental State Examination was assessed as a measure of global cognitive function. The sum of the score on the Activities of Daily Living and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living scales was used as a measure of personal independency. Based upon brain imaging, subjects were classified as referred for memory deficits with normal brain imaging, or control, with subcortical microvascular lesions or with cortical atrophy. Results PWV, normalized for mean blood pressure, was inversely correlated with the Mini Mental State Examination (r = −0.26, P < 0.05), even after controlling for education, prevalent cardiovascular (CV) disease, CV risk factors, and medication use (beta coefficient = −0.28, P < 0.01). PWV was also inversely correlated with personal independency (r = −0.36, P < 0.01; beta coefficient = −0.38, P < 0.01, after multiple adjustment). In the presence of no significant differences in age, education, traditional CV risk factor levels, carotid plaques, or prevalence of CV disease, higher PWV values were more frequent in subjects with cortical atrophy than in patients with subcortical microvascular lesions or controls (P < 0.05). Conclusions PWV was associated with cognitive impairment and with a greater personal dependency, independently of major modifiable CV risk factors.
Do Domestic Firms Benefit from Foreign Direct Investment ?

Foreign direct investment (FDI) 1 is believed to bring positive spillovers to domestic firms in the host country. Empirical studies, however, have found conflicting evidence on the effects of FDI. In this study, we use a firm-level industrial census to estimate the relationship between the intensity of foreign presence and performance of domestic firms in China. More specifically, we attempt to answer the following questions. First, are Chinese domestic enterprises affected by the presence of foreign invested firms operating in the same industry which they do business in? Second, are Chinese domestic enterprises affected by the presence of foreign invested firms operating within related industries at the same locality where they conducted their businesses? It is a fact that a substantial portion of FDI in China are originated from neighboring economies, especially from the three most Chinese populated economies Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, that are technologically much less advanced than industrial countries. Finally, we examine whether foreign investment firms from these economies affect the Chinese domestic firms differently compared to those from other investing countries. The estimation results offer some support for the existence of positive spillovers. There seems to be stronger evidence that domestic industries benefit from foreign presence in the related industries within the province. Employment shares of foreign affiliates, especially those with investors from advanced countries, are associated with higher productivity. The impact of foreign presence within the industry is rather mixed. Employment shares of firms with investment from greater China area are negatively associated with domestic productivity while those with other foreign investment are positively associated with domestic productivity. It supports the argument that larger technology gap provides large potentials for technology spillover. For investment from greater China area, smaller technology gap present less potential gain. More over, they may be in direct competition with domestic firms and result in shrinking market share for domestic firms. ± We thank Chong-En Bai and Zhigang Tao for helpful suggestions. ∗ Corresponding author. Department of Economics and East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore. Email: ecstyt@nus.edu. + School of Economics and Finance, University of Hong Kong. 1 In the context of this study, foreign direct investment refers to inward investment originated from outside mainland China. Official Chinese statistics categorize foreign direct investment into two groups, those from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan and those from other countries.
EDUCATION FOR EXPECTANT FATHERS IN WORKPLACES IN TURKEY

Summary Worldwide, there is increasing recognition that if family and reproductive health programmes are to be successful, the involvement of men is essential. As part of the problem, men also have to be seen as part of the solution. The reality is that in many countries, including Turkey, men generally do not accompany their partners to health facilities for family planning, antenatal and postnatal services and are not expected to attend the labour or birth of their child. Workplace programmes are a potential strategy for meeting the reproductive health education needs of men in industrial cities such as Istanbul. This intervention study was developed to test the feasibility and effects of expanding a special programme for expectant fathers to large workplaces in Istanbul, with the aim of improving the health of Turkish families during the pregnancy, birth and newborn periods. The findings indicate that it is possible to train workplace physicians in Istanbul to conduct regular educational programmes for expectant fathers on reproductive health, and that such programmes may have beneficial effects, especially in the areas of pregnancy nutrition, exclusive breast-feeding, and support behaviours. Considering the difficulty of getting men to attend hospital or clinic-based educational programmes in large urban areas, bringing such training programmes to men at their places of work has the potential to be an important strategy. Given that large workplaces in Turkey already have full-time physicians charged with the duty of health education for employees, this is also a feasible strategy.
Rtnl1 is enriched in a specialized germline ER that associates with ribonucleoprotein granule components

During oogenesis in Drosophila an organelle called the fusome plays a crucial role in germline cyst development and oocyte selection. The fusome consists of cytoskeletal proteins and intracellular membranes and, whereas many cytoskeletal components have been characterized, the nature and function of the membrane component is poorly understood. I have found the reticulon-like 1 (Rtnl1) protein, a membrane protein resident in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), to be highly enriched in the fusome. In other Drosophila tissues Rtnl1 marks a subset of ER membranes often derived from smooth ER. During oogenesis, Rtnl1-containing membranes are recruited to the fusome by the cytoskeletal components and become concentrated into the forming oocyte. On the central part of the fusome, which is contained within the future oocyte and also at later stages in the growing oocyte and the nurse cells, Rtnl1-containing membranes colocalize with components of ribonucleoprotein complexes that store translationally repressed mRNAs. As the ER is actively transported into the oocyte, this colocalization suggests a role for the Rtnl1-containing subdomain in anchoring the ribonucleoprotein complexes within and/or transporting them into the oocyte.
Behavioral biases in pension fund trustees’ decision making

PurposeBehavioral finance research has almost exclusively investigated the decision making of lay individuals, mostly ignoring more sophisticated institutional investors. The purpose of this paper is to better understand the relatively unexplored field of investment decisions made by pension fund trustees, an important subset of institutional investors, and identify future avenues of further exploration.Design/methodology/approachThis paper starts by setting out the landscape in which pension fund trustees operate and make their decisions, followed by a literature review of the extant behavioral finance research applicable to similar situations.FindingsDespite receiving training and accumulating experience in financial markets, these are limited and sparse; therefore, pension fund trustees are unlikely to be immune from behavioral biases. Trustees make decisions in groups, are heavily reliant on advice and make decisions on behalf of others. Research in those areas has uncovered many inefficiencies. It is still unknown how this specific context can affect the psychological effects on their decisions.Research limitations/implicationsGiven how much influence trustees’ decisions have on asset allocation and by extension in financial markets, this is a surprising state of affairs. Research in behavioral finance has had a marked influence on policy in the past and so we anticipate that exploring the decisions made within pension funds may have wide ramifications for the industry.Originality/valueAs far as the authors are aware, no behavioral research has empirically tested pension fund trustees’ decisions to investigate how the combination of group decisions, advice and surrogacy influence their decisions and, ultimately, the sustainability of our pensions.
Do State Taxes Play a Role in Corporate Investment Decisions? Evidence from Interstate Investment

Using a novel data set of state-specific investments at the project level and staggered changes in state corporate income taxes, I examine whether corporate income taxes affect firms’ investment location decisions in the U.S. In contrast to recent studies that document an insignificant effect on firm-level investments, I find that changes in state taxes have a significant effect on project-level investments—firms locate their investment projects in states that cut their corporate taxes. This effect is stronger for projects that are less geographically constrained and for projects that create more jobs. Additional analysis shows that state taxes are particularly relevant for firms’ investment location decisions among competing states. Taken together, this study offers the first evidence that state corporate income taxes play an important role in firms’ interstate investment location decisions.
Electrostatic device for active transfer of submicroliter samples from syringe pipettors.

The electrostatic charger can be operated in automatic or manual mode. In automatic mode, the high voltage is controlled by means of an analog input ranging from 0–5 V, corresponding to 0–20 kV at the high voltage side of the device. In our case, a laptop running NI Labview 7.1® and a DAQCard 6062E® (National Instruments, Austin, TX, USA) was used to provide the analog control signal. The 0–5 V control signal is fed into a noninverting amplifier with a gain of 2.6, whose output is directly supplied to the SC-150® high voltage power supply (American High Voltage, Elko, NV, USA), and DPM 3AS-B® digital LCD display module (Martel Electronics, Londonderry, NH, USA). In manual mode, analog control of the high voltage is performed through a potentiometer. The potentiometer output is sent through a voltage follower to the SC-150 high voltage power supply and digital LCD display module. The SC-150 high voltage power supply is a voltage-controlled voltage source (VCVS) that provides an output voltage proportional to the input voltage (www.ahv.com). The maximum output is 20 kV, which is supplied to the microtiter plate charger via a 25kV high voltage cable (Belden Electronics Division, Richmond, IN, USA). An FSK15 Series® AC/DC converter (V-Infinity, Beaverton, OR, USA) provided the 15 V DC required for both automatic and manual operation. Figure S1 illustrates the circuit. The high voltage side contains the output pins of the SC-150 and the high voltage current limiting resistor (1 GΩ), which is inside a groove in an acrylic block. The groove is filled with a silicone rubber of high dielectric strength to prevent arcing. The high voltage side is supported on a 1/8′′ acrylic plate with the output pins of the SC-150 and the acrylic block epoxied to the acrylic plate. The separation of the high voltage side from the low voltage side in the illustrated manner ensures that the high voltage components are completely prevented from arcing to any other circuitry. The metal housing that encompasses the circuit is grounded.
The Impact of Capital Structure on the Financial Performance of the Jordanian Industrial Companies Listed on the Amman Stock Exchange for the Period 2012-2015

The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of the capital structure as a percentage of total liabilities to total assets on the financial performance of the Jordanian industrial companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange for the period 2012-2015. The study population included all the Jordanian general industrial companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange. The sample of the study included 10 industrial companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange. The linear regression analysis was used to test the relationship between variables using the ordinary least squares method (OLS). The results showed that there is a positive significant impact on the capital structure of the industrial shareholding companies listed in the Amman Stock Exchange as measured by the ratio of equity to total assets, return on equity and return on assets and net earnings per share as an indicator of financial performance. The results also showed a negative significant impact on the capital structure of industrial shareholding companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange as measured by total liabilities to total assets, return on equity and return on assets as an indicator of financial performance, and net earnings per share as an indicator of the financial performance indicators.
Editorial note: A search for the best practices and standards

This issue includes papers that embrace major challenges for the board of directors A long line of research documents the crucial role that the board of directors plays in the reduction of agency costs. This issue of the journal goes further to explore a variety of environments, ranging from a highly developed economy, i.e., the United States, to a less developed economy, i.e., Greece and even developing ones, i.e., Saudi Arabian and Ghana. The results documented by the papers from this issue reflect the specificities of the environment in which companies are operating. Moreover, the channels through which the board of directors affects agency costs remain very little documented. Papers that are published in this issue shed new light on this topic by showing that boards might improve firm performance by enhancing corporate governance quality and developing informal communication within the firm.
Dual-Mode Dual-Band Bandpass Filters With Adjustable Frequency RatioUsing an Annular Ring Resonator

A single annular ring resonator is proposed to design a dual-mode dual-band bandpass filter (BPF) with adjustable frequency ratio of the two passbands. The two passbands are formed by the first two pairs of degenerate modes of an annular ring resonator. The change of the inner concentric circular radius leads to the variation of surface current distributions of the TM11 and TM21 resonant modes accordingly. As a result, the frequency ratio between 1.65 and 2.00 can be achieved when it changes between a circular patch and a ring resonator. The resonator is inductively coupled to the input and output ports by a pair of high impedance lines. To verify the design principle, two filters with different frequency ratios of the two passbands, 1.75 and 1.90, are designed, fabricated and measured. The experimental results agree well with the predicted ones.
Cognitive Representation of Negative Numbers

To understand negative numbers, must we refer to positive number representations (the phylogenetic hypothesis), or do we acquire a negative mental number line (the ontogenetic hypothesis)? In the experiment reported here, participants made lateralized button responses to indicate the larger of two digits from the range -9 to 9. Digit pairs were displayed spatially congruent or incongruent with either a phylogenetic or an ontogenetic mental number line. The pattern of decision latencies suggests that negative numbers become associated with left space, thus supporting the ontogenetic view.
Engagement in elderly persons with dementia attending animal-assisted group activity

The need for meaningful activities that enhance engagement is very important among persons with dementia (PWDs), both for PWDs still living at home, as well as for PWDs admitted to a nursing home (NH). In this study, we systematically registered behaviours related to engagement in a group animal-assisted activity (AAA) intervention for 21 PWDs in NHs and among 28 home-dwelling PWDs attending a day care centre. The participants interacted with a dog and its handler for 30 minutes, twice a week for 12 weeks. Video-recordings were carried out early (week 2) and late (week 10) during the intervention period and behaviours were categorized by the use of an ethogram. AAA seems to create engagement in PWDs, and might be a suitable and health promoting intervention for both NH residents and participants of a day care centre. Degree of dementia should be considered when planning individual or group based AAA.
Highly cited articles in Physics in Medicine and Biology

For over 50 years, Physics in Medicine and Biology has published many of the most highly cited papers in the field of Medical Physics. Ten years ago, Patterson (2004) compiled a list of the ten most highly cited articles in the journal. This list was updated using the Web of Science index, once again ranked by total citations (table 1), but also by citations per year (table 2). Data were collected on 10th April 2014. Only a few ‘old classics’ remain, owing to the very high number of citations received by the ‘rising stars’ in the last few years. Ten years ago, the top ten articles were cited on average 15.0 times per year between 2000 and 2003 (Patterson 2004). For the list in table 1, the citation rate over a similar period is 62.0. When articles are ranked by the mean number of citations per year, this trend towards more citations in recent years is even more apparent. This may be because of easy access to online archives, the greater volume of published material produced each year, or an increase in the number of references within a typical paper? Whatever the balance of reasons, it is likely that these lists will look quite different in another ten years’ time. Since 2006, an annual prize has been awarded by this journal for the article most cited in the previous five years (Harris and Webb 2006). From the lists below, Jan et al (2004) were awarded the citations prize in 2009 (Webb and Harris 2009) and Sidky and Pan (2008) received this prize in 2012 (Cherry and Ruffle 2013). The 2013 prize has recently been awarded to Schlomka et al (2008), who were also awarded the Roberts prize for the best paper in 2008 (Cherry and Ruffle 2014). These exceptional articles do not tell the whole story of the journal, and citation is at best an indirect measure of quality (Patterson and Harris 2009). However, I hope readers find this short investigation to be of interest. D J Eaton
Virtual space utilization in the Digital SMEs Kampongs: Implementation of Smart City and Region

Efforts to integrate the use of ICT in various aspects of urban and regional development is the embodiment of the implementation of the smart city and region. One of the efforts is by developing a smart economy and smart business through Digital Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Kampongs. This research is aimed at; 1) identifying the existence of Digital SMEs Kampongs, 2) identifying the Digital SMEs Kampongs' activities, 3) analysing the implications of the use of virtual space on the Digital SMEs Kampongs' activities. The primary data have been conducted through observation and in-depth interview. The results show that the existence of the Digital SMEs Kampongs can increase the use of virtual space, make the smart economy and smart business opportunities, improve the ability of community in running businesses and develop advanced SMEs. It has contributed to the achievement of smart city and region.
Fabrication and characterisation of Al gate n-metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor, on-chip fabricated with silicon nitride ion-sensitive field-effect transistor

In the present study, temperature drift analysis of metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) is carried out using silicon nitride/SiO2 as dielectric film. An n-channel depletion-mode MOSFET was fabricated with silicon nitride ion-sensitive field-effect transistor (ISFET) on the same wafer. The study presents the fabrication, simulation and characterisation of MOSFET. The gate of the ISFET is stacked with silicon nitride/SiO2 sensing membrane that was deposited using low pressure chemical vapour deposition. Output and transfer characteristics of on-chip fabricated Al gate MOSFET were obtained in order to study the fabricated ISFET behaviour to be used as pH sensor. Silicon nitride is preferred over SiO2 sensing film/dielectric (in case of MOSFET) which has better sensitivity and low drift. Process and device simulations were performed using Silvaco® TCAD tool.
The contribution of vascular basement membranes and extracellular matrix to the mechanics of tumor angiogenesis

The goal of this review is to highlight the contribution of extracellular matrix and vascular basement membranes to the regulation of angiogenesis and tumor progression. Here we present a new concept that vascular basement membrane influences endothelial cells and possibly other cell types in a solid state assembled form, and also in a degraded solution state form. Depending on the structural integrity, composition and exposure of cryptic sites, the vascular basement membrane proteome exerts functional influences on proliferating and resting endothelial cells. This review provides the reader with an appreciation of this newly evolved concept in the area of vascular biology.
The Anomaly of Nonrecurrent Laryngeal Nerve: Identification and Management

There is no greater nemesis for the thyroid surgeon than difficulty in localizing the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN). An unusual but important cause of this problem is the nonrecurrent laryngeal nerve (NRLN). The NRLN is vulnerable during thyroid surgery, with nerve damage potentially resulting in permanent vocal cord paralysis. The NRLN arises on the right side of the neck and is associated with malformation of the aortic arch. Preoperative chest x-ray films, therefore, are a valuable adjunct in identifying patients who may have laryngeal nerve anomaly. Additional studies that may be useful are barium swallow and digital subtraction and angiography in selected patients. Often the NRLN will be identified only at the time of surgery when the RLN triangle is discovered to be empty. In the case presented, identification of this aberrant nerve was greatly facilitated by use of a nerve-integrity monitor. A review of the relevant anatomy and embryology of NRLN is presented along with a survey of useful adjunctive studies to identify this anomaly. A protocol for surgical management is also recommended.