Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cash Flow-at-Risk e a Teoria de Precificação por Arbitragem aplicados ao Gerenciamento de Risco de Empresas do Setor Elétrico Brasileiro

This work develops and applies a model of risk management of the Brazilian electric sector’s companies, as well as a systematic for forecast of interest variable. The current environment in which the electric sector’s companies are inserted incorporates extra difficulties in the Brazilian market, difficulties these little excellent before the implementation of the complex Brazilian regulatory system. Beyond the existing and inherent factors of electric risk already to the sector, as the microeconomic conditions of market and pointers changeable such had been considered as: inflation, tax of interests, exchange, price of energy in the open market. The work considers the factors of risk for elaboration of a system of risk management based on the Cash flow-at-risk - Cfar of the Ebitda edge for the period of the first trimester of 1999 to the third trimester of 2007 and nine Brazilian companies of the electric sector. The results had demonstrated that the variable most excellent for the sample in study were the Gross domestic product and the price of electric energy, enter the microeconomic 0 variable most excellent were the yield on the patrimony. How much to the risk, a compatible result with the level of significance of 5% was observed.
Dientamoeba fragilis colonization is not associated with gastrointestinal symptoms in children at primary care level

Background. Dientamoeba fragilis is commonly identified in children in primary care and is suspected to cause gastrointestinal disease. Objective. To determine the association between D. fragilis colonization and gastrointestinal symptoms in children. Methods. We performed a cross-sectional study with children who presented in primary care with gastrointestinal symptoms. The associations between D. fragilis colonization and specific symptoms were explored by means of logistic regression analyses. Asymptomatic siblings of these cases were invited as control subjects for a case–control analysis, where we explored the association between D. fragilis and gastrointestinal symptoms with conditional logistic regression analysis. Results. In the cross-sectional study, 107 children were included. Their median age was 9 years (interquartile range = 6–12) and 38 (35.5%) were boys. Colonization of D. fragilis was present in 59 children (55.1%). The absence of D. fragilis was associated with soft to watery stool [odds ratio (OR) = 0.29; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.10–0.85], chronic diarrhoea (OR = 0.42; 95% CI = 0.18–0.97) and fatigue (OR = 0.45; 95% CI = 0.20–0.99). The case–control analyses included 44 children in each group. Dientamoeba fragilis colonization was not observed more often in cases than in controls after adjustment for age and sex (OR = 1.02; 95% CI = 0.28–3.65). Conclusion. Dientamoeba fragilis is a common parasite in children with and without gastrointestinal symptoms. The anomalous finding of the association between the absence of D. fragilis with soft to watery stools, chronic diarrhoea and fatigue are inexplicable. Our study suggests that D. fragilis colonization does not increase the risk for gastrointestinal symptoms.
How to read a postoperative total hip replacement radiograph

In 2006 over 55 000 primary total hip replacements were implanted in the UK. A crucial aspect of follow-up for these patients is the assessment of the postoperative radiograph. Information gained from the initial radiograph includes assessment of the quality of implantation and hence the likelihood of long term success. Follow-up radiographs can be assessed for signs of component failure. Orthopaedic surgeons, radiologists, junior surgical trainees, general medical practitioners, and advanced nurse/extended scope practitioners may all be required to interpret these radiographs during clinical practice. The authors feel that certainly during orthopaedic surgical training, not enough time is allocated to formal training on the systematic assessment of such radiographs. This review aims to provide the reader with a systematic approach to analysing the initial postoperative total hip arthroplasty radiograph, and subsequent follow-up films. Basics of patient positioning for obtaining radiographs, types of prosthesis encountered, and terminology used are covered. Assessment of initial radiographs focuses on assessing leg length, acetabular and femoral positioning, and cement mantle adequacy. Follow-up radiographs are assessed for signs of component failure. A review of the literature provides evidence for the assessment and importance of adequacy of component positioning, and good cementing technique. Normal and abnormal follow-up radiographic features are outlined to allow assessment of loosening or impending failure of a prosthesis.
Phosphate starvation: a novel signal that triggers ESX‐5 secretion in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis uses the Type VII ESX secretion systems to transport proteins across its complex cell wall. ESX‐5 has been implicated in M. tuberculosis virulence, but the regulatory mechanisms controlling ESX‐5 secretion were unknown. Here we uncover a link between ESX‐5 and the Pst/SenX3–RegX3 system that controls gene expression in response to phosphate availability. The DNA‐binding response regulator RegX3 is normally activated by phosphate limitation. Deletion of pstA1, which encodes a Pst phosphate uptake system component, causes constitutive activation of RegX3. A ΔpstA1 mutant exhibited RegX3–dependent overexpression of esx‐5 genes and hyper‐secretion of the ESX‐5 substrates EsxN and PPE41 when the bacteria were grown in phosphate‐rich medium. In wild‐type M. tuberculosis, phosphate limitation activated esx‐5 transcription and secretion of both EsxN and PPE41, and this response required RegX3. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that RegX3 binds directly to a promoter within the esx‐5 locus. Remarkably, phosphate limitation also induced secretion of EsxB, an effector of the virulence‐associated ESX‐1 secretion system, though this induction was RegX3 independent. Our work demonstrates that the Pst/SenX3–RegX3 system directly regulates ESX‐5 secretion at the transcriptional level in response to phosphate availability and defines phosphate limitation as an environmental signal that activates ESX‐5 secretion.
Understanding Social Computing Research

Social computing is an emerging field, encompassing a wide range of topics. A broad understanding of the major topics involved in social computing is important for both scholars and practitioners. The authors present and analyze the voluminous social computing related studies to date, applying document co-citation analysis, pathfinder networks, core-document analysis, and the Herfindahl-Hirschman index. The results not only provide insight to this subject area but also afford a conduit for the future research in this discipline.
TALEN-Mediated Knockout of CCR5 Confers Protection Against Infection of Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Abstract: Transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALEN) represents a valuable tool for genomic engineering due to its single-nucleotide precision, high nuclease activity, and low cytotoxicity. We report here systematic design and characterization of 28 novel TALENs targeting multiple regions of CCR5 gene (CCR5-TALEN) which encodes the co-receptor critical for entry of human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1). By systemic characterization of these CCR5-TALENs, we have identified one (CCR5-TALEN-515) with higher nuclease activity, specificity, and lower cytotoxicity compared with zinc-finger nuclease (CCR5-ZFN) currently undergoing clinical trials. Sequence analysis of target cell line GHOST-CCR5-CXCR4 and human primary CD4+ T cells showed that the double-strand breaks at the TALEN targeted sites resulted in truncated or nonfunctional CCR5 proteins thereby conferring protection against HIV-1 infection in vitro. None of the CCR5-TALENs had detectable levels of off-target nuclease activity against the homologous region in CCR2 although substantial level was identified for CCR5-ZFN in the primary CD4+ T cells. Our results suggest that the CCR5-TALENs identified here are highly functional nucleases that produce protective genetic alterations to human CCR5. Application of these TALENs directly to the primary CD4+ T cells and CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) of infected individuals could help to create an immune system resistant to HIV-1 infection, recapitulating the success of “Berlin patient” and serving as an essential first step towards a “functional” cure of AIDS.
Genetic Constraints on Protein Evolution

ABSTRACT Evolution requires the generation and optimization of new traits (“adaptation”) and involves the selection of mutations that improve cellular function. These mutations were assumed to arise by selection of neutral mutations present at all times in the population. Here we review recent evidence that indicates that deleterious mutations are more frequent in the population than previously recognized and that these mutations play a significant role in protein evolution through continuous positive selection. Positively selected mutations include adaptive mutations, i.e. mutations that directly affect enzymatic function, and compensatory mutations, which suppress the pleiotropic effects of adaptive mutations. Compensatory mutations are by far the most frequent of the two and would allow potentially adaptive but deleterious mutations to persist long enough in the population to be positively selected during episodes of adaptation. Compensatory mutations are, by definition, context-dependent and thus constrain the paths available for evolution. This provides a mechanistic basis for the examples of highly constrained evolutionary landscapes and parallel evolution reported in natural and experimental populations. The present review article describes these recent advances in the field of protein evolution and discusses their implications for understanding the genetic basis of disease and for protein engineering in vitro.
Executive functioning improves after remission of psychosis and may not deteriorate at short follow-up in early-onset schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE Cognitive functions are important determinants of outcome in schizophrenia. Psychiatric hospitalization and intensive treatment in the early-onset psychosis may reduce the severity of psychotic symptoms and improve cognitive functions. It is not clear if after discharge improvement or further deterioration of cognition is observed. The aim of the current study is the evaluation of executive functioning in early onset schizophrenia (EOS) across stages of illness. METHODS Two groups of EOS patients: hospitalized subjects with first episode (FES, n=16) at the introduction of pharmacotherapy (T1) and after mean 7 weeks (T2) and stable outpatients group (SO, n=24) were assessed with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Matched healthy (n=32) controls were assessed with WCST. RESULTS All patients performed significantly worse in WCST than healthy controls. Subjects in acute psychotic episode (FES T1) presented more pronounced executive impairment and psychopathological symptoms than after the resolution of psychotic symptoms (FES T2). No differences in executive function between FES T2 and SO group were observed. In all assessments perseverative errors correlated with negative symptoms. CONCLUSION Cognitive impairment is present at the onset of EOS and persists in attenuated but stable form after the resolution of psychotic symptoms.
Adaptive model-based event-triggered consensus control for multi-agent systems with unknown system dynamics

The model-based event-triggered strategies have been developed as an alternate for Zero-Order-Hold (ZOH)- based event triggered scheme in continuous-time for multi-agent systems (MAS). However, traditional event-triggered schemes need the knowledge of system dynamics whereas model-based schemes are sensitive to model uncertainties. Therefore, in this paper, a novel distributed event-triggered consensus control schemes are proposed for MAS with uncertain system dynamics. In the proposed approach, the system is considered completely unknown and the MAS model or state estimator is updated online. The update law for tuning the unknown parameters of the MAS model, and distributed event triggering condition are derived. Lyapunov theory is used to demonstrate that all the closed-loop signals and estimated MAS model parameters are asymptotically stable and consensus. Computer- aid simulation results are included to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Additionally preliminary work towards the implementation of the proposed strategies on a real-time MAS platform is described in order to emphasize the implications and the complexity of developing practical solutions for real applications.
Modeling Stability of Growth between Mathematics and Science Achievement During Middle and High School

In this study, the authors introduced a multivariate multilevel model to estimate the consistency among students and schools in the rates of growth between mathematics and science achievement during the entire middle and high school years with data from the Longitudinal Study of American Youth (LSAY). There was no evident consistency in the rates of growth between mathematics and science achievement among students, and this inconsistency was not much influenced by student characteristics and school characteristics. However, there was evident consistency in the average rates of growth between mathematics and science achievement among schools, and this consistency was influenced by student characteristics and school characteristics. Major school-level variables associated with parental involvement did not show any significant impacts on consistency among either students or schools. Results call for educational policies that promote collaboration between mathematics and science departments or teachers.
Mitochondrial retrograde signaling regulates neuronal function

Significance Mitochondrial retrograde signaling is an ancient mechanism defined as the cellular response to changes in the functional state of mitochondria. We find that in the Drosophila nervous system, mitochondrial dysfunction activates a retrograde response controlling hundreds of nuclear genes. We identify the Drosophila ortholog of hypoxia inducible factor alpha (HIFα) as a potential regulator of the neuronal mitochondrial retrograde response. Remarkably, knockdown of HIFα restores neuronal function without affecting the primary mitochondrial defect. Mitochondrial retrograde signaling is therefore partly responsible for neuronal pathology. Knockdown of HIFα also restores function in Drosophila models of Leigh syndrome and Parkinson’s disease. Our results demonstrate that mitochondrial retrograde signaling has a key role in neuronal homeostasis and that manipulation of retrograde signaling may have therapeutic potential in mitochondrial diseases and Parkinson’s. Mitochondria are key regulators of cellular homeostasis, and mitochondrial dysfunction is strongly linked to neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Mitochondria communicate their bioenergetic status to the cell via mitochondrial retrograde signaling. To investigate the role of mitochondrial retrograde signaling in neurons, we induced mitochondrial dysfunction in the Drosophila nervous system. Neuronal mitochondrial dysfunction causes reduced viability, defects in neuronal function, decreased redox potential, and reduced numbers of presynaptic mitochondria and active zones. We find that neuronal mitochondrial dysfunction stimulates a retrograde signaling response that controls the expression of several hundred nuclear genes. We show that the Drosophila hypoxia inducible factor alpha (HIFα) ortholog Similar (Sima) regulates the expression of several of these retrograde genes, suggesting that Sima mediates mitochondrial retrograde signaling. Remarkably, knockdown of Sima restores neuronal function without affecting the primary mitochondrial defect, demonstrating that mitochondrial retrograde signaling is partly responsible for neuronal dysfunction. Sima knockdown also restores function in a Drosophila model of the mitochondrial disease Leigh syndrome and in a Drosophila model of familial Parkinson’s disease. Thus, mitochondrial retrograde signaling regulates neuronal activity and can be manipulated to enhance neuronal function, despite mitochondrial impairment.
Profit-Led Growth, Social Democracy, and the Left: An Accumulation of Discontent

The present paper seeks to locate the Bhaduri–Marglin (B-M) model as an historical outcome of the Left’s internal disputes over the prospects for social democracy. In better contextualizing the B-M model as a historical response to the perceived political economic failings of the social compromises upon which the growth of postwar advanced capitalist economies had rested, both the model’s popularity and its potential limitations can more easily be understood.
A unique point mutation in the PMP22 gene is associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and deafness.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) with deafness is clinically distinct among the genetically heterogeneous group of CMT disorders. Molecular studies in a large family with autosomal dominant CMT and deafness have not been reported. The present molecular study involves a family with progressive features of CMT and deafness, originally reported by Kousseff et al. Genetic analysis of 70 individuals (31 affected, 28 unaffected, and 11 spouses) revealed linkage to markers on chromosome 17p11.2-p12, with a maximum LOD score of 9.01 for marker D17S1357 at a recombination fraction of . 03. Haplotype analysis placed the CMT-deafness locus between markers D17S839 and D17S122, a approximately 0.6-Mb interval. This critical region lies within the CMT type 1A duplication region and excludes MYO15, a gene coding an unconventional myosin that causes a form of autosomal recessive deafness called DFNB3. Affected individuals from this family do not have the common 1.5-Mb duplication of CMT type 1A. Direct sequencing of the candidate peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) gene detected a unique G-->C transversion in the heterozygous state in all affected individuals, at position 248 in coding exon 3, predicted to result in an Ala67Pro substitution in the second transmembrane domain of PMP22.
Salmonellosis outcomes differ substantially by serotype.

BACKGROUND Most human infections are caused by closely related serotypes within 1 species of Salmonella. Few data are available on differences in severity of disease among common serotypes. METHODS We examined data from all cases of Salmonella infection in FoodNet states during 1996-2006. Data included serotype, specimen source, hospitalization, and outcome. RESULTS Among 46,639 cases, 687 serotypes were identified. Overall, 41,624 isolates (89%) were from stool specimens, 2524 (5%) were from blood, and 1669 (4%) were from urine; 10,393 (22%) cases required hospitalization, and death occurred in 219 (0.5%). The case fatality rate for S. Newport (0.3%) was significantly lower than for Typhimurium (0.6%); Dublin (3.0%) was higher. With respect to invasive disease, 13 serotypes had a significantly higher proportion than Typhimurium (6%), including Enteritidis (7%), Heidelberg (13%), Choleraesuis (57%), and Dublin (64%); 13 serotypes were significantly less likely to be invasive. Twelve serotypes, including Enteritidis (21%) and Javiana (21%), were less likely to cause hospitalization than Typhimurium (24%); Choleraesuis (60%) was significantly more so. CONCLUSIONS Salmonella serotypes are closely related genetically yet differ significantly in their pathogenic potentials. Understanding the mechanisms responsible for this may be key to a more general understanding of the invasiveness of intestinal bacterial infections.
Horizons for Sustainability 3(3)/2016

In this issue are included scientific articles which debate problems from social science fields: educational process in economic sciences, silver economy 2.0, adoption in society, national security, independence on the economy, administrative court, forms of communication, public management.We know that the actual global civilization is not sustainable. So, we – the humanity – have to change our ways of being, working, living, developing towards sustainable horizons and so to profoundly transform ourselves, in order to make in time the transition towards a knowledge-based sustainable new global civilization.The review “Horizon for Sustainability” promotes, supports and develops, within the complexity paradigm, the transdisciplinary research, the integrative design and the participative open innovation, that contribute and sustain this challenging transition.The review is future oriented and its aim is to imagine-create and to discover-expend horizons for sustainability.In this issue are included scientific articles who debate problems from social science fields: the change of life, key factor in entrepreneurial organisations, foreign policy, organizational culture, geneva convention, concept of security, concept of human rights, economic transition, educational manangement.
Resumption of driving after life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmia.

BACKGROUND Although the privilege of driving must be respected, it may be necessary to restrict driving when it poses a threat to others. The risks associated with allowing patients with life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias to drive have not been quantified. METHODS The Antiarrhythmics versus Implantable Defibrillators (AVID) trial compared antiarrhythmic-drug therapy with the implantation of defibrillators in patients resuscitated from near-fatal ventricular arrhythmias. In the current study, we sent patients who participated in the AVID trial a questionnaire, to be completed anonymously, requesting information about driving habits and experiences. RESULTS The questionnaire was returned by 758 of 909 patients (83 percent). Of these, 627 patients drove during the year before their index episode of ventricular tachyarrhythmia. A total of 57 percent of these patients resumed driving within 3 months after randomization in the AVID trial, 78 percent within 6 months, and 88 percent within 12 months. While driving, 2 percent had a syncopal episode, 11 percent had dizziness or palpitations that necessitated stopping the vehicle, 22 percent had dizziness or palpitations that did not necessitate stopping the vehicle, and 8 percent of the 295 patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator received a shock. Fifty patients reported having at least 1 accident, for a total of 55 accidents during 1619 patient-years of follow-up after the resumption of driving (3.4 percent per patient-year). Only 11 percent of these accidents were preceded by symptoms of possible arrhythmia (0.4 percent per patient-year). CONCLUSIONS Most patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias resume driving early. Although it is common for them to have symptoms of possible arrhythmia while driving, accidents are uncommon and occur with a frequency that is lower than the annual accident rate of 7.1 percent in the general driving population of the United States.