Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Response: Association of Vaspin with Metabolic Syndrome: The Pivotal Role of Insulin Resistance (Diabetes Metab J 2014;38:143-9)

We read with interest Dr.Choi's comments on our article titled "Association of Vaspin with Metabolic Syndrome: The Pivotal Role of Insulin Resistance" published in Diabetes & Metabolism Journal [1]. Vaspin is a novel adipokine linking adipocytes and components of metabolic syndrome, although the exact role of vaspin remains unclear [2,3]. In our study, we found that central obesity, raised triglyceride, and raised fasting blood glucose are linked to higher vaspin concentrations; meanwhile, the relationship abolished after controlling for homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and high sensitivity C-reactive protein revealing the leading role of insulin resistance and chronic inflammation in this regard. Choi et al.'s reported a significant relationship between vaspin concentrations and metabolic syndrome component including obesity and raised triglyceride. However, they did not find any connection between raised fasting plasma glucose and vaspin, which is evident in our series of patients. Discrepancies observed between the two studies likely reflect the differences in glycemic status of the patients enrolled. Choi et al. included patients from a routine health examination center (Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul, Korea) whereas our sample comprised patients visited at a diabetes clinic of a teaching hospital (Valiasr Hospital, Tehran, Iran). The proportion of patients with diabetes in the Korean sample was low (16.0%). In our sample a significantly larger proportion of patients were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (59.3%) and another 9.7% had impaired fasting glucose. We suggest the more prominent association observed between insulin resistance/chronic inflammation and vaspin is due to prolonged hyperglycemia and insulin insensitivity. It is hypothesized that the principal event for the development of metabolic syndrome is the deposition of fat in adipose tissue, liver, muscles, and pancreas in the face of impaired triglyceride/cholesterol metabolism and central obesity. This process in turn triggers the development of insulin resistance through various pathways including oxidative stress and chronic inflammation which, in a proportion of patients, lead to type 2 diabetes mellitus [4,5]. Chronic inflammation in turn could impair insulin signaling pathways in liver and other organs [6]. Vaspin is an adipocytokine involved in early as well as late stages of metabolic syndrome. In this view, results of the present study complement Choi et al. findings by showing the unflagging contribution of vaspin to the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome. Further investigating the mechanisms by which vaspin promotes metabolic syndrome and resultant atherosclerosis is a focus of future research. The authors would like to thank Dr.Choi for thoughtful comments which put the findings of our study in perspective and postulate possible hypotheses for future research.
Water footprints of cities - indicators for sustainable consumption and production

Water footprints have been proposed as sustainability indicators, relating the consumption of goods like food to the amount of water necessary for their production and the impacts of that water use in the source regions. We further developed the existing water footprint methodology, by globally resolving virtual water flows from production to consumption regions for major food crops at 5 arcmin spatial resolution. We distinguished domestic and international flows, and assessed local impacts of export production. Applying this method to three exemplary cities, Berlin, Delhi and Lagos, we find major differences in amounts, composition, and origin of green and blue virtual water imports, due to differences in diets, trade integration and crop water productivities in the source regions. While almost all of Delhi's and Lagos' virtual water imports are of domestic origin, Berlin on average imports from more than 4000 km distance, in particular soy (livestock feed), coffee and cocoa. While 42% of Delhi's virtual water imports are blue water based, the fractions for Berlin and Lagos are 2 and 0.5%, respectively, roughly equal to the water volumes abstracted in these two cities for domestic water use. Some of the external source regions of Berlin's virtual water imports appear to be critically water scarce and/or food insecure. However, for deriving recommendations on sustainable consumption and trade, further analysis of context-specific costs and benefits associated with export production will be required.
Gender Diversity in Corporate Boards: A Synthesis of the Evidence and Practices

This paper aims to provide a synthesis of prior conceptual and empirical work on the presence of women on corporate boards. Despite much progress in many spheres of society, the presence of women on the boards of North American listed firms has remained relatively stagnant over the past 20 years, with many firms still having all-male boards. The weak presence, as well as the lack of substantive progress over time, raises questions about the fairness and lack of bias in the process underlying board appointments. Several factors structural and individual prevent or constrain progress in the appointment of women on corporate boards. Such lack of progress is surprising despite the many potential advantages of gender diversity at the board level. Many countries and firms have implemented various means or activities to accelerate and raise women`s presence on boards. The advantages and disadvantages of such means and activities are reviewed and formal recommendations are put forward for firms that are interested in raising their board`s gender diversity. However, as individuals, women also carry a share of the responsibility for their advancement on boards. We conclude with some comments and a synthesis of prior empirical research on board diversity, pointing out the limitations of such research. Le but de ce texte est de presenter une synthese ou un bilan des ecrits theoriques et empiriques ayant traite de la presence des femmes au sein des conseils d'administration. Essentiellement, les enquetes font ressortir que la presence des femmes au sein des conseils d'administration n'a que faiblement augmente en Amerique du Nord au cours des 20 dernieres annees, plusieurs societes ne comptant encore aucune femme a leur conseil. Cette faible presence des femmes au sein des conseils, ainsi que l'absence de progres substantiels, soulevent une problematique d'iniquite et de discrimination envers les femmes. Plusieurs facteurs tant structurels qu'individuels contraignent ou empechent la feminisation des conseils d'administration. Cette situation semble perdurer en depit des atouts presumes que la feminisation des conseils d'administration apporterait. En reaction a cette situation, plusieurs pays et entreprises ont mis en uvre des moyens ou activites pour accelerer et augmenter la feminisation de leur conseil. Ces moyens, ainsi que leurs avantages et inconvenients, sont regroupes en recommandations pour les entreprises interessees. Toutefois, les femmes en tant qu'individus ont egalement un role critique a jouer dans la progression des femmes au conseil. Le texte se termine par des reflexions et un bilan sur la recherche menee a ce jour sur la mixite des conseils d'administration.
Combining Non-Replicable Forecasts

Macro-economic forecasts are often based on the interaction between econometric models and experts. A forecast that is based only on an econometric model is replicable and may be unbiased, whereas a forecast that is not based only on an econometric model, but also incorporates an expert’s touch, is non-replicable and is typically biased. In this paper we propose a methodology to analyze the qualities of combined non-replicable forecasts. One part of the methodology seeks to retrieve a replicable component from the non-replicable forecasts, and compares this component against the actual data. A second part modifies the estimation routine due to the assumption that the difference between a replicable and a non-replicable forecast involves a measurement error. An empirical example to forecast economic fundamentals for Taiwan shows the relevance of the methodological approach.
Retail credit scoring using (cid:28)ne-grained payment data

Banks are continuously looking for novel ways to leverage their existing data assets. A major data source that has not yet been used to the full extent, is massive (cid:28)ne-grained payment data on the bank’s customers. In this paper, a design is proposed that builds predictive credit scoring models using the (cid:28)ne-grained payment data. Using a real-life data set of 183 million transactions made by 2.6 million customers, we show that the scalable implementation that is put forward leads to a signi(cid:28)cant improvement in AUC, with only seconds of computation needed. When investigating the 1% riskiest customers, twice as many defaulters are detected when using the payment data. Such an improvement has a big impact on the overall working of the bank, from applicant scoring to minimum capital requirements.
Characterizing and simulating sediment loads and transport in the lower part of the San Antonio River Basin

This extended abstract is based on the U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Reports by Crow et al. (2013) and Banta and Ockerman (2014). Suspended sediment in rivers and streams can play an important role in ecological health of rivers and estuaries and consequently is an important issue for water-resource managers. The quantity and type of suspended sediment can affect the biological communities (Wood and Armitage, 1997), the concentration and movement of natural constituents and anthropogenic contaminants (Moran and others, 2012), and the amount of sediment deposition in coastal environments (Milliman and Meade, 1983). To better understand suspended-sediment characteristics in the San Antonio River Basin, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with the San Antonio River Authority and Texas Water Development Board, conducted a two-phase study to (1) collect and analyze sediment data to characterize sediment conditions in the San Antonio River downstream of San Antonio, Texas, and (2) develop and calibrate a watershed model to simulate hydrologic conditions and suspended-sediment loads for four watersheds in the San Antonio River Basin, downstream from San Antonio, Texas.
A reappraisal of the Cretaceous non-avian dinosaur faunas from Australia and New Zealand: evidence for their Gondwanan affinities

It has often been assumed that Australasian Cretaceous dinosaur faunas were for the most part endemic, but with some Laurasian affinities. In this regard, some Australasian dinosaurs have been considered Jurassic relicts, while others were thought to represent typical Laurasian forms or endemic taxa. Furthermore, it has been proposed that some dinosaurian lineages, namely oviraptorosaurians, dromaeosaurids, ornithomimosaurians and protoceratopsians, may have originated in Australia before dispersing to Asia during the Early Cretaceous. Here we provide a detailed review of Cretaceous non-avian dinosaurs from Australia and New Zealand, and compare them with taxa from other Gondwanan landmasses. Our results challenge the traditional view of Australian dinosaur faunas, with the majority of taxa displaying affinities that are concordant with current palaeobiogeographic models of Gondwanan terrestrial vertebrate faunal distribution. We reinterpret putative Australian ‘hypsilophodontids’ as basal ornithopods (some of them probably related to South American forms), and the recently described protoceratopsians are referred to Genasauria indet. and Ornithopoda indet. Among Theropoda, the Australian pigmy ‘Allosaurus’ is referred to the typical Gondwanan clade Abelisauroidea. Similarities are also observed between the enigmatic Australian theropod Rapator, Australovenator and the South American carcharodontosaurian Megaraptor. Timimus and putative oviraptorosaurians are referred to Dromaeosauridae. The present revision demonstrates that Australia's non-avian Cretaceous dinosaurian faunas were reminiscent of those found in other, roughly contemporaneous, Gondwanan landmasses, and are suggestive of faunal interchange with these regions via Antarctica.
Heavy metal contamination from treated sewage effluents

Excessive exposure of heavy metals is known to have deleterious effects on health and has been shown to cause various diseases. The determination of heavy metals in sewage is important for monitoring environmental pollution caused by treated sewage effluents (TSE). Rare rainfall in Oman and lack of fresh water has led the authorities to recycle sewage effluents. However, the environmental impact related to heavy metals in sewage effluents is a serious health issue. Three sewage treatment plants (STPs) were used in this study. Water and sewage samples were analyzed for heavy metals; Al, As, B, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, NI, Pb, V and Zn using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) type Perkin Elmer 3300 DV ICP. Heavy metal concentration in the three STPs varied significantly and it was in correlation with heavy metals in sludge and soil irrigated with TSE. STPs used in industrial areas had higher concentration of heavy metals compared to STPs from residential communities, hospitals, and public institutions. In general, the highest concentration among the heavy metals from sludge was Pb, Hg, Cu, Cr, Ni, Zn and Cd. The results of this investigation indicates that there is a potential threat reusing recycled water and sludge which can infiltrate livestock, wildlife which impose the risk of spreading human diseases.
TECHNOLOGY OWNERSHIP AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT STATUS OF LEARNERS AT ANADOLU UNIVERSITY OPEN EDUCATION SYSTEM BETWEEN 2011 AND 2014

The aim of this study is to analyze the technology ownership of learners who were enrolled in Anadolu University Open Education System between 2011 and 2014, to assess its current state, to investigate the changes in this four-year-period, and to explore whether there is a link between learners’ technology ownership and academic achievement. The data set was obtained by combining the questionnaire data, which included technology ownership and internet access opportunities for learners who were enrolled between 2011 and 2014, with their academic achievement information was analyzed. The changes and trends in technological device ownership during these four years, and the relationship between technological device ownership and academic achievement were interpreted. In addition, learners’ computer usage levels, internet access possibilities, usage purposes and reception of television broadcast were investigated. 722,399 questionnaire data were analyzed to determine technology ownership and 438,363 questionnaires were analyzed to determine whether there is a difference between technology ownership and academic achievement. As a result of these analyses, it was determined that there was an increase in mobile phone and tablet computer ownership, while there was a decline in MP3/MP4 players, VCD/DVD players, phone and television ownership. As a result of independent two sample t-tests that were conducted at a 95% significance level, it has been found that there was a difference in academic achievement between the learners who have and do not have computers, handheld computers, and tablet computers.
Cytochrome c mRNA in skeletal muscles of immobilized limbs

[Full Text] , October 1, 1998; 79 (4): 368-374. Arch. Dis. Child. J B Wright and D W Beverley Chronic fatigue syndrome [PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , December 1, 1998; 275 (6): E1016-E1022. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab M. T. Hamilton, J. Etienne, W. C. McClure, B. S. Pavey and A. K. Holloway Role of local contractile activity and muscle fiber type on LPL regulation during exercise [PDF] [Full Text] [Abstract] , January 1, 1999; 86 (1): 236-242. J Appl Physiol R. Kell, H. Pierce and S. J. Swoap loading conditions PGAM-M expression is regulated pretranslationally in hindlimb muscles and under altered
microfabricated low cost enzyme-free glucose fuel cell for powering ow-power implantable devices

In the past decade the scientific community has showed considerable interest in the development of implantable medical devices such as muscle stimulators, neuroprosthetic devices, and biosensors. Those devices have low power requirements and can potentially be operated through fuel cells using reactants present in the body such as glucose and oxygen instead of non-rechargeable lithium batteries. In this paper, we present a thin, enzyme-free fuel cell with high current density and good stability at a current density of 10 A cm−2. A non-enzymatic approach is preferred because of higher long term stability. The fuel cell uses a stacked electrode design in order to achieve glucose and oxygen separation. An important characteristic of the fuel cell is that it has no membrane separating the electrodes, which results in
Water Supply Surveillance: a reference manual

This book presents the findings of a research project funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) project no: R6874, and the World Health Organization. It has been written for staff of environmental and public health authorities, water supply agencies and NGOs working in urban areas of developing countries. The project has developed guidelines on the implementation of water supply surveillance based on field experience in Uganda, Ghana and Bangladesh. The guidelines provide a methodology for including poverty and vulnerability into surveillance planning and show how priority groups can be targeted. The book also provides guidance on data collection and use of surveillance findings in improving water supplies and water handling practices as a way of reducing public health risks derived from poor water supply. It emphasises the need for partnerships with communities and identifies the way in which information can be shared and used by a range of organisations.
MODELLING MEDITERRANEAN FOREST PRODUCTIVITY USING ENVISAT MERIS DATA SET

The aim of this study is to derive land cover products of Envisat MERIS with a 300-m pixel representation of pine forest Net Primary Productivity (NPP) of Taurus Mountain chain at the Eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. The CASA model was utilised to predict annual regional fluxes in terrestrial net primary production at variable degrees of C, depending on the monthly conditions, with terrestrial net production. Calculation of annual terrestrial NPP is based on the concept of light-use efficiency, modified by temperature, rainfall values and solar radiation scalars. In addition, percentage of tree cover, land cover map of the region, soil texture and NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index) were used to constitude this model. The approach is for estimating percent tree cover employing continuous training data over the whole range of tree cover. The training data set is derived by aggregating high-resolution tree cover using IKONOS imagery to coarse scales Landsat ETM and is used with multi-temporal metrics based on 47 Envisat MERIS images recorded between March 2003 and September 2005. A regression tree algorithm is used to predict the dependent variable of tree cover based on signatures from the multitemporal metrics. Majority of the work in the literature have been focused on global scale, however while the recent large area studies have demonstrated qualitative correspondence of relationship between ecosystem change and ecosystem function, little is known about the impacts of extrapolating quantitative relationships derived at restricted sites to very large geographic areas.This study showed that Envisat MERIS data yield greater spatial detail in the characterization of NPP at the regional scale in the Mediterranean.
Phases in the Ni–Sb–As system which occur in the Bon Accord oxide body, Barberton greenstone belt, South Africa

Abstract An oxide-silicate occurrence, containing >40 wt. % NiO whole rock and showing enrichment in the platinum-group elements and antimony, was investigated at high magnification. Many phases with grain sizes generally <100 μm were observed; electron microprobe analysis indicated that, although some of these are known minerals in Ni-Sb-As space (such as breithauptite and orcelite), most of them cluster around the following compositions: Ni3Sb, Ni3(Sb,As), Ni3As, Ni5(Sb,As)2, Ni7 (Sb,As)3 and Ni11(Sb,As)8. Such phases have been observed in synthetic systems, but up to now not in nature. The data reported here therefore probably represent the compositions of new minerals.
E uropean X tramile C entre of A frican S tudies (EXCAS) EXCAS Working Paper

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to critically examine the multinational oil companies’ (MOCs) corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in Nigeria. Its special focus is to investigate the impact of General Memorandum of Understanding (GMoUs) on rural young people involved in non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for sustainable livelihood in Niger Delta, Nigeria. Designed/methodology/approach – Data for this study were collected from primary sources, using participatory rural appraisal (PRA) technique of semi-structured interview (SSI) questionnaire. The use of a participatory research technique in collecting CSR impact data especially as it concerns the rural young people is because it involves the people being studied, and their views on all the issues are paramount. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Inferential statistical tool-estimation of logit model was used to test the two research hypotheses. Findings – The results indicate that general memorandum of understandings (GMoUs) have not given adequate attention to the young people as a special target sub-group who live in rural areas and depend mostly on NTFPs. Results also show that a number of factors hindering rural young people from the use and development of NTFPs include a policy vacuum, non-destructive harvesting, and destruction of natural habitats, bushfires, population growths and high demands. Research
Management of chronic low back pain

Treatment for chronic low back pain (pain persisting for over 3 months) falls into three broad categories: monotherapies, mulitidisciplinary therapy, and reductionism. Most monotherapies either do not work or have limited efficacy (eg, analgesics, non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, antidepressants, physiotherapy, manipulative therapy and surgery). Multidisciplinary therapy based on intensive exercises improves physical function and has modest effects on pain. The reductionist approach (pursuit of a pathoanatomical diagnosis with the view to target‐specific treatment) should be implemented when a specific diagnosis is needed. While conventional investigations do not reveal the cause of pain, joint blocks and discography can identify zygapophysial joint pain (in 15%–40%), sacroiliac joint pain (in about 20%) and internal disc disruption (in over 40%). Zygapophysial joint pain can be relieved by radiofrequency neurotomy; techniques are emerging for treating sacroiliac joint pain and internal disc disruption.