Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
N-Acetylcysteine for patients with prolonged hypotension as prophylaxis for acute renal failure (NEPHRON)*

Background:Acute renal failure is a common complication in critically ill patients and carries an increased morbidity and mortality. N-acetylcysteine is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent that may counteract some of the pathophysiologic derangements in shock states. Objective:To test whether the administration of N-acetylcysteine, compared with placebo, reduces the incidence of acute renal failure in hypotensive patients. Design:Prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Setting:Intensive care units of a university tertiary care hospital. Patients:One hundred forty-two patients with new onset (within 12 hrs) of at least ≥30 consecutive minutes of hypotension and/or vasopressor requirement. Interventions:Patients were randomized to receive either N-acetylcysteine or placebo for 7 days, in addition to standard supportive therapy. Measurements and Main Results:Patients who received N-acetylcysteine had an incidence of acute renal failure (≥0.5 mg/dL increase in creatinine) of 15.5%, compared with 16.9% in those receiving placebo (p = .82, not significant). There were no significant differences between treatment arms in any of the secondary outcomes examined, including incidence of a 50% increase in creatinine, maximal rise in creatinine, recovery of renal function, length of intensive care unit and hospital stay, requirement for renal replacement therapy, and mortality. Among patients receiving N-acetylcysteine, there were trends toward reduced incidence of acute renal failure in patients with baseline Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score >8 (p = .12), lower SOFA scores during the first 4 days of treatment (p = .28), and reduced mortality in patients <65 yrs of age (p = .20). Conclusions:There were no significant differences in any of our primary or secondary end points between patients treated with N-acetylcysteine or placebo. Trends toward reduced incidence of acute renal failure in patients with baseline SOFA score >8, reduced SOFA scores during the first 4 days, and reduced mortality in patients <65 yrs of age are provocative but require further study to determine their clinical significance.
An equation with many variables: unhiding the relationship between sustainability and investment performance

Financial investment performance of stock portfolios is driven by many factors of influence like portfolio diversification, quality of funds management or gravitational effects of market phases. It is, therefore, quite possible that relationships between sustainability and financial performance elude measurability because they may be overshadowed and dominated by other, more powerful or temporarily more influential factors. Using a new quantitative model for portfolio optimisation that simultaneously controls for both financial and sustainability related effects, we investigate whether and how different levels of sustainability in stock portfolios influence investment return when other factors with known influence on investment performance are neutralised. The model is applied to the German Stock Market Index Deutscher Aktienindex (DAX) for the period of 2003–2012 with regard to varying market phases. The findings show a distinct yet nonlinear relationship between sustainability and investment performance that is especially strong in phases of crisis. These results may indicate a business case for socially responsible investment (SRI) that has not yet been fully capitalised with the existing SRI instruments.
ADAMTS1/METH1 Inhibits Endothelial Cell Proliferation by Direct Binding and Sequestration of VEGF165*

ADAMTS1 is a metalloprotease previously shown to inhibit angiogenesis in a variety of in vitro and in vivo assays. In the present study, we demonstrate that ADAMTS1 significantly blocks VEGFR2 phosphorylation with consequent suppression of endothelial cell proliferation. The effect on VEGFR2 function was due to direct binding and sequestration of VEGF165 by ADAMTS1. Binding was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation and cross-linking analysis. Inhibition of VEGF function was reversible, as active VEGF could be recovered from the complex. The interaction required the heparin-binding domain of the growth factor, because VEGF121 failed to bind to ADAMTS1. Structure/function analysis with independent ADAMTS1 domains indicated that binding to VEGF165 was mediated by the carboxyl-terminal (CT) region. ADAMTS1 and VEGF165 were also found in association in tumor extracts. These findings provide a mechanism for the anti-angiogenic activity of ADAMTS1 and describe a novel modulator of VEGF bioavailability.
Do All Patients With Coronary Artery Disease Benefit from Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors?

Cumulative evidence supports the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors for stable coronary artery disease in patients with and without heart failure. The dose and unique properties of ACE inhibitors, trial data, differences in trial design and demographics, may all contribute to variable responses in clinical outcomes. Pending direct comparator clinical trials between a tissue ACE inhibitor vs a plasma ACE inhibitor, evidence indicates that both ramipril and perindopril can be recommended for secondary risk prevention.
Exploring Users' Perception of Collaborative Explanation Styles

Collaborative filtering systems heavily depend on user feedback expressed in product ratings to select and rank items to recommend. In this study we explore how users value different collaborative explanation styles following the user-based or item-based paradigm. Furthermore, we explore how the characteristics of these rating summarizations, like the total number of ratings and the mean rating value, influence the decisions of online users. Results, based on a choice-based conjoint experimental design, show that the mean indicator has a higher impact compared to the total number of ratings. Finally, we discuss how these empirical results can serve as an input to developing algorithms that foster items with a, consequently, higher probability of choice based on their rating summarizations or their explainability due to these ratings when ranking recommendations.
On Capital Structure in the Small and Medium Enterprises: The Spanish Case

The principal aim of this paper is to test the relevance of the different financing theories for explaining capital structure choice in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector. One of the areas of financial theory that has worried much to academicians and professionals is debt policy decisions in companies. Although there are many previous empirical studies about financing decisions of large and listed companies, the scientific community has only started to pay attention to the small firm sector much more recently. Investigations such as Van der Wijst (1989) or Michaelas et al. (1999) have set up the basis for the development of a line of research on capital structure in SMEs. In the Spanish context the research is still at its initial phases although some work has been done recently in this sense like Ocana et al. (1994), Boedo and Calvo (1997) and Lopez and Aybar (2000). In order to shed more light over this issue we carry out an empirical analysis over a panel data of 3962 non-financial Spanish SMEs for the period 1994-1998. The panel data methodology that we use controls for firm heterogeneity and reduces collinearity among the variables that are considered. Our results show that the financing decision in this sort of companies can be explained by the main capital structure theories: Fiscal Theory, Trade-Off Theory and Pecking Order Theory. Among all these theories, some caveats are worth to be stressed and the hierarchically theory seems to fit completely in the explanation of SMEs debt policy.
Does globalization contribute to economic growth in developing countries? Some empirical lessons from Nigeria

This paper examines empirically whether or not globalization contributes to economic growth in developing countries, drawing empirical lessons from Nigeria. The globalization – growth link, is anchored on Husain Schematic representation, Solow model, and the new growth (endogenous growth) theory. The paper adopts a multiple regression framework as its methodology with the ordinary least squares estimation technique. From the empirical results, the following empirical lessons were drawn from Nigeria: globalization does not contribute to economic growth in Nigeria, openness has a negative impact on the Nigerian economy, the Nigerian economy is still very fragile and ill prepared for the challenges of globalization, labour force as one of the channels of global integration of economies, seems to be more applicable to the Nigerian context. For globalization to contribute to economic growth, the paper proffers some policy recommendations as follows: the quest for openness and liberalization should be pursued with caution, the economy should be less import dependent and more productive and export oriented, efforts should be geared towards deepening the Nigerian capital market, among others. Keywords : globalization, economic growth, developing countries, empirical lessons, Nigeria Global Journal of Social Sciences Vol. 4(1&2) 2005: 37-42
On the Influence on Learning of Student Compliance with Prompts Fostering Self-Regulated Learning

In this paper, we investigate the relationship between students’ learning gains and their compliance with prompts fostering self-regulated learning (SRL) during interaction with MetaTutor, a hypermedia-based intelligent tutoring systems (ITS). When possible, we evaluate compliance from student explicit answers on whether they want to follow the prompts, When such answers are not available, we mine several student behaviors related to prompt compliance. These behaviors are derived from students’ eye-tracking and interaction data (e.g., time spent on a learning page, number of gaze fixations on that page). Our results reveal that compliance with some, but not all SRL prompts provided by MetaTutor do influence learning. These results contribute to gain a better understanding of how students benefit from SRL prompts, and provides insights on how to further improve their effectiveness. For instance, prompts that do improve learning when followed could be the focus of adaptation designed to foster compliance for those students who would disregard them otherwise. Conversely, prompts that do not improve learning when followed could be improved based on further investigations to understand the reason for their lack of effectiveness
Immunization with crude antigens plus aluminium hydroxide protects cattle from Fasciola hepatica infection

Abstract The ability of total homogenate (TH) of Fasciola hepatica conjugated with aluminium hydroxide (alum) or Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) to protect cattle against experimental fasciolosis was evaluated. Compared with the infected group, the immunized animals with alum-TH and FCA-TH presented a significant reduction in fluke burden (85.9% and 96.8%, respectively), a higher percentage of short-sized worms, a marked reduction in the released eggs in faeces (89% and 57%, respectively), as well as an increased production of specific antibodies before infection. The alum-TH immunized group also showed a significant increase in the antigen-specific proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) as early as 4 weeks before infection. Although both immunized groups (alum-TH and FCA-TH) were able to develop an efficient protective immune response to metacercarial challenge, an earlier PBMC response, lower hepatic damage and less effect on weight gain were found in alum-immunized animals. Therefore, alum is a good candidate for future immunization against bovine fasciolosis.
Dual cyclin‐dependent kinase 4/6 inhibition by PD‐0332991 induces apoptosis and senescence in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells

Aberrant activation of the cyclin D1‐cyclin‐dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6)‐Rb signalling pathway is common in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). PD‐0332991, a highly specific inhibitor of CDK4/6, has potent antitumour activity against many types of cancer. The purpose of this study was to examine the in vitro and in vivo antineoplastic effect of PD‐0332991 against the growth and metastasis of ESCC cells.
Supply management in assembly systems with random yield and random demand

In this paper, we consider an assembly system where a firm faces random demand for a finished product which is assembled using two critical components. The components are procured from the suppliers who, due to production yield losses, deliver a random fraction of the order quantity. We formulate the exact cost function where the decision variables are the target level of finished products to assemble, and the order quantity of the components from the suppliers. Since the exact cost function is analytically complex to solve, we introduce a modified cost function and derive bounds on the difference in the objective function values. Using the modified cost function, we determine the combined component ordering and production (assembly) decisions for the firm. The benefit of coordinating ordering and assembly decisions is numerically demonstrated by comparing the results with two heuristic policies commonly used in practice. In an extension to the model, we consider the case when the firm has the added option of ordering both the components in a set from a joint supplier. First, we consider the case when the joint supplier is reliable in delivery and obtain dominance conditions on the suppliers to be chosen. The maximum price a firm would be willing to pay to ensure reliable supply of components is determined. Later, we consider the uncertainty in the deliveries from the joint supplier and determine conditions under which there is no diversification, that is, either the individual suppliers are used, or the joint supplier is used, but never both.
Export Dependence and Sustainability of Growth in China

This paper examines the contribution of exports to growth in China since the early years of the decade. It is estimated that, despite a high import content ranging between 40 and 50 percent, approximately one-third of Chinese growth before the global crisis was a result of exports, due to their phenomenal growth of some 25 percent per annum. This figure increases to 50 percent if spillovers to consumption and investment are allowed for. The main reason for excessive dependence on foreign markets is underconsumption. This is due not so much to a high share of household savings in GDP as to a low share of household income and a high share of profits. It is argued that China can no longer maintain such high growth rates for its exports, and, therefore, needs to turn to consumption-led growth by expanding the share of wages and household income in GDP and accelerating public spending in social infrastructure.
Effect of a tart cherry juice blend on exercise-induced muscle damage in horses.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether administering a tart cherry juice blend (TCJB) prior to exercise would reduce skeletal and cardiac muscle damage by decreasing the inflammatory and oxidative stress response to exercise in horses. ANIMALS 6 horses. PROCEDURES Horses were randomly allocated into 2 groups in a crossover study with a 2-week washout period and orally administered either TCJB or a placebo solution (1.42 L, twice daily) in a double-masked protocol for 2 weeks prior to a stepwise incremental exercise protocol. Horses were tested for serum activities of creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and concentrations of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS; an indicator of oxidative stress), and serum amyloid A (SAA; an indicator of inflammation). To ensure that treatment would not result in positive results of an equine drug-screening protocol, serum samples obtained from each horse prior to and after 2 weeks of administration of TCJB or the placebo solution were tested. RESULTS All horses had negative results of drug screening at both sample times. The exercise protocol resulted in a significant increase in TBARS concentration, SAA concentration, and serum AST activity in all horses. Administration of TCJB or placebo solution was not associated with an effect on malondialdehyde or SAA concentrations. However, administration of TCJB was associated with less serum activity of AST, compared with administration of placebo solution. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Administration of TCJB may diminish muscle damage induced by exercise.
The relationship between energy consumption and GDP in emerging countries

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the relationship between gross domestic product (GDP) by sector and energy consumption by type in 16 emerging countries. Design/methodology/approach – The panel model was utilized taking the period 1980-2010. Findings – The results revealed that GDP by sector and energy consumption by type are cointegrated. Moreover, the Granger causality concluded a bi-directional causal relationship between oil, natural gas and renewable energy consumption and the value of the manufacturing, industrial and services sector. Furthermore, a bi-directional causal relationship was also found between coal consumption and the value of the services sector. Furthermore, a one-way causal relationship was found from oil consumption to the value of the agriculture sector, the value of the agriculture sector to coal consumption, and coal consumption to the value of the manufacturing and the industrial sectors. Practical implications – This study recommended that these countries should increas.
On the Blessing of Abstraction

The “blessing of abstraction” refers to the observation that acquiring abstract knowledge sometimes proceeds more quickly than acquiring more speciﬁc knowledge. This observation can be formalized and reproduced by hierarchical Bayesian models. The key notion is that more abstract layers of the hierarchy have a larger “effective” sample size, because they combine information across multiple speciﬁc instances lower in the hierarchy. This notion relies on speciﬁc variables being relatively concentrated around the abstract “overhypothesis”. If the variables are highly dispersed, then the effective sample size for the abstract layers will not be appreciably larger than for the speciﬁc layers. Moreover, the blessing of abstraction is counterbalanced by the fact that data are more informative about lower levels of the hierarchy, because there is necessarily less stochasticity intervening between speciﬁc variables and the data. Thus, in certain cases abstract knowledge will be acquired more slowly than speciﬁc knowledge. This paper reports an experiment that shows how manipulating dispersion can produce both fast and slow acquisition of abstract knowledge in the same paradigm.
EVIDENCE ON THE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING MENTALITY DEBATE: A RESEARCH NOTE

Abstract According to Johnson and Kaplan one of the major factors that has contributed to the lost relevance of management accounting is management accounting becoming subservient to the demands of financial accounting. Johnson and Kaplan's claim is based mainly on anecdotal evidence and little research has been conducted on whether management accounting information differs from that which is necessary for meeting external financial reporting requirements. This paper reports on the findings of a postal questionnaire survey relating to the management accounting practices in UK manufacturing organizations. In particular, attention is focused on discussing the implications arising from the survey relating to those specific areas of management accounting where conventional wisdom suggests that internal information requirements ought to differ from those that are necessary for external financial reporting.
A study of the performance of high yield bond funds

An increasing number of mutual funds specializing in high yield, high risk bonds has accompanied the tremendous growth of the "junk bond" market. A number of studies comparing risk-adjusted high yield bond returns with other corporate bond returns have suggested superior performance of high yield bonds. This paper studies the growth of the junk bond market and attempts to compare the performance of junk bond funds with other types of bond funds on the basis of a modified capital asset pricing model. Thesis Supervisor: Title: Patricia C. O'Brien Assistant Professor of Accounting
The relative efficiency of education and R&D expenditures in the new EU member states

The paper attempts to measure relative efficiency in utilizing public education and R&D expenditures in the new EU member states in comparison to the selected EU (plus Croatia) and OECD countries. As resources allocated to education and R&D sector are significantly limited, a special emphasis should be given to their efficient use regarding the institutional and legal constraints. By applying non-parametric methodology, i.e. Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), a relative efficiency is defined as the deviation from the efficiency frontier which represents the maximum output/outcome attainable from each input level. An analysis of (output-oriented) efficiency measures shows that among the new EU member states Hungary, Estonia and Slovenia seem to be good benchmark countries in the field of primary, secondary and tertiary education, respectively. On the other hand, Cyprus and again Hungary dominate in the field of R&D sector, even if for different reasons. The empirical results also suggest that, in general, new EU member states show relatively high efficiency in tertiary education, while lag well behind in the R&D efficiency measures.
Interferon-Induced Expression of MxA in the Respiratory Tract of Rhesus Macaques Is Suppressed by Influenza Virus Replication1

To determine the relationship between influenza A virus replication and innate antiviral immune responses, rhesus monkeys were given oseltamivir before influenza A/Memphis/7/01 (H1N1) challenge. We found that oseltamivir treatment significantly reduced viral replication in the trachea (p < 0.029). Further, in the trachea of both treated and untreated monkeys the mRNA levels of most innate antiviral molecules in the IFN-αβ pathway were dramatically increased by 24 h postinfection. However, the mRNA level of a single IFN-stimulated gene, MxA (myxovirus resistance A), the IFN-stimulated gene known to be critical in blocking influenza virus replication, was significantly lower in the tracheal lavages of untreated monkeys than in the oseltamivir-treated monkeys (p = 0.05). These results demonstrate for the first time that uncontrolled influenza A virus replication actively suppresses MxA gene expression and emphasize the critical role of innate immunity in controlling influenza virus replication in vivo.
Industry Structure and Pricing Over the Business Cycle

We consider the interaction between an incumbent firm and a potential entrant, and examine how this interaction is affected by demand fluctuations. Our model gives rise to procyclical entry, prices, and price-cost margins, although the average price in the market can be countercyclical if the entrant is a first mover, and capacity utilization can be either pro- or countercyclical if the incumbent is a first mover. Moreover, our results show that entry deterrence by the incumbent firm can either amplify or dampen the effect of demand fluctuations on prices, price-cost margins, and capacity utilization.
Price-Cost Margins and Successive Market Power

The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact on an industry's price-cost margin of firms in downstream industries having seller market power. We develop a detailed theoretical model based upon Cournot's work in this area which predicts that margins are raised by an increase in successive market power of this type. Our prediction contrasts with work by Lustgarten, who found that bilateral market power depressed margins; we explain our result intuitively in terms of two opposing effects. In our regression analysis on U. K. data we test the two hypotheses simultaneously and find both confirmed.