Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
General practitioner characteristics and sickness absence—a register-based study of 348 054 employed Norwegians

Abstract Background: Sickness certification is currently of increased interest in general practice research. Sickness absence certification is a key medical task for general practitioners (GPs), but the knowledge of GPs’ certification practices and the GPs’ role in sickness absence is limited and partly contradictory. Objective: The objective of this study was to analyse whether rates of sickness absence vary in relation to characteristics of the GP and their list-population. Methods: The data set consisted of matched GP–patient data, including 627 GPs and 348 054 people in employment in the two largest cities in Norway in 2006. Sickness absence rates (total annual days) were estimated using descriptive statistics and analysis of variation. Results: Of the population at risk of sick leave, 23.3% of the women had at least one sickness episode in 2006, compared with 12.7% of the men. Mean total annual days of sick leave was 12.1 for the women and 6.4 for the men. Characteristics of the GPs’ list population, especially the socio-economic status of those on the list, were associated with variations in sickness absence rates. GP gender and age showed association only in one subgroup of list patients. Conclusion: Our findings support previous studies concluding that individual patient factors are the most important variables explaining with sickness absence patterns. The study also showed that some GP-factors, and especially factors linked to the composition of the list population, are associated with variations in sickness absence rates and thus important when studying certification practices.
Genetic heterogeneity of the envelope 2 gene and eradication of hepatitis C virus after a second course of interferon‐α

The heterogeneity of the envelope 2 (E2) gene of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) was involved in the sensitivity of HCV to interferon‐α (IFN‐α). To assess the factors leading to virus eradication by IFN‐α, patients whose first treatment by IFN‐α failed and who had virus eradication after a second treatment were studied. These patients were paired with subjects in whom both treatments failed. The phosphorylation homology domain of the E2 gene (E2‐PHD) had no sequence variation between the two stages in both groups of patients. Therefore, this region has no clinical predictive value within a specific genotype. The hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) was analyzed by cloning and sequencing 20 clones per sample. Comparison of samples showed that the change in quasispecies induced by the first IFN‐α therapy could be associated with virus elimination obtained after a second treatment. The greater proportion of nonsynonymous mutations that was noted before the second treatment in responders suggest that pretherapeutic immune response is a major factor determining virus elimination and that the immune status of these patients changed between the first and the second treatment. J. Med. Virol. 68:221–228, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nonstable concurrent choice in pigeons.

Six pigeons were trained on concurrent variable-interval schedules in which the arranged reinforcer ratios changed from session to session according to a 31-step pseudorandom binary sequence. This procedure allows a quantitative analysis of the degree to which performance in an experimental session is affected by conditions in previous sessions. Two experiments were carried out. In each, the size of the reinforcer ratios arranged between the two concurrent schedules was varied between 31-step conditions. In Experiment 1, the concurrent schedules were arranged independently, and in Experiment 2 they were arranged nonindependently. An extended form of the generalized matching law described the relative contribution of past and present events to present-session behavior. Total performance in sessions was mostly determined by the reinforcer ratio in that session and partially by reinforcers that had been obtained in previous sessions. However, the initial exposure to the random sequence produced a lower sensitivity to current-session reinforcers but no difference in overall sensitivity to reinforcement. There was no evidence that the size of the reinforcer ratios available on the concurrent schedules affected either overall sensitivity to reinforcement or the sensitivity to reinforcement in the current session. There was also no evidence of any different performance between independent and nonindependent scheduling. Because of these invariances, this experiment validates the use of the pseudorandom sequence for the fast determination of sensitivity to reinforcement.
Introduction: Spaces for change? The politics of participation in new democratic arenas.

The challenge of building democratic polities where all can realize their rights and claim their citizenship is one of the greatest of our age. Reforms in governance have generated a profusion of new spaces for citizen engagement. In some settings, older institutions with legacies in colonial rule have been remodelled to suit contemporary governance agendas; in others, constitutional and governance reforms have given rise to entirely new structures. These hybrid 'new democratic spaces' (Cornwall and Coelho ) are intermediate, situated as they are at the interface between the state and society; they are also, in many respects, intermediary spaces, conduits for negotiation, information and exchange. They may be provided and provided for by the state, backed in some settings by legal or constitutional guarantees and regarded by state actors as their space into which citizens and their space into which citizens and their their representatives are invited. Yet they may also be seen as spaces conquered by civil society demands for inclusion. 1 Some are fl eeting, one-off consultative events; others are regularized institutions with a more durable presence on the governance landscape. In contrast to analyses that situate such institutions within the public sphere, such as Avritzer's () powerful account of Brazil's participatory governance institutions, or within the ambit of the state, as in Fung and Wright's () 'empowered participatory governance', we suggest that they constitute a distinct arena at the interface of state and society: what we term here the 'participatory sphere'. The institutions of this sphere have a semi-autonomous existence, outside and apart from the institutions of formal politics, bureaucracy and
Family caregiver communication in oncology: advancing a typology

The quality of communication between the patient and family caregiver impacts quality of life and well‐being for the two; however, providers have few tools to understand communication patterns and assess the communication needs and preferences of caregivers. The aims of this study were to examine family communication patterns among oncology patients and their caregivers and to identify common characteristics among four different types of family caregivers.
Evaluation of Real Options with Information Costs

This paper presents a simple framework for the analysis, valuation and simulation of several real options in the presence of shadow costs of incomplete information. Information costs can be viewed as sunk costs in the spirit of Merton’s (1987) model of capital market equilibrium with incomplete information. We incorporate these sunk costs in standard discounted cash flow techniques and present the basic concepts of real options. The justification of information costs in real projects is based on the observation that R&D needs to be done before investment decisions. These costs account for all the expenses needed to be informed about an investment opportunity and the management of projects. This analysis extends the models in Bellalah (1999, 2001) for the valuation of real options within information uncertainty. We present valuation procedures and simulations for the values of common real options in the presence of shadow costs of incomplete information.
The prevalence of dental erosion in a United States and a United Kingdom sample of adolescents.

PURPOSE A high prevalence of tooth surface loss due to erosion is well recognized in the United Kingdom (UK), but not in the United States (US). This could be due to prevalence or perception or a combination of both. The aim of this study was to measure the prevalence of erosion of the upper permanent incisors in US and UK samples of 11-13 year old children. METHODS Convenience samples of 129 subjects were examined in the US and 125 in the UK by two trained examiners. The palatal and buccal surfaces of the upper permanent incisors were assessed for the presence of erosion. Subjects also completed a questionnaire investigating any association between the presence of erosion and possible etiological factors. RESULTS The prevalence of erosion was 41% in the US and 37% in the UK samples, this difference was not statistically significant. Similarly no statistically significant difference was found between the sexes. The erosion present was confined to enamel in the vast majority of subjects. The questionnaire did not detect any link between the presence of erosion and possible etiological factors. CONCLUSION The results of this study suggest that dental erosion is common in both US and UK adolescent populations. There is a need for a larger study to investigate this issue further.
Public Opinion in Russia on the Politics of Human Trafficking

Abstract The growing literature on human trafficking lacks survey data on citizens' attitudes towards it in states of origin. This article discusses the results of a nationwide public opinion poll conducted in June 2007 in Russia and explores the views of two focus groups. It examines Russians' thoughts about the causes and scale of human trafficking and beliefs about what should be done to tackle it, by whom and how. Both sets of data reveal pessimism about state capacity to address human trafficking effectively.
Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation in pediatric status asthmaticus

Objective To describe the use of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation in children with status asthmaticus. Design Brief report. Setting Pediatric intensive care unit in two tertiary institutions. Subjects Children with severe acute asthma and hypercarbic respiratory failure. Interventions Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation using a bilevel positive-pressure (BIPAP) device. Measurements and Main Results Three children, ages 9, 11, and 15 yrs, were treated for hypercarbic respiratory failure caused by status asthmaticus by using BIPAP. The duration of pediatric intensive care unit admission was 48 hrs, and the duration of therapy ranged from 12 to 17 hrs. Inspiratory positive airway pressure ranged from 10 to 14 cm H2O (0.98–1.37 kPa), with a mean of 12 cm H2O (1.18 kPa). Expiratory positive airway pressure ranged from 4 to 5 cm H2O (0.39–0.49 kPa), with a mean of 5 cm H2O (0.49 kPa). Pulse oximetry was monitored continuously until resolution of symptoms. The mean values for respiratory rate, pH, and CO2 tension were compared at initiation, 3–4 hrs, and >12 hrs after beginning BIPAP. BIPAP treatment resulted in improved ventilatory status as shown by an increase in pH from a mean of 7.26 on admission to 7.38 after 3–4 hrs and after 12 hrs, respectively. However, respiratory rate showed a steady decrease from a mean of 31.7 breaths/min on admission to 24 breaths/min at 3–4 hrs and 19 breaths/min at >12 hrs of BIPAP therapy. CO2 tension (Pco2) decreased from a mean value of 54.6 mm Hg (7.28 kPa) on admission to 36.4 mm Hg (4.85 kPa) at 3–4 hrs of treatment; the mean Pco2 after >12 hrs of treatment was 39.8 mm Hg (5.31 kPa). Conclusion In three children with status asthmaticus, BIPAP seemed to improve ventilation and gas exchange, culminating in resolution of hypercarbic respiratory failure. A prospective, randomized, and controlled study is required to determine its role in pediatric status asthmaticus.
Social support in the cohousing model of community: a mixed-methods analysis

Grounded in a theoretical synthesis of social support, social capital, and social sustainability, this study examined cohousing as an innovative community model that may support social well-being. A mixed-methods design was used to explore cohousing residents’ experience of social support and the role which community-related needs play in individuals’ choices to join a cohousing community in the USA. Interviews with 10 cohousing residents yielded detailed accounts of motivations for seeking cohousing and experiences of social support in cohousing, and thematic analysis was used to explore explicit and underlying themes. These qualitative results informed the design of a survey, which was administered to 60 cohousing residents and 65 demographically similar individuals who were interested in cohousing. Findings revealed that cohousing members both gave and received significantly more socially supportive behaviors than their non-cohousing peers, and that a complex interplay of developmental, societal, and individual factors may inform residents’ experiences of living in cohousing.
The Economic Implications of Reducing Carbon Emissions

This paper presents the results of a series of simulations analysing the implications of measures to reduce carbon emissions in Annex 1 countries, conducted using the Oxford Global Macroeconomic and Energy Model. It shows that the GDP costs of reducing carbon emissions vary significantly across countries and that the cost depends on a number of critical factors including energy intensity, the rise in emissions in the base case and the amount of coal used especially in electricity generation. Moreover, it illustrates that a combination of macroeconomic rigidities and monetary policy responses to higher energy prices means that the output losses are likely to be substantial in the years immediately following the introduction of a carbon tax or similar emissions abatement policy.
Expectation Adjustment in the Housing Market: Insights from the Scottish Auction System

This paper examines price expectation adjustment of house buyers and sellers to rapid changes in the housing market using data from Scotland where houses are sold through ‘first-price sealed-bid’ auctions. These auctions provide more information on market signals, incentives and the behaviour of market participants than private treaty sales. This paper therefore provides a theoretical framework for analysing revealed preference data generated from these auctions. We specifically focus on the analysis of the selling to asking price difference, the ‘bid-premium’. The bid-premium is shown to be affected by expectations of future price movements, market duration and high bidding frequency. The bid-premium reflects consumer's expectations, adapting to market conditions more promptly than asking price setting behaviour and final sale prices. The volatile conditions of the recent housing market bubble are fully reflected in the bid-premium, whereas the asking and sale prices are much less prone to rapid movements.
Lawyer Experience and IPO Pricing

We examine the level of experience of law firms participating in IPOs and the impact of law firm experience on IPO pricing. We find a statistically significant, negative relationship between market share of the law firm representing the investment banks and IPO price. In general, the relationship between legal counsel to the issuer and IPO price is of the same sign but not statistically significant, at customary levels, in all model specifications. We also find regional variations; there is a statistically significant, negative relationship between price and the participation of New York City underwriters? lawyers. This evidence is consistent with more practiced legal counsel requiring more negative disclosure in prospectuses.
The Price of Street Friends: Social Networks, Informed Trading, and Shareholder Costs

Abstract Recent studies suggest the transfer of privileged information via social ties but do not explicitly examine the cost of these ties to shareholders. We document a significant positive relation between stock transaction costs and a company’s social ties to the investment community. Social ties based on education and leisure activities, stronger ties, and ties to individuals responsible for trading have greater effects. Using investment connection deaths as natural experiments, we document that exogenous severance of ties reduces trading costs and trading activities by connected parties. Our evidence illustrates an important and previously undocumented consequence of social ties.
Development of a clinical severity index for dogs with acute pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVE To establish a clinical severity index that correlates severity of body system abnormalities with outcome in dogs with acute pancreatitis (AP) and determine the usefulness of serum C-reactive protein (C-RP) concentration as an objective measure of AP severity. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. ANIMALS 61 client-owned dogs with ultrasonographically or histologically confirmed AP. PROCEDURES Medical records of AP-affected dogs were reviewed, and signalment, physical examination findings, clinicopathologic data, and outcome (death or discharge from the hospital) were evaluated. The correlation of specific abnormalities in endocrine, hepatic, renal, hematopoietic, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems; local pancreatic complications; and intestinal integrity were evaluated, and a clinical severity index was developed for AP in dogs. The severity index score was compared with outcome and, for 12 dogs, with serum C-RP concentration. RESULTS The clinical severity index had a good correlation with outcome and interval from hospital admission until end point (days until outcome), but there was no difference in days until outcome between survivors and nonsurvivors. All 12 dogs evaluated had high serum C-RP concentration, but this variable was not related to outcome; however, within a 2-day period after onset of clinical signs, serum C-RP concentration in survivors and nonsurvivors differed significantly. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Among AP-affected dogs, the clinical severity index may be useful for treatment comparisons and prediction of intensive management requirements. Serum C-RP concentration was best related to AP severity within a 2-day period after onset of clinical signs, but daily measurement may be more useful for monitoring progress.
Assessing the Performance of Local Government

We consider the measurement of performance in the public sector in general, focussing on local government and the provision of library services by English local authorities in particular. We will consider two methodologies that assess the performance of local authorities in terms of the efficiency with which they provide services and consider methods that allow us to account for exogenous influences on performance, such as the socio-economic profile of the population served by the authority. We find that although both methods' results appear similar, the implications for potential cost savings vary widely. Omitting to account for background factors leads to an overstatement of the level of inefficiency and hence the scope for reducing expenditure.
Care provided by the father to the child with cancer under the influence of masculinities: qualitative meta-synthesis.

OBJECTIVE To synthesize and interpret findings and conclusions of qualitative research addressing the experience of the father in the care of the child with cancer. METHOD Meta-synthesis of 16 qualitative studies from six databases, analyzed through taxonomic analysis. RESULTS Child and adolescent cancer have several repercussions on the daily life of the father, especially related to the stigma around the disease, the fear of the unknown and the social and family role. Faced with the illness and the need to care for the child, the father seeks to recover normality in the family and transitions between hegemonic masculine behaviors and practices culturally recognized as female. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS The complex experience of the father, influenced by masculinities, was evidenced. The limitations regard the restricted understanding of the contextual specificities of the experiences, due to the limited characteristics of the parents and children described in the studies. The knowledge produced is useful to promote involvement of fathers in the care of the child, as well as to strengthen and assist him in this task.
Monitoring Compliance with IFRS: Some Insights from the French Regulatory System

European Union Regulation 1606/2002 is aimed at improving the quality of financial reporting and developing a single capital market in Europe. Nevertheless, these goals cannot necessarily be achieved solely by making a requirement for EU companies to use International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), and the EU has sought to create a mechanism to oversee the appropriate application of these standards. In this paper, we describe and comment on the methods used by the French stock exchange regulator, the AutoritA© des MarchA©s Financiers (AMF), for monitoring compliance with the national reporting rules as this bears upon the issue of enforcement of IFRS in Europe as from 2005. The AMF has been chosen in our study because of its extensive experience with the review of financial statements of listed companies. Our paper draws on qualitative interviews with people involved directly in scrutinizing financial information at the AMF as well as on the experience gained from attachment to the AMF's Accounting Division. While there is recent research that addresses the issues on enforcement of accounting standards, there is still a lack of studies which discuss the relevance and effectiveness of the methods used to monitor compliance with accounting standards. Our paper may be of interest to different groups of participants including regulatory oversight bodies, auditors, producers and users of financial information in the capital markets.
Phenotypic and functional characteristics of lymphocytes isolated from liver biopsy specimens from patients with active liver disease

Liver‐derived lymphocytes were isolated from 73 liver biopsy specimens obtained from patients with chronic active liver disease and from six samples of normal liver. Mean absolute numbers (±S.E.M) of liver‐derived lymphocytes recovered from needle biopsy specimens by mild enzymatic digestion of the liver tissue varied from 0.7 ± 0.3 × 10/mm in allografts being rejected to 8.9 ± 0.9 × 10/mm in chronic non‐A, non‐B hepatitis. By two‐color flow cytometry, T lymphocytes (CD3+) were the major liver‐derived lymphocyte population in all biopsy specimens. The mean CD4/CD8 ratio (0.6 ± 0.2) was similar for liver‐derived lymphocytes obtained from samples of normal or diseased liver. However, activated (human leukocyte antigen DR+) T cells were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in liver‐derived lymphocytes obtained from liver disease specimens than they were in samples from normal livers. Natural killer cells were less numerous than T cells in specimens obtained from diseased livers, with the mean natural killer/T cell ratio ranging from a low of 0.1 in allograft rejection to a high of 0.8 ± 0.3 in primary sclerosing cholangitis. Liver‐derived lymphocytes isolated from diseased liver contained significantly fewer (p < 0.05) CD3−CD56+ or CD56+CD16−natural killer cells than did those obtained from normal liver samples. Natural killer activity was consistently detectable in liver‐derived lymphocytes obtained from specimens of normal or diseased livers. Moreover, natural killer activity in the liver did not differ significantly from that in either normal or patient peripheral blood. Spontaneous cytotoxic activity against natural killer‐resistant targets, Daudi cells, was detectable but low in liver‐derived lymphocytes obtained from specimens of both normal and diseased livers. In liver‐derived lymphocytes obtained from livers with chronic active liver disease, the proportion of natural killer cells was reduced; T lymphocytes were more prominent and displayed human leukocyte antigen DR antigens more frequently than in end‐stage liver disease. (HEPATOLOGY 1992;15:816–823).